One of the best soundbars we have tested is the Sonos Arc – and although it has now been succeeded by the Sonos Arc Ultra, it’s still an absolute belter.
While the five-star soundbar may have been quietly discontinued, you can secure some great price drops on the remaining stock; but none we have seen has been as good as this.
Right now, you can pick up the Sonos Arc for just £589 at Amazon. Though, only in White.
That’s a crazy good price for the What Hi-Fi? Award winner that delivers convincing Dolby Atmos and dynamic, detailed and weighty sound.
So, upgrade your TV audio setup today for less (before it’s too late).
Looking to level up your home cinema experience for less? The Sonos Arc is an incredibly competitive option, despite being succeeded by the Sonos Arc Ultra. And right now, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than the new arrival.
It’s one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars we have tested, and it’s packed with all the usual Sonos smarts.
There’s touch-sensitive play/pause as well as volume controls on the bar. Plus, you can operate it via speech commands with its built-in Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
It is compatible with more than 25 apps including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and more.
And if you’re looking to bulk up your setup for true surround sound or a multi-room system, the Sonos Arc can be combined with other speakers, including the latest Era additions; the Era 100 and Era 300, which can be used as rear surrounds.
All these features led us to say in our full review: “Rarely does a device arrive that does so much and does it all so well. Even rarer that it remains a class leader almost three years after release. Be in no doubt; the Sonos Arc is a superb bit of kit.”
For the price, it’s a very competitive choice. But, that price is such, of course, because it has been discontinued. So, if you’re thinking about picking up a Sonos Arc for just £589 at Amazon, you’ll have to be quick.
Canyon has released a brand new version of its Grizl gravel bike today, and it has received quite an update.
The Grizl, Canyon’s more relaxed, adventure-focused gravel bike, which sits alongside the racier Grail model, was first launched in 2021. This marks its third iteration.
It’s been a busy summer for Canyon after unveiling an update to its Grail, complete with a new DT Swiss suspension fork, in May.
Canyon has leaned into the adventure USP with this latest incarnation of the Grizl. The brand’s PR material asks if bikepacking adventures are pushing the limits now, and Canyon says it has created a bike to serve the ‘modern day ATB (all terrain bicycling) adventurist’.
In practice, that means more relaxed geometry, the same base carbon fibre frame across the nine model strong lineup, bigger tyre clearances of 54mm, a new dynamo lighting and charging system, and another brand new mad-looking handlebar for certain models, which, while not being as polarising as the double decker hoverbar from a few years ago, is still going to divide opinion.
The new Grizl range is divided broadly into two spec lines: the Grizl OG (original graveller) models and the more adventure, bikepacking-focused Escape models.
Prices start from $2,399 for a base spec and rise up to $7,999 for a top-tier model.
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In tandem with the launch of the new Grizl, Canyon has another piece of news going live today, which is the creation of its own in-house brand of carbon fibre wheels. Joining the likes of Trek and Specialized with their Bontrager and Roval lines, respectively. The new Canyon wheels will come on certain Grizl models, and will then be rolled out and added to other model ranges in the future.
There are plenty of new, interesting talking points, specs and tech on the new Grizl bikes, which we have unpacked below. We also have an Escape adventure model for a longer-term test, so watch this space on that one.
Canyon claims the Grizl is ready for the modern day all terrain enthusiast (Image credit: Canyon)
The Grizl gets an overhaul
Canyon says it has made the Grizl infinitely adaptable for all kinds of adventures. First, as mentioned, there is one Grizl carbon fibre frame across the entire range; there’s no top-line CFR model, as can be found in other Canyon model ranges.
The geometry has changed; the bike is now more relaxed, wth a slacker head tube, taller stack height and with a longer wheelbase to promote confidence and comfort. For instance, compared to the Grail, the Grizl headtube is a half-degree slacker, and the wheelbase is 19mm longer.
Tyre clearance has also now been increased to allow riders to fit up to 54mm tyres. All bike specs are 1X drivetrain only to help facilitate this.
