Cybersecurity company Check Point has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2026-85102, a pre-authentication remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the VPN certificate-handling functionality of its Security Gateway product.

The same advisory also warns of threat actors exploiting a pre-authentication path traversal flaw tracked as CVE-2026-93616, which impacts the Management web service and can allow script execution and Java class loading.

The company says that CVE-2026-93616 has been exploited as a zero-day since July 23.

On September 10, the Dutch Nationaal Cyber Security Centrum (NCSC) alerted of the Security Gateway issue and urged users to apply available security updates as imminent exploitation was expected.

Check Point has now confirmed that malicious activity started on September 12, with attackers using VPNs and proxies to hide their location.

“Starting September 12, 2026, we observed a wave of exploitation attempts against Spark customers,” reads Check Point’s alert.

“The attempts originated from anonymization infrastructure, including VPN services and proxies,” the company said, adding that certificates with the following subjects were used:

• CN=vpn,OU=users,O=global
• CN=vpn-user,OU=users,O=global
• CN=vpnuser,OU=users,O=global

However, the cybersecurity company noted that the three subjects only reflect current observations and more may be in use.

CISA has now added the two flaws in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, urging federal agencies to apply the available fixes and/or mitigations by September 25, 2026.

Mitigating the risk

Check Point’s advisory on CVE-2026-85102 recommends that administrators install Check Point LivePatch Take 26 on supported R81.20, R82, or R82.10 gateways, or install a fixed Jumbo Hotfix: R81.20 Take 166, R82 Take 126, R82.10 Take 44, or R81.10 Take 190, or later.

Customers should also update Spark firewalls to R82.00.10 Build 2325 or R81.10.17 Build 4968, or later.

System administrators are advised to verify if LivePatch is active by running the cpinfo -y CPupdates command on the Security Gateway  in expert mode.

The advisory specifically warns that some customers who installed an earlier offline LivePatch package need Take 26 for full coverage.

If updating isn’t possible, it is recommended to disable the VPN implied rules and create explicit rules that restrict Site-to-Site VPN on UDP/500 and UDP/4500 to specific peer IP addresses.

For Remote Access VPN, allow only the required services over UDP/500, UDP/4500, TCP/443, and TCP/80 where applicable, and restrict source client IP ranges where possible.

Check Point notes that these mitigation measures do not apply to locally managed Spark firewalls.

For mitigation and hunting advice for the Management web service CVE-2026-93616, Check Point points to this support article.

Join Mikko Hyppönen and security leaders from the NFL, CHANEL, and Atlassian for a two-hour digital summit on what AI-speed attacks change, what defenders should stop doing, and how to validate, decide, fix, and re-validate at machine speed.

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A new Android malware-as-a-service (MaaS) platform called RemControl is targeting users through malvertising campaigns that impersonate the TVTap IPTV application.

Although the infrastructure has been active since at least May, the first samples were observed in July and contained more than 30 phishing overlays designed to steal banking credentials.

Researchers at cybersecurity company Group-IB say that the malware targets users in Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Portugal), Canada, and countries in the Middle East.

In one of the overlays, the malware displays an AI assistant response, a strong indication that it has been built with the help of AI models.

RemControl is distributed through fake Google Play pages impersonating the TVTap IPTV app, with at least one Italian campaign using geofencing and mobile User-Agent checks.

The malicious sites include Meta Pixel tracking IDs, which Group-IB sees as a hint that the operator abused Meta’s advertising ecosystem to drive victims to the download pages.

When launched, the dropper starts a VPN service that blocks traffic from Google Play services, preventing Play Protect from performing real-time checks against known malware.

The feature has also been observed in a recent version of the ToxicPanda malware, a much bigger operation that uses phishing overlays for 349 financial, cryptocurrency, and digital wallets applications used in 16 countries.  

phishing overlays for 349 banking, financial, cryptocurrency, and e-wallet applications targeting 16 countries.

During installation, the malware requests approval for Accessibility Service permissions.

If the requested permissions are granted, RemControl can perform the following actions:

• Display full-screen phishing overlays on top of legitimate banking apps and steal PINs, banking codes, card expiry dates, and credentials
• Dynamically receive new banking targets from the command-and-control (C2) infrastructure
• Stream screenshots and the full Android accessibility/UI tree to the operator in real time
• Record clicks, text changes, focus events, and other user input across applications
• Remotely perform taps, swipes, scrolling, gestures, long presses, and text injection
• Capture Android pattern-lock coordinates across several OEMs, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, OnePlus, and stock Android
• Prevent removal by detecting when victims enter application-management, accessibility, or factory-reset settings and automatically exiting

RemControl retrieves encrypted C2 information from Telegram channels, so it can rotate infrastructure dynamically in case of disruptions.

Group-IB found FastAPI documentation exposed in the initial C2 proxy that revealed the endpoints the malware used to fetch banking overlays and to submit stolen credentials.

The origin of the threat actor behind RemControl is unclear, but the researchers found Russian language in the HTML files of some overlays, indicating a Russian speaker as the developer of at least some of them .

Based on a common identifier in the analyzed samples, the researchers track the RemControl operator as UNKK and suspect a connection to the Medusa banking trojan.

Android users are advised to avoid downloading APK files from outside Google Play unless they explicitly trust the publisher.

Regular Play Protect scans and declining Accessibility Service permission requests from apps that do not require them for accessibility purposes are also recommended security practices.

Join Mikko Hyppönen and security leaders from the NFL, CHANEL, and Atlassian for a two-hour digital summit on what AI-speed attacks change, what defenders should stop doing, and how to validate, decide, fix, and re-validate at machine speed.

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In late 2024, Hisense introduced its C2 projector series, combining a practical gimbal design with high-end performance. For 2026, Hisense has revealed its successor, the C3 projector family, consisting of the C3 Pro, C3 Ultra, and C3 Ultra MAX.

First shown at IFA 2026, the C3 family refines the C2 formula with support for images up to 300 inches, higher brightness, improved placement flexibility, and immersive sound, all within the same compact lifestyle projector form factor.

What the Hisense C3 Projectors Have in Common

All three projectors in the C3 family share a substantial number of features. Here is a rundown.

Form Factor: As mentioned at the top of the article, the C3 family incorporates a gimbal-style design that provides 360° horizontal rotation and 135° vertical tilt, making it easier to project images onto screens, walls, or ceilings.

Image Projection: All three C3 projectors use DLP imaging technology to display 4K UHD resolution (via pixel shifting), combined with an RGB triple-laser light source rated for more than 25,000 hours of operation. The C3 family can project images ranging from 65 to 300 inches and is rated for 118% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut. All three models are also rated for contrast up to 5,000:1 using Hisense’s iris system.

HDR Support: All three projectors support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, along with IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode. The entire C3 family also supports Active 3D playback.

Gaming Support: The C3 family is designed for more than movies and sports, with gaming features that include HSR240, VRR, ALLM, and support for refresh rates up to 240Hz. Hisense also claims response times as low as 1ms, depending on the operating mode. FreeSync Premium support is included across the lineup.

Auto Magic AI Adjusting 3.0: Hisense’s automated image setup system includes autofocus, automatic keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, screen fit, and wall-color adaptation, reducing the amount of manual adjustment required when repositioning the projector.

Audio Support: The Hisense C3 projector family includes an integrated 2.1-channel audio system with a built-in subwoofer and 56 watts of total output, along with Devialet-tuned sound.

Streaming Support: The Hisense C3 projectors provide built-in access to streaming services through the company’s VIDAA OS. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Apple AirPlay 2, and Miracast.

The Differences Between the C3 Models

As you can see, all three C3 projectors share a substantial number of features. The most obvious difference is brightness, which may help determine which model is best suited to your viewing environment. However, the C3 Ultra MAX also adds several hardware and installation upgrades that distinguish it from the other two models.

