Kerry Wan/ZDNETI've spent large portions of my life looking for ways to extend the battery life on myAndroid phones. Admittedly, that sounds rather dramatic, but growing up with only budget models meant I was constantly tweaking device settings to squeeze every bit of juice out of their batteries. Thanks to this micromanaging, I successfully pushed the batteries on all my past smartphones to their absolute limit. I don't want to horde this knowledge to myself, so I've decided to share it with everyone.Also: I compared the two best Android phones right now - and it was pretty dang closeThere are many different methods for saving battery life. However, there are 12 key settings that you can change right now to see improvements immediately. The following list highlights the most effective, easiest, and quickest tweaks to improve device longevity regardless of the Android phone you're rocking, whether it's the latest model from Samsung, a fancy Google Pixel, or a cutting-edge OnePlus 13. Plus, you won't have to sacrifice the high-quality experience of using your phone.Although the power settings are practically the same on every Android phone you can buy, the process for adjusting them can vary between devices. Be sure to keep this factor in mind when following the steps I lay out because the approach might be slightly different depending on the model you're using.1. Turn off the always-on displayOne of the biggest battery drainers for any smartphone is the always-on display. Companies regularly tell you that this display setting only drains about 1% to 2% an hour, but let's be honest -- it's always way more. It may be nice to glance at your phone while it sits on a table to check the time, but it's probably not worth sacrificing battery life.Also: There's one new Pixel 'upgrade' you might not love - here's how to fix itHow to: Open the Settings app and locate the Lock Screen portion. You'll likely find this portion in the main Settings list or under "Display". From there, locate the option to "always show info" or a simple toggle to enable the Always On Display. Either way, turn the option off and check to make sure your screen goes completely blank when you lock it.2. Enable Adaptive BatteryThere's a handy feature built into Androids called Adaptive Battery, and it's available on most devices. Adaptive Battery can automatically manage your phone's performance and efficiency in the background using special processes to extend your battery life. For example, when you don't need maximum performance for something simple like scrolling through your inbox, the setting will throttle things down and save you some juice.How to: Go to Settings > Battery > Adaptive preferences and check to ensure "Adaptive battery" is enabled. If it's not, flick it on.3. Activate Battery SaverAlongside Adaptive Battery, Battery Saver mode is another helpful feature that can extend the longevity of your smartphone between charges. The feature makes sweeping changes across your device's software, like limiting visual effects, restricting apps in the background, and turning on dark mode if it isn't already on.Also: I never travel without these universal chargers - and they can power laptopsPixel phones take this effort further by having an Extreme Battery Saver, which deactivates more features and pauses most apps. However, because this option greatly restricts an Android phone's performance, I recommend only using Extreme Battery Saver when it's absolutely necessary, such as when the phone's charge is in the single digits.Most, if not all, Android phones possess a Battery Saver function, although they may have different names. On Galaxy phones, for example, it's called Power Saving mode. Others may refer to it as low-power mode. Be sure to visit your phone manufacturer's support website for help on your model.How to: On Pixel phones, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver. You can also choose a schedule for when the feature will activate or turn off automatically. On Galaxy phones, go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery. Flip the toggle switch next to Power Saving to activate the feature.4. Switch to dark mode Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETOver the past few years, many midrange and budget Android phones have followed their flagship brethren by adopting OLED displays. The technology allows individual pixels to dim or completely shut off when not in use. This feature is far more beneficial for battery life than traditional LCD screens with one big backlight. By switching to your phone's dark theme, those pixels will be dimmer far more often and, in turn, save some juice.Also: Finally, I found an Android phone that can replace my $3,500 Sony cameraHow to: Go to Settings > Display on your Android phone. There, you'll find the option to switch between a light and dark theme, plus the choice to have dark mode turn on automatically at a certain time of day. To maximize battery life, I recommend keeping dark mode turned on all the time.5. Adjust your display brightness and sleep timeIt's common knowledge that cranking down your display's brightness can help save battery usage, but it's worth repeating. Modern phones have plenty of brightness, and it's sometimes unnecessary to have the brightness level so high when you're only scrolling Instagram or checking your email.Also, it's important to shorten the time it takes for your phone to go to sleep. Users often set the sleep timer to a minute or more, which can drain your battery when you aren't using your phone, and set it down on a table without locking it. Make these two adjustments, and you'll be on the path to a better battery life.How to: Swipe down once or twice from the top of your phone's display to visit the quick settings menu. You'll see a slider with a picture of a sun or other source of light next to it. Drag the slider to the left to decrease your brightness. To reduce the time it takes for your phone to sleep, go to Settings > Display and change "Screen timeout" to anything below a minute.6. Remove unused accounts Google Pixel 9. Max Buondonno/ZDNETWe've all done this at some point: you set up a new account for a social media app or email service (which you forget about) and then create another account that becomes your primary account for that service or platform. I've gone through this process numerous times. If you set up accounts on your phone, all the old accounts remain, constantly refreshing and draining your battery life in the background. I highly recommend removing some old accounts from your smartphone sooner rather than later.How to: Go to the Settings app and find the accounts section (on Samsung phones, it's called "Accounts and backup", while Pixel phones use "Passwords & accounts"). You'll find a list of all the accounts synced to your phone. Tap on one of them and scroll down to the "Remove account" button. Tap it, and the account will disappear.7. Turn off keyboard sounds and hapticsIf you're using your phone, chances are you're typing on the keyboard pretty often, whether to post to social media or respond to your friend's messages. If you have sound and haptic feedback enabled, your battery may suffer because your phone needs to make a series of vibrations and noises every time you tap a letter. Hearing and feeling the keyboard as you type is a nice experience, but it's not ideal if you want to eke out some extra juice from a full charge.Also:Android 16 release is way ahead of schedule - and here's whyHow to: Open the Settings app and locate "Language and input". This section is where your keyboard settings live. Find the section where you get to choose your default keyboard, then tap the gear icon next to it to manage settings. If you're a Gboard user (like most people), you'll then go to Preferences > Keypress, and disable "Sound on keypress" and "Haptic feedback on keypress".8. Reduce your notifications Xiaomi 15 Ultra (left) and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (right). Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETYou might not realize it, but notifications can be one of the biggest drainers of your phone's battery life. Not only is your phone buzzing and ringing all day, but the apps themselves are constantly refreshing in the background, looking for new notifications to send your way. Most apps have ways of limiting the amount of notifications you get, but the easiest way to turn them off is through your phone's Settings app.How to: Go to Settings > Notifications > "App notifications" to see a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Next to each entry are toggles that, when flipped, will disable all notifications for that particular app.9. Turn off "Hey Google" detectionIf your phone is constantly listening for you to say, "Hey Google", chances are your battery is draining away. Your microphone is active, waiting to hear you say those two magic words that trigger the digital assistant, and it takes a fair amount of energy to run that process all day. Disabling the feature is a no-brainer for anyone who doesn't use the Assistant daily. And let's be honest: how many of us use the assistant daily?How to: Open the Google app on your phone and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Then, visit Settings > Google Assistant > Hey Google & Voice Match and flick off "Hey Google". Now your phone will only trigger the Assistant if you hold down the power button or via another method.10. Reduce your screen's refresh ratePhone screens have gotten really good over the past few years, thanks partly to the faster refresh rates manufacturers have implemented. Whether it's 90Hz, 120Hz, or even faster, increasing the times a screen refreshes helps make animations, scrolling social media, and everyday interactions feel smoother and more responsive. Unfortunately, a high refresh rate also means increased battery usage -- you might sometimes be better off disabling the feature.Also:4 Pixel phone tricks every user should know - including my favoriteHow to: Open the Settings app and navigate to the Display section. Here, you'll find the settings to configure your refresh rate. Most smartphones call the feature something different; Google labels it "Smooth Display" while Samsung calls it "Motion smoothness". Find the setting associated with the refresh rate and revert to the standard rate. Your screen will likely seem a bit choppier as a result, but that's completely normal. It simply means it's operating at 60Hz, the speed at which even the best phones used to run a few years ago.11. Turn off the wireless features you aren't using Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETI've never been a proponent of turning off wireless features, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or location services, to save a phone's battery life. So many apps and services rely on those connections that your Android experience can diminish quickly. However, if you don't use anything that needs Bluetooth or don't use your phone for GPS, it might be worth disabling some of these features to extend your battery life.Also:A smartphone that's also a projector? I tested it, and it's surprisingly goodHow to: On practically every Android phone, you can swipe down once or twice from the top to access quick settings. Here, you'll find icons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location, airplane mode, and more. Touch them once to turn them off, and touch them again to turn them back on. You can also control all these settings through the Settings app, although Quick Settings is the easiest way to access them.12. Use low-power modeLow-power mode can slightly differ from Android phone to Android phone, but the general premise remains the same. This mode disables some features in the background, limits how often apps are refreshed, lowers your screen brightness, reduces the refresh rate, and more to save battery life in a pinch.How to: There are several ways to enable low-power mode on your Android phone, but the most common is swiping down twice from the top of your screen to get to quick settings and then tapping the battery shortcut. The shortcut should look like a battery with a plus sign or something similar. You'll then get notified that low-power mode (or whatever it's called on your phone) has been enabled. You can follow the same steps to disable this mode.See also

Amazon/ZDNETAmazon has had a busy last few weeks. After a smashing Devices and Services event last month, at which the company unveiled new Alexa upgrades and teased Alexa+ companion devices on the horizon soon, the retail giant is looking to get back to its roots: online shopping.With President's Day behind us, ZDNET's team of experts is gearing up for the second annual Amazon Big Spring Sale. As ZDNET's deal connoisseur, I'm using my extensive hands-on tech experience and seasoned commerce skills to cover all things sales and deals, including breaking down everything you need to know to shop like a pro any time of the year. Amazon is springing into spring with new chances to save big. Last year, the retail giant announced its first-ever Big Spring Sale event from March 20-25. Amazon slashed prices and offered near-holiday-priced deals on tablets, TVs, headphones, robot vacuums, home goods, and popular flagship Amazon products. I expect the sale to return this year, plus many of the same deals.Amazon has not officially confirmed the Big Spring Sale for 2025, nor has the brand publicized any specific sale dates. However, ZDNET's research reveals that the Spring Sale will likely return. Conversations on Amazon's seller forum reveal the News_Amazon account encouraging sellers to submit deals for the "Big Spring Sale" by March 17, 2025. Based on this knowledge, I expect Amazon's spring sale event to kick off sometime afterward, likely during the last week of the month. Until then, I'll keep you posted with everything there is to know about Amazon's incoming Big Spring Sale, so check back here as more information becomes available. When is Amazon's Big Spring Sale? Amazon has not confirmed 2025's Big Spring Sale dates, but based on ZDNET's research, I expect the seasonal savings events to return sometime after March 17, 2025. Our best estimates place the sale sometime after March 20, when it kicked off last year. In 2024, the Big Spring sale lasted through March 25. Show more What is Amazon's Big Spring Sale? Amazon frequently runs sales several times during the year, and I saw tons of products discounted ahead of President's Day last month. Its most popular Prime Day sales occur in Oct. and July.Last year, Amazon introduced the Big Spring Sale, signaling a new annual sale event on the retail giant's calendar. It was not a Prime-exclusive event. However, expect to see select exclusive Prime member offers.Also: Everything you need to know about Alexa+, Amazon's new generative AI assistantEssentially, what you can expect from Amazon is tons of deals across almost every product category, all available for a limited time. Show more Do I have to be a Prime member to shop Amazon's Big Spring Sale? No, you don't have to be a Prime member to shop this sale event. All customers can shop the Amazon Big Spring Sale, although, like last year, Prime members will presumably have special access to select exclusive deals.If you're not a Prime member yet, you canjoinbefore the Big Spring Sale kickoff to receivemember benefitslike free shipping, entertainment, exclusive savings, and more. Show more How much is an Amazon Prime membership? Amazon Prime costs $15 per month, or you can purchase an annual membership for $139, savingseveral dollars.College students and those aged 18-24can get a discount and pay nearly $8 per month or $69 per year. In addition, those with qualified government assistance (which may include select seniors) canreceive a Prime membershipfor just $7 per month after their free trial. Show more How can I maximize the Big Spring Sale to save? As a commerce and advice editor, I can recommend a few things to help you maximize Amazon's sales. If you want to shop the sale, you'll want to access a Prime account, even if the Big Spring Sale is not a Prime-exclusive event. In addition to free two-day shipping, membership is easy to set up and gives you access to exclusive offers on the site. Plus, you canuse a free trialto shop for the best savings without spending a dime on a membership.If you end up starting a free trial (or already have Prime), ensure your payment options (like one-click settings and your default delivery address) are correct. This way, you can check out quickly if you need to during the sale.Also:7 exciting AI features coming with Alexa+ (and what Amazon devices support it)Other ways to prepare for spring savings include researching and planning potential purchases, listing want and need items, and setting a budget before sales. Show more When is the next Prime Day? October Prime Day returned Oct. 8-9, 2024. If Amazon sticks to its typical sale calendar, the next Prime Day sale (and the first of 2025) will likely be in July. However, there are still a few more chances to save until then, including during the Big Spring Sale. Show more What types of deals can I find during the Amazon Big Spring Sale? Last year, Amazon offered customers 50% (or sometimes more) off products across multiple categories, such as beauty, sports and outdoor, home, apparel, and electronics. This year, I'm expecting much of the same, but we will know more when Amazon eventually announces the dates of the Big Spring Sale, plus some extra info on what we can expect. Show more How long will Amazon's Spring Sale deals last? Last year, Amazon's Big Spring Sale ran March 20-25, so expect multiple days of deals and plenty of opportunities to save this year. However, as with all sale events, there will be lingering offers from Amazon and competing retailers after the official sale ends. The ZDNET team will cover the best deals on top-tested tech before, during, and after the Big Spring Sale, so I'll keep you posted. Show more Are there already Amazon Big Spring Sale deals I can shop right now? Although the Big Spring Sale likely doesn't officially kick off for a few weeks, the retail giant always has many discounted products. We spend time shopping for the best Amazon deals available daily, no matter the time of year, to bring serious savings to our ZDNET readers. Show more Are other retailers participating in Amazon's Spring Sale? Last year, several retailers jumped on the spring sale train and offered seasonal savings that overlapped with, preceded, or followed Amazon's Big Spring Sale. This year, we expect similar concurrent sales again, likely from other major competitors like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and more. At the very least, expect many retailers to drop their prices to match Amazon's and give customers like you a choice of where to buy from. Show more Why trust ZDNET to help you shop? As a member of the ZDNET staff, I only write about deals myself or a team member would want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. I look for deals where products are at least 20% off (or hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is on sale and how frequently it drops.I also look over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals I recommend. These recommendations may also be based on my testing (or testing by another ZDNET expert), plus extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best tech.Plus, in 2025, ZDNET refined its approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision. Show more Amazon Spring Sale 2025

(Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images) As concerns about AI displacing the global workforce continue to ... [+] mount, Fiverr says it wants to give power back to freelance workers across the world.Getty ImagesSince generative AI and LLMs became the catchphrase of the tech industry, the conversation around work has been largely one of pessimism, where AI automates almost everything and displaces most people in the global workforce. Indeed, there is some truth to that. AI may well displace certain jobs, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted in a 2023 interview with The Atlantic, and many professionals particularly in the gig economy fear it will undercut their value, flooding markets with low-cost, AI-generated content.However, in reality, AI may actually do the opposite, empowering freelancers across the globe rather than replacing them. Instead of competing with large-scale AI models designed to mimic human creativity, many freelancers are now using AI in their workflows to improve their productivity levels.Thats, at least, the argument of Micha Kaufman, CEO of Fiverr, who told me that were witnessing a pivotal moment where AI can either marginalize human talent or become the most powerful tool freelancers have ever had. The technology itself, Kaufman said, isnt inherently disruptive its how we design it. When AI amplifies what makes each creator unique rather than homogenizing their work, we transform it from a threat into a multiplier.A Competitive Advantage, Not A CompetitorFiverr recently launched Fiverr Go, an open AI platform designed to augment rather than replace freelancers and preserve freelancer autonomy. The current AI landscape often treats human expertise as free training data, said freelance economy expert Daud Sulaimon Abiola. This creates an unsustainable model where professionals are effectively training their own replacements.But with Fiverr Go and its suite of tools including a Personal AI Creation Model and Personal AI Assistant freelancers now have more power, not less, making them more productive. In addition to helping freelancers become more productive, this suite of AI tools could also help freelancers to deal with mental health and burnout. Research published by the European Trade Union Institute indicates that without the protective shield of professional identity, freelancers are more susceptible to occupational stress, anxiety, burnout and depression.The unpredictability of income and the need to wear multiple hats creator, marketer, negotiator often make freelancing mentally exhausting. So, its unsurprising to see that freelancers often deal with not just depression, but a wide range of mental health issues, as recorded in the library of mental health.But by handling administrative tasks like scheduling, invoicing and client communication, Fiverr Gos Personal AI Assistant allows freelancers to focus on their core work without burning out. It can draft responses, manage time effectively and even flag early signs of work overload, giving freelancers the breathing room they often lack.Then, theres also the Personal AI Creation Model, which allows creators to train AI exclusively on their own body of work, maintaining complete control over their creative process and rights, according to the companys press release. Creators configure their models, set their prices, and retain ownership of their creative work, ensuring they benefit directly from their AI-enhanced capabilities, the press release said.The Transaction Data AdvantageUnlike AI models trained on scraped web data, platforms with access to real-world transaction data are in a unique position to build AI tools that reflect how successful professional engagements actually unfold. Fiverrs leverage on its proprietary