A headline-grabbing feature is going to be the new ‘Full Mounty’ cockpit, which is fitted to Escape Line bikes. The carbon handlebar features an incorporated mini tri bar style extension – for want of a better description – that the brand claims will provide a wider range of hand positions on long adventure rides and more real estate to affix bags, accessories, food, and clothing, etc.
The Full Mounty bar, which will also be available as an aftermarket option, has a 69mm reach, 114mm drop, 14-degree flare and comes in four sizes with 50, 60 or 70mm stems and 42 and 44cm widths. The top section uses a 31.8mm standard diameter to help with accessory mounting, and Canyon has also produced a cockpit bag and set of aero extensions for it.
There are plenty of mounting points on the new Grizl (Image credit: Canyon)
The Grizl is an adventure-focused bike, as such, it comes with front and rear rack mounts, magnetic frame bag mounts, down tube storage space, fender mounts and an extra down tube water bottle mount point, and frame protection on the underside of the down tube.
The bike also features a user-friendly external seatpost clamp and round 27.2mm VCLS seatpost, which should be music to certain riders’ ears, and make emergency replacements or repairs a lot easier.
The brake and gear cables are mostly internal, popping out of the bike’s bearing top cover and routing internally through the headset. This cleans up the front of the bike for mounting bags and the like, but it also makes changing headset bearings more complex and costly. Canyon has specified more durable headset bearings, though, to help delay this cost.
Finally, on the topic of frame details, the bottom bracket standard is PF86 press fit, a very common standard. The brand cites tyre clearance and frame stiffness as contributing factors here.
A magentic fidlock frame storage bag can also be fitted (Image credit: Canyon)
ECLIPS Dynamo powered lights and device charging
Image 1 of 4
This is a useful diagram of the ECLIPS system to help you understand each component (Image credit: Canyon )
A SON dynamo helps power the system (Image credit: Canyon )
Powering a front light and neat integrated USB-C port (Image credit: Canyon)
The rear light is integrated into the seatpost clamp(Image credit: Canyon)
Canyon has also developed a new lighting and charging on-bike system named ECLIPS, which stands for Endless Charge and Lighting Integrated Power System.
The brand says ECLIPS was born out of the ingenuity that can be witnessed on the ultra riding or bikepacking scene and some of the more ingenious solutions riders have created.
ECLIPS provides an IPX6-rated dynamo-powered system that will power an integrated front and rear light as well as charge a device on the bike thanks to a neat integrated USB-C charging port that’s integrated into the headset assembly of the bike, allowing riders to charge all kinds of devices cleanly on the bike as well as charge the system if needed.
The Canyon app provides the ability to check charge status, control the system, and tweak firmware.
Five components make up the system: A SON 29S front hub dynamo, a Lupine Smartcore Fastclick 3500mAh (milliampere-hours) battery, a Canyon Blackbox management system, and a Lupine Nano SL front light and C14 seatpost clamp rear light.
Canyon claims that at 20km/h, the lights can be powered in the ECO setting and charge the system. We will be testing the charging capabilities out ourselves in due course.
New Canyon carbon wheels
Canyon carbon wheels are now here (Image credit: Canyon)
Canyon is now producing its own brand of Carbon wheels for the Grizl and other models going forward, as mentioned.
The Canyon GR 30 CF wheelset uses a 27mm internal rim width and a hookless rim profile. The brand says the hookless profile is optimised to avoid pinch flats, which is usually in the form of a wider, squarer profile. Canyon lists a weight of 1,525 grams per pair for the wheels.
DT Swiss 350 spline hubs will be used and DT Swiss Aerocomp spokes.
Specs and pricing
Image 1 of 5
This the lavender gelato colour (Image credit: Canyon )
This is Pineapple gummy(Image credit: Canyon )
This is birch water (Image credit: Canyon)
Certain models are available with ECLIPS and RIFT front suspension (Image credit: Canyon)
And this is Forest Fizz (Image credit: Canyon)
The new Grizl range will comprise eight models: three Escape models and five OG models. Two models (one OG and one Escape) will also come with the new DT Swiss F132 suspension fork.
