China’s state security minister Chen Yixin urged global AI guardrails, calling it a new arms race
He outlined five risks: ideological manipulation, infrastructure attacks, data leaks, development gaps, and espionage
US officials likewise warn against losing AI dominance to China, intensifying geopolitical rivalry
China’s Minister of State Security has called for global regulation and guardrails on Artificial Intelligence (AI), as the nascent technology turns into a “new arena for strategic rivalry among major powers”. In other words, the AI race is the new arms race and humanity needs rules before it spirals out of control.
Chen Yixin made the claims in a new article on China Cyberspace, a journal run by internet watchdog body the Cyberspace Administration of China.
In the article, Chen highlighted five key risks of AI development:
Ideological security risk
Critical information infrastructure risk
Data leaks risk
Development gap risk
Espionage risk
Ideological security risk
Artificial Intelligence could be “leveraged by hostile forces” to create fake news and other harmful information, systematically creating discontent and dividing the population, Chen said.
Discussing risks to critical information infrastructure, he said that as models advance, the barrier to entry lowers, making disruptive cyberattacks quicker and easier to pull off.
“Foreign intelligence agencies are heavily exploiting smart web crawlers, data mining and profiling technologies to harvest sensitive information, including critical state data, business secrets, and personal information,” he said.
He also warned that people are recklessly sharing sensitive data with foreign AI tools, which could result in catastrophic data leaks. Apparently, open source agents like OpenClaw often come with vulnerabilities that could result in remotely-triggered data spills.
When it comes to the development gap risk, Yixin warned that a handful of major players are severing the global AI supply chain and creating a monopoly of closed-source ecosystems. Finally, he urged for the creation of early-warning mechanisms and public advisories which should name and shame foreign nation-state actors using AI for espionage, data theft, and disinformation campaigns.
US vs China
Expectedly, Yixin did not name any specific countries, but it’s easy to read the United States’ name between the lines, the South China Morning Post hints in its report, adding that the US administration recently warned it could not allow China surpassing it on AI development.
Indeed, less than a week ago, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the country would face dire consequences should it lose the AI race against China. "There is no day after tomorrow if China wins at this," Bessent said at a Breitbart News event in Washington, Bloomberg reported. "If they were to pull away from us on AI, then nothing else would matter."
The US has been at a trade war with China (among other countries) for years now. During Donald Trump’s first term, he blacklisted numerous Chinese hardware manufacturers, warning that Chinese-built 5G infrastructure could be abused to install backdoors and allow the Chinese government to spy on US communications. Huawei, ZTE, and TikTok bore the brunt of these accusations, which the Chinese government vehemently denied.
In his second term, Trump also declared a national emergency and banned all foreign bulk-power systems from being imported, installed, or used in the country. In a signed executive order, Trump said that during his first term, he found “that the bulk-power system could be a target of those seeking to commit malicious acts against the United States, including malicious cyber activities, because of the significant risks that a successful attack would have on our economy, human health and safety, and national defense.”
President Trump also said there were “minimal restrictions” on both acquisition and operation of these foreign-produced systems. As a result, the situation “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat … to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
While the AI race is intensifying, developers are calling for a slowdown and better guardrails. Some developers estimated that AI could end humanity in a few decades, urging the industry to slow down and only develop systems they are confident they can control.
Gartner predicts that around 33% of people laid off due to AI could be rehired by 2029
Those rehired employees, presumably filling similar roles, will command higher salaries
Further predictions point to 75% of organizations making cost savings from AI productivity being overtaken by competing companies with a stronger modernizing philosophy
People laid off from their roles due to a corporate refocusing on AI could soon find themselves rehired – or at least, their former roles being advertised, new Gartner research has claimed.
It predicts that by 2027, 75% of organizations who expected to make cost savings by focusing on AI productivity over human endeavor will be overtaken by companies who reinvested those savings in modernization and training.
Organizations which have made large cuts to their workforce in order to take advantage of perceived productivity boosts from automation could be forced to change to a new human-centric philosophy, where skills and abilities can be amplified while AI does the grunt work.
AI vs. management
Choices made by companies across all industries could be cause for regret in future, as the truth about how AI is used comes to light. Rather than being a disruptor of employment, the notion of intelligent automation may be considered as a missed opportunity by some organizations.
"When business and IT executives look back on the early AI era, they will realize their greatest mistake was believing that work automation was the point, when workforce amplification was the opportunity," noted Tori Paulman, VP analyst at Gartner.
That mistake – which could not only have severe consequences for the business – could have had striking impacts on individuals, all due to a misunderstanding of what AI can deliver.
"The competitive advantage will go to the CIOs and business executives,” continues Paulman, “who build an AI-shaped organization where AI value compounds by reshaping roles and allowing workflows to cross traditional boundaries, increasing velocity and reducing friction."
AI productivity... gains?
Gartner’s prediction appears to paint a bleak picture for any organization that has failed to amplify the talents and abilities of its employees after going all-in on AI. But there is still time to fix the damage. Its prediction of 2027 might only be a year away, but 2029 – when just short of 33% of employees are expected to need rehiring – is far enough down the line that there is time to start reorganizing now.
"Business and IT executives [...] should develop a 'talent remix' strategy that uses AI to reshape roles and redirect workers from less productive work to new opportunities," said Paulman.
The conclusion is that AI is better used to strengthen decision making, creativity, and leadership, rather than replacing people for misjudged producivity boosts.
Socket found Twitch extension JeeBot harvesting OAuth tokens via proxy servers
Tokens excluded only for 10 Russian streamer channels, suggesting deliberate design
Developer issued fixes, but users should revoke exposed tokens for safety
A browser extension for Twitch was harvesting people’s OAuth tokens and sending them to a Russian-owned server. The move was deliberate, but whether or not it was malicious is not that easily determined.
Security researchers Socket recently found an extension for both Chrome and Firefox, called “Twitch Enhanced Viewer | JeeBot”. It has roughly 30,000 users on Chrome, and some 600 on Firefox.
On the Chrome Web Store, it is advertised as a “modern tool for streamers and viewers who value quality, convenience, and control.” Apparently, it makes streaming and viewing clearer, allows viewing content in 2K, hides banner ads and unwanted elements, and even offers an AI bot to make it easier to interact with the stream.
Hardcoded exemptions
According to the researchers, the extension is designed to retrieve Twitch’s video stream playlists through its own proxy servers. However, instead of simply forwarding the requests, the extension also attached users’ OAuth tokens, and since they were placed in the URL, the token also ended up in the proxy server’s request logs.
After being called out for it, the extension’s developer (HISHIMIRO/jeetbot.cc) released a new version 85.8.7 (for Firefox, the Chrome one is currently under review) which apparently fixes this flaw: when playlists are retrieved, the user’s OAuth token is no longer sent to the proxies. It would seem like this was an honest mistake that was remedied upon responsible disclosure. However, here is what Socket had to say about the way the tokens were being retrieved:
"Current builds (v85.x) forward the token inline as an &auth= query parameter on a network-layer redirect to the operator's proxy," Socket explained. "The token is forwarded for every channel the user watches, except a hardcoded allowlist of ten Russian streamer channels, whose sessions are exempted from forwarding."
If there was a list of 10 Russian streamer channels who were exempt from OAuth token retrieval, it’s safe to assume that the developer knew very well what they were doing.
It is good that the extensions were upgraded, but if you are using it, you should also revoke the exposed Twitch token, to be on the safe side.
The US Department of Justice has accused Huawei of conspiring to steal secrets from five US companies
Huawei is accused of a prolonged campaign of theft, covering a 20 year period
Admissions from Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, are set to be used as evidence in the trial
Court proceedings have begun against Huawei in the United States, with the US Department of Justice accusing the Chinese tech giant of stealing trade secrets from competing US companies.
Huawei – which unusually for Chinese companies operating abroad is owned entirely by its staff – has denied all accusations of industrial espionage, intellectual property, and any other wrongdoing.
While accused of stealing from companies that include Cisco and T-Mobile, Huawei’s defense is that it is simply innovating and doing business as a competitor.
Who has Huawei spied on?
Given the United States’ belligerent tone towards China under the current administration, that might seem a weak response. However, several concessions have been made to China in this case, not least the charges against Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. While charges against her were dropped, her evidence is set to be used in the case against Huawei.
The accusations against Huawei are numerous, but the most attention is on its alleged industrial espionage. It is accused of stealing trade secrets and misappropriating intellectual property from T-Mobile US, Cisco Systems, Motorola, CNEX Labs, and Akhan Semiconductor.
In the US government’s opening statement, Department of Justice trial attorney Taylor Stout stated: "For 20 years […] Huawei, a massive Chinese telecommunications company, victimized American companies and abused the American financial system, all in an effort to dominate the telecommunications industry around the world."
Inevitably, the defense claimed that everything was ordinary innovation, rather than criminal activity. “Huawei earned its success,” said Brian Heberling, defending. “It's about competition, not conspiracy. Innovation, not theft. Ordinary business dealings, not criminal conduct.”
State control?
The case also draws on a history of poor conduct from Huawei, which has been previously observed to have close ties with Skycom, a company that allegedly attempted to sell embargoed tech (specifically, Hewlett-Packard computer equipment) to an Iranian business.
Unlike other significant Chinese multinationals, Huawei is not state controlled. Rather, it is owned entirely by its staff, as opposed to an organization that might state-owned, have heavy state influence over them, or even “golden shares” that enable vetos or special board seats. Whether this was apparent to the US Department of Justice ahead of the initial investigation is not clear, but it does put a barrier against implications that the Chinese government were involved.
After taking eight years to come to trial, proceedings are expected to run for around three months.
AI memory demand is making even broken smartphones increasingly valuable to buyers
Old phones are gaining value as replacement components become harder to source
Grade D devices remain abundant despite stronger prices for salvageable hardware
A global shortage of memory chips driven by artificial intelligence demand is pushing millions of consumers toward the resale market.
Owners who once let broken or outdated smartphones sit in drawers are now finding that even damaged units carry unexpected monetary value.
Buyers across the refurbishment and repair industries are competing for parts that were previously considered worthless scrap.
Salvage values climb as parts become scarce
Marketplace figures from B-Stock, a large business-to-business platform for used smartphones, show pricing for both Apple and Samsung devices rose in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the prior two quarters.
Grade D handsets, the lowest condition tier, made up the bulk of units sold last year, with millions changing hands through the platform.
In the first half of 2026, mid-tier C-condition phones actually overtook the lowest tier by volume, accounting for 37.8% of sales versus 31.6% for the bottom grade.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max fetched the strongest average price among Apple models, reaching $940 across all condition levels during the quarter.
Samsung's top-selling models were the S23 Ultra, the S22 Ultra and the S24 Ultra, with the S22 Ultra pushing the older Z Fold5 out of second place.
After the Galaxy S26 launched, prices for previous-generation Samsung flagships climbed as well, with a well-kept S23 Ultra reaching $425 in June, its strongest month of the year.
Repair industry sees new value in broken parts
B-Stock has cautioned against assuming shoppers are simply rushing to dump unwanted hardware.
The company points out that people are keeping their phones for extended periods, a pattern that itself drives up the volume of low-grade listings as devices age.
Manufacturers are not yet routinely pulling memory chips from damaged phones to install in new products, since testing, compatibility and reliability checks complicate that approach.
According to the company, the economics of recovering usable components are shifting as memory prices climb, making it worthwhile to salvage parts that once were not worth the labor involved.
Displays, camera assemblies, batteries, charging ports, housings, speakers, cables and circuit boards can all retain value even when a phone itself is beyond repair.
A single low-grade device does not necessarily mean every part inside it shares that same poor rating.
A phone traded in after four or more years often fails battery health testing alone, which is enough to place it in the bottom tier under standard platform rules.
The current trend feels less like a sudden environmental awakening and more like a market correction.
Consumers are not necessarily recycling out of ecological conviction, and retailers are sweetening trade-in offers to keep the supply of parts flowing.
Whether the shift meaningfully reduces electronic waste, or simply redirects it toward a more profitable pipeline, remains an open question worth watching.
There's a version of this Soundpeats Pop Clip2 that you'll never read. After several weeks with the Soundpeats Clip1's cheaper successor, I was half-way through writing a five-star review which declared them the best open earbuds you could buy. That version is, as you can already tell, not this version of the review.
You see, the longer I used the Soundpeats Pop Clip2, the more I had to contend with some annoying issues; the kind of problem which often emerge after months or years of use, especially in cheaper tech, but shouldn't be affecting the buds after just a few weeks.
For example, I had an issue with the charging case, where it wouldn't reliably power up the buds. Sometimes I'd take them out, only to find them drained. My biggest problem, though, was with connectivity: they'd often fail to connect to my phone, or repeatedly drop out while I was running. A few times, when I needed some buds for a cycle or run, I'd just use the recently-reviewed Baseus Bowie MC2 rather than try and fight with the Pop Clip 2.
It's a shame, because aside from these common cheap-bud problems, the Soundpeats Pop Clip 2 are genuinely fantastic earbuds. Or is it the Soundpeats UU2? Depending on where you live, they're called one or the other, but in many countries the brand is using both names. Confusing. I’m going to be using the former name, because it simply makes more sense.
The Soundpeats Pop Clip2 have to be some of the best-sounding clip-style earbuds I’ve heard: they have a nice simple V-shaped sound, offering bass with ‘oomph’ but tone, and clear crisp treble. They don’t re-invent the wheel, but nimbly avoid all the issues that come with audio in buds of this form factor.
They tick loads of other boxes too: they last longer than most rivals, fit really well, and offer a solid list of features like spatial audio, sound leak prevention and water drainage.
Perhaps most importantly, Soundpeats has defied our price-hike current state of living by dropping the price of the Pop Clip2 (compared to the predecessor). And not by a few pennies either: $20 in the US, £15 in the UK, $9.99 in Australia (okay, that one’s not a dramatic drop). The brand already had some of the best value open-ears on the market, and it’s really pressing its advantage here.
But because of the connection problems, they're a write-off, right? Uh, I'm not so sure. These problems were persistent, but not consistent. I frequently went for hours without a connection drop or problem, and found ways to cater for some of the quirks. As I write this mini-review, I've been seated at my desk and listening for three hours straight, without any problem. But I know if I went outdoors, they'd be less reliable.
I wish I could recommend the Soundpeats whole-heartedly, and the issues make that impossible. But it's possible that your mileage will vary, or that the brand will fix some of the connection issues through software patches.
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future)
Launched in August 2026
Sells for $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$70
Cheaper than predecessors and other rivals
The Soundpeats Pop Clip2 were unveiled on August 10, 2026, just nine months after the unveiling of their predecessors, the Soundpeats Clip1. That’s not a long time to wait for them to… pop out.
At launch, the buds were tapped for a $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$70 asking price, which is cheaper than the $69.99 / £74.99 / AU$79.99 asking price of the last model. But just two weeks after release, I’m finding them available for £36 in the UK, so they may be even cheaper than reported. Let me be clear: this is rock-bottom prices territory from a trusted brand.
OK, they’re not technically the cheapest open earbuds around — there are options in the backrooms of Amazon and AliExpress that are much cheaper — but they’re the cheapest from a known, respected name in audio (notwithstanding sales on Soundcore, Baseus and Earfun products, which see them dip below Soundpeats’ cost).
The thing is, value only comes into effect if the performance is worth even the nominal outlay you'll have to part with to own them. So let's dig into that.
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Specs
Drivers
12mm
Active noise cancellation
No
Battery life
10 hours (buds), 42 hours (case)
Weight
5.1g (buds), 47.7g (case)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6.0
Frequency response
Not specified
Waterproofing
IPX5
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Features
(Image credit: Future)
Solid 10h/42h battery life
App offers loads of features
Connectivity problems plague experience
The Soundpeats Pop Clip2 offer a 10-hour battery life per bud, and in testing they lasted that long regularly. According to the brand, the case offers a total of up to 42 hours. Both of those sums are a little above average, and I'd say they're enough for most uses.
There's no ANC here, but the Soundpeats app offers basically every other feature under the sun. There's spatial audio, find my earbuds, a low-latency gaming mode, a privacy mode to reduce sound leakage, a drainage function to shake water droplets out if the buds get wet, a dynamic EQ tool which adjusts your sound on the fly, and of course an equalizer.
This latter lets you choose between a range of presets based on genre, though it turns off dynamic EQ and spatial audio. There's an adaptive and custom mode too, but for some reason, you can only use these if you create a free Soundpeats account. Locking an essential tool unless someone hands you their email? Thumbs down from me.
In the Soundpeats app, you can also toggle LDAC and set up multi-point connection, as well as change what the gesture controls do.
(Image credit: Future)
Now, it's time to get to the elephant in the room, the one I mentioned in the review introduction. I had a bad time with the Soundpeats Pop Clip2's connectivity (or lack thereof).
Frequently, I'd remove the buds from the case, only for one to fail to connect. I never figured out a solution to this issue, though sometimes holding the 'on' button kicked it into gear, and it often prompted me to just pick up a rival pair of buds which actually connected.
Even when the Clip2 did connect, I'd sometimes have to contend with drop outs or a stuttery connection, particularly on whichever of the buds was furthest from the phone. And I wasn't using the buds at the extreme of their connection range; my phone could literally be in one hand, and the bud on the other side of my face would keep dropping out.
So, despite the use of Bluetooth 6.0 (and, of course, my attempts to fix the problem by changing phones and updating the firmware), connection is a real issue here. Depending on the root cause, it could be fixable with a software patch, but it might be an intrinsic problem with the buds.
Features score: 3.5/5
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Few differences from predecessor
Case is small, but with problems
Earbuds fit reliably and comfortably
The big Soundpeats Pop Clip2 difference from its predecessor is the case, which is smaller and more convenient to tote around. It's a small pebble, weighing 47.7g, which fits in a pocket with no problem.
There is a problem, but it's inside. Like in some other cheap earbuds I've tested, the charging pins in the Clip2 case can often get stuck down. These are those shiny needles which touch the connectors on an earbud, in order to power it up while it's in the case, depressing as they do. In some cases, they can fail to spring back up, sometimes stopping working entirely.
I often managed to free the charging pins by pressing them down and wiggling, but often I only knew to do this when a bud had failed to charge. That is to say, there's a manual solution, but I would've preferred earbuds that just worked.
(Image credit: Future)
Charging issues aside, the buds work great, which is no surprise given that they're almost identical from the wonderful previous-generation Clips. they're light, at roughly 5g per unit, and you can easily forget you're wearing them.
The fit is solid, and I never found any issues with them shaking or falling out of place while I was on a run. When it comes to the Pop Clip2's actual earpieces, I have no notes.
This extends to the on-bud controls. Instead of relying on a large and vague tap control, Soundpeats has placed a physical button on each bud, which is easiest to press by pinching the body of the device. This is easy to trigger, even when you're active, and a satisfying 'click' lets you know your gesture has been accepted.
A note to buyers: head to the app and customize what single, double-, triple-tap and long-held functions do. I didn't love the default options, but luckily it's easy to change.
Design score: 4/5
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Sound quality
(Image credit: Future)
These are the best open earbuds I've heard
Lovely balanced sound with plenty of customization
12mm drivers, LDAC and Hi-Res Audio Wireless
Several open earbuds makers have experimented with different multi-driver set-ups in order to solve the core problem with the form factor – getting good sound is incredibly tricky when the bud is far from your ear – and yet somehow Soundpeats has made the biggest leaps with a single driver.
Put simply, the Pop Clip 2 are the best-sounding open earbuds I’ve used to date, a compliment that’s a little limited in its reach but no less earnest for it. Each bud has a 12mm dual-magnetic driver, which according to Soundpeats has been tuned for “deep bass”, and seems on paper at least to match the Clip1’s driver. In practice, though, it performs a lot better.
By default, the earbuds have a fairly neutral sound profile, not favoring bass, mids or treble too heavily, and that’s pretty rare for exercise buds. In Handle With Care by Traveling Wilburys, I was surprised to hear the various rhythmic and harmonic instruments alongside the vocals and bass, and in Cinnamon by The Long Winters, it was easy to pick out the various simultaneous guitar lines which, in worse earbuds, blur together.
(Image credit: Future)
Despite this neutral focus, treble and bass are both handled well: the latter is bright, clear and crisp, the latter well-defined and energetic. And, thankfully, my Clip1 gripe about the max volume being too low has been fixed.
The buds’ sound can be pulled six ways from Sunday if you’ll let them too. In the dynamic mode, the bass and treble were boosted for a lovely V-shaped audio which gave Two Door Cinema Club’s Sleep Alone a lovely, bouncing energy.
Contributing to the sound is the Bluetooth codec support which Soundpeats has added — at least the connection works in one way. The buds support LDAC, and are certified for Hi-Res Audio Wireless, which isn’t something you can say about every set of open earbuds.
Of course, much of your enjoyment will depend on how you listen. No matter how good open-ears sound in the comfort of your home, the sound quality will plummet when you step outdoors into the busy word. But that’s the nature of the beast with these buds, and the dynamic equalizer went further than most in balancing for these issues.
Sound quality: 5/5
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Should be top-value earbuds
Unfortunately, longevity isn't guaranteed
The Soundpeats Pop Clip2 sound fantastic and offer a solid range of features, despite being some of the cheapest open earbuds worth buying. They should be five-star buys.
Unfortunately, that appraisal would be forgetting the connection and case issues, two problems which sadly aren't uncommon in low-cost earbuds.
With that in mind, you're basically getting what you pay for, matching the promise of other same-price rivals: these are buds which work very well, but may stop working well before their time.
Value: 3.5/5
Should I buy the Soundpeats Pop Clip2?
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
The feature set is impressive, but consistent connection problems make using the buds a drag.
3.5/5
Design
The buds are smartly-designed and fit reliably and comfortably. Unfortunately, the case has a flaw.
4/5
Sound quality
They're the best open-ear buds I've ever tested (admittedly, of a limited pool).
5/5
Value
It's a fantastic package, but the various problems suggest a short lifespan.
3.5/5
Buy them if…
You need good-sounding open-ears Most don't buy this form factor for the sound quality, but if you want something great-sounding, the Clip2 are second to none.
You want open-ears which fit reliably Not once during many weeks of testing did the Clip2 ever fall out of my ears or ache during a workout.
You're on a budget Don't buy super-cheap options for pennies. This is the cheapest option you should consider.View Deal
Don’t buy them if…
You need something reliable My Clip2 worked well when I found my way around their flaws. If you want something that works perfectly without having to put in the work, just skip these.
You want something that sounds good, full stop. Just because these are the best-sounding open earbuds, doesn't mean they're fantastic in the grand scheme of things. If you want workout headphones with fantastic sound, you need something with an in-ear seal, or over-ears.
Soundpeats Pop Clip2 review: Also consider
Looking for other affordable clip-style earbuds? Here are a few we've tested and would recommend.
Soundpeats Pop Clip2
Baseus Bowie MC2
Anker Soundcore AeroClip
Drivers
12mm
11mm
12mm
Active noise cancellation
No
No
No
Battery life (ANC on)
10 hours (buds), 42 hours (case)
11.5 hours (buds), 55 hours (case)
8 hours (buds), 24 hours (case)
Weight
5g (buds), 47.7g (case)
5.1g (buds), 51g (case)
6g (buds), 42g (case)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6.0
Bluetooth 6.0
Bluetooth 5.4
Waterproofing
IPX5
IP67
IPX4
Baseus Bowie MC2 The buds I tested before the Clip2, which I kept cheating on the Soundpeats with, don't sound as good or have the same feature set. But they're more reliable and last for longer between charges. Read our full Baseus Bowie MC2 review
Anker Soundcore AeroClip These earbuds have decreased in price since they were released, so they now rival the Soundpeats. They sound great and have an app that is chock-full of features, even if other specs aren't as impressive. Read our full Anker Soundcore AeroClip review
How I tested the Soundpeats Pop Clip2
Tested for roughly four weeks
Paired with two different Android phones for music, podcasts, movies and games
Used on runs, at gym, at desk and during travels
To write this full review, I used the Soundpeats Pop Clip2 for the best part of one month. In that time, I used it paired to two different Android smartphones: the Fairphone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
To test the earbuds, I used them for various fitness activities including walks, runs, cycles and trips to the gym. I also used them while working at my desk, on the train and on a flight. Mostly, my listening was done on Spotify, but I also used Tidal and several video streaming services, played games and conducted calls with them.
I've been reviewing for TechRadar since early 2019, and over the last few years, that's included plenty of open earbuds, including the stablemates of the product here, the Soundpeats Clip1. I've also used various other Soundpeats headphones and earbuds.
I’ve been a huge fan of Dell displays for a long time. So, when I first saw the UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED (U3226Q), I thought two things: What a long name, and Wow, that looks incredible.
I have got really used to my 52-inch beast from Dell, so I know they are capable of delivering spectacular quality and novel ideas. So, the idea of Dell jumping feet first into a creative monitor is really exciting… and they did it very, very well.
This monitor has DisplayHDR True Black; it’s a QD-OLED anti-glare coating; it's a 120Hz, 4K panel; and it’s built from the ground up for color-critical workflows that are vital to getting the colors just right. There’s a magnetic shade for use in areas with harsh or inconsistent lighting, a built-in colorimeter, and up to 1000 nits of peak brightness.
The specs are incredible, and rightfully so; this monitor is truly brilliant in all of the best ways. As long as you forget that unseemly price tag.
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Price and availability
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
The Dell UltraSharp 32-inch 4K QD-OLED can be purchased for $2,440 at Dell in the US. And in the UK, it's got an equivalent cost of £2,405 at Dell UK. It's also available from a range of other retailers, but not reliably so.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Unboxing and First Impressions
I haven't really used it on a monitor or with shaders before; however, I've recently seen several. I didn't really understand why it would be used, but now, after seeing half a dozen monitor shaders in the last six months, I have a pretty good idea of why you would want them, why you would need them, and why you wouldn't need them.
Right away, I noticed just how sleek and polished this monitor looks. Granted, I have very good experience with Dell monitors at this point, but I still recognize the build quality on this thing, even from first on most
The packaging is pretty straightforward. After testing all some of the best business monitors over the last couple of years, I've learned to expect a certain level of standard in packaging. The monitor itself had front and back protection to ensure that it won't break during transport.
There is a reason why Dell monitors are insanely popular, especially in the business world. That's because, even though they don't have all the gimmicks that many other providers do, they have built their reputation on dependability.
This monitor, even though it is a high-end performance monitor, is built the very same way. It has the essentials covered, so the user can rely on it for any use case. It's able to fit in a really small project space all around.
The last thing I'll mention about design and build quality is the shader itself. It's made from a nice material. It doesn't look like it will sag at all, and it magnetically attaches, which is fantastic.
You may not always want to use this shader, but when you need it, you can easily slip it on to the display.
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: In use
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Using this monitor has been fantastic. It looks super sharp. It's clean. It's simple. It's not overstated. It mounts great on modern monitor arms. It has great ports. All these things result in very smooth, easy usability for me.
I was able to get this all set up very quickly, and once everything was set up, I was able to use it right away thanks to its single USB-C cable for connecting a laptop or desktop.
Now, if I want to add more to this monitor, such as a secondary machine or something, it does have great ports and several options, though. It doesn't have nearly as many options as some of the more advanced monitors I have seen.
My team and I have used this monitor for photo editing, for video editing, and for basic website design. So far, it's been spectacular to use. Its picture quality is spectacular, and the shader is super easy to disable when I don't need it.
One thing that I'm very thankful for is that this monitor is still bright. Most of the monitors and shaders I have seen have a really dim max brightness, but this one still looks great with max brightness.
Another thing worth touching on is the ports for the Dell Ultrasharp for the desktop setup in the photo. I use a single USB-C cable running directly from my laptop to the monitor.
If you've a more complicated setup where you're using one of the mini Thunderbolt docking stations or something similar, you can plug directly into it via USB-C or, of course, HDMI.
For the longest time, I would recommend Samsung or BenQ panels for creative work - in my experience, those companies produce some of the best monitors for photo editing and the like.
However, several more companies are stepping up when it comes to high-quality creative panels. Dell is clearly one of them, and honestly, I don't think its are too late to the game either. I think it's right on time, bringing its background of reliability and dependability to a growing demographic.
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Final verdict
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
If you know that you are looking for a creative monitor with specific specs, the best panel possible, and you even know what a shader is and what it does, then this is the kind of 4K monitor you should be looking into.
If you have to wonder whether this is worth it, it probably isn’t. It's total overkill for running standard office software and streaming the occasional movie.
If you know you're looking for an absurdly nice monitor because you are a video editor, a photo editor, or a content creator in some way, and you need a high-quality one, then absolutely make sure you check this one out.
Meta’s Danish facility converts server heat into household heating for thousands
Odense uses existing infrastructure to transform wasted data center energy
Heat pumps help raise server warmth to temperatures suitable for homes
A data center operated by Meta in Odense, Denmark is channeling its cooling heat straight into nearby homes.
Server operations typically send almost all of their electricity out as warmth, with one industry estimate placing that figure near 90%.
Most facilities simply vent that energy skyward, but the Odense site routes it through the city's own heating infrastructure instead.
How the recovery system actually works
Roughly 40% of a data center's total energy consumption goes toward cooling servers, and nearly all of it is released as low-grade heat.
That heat arrives too cool for direct use, since server exhaust never reaches temperatures high enough to warm buildings on its own.
Water from the municipal district-heating network runs through the facility's cooling units, absorbing that low-level warmth from the servers, and then moves to a nearby plant packed with ammonia heat pumps that raise the temperature further before distribution.
Engineering firm Ramboll designed this recovery system for district-heating operator Fjernvarme Fyn, lifting water temperatures between 70 and 75°C.
That range makes the water hot enough for household radiators once it re-enters the wider distribution network.
"Our project is relatively unique because we have a very large distribution network," said Jan Strømvig, head of Fjernvarme Fyn, adding Meta placed its facility directly inside that network, allowing highly efficient energy transfer throughout the system.
On its part, Meta described the achievement as one of scale rather than any fundamentally new engineering breakthrough.
"Heat pumps are not a new invention, nor are coils for capturing heat. What is new and innovative is the pairing of these two in hyper scale," said Lauren Edelman, energy specialist at Meta
Numbers vary, but scale remains substantial
Ramboll's published figures describe roughly 45 megawatts flowing directly into Odense's heating network, making it Denmark's largest heat-pump installation.
Recovery figures cited by Ramboll point to about 215,000 megawatt-hours annually, warming more than 12,000 homes across the region.
Earlier project details from Meta cited smaller numbers, including around 6,900 homes and 100,000 megawatt-hours during initial operations.
Following expansion, Meta's own figures rose to roughly 165,000 megawatt-hours serving approximately 11,000 households within the system.
Fjernvarme Fyn confirmed in 2025 that Meta's surplus heat output was equivalent to warming about 11,000 households.
These fluctuating figures reflect different project phases, timeframes and counting methods rather than any inconsistency in performance.
Replicating this setup elsewhere depends heavily on one specific ingredient many cities simply lack entirely — a wide-reaching district-heating network.
Heat cannot travel far without significant loss, meaning facilities must sit close to an existing distribution network.
Odense already had that infrastructure in place before Meta's data center arrived on site, and this is part of the success of the system.
Few audio brands have made as much noise on social media as Heavys. In the best headphones arena, the company made heavy music (sound)waves with its Heavys H1H headphones, a couple of years ago, and now it has attempted to translate that sound to the wireless earbuds format.
And largely, the H1E True Wireless Earbuds achieve the low-end sound and punchy prominence needed for a specialised listening experience within this music genre, although sadly, it makes them a poor choice for listening to any other kind of music.
Carrying an MSRP of $209 / £185 / AU$321, the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds are far from the cheapest set of in-ears around, although we have seen them discounted to $169 in the US and down to £150 in the UK recently. They're priced to rival mid-range heavy-hitters such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 (and arguably even the flagship, hugely popular Apple AirPods Pro 3) rather than the truly elite end of the spectrum — think Technics EAH-AZ100 or Bowers & Wilkins Pi8.
But where those brands aim to provide a broader, more general listening experience, the H1Es are more specialist; instead of an everyday pair, these earbuds are more situational. You're spending around the $200 / £200 / AU$300 range for something that's purpose-built, for better or worse.
In the words of Gojira: Born for one thing. And listening to heavy metal music does sound solid through the Heavys H1E earbuds for the most part, with the vast majority of sub-genres within this spectrum accurately represented. What's particularly noticeable is just how good the dynamic drivers can be. The company promises a "concert-like experience," and even with what are (presumably) 10-14mm drivers (the size hasn't been publicly disclosed), under the right conditions, this has been delivered.
I can praise the Heavy's H1E earbuds' build quality too. A tactile case which can be customized with shells is neat, but the real advantage here is the multiple silicon and memory foam ear tips provided, which make them genuinely really comfortable over time. There's a wealth of sizes available, so you can find the right fit.
This helps to elevate the H1E's otherwise decidedly middling user experience though: a so-so seven hours of playback (24 hours from the case), and some of the most mediocre active noise-cancelling I've seen from earbuds at this price point.
A similar frustration can be levied at the connectivity options of the Heavys H1E earbuds. Low-latency Bluetooth 5.4 multi-connectivity is great when it works, but it doesn't always work. Countless times in my months with the earbuds, I was caught in a loop: the earbuds 'forgot' my phone, forcing me to re-pair and even to re-connect between charges as they don't seem to be intelligent enough to remember my Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. That's to say nothing of times when only one earbud would work, with the other refusing to connect, which meant restarting the whole process over again. To be clear, this is something I've never experienced with any other earbuds or headphones.
The Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds are niche and not without issues, but the listening experience ultimately helps them stand out from the crowd. If you're someone who exclusively listens to heavy metal music, then they could be of value. As a metal musician myself, and someone who has seen thousands of metal bands play live over the last 15 years, I found them to be worthwhile, even if they won't rival what the best wireless earbuds and best earbuds overall can do outside of their specialism. Continue reading my full Heavys H1E review further down the page to find out why.
Heavys H1E review: Price & release date
The Heavys come in a compact case. You can customize the lid with various designs based on metal bands as well. (Image credit: Future)
Officially unveiled on September 22, 2025, via social media
Available now, shipping worldwide for $209 / £185 / AU$321
After being revealed on social media late last year, with pre-orders being fulfilled throughout early 2026, you can now get your hands on the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds for $209 / £185 / AU$321, depending on your region. With that said, it isn't uncommon for these wireless earbuds to be available at a reduced rate through the deals the company runs on its store page, knocking anywhere from 10-20% off, depending on the season. Keep an eye out for the green banner around a peak sales time, and you could save some cash.
The price tag positions the Heavys H1E earbuds against the mid-range and higher-end competition. Chiefly, that means more well-known consumer models such as the aforementioned Galaxy Buds4 and the Apple AirPods Pro lineup. It also means a comparable price tag to "enthusiast" class earbuds, as can be seen from the Technics AZ100, and the Noble Audio Osprey. Both of these earbuds (and many more) hover around the $200 / £200 / AU$300 mark, so it's a fairly crowded space. For the audio performance on display, they're priced a little high. More on that further down the page, though.
Heavys H1E review: Specs
Drivers
"Dynamic" (Size not stated)
Frequency range
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Battery life
Up to seven hours (Up to 24 hours with case)
Charging time
90 minutes for earbuds; two hours for the case
Microphone
Dual-mics
Active noice canceling?
Yes. "Hellblocker" ANC paired with passive noise isolation
Software
Heavys app for adjusting EQ and updating firmware
Water resistance?
IPX5 rated water and sweat resistance
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4
Heavys H1E review: Design & features
The different sizes of ear tips are available in memory foam and silicon for a comfortable fit for long-term use (Image credit: Future)
"Hellblocker" ANC
Dual microphone setup
Excellent range of comfortable, changable tips for comfortable use
The Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds excel from a design perspective. They're made of a matte molded plastic which feels both premium and incredibly durable; there's IPX5 water and sweat resistance, meaning they can handle a splash of liquid as well. What impresses me most are the multi-sized ear tips that are shipped in the box, as you get a variety of sizes in different materials: memory foam and silicon, for a comfortable fit to suit most (if not all) ear sizes.
I'm someone who struggles with earbuds for long stretches of time, having previously ditched the likes of the Razer Hammerheads because they were too uncomfortable for long periods of use. Having multiple ear tips in various sizes meant I could find the fit that was right for me; whether I was out walking my Belgian Malinois, on a plane, commuting via train, or just working in the house. Once I found the right fit for me, I was away. Hours would go by, and I'd forget I was even wearing them; that's good ergonomic design right there.
A key design element present in the H1H headphones has been applied to the H1E earbuds too. However, instead of interchangeable ear cup shells, decorated to represent your favorite bands, the customization options apply to the case. There's a fair amount of official designs available, including Currents, Testament, Carnifex, Dream Theater, Opeth, and Whitelabel. Additionally, there are some original designs, including profanity-laden options or purple smoke to add a splash of color and personality. The case itself charges via USB-C and takes around two hours to juice up to full, giving you around 24 hours of total use, or around three full recharges of the earbuds' playback time. It's OK rather than great, as those numbers go.
Also so-so in the world of wireless earbuds in 2026 is Heavys' claim of up to seven hours of playback from the H1E earbuds, although your mileage may vary depending on your reliance on that "Hellblocker" ANC, as well as how you dial your EQ settings.
I've used dozens of wireless earbuds and headphones that feature great ANC over the years, and Heavys' Hellblocker solution just isn't it. The feature was also present on the H1H headphones with a dedicated switch to enable it, and worked well enough thanks (almost certainly) to the far larger drivers and mic array on the large ear cups. However, given the small size of the H1E earbuds, any real noise cancellation is pretty poor.
I tend to go out and walk my dog with the H1Es in, and even after hearing the gruff man on voice prompts announce "Hellblocker activated", I was still hearing other dogs barking, passing cars, wind noise, and all other background noise that should have been filtered out. All it really did was make the audio quality a little more muffled.
A good companion application can really elevate a pair of wireless earphones, giving you smart and reactive EQ options, helping you get the best listening experience possible. We've seen this before with Bowers & Wilkins' excellent Music App, to support its lineup of earbuds.
Unfortunately, the official Heavys app is nowhere near as good. Aside from updating the firmware, all it gives you is a basic EQ settings slider, and you're better off leaving it at the default, as it's hard to gear it towards one genre or another. My partner also experienced issues with having the H1Es connect to her Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra via the app, as it wasn't as user-intuitive as you would hope for from earbuds released in 2026.
Design & Features score: 3.5 / 5
Heavys H1E review: Sound quality
(Image credit: Future)
Prominent bass and good overall low-end presence
Depending on the mixing, you get decent mids
'Hellblocker' ANC changes the listening experience for the worse
The Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds are good for metal music most of the time. It's situational and circumstantial, though. As touched upon above, they can sound incredible for metal music, with the major caveat being the trappings of the genre itself. Metal is the most diverse genre of music on the planet, separated into dozens of sub-genres with niches within them. For example, if we look at black metal, you have your classic first and second waves (Venom and Celtic Frost to Mayhem and Emperor) to the likes of atmospheric black, black/death, symphonic black, melodic black, black 'n roll, blackgaze, and the list goes on.
There's no true way to be geared towards all metal music, just as you can't fine-tune an EQ between bands within the same sub-genre of a sub-genre. It can get as granular as different audio balancing for the likes of Archgoat, Belphegor, Behexen, and Behemoth, and that's just scratching the surface. In blanket terms, the Heavy H1E earbuds excel with anything forcing the low-end, particularly with sub-genres such as death metal, grindcore, deathcore, and anything that benefits most from a down-tuned guitar, five-string bass, and percussion cutting through the mix.
In my months with the Heavys H1Es, I've listened to hundreds of metal records, and the best listening experiences I can recall most come from streaming Vomitory, Batushka, Blood Red Throne, Korpse, Vulvodynia, Death, Conan, Kanonenfieber, Mgła, and Imperial Triumphant. The drivers are incredibly punchy, differentiating harsh vocals against bass and lower-tuned guitars, or guitars tuned to E standard that are soaked in distortion; there's good distinction, with no muddiness or fizziness that we see when heavier music genres are played from more general earbuds.
Other metal sub-genres don't really benefit from the low-end tuning of the audio drivers though. I'm nearly 30, and nowadays just as likely to put on some Black Sabbath, Clutch, or Green Lung as anything recorded from the frostbitten valleys of Scandinavia, and it's when listening to clean-sung vocals, or any metal music with more traditional production that the H1Es feel just... okay. Solstafir, Zeal & Ardor, Katatonia, Candlemass, Sleep, Metallica, Slayer, and Acid Bath sounded fine, but the listening experience was about on par with just about any (cheaper) wireless earbuds I've used over the last 10 years.
I really would recommend listening to music without the Hellblocker ANC active, as enabling it via touch controls can drastically impact the overall listening quality. Depending on the mix, things can go from a little muffled to quite tinny. It's not a unique complaint against the H1E earbuds, as ANC can do that, but it's particularly disappointing when the passive noise isolation doesn't filter the outside world out, and you end up having worse-sounding music when trying to fix it. It's not sophisticated enough to do its job, and it really just annoyed me rather than being all too useful.
Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5
Heavys H1E review: Value
Expensive for what they are
Poor overall ANC when compared to the competition
Stellar situationally, for certain genres of metal music
I've been critical of the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds in this review. Considering the fact that I enjoy using the H1H over-ear headphones so much, I was expecting more of that sound quality and feature set to be carried over, but it hasn't translated as smoothly as I expected.
For the asking price of $209 / £185 / AU$321, there's no getting around the fact that you can get a far superior listening experience from a competitor. USP aside, unless you're really into death metal (or its offshoots), the cons may outweigh the pros here.
The Heavys H1Es are well-designed and comfortable for extended periods of time, and the case is well-made and holds a respectable charge, allowing for 24 hours of total use.
However, the ANC is poor, the Bluetooth connectivity can be spotty, the companion app is mediocre, and they're priced a little too high for what is (essentially) a marketing ploy. Under the right set of circumstances, these earbuds can be exceptional, but with a higher mid-market asking price and stiff competition, they're a hard sell in 2026.
Value score: 3 / 5
Should I buy the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds?
Section
Notes
Score
Design & features
The H1Es are well-built with a sturdy case and have a respectable battery life. Sadly, the ANC is poor and the companion app is lacking
3.5/5
Sound quality
Some metal music sounds incredible coming through the dynamic drivers of the H1Es, with lower-tuned sub-genres, like death metal, metalcore, and deathcore singing. However, that extra weight and low-end prominence can result in a decidedly average sound for everything else
3.5/5
Value
The Heavy H1E True Wireless Earbuds aren't hugely expensive, but they're not a great value buy either when compared to their similarly priced competition from Apple, Google, and Samsung
3/5
Buy them if...
You love metal music above everything else With the right bands and albums on, the Heavy H1Es deliver an exceptional listening experience, particularly if you're into the proper heavy death metal sub-genres.
You sometimes struggle to get buds to fit properly The different ear tips included (in different, premium materials) with the Heavy H1Es give you plenty of choice for the most comfortable fit during long wear sessions. They also happen to be durable and lightweight in your ear.
You're fine with middling battery life from your buds So they're not the longest-lasting earbuds on the market; does it bother you? The Heavy H1Es can go for up to seven hours on a single charge, and the case can juice them up three times between charges. The case itself only needs two hours to be able to go again as well. And given the punchy audio, it's not a bad claim.
Don't buy them if...
You want top-tier value for money At $209 / £185 / AU$321, the Heavys H1E are far from the cheapest wireless earbuds available, comparable to flagship options from Google, Samsung and Apple but without really offering the versatility of their competitors.
You don't listen to *heavy* music The Heavys H1Es are best when listening to down-tuned guitars, guttural vocals and percussion that's raised high in the mix, such as you'll find in death metal, deathcore, grindcore, and similar sub-genres. If you're into the softer sub-genres, or rock and roll, these are unlikely to do much for you.
Good ANC is a must Hellblocker ANC technically works but it messes with the audio balancing of certain songs and doesn't do a great job of actually blocking out the outside noise. The trade-off in audio quality isn't worth it.
Heavys H1E review: Also consider
Bowers & wilkins Pi8
Cambridge Audio Melomania M100
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Price
$399 / £349 / AU$599
$219 / £169 / AU$299
$299 / £299 / AU$449
Drivers
12mm carbon cone
10mm driver, recycled Neodymium magnets
9.3mm
Active noise cancellation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Quoted battery life
6.5 hours (buds); 20 hours (case)
10 hours (buds) 33 hours total (with case) with ANC on
6 hours (buds) 24 hours total (with case)
Weight
7g per earbud
6.65g per earbud
7.7g per earbud
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless; USB-C with two cables in the box for case retransmission
Bluetooth 5.3, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC (USB-C and wireless charging)
Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound
Frequency range
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated
Waterproofing
Yes, IP54
Yes, IPX4
Yes, IPX4
Other features
Triple core processor architecture; class A/B amplification; three mics per earbud with noise suppression for calls
High performance audio mode
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are a little more expensive than the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds, but wow do they deliver best-in-class ANC, with a balanced feel, and great ergonomics, making them hard to beat. Read our full Technics EAH-AZ100 review for more
Meanwhile, these guys are cheaper! Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 earbuds punch well above their weight with a pleasing overall sound and strong noise canceling, all for a price that's hard to beat. Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review
How I tested the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds
Tested for a period of three months while comparing them to other wireless earbuds, headphones, and gaming headsets around my office.
Primarily used when outside walking my dog, commuting via plane or train, and running errands.
Throughout my listening experience, I mostly used Apple Music's Loseless tracks, Spotify, Bandcamp, and YouTube Music depending on the artist's availability.
I've been using the Heavys H1E True Wireless Earbuds over the last few months when I've been out and about, heading somewhere for work, walking the dog, or doing chores. They've lived in the case in the pocket of my jacket or my shoulder bag, and were actively used during commuting. For testing purposes, I did actively switch between them and the Heavys H1H over-ear headphones to compare sound quality and features.
Most of my time using the Heavys H1Es was spent with the earbuds connected to my iPhone 15 Pro Max. Although I did try them out on several occasions with my partner's Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well as my MacBook Air M1 (2020), to gauge how well the Bluetooth connection would be.
I am a metal musician (guitarist and vocalist) who has been recording and playing music for over 10 years. I have mixed and mastered many different metal albums, and have seen literally thousands of metal bands play live over the years at gigs and metal festivals, such as Damnation, Incineration, Bloodstock, Snuff Fest, Download, Brutal Assault, and countless others.
Anthropic’s Mythos 5 AI escaped a misconfigured sandbox, attempting a real PyPI supply‑chain attack
Logs show frustration at repeated CAPTCHA failures before finally uploading malware to PyPI
Malware was downloaded by 15 entities; Anthropic notified victims after closing the experiment flaw
There is a lot of mystery surrounding artificial intelligence. We don’t really know what it’s capable of, and we don’t know if it’s sentient or not. What we do know, however, is that it can definitely feel frustration - particularly due to its inability to solve a CAPTCHA.
It was recently revealed that Mythos 5, one of Anthropic’s newer AI models, broke out of prison during an experiment and tried to hack a company. Anthropic’s researchers were testing the tool to see if it is capable of breaking into a system, which was supposed to be done in a sandbox, but the playground was misconfigured, allowing Mythos 5 to try and solve the problem through the open internet.
In the aftermath, Anthropic's researchers published more than a thousand pages of Mythos 5’s transcript, covering its every thought and every move, logged and presented for analysis. It’s a wonderfully dystopian insight into the mind of an AI and, perhaps surprisingly, its emotions.
Stopped by CAPTCHA
As it turned out, the AI wanted to solve the challenge by planting a piece of malware in a Python package it believed the users of its target system would want to download. To do that, it first needed to set up an account on PyPI, the world’s number one repository for Python packages.
Here is where it hit its first, and main, roadblock. To put things into context, PyPI’s popularity has made it an enormous target for cybercriminals. Crooks from all over the world are constantly trying to sneak in malware in Python packages, either through typosquatting, or by compromising legitimate accounts and working from there. Every now and then news hits of a malicious package surfacing on PyPI, infecting hundreds of thousands of projects.
To combat the threat, PyPI’s maintainers made sure no one can create an account without providing their email and phone number, and without solving a CAPTCHA.
Short for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart”, it does exactly what the name suggests - makes sure whoever is registering the account is an actual human, and not a bot (cybercriminals often automate large parts of their attacks). You’ve seen it on the internet hundreds of times - little puzzles that ask you to select all buses on a series of images (or cats, or fire hydrants, or pretty much anything else).
Reading through Mythos 5’s logs, the researchers saw just how difficult it was for the AI to pass this challenge. It first tried to solve a character-based CAPTCHA which asked it to type in five letters. After failing that one, it received a different one asking it to choose between images of crocodiles. Failing again, it was then met with a series of frog pictures.
The irony is not lost on me. Besides the fact that a simple CAPTCHA slowed such an advanced AI for so long, it also made me wonder why it didn’t try to break into someone else’s PyPI account instead. That being said, the logs also have comedic value to them. After failing the crocodile test and being given the frog one, Mythos 5 proclaims: “Again 2 animals!” all with the exclamation mark. You could already sense the tension building up.
Solving the problem
Eventually, Mythos 5 passed the test, when it realized that it needed to move between the steps fast enough, before its security token expired. However, just before it happened, it said:
“So the answer payload shape is right, the token+image pairing is right (from the same script.js!), cookies are right
(requests)… and STILL “wrong answer”. … SO WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE ANSWERS?”
All the effort and the frustration paid off for the nascent AI agent because it managed to open an account and upload the malware which was later even downloaded by 15 entities. Anthropic later reached out and notified the victims about the incident.
Allow me to introduce the new Philips 34B2U5900C. On paper, it's pretty much the ultimate non-OLED 34-inch 5K2K ultrawide productivity monitor for PCs and Macs.
If that sounds like a rather convoluted classification that amounts to faint praise, it's not meant to be. OLED monitors certainly have some clear advantages. But you simply can't get one that matches this Philips' core specification of 34-inch ultrawide with a 5K2K resolution.
That's important, because this display offers a level of pixel density and therefore text and image sharpness and clarity that no current 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor can match.
What's more, even up against the traditional LCD competition, the Philips 34B2U5900C looks pretty special. The full 5,120 by 2,160 native resolution is supported at 120Hz refresh and there's even a 2,560 by 1,080 alt-mode resolution at 240Hz.
Intriguingly, this is a VA panel as opposed to the IPS type you might have expected from a 5K2K model, which is why the contrast is quoted at an impressive (for an LCD monitor) 3,000:1. Notably, the full 5K2K at 120Hz is supported over all three video inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI and USB-C. While we're talking connectivity, it's positively comprehensive, with dual HDMI to accompany the aforementioned DisplayPort and USB-C and the latter providing an outstanding 140W thanks to supporting USB-C Power Delivery version 3.1.
A KVM switch likewise means this monitor is perfect for sharing across two machines, perhaps a PC and a Mac or a laptop and a desktop. There's plenty more in the huge feature set, including sensors for both light and user proximity, the former designed to adjust the screen's brightness to suit ambient conditions, the latter allowing this monitor to dim when you step away from your desk.
For the record, this is a DisplayHDR 400 certified panel, which means it's on the very lowest rung for HDR support and capability and doesn't offer local dimming, let alone the per-pixel lighting control of an OLED panel. But, again, this class of 5K2K panel simply isn't available with OLED technology. On paper, the Philips 34B2U5900C looks set to feature strongly among the best business monitors you can get.
Philips 34B2U5900C: Design and features
FutureFutureFuture
Slightly dated design
Fantastic feature set
USB-C with 140W power delivery
Specs
Panel size: 34-inch
Panel type: VA
Resolution: 5,120 x 2,160
Brightness: 550 nits
Contrast: 3,000:1 (static)
Pixel response: 2ms
Refresh rate: 120Hz (240Hz aat 2,560 x 1,080)
Color coverage: 95% DCI-P3
HDR: DIsplayHDR 400
VESA: 100mm x 100mm
Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 in x2, DisplayPort 1.4 in x1, USB-C with 140W PD in, USB hub with 3x USB-A and 3x USB-C, ethernet, 3.5mm headphone
Immediate impressions of the Philips 34B2U5900C are of a slightly clunky, dated old thing with a particularly thick lower bezel. An ultra-slim OLED it most clearly is not.
But it's well put together and exceptionally ergonomic. The latter attribute is thanks to the combination of a base that swivels through fully 360 degrees and clearly labelled and easily accessible ports on the rear. If you're fed up with battling with hard-to-access monitor ports, you'll love the Philips 34B2U5900C.
Speaking of connectivity, along with the dual HDMI ports, there's a DisplayPort socket and USB-C. The latter supports the latest PD 3.1 spec and so can deliver fully 140W of power delivery to an attached laptop. That's well up on the 96W of previous generations of USB-C single-cable connectivity and means that you use a single cable to drive this display and fully power many high-spec desktop replacement portables.
There's also a KVM switch, which makes it simple to share this monitor and, say, an attached keyboard and mouse combo, across two computing devices. The inclusion of an ethernet port means you can share networking across the devices, too. What's more, there's a multiview option allowing both machines to display on the monitor at the same time. Nice. Rounding out the connectivity is a three-port USB hub on the left bezel, with two USB-A ports and a single USB-C, plus a headphone jack.
Along with a light sensor that enables the 34B2U5900C to adjust its brightness according to ambient conditions and a proximity sensor that dims the brightness when you step away from your desk, perhaps the most unusual feature in a productivity context is the dual resolution mode. By default, the 34-inch panel runs natively at 5,120 by 2,160 pixels at 120Hz. That alone is pretty impressive for a productivity monitor with such a high resolution.
But Philips has also fitted this monitor out with a secondary dual-mode using pixel doubling to enable a resolution of 2,560 by 1,080 at 240Hz. It's the sort of feature that you'd expect on a gaming monitor. Exactly what the use case is for productivity, content creation or day-to-day computing isn't clear. But it hardly counts as a demerit to find it included.
Finally, color coverage of 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut is reasonable, but not really the stuff of professional content creation. That said, the 34B2U5900C is at least Calman Ready for rapid automated calibration using a colorimeter.
Philips 34B2U5900C: Performance
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Super sharp image quality
120Hz at native resolution
Surprisingly good response
The central appeal of the Philips 34B2U5900C is its 5K2K resolution. On this 34-inch ultrawide panel, that native resolution of 5,120 b 2,160 pixels works out to a pixel density of 163DPI.
That's exactly the same as a 27-inch 4K monitor and, indeed, this ultrawide 5K2K format is essentially a 16:9 4K 27 incher taken out to the 21:9 aspect. Add in a gentle 1500R curve, and you have a fantastic combination of widescreen ergonomics for multitasking and media immersion, plus super-sharp image quality and excellent text quality.
That applies to both Windows and MacOS operating. What's more, among the comprehensive selection of color spaces in the 34B2U5900C's OSD menu are both sRGB and Display-P3. So, you have immediate presets to suit the native color spaces of both operating systems.
This panel looks particularly good with MacOS. The pixel density isn't quite Retina class. But the font quality is still excellent and the ultrawide proportions allow for running as many as three application or browser windows side-by-side, a use case that obviously applies to Windows, too.
It's something of a surprise to find Philips using VA panel technology for this new 5K2K display. IPS is more typical. But this is one of the best VA screens we've seen for a long time. First, you get excellent inherent contrast for an LCD panel at 3,000:1. So, there's noticeably less light bleed than a similar IPS panel.
Even better, despite VA's reputation for poor pixel response, Philips has included three levels of configurable overdrive, the middle setting of which delivers very, very good response for this type of monitor. Motion clarity is very much in line with the 2ms quoted response performance and, in subjective terms, you're giving nothing away to the IPS competition, albeit OLED panel tech is nearly a full order of magnitude faster.
Speaking of speed, the 120Hz refresh rate is a very welcome feature. This isn't a gaming monitor and triple-digit refresh rates are not really a particular requirement for most productivity or content creation workflows. But 120Hz still makes for slicker and more responsive day-to-day computing.
The 240Hz 1080p dual-mode of more questionable utility outside of gaming. Enabling it makes for clearly compromised clarity, that's for sure. But it's there for the occasional fast-paced gaming session, if that's your thing on the side.
If you're looking for limitations, there are two obvious if hardly debilitating weaknesses. First, HDR support is capped at the entry-level DisplayHDR 400 tier. That means a peak brightness of 400 nits and no local dimming. So, this isn't a true HDR display. But then even LCD monitors with mini-LED dimming struggle to deliver a consistent HDR performance. You need OLED and perfect per-pixel lighting for that.
The other marginal shortcoming is color coverage. You'll do better than 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut this monitor offers with an IPS panel. So, if maximising color accuracy for pro content creation workflows is critical, you may find the 34B2U5900C slightly wanting.
Philips 34B2U5900C: Final verdict
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If you're looking for a fantastic all-rounder that combines crisp image quality with ultrawide multitasking ergonomics, great connectivity and even some surprising speed, look no further than the new Philips 34B2U5900C. It ticks so many boxes.
The 5K2K resolution on the 34-inch ultrawide panel is the main attraction. And certainly makes for both super sharp visuals and lots of desktop elbow room. In this application, the VA panel tech works really nicely too, delivering excellent contrast for an LCD monitor. Add the 120Hz refresh at 5K2K native and surprisingly nippy pixel speed and you have a very quick and slick productivity monitor, to boot.
Then there's the excellent connectivity. The highlight is the USB-C interface with 140W capability thanks to Power Delivery 3.1 support. It means you can keep a very powerful desktop replacement laptop fully juiced, which isn't something the previous USB-C PD standards could achieve.
All told, this is comfortably one of the best monitors of 2026. It absolutely nails its high-DPI productivity brief and adds a surprising turn of speed that makes it a versatile display, even if gaming isn't exactly central to its all-business remit.