transaction data to build Fiverr Go is a great example of what companies could do with their transaction data.As Kaufman noted, what sets the next generation of AI tools apart isn't just technological sophistication its real-world applicability. This is why, according to him, Fiverrs billions of interactions across diverse industries puts the company in a great position to build an AI platform that truly impacts freelancers positively. Were building an AI ecosystem that understands not just what looks good or sounds right, but what actually delivers results in professional settings. This isnt about replacing expertise its about giving talented individuals the power of one hundred, he said.Creative Rights And OwnershipOne of the most critical questions in this transformation is about who owns the AI-generated enhancements freelancers create. If independent professionals are using AI to scale their expertise, should they retain control over their models, or will platforms claim ownership?Creative rights and ownership will be the defining issue of this AI era, noted Kaufman. We built Fiverr Go to ensure creators remain at the center of the creative economy. Every creator on our platform retains control of their models and benefits directly from them. If we build AI that exploits creativity rather than protects it, we risk extinguishing the very human ingenuity that drives progress. This isnt just about ethics, but about sustainability. A world where creators arent motivated to create is a world where innovation stagnates.In practical terms, this means that the future of freelancing will be shaped by the policies platforms set around AI assistance. Those that prioritize freelancer autonomy allowing professionals to train and use their own AI models without losing rights will likely become the preferred marketplaces for high-value work.Reshaping The Freelance EconomyYet, this isnt just about freelancers alone. As businesses rethink how they hire, pay and evaluate work, employees who upskill and learn how to use AI effectively may gain an edge over those who dont. As the industry mantra goes, AI will not replace you; someone who knows how to use AI will. And this is already happening in industries like copywriting, design, consulting and software development, where AI-powered tools can automate repetitive aspects of the job while preserving human expertise.The platforms that survive this transition will be those that empower professionals to leverage AI on their own terms, said Abiola. The alternative trying to automate away human expertise is not just ethically questionable, it's commercially shortsighted.With platforms like Fiverr already investing in AI-driven systems to empower freelancers, this trend is likely to grow, creating a new economic model where freelancers who embrace AI lead the pack while others, eventually, follow.

Assassin's Creed: ShadowsCredit: UbiSoftIf youre a little worried about Assassins Creed Shadows, its a logical worry. History suggests multiple delays can be a bad omen for video games, but thats not always the case.As a fan of the series, Im personally hoping it is as cool as it appears. Here are the 10 things you should know about Assassins Creed Shadows.Release DateAssassins Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20, 2025. After two delays from its original November 15, 2024, target and a subsequent February 14, 2025, date, this one seems to be rock solid as we sit just under two weeks from launch.According to Ubisoft, it delayed the game to polish and refine the experience. They hope to ensure it meets fan expectations.PlatformsASC will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Ubisoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store), Amazon Luna, and Macs with Apple Silicon (via the Mac App Store), with a future release planned for iPad. This will be the first title in the series in over a decade to skip last-gen consoles like PS4 and Xbox One. Ubisoft hopes ASC delivers the sort of visual fidelity that would put it out of range for older consoles.Pre-Order OffersConsumers who pre-order Assassins Creed Shadows will receive the "Thrown to the Dogs" bonus quest at launch and free access to the "Claws of Awaji" expansion, set to release later in 2025.Claws of Awaji has over 10 hours of additional content. The available editions include the Standard Edition ($69.99), Digital Deluxe Edition ($89.99) with extra cosmetic packs, and a Collectors Edition ($280), which is exclusive to GameStop.The super-hardcore physical edition features a dual-character statue, steelbook, artbook, and more. Ubisoft+ Premium subscribers get the Ultimate Edition on day one. There are several pre-order offers. Id advise visiting the website of the store youre considering to weigh your options based on the offer and availability if youre getting a physical version.The Gameplay Features Dual Protagonists with Unique PlaystylesThe two protagonists for ASC are Naoe, a stealth-focused shinobi assassin from Iga Province, and Yasuke, a powerful African samurai based on a historical figure. Users will be able to switch back and forth between the two characters.As you might expect, Naoe and Yasuke have different strengths. Naoe excels in parkour and silent eliminations, using tools like a grappling hook, while Yasuke dominates in melee combat. This dual-protagonist system is similar to Assassins Creed Syndicate. The dual-character approach is designed to work well with some of the gameplay systems.The Feudal Japan Setting and an Open WorldASC is set in the late Sengoku period. The events in the game happen during Japans unification under Oda Nobunaga. A huge and well-crafted open world was built to replicate central Japans historical provinces (e.g., Iga, Omi).If the images and video Ive seen do it justice, ASC could be one of the more visually impressive games to release this year.Seasonal and Weather DynamicsAdding to the visual performance, ASC will introduce a seasonal cycle (spring, summer, autumn, winter) that works with the events of the campaign. According to Ubisoft, the weather conditions will impact gameplay. Each season will present unique structures and hiding places. For example, summer offers bushes for hiding, while winters snow will crunch under your feet, potentially alerting enemies.Im excited to see how this is executed. Im a sucker for timelapse concepts in video games.Customization and Hideout FeaturesThis year, players can build and customize a shinobi hideout, including a forge for weapon upgrades and aesthetic ornaments via the Sekiryu Hideout Pack.Users can customize their gear on five value levels while also leveling up equipment stats. Its a home base that seems to be interwoven into the campaigns story.Combat and StealthASCs combat system offers multi-weapon fighting, a parry system, and signature moves for Naoe and Yasuke. As usual, stealth mechanics are a major part of any Assassins Creed title.Story and Historical ContextASC isnt attempting to be historically accurate but rather a creative take on a time period in Japanese history. It appears Ubisoft deliberately addresses the exclusion of certain races and gender representation through the identities of its two protagonists.Im interested in seeing if any tough topics are explored in the games dialogue.Post-Launch Content and Future PotentialUbisoft looks to have plans of expanding ASC further than previous titles in terms of post-launch content. In addition to the Claws of Awaji expansion, ASC appears to be headed for a co-op mode, though this is unconfirmed. New content will likely be introduced through the Animus Hub, a new launcher that offers weekly challenges and a free battle pass, integrating ASC with post-Syndicate titles. Be on the lookout for more coverage on ASC as we get closer to the release.