Most of the paint schemes use purple and slate block colours, but there is one nifty camo-style paint job for those who want to blend in.
All bikes have 700c wheels and will be available in 2XS – 2XL sizes.
Two models will come with the new Canyon GR30 CF wheels, and all bikes get 45mm Schwalbe tyres.
*At launch, only the CF 6, CF 7 ESC and CF 8 ESC RIFT bikes will be available in the US.
Challenger brands have become the norm these days, with the disruptor playgrounds of fintech, artificial intelligence and computing fuellingsignificant changes in traditional industries. Transport is a perfect example, and while the electric car world is grabbing all the headlines, especially with Elon Musk’s Tesla and his ill-fated bromance with the president of the United States, there is also a more dignified, quiet revolution occurring in the electric motorcycle market.
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It’s an industry filled with several well-established brands that date back over a century. T en years ago no motorcycle aficionado would have even heardthe name Maeving. Today, however, this small British firm founded by a couple of university friends is at the forefront of electric motorcycle sales in the UK and is expanding its reach globally.
The Maeving philosophy appears relatively straightforward but is undoubtedly challenging to execute, especially when competing against industry titans. The product proposition is clearly electric-only, emissions-free power first. Yet right behind that is a handsome design aesthetic that nods to traditional motorcycle building while embracing the future optimism of the new tech. The Maeving RM1 that came out a few years ago epitomises this approach. Within a year of its launch it was the bestselling electric motorcycle in the UK. Maeving’s latest creation, the RM1S, leverages the company’s early learnings and public goodwill to create a bike that retains all the charm of the RM1 but with some notable upgrades.
First, power and, inevitably, performance have been increased, given the RM1S a top speed of 70mph, compared to the 45mph of the RM1. Second, the batteries have been placed lower down in the engine casing, which is crucial for a low centre of gravity. This alsohandily frees up space in the faux fuel tank, which is very useful for storing mobile phones, gloves or that essential pack of Haribos for a longer road trip.
Removable batteries make charging simple on a charging pad wired to a standard three-pin plug — or, new to the RM1S, the ability to charge in situ while still on the bike, allowing you to take advantage of public charging points en route. The heightened top speed should be as fast as you’d ever need to go, and a full charge will get you 80 miles of range — again, enough for a bike that will mostly appeal to commuters or weekend pleasure seekers. The RM1S also provides an accessible entry point into motorcycle riding, requiring only a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate. However, it is worth noting thatto ride on a motorway in the UK you will need at least an A1 license.
Electric power has undergone significant development over the past few years. Apart from the all-important zero emissions, the silent delivery of clean power offers a unique contrast to the time-honoured image of a roaring motorbike. The liberty of a motorbike ride becomes more of a peaceful freedom on an electric version, which has often been seen as an expression of rebellion or a symbol of the free spirit. The Maeving brand ambassador Ashley Walters is a passionate exponent of these virtues. The actor and director talks enthusiastically about being “drawn to the silence” on his Maeving — something you wouldn’t always have associated with motorcycle riding. He describes how this adds a refreshing dimension to the joy of riding and escaping the daily grind. In his Maeving “rider story” he reflects on his motorbike journeys, stating, “I’m riding for peace in the moment.”
The Maeving RM1S is a handsome, convenient, emissions-free commuting tool, but more than that, and of interest to most potential purchasers, it achieves all this in a stylish and silent manner.
Discover Maeving’s full range and Ashley Walters’s rider story at maeving.com
Microsoft has taken its first concrete step towards making Visual Studio Code an open-source AI editor by open-sourcing the GitHub Copilot Chat extension under the MIT license. The company announced the milestone on June 30 via the VS Code team’s blog, calling it a move toward transparency, extensibility, and developer-centric AI tooling.
