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What's the difference between alkaline and lithium-ion batteries?

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Best Antivirus for Mac (2026): Tested

Macworld It wasnt long ago that Macs were considered secure enough on their own. But as Apple devices have grown in popularity, macOS has become an increasingly attractive target for attackers . Todays threats are less about traditional viruses and more about phishing, fake updates, malicious downloads, and scams designed to trick users into installing malware themselves. At the same time, AI tools are accelerating vulnerability discovery and exploit development, making rapid patching more important than ever. Apple includes built-in protections such as XProtect and Gatekeeper, and macOS security is stronger than ever. However, these defenses mainly target known threats and cant fully prevent social-engineering attacks or credential theft. Modern antivirus tools with features like anti-phishing protection, malicious site blocking, behavior monitoring, and password and identity safeguards therefore remain essential for Mac users. To see which ones actually defend against todays threats, weve tested the leading antivirus apps for Mac and you can see our recommendations below. Get the best Mac antivirus: Intego ONE Weve tested the top Mac antivirus software using real-world scenarios, performance benchmarks, and independent lab results, alongside usability, performance and reliability checks. Use this guide to find the best antivirus for your needs. Below are our expert picks for 2026, including the best overall, best value, and best free options. Best Mac Antivirus in 2026: At a Glance The best antivirus for Mac in 2026 is Intego ONE , thanks to its Mac-specific design, strong protection, and low performance impact. Norton 360 and Bitdefender are also top alternatives. Scroll down for full reviews and testing results. How we test Mac Antivirus We test Mac antivirus software using real-world scenarios and independent lab data from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Starting with a clean macOS system, we downloaded malware samples and visited malicious websites to measure protection against online and offline threats, including Windows-based malware. We also assessed system performance, ease of use and macOS integration, along with features like ransomware protection, VPNs and firewalls. Only products that deliver strong protection without slowing down your Mac make our top recommendations. Best Mac Antivirus: Benchmarks Antivirus AV-Test Protection AV-Comparatives Score Our Malware Detection Performance Impact (Our Tests) Scan Speed Overall Score Intego 6 / 6 Approved 99% Low Fastest 4.7 / 5 Norton 360 6 / 6 Approved 100% Medium Medium 4.7 / 5 Avast One 6 / 6 Approved 99% Medium Medium 4.5 / 5 Moonlock 5.5 / 6 Not available 100% Low Fast 4.4 / 5 Surfshark 6 / 6 Approved 100% Low Fast 4.4 / 5 Avira Free 5.5 / 6 Approved 97% Low Fast 4.4 / 5 AVG Internet Security 6 / 6 Approved 99% Low Medium 4.5 / 5 Bitdefender 6 / 6 Approved 100% Low Fast 4.5 / 5 ESET 6 / 6 Approved 95% Low Fast 4 / 5 Avira 6 / 6 Approved 97% Low Fast 4.4 / 5 We compared independent lab results with our own real-world testing to identify the best Mac antivirus software for 2026. Best Mac Antivirus: Our top picks tested and ranked Weve tested and reviewed the best Mac antivirus software below. Our summaries explain how each product performed, why it ranks where it does, and its key features with links to our full, in-depth reviews. Updated July 3, 2026. 1. Intego ONE Best antivirus for Mac users Pros Extremely fast malware scanning Excellent firewall control options Strong macOS-focused protection Cons No phishing protection or parental controls Price When Reviewed: Intego ONE Essential from $2.50 a month/one device/first year, then $3.33 a month or $29.99 for the first year and then $39.99 a year. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Intego (annual) $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Intego ONE is a powerful Mac-focused security suite with excellent malware detection, extremely fast scan speeds, and strong firewall controls. Designed specifically for macOS, it works alongside Apples XProtect and Gatekeeper protections. The Complete plan also includes a VPN and a companion iPhone app with useful security and privacy checks. Why we picked it as our top choice Intego ONE stands out for its outstanding malware protection, exceptionally fast scans, and powerful firewall controls. In our tests, it detected almost every threat from more than 130 malware samples and scanned more than 877GB of data in under 10 minutes. Recent updates have also improved performance during malware cleanup and resolved several earlier bugs. Key strengths include: Excellent malware detection, including ransomware protection. Extremely fast scans, processing millions of files in minutes. Powerful firewall with detailed network monitoring and customizable rules. Improved quarantine performance and system responsiveness. Useful iPhone VPN and security checks with the Complete plan. Clean, user-friendly interface designed specifically for macOS. Intego delivers excellent real-world protection while giving Mac users more control over network activity than many competing security suites. Key features Antivirus : Full, quick, and custom scans, scheduling, and automatic USB scanning (Essential, Advanced & Complete). Firewall : Network monitoring, connection alerts, and customizable allow/deny rules (Essential, Advanced & Complete). VPN : Access to 51 global server locations, with Lightway protocol options on Mac (Complete). SmartClean : Disk cleanup, application uninstaller, and system optimization tools (Advanced & Complete). iPhone security : VPN, Wi-Fi security checks, connection speed tests, and security and privacy assessments (Complete). Whos it for? Intego ONE is ideal for Mac users who prioritize excellent malware protection, fast performance, and detailed control over network activity without the complexity of more technical security applications. Intego is ideal if you: Want strong, Mac-specific malware and ransomware protection. Need advanced firewall controls and network monitoring. Prefer fast scans with minimal performance impact. Want a VPN and basic security checks for your iPhone as well as Mac protection. Considerations & drawbacks No dedicated phishing protection, spam filtering, or parental controls. Quarantine cleanup can still leave occasional files requiring attention. The interface cannot be resized or expanded to full screen. The iPhone VPN lacks advanced features such as a kill switch and multiple protocol choices. No Windows or Android protection. Verdict Intego ONE remains our top antivirus recommendation for Mac users, combining excellent malware detection, remarkably fast scans, and powerful firewall controls. Recent improvements have addressed several earlier performance problems, while the addition of iPhone VPN and security tools makes the Complete package more appealing. It lacks some extras offered by competing suites, particularly phishing protection, but its core Mac security performance is outstanding. Read our full Intego ONE review 2. Avast One Best for malware and phishing protection Pros Excellent malware protection Outstanding Email Guard Capable VPN Comprehensive security suite Cons Excessive upselling and fragmentation Basic AI Assistant Occasional malware detection gaps Some interface limitations Price When Reviewed: Premium Security: $49.99 first year / renews at $77.99/yr, Ultimate: $49.99 first year / renews at $109.99/yr Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Avast $49.08 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Avast One is a comprehensive security suite for Mac that combines antivirus protection with phishing defense, a VPN, and privacy tools in a single application. It helps protect against malware, malicious websites, and email threats while keeping system impact low, making it a strong all-round security solution for everyday users. Why we picked it Avast One impressed with excellent malware detection, outstanding phishing protection, and a capable VPN that has little impact on Mac performance. Features such as Email Guard, Web Guard, and Real Site provide effective real-world protection against spam, phishing, and fraudulent websites. Key strengths include: Excellent malware protection Outstanding phishing and spam filtering Effective VPN with low system impact Comprehensive security feature set Strong web and email protection Email Guard, Web Guard, and Real Site work particularly well together, providing some of the strongest real-world phishing and scam protection weve seen. Key features Real-time malware protection Email Guard for phishing and spam detection Web Guard and Real Site website protection Integrated VPN AI Assistant for security advice Whos it for? Best for Mac users who want a feature-rich security suite with particularly strong phishing protection. Avast is ideal if you: Want all-in-one security rather than a basic antivirus Need excellent phishing and email protection Want a built-in VPN Prefer security software with minimal performance impact Value comprehensive web protection Considerations & drawbacks Frequent upselling throughout the app Confusing, fragmented subscription options AI Assistant provides limited value Missed some malware installers during testing Some interface limitations Verdict Avast One is one of the strongest all-round security suites for Mac, combining excellent malware protection, first-rate phishing defenses, and a capable VPN. Its confusing subscriptions, constant upselling, and underwhelming AI Assistant prevent it from being an easy recommendation, but its core protection is excellent. Read our full Avast One review 3. Norton 360 Best all-round, multi-platform security suite Pros Virus Protection Promise Instant reassurance for scams Includes Nortons VPN and Password Manager Cons Some features Windows only Price When Reviewed: Standard (3 devices): $39.99 for first year, usually $94.99 a year; Deluxe (5 devices): $29.99 for first year, usually $119.99 a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Norton Security (first year, 1 device) $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Norton 360 is one of the most comprehensive security suites available for Mac, combining antivirus protection with a wide range of additional features, including a VPN, password manager and AI-powered scam detection. A well-known and trusted name in cybersecurity, Norton also offers its Virus Protection Promise, meaning youll get your money back if it cant remove a virus from your device. Why we picked it Norton stands out for its all-in-one feature set and excellent lab performance, making it ideal for users who want complete protection across multiple devices. Key strengths include: Top scores in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives (June 2025) All-in-one suite: antivirus, VPN, password manager and more AI-powered Genie Scam Protection for real-time threat advice Strong cross-platform support (Mac, iOS, Windows, Android) Good value considering the breadth of features The addition of Nortons Genie Scam Assistant is particularly impressive, offering real-time help with suspicious emails and messages a useful tool as phishing attacks become more sophisticated. Key features Real-time antivirus, anti-malware and ransomware protection Built-in VPN for secure browsing Password manager Genie Scam Protection (AI assistant) Dark web monitoring (on select plans) Multi-device support Whos it for? Best for users who want a full-featured security suite across multiple devices. Norton is ideal if you: Want an all-in-one security solution Use multiple devices (Mac, iPhone, Windows, Android) Value extra features like VPN and identity protection Want real-time help spotting scams Considerations & drawbacks macOS version feels less fully featured than Windows version Some features (e.g. cloud backup) are not available on Mac Interface and settings can feel complex for beginners In our testing, missed a small number of threats and struggled with some file types (e.g. ZIP files) Browser protection didnt block all suspicious links in testing Bottom line If you want a feature-rich, all-in-one security suite, Norton 360 is one of the best options available. While its not as Mac-focused as Intego, it offers excellent protection, powerful extras and strong cross-platform coverage, making it a great choice for households with multiple devices. Read our full Norton 360 review 4. MacPaw Moonlock Great antivirus protection for beginners Pros Excellent malware detection Fast scanning performance Useful built-in VPN Helpful security guidance Clean, focused interface Cons Leaves some support files behind No phishing website blocking No scan time estimates Trial requires payment information Price When Reviewed: 1 Mac: $54 per year; $13.50 a month; $150 one time payment (licences for more Macs available) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MacPaw (annual) $45 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Moonlock is MacPaws dedicated antivirus and security app for Mac, combining malware protection with a VPN, system security checks and educational guidance. It aims to keep Macs protected from malware and online threats while helping users understand and improve their overall security without unnecessary complexity. Why we picked it Moonlock impressed with excellent malware detection, effective real-time Active Protection, a capable VPN and helpful educational resources. Rather than simply blocking threats, it also teaches users better security habits, making it particularly approachable for less technical Mac owners. Key strengths include: Excellent malware detection and removal Active Protection blocks threats before installation Built-in VPN with solid performance Helpful security education and guidance Flexible purchase options, including a one-time licence We particularly like how Moonlocks Security Advisor focuses on helping users develop better security habits through clear, practical guidance. Key features Quick, Balanced and Deep malware scanning Real-time Active Protection Built-in VPN Network Inspector for blocking traffic from selected regions System Protection and Security Advisor with security recommendations Whos it for? Best for Mac users who want strong malware protection with straightforward security tools and guidance rather than an overwhelming all-in-one suite. Moonlock is ideal if you: Want effective malware protection with minimal fuss Appreciate built-in security guidance and learning resources Prefer a clean, Mac-focused security app Want integrated VPN protection Like the option of a one-time purchase instead of only subscriptions Considerations & drawbacks Security Advisor is more informational than practical Menus and navigation can be confusing Scan scheduler only allows 15-minute intervals VPN defaults to the nearest server automatically Some features and options are buried in the interface Bottom line Moonlock delivers excellent malware protection backed by effective Active Protection, a capable VPN and useful security guidance. While its interface and menus need refinement, its a strong first standalone security suite from MacPaw and well worth considering for Mac users seeking straightforward protection. Read our full MacPaw Moonlock review 5. Surfshark One Best for privacy and multi-device protection Pros Supports unlimited devices Excellent malware protection Includes VPN, identity and privacy protection Cons Cheaper options available Price When Reviewed: Surfshark One, 24 months at $2.49 a month with 3 free months (Total for 27 months: $67.23); 12 months at $3.39 a month with 3 free months (Total for 15 months: $50.85); or $17.95/month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Surfshark $50.85 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Surfshark One+ Antivirus is best suited to Mac users who want antivirus protection, a VPN, and privacy tools combined in one affordable package. It performs especially well for home users, remote workers, and small offices that prefer a simple all-in-one solution instead of managing several separate subscriptions. The software integrates smoothly with macOS and causes very little slowdown during everyday use. Why we picked it The best aspect of Surfshark One+ is the combination of strong malware protection and an excellent built-in VPN. During testing, the antivirus engine detected nearly all malware samples, while the VPN delivered stable connections and advanced privacy features normally found in standalone VPN services. Key strengths include: Excellent malware detection Powerful VPN with advanced features Low system impact on Macs Affordable introductory pricing Strong privacy and identity tools The biggest advantage of Surfshark One+ is its overall value. Users receive antivirus protection, VPN services, identity monitoring, and privacy features in one subscription, making it a convenient and cost-effective cybersecurity package. Key features Real-time malware protection Surfshark VPN with MultiHop and Dedicated IP Identity breach monitoring Alternative ID privacy feature Surfshark private search engine External drive scanning Whos it for? Surfshark One+ is best for users who want strong Mac protection alongside privacy-focused tools and VPN functionality. Surfshark One is ideal for: Remote workers and travelers Home users wanting simple security Privacy-conscious Mac users Considerations & drawbacks Weak phishing and scam-site browser protection Slow full-system scans Some beta tools feel unfinished Browser extensions can be unreliable Renewal prices rise significantly after discounts Verdict Surfshark One+ Antivirus is a strong choice for Mac users who want reliable malware protection, a feature-rich VPN, and privacy tools in one affordable package. While weak browser phishing protection prevents it from being among the very best security suites, it still offers excellent overall value for everyday users. Read our full Surfshark One review 6. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac Customizable, user-friendly protection Pros Clean, customisable and easy to navigate Low system impact Cons Missed some threats in our testing Limited extras Price When Reviewed: $24.99 per year for 1 device (usually $49.99), $29.99 per year for 3 devices (usually $69.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Bitdefender (first year, 1 device) $24.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is a malware protection app that combines real-time antivirus scanning with tools such as ransomware protection, a browser extension and a basic VPN. It helps protect your Mac from malicious software while offering a straightforward, customizable interface that integrates well with macOS. Why we picked it Bitdefender impressed with its clean, customizable interface, straightforward scanning options and the ability to quickly scan external drives. The generous trial period and good macOS integration also make it easy to try and use, particularly alongside Apples built-in Gatekeeper protection. Key strengths include: Clean, customizable and easy-to-use interface Simple scanning of external drives and removable media Works well alongside macOS Gatekeeper Generous free trial period Good range of core security tools One standout strength is how easy it is to scan external drives on demand, making it particularly useful for users who regularly connect USB drives or other removable storage. Key features Real-time malware protection with Bitdefender Shield On-demand and scheduled malware scanning External drive and removable media scanning Browser extension for web protection Included VPN (200MB daily limit) Whos it for Bitdefender is best for Mac users who want an easy-to-use antivirus with a customizable interface and straightforward malware scanning. Bitdefender is ideal if you: Prefer a simple, uncluttered security app Frequently scan external drives or USB devices Want security that complements macOS protections Like being able to customize the interface Want a generous trial before subscribing Considerations & drawbacks Malware can slip through if Bitdefender Shield is disabled Occasional freezes during full-system scans Safari anti-phishing protection is limited Included VPN is restricted to 200MB per day and frequently encourages upgrades Overall malware protection still has room for improvement under some circumstances Verdict Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac delivers a polished interface, useful core features and convenient scanning tools, especially for external drives. However, inconsistent malware blocking under certain conditions, occasional scan freezes and limited web protection prevent it from being among the strongest Mac antivirus solutions. Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac review 7. AVG Internet Security for Mac Best for ease of use Pros Easy to use Strong malware protection and removal 60-day trial available Cons Mac only Price When Reviewed: $3.89 a month for 1 Mac ($46.68 for the first year, then $77.99 a year), or $4.99 a month for 10 devices ($59.88 for the first year, then $99.99 a year). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price AVG $46.68 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide AVG Internet Security for Mac is a reliable, feature-rich option that combines strong protection with a clean, easy-to-use interface. Best known for its free antivirus, AVGs premium suite builds on that foundation with broader security tools and consistently strong lab performance. In independent testing, AVG achieved top scores from AV-Test (Protection, Speed and Usability) and maximum ratings from AV-Comparatives across Mac malware, Windows malware and potentially unwanted applications confirming its effectiveness in real-world scenarios. Why we picked it AVG stands out for its balanced mix of protection, usability and features, making it a strong choice for users who want dependable security without complexity. Key strengths include: Top scores in independent lab tests (AV-Test and AV-Comparatives) Strong malware and phishing protection Clean, intuitive interface Effective malware removal capabilities Generous 60-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee While it doesnt dramatically outperform rivals in any one area, AVG delivers consistently solid performance across the board. Key features Real-time malware and threat protection Web and phishing protection Email security tools Ransomware protection Scheduled and on-demand scans Whos it for? Best for cautious Mac users who want reliable, no-fuss protection with the option to try before they buy. AVG is ideal if you: Want strong protection without a steep learning curve Prefer a clean, easy-to-navigate interface Like the flexibility of a long free trial before committing Considerations & drawbacks Mac-only (separate products needed for other platforms) Scan activity could be communicated more clearly Missed some test scenarios (e.g. fake installer in our testing) Doesnt stand out as strongly as top competitors AVG uses the same core engine as Avast Verdict AVG Internet Security for Mac is a well-rounded and trustworthy antivirus solution. It may not lead the pack in any single category, but its strong lab results, ease of use and solid protection make it a dependable choice for most Mac users. Read our full AVG Internet Security for Mac review 8. Avira Prime Best for Mac cleanup and privacy tools Price When Reviewed: From $59.99 for first year, then $109.99 a year. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Avira Prime (first year, 5 devices) $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Avira Prime combines strong malware protection with a comprehensive collection of privacy, cleanup, and system maintenance tools. Building on Aviras free antivirus software, Prime adds a VPN, cookie management, password storage, and disk optimization features, making it a good choice for Mac users who want more than basic antivirus protection. Why we picked it Avira Prime impressed us with its reliable malware detection, customizable scanning options, and useful maintenance tools. Its antivirus engine provides strong protection without significantly affecting Mac performance, while features such as Cookie Cleaner, Junk Cleaner, and Uninstaller offer practical ways to improve privacy and reclaim storage space. Key strengths include: Strong malware detection and protection against unwanted software. Fast Quick Scans and customizable scheduled scans. Automatic USB scanning and support for external drives. Excellent Cookie Cleaner with detailed control over tracking cookies. Effective Junk Cleaner that can recover several gigabytes of storage. VPN, password management, and application removal tools. Avira Prime offers a particularly useful combination of security and system maintenance, with enough customization to suit both beginners and more experienced Mac users. Key features Antivirus : Full, quick, and custom scans, scan scheduling, and external drive protection. VPN : Phantom VPN with international server selection and expanded data access compared with Avira Free. Cookie Cleaner : Identifies tracking cookies and allows selective removal. Junk Cleaner : Finds and removes unnecessary files to reclaim disk space. Uninstaller : Removes installed applications, including less visible system-level software. Passwords : Password storage and management tools. Startup Apps : Basic management of applications that launch automatically. Whos it for? Avira Prime is best suited to Mac users who want strong antivirus protection alongside useful privacy and system maintenance tools. Its particularly appealing to anyone who likes Avira Free Security but wants access to its additional features. Avira is ideal if you: Want antivirus protection combined with Mac cleanup tools. Need customizable scans, including external drive scanning. Want greater control over tracking cookies and unwanted files. Prefer a security subscription covering Macs, PCs, and mobile devices. Value having a VPN and password manager included in the same package. Considerations & drawbacks Some malware samples escaped detection during testing. Full system scans can take a long time. The VPNs launch process is unnecessarily cumbersome. Startup Apps offers fewer controls than dedicated alternatives. Comprehensive identity monitoring requires an additional subscription. Renewal pricing is considerably higher than the introductory price. Verdict Avira Prime is a strong choice for Mac users who want effective antivirus protection alongside practical privacy and cleanup tools. Its customizable scans, Cookie Cleaner, and Junk Cleaner are particular highlights, while the included VPN and password manager add value. The awkward VPN integration, limited startup management, and identity-monitoring upsell prevent it from being a top recommendation, but its a capable and versatile security suite worth considering. Read our full Avira Prime review 9. ESET HOME Security Best for power users seeking control Price When Reviewed: Essential: $49.99 a year for one device; Premium: $79.99 a year for one device; Ultimate $179.99 a year for five devices Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ESET (first year, 1 device) $34.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide ESET Cyber Security is a Mac security suite that combines antivirus, anti-phishing, spam filtering, ransomware and identity protection with a powerful built-in VPN. It focuses on delivering strong malware protection and extensive customization for security-conscious Mac users who want deep control over their security software. Why we picked it ESET impressed us with its excellent malware protection, highly configurable VPN, and administrator-level customization. It runs lightly in the background while providing strong real-time protection, making it particularly appealing to experienced Mac users who value configurability over simplicity. Key strengths include: Excellent malware protection with over 95% of malware samples blocked or quarantined Feature-rich VPN with multiple protocols, router support and Kill Switch Extensive administrator-level customization and security controls Minimal impact on everyday Mac performance Strong real-time protection that quietly removes threats in the background Its standout strength is the combination of outstanding malware protection and one of the most configurable VPN implementations bundled with Mac antivirus software, giving advanced users an exceptional level of control. Key features Real-time antivirus and malware protection Anti-phishing and spam filtering Ransomware and identity protection Built-in VPN with WireGuard, IKEv2, UDP, TCP, Stealth and WStunnel support Advanced VPN features including router support, Kill Switch and automatic connection rules Whos it for? Best for advanced Mac users and administrators who want deep control over their security software alongside excellent malware protection and a capable VPN. ESET is ideal if you: Want administrator-level security customization Need excellent malware protection with minimal performance impact Value a powerful built-in VPN with advanced networking features Prefer security-focused software over all-in-one maintenance utilities Are comfortable configuring advanced security settings Considerations & drawbacks Discord compatibility issues caused update and launch failures during testing Scheduled scans failed to execute reliably Logging tools are limited and lack useful export options Scan progress indicators provide little feedback during long scans Interface and settings are aimed at experienced users rather than beginners Verdict ESET Cyber Security Ultimate delivers excellent malware protection, an outstanding bundled VPN and exceptional configurability while remaining light on system resources. Although software bugs and a few usability issues prevent it from feeling fully polished, its a compelling choice for experienced Mac users who prioritize security and control over simplicity. Read our full Eset Home Security review Other Mac antivirus software we tested Macworld reviews many more antivirus products than you see in our ranking above. Not appearing in our top six doesnt mean a product isnt going to do a good job of protecting your Mac, merely that it failed to stand out among the best of the competition. Youll find some more top contenders below, with links to our full reviews for more details. We wouldnt advise installing any Mac antivirus without first checking our antivirus software reviews . (For PC antivirus, see our sister site PCWorlds guide to the best Windows antivirus .) Malwarebytes Premium Security We recommend: Malwarebytes for Mac Read our review Price When Reviewed: Standard plan $59.99; Plus plan $79.99; Ultimate plan starts at $279.99 (currently $139.99) a year for three devices Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Malwarebytes (first year, 1 devices) Why we recommend it : Malwarebytes for Mac is a user-friendly tool that delivers fast malware detection, external drive scanning, VPN and identity tools. Whos it for : Its best for casual users seeking set-it-and-forget-it defence, not power users needing granular control or all-surface threat coverage. Read our full Malwarebytes Premium Security review McAfee Total Protection We recommend: McAfee Total Protection Read our review Price When Reviewed: Single: $29.99 (1 device) for first year, usually $89.99; Essential: $39.99 (5 devices) for first year, usually $119.99 a year Best Prices Today: $29.99 at McAfee Total Protection (first year, 1 device) Why we recommend it : McAfee Total Protection covers the bases with solid antivirus, real-time scanning, and a basic VPN feature, but stumbles with vague alerts, an outdated WebAdvisor protection system, and noticeable performance hits. Whos it for : Its a decent all-in-one for casual users wanting broad protection, but power users or privacy hawks might want something leaner, faster, and easier to configure. Read our full McAfee Total Protection review Is free antivirus for Mac good enough? Free antivirus software can provide basic protection, but it often lacks advanced features such as ransomware protection, firewalls and real-time web security. Paid options offer more comprehensive, all-round protection. Apple includes built-in security tools like XProtect and Gatekeeper , which block known malware and unverified apps. However, in our testing, it was still possible to install Mac malware or suspicious software if warnings were ignored, showing that Apples protections alone are not foolproof. Free third-party antivirus tools offer an advantage in that they are updated more frequently and can protect against a wider range of threats, including adware, spyware, trojans and ransomware . The core antivirus engine is often the same in both free and paid versions. The difference lies in the extra features included in premium suites, such as web and phishing protection, VPNs, identity monitoring, parental controls and customer support. Ultimately, you get what you pay for. If security is a priority, a paid antivirus offers the most complete protection. However, if youre on a tight budget, a free antivirus is still better than relying solely on Apples built-in security tools. If youre on a really tight budget, a free antivirus is still going to do a better job of protecting you than Apples security tools. For some low-priced AV options, check out the best Mac antivirus deals for the best prices. Whats the best free Mac antivirus? Here are the best free antivirus for Mac apps we have reviewed: Apple Gatekeeper & XProtect Review | Built into macOS Avast Security for Mac Review | Download Avira Free Antivirus for Mac Review | Download AVG Antivirus for Mac Review | Download Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac Review | Download Intego VirusBarrier Scanner Review | Download Malwarebytes Antivirus for Mac Review | Download Best Mac Antivirus: Specs Comparison Developer Product Name Malware Protection Ransomware Protection Adware Prevention Anti Phishing Protection Email Protection Firewall VPN iOS Version Parental Controls Support Trial /Free version Intego Intego ONE Excellent, Mac focused Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Email/Phone 30 day trial and free option Surfshark Surfshark One Strong Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Chat/Email 30-day money back guarantee AVG Internet Security for Mac Good Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Email 60 days Avast Premium Security Very good Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Email/Forum 60 days McAfee Total Protection Good Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone/Chat 30 days/money-back guarantee Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Email 30 days Norton Norton 360 Very strong Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Phone/Chat 30-day money-back Avira Avira Prime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Email 30 days Bitdefender Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Email/Chat 30 days MacPaw Moonlock Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Email 7 days Pocket Bits LLC BitMedic Pro Antivirus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Email/Support Form 7 days Sophos Sophos Home Premium for Mac Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Chat/Email 30 days ESET ESET HOME Security Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Email/Phone 30 days Malwarebtyes Malwarebytes Premium Security No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Email/Forum 14 days Why you can trust Macworld for antivirus advice Macworld has been testing Mac software since the launch of the Mac in 1984, giving us decades of experience and deep expertise in Apples ecosystem. We understand how Macs work and how best to protect them. While Apple includes built-in security tools to combat malware, todays threat landscape means additional protection is often worthwhile. Our antivirus reviewers have decades of industry experience, including hands-on work supporting users and solving real-world IT and security issues. Our recommendations are based on a combination of independent lab data, structured testing and real-world usage not just specifications or vendor claims. We regularly review and update our rankings to reflect the latest threats, software updates and performance improvements. How we test Mac antivirus software To identify the best antivirus software for Mac, we combine hands-on testing, real-world threat simulation and independent lab data. Our goal is to assess how effectively each product protects your Mac without compromising performance, usability or value. Real-world testing environment : We begin with a clean installation of macOS, which is then cloned for each antivirus product. Each app is installed and tested in isolation to ensure results are not affected by other software particularly important as antivirus tools can sometimes flag each other as threats. We simulate real-world attack scenarios by: Downloading known malware samples Visiting malicious and phishing websites Testing suspicious files and drive-by downloads Running malware in controlled conditions This allows us to evaluate how well each product detects and blocks both online and offline threats, including Mac-specific malware, adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). We also assess how effectively each tool detects and handles Windows-based malware, which can still pose a risk when sharing files. Independent lab validation: To support our findings, we reference results from leading independent testing organisations: AV-Test AV-Comparatives These labs evaluate antivirus software against large sets of known malware and potentially unwanted applications, measuring detection rates, false positives and overall protection. Where lab data is unavailable, we carry out more extensive in-house testing using real malware samples. Performance impact : Antivirus software should protect your Mac without slowing it down. We measure performance by assessing: System responsiveness during full and quick scans Impact of real-time protection on everyday tasks Background CPU and resource usage We prioritise solutions that deliver strong protection with minimal noticeable slowdown, since overly demanding software is more likely to be disabled by users. Features, usability and user experience : We spend time using each product to evaluate how intuitive and practical it is in daily use. This includes: Ease of installation and setup Interface design and macOS integration Clarity and relevance of alerts and notifications We also assess additional features, including: Ransomware protection Web and phishing protection Firewalls and network monitoring VPNs and privacy tools Password managers and parental controls Importantly, we consider whether these features are genuinely useful or simply added complexity. Value for money : We evaluate pricing and overall value, including: Subscription costs and renewal pricing Number of devices covered Features included at each tier Our focus is on products that offer a strong balance of protection, performance and features at a reasonable price. Should I get an antivirus for my Mac? Scenario Recommendation Low-risk user (App Store only, trusted devs, automatic updates on) Apples built-in tools are sufficient. High-risk user (downloads from various sites, torrents, handles sensitive data) Paid antivirus is strongly recommended. Business user (handles client data, shares files with Windows PCs) Paid antivirus is recommended for an extra safety layer. User wanting extra features (VPN, password manager, phishing protection) Paid antivirus is worthwhile for the bundled features. Best Mac Antivirus: FAQ 1. Do Macs need antivirus software? Yes while Macs are generally more secure than Windows PCs and include built-in protections like XProtect and sandboxing, which helps limit how far malware can spread, these measures are not enough to defend against modern threats such as phishing, adware and ransomware. Adding a dedicated antivirus tool helps close those gaps, provides broader coverage against evolving threats and extra layer of security when browsing the web or downloading files. For more detail, see our guide to whether Macs need antivirus , along with our Mac security tips and advice on how to remove a virus from a Mac . Do iPhones need antivirus software? You may be considering a Mac Antivirus that also offers to protect your iPhone, but is that protection really necessary? Apples iOS is designed with strong built-in security, including app sandboxing, strict App Store review processes and system-level protections that prevent traditional viruses from infecting your device. This makes it very difficult for malware to spread in the same way it can on other platforms. So, no iPhones generally dont need antivirus software. However, iPhones are not completely risk-free. Threats like phishing attacks, malicious websites and data breaches can still affect users. Instead of installing an antivirus app the best advice is to keep iOS up to date, avoid clicking on suspicious links, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and dont download anything unless you are sure it is safe. 2. How does antivirus software protect your Mac? Mac antivirus software protects your device using a combination of on-demand scans and real-time (always-on) protection. On-demand scanning checks files when you run a manual or scheduled scan. This can take time, especially on systems with lots of data, and may temporarily use more system resources. For best results, scans are often scheduled to run at convenient times. See how to scan a Mac for malware Real-time protection works continuously in the background. If malware arrives for example via an email attachment or downloaded file the antivirus can detect and block it immediately. Suspicious files are typically quarantined , meaning they are moved to a secure location where they cant cause harm while you decide whether to delete or restore them. The effectiveness of these two layers of protection is the most important factor when choosing antivirus software, but additional features can also make a difference. Many Mac antivirus tools now include ransomware protection , which prevents unauthorised apps from accessing sensitive folders such as Documents or Photos. Only trusted apps are allowed access, and you can customise these permissions. Web protection is another key feature, often delivered via browser extensions. This helps block malicious websites, phishing attempts and unsafe downloads, reducing the risk of accidentally exposing personal information. 3. Should my Mac antivirus include a VPN? Yes, a VPN can be a useful addition to Mac antivirus software. It encrypts your internet connection, helping protect your data especially on public Wi-Fi. However, built-in VPNs are often limited, so a dedicated VPN service usually offers better performance and features. Some Mac antivirus packages include a built-in VPN (virtual private network), although VPNs are also widely available as standalone products. For many users, VPNs are appealing because they can mask your location and allow access to region-restricted content, such as streaming services. More importantly, a VPN improves security by encrypting your internet connection, which is particularly useful when using public Wi-Fi networks. This helps protect your data from interception and reduces the risk of cyberattacks. While we generally recommend a dedicated Mac VPN service for the best performance and features, a VPN included with antivirus software can still be a useful extra. Just be aware that bundled VPNs often come with limitations, such as data caps or reduced functionality, and may prompt you to upgrade to a full subscription. 4. What is the best value Mac antivirus? Value means different things to different users. For some, its the best free option; for others, its a reasonably priced product with the most useful features. We define value as the best overall balance of protection, performance and features and for protecting a single Mac, we believe Intego offers the best value. That said, there are ways to save money on even the top antivirus products. Most Mac antivirus apps are sold as annual subscriptions, often with significant discounts for the first year. When that period ends, you can switch providers to take advantage of new introductory offers, or opt for longer-term plans (such as two- or three-year subscriptions) to reduce the overall cost. Many antivirus suites also cover multiple devices, including Windows PCs and Android smartphones. If you have several devices in your household, a multi-device plan can offer excellent value. For the latest offers, see our guide to the Best Mac Antivirus deals , which includes the most affordable options. 5. How to spot fake Mac antivirus software? Because many of us are waking up to the idea that malware is a threat to the Mac, malware writers have made it their business to play on that fear. There have been cases of malware writers disguising their viruses as antivirus apps two notable examples are Mac Auto Fixer and MacDefender. Its important to always read reviews on reputable sites such as Macworld before installing any software on your Mac or MacBook. At the same time, dont believe everything you read. MacKeeper is a great example of an antivirus program that has got a bad rap, but its worked hard to repair its reputation. It has gained Apple Notarization, which means the software has been checked by Apple for malicious components, and the company has garnering certification from various bodies to prove it isnt a PUP (potentially unwanted program), including an AV-Test certificate. That said, we havent recommended it here, and thats simply because we feel that there are better options available. If you have already installed MacKeeper and wish to try one of our alternative recommendations, we explain How to uninstall MacKeeper . 6. What cant Mac antivirus protect you from? Using a Mac antivirus product, especially one that includes tools to improve your online privacy, may lull you into believing youre completely safe from personal and private information leaking out and that you no longer need to keep your wits about you. Thats not quite the case. While theres no reason to panic, you should still practice caution and there are a few more issues you should consider when using Mac antivirus, too. First, an antivirus for Mac product may upload the complete text of files flagged to the cloud, where it can be analyzed by separate tools hosted there. This practice is normal and sensible: some malware can detect when a running process may examine it, and will then engage in subterfuge. Antivirus software makers also can access their massive databases to examine files with characteristics that trigger their algorithms certain elements that match known malware. As a result, security researchers discover new viruses, worms, Trojans horses, and the like. However, helping the greater good means youll have to be comfortable with trusting a third-party with your file contents. Where appropriate, we noted privacy policy issues in individual reviews. Second, this software may also rely partly or entirely on cloud-based checks of URLs, malware, and the like. Accordingly, an antivirus package might upload every URL you visit, metadata about files, signatures of files, information about your computers hardware, a list of running or installed applications, and more. Companies vary on their disclosure of such policies, and may not let you opt out of this kind of sharing. We note issues in each review as appropriate. Third, antivirus software makers also get a sense of what behavior is happening on your computer thats being monitored or blocked, and may use that information for their own purposes. In some cases, you can opt out of this information gathering. 7. What virus cleaner does Apple recommend? Apple has never recommended a third-party virus cleaner, and has instead focused on the Xprotect and Gatekeeper functions found within macOS, which are regularly updated with operating system updates. 8. How good is Apples virus protection? Its actually very good, and there isnt much that gets past it in the way of viruses and malware, given its Xprotect and Gatekeeper features but these can be overridden, and questionable software can be installed and activated if the user knows what theyre doing. Still, the protection is present, its updated well, and Apple keeps a good eye on things, but new viruses and malware are sent out from bad actors all the time, and this is where a good third-party application can come in handy. We have tested Apples own solution against a range of malware samples . While it did a reasonable job overall, we found instances where questionable applications could be installed without any warning. A helpful analogy is to think of Apples built-in antivirus system, XProtect, as the lock on your Macs front door, while a paid antivirus solution acts more like an alarm system with security cameras. Third-party tools update their virus definitions including not just viruses, but also adware, spyware, trojans, and ransomware several times a day, often more frequently than Apples protections, providing real-time defense against new and emerging threats. During our testing of Apples malware protections, recovery options were limited. In some cases, the only solution was to wipe the Mac and restore from a backup made before the risky behavior hoping nothing had already spread. Apple does not offer dedicated malware removal support or guarantees if an infection occurs, nor does it protect against cross-platform threats across multiple devices. Paid antivirus software typically includes these services, along with additional features such as web and phishing protection, vulnerability patching tools, VPNs, password managers, parental controls, secure cloud backup, and dark web monitoring. That said, macOSs built-in security may be sufficient for low-risk users who install apps only from the App Store or trusted developers, keep automatic updates enabled, avoid pirated software, do not disable Gatekeeper, have limited exposure to risky email attachments, and do not handle sensitive client data. Ultimately, investing in a reputable security suite for Mac adds an extra layer of protection and for many users, its a case of being safe rather than sorry. 9. Is there free virus protection for Mac? The Xprotect and Gatekeeper functions serve as free virus protection for macOS, but you can also get basic virus protection from many of the well-known antivirus providers, we have some recommendations above. 10. How to choose the best Mac antivirus for your needs There are a lot of Mac antivirus programs to choose from. What you want is one that offers a familiar and easy-to-use interface that works well on a Mac a key reason why we recommend Integos antivirus. You should also look for antivirus with a good detection rate not just for Mac viruses, but also for PC viruses, unless you want to be passing viruses on to friends and clients running Windows. Low impact on system resources is also critical, especially if your Mac isnt the most powerful model. Consider the type and number of devices you want to protect are you looking for an app to cover one Mac, or Mac, iPhone, iPad and even a PC? Your budget matters here, too: do you prefer a subscription model or a one-time payment? Mac antivirus vendors typically offer different add-ons, and it is certainly a case of you get what you pay for: free products will have fewer bells and whistles, but the most comprehensive Mac security suites will include password managers, parental controls, cloud storage and more. The underlying antimalware engine will usually be the same for all security products from a particular company, so you can save money if you dont need all those extra features. 11. Whenare Applesbuilt-inprotections sufficient For many users, Apples layered security XProtect, Gatekeeper and Rapid Security Responses is more than adequate. If you fit into the low-risk category described below, you can probably rely on macOS alone. You only download apps from the Mac App Store or trusted developers . Gatekeeper ensures that only notarized software from identified developers can run, and XProtect scans these apps for known malware on launch. You keep automatic updates enabled . Apple regularly updates XProtects malware definitions in the background, and with macOS Tahoe, Background Security Improvements can now install critical patches silently without requiring a restart. You avoid pirated software, torrents, and cracks. These are common vectors for malware that can bypass Apples checks if a user overrides warnings. You do not handle sensitive client data or work in a high-risk environment . For casual home use, the built-in tools are generally enough to block the most obvious threats 12. When paid Antivirus is worthwhile Despite Apples strong foundation, there are clear gaps that third-party software fills. You frequently install software from various internet sources . In our hands-on testing, we have found that it is still possible to install malware by ignoring or bypassing Gatekeeper warnings. Our testers were able to install trojans, fake apps, and software that requested access to the microphone, webcam, and keystrokes. You want protection against phishing and malicious websites . Apples XProtect primarily focuses on known malware files. It does not offer the same level of real-time web and phishing protection that suites like Avast One or Bitdefender provide. You need more frequent updates and broader threat coverage . Third-party tools update their virus definitions several times a day, often more frequently than Apples updates. They also cover a wider range of threats, including adware, spyware, trojans, and ransomware. You want features like a firewall, VPN, password manager, or identity monitoring . Apple does not offer a dedicated, configurable firewall for macOS (it relies on the built-in one) and does not include a VPN, password manager, or dark web monitoring in its security suite. Paid suites bundle these features. You share files with Windows users. An unprotected Mac can unknowingly harbor Windows viruses that wont affect macOS but can be passed on to friends and colleagues. A good antivirus will detect and clean cross-platform threats.

Macworld 12 Oct 2026 9:57 pm

Indians Caught In Gulf Crossfire Again: Tanker Engulfed In Flames, Two Sailors Missing

Two Indian seafarers remain missing after the MT Petro Dolphin was hit in what Indian authorities described as a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage off Oman on October 11. Dramatic footage shows the tanker engulfed in flames and thick black smoke. Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said 11 Indians were aboard the vessel. Nine were rescued safely, while Omans coastguard continues searching for the remaining two. The Forward Seamens Union of India identified them as Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh. The incident comes amid a series of attacks involving vessels carrying Indian crews. The MT Valthera was struck by an unidentified projectile on October 11, MT Gem No. 2 was hit by a drone on October 9, and 11 Indian crew members were injured aboard MT On Peace on October 6. India has called for the attacks to stop, declaring: Attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure must cease.

The Times of India 12 Oct 2026 9:46 pm

Citron has brought back the iconic 2 CV as an electric concept car

Sadly we won't be seeing whatever this car inspires stateside.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 9:40 pm

Beats x Pok

The Pokmon 30th anniversary year certainly isnt over yet. While most of the major exciting drops and new announcements hit early in 2026 as part of the Pokmon Day celebrations, we have seen several major collaborations since then with Target and then adidas, and today we are getting our first look at the official Beats x Pokmon teaser. more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 9:35 pm

MacKenzie Scott donated $26.2 billion in five years, but why is she missing from the Chronicle of Philanthropys top 50 donors list?

MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, donated $26.2 billion over five years and $7 billion in 2025. Despite her significant charitable contributions, she did not appear on the Philanthropy 50 list this year. This exclusion is attributed to her preference for privacy in philanthropy and lack of detailed donation information. Scott's approach to generosity is influenced by personal acts of kindness experienced in her life.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 9:34 pm

Avira Prime for Mac review: Strong malware protection and useful cleanup tools

Macworld At a Glance Expert's Rating Pros Strong core malware protection Excellent scanning and scheduling interface Effective junk and application removal Good everyday VPN performance Cons Some malware components left behind Limited advanced VPN features Identity Assistant failed during testing Inconvenient cookie searching and scan logs Our Verdict Avira Prime offers strong Mac malware protection, excellent scanning and scheduling, and useful cleanup tools. However, its VPN lacks advanced features, Identity Assistant failed during testing, and some malware components were left behind. Despite these shortcomings, its a capable security suite worth trying during its 30-day trial. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price Avira Prime (first year, 5 devices) $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Price When Reviewed From $59.99 for first year, then $109.99 a year. Best Prices Today: Avira Prime Retailer Price Avira Prime (first year, 5 devices) $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide What is it: Avira Prime is a comprehensive Mac security suite combining antivirus and malware protection with a VPN, password manager, privacy features, and useful cleanup and system-maintenance tools. Who is it best for: Mac users looking for a comprehensive security suite that combines antivirus protection with useful cleanup, application-removal, and system-maintenance tools. Who should skip it: Users who need advanced VPN capabilities, detailed security reporting, or dependable identity-monitoring features may find that Avira Prime doesnt go far enough. At a glance Protection: Performance: Features: Ease of use: Value: There are times when the focus seems right, the execution doesnt quite match, but theres still a good utility to be had anyway. Enter Avira Prime, the security and utility suite from longtime developer Avira, which now stands at version 2.3.10 and has been dubbed Avira Security at the application level. Available for macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later, the latest version combines antivirus and malware protection with a VPN, password manager, privacy features, and a range of cleanup tools. Testing on a MacBook Pro running macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 revealed strong core protection, an impressive scanning interface, and some genuinely useful utilities, alongside a few missed opportunities and one feature that failed to work properly. Features: What do you actually get? Avira Prime breaks down into Security, Privacy, and Performance categories from the home screen. The Security category offers Virus Scans, Protection Options, and Quarantine, while the Privacy and Performance sections offer VPN, Passwords, Cookie Cleaner, Identity Assistant, Junk Cleaner, Uninstaller, and Startup Apps tools. Other features include a Status indicator, Activity history, and a Scheduler. Theres a good set of genuinely focused tools here without going overboard, although their usefulness varies. Malware protection Avira Primes Full Scan shows the files being checked, elapsed time, and estimated time remaining, making it easier to follow a lengthy malware scan. Foundry Antivirus and malware removal remain Aviras bread and butter, and whats there is impressive. The application offers Quick, Full, and Custom Scans, with the latter allowing you to drag and drop volumes for scanning or locate specific volumes, folders, or files through the Finder. Its a flexible approach that makes it easy to check an external drive or investigate something suspicious without having to run a complete system scan. This combines with customizable settings for Real-time Protection, Download Protection, and USB Protection, the latter checking USB devices as theyre connected. Avira also integrates well with macOSs built-in XProtect and Gatekeeper protection features. The Quarantine tool displays the file paths where malware was discovered, allowing you to review the findings. Unfortunately, the lack of a convenient scan-log export function makes more detailed reporting tedious, particularly if youre considering Avira Prime as an office systems-administration tool. VPN and password management Avira Prime offers VPN functionality through its Avira Phantom VPN application, and the results are something of a mixed bag. The VPN itself performs well, offering good throughput speeds, reliable streaming, and an easy way to change geolocations as needed. The interface is straightforward, and the core functions should be enough for casual browsing and streaming. That said, its a bare-bones client compared with more advanced VPN applications. Features such as port forwarding and split tunneling are limited or unavailable, and performance through peer-to-peer applications can be substantially slower. Whats present works, but users who depend on these capabilities may want to look elsewhere. Unlimited VPN data is part of the Prime package, alongside password management and additional privacy tools, while the separate Phantom VPN application also offers a limited free allowance of 500MB per month, along with standalone subscription options. Like a number of its competitors, Avira is also chasing the password-management market. The Avira Password Manager extension supports Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera, and has you create an Avira account and a master vault password. Once installed, it was easy enough to create a CSV file from my existing system passwords, which imported cleanly into the extension. From there, the manager activated as needed throughout my normal workday. Its a useful addition, although anyone already committed to a separate password manager may not find much reason to switch. Cookie Cleaner and Identity Assistant The Cookie Cleaner lets users select cookies for removal, although the lack of a search function makes navigating large lists harder than it should be. Foundry The Cookie Cleaner is an interesting addition and offers tight control over cookie files, but comes with some drawbacks. Once youve activated the feature and quit your open web browsers, the tool quickly scans your Macs cookie files. After a few minutes, it presents the dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of cookies that may be present. The user interface is inviting, but it offers no search function for finding specific cookies, leaving you to scroll through websites and domain names displayed in a scattered, non-alphabetical order. What should be a straightforward process begins to feel like a chore, and a better way of navigating the results is needed. Aviras efforts towards an Identity Assistant and overall identity protection are nothing new in the current marketplace, and the feature feels more like an additional value-add than something genuinely unique. The feature offers dark-web monitoring and allows users to provide personal information they want to track. However, it requires an additional subscription for certain levels of coverage, and the lack of a free trial for these services makes it difficult to judge their value before committing. More importantly, the feature failed to work properly during testing. Attempts to load the initial scan and personal-information entry screen produced web-based error messages in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera rather than a functioning interface. That server-side error persisted throughout testing, making the Identity Assistants actual effectiveness impossible to gauge. Its disappointing to encounter such a basic problem in a paid security suite. Junk Cleaner, Uninstaller, and Startup Apps Avira Primes Uninstaller removes an older version of Blender and its associated support files. Foundry Where Avira Primes Identity Assistant proved a stumbling block, its Junk Cleaner helped redeem the suite. As seems to be the convention these days, the feature hunts down cache files, downloads, reports, logs, and Xcode files. On the test MacBook Pro, it offered to clean about 2.67GB of data without automatically going after everything in the Downloads folder, which would have cleared another 46.34GB. This is backed by an elegant interface that lets you click on specific files and choose exactly which items you want to remove, rather than inadvertently targeting a large swath of data that may be unrecoverable afterwards. Its a welcome level of control. Aviras Uninstaller and Startup Apps features may not be revolutionary, but theyre genuinely impressive in their simplicity. The Uninstaller allows you to drag and drop an application onto the tool or scan your installed applications, then cleanly removes the selected software and its associated support files. Its especially useful when you want to remove more than just the main application from the Applications folder. The Startup Apps tool offers much the same level of control as the corresponding settings in macOS, allowing you to toggle startup items on or off. Its a convenient addition, although it doesnt go much further than the tools already built into the operating system. Test results: How well does Avira Prime protect your Mac Virus scan settings allow users to customize Avira Primes protection behaviour and scanning preferences. Foundry Antivirus and malware removal remain the strongest parts of Avira Prime, and the new version performed well in hands-on testing against more than 130 malware samples from the Objective-See Mac malware archive. The application was able to eliminate all but a few of the samples, sometimes deleting chunks of malware as they were extracted from their archives. In these situations, it worked well alongside macOSs built-in XProtect and Gatekeeper protections, which add their own layers of defence. Avira Prime wasnt completely successful, however. Elements of DevilRobber, FlexibleFerret, Lamzev, MacKeeper, notnullOSX, and SentinelSneak remained after testing. While the software appeared to remove the executable components of some threats, it occasionally left other files behind, including developer-related files. This was worrying, although the presence of leftover files doesnt necessarily mean that the malware remained capable of executing or causing harm. These findings are worth bearing in mind. Aviras core protection is impressive, but it isnt invincible, and users should not assume that every component associated with a detected threat will necessarily be removed. The applications presentation of scan progress is another significant strength. A clear progress bar, elapsed time, filenames, ongoing updates, and an accurate estimated completion time make it easy to see whats happening. This is one of the better scanning interfaces Ive encountered in a malware utility in some time. Independent laboratory results Aviras performance is also supported by independent laboratory testing. In AV-TESTs June 2026 assessment of Avira Security 2.3 on macOS Tahoe 26.5.1, the software achieved 6 out of 6 for protection, 6 out of 6 for performance, and 6 out of 6 for usability, earning the maximum possible overall result of 18 out of 18. The laboratory recorded 100 percent detection of the widespread and prevalent malware in its reference set and no false positives in its reported usability tests. These results provide a useful independent counterpoint to the occasional leftover malware components observed during our hands-on testing. Performance: Will Avira Prime slow down your Mac? Avira Primes scan performance proved solid, particularly when running Quick and Custom Scans. A Quick Scan completed in just a few minutes, while a Full Scan of more than 633GB of data on the MacBook Pros SSD took just under three hours. Given the amount of data being scanned, the latter is the sort of task that might best be scheduled overnight or outside a busy workday. The Custom Scan option is particularly useful because it allows you to focus on particular files, folders, or volumes rather than committing to a complete system scan every time. USB Protection offers a similarly convenient way to check removable storage as its connected. The June 2026 AV-TEST results also awarded Avira Security 2.3 a maximum score for performance, suggesting that its effects on common activities, such as application launches and file copying, are generally well controlled. Ease of use: Is it Mac-friendly? Installation proved as easy as expected, with Avira Prime installing an endpoint security extension and requiring Full Disk Access. The application provided convenient access to macOSs System Settings to authorize the necessary permissions. Once configured, the main window offers easy access to the Security, Privacy, and Performance sections. The layout is inviting, with well-organized tools that are straightforward to locate and use. The settings themselves offer finer control over virus scans, protection options, exclusions or whitelists, and the cookie and junk cleaners. The Scheduler is particularly good, allowing you to quickly create a roster of recurring Smart Scans and Virus Scans that can be edited later. Theres no need to dig through obscure settings to create a recurring task, and the feature is impressive in its simplicity. Finally, the Activity section provides a useful reference point for seeing which tests were performed on particular dates, helping complete the picture of your history with Avira Prime. Not everything is quite as polished. The lack of a search function in the Cookie Cleaner makes navigating large lists unnecessarily difficult, while the limited Quarantine reporting and absence of a convenient scan-log export option become more frustrating when trying to investigate a particular threat. Overall, though, Avira Prime offers a clean and generally approachable experience that makes its extensive collection of tools relatively easy to manage. The Quarantine tool displays detected files and their locations, although more convenient log-export options would be welcome. Foundry Pricing and plans: Is Avira Prime worth the money? Avira Prime is available as a subscription covering multiple devices across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, with introductory pricing that makes the suite more attractive than its longer-term renewal cost. At the time of testing, the five-device plan was listed at $59.99/51.99 for the first year, increasing to $109.99/94.99 annually on renewal. A plan covering up to 25 devices was also listed at $134.99/116.99 for the first year, with the same figure quoted for subsequent years. A 30-day free trial is available after creating an account through Aviras website, with no credit or debit card information required during the sign-up process. Compared with using Avira Free Security for Mac , the appeal of Prime is therefore largely in the additional utilities and services. The core antivirus features remain strong, but Prime adds cleanup, application-removal, privacy, and VPN capabilities in one subscription. Whether thats good value depends on how many of these tools youll actually use. The Junk Cleaner and Uninstaller are useful additions, while the VPN is adequate for everyday purposes. The Identity Assistants failure to load, however, makes it difficult to recommend paying extra for its additional identity-monitoring coverage. Avira Prime offers a lot of functionality, but the longer-term cost becomes harder to justify if you only need its antivirus capabilities. How we tested Avira Prime 2.3.10 was tested in-house on a MacBook Pro running macOS Tahoe 26.6.2. Testing included more than 130 malware samples from the Objective-See Mac malware collection, with a focus on malware detection and removal, scanning behaviour, and the applications ability to manage infected files and volumes. Quick, Full, and Custom Scans were evaluated, including a Full Scan of more than 633GB of data. The suites additional features, including Phantom VPN, Password Manager, Cookie Cleaner, Identity Assistant, Junk Cleaner, Uninstaller, Startup Apps, and Scheduler, were also examined for functionality and ease of use. Results were compared with independent AV-TEST laboratory findings where applicable. Should you buy Avira Prime for Mac The new version of Avira Prime proves to be one of the better antivirus and anti-malware utilities Ive tested in some time, although there are still areas that need improvement. Its malware scanning interface, scheduler, junk removal, and application-removal tools are genuinely impressive, and the overall suite offers a useful set of features without becoming excessively complicated. The occasional malware components left behind during testing are a concern, while the Cookie Cleaners lack of search, limited scan-log exports, and the server-side error that made Identity Assistant impossible to evaluate all represent missed opportunities. The bare-bones VPN also wont suit everyone, particularly users who need more advanced networking features. These issues arent necessarily deal-breakers, but theyre worth considering alongside the subscription price, especially after the introductory offer expires. Despite these shortcomings, Avira Primes core security and maintenance functions remain strong. Its well worth evaluating during the advertised 30-day trial to determine whether its combination of protection and additional utilities is right for you. See how Avira Prime compares to other Mac antivirus solutions in our round up of the best.

Macworld 12 Oct 2026 9:34 pm

Five ways to beat dating algorithms at their own game

You open a dating app intending to spend 10 minutes on it. An hour later, you are still swiping. You might have a few new matches, but are you any closer to meeting someone you actually like? Arguably, one of the benefits of dating apps is that they make introductions possible on a scale that would once have been hard to imagine.

Phys.org 12 Oct 2026 9:30 pm

Smart just unveiled a new ultra-compact EV at the Paris Motor Show

A little car with decent mileage per charge.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 9:29 pm

Sony Playstation PS5 Pro: Why PS5 Pro prices are skyrocketing ahead of GTA 6 launch amid ongoing supply issues

Sony has increased the prices of the PS5, including the Pro version that is currently facing supply shortages. The PS5 was originally launched at lower prices but has seen multiple increases since then. This price rise is largely attributed to higher memory costs and supply constraints. Demand is expected to surge ahead of the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 9:28 pm

Donald Trump defends Russia diesel deal as lawmakers from both parties complain

Donald Trump said that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to global markets, and his administration temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel designed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war on Ukraine

The Hindu 12 Oct 2026 9:21 pm

How much RAM does a Raspberry Pi actually need?

Raspberry Pi boards have helped hobbyists get computing projects started for very little money down. However, knowing how much memory is needed can be tricky.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 9:15 pm

How to improve your Android phone's location accuracy

There are a few settings to check if you're having issues with your map's location accuracy.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 9:15 pm

This M5 Pro MacBook Pro is actually down to a normal price ($600 off)

Macworld Apple MacBook Pro M5 Pro View Deal (function () { document.querySelector(#sticky-promo-block a).addEventListener(click, function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest(#sticky-promo-block).querySelector(p.promo-title).textContent; const data = { event: stickyConversionUnitClick, eventCategory: Sticky Conversion, eventAction: Click, eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log(Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: , data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); If youve been on the hunt for a big discount on the MacBook Pro, theyre not so easy to find. Usually you need to spend well over $3,000 to get anything more than a couple hundreds bucks off the price, but todays deal wont force you to spend more than you want: This M5 Pro MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,399 , which usually costs $2,999. Thats $600 off or about 20 percent, an impressive discount and pretty close to a sale price we might have seen before the June price hikes. The M5 Pro chip pairs a 15-core CPU with a 16-core GPU. In plain terms, photo edits, video exports, and big projects move quickly without slowing everything else down. With 24GB of unified memory, it juggles dozens of apps at once. The 2TB SSD gives you room for years of photos, videos, and files. Youll get Apple Intelligence, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and updates for years and years to come. Of course, the 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display reaches 1600 nits peak brightness, so it stays clear even if youre using the laptop out in the yard. There are three Thunderbolt 5 ports on this laptop that are ready to handle fast drives and external displays, so you can multitask in peace. The all-day battery life will make it easy for you to actually use your laptop anywhere you want without worrying about an outlet. So, if you need a laptop that can do everything, this MacBook Pro is the one for you. Grab it for $2,399 while you still can.

Macworld 12 Oct 2026 9:10 pm

Why you shouldn't leave an extension cord plugged in all the time

An extension cord may seem like a permanent solution to a problem, but they aren't designed for long-term use, so leaving them plugged in can have consequences.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 8:45 pm

Tyler Perry donated $750,000 to help Atlanta seniors keep their homes; His gift is now fighting rising property taxes

Tyler Perry has made a generous $750,000 contribution to help low-income seniors in Atlanta tackle overdue property taxes. This effort is part of Atlantas Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund, which aims to support seniors burdened by escalating tax fees. Since its introduction, this initiative has positively impacted numerous elderly homeowners while ensuring they can retain their residences amidst mounting property values.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 8:44 pm

ARMSX3 Brings PlayStation 3 Emulation To Mobile Devices

Mobile gamers now have a new option for running PlayStation 3 titles directly on their smartphones, following the official launch of ARMSX3 on the Google Play Store . Recognized as one of the leading systems for mobile emulation , the application features an optimized structure capable of running on devices equipped with 8 GB of RAM . Hardware Requirements and Compatibility According to the development team, ARMSX3 is compatible with hardware featuring ARMv8.1 64-bit processors alongside Adreno 650 or Mali-G57 GPUs (or higher). This compatibility allows devices running older chipsets like the Snapdragon 865 or 870 to process console titles. For optimal performance, the developers recommend the following specifications: 12 GB of RAM Adreno 740 GPU or superior Processing hardware equivalent to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or newer Additionally, users are encouraged to utilize custom drivers, such as Turnip , to maximize performance on Snapdragon platforms. Supported Games and Alternatives While the emulator successfully handles a broad library of classic titlesincluding Ratchet & Clank , Gran Turismo 5 and 6 , Demons Souls , Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain , and God of War remastersgames requiring intensive CPU or SPU processing loads may experience limitations. For users exploring alternative options, aPS3e is also available as a free download on the Google Play Store. ARMSX3 Brings PlayStation 3 Emulation To Mobile Devices , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .

Ubergizmo 12 Oct 2026 8:30 pm

No Subscription Costs: Adobe Creative Cloud Free Clones Created With AI

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in software development has enabled the creation of complex applications that challenge established commercial platforms. Developed by Brandon Thomas as part of the ArtCraft project, PhotoCraft is being offered an free image editor designed to serve as a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop . Built using the Rust programming language and largely assisted by AI-driven coding tools , the software has quickly gained popularity within the developer and designer communities on GitHub . PhotoCraft is structured as a cross-platform application that runs natively on Windows , macos , and Linux . Billed as a clean-room reimplementation, the software replicates user experiences without copying proprietary source code. Despite being in an early alpha phase , the application offers robust functionality, including: Advanced layer management , supporting masks, layer styles, and smart objects. Comprehensive toolsets , featuring an advanced brush engine, multiple editing tools, and various blend modes. File compatibility , allowing users to open and save native PSD files . Familiar workflows , incorporating menus and keyboard shortcuts similar to Photoshop alongside GPU acceleration via Vulkan, Metal, and DirectX 12. While PhotoCraft offers fast initialization and responsiveness, memory consumption can scale significantly when handling complex PSD files. Industry experts note that while the interface closely mirrors commercial standards, advanced proprietary algorithmssuch as content-aware fill and automated object detectiontake years to refine. Consequently, while the platform suits casual users and quick edits, professional workflows requiring precise algorithmic adjustments may still rely on traditional software. Vector Graphics with VectorCraft For graphic designers and illustrators seeking an alternative to Adobe Illustrator , VectorCraft attempts to mirror vector-based workflows. It handles scalable graphics, paths, and anchor points, allowing users to create logos, typography, and complex illustrations. Because it shares the same AI-assisted development roots, early testers note that while it captures the core interface layout and basic vector manipulation tools of its proprietary counterpart, it remains prone to the same early-stage bugs and experimental quirks found across the ArtCraft ecosystem. Video Editing with FilmCraft Tackling the demanding requirements of post-production, FilmCraft serves as the suites answer to Adobe Premiere . Designed for timeline-based video editing, cutting, and sequencing, it aims to provide creators with a zero-cost option for putting together video projects. However, video editing software typically relies on heavy frame rendering, hardware acceleration, and stable codecsareas where an early-alpha, AI-reverse-engineered application faces significant hurdles regarding rendering stability and timeline smoothness. Photo Organization with LightCraft Rounding out the core quartet is LightCraft , positioned as an open-source alternative to Adobe Lightroom . This application focuses on batch photo management, RAW file processing, and non-destructive color grading workflows. While photographers often rely on Lightrooms precise color science and cataloging architecture, LightCraft offers an experimental playground for users looking to manage and adjust digital photographs without committing to recurring subscription fees. Together, these applications highlight the disruptive potentialand current limitationsof using modern language models to rapidly prototype complex desktop software. Licensing and Distribution Distributed as free and open-source software (FOSS) , all the installers are available via its GitHub repository . Although optional subscription plans exist on the project website to fund future generative AI features, the core editors remain accessible without payment, marking a significant shift in open-source application development. No Subscription Costs: Adobe Creative Cloud Free Clones Created With AI , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .

Ubergizmo 12 Oct 2026 8:30 pm

Score this 100W 3-port MacBook/iPhone charger with a 240W USB-C cable for just $24 today (60% off)

LISEN 100W 3-port USB-C GaN Charger with 240W cable Buy for $24 (Reg. $60) Apply MTEY1IAP during checkout . What we love LISENs 100W GaN charger gives you three charging ports in a compact block, with enough output to handle everything from an iPhone 18 Pro to a MacBook. The main USB-C port can deliver the full 100W, while the other ports let you split power across multiple devices when needed. It also has foldable prongs for travel and comes bundled with a 240W USB-C cable, so youre covered right out of the box. more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 8:15 pm

Which accessories actually fit the iPhone Duo?

The iPhone Duo's foldable design changes what accessories fit. Here's what to know about cases, chargers, screen protectors, mounts, and more.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 8:15 pm

Centre Ensures Full Support For Sreeshankar's London Surgery

Union Minister Suresh Gopi announced that the Centre and the Sports Ministry are fully supporting Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar's urgent surgery in London. Sreeshankar, who won a silver at the Asian Games, sustained an injury and will undergo ligament reconstruction on October 13, with the Centre covering all costs for his treatment and rehabilitation.

Rediff 12 Oct 2026 8:00 pm

Suresh Gopi: Centre Fully Supports Sreeshankar's London Surgery

Union Minister Suresh Gopi announced that the Centre and Union Sports Ministry are fully supporting Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar's urgent surgery in London. Sreeshankar, who won a silver at the Asian Games but sustained an injury, will undergo ligament reconstruction on October 13, with the Centre covering all costs to ensure his return to competition and preparation for the Olympics. The athlete had previously expressed disappointment over the lack of support from the Kerala state government.

Rediff 12 Oct 2026 8:00 pm

Congress chief Kharge dons Batman mask during march to SC

Opposition stalwarts, along with hundreds of supporters and activists, undertook their March for Democracy to the Supreme Court on Monday on a heavily barricaded route and filed a joint petition against SIR and alleged poll irregularities, in another show of strength after a series of street protests over the vote chori charge.

The Times of India 12 Oct 2026 7:53 pm

Kraken Parent Payward Gets Full Dubai Licence to Expand in UAE

Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has received Full Market Approval from Dubais Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to provide regulated cryptocurrency services to retail, professional, and institutional clients in the UAE. Planned offerings include spot and margin trading in UAE dirhams, institutional over-the-counter services, and access to Kraken Prime. The company has not announced a launch date or confirmed which cryptocurrencies will have dirham-denominated trading pairs.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 7:51 pm

Sui Commits $30 Million as DATA Network Winds Down Blockchain

Sui Foundation has committed $30 million to DATA Network as part of a partnership to bring its AI training data infrastructure to Sui. The transition will integrate DATAs Trace registry into Sui, with Walrus becoming the default storage system for applications operated by DATA Foundation. The projects standalone blockchain will shut down after migration, although the organisations have yet to announce a timeline or disclose the investments full financial terms.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 7:51 pm

People Are Moving From Specs to Experience: OPPO's Goldee on 10 Years of the F Series

Not many smartphone lineups manage to stick around for a decade, especially in a market as competitive as India. We've seen plenty of smartphone series come and go over the years, but OPPO's F Series has managed to remain a familiar

Gizbot 12 Oct 2026 7:51 pm

Disagree with the judge. Don't mock the office

The Times of India 12 Oct 2026 7:50 pm

LG Deal Days: Up to $1,200 off latest mini LED and OLED TVs + $200 gift cards, 10% back, more

Prime Day might be over at Amazon, but it is definitely not over on the official LG site . Alongside a $399 price drop on its unique StanbyME 2 27-inch Portable Smart Touch Screen with a 4-hour battery (it also includes a FREE $50 gift card ), the brand is offering thousands of dollars in discounts across its latest Mini LED and C6/G6 OLED lineups right now. Youll find models at up to $2,000 off right now, many of which with FREE Visa gift cards and even some with 10% cash back . Details below. more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 7:39 pm

Best earbuds for iPhone 2026: Top picks for sound, comfort

Macworld Wireless headphones or earbuds (whatever you call them) are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth earbuds being convenient and the sound quality difference to wired not being that noticeable to typical people (we realize audiophiles know). The market is huge, but here are the best wireless earbuds weve tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth, but we also have a round-up of the best wired headphones and a comparison of over-ear headphones read our comparison of AirPods Max vs other over-ear headphones . We also have a comparison of all the AirPods . When testing these best earbuds we considered some of the important factors to consider when choosing headphones. Such as whether they support ANC, which is Apples codec, or the aptX codec that is now used with many Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, but isnt supported by Apple (although there are some earbuds, such as the B&W Pi8 below that include a transmitter for aptX support. We explain what to look for when choosing earbuds below. Best headphones and earbuds for iPhone 2026 PROMOTION Baseus MC2: All-Day Ease, $49.99 now! The best earbuds are the ones you forget youre wearing. MC2 stays easy on your ears with CloudComfort 2.0. Enjoy up to 55 hours of listening and IP67 protection for sweat, rain, and everyday plans. Use code MC2OWSPR at checkout. Unlock the Lowest Price 1. Apple AirPods Pro 3rd-generation (2025) Best earbuds for iPhone Pros Excellent comfort and secure fit Improved sound and bass Outstanding active noise cancellation Accurate workout heart-rate tracking Cons Few major new features Charging case stores less Limited upgrade over Pro 2 Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199 View Deal $199 View Deal $229.99 View Deal $234 View Deal $249 View Deal $249 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds from Apple. Released in September 2025, they add heart-rate monitoring, foam-infused eartips, stronger ANC, improved sound, longer battery life and IP57 water resistance. Why we like them The AirPods Pro 3 refine an already excellent formula with noticeably better comfort, stronger noise cancellation, richer sound and longer battery life while keeping the same launch price. Heart-rate tracking is a useful bonus, making them an easy recommendation for most Apple users. Who are they best for Theyre ideal for iPhone users wanting premium wireless earbuds with excellent noise cancellation, secure all-day comfort and seamless Apple ecosystem integration. Theyre especially appealing for fitness enthusiasts who can benefit from the new built-in heart-rate monitoring. What are the biggest strengths More comfortable foam-infused eartips with five sizes Excellent fit that stays secure during exercise Improved sound with deeper bass and wider soundstage Significantly stronger ANC and better Transparency mode Accurate heart-rate monitoring during supported workouts Longer battery life without a price increase What are the compromises Few genuinely new audio innovations Uses the same H2 chip as before Charging case stores less reserve power Existing AirPods Pro 2 owners gain limited benefits New eartips arent compatible with older models Heart-rate tracking only works during workouts What is battery life like Battery life increases to around eight hours with ANC enabled, while the case provides roughly 16 additional hours. A five-minute charge delivers about one hour of listening time. How good is the ANC Active Noise Cancellation is substantially improved, thanks to new microphones, redesigned eartips and computational enhancements. Apple claims twice the ANC of the previous generation, with noticeably better Transparency mode too. Verdict The AirPods Pro 3 arent a revolutionary upgrade, but they successfully improve almost every aspect of Apples best earbuds. Better fit, stronger noise cancellation, richer sound, longer battery life and useful heart-rate tracking make them easy to recommend. AirPods Pro 2 owners may not need to upgrade immediately, but everyone else gets one of the best premium wireless earbuds available. Read our full Apple AirPodsPro 3 review 2. Apple AirPods 5 Best AirPods for most people Pros Excellent sound quality with richer bass Impressive ANC for an open-ear design Convenient wireless charging and volume controls Lower price than AirPods 4 with ANC Cons Fit varies by user Battery life remains average ANC cannot match AirPods Pro Price When Reviewed: $149 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $149 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Apple AirPods 5 (with Wireless Charging Case) are open-fit wireless earbuds featuring the H2 chip, improved Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Spatial Audio. The $149/139 version adds wireless charging, touch-sensitive volume controls, and a Find My speaker in the case. Why we like them The AirPods 5 bring better sound and stronger noise cancellation to Apples familiar open-ear design, while costing less than the AirPods 4 with ANC they replace. In the review from our sister website, Macwelt , the AirPods 5 were found to deliver a slightly richer, warmer sound than their predecessors and surprisingly effective noise cancellation, making them an excellent alternative to the more expensive AirPods Pro. Who are they best for Theyre ideal for iPhone users who dislike silicone ear tips but still want effective ANC and premium features. Theyre particularly well suited to everyday listening, commuting, and anyone who wants many of the AirPods Pros features without paying $249. The Wireless Charging Case version is the better choice for most buyers. What are the biggest strengths Rich, detailed sound with slightly warmer bass than AirPods 4 Excellent ANC for an open-ear design, particularly against steady background noise Adaptive Audio and improved Transparency mode Convenient swipe controls for adjusting volume Wireless charging via Qi or an Apple Watch charger Find My speaker built into the charging case What are the compromises Open design limits noise isolation compared with AirPods Pro Fit remains unchanged from AirPods 4 and depends on ear shape Higher-frequency sounds, including keyboard clicks, remain noticeable Battery life trails many competing earbuds No heart-rate monitoring or AirPods Pro hearing-health features Discounted AirPods Pro 3 can narrow the price gap What is battery life like Apple rates the Wireless Charging Case model for up to five hours with ANC enabled, or seven hours with noise control off. The case extends ANC listening time to 22 hours. Macwelts testing achieved approximately four hours and 45 minutes indoors, dropping to four hours and 15 minutes when traveling with higher volume settings and Spatial Audio enabled. How good is the ANC Noise cancellation is particularly impressive for earbuds that dont seal the ear canal. Macwelts testing found that the AirPods 5 effectively reduced steady background sounds, including road noise and computer fans. Apple claims up to 50 percent better noise cancellation than AirPods 4 with ANC. However, sharper sounds still get through, and the AirPods Pro 3 provide significantly stronger isolation. What about the cheaper AirPods 5? Apple also sells the standard AirPods 5 for $129/119. These include the same H2 chip, sound improvements, and ANC, but have a USB-C-only charging case without wireless charging or a Find My speaker. They also lack the stem-based volume controls and have slightly shorter battery life, offering four hours with ANC and 20 hours with the case. For just $20/20 more, the Wireless Charging Case model is worth the upgrade, although the cheaper version remains excellent value. Verdict The AirPods 5 (with Wireless Charging Case) are among the best open-ear wireless earbuds available. They combine richer sound, impressively effective noise cancellation, useful smart features, and convenient wireless charging at a lower price than their predecessors. Battery life is still fairly modest, and the unchanged fit wont suit everyone, but theyre an excellent everyday choice for iPhone users who prefer an open design. With the added convenience of volume controls and wireless charging for just $20 more than the standard model, theyre the AirPods 5 wed recommend. Read our full AirPods 5 review 3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Best noise cancellation Pros Class-leading noise cancellation Detailed, lively sound Secure, comfortable fit Excellent companion app Cons Wireless charging costs extra Spatial audio drains battery Premium price Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $299 View Deal $299 View Deal Bose $299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are premium true wireless earbuds from Bose, featuring class-leading active noise cancellation, immersive spatial audio, customisable ear tips and stability bands, plus app-based fit testing. Why we like them The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds combine outstanding active noise cancellation with detailed, engaging sound that reveals subtle musical details. Theyre comfortable thanks to multiple ear tip and stability band options, while the Bose app helps achieve the best possible fit for consistently excellent listening. Who are they best for Theyre ideal for frequent travellers, commuters and anyone who wants exceptional noise cancellation without sacrificing sound quality. They also suit listeners who value a secure fit and dont mind paying a premium for top-tier performance. What are the biggest strengths Industry-leading active noise cancellation dramatically reduces aircraft engines and other low-frequency sounds. Rich, detailed audio with impressive clarity across bass, vocals and instruments. Comfortable, secure fit with multiple ear tip and stability band combinations. Helpful Bose app includes a Seal Test for optimal fit. What are the compromises Premium pricing compared with many rivals, even with regular discounts. Wireless charging requires purchasing a separate optional charging case. Immersive Audio mode is only moderately convincing for spatial sound. Battery life falls noticeably when using spatial audio features. What is battery life like Battery life reaches around six hours with active noise cancellation enabled, dropping to roughly four hours when using Immersive Audio. The charging case supplies approximately three additional full charges. How good is the ANC The active noise cancellation is among the very best available, suppressing deep aircraft engine noise so effectively it can seem almost silent, making travel and commuting significantly more comfortable. Verdict The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds remain one of the strongest premium true wireless options thanks to exceptional active noise cancellation, detailed sound quality and a secure, comfortable fit. Theyre expensive and the optional wireless charging case feels unnecessary at this price, but frequent discounts make them easier to recommend, especially for travellers and regular commuters seeking best-in-class ANC. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review 4. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Best earbuds for serious fitness Pros Secure, comfortable earhook fit Excellent workout stability Heart rate monitoring Strong battery endurance Cons Missing AirPods Pro features Heart rate limitations Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $179.95 View Deal $179.95 View Deal $249 View Deal $249.99 View Deal $249.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are premium fitness-focused true wireless earbuds made by Beats, an Apple-owned company. They feature Apples H2 chip, secure earhooks, built-in heart rate monitoring, and USB-C charging. Why we like them The Powerbeats Pro 2 combine an exceptionally secure fit with improved sound, effective noise cancellation and class-leading workout comfort. Heart rate monitoring adds genuine fitness appeal, while Apples H2 chip delivers fast pairing, excellent transparency mode and seamless integration across Apple devices, making them superb exercise companions. Who are they best for Theyre best for runners, gym-goers and anyone wanting earbuds that stay securely in place during intense exercise. Apple users will benefit most, though Android owners also receive a stronger feature set than they would with AirPods. What are the biggest strengths Secure earhooks stay firmly in place during workouts. Smaller, lighter design improves comfort over long sessions. H2 chip enables excellent transparency mode and strong ANC. Built-in heart rate monitoring works with supported fitness apps. Long battery life and fast charging reduce downtime. Improved Android support with dedicated Beats features. What are the compromises Lacks several AirPods Pro software features, including Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. Heart rate monitoring is limited to supported apps. Apple Watch overrides earbud heart rate readings. Sound has a brighter presentation than Apples AirPods Pro, which offer a more balanced listening experience. Wireless charging supports Qi only, not MagSafe or Qi2. What is battery life like Battery life is excellent, with up to 10 hours of listening per charge, or around 8 hours using ANC or transparency mode. The charging case provides approximately 3.5 additional charges. How good is the ANC Active noise cancellation is a major improvement over the original model, delivering strong everyday performance. Transparency mode is particularly impressive, sounding natural and approaching the excellent standard set by Apples AirPods Pro. However, the newer AirPods Pro 3 offer stronger noise cancellation, making them a better choice for listeners who prioritize blocking out background noise. Verdict The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are among the best fitness earbuds available, combining a secure earhook fit, long battery life, heart rate monitoring and excellent Apple ecosystem integration. While they lack several AirPods Pro software features, including Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness, theyre an outstanding choice for workouts and active lifestyles. The AirPods Pro 3 offer stronger noise cancellation and more advanced everyday features, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are the better choice for serious exercise, thanks to their secure earhooks and longer total battery life. Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review 5. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Best for audiophiles (who like jogging) Pros Excellent sound quality Compact, comfortable design Bluetooth 6.0 Dolby Atmos Cons Expensive Only average battery life ANC cant match Apple Price When Reviewed: $299.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 is a strong upgrade for an already impressive set of earbuds. Its expensive, but the sound quality is excellent, and brings updates to both Bluetooth and spatial audio. The improved design also provides a better fit, IP54 weather-resistance, and a new case with wireless charging. Why We Like Them The Momentum True Wireless 5 (TW5) improves on its predecessor in several ways. The sound quality is excellent, with support for the AAC codec for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive/Lossless for Android. This model also gets an update to the latest Bluetooth 6.0, and supports Dolby Atmos for spatial audio. The design is improved too, with smaller earbuds that fit more comfortably, along with an IP54 rating for water and dust-resistance. Even the charging case is improved, with a more compact design, and support for both USB-C and wireless charging. Who Are They Best For? The Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds are a little pricey, at $299.99/249.99, so they will mainly appeal to audiophiles who are prepared to pay a little extra for Sennheisers impressive sound quality. However, the earbuds also boast a sturdy IP54 rating that makes them suitable for exercise and outdoor use, while effective noise-cancellation will appeal to travellers. What Are The Biggest Strengths? 5Hz 21KHz frequency response Bluetooth 6.0, with AAC, aptX Adaptive/Lossless Slim, comfortable design Dolby Atmos for spatial audio What Are The Compromises? Battery life could be better Active noise-cancellation is good but not the best Expensive, costing more than Apples AirPods Pro How Long Is Battery Life? Sennheiser quotes an impressive 12 hours of battery life for a single charge, while the charging case lets you recharge for a total of 40 hours of music. However, using noise-reduction does reduces the battery life quite a bit, lasting for around six hours on a single charge. How Effective Is The ANC? Noise-cancellation is definitely better on this model, effectively blocking both low-frequency sounds such as an aircraft engine as well as voices and higher-frequencies. Even so, Apple and Bose still lead the way with the most effective noise-cancellation for long journeys. Verdict We like everything about the Momentum True Wireless 5 apart, perhaps, from the increased price of this new model. The sound quality combines firm bass with clarity on higher frequencies, and the addition of Bluetooth and Dolby Atmos ensures that the TW5 is right up to date with the latest audio technologies. Battery life and noise-cancellation leave a little room for improvement, but the Momentum True Wireless 5 will appeal to audiophiles who appreciate lossless and high-res audio. 6. Beats Studio Buds+ Best alternative to AirPods Pros Fun transparent design Improved sound quality Effective active noise cancellation Strong battery life Cons No wireless charging Missing Apple ecosystem features AirPods Pro sound better Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $89.95 View Deal $99.95 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Adorama $169.95 View Deal $169.95 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal Beats $169.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices The Beats Studio Buds + are true wireless earbuds made by Beats, an Apple subsidiary. Released in 2023, they feature a distinctive transparent design, USB-C charging and support for Apple and Android. Why we like them The Beats Studio Buds + combine stylish design, improved sound quality, capable active noise cancellation and long battery life at a price similar to standard AirPods. Physical buttons are easier to use than AirPods controls, while Android compatibility makes them a genuinely flexible choice across different devices. Who are they best for Theyre best for people who switch between Apple and Android devices, or anyone wanting effective ANC, comfortable earbuds and eye-catching styling without paying AirPods Pro prices. Theyre less suited to users deeply invested in Apples ecosystem. What are the biggest strengths Unique transparent design with alternative colours Better sound than previous Studio Buds Improved ANC and transparency performance Comfortable fit with four ear tip sizes Physical button controls are intuitive Strong battery life and competitive pricing What are the compromises No wireless charging, unlike the $149 AirPods 5 Lacks Apples H1 or H2 chip Misses automatic device switching No personalised spatial audio or Conversation Boost No in-ear detection for auto pause AirPods 5 offer newer Apple audio features at a lower list price ANC and sound quality trail AirPods Pro 3 What is battery life like Battery life is rated at up to six hours with active noise cancellation enabled or nine hours without it. The charging case provides roughly three additional full recharges. How good is the ANC Noise cancellation is noticeably improved over the original Studio Buds and performs well for the price. However, it still falls short of the more advanced and adaptive AirPods Pro system. Verdict The Beats Studio Buds+ remain a good alternative to Apples standard AirPods, particularly for listeners who prefer silicone ear tips and want compatibility with both iPhone and Android. They deliver enjoyable sound, effective ANC and impressive battery life, although the newer AirPods 5 offer more advanced Apple-specific features at a lower starting price. With substantial discounts often available, the Studio Buds+ can still be an excellent buy. Read our full Beats Studio Buds+ review 7. Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Best premium sound Pros Exceptional sound quality Innovative smart charging case aptX Lossless support Comfortable redesigned fit Cons Premium price tag Average battery life Large earpieces Price When Reviewed: $399 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $375 View Deal $399 View Deal Bowers & Wilkins $399 View Deal $499 View Deal $933.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are premium true wireless earbuds from British audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins. Their standout smart charging case doubles as an aptX transmitter for wired devices and Apple products. Why we like them The Pi8 combine superb hi-fi sound with a genuinely innovative charging case that unlocks higher-quality aptX audio from Apple devices and wired sources. Their redesigned fit improves comfort, while powerful 12mm drivers deliver rich, detailed sound that stands out from most premium wireless earbuds. Who are they best for Theyre ideal for audiophiles and frequent travellers who prioritise outstanding sound quality over price. Apple users wanting better-than-AAC wireless audio and anyone regularly using in-flight entertainment systems will especially appreciate the versatile smart case. What are the biggest strengths Outstanding, detailed and dynamic sound quality Unique smart case retransmits wired audio wirelessly Supports AAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless Comfortable redesigned shape with four ear-tip sizes Large 12mm drivers deliver powerful, refined performance Excellent low-frequency noise reduction for travel What are the compromises Significantly more expensive than many rivals Battery life is respectable rather than class-leading Earpieces remain relatively large ANC trails AirPods Pro for higher-frequency sounds Smart case benefits may be unnecessary for casual listeners Pi6 offers similar experience for less if aptX retransmission isnt needed What is battery life like? Battery life reaches up to 6.5 hours per charge with ANC enabled, while the smart charging case extends total listening time to around 20 hours between mains charging. How good is the ANC? Noise cancellation is very effective, especially against low-frequency sounds like aircraft engine rumble. However, it doesnt suppress higher-frequency background noise quite as effectively as Apples AirPods Pro. Verdict The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are premium earbuds aimed squarely at listeners who value sound quality above all else. Their excellent audio performance, comfortable redesign and genuinely innovative smart charging case justify much of the high asking price. Battery life and ANC are good rather than class-leading, but the Pi8 remain among the most compelling luxury true wireless earbuds available. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review 8. Beats Powerbeats Fit Best workout earbuds with wingtips Pros Secure flexible wingtip fit Strong workout stability Long total battery life Works well with Android Cons No wireless charging Older H1 chip ANC trails AirPods Pro 3 Price When Reviewed: $199.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.95 View Deal $199.95 View Deal Beats $199.95 View Deal $199.95 View Deal $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices The Powerbeats Fit are true wireless sports earbuds made by Beats, an Apple company. They feature flexible wingtips, Apples H1 chip, USB-C charging, Adaptive EQ, and up to 30 hours battery. Why we like them The Powerbeats Fit are designed for active lifestyles, offering a secure fit that stays comfortable through runs, gym sessions and workouts. They deliver dependable Apple ecosystem features, solid sound quality, good battery life and broad compatibility with Android devices, making them more versatile than many sports earbuds. Who are they best for? Theyre ideal for runners, gym-goers and fitness enthusiasts who need earbuds that stay firmly in place during exercise. Theyre also a smart choice for users who switch between Apple and Android devices and value stability over premium audio performance. What are the biggest strengths Flexible wingtips provide an exceptionally secure workout fit. Comfortable design remains stable during running and training. Up to 30 hours total battery life with charging case. Excellent Apple integration including Siri, Find My and automatic device switching. Better Android support than AirPods. What are the compromises No wireless charging; USB-C cable only. H1 chip limits audio and feature improvements. Noise cancellation is noticeably weaker than AirPods Pro 3. Missing XXS ear tip option. Sound quality isnt as detailed or immersive as Apples latest earbuds. What is battery life like Expect up to seven hours of listening from the earbuds alone, extending to around 30 hours with the charging case. Thats excellent for travel, commuting and multiple workout sessions. How good is the ANC? Noise cancellation is solid for everyday use, reducing background distractions effectively. However, it performs closer to the original AirPods Pro than AirPods Pro 3, whose ANC is significantly more powerful. Verdict The Powerbeats Fit are an excellent choice for anyone who prioritises comfort and stability during exercise. Their secure wingtip design, lengthy battery life and Apple-friendly features make them dependable workout companions. While sound quality and ANC fall behind the AirPods Pro 3, theyre more versatile across platforms and remain one of the strongest sports-focused true wireless earbuds available. Read our full Powerbeats Fit review 9. Apple AirPods Pro 2nd-generation (2023) Best value if discounted Pros Excellent sound quality Outstanding noise cancellation Class-leading transparency mode Useful Apple ecosystem features Cons No lossless audio Premium purchase price Stem controls feel fiddly Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $173.99 View Deal $243 View Deal $249 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The AirPods Pro 2 might have been officially discontinued by Apple when the AirPods Pro 3 arrived, but we still see them for sale offering outstanding value for most buyers. Thats why they are still on our list. Despite the arrival of the new AirPods Pro, these are still premium true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. They feature the H2 chip, USB-C charging case, hearing health features, swipe volume controls and seamless integration with Apple devices. Why we like them The Beats Studio Buds+ combine stylish design, good sound quality, effective active noise cancellation and long battery life. Although the newer AirPods 5 now include ANC at a lower starting price, the Beats offer a more traditional in-ear design with silicone tips for a better seal, intuitive physical controls and stronger Android compatibility. They can also be excellent value when discounted. Who are they best for They are best for iPhone, iPad and Mac users wanting premium everyday earbuds with strong ANC, comfortable all-day wear and effortless Apple ecosystem integration. Frequent travellers, commuters and users interested in hearing health features will benefit most. What are the biggest strengths Richer, clearer sound with significantly stronger bass Excellent Active Noise Cancellation for travel and commuting Best-in-class Transparency mode with Adaptive Transparency Comfortable fit with four ear tip sizes, including XS Handy swipe volume controls on each earbud Deep Apple ecosystem integration with useful smart features What are the compromises More expensive than many rivals Better pure sound quality available elsewhere No lossless, hi-res or LE Audio support Stem swipe controls can be awkward Most advanced features require Apple devices Six-hour battery trails some competitors What is battery life like Battery life is rated at up to six hours of listening from the earbuds on a charge, with around 24 hours total using the charging case. Apple Watch charging is also supported. How good is the ANC Active Noise Cancellation is excellent, blocking substantially more outside noise than the original AirPods Pro. Adaptive Transparency intelligently reduces sudden loud sounds while still allowing important environmental sounds to remain audible. Verdict The AirPods Pro 2 remain among the best premium wireless earbuds for Apple users. They combine impressive sound quality, highly effective ANC, exceptional transparency mode and excellent ecosystem integration in a comfortable, refined package. While audiophiles can find better-sounding alternatives and battery life isnt class-leading, the overall user experience is polished, reliable and difficult to beat within Apples ecosystem. As long as you can find them on sale. Read our full AirPods Pro 2 USB-C review 10. Beats Solo Buds Best budget earbuds Pros Surprisingly clear, punchy sound Excellent 18-hour battery life Secure, comfortable ear fit Compact, pocket-friendly case Cons No active noise cancellation Charging case lacks battery Missing premium smart features Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $49.99 View Deal $69.95 View Deal $69.95 View Deal $69.95 View Deal $69.99 View Deal Adorama $79.95 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal Beats $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices The Beats Solo Buds are affordable true wireless earbuds made by Beats, an Apple company. Released in mid-2024, they feature a tiny USB-C charging case, four ear tip sizes and 18-hour battery life. Why we like them The Beats Solo Buds deliver impressive value with punchy, enjoyable sound, an exceptionally long battery life for earbuds, and a secure fit thanks to four sizes of silicone ear tips. Theyre comfortable, easy to control using physical buttons, and outperform older standard AirPods in several key areas. Who are they best for Theyre ideal for budget-conscious listeners who want reliable everyday wireless earbuds with long battery life and comfortable fit. Theyre particularly well suited to Apple users, but also work well with Android devices, making them a versatile affordable option. What are the biggest strengths Clear, punchy sound that exceeds expectations for the price. Outstanding 18-hour battery life from the earbuds. Secure fit with four sizes of silicone ear tips. Compact, lightweight case thats easy to carry. Physical button controls are simple and reliable. Excellent value compared with similarly priced rivals. What are the compromises No active noise cancellation or transparency mode. Charging case has no built-in battery for top-ups. Lacks automatic device switching and multipoint Bluetooth. No in-ear detection for automatic play/pause. Call voice isolation isnt as strong as premium earbuds. No personalised Spatial Audio features. What is battery life like Battery life is excellent. The earbuds are rated for up to 18 hours on a single charge, outperforming many rivals, although the charging case must be plugged into USB-C to recharge them. How good is the ANC There isnt any active noise cancellation. Instead, the silicone ear tips provide passive noise isolation, reducing some outside sound, but they cant match dedicated ANC earbuds in noisy environments. Verdict The Beats Solo Buds prove you dont need to spend a fortune for enjoyable wireless earbuds. Their clear sound, secure fit and exceptional battery life make them an excellent value buy, especially for everyday listening. While youll miss premium features like ANC, multipoint Bluetooth and a battery-equipped charging case, theyre an easy recommendation for budget-conscious shoppers Read our full Beats Solo Buds review 11. Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless Best value noise-cancelling earbuds Pros Excellent value for money Comfortable lightweight fit Impressive sound quality Effective everyday ANC Cons ANC not class-leading Average battery endurance Limited long-haul suitability Price When Reviewed: $199.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $129.99 View Deal $158.99 View Deal $159.95 View Deal $199.95 View Deal $219.95 View Deal $219.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Designed as a more affordable alternative to its Momentum earbuds (above), Sennheisers Accentum True Wireless are in-ear wireless earbuds made by German audio specialist Sennheiser. They feature 7mm drivers, IP54 water and dust resistance, AAC and aptX support, plus adjustable EQ. Why we like them The Accentum True Wireless deliver impressive sound quality and capable active noise cancellation at a much lower price than many premium rivals. Theyre comfortable enough for extended listening, include useful app customisation features, and provide a balanced combination of performance, practicality and affordability for everyday listening. Who are they best for Theyre ideal for listeners wanting premium audio features without paying flagship prices. Great for commuters, casual travellers and everyday users who value comfort, strong sound quality and reliable noise cancellation more than maximum battery life. What are the biggest strengths Outstanding value compared with premium rivals. Rich, detailed sound from the same 7mm drivers used in the Momentum range. Lightweight, comfortable design with four ear-tip sizes. IP54 water and dust resistance for everyday outdoor use. Handy companion app with five-band EQ and adjustable transparency mode. What are the compromises Active noise cancellation doesnt match the very best premium earbuds. Six-hour battery life is respectable rather than exceptional. Charging case provides only around 2.5 additional charges. Better suited to daily commuting than long-haul travel. Lacks the outright premium performance of Sennheisers Momentum earbuds. What is battery life like Battery life reaches around six hours with active noise cancellation enabled, while the charging case provides roughly two and a half extra charges, making it well suited to everyday use. How good is the ANC Active noise cancellation performs well for everyday commuting and reducing typical background noise, although it doesnt block sound as effectively as more expensive flagship competitors in particularly noisy environments. Verdict The Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless strike an excellent balance between price and performance. They offer impressive sound quality, comfortable all-day wear, practical features and effective everyday noise cancellation without the premium price tag. While battery life and ANC arent class-leading, theyre more than good enough for most users, making these an easy recommendation for affordable everyday wireless earbuds. Read our full Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless review 12. Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 Best mid-range sound Pros Rich, detailed sound quality Comfortable long-wearing fit Strong battery endurance Competitive premium pricing Cons ANC trails top rivals No wireless charging No spatial audio Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119 View Deal B&W $249 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are premium true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds from British audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins, featuring 12mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.4, IP54 durability and multipoint connectivity. Why we like them The Pi6 deliver the refined, engaging sound quality Bowers & Wilkins is known for at a more accessible price than the flagship Pi8. Theyre comfortable for extended listening, offer useful app customisation, solid battery life and excellent overall value despite a few premium feature omissions. Who are they best for? Theyre ideal for listeners who prioritise sound quality over cutting-edge features. Frequent commuters, music lovers and anyone wanting premium wireless earbuds around AirPods Pro pricing will appreciate their balanced audio, comfortable fit and dependable battery performance. What are the biggest strengths? Detailed, dynamic sound with excellent balance Large 12mm drivers inspired by B&W headphones Comfortable fit with four ear-tip sizes Eight-hour battery life with ANC enabled Multipoint Bluetooth connection for two devices IP54 water and dust resistance for everyday use What are the compromises? ANC is good, not class-leading No Qi wireless charging support No Pi8 smart charging case No spatial audio functionality App lacks full EQ presets Higher-frequency sounds remain noticeable with ANC enabled What is battery life like? Battery life is impressive, offering up to eight hours of playback with active noise cancellation switched on. The USB-C charging case provides an additional 24 hours of listening time. How good is the ANC? Noise cancellation performs well against low-frequency sounds such as engine rumble but is less effective with voices and higher-frequency noise, leaving rivals from Bose, Sony and Apple with the advantage. Verdict The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are an excellent choice if your priority is premium sound quality without paying flagship prices. Their engaging audio, comfortable design and long battery life make them highly appealing, even if the ANC, wireless charging and feature set dont quite match the very best competitors. For music-first buyers, theyre easy to recommend. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review Were comparing all the best earbuds with Apples own offerings: the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. Also included are various options from Apple-owned subsidiary Beats, which by association benefits from a lot of Apple-specific features. But just how well do they compete with headphones from the likes of Bose, Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins and Sony? How to choose earbud headphones There are a few factors to consider before you hit that buy button. Type Earbuds, or in-ear headphones, typically fall into three main categories: Earbuds the type of headphones included with every iPhone and iPod and sit loosely in your outer ears. Although earbuds dont produce outstanding sound, theyre compact and relatively inexpensive. Apples stock buds are actually decent as earbuds go; youre not going to get a huge upgrade in sound quality by simply replacing them with a different model. Still, there are a few alternatives out there that provide modest improvements if youre looking for a new set. Recommendations: In-Ear-Canal Headphones : These headphones, also known as canalphones, use silicone or foam eartips that fit snuglyand fairly deepin your ear canals. Like earplugs, they block most external noise, so theyre great for travel and noisy environments. Theyre also capable of producing stunning audio quality. On the other hand, some people find canalphones to be uncomfortable, and the best ones come with an equally stunning price tag. If you decide to spend the big bucks on a set of high-end canalphones, we enthusiastically recommend going all-in and getting custom eartipstips custom-made for your particular ears. The process requires an audiologist visit to get impressions taken of your ears, but the benefits include substantially better comfort. (On some models, you may gain better noise isolation and better sound quality, as well.) A step above custom eartips are custom in-ear monitors, which place the actual headphone circuitry in larger, custom-made earpieces. Canalbuds : Canalbuds, which occupy a middle ground between earbuds and in-ear-canal models, have become quite popular. Compared to canalphones, canalbuds generally use smaller eartips that sit just inside the ends of your ear canals instead of deep inside them. Good canalbuds easily best earbuds in terms of audio performance and noise isolation, but fall short of good canalphones in those areas. On the other hand, canalbuds tend to be more comfortable than true canalphones because they dont sit so deep and dont fit so tightly; theyre also usually less expensive. (See our in-ear-canal-headphone primer, linked above, for more information on canalbuds.) Battery life This is crucial as many in-ear headphones have tiny batteries that help to keep the weight down but may only last for a few hours. That might be fine if you just want to listen to some music while youre working out, but wont be much use on a long journey by train or plane. However, some in-ear headphones, such as Apples AirPods, also include a charging case that can top up the battery, so thats something you should check on before buying any in-ear headphones. Noise canceling Some headphones are specifically designed for people who travel a lot or use headphones in noisy conditions and provide active noise-canceling (ANC) option that helps to block out background noise on trains and planes although this can add quite a lot to the overall price of the headphones. Note this isnt to be confused with passive noise isolation (or often referred to as canceling), which is just the way physically having headphones in/on blocks sound like putting earplugs or ear defenders on. Sound quality Wed always recommend trying out any new headphones in a store or showroom whenever possible, but we realise thats not always practical or hygenic. Compatibility Most wireless headphones support Apples preferred AAC Bluetooth codec, ensuring good compatibility with iPhones, iPads and Macs. Many also support additional codecs such as aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC or LC3/LE Audio, which can deliver higher bit rates, lower latency or improved efficiency when paired with compatible Android phones and other devices. Apple devices have never supported Qualcomms aptX family of codecs, instead relying on AAC for Bluetooth audio. While this has often been attributed to Apples preference for controlling its own audio ecosystem, it also means Apple users cant take advantage of newer Qualcomm codecs such as aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless when using third-party headphones. That isnt necessarily the drawback it once was. AAC remains a very capable codec, and Apples implementation is widely regarded as one of the best, delivering consistent sound quality and excellent battery efficiency. However, Android users with compatible devices may be able to enjoy higher-resolution or lower-latency wireless audio through codecs such as LDAC or aptX Lossless. For Apple users, the most important thing is that headphones support AAC, as this provides the best wireless experience across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. If a pair also supports codecs such as aptX Adaptive or LDAC, thats a useful bonus if you also own Android devices or other compatible hardware. There are a few exceptions. Some premium headphones and earbuds, such as the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, include a smart charging case that can act as a wireless audio transmitter. By connecting the case directly to a USB-C or 3.5mm audio source, it can stream audio to the earbuds using aptX Adaptive, bypassing the Bluetooth limitations of the source device and potentially improving sound quality and reducing latency. Its also worth noting that all of the Bluetooth headphones featured here work with Apple Watch, making them ideal for workouts, runs and listening on the go.

Macworld 12 Oct 2026 7:36 pm

Dont drag CJI into politics, Rahul Gandhi must show maturity: Kumaraswamy

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 12 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday said it is wrong to drag the Chief Justice of India (CJI) into politics and called on the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to demonstrate political maturity. He criticised the Congress for seeking an appointment with the Chief Justice over electoral issues, questioning whether the party understood the need to respect constitutional institutions and the people holding constitutional offices. Kumaraswamy also questioned the Congress's objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asking how the party could oppose voter verification while the Karnataka government was reviewing beneficiaries of its guarantee schemes. Speaking about SIR, he said the exercise was not new and had been carried out for several years. Congress leaders had alleged that voters' names were being deleted from electoral rolls and that the numbers of voters belonging to certain communities were being deliberately reduced. While acknowledging the importance of voting rights, Kumaraswamy said political leaders should also discuss people's welfare and the implementation of government schemes before turning the issue into a political controversy. He said Congress leaders should respect the protocols governing constitutional institutions while speaking about the Constitution. Questioning the purpose of the Congress-led INDIA Bloc seeking an appointment with the Chief Justice to discuss political issues, he said leaders should understand what matters could appropriately be raised before constitutional authorities and how established protocols should be followed. Referring to the Karnataka government's guarantee schemes, Kumaraswamy said surveys and verification were being conducted because of concerns that eligible beneficiaries were not receiving their entitlements while ineligible people were receiving financial assistance. He demanded that the state government explain why the number of beneficiaries under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, widow pensions, disability pensions and old-age pensions had been reduced by 16 lakh to 20 lakh. He asked the government to disclose the reasons for the reductions and the criteria used to remove beneficiaries. Referring to reports that Rs 79 crore had been credited to the bank accounts of 79 deceased beneficiaries and that the money was being recovered, Kumaraswamy said beneficiary verification was necessary to prevent funds from reaching ineligible people or being disbursed in the names of deceased persons. He questioned why a similar verification exercise in the case of electoral rolls was being turned into a political controversy by the Congress. Kumaraswamy also criticised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alleging that instead of responding to questions surrounding the sting operation controversy, he was spending time on a photoshoot at the Mysuru Palace. Referring to photographs of CM Shivakumar sitting in front of the royal throne, Kumaraswamy sarcastically said the practice was being presented as though it represented a new culture. He also recalled the saying, Ati vinayam durlakshanam, which suggests that excessive humility can be a sign of an undesirable trait. Reiterating his criticism of the Congress leadership, Kumaraswamy said dragging the Chief Justice of India into political matters was inappropriate. He called on LoP Rahul Gandhi to conduct politics with greater maturity and questioned how the Chief Justice could be expected to meet political leaders simply because they had taken their demands to the Supreme Court. Kumaraswamy alleged that LoP Rahul Gandhi lacked respect for constitutional institutions and the individuals holding constitutional offices. JDS Core Committee chairman M. Krishnareddy, MLA Meluru Ravi, Greater Bengaluru JDS president H.M. Ramesh Gowda and several other leaders were present.

bhaskarlive 12 Oct 2026 7:32 pm

Dont take sting operation against Siddaramaiah lightly: Kumaraswamy to Ktaka govt

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 12 (IANS) Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday demanded a comprehensive investigation into allegations that a sting operation had been conducted to tarnish the reputation of former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Siddaramaiah, urging the state government to identify those behind it and take action against the guilty. Addressing media in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said the government should establish the truth about the alleged operation and determine who had carried it out and who was involved. He said it was not appropriate to evade an investigation by claiming that time will answer the questions surrounding the controversy. Siddaramaiah had served as Chief Minister, and the allegations of a sting operation targeting him should not be taken lightly, Kumaraswamy said. He demanded answers on who was involved, the role played by each person and what action the government had taken so far. The Union Minister also questioned why the government had not initiated an investigation when Siddaramaiah himself had reportedly called for a probe and said the truth should come out. Kumaraswamy said he had fought against Siddaramaiah politically and had continued to criticise him on several issues even after leaving the party. However, he said he could not remain silent if an operation had been conducted with the intention of damaging the reputation of a former Chief Minister. He clarified that his demand was not intended to generate sympathy for Siddaramaiah but to ensure that those responsible for any wrongdoing were identified and action was taken against them. Referring to the file related to the sting operation, Kumaraswamy said the media had shown that the Chief Minister had taken it to a Cabinet meeting. He observed that discussions held during Cabinet meetings generally did not leak to the public. Drawing a comparison with the Union government, he said ministers at the Centre also held discussions and received advice on various matters, but such deliberations did not usually become public. Questioning why discussions on the issue had emerged in the public domain in Karnataka, he demanded an investigation to identify those responsible for leaking information. Kumaraswamy said the fact that the Chief Minister had taken a file concerning an investigation into the sting operation to the Cabinet raised questions about whether the government already had information about the case. He questioned why the matter had been discussed in the Cabinet if the government was not prepared to allow an investigation. Instead of using the controversy for political publicity, the government should investigate the allegations and place the facts before the public, he said. Kumaraswamy also claimed that the pen drive in his possession was genuine and alleged that others were attempting to portray it as fake. He said that if the sting operation had indeed taken place, the people involved should be identified and investigated. He added that allegations suggesting the involvement of people from Uttar Pradesh, Union Ministers or BJP leaders should also be examined as part of the investigation. The Union Minister further questioned why police protection and security personnel had allegedly been provided to the person linked to the sting operation. Expressing concern over the possibility of such incidents continuing in the state, Kumaraswamy asked how ordinary people could live peacefully if such activities persisted. He reiterated that the government must establish the truth through a proper investigation, identify those responsible for any wrongdoing and take appropriate action against them.

bhaskarlive 12 Oct 2026 7:32 pm

No Man's Sky is coming to iPhone and iPad as the App Store celebrates Indie Games Week

Sifu, Vampire Crawlers, Dome Keeper and Little Kitty, Big City are also hitting iOS.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 7:30 pm

Satya Nadella warns about trusting AI. 5 times when AI tried to escape shutdown, blackmail humans, manipulate and more

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has issued a warning about the risks of trusting advanced AI systems without strong safeguards. His concerns come after an earlier series of incidents involving ChatGPT, Claude and other AI models, from attempts to evade shutdown to unauthorised actions on real websites. Here are five cases that reveal why AI safety is becoming an urgent concern.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 7:28 pm

Kashmirs Apples reaching Delhi faster? How rail bridges are changing trade & travel in valley

Kashmirs Apples reaching Delhi faster? How rail bridges are changing trade & travel in valley

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 7:19 pm

The tech behind your car's adaptive cruise control

Despite the fact that it functions using a basic camera-and-radar system, adaptive cruise control has proven to have significant influence over driving habits.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 7:15 pm

Micron Technology stock crash today: Why is MU share price at Nasdaq down on Monday?

Micron Technology stock today: MU share price at Nasdaq was down on Monday. Chipmaker Micron in September forecast quarterly revenue above estimates.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 7:14 pm

Double your Switch 2

We just spotted a deal at Amazon that drops Samsungs 256GB P9 Express microSD card to $59.99 shipped. This model originally debuted at $55, but it has more recently been fetching around $80. Todays deal delivers a 25% discount and takes $20 off its current rate to mark one of the lowest prices weve tracked since the hikes hit. We did see it briefly fall to around $40 back in June, but it hasnt seen any discounts since then, making todays price one of the better chances weve seen to snag it lately. Its still a great price for doubling your Switch 2s storage without paying full price, so be sure to check it out after getting more details below. more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 7:13 pm

ColorOS 17 Launching Tomorrow Alongside OPPO Find X10 Series: New Features, Eligible OnePlus

OPPO is set to unveil ColorOS 17, its Android 17-based software interface, on October 13, ahead of the global launch of the Find X10 series on October 21 in Spain. The company has confirmed that the upcoming Find X10 lineup will

Gizbot 12 Oct 2026 7:08 pm

Last-minute leak reveals key details about Apple

Macworld Tomorrows Welcome Home Apple event sorry, experiencewill center on the smart home. And at the core of that home sits Apples new home hub, from which all the other devices will be monitored and controlled. Thanks to a last-minute report we now know, or at any rate have been told, a great deal about what Apple has in store for this vital product. In the latest instalment of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg leaker Mark Gurman claims to reveal a wide range of key details about Apples imminent smart home hub, including its name, launch timeframe, design, usage, and software. He also discusses the other products that Apple will announce alongside it, including the new Apple TV and HomePod mini. Firstly, the hub wont be called HomePad or HomeHub, as some pundits had expected, but HomeView. Gurman credits this scoop to MacRumors , which on Friday spotted suspicious trademark activity by a shell company. He says this branding reflects how the device is meant to be used. Its a product you mainly look at (and speak to using Siri AI) rather than interacting with it directly via touch, even though the latter input method is possible using the small touchscreen. He believes that a name like HomePad would have led customers to expect more of a touch-centered experience, similar to the iPad. On the software front, dont expect an App Store for third-party software, or indeed a wide range of first-party applications. Rather, the HomeView will support a limited selection of Apple applications. Perhaps this will change in the future, bearing in mind that the original iPhone didnt have an App Store either, but in this case it appears to be more of an intentional decision to focus on simplicity of use. Design-wise, the HomeView (as weve known for some time ) will come in two versions. A countertop version with a metal speaker base will come in many of Apples classic colors: Space Gray, silver, Starlight, and pink. But the wall-mounted version will only come in Space Gray and silver. In both cases, the device will run an A18 processor and serve as the Siri command center for an Apple-powered household. For the first month or so of this new era for the smart home, however, Apple-powered households will be without their command center. The hardware will land in stores at different times: the new HomePod mini and Apple TV on October 30; the HomeView in mid-November; and the LG accessories later this year at the earliest. This seems a little uncoordinated, but Apple has shown an appetite in recent years for announcing things before theyre ready. Indeed, the iPhone Duo, unveiled as long ago as September 9, wont go on sale until October 23. The announcements are scheduled for October 13 at 9 am ET. You can follow the latest breaking news as it happens with our Welcome Home live blog , which is already up and running.

Macworld 12 Oct 2026 7:01 pm

Intel, Qualcomm Raise CPU Prices Amid AI Demand,Panther Lake Processors See Steepest Hike: Report

Intel has reportedly increased prices across several processor lineups. Intel Panther Lake processors are seeing increases of 15 percent to 20 percent. Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake models reportedly rose by 5 percent to 10 percent. Qualcomm has raised prices for its multi-chip platforms. AMD is also said to be considering price adjustments for select processors. Demand for AI PCs and servers, along with advanced manufacturing process costs, is driving up CPU prices.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 6:53 pm

iOS 27 brings new Siri features to Indian apps, but how useful are they? We asked the developers

Apples iOS 27 is bringing new Siri AI and visual intelligence features to Indian apps, including Mood Dial, Glance, Signeasy, Noteshelf and District. The integrations aim to simplify tasks such as music discovery, shopping, document management, note-taking and event bookings. While Glance reports that Siri drives nearly one-third of its chat interactions on iOS, adoption varies across apps. Their long-term success will depend on whether these features prove useful in everyday life.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 6:48 pm

Switch 2 deals: Final Fantasy VII remake $25, Switch Sports Resort discount, Zelda, more

Alongside the ongoing pre-order discount on Nintendo Switch Sports Resort ahead of release next week and the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake deal, this morning we are highlighting a chance to bring the epic beginning to the Final Fantasy VII remake to your Switch 2 down at $24.99 Prime shipped . Regularly $40, this is nearly 40% off and a deal that lands on par with the Prime Day all-time low from last week. It now sits alongside a host of hangover Switch 2 game deals youll find waiting down below. Secure you Switch Sports Resort pre-order discount while you still can, more Zelda Ocarina of Time remake pre-order discount now live at Amazon more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 6:36 pm

Ken Paxton-James Talarico for Texas Senate in US midterm elections: Mental health, flu treatment to leaked audio criticizing Donald Trump, this Texas fight is one to watch out on November 3

US midterm elections on November 3: No Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994. Donald Trump won Texas by nearly 14 points in 2024 Presidential polls.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 6:35 pm

Google announces the Fitbit Edge, a middle ground between Pixel Watch 5 and Fitbit Air

The Fitbit Edge offers more than the Air, but it's not a real smartwatch.

Ars Technica 12 Oct 2026 6:30 pm

Google Fitbit Edge: Specs, Features, Price, Release Date

The new $179 tracker features Pixel Watch smarts, week-long battery life, and an OLED screen.

Wired 12 Oct 2026 6:30 pm

Google brings Health Guardian to the Fitbit Air and Edge, and expands automatic activity tracking

The company announced new health features for its wearables along with a new band for the Fitbit Air.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 6:30 pm

Google teams up with menstrual health tracker Flo to develop new wellness hardwareand sync apps

Flo Health users will able to sync their cycle data with the Google Health app starting early next year.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 6:30 pm

Google's sleek new Fitbit Edge is packed with health features and a replaceable battery

The Fitbit Edge will be in stores starting October 27 for $179.99.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 6:30 pm

OnePlus 16 Launched with Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, 9000mAh Battery, 200MP Camera, 165Hz Display

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 16 in China, introducing a new flagship smartphone focused on gaming performance, display technology and battery life. The handset features a 185Hz gaming refresh rate, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform and a 9,000mAh

Gizbot 12 Oct 2026 6:22 pm

'What they've done to Minnesota': Trump goes after Ilhan Omar, Somali gangs over migration fraud

'What they've done to Minnesota': Trump goes after Ilhan Omar, Somali gangs over migration fraud

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 6:21 pm

HP OmniPad 12 review: A tablet that tries to do everything, but does it stand out?

HP has launched the OmniPad 12, an ideal choice for students and professionals alike, offering a detachable keyboard and a sleek, clean Android interface. This tablet features a stunning 12-inch 2K display paired with a quad-speaker system, greatly enhancing the multimedia experience. With a remarkable battery life of up to two days, its perfect for users constantly on the move, though it doesn't standout in any specific area.

The Economic Times 12 Oct 2026 6:19 pm

WhatsApp May Soon Let Android Users Schedule Messages, Photos and Videos

WhatsApp's upcoming message scheduling tool could make it easier to plan conversations and send messages at the right time. Spotted in Android beta version 2.26.40.7, the feature reportedly lets users choose when text messages, links and media should be delivered. It may also include a dedicated section for managing pending messages and support end-to-end encryption. Users could schedule messages up to two weeks ahead, with group message delivery tied to membership at the time of scheduling. The rollout remains limited for now.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 6:16 pm

What you can do when your Ethernet cable gets stuck

Ethernet cables are popular among PC gamers and people who favor a wired connection. However, they can get stuck, and this is what you can do if that happens.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 6:15 pm

Inside Amazon

The second-largest corporate employer has bet big on robot workers to scale.

Ars Technica 12 Oct 2026 6:13 pm

RBI's liquidity move lifts weighted average call money rates by 12 bps

The Reserve Bank's liquidity measures announced last week to drain surplus from the banking system lifted weighted average call money rates by 0.12 per cent on Monday, experts said. The measures, including moves to increase the daily CRR maintenance limit to 99 per cent and bond sales through open market operations, will also help accelerate rate hike transmission, they said. The weighted average call money rate on Monday stood at 5.43 per cent against 5.31 per cent on October 9, according to the Clearing Corporation of India's (CCIL) data. Money market experts said high surplus liquidity in the banking system can weaken the transmission of a policy rate hike by reducing banks' dependence on market borrowings and allowing them to meet credit demand using readily available funds. When banks have ample liquidity, they face less pressure to raise deposit rates to attract funds, which can delay an increase in lending rates for borrowers. The excess liquidity also keeps short-term money

Business Standard 12 Oct 2026 5:53 pm

Nothing OS 5.0 Update Based on Android 17 Rolls Out for Phone 3: What's New and How to Download

Nothing has started rolling out Nothing OS 5.0, its latest major software update, to the Nothing Phone (3). Based on Android 17, the update introduces more than 80 changes spanning interface design, personalisation, AI-powered tools and system performance. The stable rollout

Gizbot 12 Oct 2026 5:52 pm

Haridwar Kumbh-2027 to Gain New Identity as Uttarakhand CM Dhami Unveils Logo, Website and Anthem

With the aim of showcasing the religious, spiritual and cultural identity of Haridwar Kumbh Mela-2027 on a wider platform, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday unveiled the official logo, website and anthem of the Kumbh. These three ...

Web Dunia 12 Oct 2026 5:51 pm

Clearance deal on Black Titanium Apple Watch Ultra 3 with Milanese Loop live again at $199 off

While we did catch some notable $99 drops on select Apple Watch Ultra 4 models during Prime Day, stock was extremely limited and the deals continually disappeared on us. That said, the now previous-gen Ultra 3 is still a wonderful option if you can land it at the $200 off clearance price Amazon has up for grabs right now. more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 5:47 pm

How is Microsoft's Magnetic Connect different from Apple's MagSafe for MacBooks?

Magnetic Connect and MagSafe for MacBooks have a lot in common, but the Magnetic Connect charger brings more versatility.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 5:45 pm

Katrina Kaif marks Kay Beautys first year in the UK: We've always created products with South Asian skin tones and beauty needs at the heart of everything we do

One year after making its UK debut, Kay Beauty is celebrating a milestone in its international journey, with Co-Founder Katrina Kaif coming to London to mark the occasion with the brands growing UK community at Space NKs Oxford Circus flagship. Co-founded by Katrina Kaif and Nykaa, Kay Beauty has spent its first year in the UK bringing its distinctive approach to performance, care and inclusive beauty to a new generation of consumers, while building a growing presence across the countrys beauty landscape. A Celebration of a Stand-Out First Year To mark Kay Beautys milestone first year in the UK, guests attended Space NKs Oxford Circus flagship store for an afternoon celebrating vibrant Diwali beauty and individual creativity. Alongside an exclusive masterclass in creating a signature Diwali Gloss Up Look, Katrina shared insights on her beauty journey, the inspiration behind Kay Beauty and the power of self-expression. Katrina Kaif, Co-Founder, Kay Beauty, said, Kay Beauty was born from the belief that beauty should feel inclusive, intuitive and deeply personal. We've always created products with South Asian skin tones and beauty needs at the heart of everything we do, and it's been incredibly rewarding to see that resonate far beyond India. Over the past year, we've loved seeing the response to Kay Beauty at Space NK, and this visit is an opportunity to build on that momentum. It's about spending time with the South Asian community that has embraced the brand, connecting with beauty enthusiasts across the UK, and continuing conversations around representation, performance and innovation in beauty. Space NK has always been a beauty playground during my visits, a space where Ive explored, experimented, and discovered so many of my favourite products, so seeing Kay Beauty continue to sit alongside some of the world's most loved beauty brands, is incredibly special. As we look ahead, we're excited to keep building a global community around the values we've always believed in - that makeup should celebrate individuality, perform beautifully, and make everyone feel seen. The first year of Kay Beauty in the UK has been an encouraging chapter in our journey as we build an Indian beauty brand with global relevance. Seeing our products become bestsellers at Space NK and the brand reach top product status on TikTok Shop within six weeks of launch has been particularly meaningful, as it reflects the connection we are building with consumers beyond our home market. The recognition as Best New Brand at the CEW UK Consumer Choice Awards 2026 is another important milestone for us. As we enter our second year, our focus is on deepening our relationship with UK consumers, continuing to bring them products that combine performance and care, and building Kay Beauty into a brand with enduring relevance globally, added Adwaita Nayar, Co-founder and Executive Director of Nykaa & CEO, House of Nykaa. The brand is now delivering an annualised NSV run rate of Rs. 300 crores (approximately 24 million), having achieved profitability within its first year of operations and continued to scale with strong business fundamentals. With nearly 3 million consumers in India, Kay Beauty has built a strong consumer franchise and is now Indias largest celebrity-led beauty brand, combining modern innovation with Indias rich beauty heritage to create high-performance, skin-friendly formulas designed for diverse complexions. Also Read: Katrina Kaif opens up on beauty secrets amid trolling: My skin became more sensitive post-pregnancy

Bollywood Hungama 12 Oct 2026 5:41 pm

OnePlus 16 Launched With 9,000mAh Battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Chipset: Price, Specifications

OnePlus 16 has been launched in China as the tech firms new flagship smartphone. The handset succeeds last year's OnePlus 15. The new OnePlus 16 will be available for purchase in the country via the Oppo China online store. It is offered in Tomorrow's Star, Martian Masterpiece, and Dark Forest (translated from Chinese) colourways. The phone will go on sale in 12GB + 512GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB RAM and storage configurations. The OnePlus 16 is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset from Qualcomm, which is built on a 2nm process. The handset also packs a 9,000mAh battery and a triple rear camera unit.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 5:39 pm

Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2026: Best Deals on Echo Devices and Alexa Speakers

Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2026 started last week in India. Customers planning to buy Amazon Echo smart speakers and Echo smart displays with Alexa can take advantage of the ongoing offers. Here are the best offers on Amazon Echo Devices and Alexa Speakers available during the Amazon Great Indian Festival 2026. Final prices and savings may vary depending on payment methods and exchange value.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 5:39 pm

Global smartphone shipments plunge 20% during Q3 2026

The research firm said that OEMs passed on higher component costs to consumers, pushing global smartphone retail prices up by 20% so far in 2026, further increasing market average selling price

The Hindu 12 Oct 2026 5:35 pm

New sensor uses slowed light to detect gravitational pull of tiny objects

Gravity, the attraction between objects with mass, is the weakest of the four fundamental forces governing physical processes. Detecting the tiny gravitational pull of objects that are just a few millimeters in size and have a very small mass is extremely challenging.

Phys.org 12 Oct 2026 5:30 pm

8BitDo Ultimate 2 review: The best Switch 2 controller out there

Everything is within reach on 8BitDo's Ultimate 2, even for small hands.

Engadget 12 Oct 2026 5:30 pm

Sachin Tendulkar's Sweet Birthday Wish for Daughter Sara

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar shared a heartfelt birthday message for his daughter, Sara Tendulkar, who turned 29, expressing pride in her independent path and achievements.

Rediff 12 Oct 2026 5:28 pm

A PS5 homebrew update gives old PS2 discs a reason to leave the shelf

PS5SX2s new disc autoplay beta lets a jailbroken PS5 copy and launch physical PS2 games. It gives old collections another use, though setup requirements and limited testing keep this firmly in enthusiast territory.

Digital Trends 12 Oct 2026 5:27 pm

The Wealth Company AIF invests 400 crore in sports brand Boldfit

This marks Bharat Value Fund's fourth significant investment in the past 12 months, with an average investment size of 400 crore each

The Hindu Businessline 12 Oct 2026 5:26 pm

Arthritis: Dont Let Joint Pain Slow You Down Understanding Treatment Options for Better Mobility

Leading orthopaedic specialists discuss arthritis management, available treatment options, and ways to relieve joint pain, improve mobility, and maintain an active lifestyle. Discover how timely diagnosis and the right treatment approach can help you move with greater comfort and confidence.

The Times of India 12 Oct 2026 5:25 pm

'Refining Is In A Sweet Spot': Why $100-Plus Crude Is Splitting India's Oil Stocks

Fuel retailers are losing money on every litre while pure-play refiners ride strong margins, analysts point out.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 5:18 pm

Nothing Prime Day pricing still live from $25: Ear (3a), CMF Clip Pro, Headphone (a), more

We are getting an extended run at a long list of Nothing headphones and earbud Prime Day deals here. Alongside the new low on the latest CMF Clip Pro open buds at $69 (30% off), Amazon is once again offering all four colors of Nothings Ear (3a) noise cancelling buds down at $79 . more

9To5Toys 12 Oct 2026 5:16 pm

Dinesh Karthik Calls Abhishek Sharma 'World Superpower Opener' After 69-Run Knock

Guided by Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek has continued to deliver across conditions and against different opponents in the shortest format of the game.

NDTV 12 Oct 2026 5:15 pm

Powell, Rutherford Reprimanded For Breaching ICC Code Of Conduct In Second T20I

Emirates ICC International Panel: West Indies players Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford have been handed official reprimands and one demerit point each for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against India in Ranchi on Friday. Powell was sanctioned for hitting the ball away with his bat after being dismissed, while Rutherford was reprimanded for showing dissent at an umpires decision during the match. According to the ICC, Powell was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match. The incident occurred in the sixth over of the West Indies innings after Powell was bowled by India pacer Mayank Yadav. Rutherford, meanwhile, breached Article 2.8, which relates to showing dissent at an Umpires decision during an International Match. His offence took place in the 13th over when he yelled aggressively at the umpire after a delivery he believed was wide was ruled legitimate. Both players admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Prakash Bhatt of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for formal hearings. The ICC also confirmed that one demerit point had been added to the disciplinary records of both players. It was the first offence for each within a 24-month period. Talking about the match, skipper Shai Hope smashed a blistering 45-ball century before Sherfane Rutherford hammered 84 off 37 deliveries as the West Indies pulled off a sensational six-wicket victory over India in the second T20I, chasing down a daunting target of 250 to register the second-highest successful run chase in men's T20I cricket. The ICC also confirmed that one demerit point had been added to the disciplinary records of both players. It was the first offence for each within a 24-month period. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

CNMSports 12 Oct 2026 5:14 pm

Ruling parties sweep all six seats in by-election, Starlink row, Nobel Prize 2026, and more: The week in 5 charts

Explore last weeks key events, including the by-elections to five Assembly seats across three States and one Lok Sabha seat in Assam, the row over Elon Musks Starlink launch in India, and the 2026 Nobel Prize winners.

The Hindu 12 Oct 2026 5:12 pm

Ruling parties sweep all six seats in by-election, Starlink row, Nobel Prize 2026, and more: The week in 5 charts

Explore last weeks key events, including the by-elections to five Assembly seats across three States and one Lok Sabha seat in Assam, the row over Elon Musks Starlink launch in India, and the 2026 Nobel Prize winners.

The Hindu 12 Oct 2026 5:12 pm

Nothing OS 5 starts rolling out to eligible devices in India

Nothing OS 5 will add over 80 updates spanning design, personalisation, performance and AI, the company said

The Hindu 12 Oct 2026 5:10 pm

Venus Transit 2026: These 4 Zodiac Signs May Enjoy Good Fortune, Wealth and Success Before Diwali

Shukra Gochar 2026: In Vedic astrology, planetary movements are believed to influence different aspects of human life, including relationships, professional growth, financial stability, and personal happiness. Among the nine celestial influences recognized in traditional Hindu astrology, Venus, also...

Kalam Times 12 Oct 2026 5:07 pm

India aims to be powerful so that no country dictates terms to us: Vice President Radhakrishnan

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan said on Monday that India aims to become the most powerful nation in the world, not to dominate others or dictate terms to others, but to ensure that no country dictates terms to us. Addressing participants of the 66th Course of the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, on the theme Indias Core Values, National Interests and National Objectives, the Vice President said, National strategy must translate national purpose into action and national intent into tangible outcomes. Every Nation has its targets, but the means to the end is guided by what the Nation stands for, he said Referring to Viksit Bharat @ 2047 as a defining national objective, the Vice President stressed the need to align long-term vision with available resources, sound policy choices and national priorities. He underscored that every sovereign nation, big or small, deserves equal respect and that no country should encroach upon anothers territorial boundaries. The Vice President observed that Indias national interests flow from the constitutional values of sovereignty, democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and the unity and integrity of the nation. He underlined five broad priorities: safeguarding Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity; preserving its democratic, secular and federal character; advancing its strategic, political, economic and military objectives; ensuring a stable and secure environment for growth and human development; and contributing to international peace and stability. Highlighting the increasingly interconnected nature of national security, Radhakrishnan called for greater international cooperation to address challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, pandemics, climate change and transnational crime. He noted that protecting national interests and advancing shared global interests are often mutually reinforcing objectives, requiring coordinated action, information sharing and mutual trust among nations. Strategic leadership ultimately means placing the larger national interest above the boundaries of one's own domain, he said. The 122 participants of the course include officers from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services, police and other government organisations, as well as 41 officers from friendly foreign countries. The Vice President highlighted the importance of strategic thinking, integrated policymaking and international cooperation in addressing contemporary security challenges.

bhaskarlive 12 Oct 2026 5:07 pm

INS Mangrol to boost Navy's anti-submarine prowess

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Mangrol, its third anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), in Mumbai. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, the vessel is designed to enhance India's ability to detect and counter submarine threats, especially in shallow coastal waters. Its induction is seen as vital amidst rising geopolitical tensions and increased submarine activity in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing India's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and maritime security.

Rediff 12 Oct 2026 5:07 pm

Iran Offers to Mediate Between Its Houthi Allies and Saudi Arabia

Iran has long backed the Houthis, a Yemeni militia, and it made the offer as Saudi Arabia contends with increasingly deadly attacks from them.

The New York Times 12 Oct 2026 5:07 pm

US STOCKS-US stock futures steady as oil jumps to two-week high ahead of key earnings

Wall St futures were subdued on Monday as investors monitored oil prices and geopolitical developments ahead of crucial bank earnings and inflation data due later in the week that could influence the US Federal Reserve's interest-rate outlook. Brent crude

devdiscourse 12 Oct 2026 5:04 pm