AMD looks to have hit it out of the park with the Radeon 9070 XT. Reviews have been universally positive, and reception from gamers has been even better. Now, AMD just needs to follow through with the next step: getting these GPUs into the hands of gamers at the expected MSRP. Hopefully, we'll see this happen over the next few days.Before that, we need to take a closer look at the cheaper option the Radeon RX 9070 (the non-XT model). Interestingly, AMD has priced it at $550, the same alleged MSRP as the RTX 5070.The new vanilla Radeon RX 9070 should generally be faster than Nvidia's RTX 5070, at least based on what we saw from the XT before. As an added bonus, AMD's GPU comes with more VRAM 16GB vs. 12GB for the GeForce, which is less than ideal for those looking to take full advantage of RTX features like frame generation and ray tracing.Radeon RX 9070 XTRadeon RX 9070Radeon RX 7900 XTXRadeon RX 7900 XTRadeon RX 7900 GREPrice MSRP$600$550$1000$900$550Release DateMarch 2025Dec 2022Feb 2024ProcessTSMC N4PTSMC N5 (GCD) / TSMC N6 (MCD)Die Size (mm)357 mm529 mmCore Config4096 : 256 : 1283584 : 224 : 1286144 : 384 : 1925376 : 336 : 1925120 : 320 : 192L2 Cache (MB)64 MB96 MB80 MB64 MBGPU Boost Clock2400 MHz2070 MHz2500 MHz2400 MHz2245 MHzMemory Capacity16 GB24 GB20 GB16 GBMemory Speed20 GbpsMemory TypeGDDR6Bus Type / Bandwidth256-bit, 640 GB/s384-bit, 960 GB/s320-bit, 800 GB/s256-bit, 576 GB/sTotal Board Power304W220W355W315W260WHowever, in our opinion, the RTX 5070 competition isn't the biggest issue for the RX 9070 that would be its big brother, the 9070 XT, which is fetching a mere extra $50.This means the standard RX 9070 is offering a small 8% discount, which on its own may not seem like much. However, looking at the specs, it has 13% fewer cores and texture mapping units, suggesting that the performance downgrade will be greater than the price difference suggests.We have a lot of data to go over, but before diving into performance benchmarks, let's take a look at some of the graphics cards we have on hand to test.The CardsFor testing, we used the Sapphire Pure RX 9070, along with the PowerColor Hellhound and XFX Quicksilver. Let's see how they compare.The Hellhound had a GPU junction temperature of 59C, while the Quicksilver was slightly cooler at 58C. The Pure was the coolest of the three, reaching just 53C.Looking at hotspot temperatures, the Quicksilver was the coolest at 69C, followed by the Pure at 71C, and the Hellhound at 76C, which is still a very reasonable hotspot temperature.All three models had a peak memory temperature of 86C, with VRM temperatures staying below 70C, so there were no concerns in that area.In terms of fan speed, the Hellhound operated the quietest, running at just 930 RPM. The Pure and Quicksilver were also quiet, with fan speeds ranging between 1,000 and 1,100 RPM.Regarding clock speeds, the Hellhound had the lowest, averaging 2,745 MHz. The Pure clocked 4% higher, averaging 2,840 MHz, while the Quicksilver was close behind at 2,810 MHz.Overall, all three models delivered excellent results.Now, let's dive into the FPS dataTest System SpecsCPUAMD Ryzen 7 9800X3DMotherboardMSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi (BIOS 7E49v1A23 - ReBAR enabled)MemoryG.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 [CL30-38-38-96]Graphics CardsGeForce RTX 4070 GeForce RTX 4070 Super GeForce RTX 4070 Ti GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super GeForce RTX 4080 GeForce RTX 4080 Super GeForce RTX 4090 GeForce RTX 5070 GeForce RTX 5080 GeForce RTX 5090 Radeon RX 7700 XT Radeon RX 7800 XT Radeon RX 7900 GRE Radeon RX 7900 XT Radeon RX 7900 XTX Radeon RX 9070 Radeon RX 9070 XTATX CaseMSI MEG Maestro 700L PZPower SupplyMSI MPG A 1000G ATX 3.0 80 Plus Gold 1000WStorageMSI Spatium 1TB M470 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2Operating SystemWindows 11 24H2Display DriverNvidia GeForce Game Ready 572.60 AMD Radeon Adrenalin 24.12.1 / 24.30.31.03BenchmarksMarvel RivalsFirst, let's take a look at Marvel Rivals performance. The 9070 is essentially on par with the 5070 at 1440p, rendering 77 fps on average. This makes it 13% slower than the 9070 XT and 7% slower than the 7900 XT.When increasing the resolution to 4K, the 9070 falls behind the 5070 by a 7% margin, rendering just 41 fps on average similar to the old RTX 3080 and only 5% faster than the 7900 GRE.Stalker 2: Heart of ChornobylNext, we have Stalker 2, where the 9070 is just 5% slower than the 9070 XT at 1440p, which allows it to edge out the RTX 5070 by a narrow 6% margin.However, moving up to 4K significantly impacts performance, making the 9070 18% slower than the XT version. It renders just 32 fps on average, putting it roughly on par with the RTX 5070.Counter-Strike 2For Counter-Strike 2, the 9070 doesn't stand out at 1440p. Although it is only 6% slower than the XT version, it also lags 7% behind the RTX 5070.Increasing the resolution to 4K doesn't improve the situation. Here, the 9070 is 10% slower than the 5070 and 8% slower than the 9070 XT.Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2The Space Marine 2 performance is quite strong. The 9070 is just 5% slower than the XT version, putting it on par with the RTX 4070 Super, 7900 XT, and, surprisingly, the RTX 5080. For some reason, the new Blackwell GPUs struggle in this title, which explains why the 9070 appears 24% faster than the RTX 5070.Things get even worse for Blackwell GPUs at 4K, where the 9070 is 57% faster than the 5070. Something is clearly off here, and Nvidia will likely need to address this at the driver level.Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom LibertyNext, we have Cyberpunk 2077, a title where Radeon GPUs have always performed well provided ray tracing is disabled. At 1440p, the 9070 is 10% slower than the XT version but 15% faster than the RTX 5070, making for a strong win.At 4K, this margin increases to 20%, keeping the 9070 comfortably ahead of the RTX 5070.