The newly open-sourced code reveals how Copilot Chat handles agent mode, context engineering, and telemetry. According to the blog post, “Everything, from our system prompts, implementation details, to the telemetry we capture, is available in all transparency.” Contributions and feedback from developers are welcome on GitHub, with the long-term goal of integrating this extension into the core VS Code codebase.
The announcement follows Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote at Build 2025, where he confirmed the company’s commitment to AI-powered development. “This is a big deal. We will integrate these AI-powered capabilities directly into the core of VS Code, bringing them into the same open source repo that powers the world’s most loved dev tool,” said Nadella.
Erich Gamma, creator of VS Code, reinforced the motivation by highlighting that some organisations really don’t like closed-source IDEs, and for them, VS Code would be a great choice. The company will also open-source its prompt testing infrastructure to support third-party extension developers.
This strategic shift comes amid growing demand for openness in developer tooling. According to Microsoft, the rapid advancement in LLMs and the convergence of best practices across AI coding UIs have reduced the need for proprietary techniques.
While the GitHub Copilot extension for inline completions remains closed, Microsoft plans to bring that functionality into the open-sourced Chat extension in the coming months.
The move invites comparison with AI-first VS Code forks, such as Cursor and Windsurf, both valued in billions. “Is it just me or is it kinda funny that OpenAI bought Windsurf for $3B and then Microsoft just open-sourced Copilot,” quipped a user on X.
Whether it’s community-driven extensibility or agentic DevOps, Microsoft appears ready to reshape how developers interact with AI, on their own terms, and increasingly in the open.
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Researchers at Northeastern University have discovered how to change the electronic state of matter on demand, a breakthrough that could make electronics 1,000 times faster and more efficient.
By switching from insulating to conducting and vice versa, the discovery creates the potential to replace silicon components in electronics with exponentially smaller and faster quantum materials.
“Processors work in gigahertz right now,” said Alberto de la Torre, assistant professor of physics and lead author of the research. “The speed of change that this would enable would allow you to go to terahertz.”
Via controlled heating and cooling, a technique they call “thermal quenching,” researchers are able to make a quantum material switch between a metal conductive state and an insulating state. These states can be reversed instantly using the same technique.
Published in the journal Nature Physics, the research findings represent a breakthrough for materials scientists and the future of electronics: instant control over whether a material conducts or insulates electricity.
The effect is like a transistor switching electronic signals. And just as transistors allowed computers to become smaller — from the huge machines the size of rooms to the phone in your pocket — control over quantum materials has the potential to transform electronics, says Gregory Fiete, a professor of physics at Northeastern who worked with de la Torre to interpret the findings.
“Everyone who has ever used a computer encounters a point where they wish something would load faster,” says Fiete. “There’s nothing faster than light, and we’re using light to control material properties at essentially the fastest possible speed that’s allowed by physics.”
By shining light on a quantum material called 1T-TaS₂ at close to room temperature, researchers achieved a “hidden metallic state” that had so far only been stable at cryogenically cold temperatures. Now researchers have created that conductive metallic state at more practical temperatures, says de la Torre. The material maintains its programmed state for months — something that has never been accomplished before.
“One of the grand challenges is, how do you control material properties at will?” says Fiete. “What we’re shooting for is the highest level of control over material properties. We want it to do something very fast, with a very certain outcome, because that’s the sort of thing that can be then exploited in a device.”
So far, electronic devices have needed both conductive and insulating materials, plus a well-engineered interface between the two. This discovery makes it possible to use just one material that can be controlled with light to conduct and then insulate.
“We eliminate one of the engineering challenges by putting it all into one material,” Fiete says. “And we replace the interface with light within a wider range of temperatures.”
The research expands upon previous work that used ultra-fast laser pulses to temporarily change the way materials conduct electricity. But those changes only lasted tiny fractions of a second and usually at extremely cold temperatures.
Stable conductivity switching at higher temperatures is a significant advance for quantum mechanics, Fiete says, and for the long game of supplementing or replacing silicon-based technology. Semiconductors, he says, are so dense with logic components that engineers are now stacking them in three dimensions. But this approach has limitations, he said, which make tiny quantum materials more important for electronics design.