C3 Pro: Considered the entry-level model in the Hisense C3 family, the C3 Pro is rated at 3,000 ANSI lumens. It features a 0.9-1.5 throw ratio and lens shift of ±100% vertically and ±35% horizontally.

C3 Ultra: Occupying the middle position in the C3 family, the C3 Ultra increases light output to 4,000 ANSI lumens while retaining the same 0.9-1.5 throw ratio and ±100% vertical and ±35% horizontal lens shift as the C3 Pro.

C3 Ultra MAX: The flagship of the C3 family increases light output to 5,000 ANSI lumens and adds a more flexible optical system, with a 0.85-1.7 throw ratio and expanded lens shift of ±120% vertically and ±47% horizontally. It also adds liquid cooling, a 3D ToF sensor for its Auto Magic AI 3.0 system, and Hisense’s additional Cinema technology designed to reduce rainbow artifacts and laser speckle. Refer to our comparison chart below for the complete differences.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

The Hisense C3 family builds on the previously released C2 Series, retaining its practical gimbal design and support for projected images up to 300 inches.

For consumers, choosing between the three C3 models will largely come down to how much light output you need and how much installation flexibility you want. All three should provide sufficient brightness for a wide range of viewing environments, but if you plan to use the projector in a room with some ambient light, project onto a wall rather than a dedicated screen, or watch a lot of 3D movies, the 5,000 ANSI lumens offered by the C3 Ultra MAX could make a meaningful difference. Its wider lens shift and expanded throw-ratio range also provide greater placement flexibility.

There is plenty of competition, however. If you like the C3’s gimbal design, the Dangbei MP1 Max is another option worth considering, with its own 360° horizontal rotation and 135° vertical tilt. If you prefer a more traditional projector form factor or are susceptible to DLP rainbow effects, the 2026 Epson 3LCD Home Cinema LS Series offers an alternative based on 3-chip 3LCD imaging.

Pricing & Availability

The 2026 Hisense C3 Projector Family is available at the following prices:

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TL;DR: Rabbit is moving beyond the R1, the small orange AI device that drew attention at CES 2024 but struggled to deliver on many of its early promises. The company this week introduced OS3, an agentic software platform that can work across desktop computers and mobile messaging services.

Rabbit OS3 connects to Windows, Mac, and Linux computers through a local agent installed on the machine. The platform can interact with desktop programs, files, and web pages. Rabbit says it can also write and debug code through its Direct Large Action Model, or DLAM, technology.

It is available through a browser, Telegram, and iMessage, and it can also run on the R1. Rabbit is no longer manufacturing the device, however, and is shifting its focus to software that works with hardware people already own.

Users can connect as many as five computers to one OS3 account. The system is designed to determine which machine should handle a request. For example, someone could send a message from a phone asking OS3 to update a spreadsheet stored on a home or office computer.

Rabbit is positioning the service as a single, ongoing workspace rather than a collection of separate chat windows. Jesse Lyu, Rabbit’s founder and CEO, called it a “brain dump” interface in an interview with Wired, where users enter a task and the system pulls together the tools and AI models needed to complete it.

The service uses a bring-your-own-key model. Rabbit does not charge a monthly subscription fee for OS3, but users must provide their own API keys from companies such as OpenAI or Anthropic. They can also connect local open-source models.

The platform can install third-party agent skills from a public URL, according to Rabbit. That approach fits with the company’s broader effort to make its software less dependent on its own models and services.

Lyu said the company has spent the past year and a half improving the R1 instead of rushing to build a successor. He said Rabbit has released about 50 updates during that period and has opened the device to third-party agents, including OpenClaw and Hermes AI.

“Today, if you look at our R1 device, it’s completely different from day one,” Lyu says. “We’re more open; the device is yours, you decide what to do with the device.”

The R1 was introduced as a dedicated AI assistant that could carry out tasks in services such as Uber and DoorDash. It received substantial attention before launch, but reviews found that its agent features often did not work as expected.

Lyu said the device was still a business success for Rabbit. He said the company has shipped more than 100,000 R1 units worldwide, recorded return rates below 5%, and achieved gross margins of about 45% to 50% on the hardware.

“Internally, from an engineering perspective – we didn’t make the wrong bet,” Lyu says. “I think the challenge is really being extremely limited in resources, team-wise and money-wise, compared to other AI studios that raised billions of dollars.”

Lyu said Rabbit has raised about $60 million and employs 15 people. The company ran into financial pressure last year after a planned launch in India was blocked by regulations. Some employees later went on strike, saying they had not been paid for months. Lyu said Rabbit subsequently raised additional funds and is now in stable condition.

“There are no issues with the company’s health,” he says.

Rabbit is still selling the R1 while supplies last, but it has no plans for an R2, according to Lyu. Its next hardware product is expected within months and will be a Cyberdeck aimed at “vibe coding.” The device will run OS3.

Rabbit says OS3 does not store, copy, or sell data from local files. Files remain on the user’s computer, the company says, although conversation histories and memory logs are stored on Rabbit’s servers. When a task requires AI-model reasoning, the related prompts are routed through Rabbit’s systems to the user’s chosen model provider.

Lyu said he has used the platform for routine work, including moving sales data from a weekly Excel report into a master spreadsheet. He also said he had OS3 represent him in a Slack conversation with an engineer while he was unavailable. The agent identified itself as acting for Lyu and used files from his computer to respond to questions.

OS3 is now available to the public. For Rabbit, it is a chance to test whether its original idea works better as software than as a standalone gadget.

Apple’s watchOS 27.0.1 update has arrived with a fix that prevents Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 models from randomly restarting.

On Wednesday, just over a week after watchOS 27.0 reached the general public, Apple deployed the watchOS 27.0.1 update. The software addresses a bug that caused the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 to restart unexpectedly.

Those who encountered the now-resolved issue said their Apple Watch rebooted while editing watch faces, making calls, using Siri AI, opening Apple Maps or the App Store, and recording workouts. Some Apple Watch owners have even said their devices restarted when idle.

As for what caused the reboot bug on watchOS 27.0, an Apple forums post outlined a Neural Engine timeout on an affected Apple Watch model. In short, a Neural Engine command waited 2,020 milliseconds, exceeding a 2,000-millisecond limit, after which the device rebooted.

While the watchOS 27.0.1 update addressed these spontaneous reboots, Apple did not disclose what caused them.

The company’s website says there are no CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) entries associated with watchOS 27.0.1. This suggests the software likely doesn’t include major security fixes and that this release did not patch any significant vulnerabilities.

The same page also outlines that watchOS 27.0.1 is available only for Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12. In short, it’s a bug-fix update for the 2026 Apple Watch lineup.

How to update to watchOS 27.0.1

1. Ensure the Apple Watch is charged to at least 50% and connected to Wi-Fi
2. On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. Tap Install if a software update is available
6. Follow the on-screen instructions

How to update to watchOS 27.0.1 via iPhone

1. Ensure your watch is charged to 50% and connected to Wi-Fi
2. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. Download the update if it is available
6. Follow the on-screen instructions

Vivo has added three new phones to its flagship lineup with the launch of the X500 series in China. The X50Vivo has added three new phones to its flagship lineup with the launch of the X500 series in China. The X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max bring a mix of upgraded cameras, newer MediaTek chips and larger batteries. The Pro models use the Dimensity 9600 Pro, while the regular X500 runs on the Dimensity 9600M. At the top of the range, the X500 Pro Max features a 200MP periscope camera and an 8,000mAh battery. The X500 starts at CNY 5,499, followed by higher starting prices for the Pro models.

Specifications, Design and Key Features

Vivo has given the three X500 models different rear camera designs. The regular X500 has a wide rectangular camera island with a circular arrangement on the left. Meanwhile, the X500 Pro and Pro Max use large circular camera modules in the center. Vivo also slopes the rear panel around the camera area on these models. This helps the camera section blend into the rear panel and creates a natural place for your finger.

The X500 features a 6.59-inch display and weighs 211g; the Pro has a 6.36-inch screen and weighs 197g, and the Pro Max has a 6.85-inch panel and weighs 229g. The X500 uses a 1.5K AMOLED display with a 1,260 x 2,750-pixel resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. The Pro models step up to BOE Q11 LTPO AMOLED panels with 144Hz support. The Pro offers 1,216 x 2,660 pixels, while the Pro Max gets 1,440 x 3,168 pixels. Both Pro displays support variable refresh rates from 1Hz to 144Hz. They can also reach 4,500 nits, compared with 4,000 nits on the X500.

Under the hood, the X500 runs on the Dimensity 9600M, while the Pro models use the Dimensity 9600 Pro. The two Pro phones are among the first devices announced with MediaTek’s new chipset. The X500 packs a 7,500mAh battery, and the Pro gets a 6,510mAh cell. The Pro Max uses an 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. All three models support 90W wired and 40W wireless charging. The battery sizes are also larger than the X300 and X300 Pro in some areas, which had 6,040mAh and 6,500mAh cells. Vivo has also added IP68 and IP69 protection across the series. All three phones run OriginOS 7 based on Android 17.

Camera Upgrades and New Photography Accessories

Vivo has made several changes to the X500 series camera systems, with the Pro Max getting the biggest upgrade. It features a 50MP Sony LYTIA L910 main camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor. The camera uses an f/1.57 aperture and offers 3-degree optical image stabilization. Vivo says it can capture up to 17EV of dynamic range. The phone pairs this camera with a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP0 periscope telephoto. This camera uses a 1/1.4-inch sensor and provides 3.5x optical zoom. It also gets CIPA 7.0 professional-grade stabilization.

Vivo previously used a 200MP main camera on the X300 Pro. With the X500 Pro Max, the company has shifted that high-resolution sensor to the telephoto camera. The X500 Pro uses a 50MP LYTIA L910 main camera with 1.5-degree stabilization. It pairs this with a 64MP LYTIA 610 periscope offering 3.5x optical zoom and OIS. Both Pro phones also feature a 50MP Samsung JN5 ultrawide camera.

The regular X500 gets a 50MP Sony LYTIA 828 main camera, along with a 64MP telephoto and 50MP JN1 ultrawide camera. Its main sensor measures 1/1.28 inches. Vivo also supports an optional 400mm Zeiss G2 Ultra telephoto extender on both Pro models. Video recording also gets attention, with both Pro phones supporting 4K at 240fps.

The Pro Max goes further with 8K recording at 30fps. Both models also support 10-bit 4:2:2 video and the ACES color management system. Vivo has also introduced a 3.92-inch AMOLED wireless display for the series. The Vivo Snap Screen attaches to the rear and works as a live monitor. This lets users frame selfies and videos using the rear cameras. It can also control key camera functions from up to 10 meters away. Vivo designed it to work with the company’s Zeiss telephoto accessories for long-range shots.

Vivo X500 Series Price and Availability in China

The Chinese variant of the Vivo X500 is available for CNY 5,499 (Rs 79,000). It is equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The X500 Pro is priced at CNY 6,499 (Rs 93,000), while its Pro Max version starts at CNY 6,999 (Rs 1 lakh). The regular version is available in white, grey, and black, while the Pro and Pro Max also come in orange. The device’s sales in China will start on September 24. Vivo has not yet announced details of the global release. As for India, the latest reports suggest it will launch in late October or early November. The X500 Pro may remain exclusive to China. Based on estimated pricing in India, the Vivo X500 will cost around Rs 95,000, while the Pro Max variant will cost between Rs 1.3 lakh and Rs 1.4 lakh.

Facepalm: Windows updates have a nasty habit of causing more problems than they fix. Just last month, Microsoft acknowledged that the August Patch Tuesday update was crashing games and rebooting PCs. The optional KB5124010 patch that rolled out earlier this week is now reportedly causing games like Battlefield 6 and Wardogs to crash regardless of hardware.

Microsoft released the KB5124010 update to the Windows 11 Release Preview channel for versions 24H2 and 25H2 earlier this month before rolling it out to the stable channel on Tuesday. Almost immediately, users started complaining on social media and online forums that it was wreaking havoc on their gaming rigs..

According to several Redditors and Steam users, Battlefield 6 has become unplayable after installing the update, crashing just seconds after launch almost every time. At least one of the posters reported that Windows is not displaying an error message alongside the crashes, making it difficult for users to diagnose the problem.

One Battlefield 6 player posting on the Steam Community forums noted the irony that the KB5124010 update is meant to improve game stability and prevent games from crashing. They added that they reinstalled the game, checked the DirectX components, and even tried Javelin troubleshooting, but nothing helped diagnose the problem. Uninstalling KB5124010, however, seemed to stop the crashes.

After many Wardogs players also reported a similar problem, a Team17 representative acknowledged on the Steam Community forums that the game was crashing and displaying a WD-L020 error. They added that there is no immediate remedy and that the only workaround is to uninstall the contentious update.

One Wardogs player replying to the thread claimed that Windows was displaying a WD-L020-95bc94d86a0d error code after every crash and confirmed that uninstalling the KB5124010 update allowed them to play the game again. Many others also confirmed that uninstalling the update seemed to fix the problem.

It is worth noting that while most of the complaints are coming from Battlefield 6 and Wardogs players, some Battlefield 2042 players have also reported facing the same problem, leading some to suggest that the update might be clashing with EA’s Javelin Anti Cheat program, which protects Battlefield, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, and other EA properties.

Games crashing after buggy Windows updates isn’t a new problem for Microsoft. Just last month, the company admitted that the KB5121003 update was causing some games to crash randomly. In some cases, the PC was automatically rebooting after the crashes. The problem affected Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals, among others.

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In a busy month for tech, Beats has added a new pair of headphones to its ever-growing range – the Beats 360.

With a promise of Beats’ best ever ANC, sound and comfort from a pair of headphones, it’s fair to say the Beats 360 sounds impressive. But how do the headphones look set to compare to the four-star Beats Studio Pro?

Ahead of our Beats 360 review, we’ve compared its specs to the Beats Studio Pro and noted the differences between the over-ear headphones below.

For more options, check out our best headphones guide.

Price and Availability

The Beats 360 is available to order now, with an RRP of £299.95. The headphones come in a choice of four colours – Sky, Cloud, Pink and Black – and will come with colour-coordinated earcup and headband cushions. 

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You can also purchase different coloured earcups and headband cushions separately with Cushion Kits. At the time of writing, you can purchase the Cushion Kits for just £9.95 directly from Apple. Just note this price will rise to £49.95 eventually.

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Following the Beats 360’s launch, the Beats Studio Pro is now cheaper than before, with a new RRP of £249.95. 

Beats 360 promises 1.75x better ANC

Beats explains that the 360 benefit from “1.75x better” ANC than the Studio Pro. Hailed as the brand’s most powerful ANC technology to date, Beats explains the 360’s acoustic system, combined with the technology means the 360 delivers a “powerful, immersive listening experience”. 

The Beats 360 is also fitted with Transparency mode that allows some external noise into the headphones.

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But how does this compare to the Studio Pro. During our time with the headphones, we found the Studio Pro offered a very strong noise-cancelling performance and managed to remove ambient and noisy public transport sounds effectively. While we did note the Studio Pro struggled to suppress wind, we were left impressed with its natural sounding Transparency mode.

With this in mind, we expect the Beats 360 to offer an even stronger ANC performance to the Studio Pro. We’ll be sure to update this versus once we review the headphones.

Beats 360 has interchangeable ear and headband cushions

Like the Beats 360, the Beats Studio Pro comes in a choice of four colour options, including Black, Deep Brown, Navy and Sandstone. However, the Beats 360 not only offers a more eye-catching range of colours as standard (Sky, Cloud, Pink and Black), but you can also swap the earcup and headband cushions too.

So, although the Beats 360 comes with colour-matched cushions as standard, you can choose to buy knit Cushion Kits in six colours – Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky, Navy and Volt (which is a vibrant yellow), or choose UltraPlush Kits in either Black and Cloud. The latter is the same engineered leather that’s found on the Studio Pro.

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Beats 360 has an IPX4 rating

Not only does Beats state the 360 headphones offer its best ever ANC, sound and comfort, but the cans are the first over-ears from the brand to sport an IPX4 rating. That means the headphones can withstand splashes of water, rain and sweat without causing harm to the product.

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Beats 360 introduces a wireless-first design

The Beats 360 has a wireless-first design which frees up room in the headband for a lighter and more comfortable pair of headphones. This means the earcups each have their own separate chip and separate battery antenna with a connecting cable between them just for charging, resulting in a more lightweight pair of headphones.

That’s not to say the Studio Pro isn’t a comfortable pair of headphones. However, although generally we found the Studio Pro to be comfortable, our reviewer noted that earpads were slightly too small for his ears. With that in mind, it’s advisable to check the sizing before you buy.

Beats Studio Pro offers longer battery

We were impressed with the Beats Studio Pro’s battery life. Although Beats claims a pretty solid 40 hours of battery life with ANC off, we found in our tests that actually the Studio Pro could provide 40 hours with ANC on – meaning Beats underestimated the headphone’s power. 

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In comparison, the Beats 360 promises up to 32 hours of battery life and a five-minute charge results in an hour of audio playback too. We’ll have to wait until we review the headphones to see how well they really perform.

Early Verdict

Thanks to its improved ANC, comfortable and lightweight design and the inclusion of an IPX4 rating, the Beats 360 look set to be a brilliant pair of headphones that’ll likely suit most users well. However, if you’re sporting the Studio Pro pair, then we’d argue that there’s perhaps no reason to upgrade just yet. 

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On the other hand, if you’re torn between the two and want a more affordable pair of Beats that still offers a solid listening experience, then the Studio Pair is a great choice thanks to its recent price drop.

We’ll update this versus once we review the Beats 360.

The update to Siri AI will eventually reach the HomePod line. While that is a certainty, it may not be available on the models that are currently in homes.

The HomePod and HomePod mini were left out of the Siri AI party at WWDC, and the updated digital assistant hasn’t yet become available on the smart speaker. However, it is still something widely expected to be on the way.

A leaker known as “pdfu” posted to X about Siri AI on HomePod. The account shares that Linwood, the in-house name for the new Siri AI project, is included as part of audioOS 27 also known as HomePod Software 27, but it’s not being used.

The account shares a look at the new status lights that will closer match how Siri AI appears on other platforms. It looks generally whiter in construction, rather than the colorful swirl of the existing Siri.

It also adds that Siri AI may require new hardware to function properly. The HomePod is apparently “accepted” as a Siri AI-capable device, but activation is currently blocked.

Water is wet

It is a given that Apple will be adding Siri AI support to the HomePod in the future. As such a Siri-centric device, it would be extremely hard to imagine Apple leaving off that update from the smart speaker range.

Some form of spec-bump update to the HomePod mini will happen in the future. So far, that is thought to consist of a chip update to the S9 or S10 SIP instead of the S5 currently in use.

Support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread is also anticipated, as well as a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.

There is speculation that Apple is preparing a wider update than the HomePod mini, with a new Apple TV and a frequently rumored Home Hub also on the horizon. Apple Stores are also allegedly preparing for the smart home catalog overhaul with changes to a few Avenue segments.