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 tends to favor AMD hardware, and the results reflect that. At 1440p, the 9070 is 8% slower than the 9070 XT but, more importantly, 40% faster than the RTX 5070. These results might seem surprising, but the data is accurate.At 4K, the 9070 trails the XT version by 10%, yet still outperforms the 5070 by an impressive 44% margin.Dragon Age: The VeilguardIn Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the 9070 is 7% slower than the XT version, which puts it neck and neck with the RTX 5070 at 1440p, both averaging 79 fps.At 4K, the situation remains the same, with both the 5070 and 9070 averaging 53 fps, making them 7% slower than the 9070 XT.Hogwarts LegacyTesting Hogwarts Legacy at 1440p shows the 9070 coming in just 2% slower than the 9070 XT, allowing it to surpass the RTX 5070 by 7%.At 4K, the gap widens slightly, with the 9070 trailing the XT by 8%, yet still outperforming the 5070 by a solid 21% margin.The Last of Us Part IThe final individual game we'll examine is The Last of Us Part I, though we'll also discuss ray tracing performance shortly.At 1440p, the 9070 is 15% slower than the 9070 XT, putting it exactly on par with the RTX 5070.At 4K, the 9070 remains 23% slower than the XT version, once again matching the 5070, both averaging 48 fps.Performance Summary1440pAcross the 18 games tested, the Radeon 9070 was on average 8% slower than the 9070 XT not a terrible result. However, it was also just 4% faster than the RTX 5070 in mostly raster-based gaming, which may not be a big enough advantage.4KAt 4K, the Radeon 9070 ends up 12% slower than the 9070 XT, which is disappointing given that it is only 8% cheaper based on MSRP. It was also 8% faster than the RTX 5070, which is a slight improvement, but not a major win considering both should be priced at $550.Power ConsumptionWhen it comes to power consumption, the Radeon 9070 draws anywhere from 15% to 23% less power than the 9070 XT in our testing, making it the more efficient option.Compared to the RTX 5070, power consumption varies from just a few extra watts to as much as 20% higher. A worst-case scenario was Starfield, where the 9070 consumed 20% more power than the 5070 for only a 6% performance gain.Ray Tracing BenchmarksRT - Metro Exodus EnhancedNow for some ray tracing performance, starting with Metro Exodus Enhanced at 1440p. Here, the 9070 was 15% slower than the XT version, placing it right alongside the RTX 5070 not a bad result.At 4K, it remained 15% slower than the XT model and 6% slower than the 5070. While not spectacular, this is a much more competitive showing compared to the previous generation.RT - Alan Wake IIIn our 9070 XT review, we found that RDNA4 GPUs struggle with Alan Wake II at the High RT preset. Unsurprisingly, the 9070 doesn't fare well, averaging just 31 fps. While that makes it 21% slower than the RTX 5070, it's worth noting that the 5070 also struggles, delivering just 39 fps.At 4K, performance is completely unplayable, but since we have the data, we're including it for those interested.RT - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom LibertyNext is Cyberpunk 2077, using the Ultra RT preset with quality upscaling at 1440p. Here, the 9070 is 16% slower than the XT version, roughly matching the RTX 5070 at 57 fps.At 4K, the 9070 averages 31 fps, making it 14% slower than the 9070 XT, once again matching the RTX 5070.RT - Marvel's Spider-Man RemasteredIn Spider-Man Remastered, the 1440p results are mostly CPU-limited, meaning the 9070 performs identically to the 9070 XT and RTX 5070.At 4K, where the CPU bottleneck is reduced, the 9070 is 7% slower than the XT model but manages to be 10% faster than the RTX 5070 an excellent result for AMD.RT - Dying Light 2 Stay HumanThe 9070 trails the 5070 in Dying Light 2 at 1440p, coming in 6% slower, and it is also 11% slower than the 9070 XT. However, it does manage to be 10% faster than the 7900 XT.At 4K, it falls 13% behind the XT model and is also 11% slower than the RTX 5070.RT - Black Myth: WukongUnfortunately, the RDNA4 GPUs struggle in Black Myth: Wukong with Very High RT enabled. While the RTX 5070 delivers an unimpressive 46 fps at 1440p with upscaling, it is still significantly better than the 25 fps the 9070 manages.With performance this low, there's little reason to discuss 4K upscaled results, but we've included the data for those interested.RT - Indiana Jones and the Great CircleLastly, in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the Full RT setting is essential for the best experience. However, in this case, ray tracing isn't viable on either the 9070 or the 5070. For this game, a 5080 or 5090 is necessary, which will undoubtedly make Nvidia very happy.Ray Tracing Performance Summary1440pAcross the six games tested for ray tracing performance, the Radeon 9070 was on average 13% slower than the 9070 XT and 16% slower than the RTX 5070. Not a bad result for a Radeon GPU, and it also means the 9070 is a whopping 26% faster than the 7900 XTX previous-gen flagship.4KThe 4K upscaled data is less relevant since both the 9070 and 5070 often fail to deliver acceptable ray tracing performance at this higher resolution. However, for those interested, the 9070 was 28% slower than the 5070 in this scenario.Cost per FrameMSRPNow, let's look at the cost per frame data. This analysis now includes results from Space Marine 2 and Black Ops 6, meaning the data is based on an 18-game average. Both titles favor AMD, though we expect Nvidia to address its issues in Space Marine 2 at some point. However, so far, there have been no updates on that front.The