“We’re at a point where in order to get amazing enhancements in information storage or the speed of operation, we need a new paradigm,” Fiete says. “Quantum computing is one route for handling this and another is to innovate in materials. That’s what this work is really about.”
Reference: De La Torre A, Wang Q, Masoumi Y, et al. Dynamic phase transition in 1T-TaS2 via a thermal quench. Nat Phys. 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41567-025-02938-1
This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.
Crescent Nebula captured in stunning detail from UAE skies. (Tameem Al Tamimi / Emirates Astronomy Society)
In a remarkable astronomical achievement, astrophotographers from the Emirates Astronomy Society (EAS) have captured breathtaking images of a distant nebula from the skies of the UAE. The phenomenon was spotted in the country’s eastern mountainous regions, offering a rare and awe-inspiring view of the Crescent Nebula, an object located thousands of light-years away from Earth.What Was Seen: the Crescent NebulaThe celestial object observed is the Crescent Nebula, scientifically designated as NGC 6888 and also known as Caldwell 27-Sharpless 105. This stunning emission nebula lies in the Cygnus constellation, roughly 5,000 light-years away from Earth.According to Tamim Al Tamimi, a member of the Emirates Astronomy Society and an astronomical photographer, the nebula was not only observed but also photographed in high resolution, providing a vivid glimpse into deep space from the UAE.
How the Nebula Was Formed
The nebula’s origin is tied to a dramatic cosmic event involving a dying star. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society, explained the formation process in a statement to WAM (Emirates News Agency).He said the Crescent Nebula was created by strong stellar winds from a Wolf-Rayet star, known as WR 136, which clashed with material previously ejected by the same star during its red giant phase. The result is a massive glowing bubble of gas composed largely of ionized hydrogen and oxygen.“This large gas bubble of ionized hydrogen and oxygen is formed and appears in fine detail when imaged using narrow-field techniques,” Al Jarwan noted.
How the Image Was Captured
The stunning images were the result of over 10 hours of observation, using specialized filters, H-alpha and O3, that help isolate specific wavelengths of light emitted by the nebula’s chemical elements. The data was then processed using the HOO (H-alpha, OIII, OIII) scientific color mode to clearly reveal the chemical structures within the nebula.Capturing these detailed images required a combination of advanced equipment and careful planning. The setup included:
Camera: Cooled ZWO ASI183MM Pro
Telescope: Explore Scientific 152mm David H. Levy Comet Hunter Maksutov-Newtonian
Mount: iOptron HAE43
Guidance System: ASIAir Plus
Post-Processing Tools: PixInsight and Photoshop
A Milestone for Emirati Astronomy
The observation and photography of such a distant and intricate deep-sky object underscore the dedication and technical expertise of UAE’s growing astronomy community.Al Jarwan emphasized that this achievement reflects the resilience of Emirati astrophotographers, who continue their work despite harsh environmental conditions. “Night-time temperatures during the photographing period sometimes reach between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius in the mountainous or desert regions,” he said.This sighting not only showcases the beauty of space but also positions the UAE as an emerging center for serious astronomical observation and documentation, especially in regions not traditionally associated with deep-sky astrophotography.
The Opera House has unveiled a refreshed brand identity and launched a new website to mark its 125th anniversary on the 9th July.
The re-brand has been launched alongside a limited-edition commemorative series of stamps in partnership with Jersey Post.
The relaunch comes after a five-year closure for essential refurbishment. This moment represents a step forward for the organisation as it reconnects with audiences and partners in Jersey and beyond. The rebrand has been developed in collaboration with Potting Shed.
“This project is about more than a logo,” said Zoë Mallet, Marketing and Communications Manager. “We’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on who we are now, how we serve the community, and how we want to be seen as we move forward. The new logo honours our past while giving us the flexibility to engage future audiences with confidence and clarity.”
A new website, built by digital specialists Switch – also based in Jersey – has gone live as part of the relaunch. Designed with accessibility and usability at its core, the site offers a significantly enhanced user experience, making it easier than ever to explore the Opera House’s 125-year history, discover upcoming shows, book tickets, hire the venue, and connect with community initiatives.
Jersey Post has unveiled a striking new series of six commemorative stamps (pictured), beautifully illustrated by talented local artist Abi Overland. Each stamp highlights a defining chapter in the Opera House’s rich history – from the vision of architect Adolphus Curry and the glamour of Lillie Langtry to wartime performances and even horses watching races from the stalls.
The final stamp offers a glimpse into the future, celebrating the Opera House’s long-awaited reopening following extensive refurbishment works that began in 2023.
Interim Chair of the Jersey Opera House board said: “We are incredibly excited to be reopening the Opera House after a £12.5m refurbishment funded by the people of Jersey.
“We’re celebrating 125 years of history and ready to deliver our ambitious plans for the future as we step back into our role at the centre of the island’s cultural life.”
BERLIN, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On July 1, 2025, UGREEN, a global leader in consumer electronics, introduced the Nexode Retractable Series to European markets, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and seven other countries across the continent.
UGREEN Nexode Retractable Series
The UGREEN Nexode Retractable Series is designed as a hassle-free travel power kit, addressing common charging pain points including cable clutter, slow charging speeds, forgotten charging cables, and durability concerns. Drawing on direct feedback from users, UGREEN has combined built-in retractable cables with fast-charging capabilities to offer a simpler and more efficient alternative to traditional chargers. Each retractable cable is engineered for long-term reliability, standing up to over 25,000 pull tests and 10,000 bend tests.
The series features three flagship products designed to offer superior charging performance, a compact design, and unmatched convenience.
UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 165W with Retractable USB-C Cable
This power bank delivers 100W fast charging to a single device, which is enough to power a MacBook Pro to 54% in just 30 minutes. It can also charge two devices at full speed using the USB-C Cable and USB-C port, which is perfect for laptops, tablets, and phones. The retractable cable extends up to 0.65 metres with adjustable length settings, offering greater flexibility for use at home or on the go. It supports charging for up to 3 devices, 165W maximum output, and includes a smart TFT display and Thermal Guard™ for real-time safety monitoring. The retractable cable is built-in, ensuring that users don’t need to separately pack a cable when travelling. The device also features 13 layers of safety protection to guard against overheating, overvoltage, short-circuiting, and more.
UGREEN Nexode 65W Charger with Retractable USB-C Cable
This wall charger is a compact, travel-friendly solution featuring advanced GaNInfinity™ technology. Its portable design allows it to fit easily into bags and pockets, while multiple ports allow simultaneous charging of three devices at high speed. It comes with a built-in retractable USB-C cable (up to 0.69 meters in length) that supports fast charging of up to 65W. Its eight-layer protection allows users to enjoy peace of mind with built-in safety features that protect against situations such as overheating, overcharging, and short-circuiting.
UGREEN Nexode Car Charger 145W with Retractable USB-C Cable
The car charger in the Retractable Series offers high-powered charging for multiple devices via four ports, perfect for families or group outings. The retractable cable extends up to 0.7 metres and can deliver up to 145W of total output when used with the C2 port. Safety features protect devices during charging, while the integrated cable keeps your car neat and tidy. Ideal for trips or daily commutes, it ensures all passengers stay connected on the road.
These new products reflect UGREEN’s enduring commitment to practical innovation, durability, and user-centric design, offering powerful and convenient solutions for modern mobile lifestyles. Rooted in the brand’s mission to deliver value to users and make a meaningful impact on society, UGREEN continues to fuse cutting-edge technology with everyday practicality.
The series will be available through the UGREEN website and Amazon stores upon launch. To celebrate the new series, early customers can enjoy up to 34% off for a limited time. For additional information, please visit www.ugreen.com.
About UGREEN
Since 2012, UGREEN products have seamlessly integrated into millions of people’s lives, supporting them at home, work, and on the road. From fast charging to smart storage, UGREEN continually provides reliability and performance you can depend on. With a user-focused approach at its core, the brand has earned the trust of over 200 million users worldwide.
Media Contact:[email protected]; [email protected]
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It’s a powerful mini armed with top-tier hardware for creators, programmers, and coders looking to interface with AI at lightning-fast speeds.
Don’t count on relying on the device’s built-in speakers or mic, and it’s one of the chunkier minis.
more buying choices
All three configurations of the Minisforum A1 XI Pro are on sale, with the 2TB SSD model receiving a $280 discount.
When Apple upgraded its Mac Mini with the M4 processor last year, we saw some renewed interest in the mini PC category overall. All the power of a desktop, but packed into a tiny frame? Yes, please. Apple isn’t the only one making impressively bite-sized computers, however.
Purveyor of minis, Minisforum released its AI370 EliteMini, a device we reviewed and praised for its 8K monitor support, 4TB of storage, and powerful hardware for under $1,000. Similarly, the G7 Ti Mini had impressive raw power, but I noted its noisy fans.
Also: 400 million Windows PCs vanished in 3 years. Where did they all go?
Now, the brand’s latest Mini PC — the Minisforum AI X1 Pro — ups the ante with some serious hardware: AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, an AMD Radeon 890M GPU, up to 96GB of RAM, and 4TB of storage, all in the same size as a Mac Mini and at a competitive starting price of $1,129 (on sale right now starting at $899).
As a designated Copilot+ PC (yes, that is a Copilot button on the action front of the device), the aptly named AI X1 Pro is specifically designed to compete with the Mac Mini M4, particularly when it comes to AI features, high-resolution external monitors, and gaming.
Also: I finally found a Windows mini PC with enough power to attract my attention – and it’s $230 off
The AI X1 Pro does all of these things well, with impressive performance, multitasking across multiple monitors, and solid gaming performance, all while running cool and virtually silent. Let’s take a look at what this powerhouse is capable of.
The processor here is top-of-the-line for AMD — it boasts 12 cores and 24 threads with a max clock speed of 5.1GHZ and 80 TOPS for AI-powered tasks. In my benchmarking of the device, it performed very well, on par with the Mac Mini M4 regarding raw output, but like any benchmarking numbers, that’s only part of the picture.
Cinebench 24 MC
Geekbench 6.2.2 SC
Geekbench 6.2.2 MC
Minisforum AI X1 Pro
1,243
2,960
15,375
Asus ProArt P16
1,096
2,804
12,787
Mac Mini M4
972
3,798
14,594
The AI X1 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 and has a built-in power supply, making it ready to go out of the box. However, you’ll want to hook up at least one high-quality monitor to get the most out of it. In my testing, I connected two monitors — one of which was 4K — and their performance was silky-smooth and gorgeous.
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
The device does feature its own audio, but this is one area it doesn’t excel at. The built-in speaker on the device is sufficient for basic content — although I would say my laptop has better audio quality. Similarly, the onboard mic is good enough for quick calls, but I wouldn’t count on it over a dedicated webcam or microphone.
These things are hardly dealbreakers, however, as AI X1 Pro users will want to connect their own speakers with every other peripheral.
Also: 4 PC parts I’m buying to upgrade my computer (and the 7 I’m keeping)
It’s easy, too, with this many ports. It comes with three USB Type-A ports, two USB4s, a 3.5mm combo jack, HDMI, a Kensington Lock, and more — basically, everything you need to fire up and customize your workstation.
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
It also features an Oculink (PCIe 4.0) slot for high-performance storage and docking stations with a bandwidth of up to 64 GB/s. The Oculink can also connect to an external GPU, allowing users to harness a more powerful graphics system for higher frame rates and 4K gaming.
This allows the AI X1 Pro to level up as a gaming machine or a dedicated creator’s device, improving the integrated GPU’s performance. It also supports Rebar, or Resizable Base Address Register, which improves communication between the two.
Gaming performance on the AI X1 Pro is quite good, but the system does require some optimization to fully take advantage of all the powerful hardware here. I fired up a handful of titles on Steam and had no issues, but I will say some of the more memory-demanding games required some settings tinkering to feel like a true gaming rig.
Also: I replaced my monitor with a 34-inch ultrawide OLED for two weeks – here’s my verdict now
I was much more impressed with Minisforum’s cooling technology here, as AMD’s Ryzen 9 already runs cool, but the device’s slightly larger size allows for a bit more in the way of cooling components. The fan kicked on during heavy gaming, but it was quiet enough to go largely unnoticed.
The AI X1 Pro also excels at on-device AI tasks. During testing, I ran offline versions of DeepSeek and OpenAI’s ChatGPT through LM Studio, and both performed exceedingly fast. Even longer, more complex queries, like requests for code, were fast and responsive.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Minisforum AI X1 Pro is essentially a Mac Mini M4 powered by AMD’s powerful Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip. It has some of the fastest AI-powered capabilities I’ve seen on any device, laptop, desktop, or mini.
Like the Mac Mini, it’s certainly capable of gaming, but I wouldn’t peg this as a gaming-first device. Instead, I’d recommend this device for developers and creatives looking to run powerful AI tasks in applications like Deepseek or OpenAI, or users who like to utilize external GPUs to tinker with performance optimization.
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This article was originally published on March 7, 2025, and was updated on June 30, 2025.
Tamron has unveiled the 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, completing its trinity of f/2.8 zoom lenses for mirrorless cameras. The wide-angle zoom joins the existing 28-75mm and 70-180mm f/2.8 lenses in what Tamron calls its “Daisangen” collection.
According to the company, the lens features an updated optical design aimed at delivering high resolution across the frame while maintaining consistent f/2.8 performance throughout the zoom range. At just under one pound (453 g), the 16-30mm maintains the compact profile that has characterized Tamron’s G2 series.
Key Specifications
The 16-30mm covers ultra-wide to moderate wide-angle focal lengths on full-frame sensors, with an aperture range from f/2.8 to f/16. Tamron’s Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive (VXD) linear motor handles autofocus duties, providing quiet operation for video work.
Close focusing reaches 7.5 inches (19.05cm) at the wide end, enabling near-macro capabilities for environmental portraits and creative compositions. The lens accepts 67mm filters and features moisture-resistant construction with fluorine coating on the front element.
Tamron 16-30mm. Credit: Tamron
Mount Availability
The lens will be available in Sony E-mount at the end of July 2025, with the Nikon Z version following in August. Both versions support full autofocus functionality and communication with their respective camera systems.
Users can customize lens functions through Tamron’s Lens Utility software, which allows adjustment of focus ring behavior, focus limiter settings, and other operational parameters for both photo and video applications.
Tamron 16-30mm design. Credit: Tamron
Versatile Design
The lens measures 2.9 x 4.1 inches in diameter and length, making it well-suited for travel and content creation scenarios. The lightweight construction under one pound allows for extended handheld shooting without fatigue. Zoom and focus rings feature improved texture and smoother operation compared to previous generations.
Moisture-resistant construction protects internal components, while fluorine coating on the front element repels water and oil for easier cleaning in adverse conditions. The native Sony E-mount design ensures full compatibility with camera functions, and the 67mm front filter thread accommodates standard circular polarizing and neutral density filters.
Tamron 16-30mm. Credit: Tamron
Applications
The 16-30mm lens targets landscape, architecture, street photography, and astrophotography applications where the wide field of view and fast aperture prove beneficial. The constant f/2.8 aperture enables consistent exposure settings across the zoom range, while the wide aperture aids low-light shooting and shallow depth of field effects.
The lens completes Tamron’s three-lens f/2.8 zoom system, providing focal length coverage from 16mm to 180mm for photographers seeking a compact alternative to larger first-party options.
Pricing and availability
The new lens is now available for pre-ordering at B&H for $929.
Are you a Tamron user? If so, how do you like their lenses? Do you see yourself purchasing this new wide-angle lens? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