data shows the 9070 XT offering the best value per frame, with the non-XT version providing 4% worse value per frame. While the Radeon 9070 offers better overall value compared to the very poor RTX 5070, it still doesn't make full sense in our opinion, and should be priced at $500.Retail PricingCompared to retail pricing from last year, the Radeon 9070 series still slots in quite favorably, offering the best value. However, the 9070's $550 MSRP still doesn't make much sense relative to the 9070 XT, meaning the XT version is the obvious choice at these price points.What We LearnedThe most obvious conclusion we can make about the Radeon RX 9070 is that if available at the MSRP, this model should be ignored in favor of the 9070 XT. For an extra $50 (a 9% price increase), you get ~14% better performance. Everything else is identical: same VRAM, same architecture, etc. so the XT is simply the better buy.Not surprisingly though, in the current turbulent GPU market, pricing and availability will ultimately determine the Radeon 9070's value. While supply of the RX 9070 series GPUs appears strong, there are concerns about the availability of MSRP models. We will revisit this topic next week with a detailed update on GPU pricing, and we'll continue to monitor the situation closely.As it stands, the Radeon 9070 is an unusual product, though not out of character for AMD. Last generation, AMD priced the 7900 XT just $100 below the 7900 XTX a 10% discount, despite having 17% less VRAM and 17% lower performance. This pricing strategy didn't make sense and was largely met with negative reviews.But that didn't stop AMD. They repeated the same pricing strategy with the 7800 XT and 7700 XT, making the 7700 XT only 10% cheaper, even though it had 25% less VRAM and was 16% slower. Once again, this resulted in mostly negative reviews for the 7700 XT. So, this is a repeat strategy from AMD a bold move, to say the least. However, no one outside of AMD seems to understand this approach, and even some within AMD appear equally confused.Now, setting aside the fact that the Radeon 9070 XT is the obvious choice, let's pretend that option doesn't exist and make this a straight RX 9070 vs. RTX 5070 battle, who wins there?In terms of value, the Radeon RX 9070 offers 8% better cost per frame for raster performance. However, for ray tracing-heavy workloads, the RTX 5070 is on average 16% faster assuming you don't exceed its 12GB VRAM buffer (as happened in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle). The memory limitations of the RTX 5070 will likely become a bigger issue in the future, raising concerns about its long-term viability.You could certainly argue that, right now, RT performance is a win for the RTX 5070, with DLSS 4 upscaling being another advantage. However, early impressions of FSR 4 suggest it is competitive, making it a viable alternative.In our opinion, the Radeon RX 9070 appears to be the better product overall. It is generally faster and has 16GB of VRAM, which should age better over the next 3 4 years. Though ultimately, it doesn't matter as you wouldn't buy either product at the proposed MSRP, you would simply buy the faster 9070 XT and call it a day.Shopping Shortcuts:AMD Radeon RX 9070 on AmazonAMD Radeon RX 9070 XT on AmazonNvidia GeForce RTX 5070 on AmazonNvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti on AmazonAMD Radeon RX 7900 XT on AmazonNvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super on AmazonAMD Radeon RX 7800 XT on Amazon

With the introduction of the new M4 MacBook Air, its time to say goodbye to some of the older models. This time, both the M3 and the M2 MacBook Air will disappear from Apple Store shelves. Unlike the M3, however, the M2 isnt being discontinued completely it will still be available at certain retailers.This gives people a chance to get an amazing laptop (the laptop Im writing on right now) at a really good price. TechRadar has already spotted certain M2 MacBook Air configurations on Amazon selling for as low as $699. Thats 30% off MSRP and 30% less than the new M4 model.Recommended VideosIf youre unsure which model is best for you I can vouch for the M2. If youre a typical laptop user like myself who doesnt do much more than browsing, word processing, video streaming, and some light programming, the M2 provides great performance and battery life. If youre not on a tight budget, the M4 will stay performant for longer and the new lower price is a great deal in my opinion but theres no need to stretch your budget to accommodate the M4 if youd prefer not to.As for the M3 MacBook Airs untimely disappearance this could be down to the general problems Apple encountered with this chip. From a users perspective, it performs well and there are no problems with the devices it powers, but industry experts believe that Apple had trouble with the first-generation 3nm technology the M3 uses. The company moved onto the M4 and second-generation 3nm tech quickly and could want to stop producing base M3 chips sooner rather than later.Editors Recommendations

Everyone is excited to learn about the ultra slim iPhone 17 Air that Apple is working on, but many people have expressed concerns about its potential battery life, given the small amount of space that will be available for a battery within the device. With a reported thickness of just 5.5mm, and apparently a large screen of up to 6.7 inches in size, the iPhone 17 Air seeks to cram a lot of functionality into a very slim form.But with a thin device always comes a tricky problem: how to fit in a battery large enough to hold a reasonable amount of charge. According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air will solve this problem by making use of a high-density battery.Recommended VideosIn a post about a future Apple foldable device, Kuo wrote that it will use the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17, a detail which has Apple watchers intrigued. If correct, the iPhone 17 Air would be the first Apple iPhone to make use of high-density battery cells, which can pack more energy into a small package.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThough Kuo did not share any specific figures on the capacity of the battery, the use of this newer technology could help the device to maintain a reasonable battery life even with its thin form. MacRumors points out that the device has other factors helping its battery life too, including a power-efficient C1 modem, and more internal space for a battery created by ditching the Ultra Wide camera.These factors suggest that Apple is serious about maintaining a decent battery life, which will come as a relief to users. While an ultra thin phone is a nice upgrade to have over a typical thicker device, a phone whose battery cant last through a day of use is not something anyone wants.Well have to wait for more official details on the iPhone Air 17 specs though, as the device is expected to be officially unveiled later this year in September.Editors Recommendations

We are going to release very strong models that are going to outperform DeepSeek pretty soon, Mistral AI co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch said in an interview.

Latest season of Netflix hit showed the pitfalls of following singles in the Twin Cities, where everyone is connected

Blackbird numbers have fallen in the UK as the Usutu virus has taken holdYtje Veenstra/ShutterstockA deadly virus is killing blackbirds across the UK. Beyond the risk to the birds, its spread indicates that mosquito-borne viruses now pose a growing threat to humans and animals in the country, in part as a result of climate change.The virus in question, Usutu, originated in South Africa in 1959 but is now widespread in Europe. It causes deadly disease in certain bird species, particularly blackbirds, and was first detected in the UK in 2020. In some parts of the country, most notably London, blackbird populations have dropped by more than 40 per cent since 2018. We first noticed the decline at the same time as Usutu popped up, says Hugh Hanmer at the British Trust for Ornithology. AdvertisementAlthough devastating for bird life, Usutu poses a low risk to humans and mammals. Infections in people are rare and generally only cause a mild fever, but the arrival of the virus in the UK marked the first time a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis a disease that can be transmitted from an animal to a human had emerged in animal hosts in the country. Virus experts are keeping a close watch on how far and fast the disease is spreading because it could be a template for the future spread of other mosquito-borne diseases. For example, the West Nile virus spreads in the same way as Usutu and requires the same environmental conditions. The same mosquitoes that can transmit Usutu typically can transmit West Nile, and the same birds which act as hosts [for Usutu] can also act as hosts of West Nile, says Arran Folly at the UKs Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).Humans can also be infected by West Nile virus from a mosquito bite, but its symptoms can be more severe than those of Usutu. Around 20 per cent of those infected will experience symptoms, which include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which can be fatal. There is no known human vaccine.Climate change has helped accelerate the spread of West Nile virus through northern and eastern Europe, research shows, as the virus thrives in warm summer temperatures. In the Netherlands, Usutu was first detected in 2016 and West Nile virus followed in 2020.UK officials fear a similar pattern will play out in their country, with studies demonstratingthat the climate there is becoming increasingly hospitable to mosquito-borne viruses. The idea is that, if we have Usutu here, West Nile is probably going to come at some point and is likely to persist, given the right conditions, says Folly. In response to the threat, APHA launched a project in 2023 to track the emergence and transmission pathways of Usutu and other mosquito-borne viruses in wild birds. This virus-tracing infrastructure will be vital if the country is to respond quickly to West Niles arrival, says Folly. Our real goal, or drive from a governmental point of view, is to be able to detect these [new viruses] circulating in animal populations before we get transmission to humans.Reina Sikkema at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam has been studying the emergence of Usutu and West Nile virus in the Netherlands. Although West Nile hasnt been detected since 2022, she believes the virus is circulating at a low level, kept in check currently by the countrys relatively cool climate. I believe it is present, but it needs the right circumstances to flare up, she says. A UK detection of West Nile is now all but inevitable, says Sikkema, but she believes similar climatic factors could prevent the virus spreading too widely for now.But rising summer temperatures, including the increasing frequency of tropical nights which the UKs Met Office weather agency defines as when minimum temperatures fail to fall below 20C could change the picture in the UK, the Netherlands and other northern European nations in coming years, warns Sikkema. Mosquito-borne disease is not [just] on your Spanish holiday or when you go to the South Americas, says Folly.As well as the potential risk of West Nile virus to people, Folly says we shouldnt forget what Usutu is doing to the UKs blackbirds: If 40 per cent of humans dropped dead in Greater London, youd know about it quite quickly.Topics: