A new report from Korea Business TV sheds light on not one but two important aspects of the upcoming Galaxy Z foldable lineup. First, it claims that Samsung is gearing up to unveil new foldables devices at its second Galaxy Unpacked event of the year, which could take place in London on July 22, 2026.
The lineup, as we’ve previously heard, could include three new Galaxy Z foldables, including the Fold 8, Flip 8, and the brand-new addition dubbed Wide Fold. Barring the flip phone, we’ve already seen high-quality renders of the Fold 8 and the Wide Fold in the last week of March.
Android Headlines
One of the three foldables could come with support for the S Pen
That’s right. It could be the Galaxy Z Wide Fold — expected to arrive with a wider screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio) — that might revive S Pen support. This is quite noteworthy, especially because the last foldable to support S Pen input was the Fold 6, before Samsung killed the stylus with the Fold 7 (to make the phone as thin as possible).
To give you more context, the S Pen remained an integral part of Samsung’s foldable experience from the Fold 3 (2021) to the Fold 6 (2024). Even though the experience was limited, in the sense that the phones didn’t have built-in slots for the stylus and input was only supported on the inner screen, the S Pen served as a unique differentiator.
The S Pen seems to be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s iPhone Fold
Its removal from the Fold 7 bothered a significant number of users, who had either used the stylus on their previous Fold or upgraded from a Galaxy S series smartphone that came with an integrated stylus. However, you should also know that the report doesn’t provide any clarity about the S Pen’s arrival on the Fold 8.
Apple is gearing up to enter the foldable market later this year, and Samsung isn’t taking it lightly. While there are plenty of rumors about the iPhone Fold on the internet, support for an Apple Pencil isn’t one of them, and this is exactly where Samsung wants to sell potential customers on its Wide Fold with the S Pen.
Verum Messenger, a privacy-focused communication platform, has released a new update centered on improving its built-in AI assistant and enhancing the stability of its offline messaging capabilities.
The update introduces several usability improvements to Verum AI, the app’s integrated chatbot designed to assist users directly within the messenger. One of the key additions is the ability to send images in AI conversations — either from the device gallery or captured in real time using the camera. This expands the assistant’s functionality beyond text-based interaction.
The platform has also introduced notifications that alert users when the AI has completed processing a request. This feature is aimed at improving workflow efficiency, particularly for users who rely on AI for content generation, analysis, or quick responses.
In addition, the interaction with AI-generated text has been refined. Responses are now easier to copy and reuse, making the tool more practical for everyday tasks.
Focus on Stability in Offline Communication
Alongside AI improvements, the update addresses the performance of Verum Messenger’s offline chat functionality — a feature that allows users to communicate without relying on a traditional internet connection.
According to the developers, connection speeds for offline chats have been increased, and overall reliability has been improved. These changes are intended to ensure that communication remains stable even in environments with limited or unstable connectivity.
A Messenger Built Around Privacy and Independence
Verum Messenger positions itself as a platform focused on user privacy and control. Unlike many traditional messaging services, it does not require a phone number or personal data for registration. Encryption keys are generated locally on the user’s device, and communication is designed to remain under the user’s control.
In addition to messaging and calls, the platform integrates a range of tools including a VPN, anonymous email, eSIM connectivity, AI features, and financial services within a single application.
With this update, Verum Messenger continues to expand its functionality while maintaining its focus on privacy, usability, and communication resilience.
As the Artemis II crew begins their return trip to Earth after a successful lunar flyby earlier this week, NASA has unveiled impressive new footage of the April 1 launch that propelled them into space.
The detailed tracking shot captures the immense power of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, showcasing its four core RS-25 engines and two solid rocket boosters as the 98-meter-tall vessel ascended from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
@NASA has just released some EXTRAORDINARY tracking footage from Artemis II’s launch just one week ago.
Mesmerizing exhaust flow interaction between all four RS-25’s & twin SRB’s. pic.twitter.com/Q49oZh5RrB
— Max Evans (@_MaxQ_) April 8, 2026
See More
At liftoff, the SLS generates a massive 8.8 million pounds of thrust, surpassing the Apollo-era Saturn V by about 1.2 million pounds. This is roughly half the power of SpaceX’s Starship, which is currently under development and intended for future lunar travel.
The rocket’s propulsion is provided by a la own mix of high-performance engines. The core stage features four RS-25 liquid-fueled engines that utilize liquid hydrogen and oxygen for maximum efficiency. Interestingly, these engines are repurposed components from the retired Space Shuttle program, which ended in 2011.
The vehicle also relies on two huge solid rocket boosters to provide the majority of the initial power needed to lift the massive rocket and the crewed Orion spacecraft into orbit.
The Orion spacecraft pushed the crew further from Earth than any humans in history as it looped around the moon earlier this week.
In addition to collecting lunar data, the mission serves as a critical test for human operations in preparation for upcoming Artemis missions, with the goal of returning humans to the moon’s surface as soon as 2028.
Following eight days in space, the four Artemis II astronauts are now heading home and are scheduled to splash down off the California coast this Friday, marking a memorable return.
For more information on how to follow the final stages of the Artemis II mission, Digital Trends can help.
I’ve never been a fan of Apple’s MacBook, but I have to admit that the platform is getting a lot of things right. Living with Windows has been a hassle recently, and Apple has been inching ahead for all the right reasons. While I still rely on Windows, familiarity alone isn’t the whole game anymore.
In 2026, there are some macOS conveniences that feel less like luxury perks and more like basic computing features Microsoft should have figured out by now. And the annoying part is that Apple’s advantage is not always raw power or flashy AI. A lot of the frustration comes from smaller, more practical things. These are the sort of features that quietly save time, make things feel super smooth, and make a computer feel like it belongs in the same world as the phone in your pocket.
Sharing Wi-Fi passwords should not still feel this good on a Mac
This is the one that always gets me. Apple lets you share Wi-Fi passwords from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to another nearby Apple device almost instantly, as long as the devices are nearby and the accounts are properly set up. I’ve seen people around me use this feature for years, and it feels like I’m locked out of it.
Apple
You can even share Wi-Fi passwords from a Mac to another Mac, iPhone, or iPad. It is such a small thing, but it feels magical in the exact way modern computing should. Meanwhile, Windows still makes something this basic feel manual. You’re still stuck relying on good old memory. But in 2026, this is just embarrassing.
Universal Clipboard is still one of Apple’s most unfair advantages
Seamless is the thing you come to expect from the Apple ecosystem, and nothing showcases this more than the Universal Clipboard feature. Copy something on your iPhone, paste it on your Mac. Copy an image on your Mac, drop it into a message on your iPad. Apple’s Universal Clipboard sounds boring until you actually use it, and it becomes the kind of feature you start to miss immediately when you go back to a less-connected setup.
Apple officially supports this across iPhone, iPad, and Mac as a part of its Continuity stack. And this is what puts macOS ahead. It makes the ecosystem with multiple devices feel like extensions of one workspace. To be fair, Windows has gotten a lot better about linking to phones, but Apple still makes the handoff feel more invisible and more natural.
Unlocking your Mac with an Apple Watch is exactly the kind of laziness I respect
This may be the most Apple thing on the list, but I mean that as praise. If you are wearing an unlocked Apple Watch, your Mac can automatically unlock when you wake it, and the watch can also approve password prompts and admin requests. Apple supports this officially as Auto Unlock, and the convenience is obvious.
Apple
Is it life-changing? Probably not. Is it the exact sort of effortless quality-of-life feature that makes a platform feel more premium and more thoughtful? Absolutely.
Honorary Mention: Continuity Camera
Apple letting an iPhone become a Mac webcam is one of those features that sounds like a gimmick right until you realize how useful it is. Continuity Camera lets a Mac use the iPhone’s vastly better camera system wirelessly or over USB, and Apple also supports some nifty tricks like Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and even Desk View.
Apple
You can also use the same Continuity feature to scan documents or snap photos straight into Mac apps like Notes, Finder, and others. Windows has caught up with native smartphone camera support with Phone Link, but it isn’t as feature-packed as Apple’s solution.
My problem with macOS is that it keeps getting the little things right
So my jealousy just comes down to Apple constantly solving everyday annoyances before Microsoft does, and once those solutions exist, it becomes harder to go back. Sharing Wi-Fi passwords, copying across devices, and unlocking your computer with a watch aren’t enough individually to make me abandon Windows overnight. But together, they create a kind of convenience stack that feels annoyingly mature.
The original Stranger Things series ended on December 31, 2025, after five seasons and nearly a decade of terrifying adventures in Hawkins. But Netflix was never going to let one of its biggest franchises simply fade into the Upside Down.
Less than four months after the finale, the universe is expanding again with an animated spinoff called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. The whole core gang is back, there’s a bold new character joining the mix, and a new monster lurking under the snow. So, here’s everything you need to know before the animated Stranger Things show arrives.
What is Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 about?
The series picks up in the winter of 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana. After the chaos of Season 2, things are supposed to be relatively calm for Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max. The gate to the Upside Down has been closed. The kids have settled back into the rhythms of normal teenage life, playing Dungeons and Dragons, having snowball fights, and enjoying some hard-earned quiet. But quiet, in Hawkins, never lasts.
Beneath the ice and snow blanketing the town, something terrifying has awakened. The official blurb asks three questions that the show promises to answer: Could it be from the Upside Down? From the depths of Hawkins Lab? Or from somewhere else entirely? The gang must race to solve the mystery and save Hawkins once again, this time in a world rendered in a vivid animated style designed to capture the spirit of the 80s while still carrying real stakes.
When does Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 take place?
If you are wondering where this fits in the timeline, here’s what you need to know. Tales from ’85 is not a sequel, and it does not continue from the Season 5 finale. Instead, it fills in a gap that the main series always skipped over.
Tales from ’85 is set in the winter months between Season 2 (Dec 1984) and Season 3 (June 1985), when Eleven had just closed the gate, Will had returned from the Upside Down, and the couples formed at the Snow Ball were still new.
Who voices the characters in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85?
Netflix
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the show is its cast. None of the original live-action actors is returning to voice their characters, and the animated series has assembled an entirely new lineup of voice talent to take over the iconic roles.
Here is the full voice cast of Tales from ’85:
Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler
Benjamin Plessala as Will Byers
Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson
Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas Sinclair
Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield
Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington
Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy Wheeler
Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler
Jack Griffo as Jeff
Valeria Rodriguez as Rosario
Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer
Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter
Robert Englund (Victor Creel in Season 4) as Cosmo
Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter
Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler
Benjamin Plessala as Will Byers
Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson
Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas Sinclair
Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield
Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington
Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy Wheeler
Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler
Jack Griffo as Jeff
Valeria Rodriguez as Rosario
Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer
Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter
Robert Englund (Victor Creel in Season 4) as Cosmo
Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter
Who is Nikki Baxter in the new Stranger Things show?
Netflix
Nikki Baxter is the most significant new addition to the Stranger Things universe in Tales from ’85. She is described as a punk rock outsider and transfer student who arrives in Hawkins with zero interest in making friends.
She sports a bold pink mohawk and a rebellious edge that immediately sets her apart from the existing group. Early visuals depict her wielding a sword-like weapon, suggesting she will take on a frontline combat role against the season’s new threat.
Nikki Baxter is voiced by Odessa A’zion, currently one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young actors following her Oscar-nominated performance in Marty Supreme and a lead role in HBO’s I Love LA.
Netflix
The most important role in the story, however, is her relationship with Will Byers. Following Season 2’s Snow Ball dance, Mike and Eleven are now a couple, as are Lucas and Max. Will is left feeling like an outsider within his own friend group, a dynamic that echoes the broader arc of his character across the original series.
Nikki gives Will someone he can genuinely open up to, someone who understands what it feels like to be different and on the outside looking in. Her character is designed as an entry point for new audiences, a character arriving in Hawkins with fresh eyes so that viewers unfamiliar with the original series can discover the world alongside her.
What is the Snowshark in the Stranger Things spinoff?
Netflix
The primary monster in Tales from ’85 is a new creature called the Snowshark. Unlike previous Stranger Things villains such as the Mind Flayer, Vecna, or the Demogorgon, the Snowshark is described as something that lurks specifically beneath Hawkins’ snow-covered streets.
Showrunner Eric Robles says Snowshark is inspired by Jaws, drawing on the idea of something sinister hiding just out of sight beneath a surface you cannot see through. He described the concept as Hawkins Lab science meeting Upside Down matter, suggesting the creature may have origins connected to both.
Netflix
The series also features other new creatures, including pumpkin-headed demogorgons and vine-like monsters, giving the show a mix of adversaries rather than a single villain-of-the-season structure.
Is Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 canon?
This is probably the question fans have been debating the most since the show was announced, and the answer is a slightly complicated one — yes, but with an asterisk.
is-stranger-things-tales-of-85-canon
The canon debate exists because of a gap in the Stranger Things timeline. At the end of Season 2, Eleven closes the gate to the Upside Down. Things are then relatively quiet in Hawkins until the Mind Flayer makes its move in the summer of Season 3. So how can the gang be fighting new supernatural creatures during the winter months in between, where do these monsters come from, and why does nobody ever mention any of it in Seasons 3, 4, or 5?
Eric Robles addressed this in an interview with IGN. On the first question, his answer is that the show found a creative solution for how new creatures can exist during this supposedly quiet period, one he is not willing to spoil. Once the team figured out how to make that work, he says it opened up what he calls a mini-universe of adventures within that frozen stretch of time.
Netflix
On the second question, his answer is more straightforward. By the time Season 3 rolls around, the kids have bigger problems than pumpkin creatures. By Season 4, they are worrying about Vecna. Characters in Stranger Things do not tend to go back and reminisce about everything that happened in previous seasons, and the animated show is no different.
The most telling thing Robles said on the subject, though, is this: you can easily remove this whole series from the timeline, and it never existed. Or, as he put it, you can choose to hang out with your best friends and go on new adventures.
The final verdict: it’s soft canon
Based on everything the creative team has shared, the Stranger Things: Tales of ‘85 sits somewhere between fully canon and a fun side story. Matt and Ross Duffer are involved as executive producers, and the writing team worked carefully to ensure the characters land exactly where Season 3 needs them to be. You do not have to watch it to understand the core Stranger Things story. But if you want more time in Hawkins with these characters, there is plenty to enjoy here.
When does Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 come out?
If you want to get ahead of the Netflix release, there is also a limited theatrical option. The first two episodes will screen in select AMC theaters across the US on April 18, five days before the TV series hits the platform.
How many episodes does Tales from ’85 have and what’s the runtime?
The first season has 10 episodes, with runtimes ranging from 24 to 28 minutes each. Here is the full breakdown based on figures reported by Cryptic HD Quality on X:
Episode 1: 27 minutes
Episode 2: 28 minutes (the longest of the season)
Episode 3: 24 minutes
Episode 4: 25 minutes
Episode 5: 25 minutes
Episode 6: 26 minutes
Episode 7: 25 minutes
Episode 8: 25 minutes
Episode 9: 24 minutes
Episode 10: 27 minutes
Episode 1: 27 minutes
Episode 2: 28 minutes (the longest of the season)
Episode 3: 24 minutes
Episode 4: 25 minutes
Episode 5: 25 minutes
Episode 6: 26 minutes
Episode 7: 25 minutes
Episode 8: 25 minutes
Episode 9: 24 minutes
Episode 10: 27 minutes
In total, the season adds up to roughly four and a half to five hours of content, making it an easy watch across a single day if you choose to.
Netflix
The series also arrives at a meaningful moment for the franchise. Tales from ’85 premieres just as Stranger Things approaches its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2026, making it both a continuation of the universe and a celebration of how far the story has come since its debut in 2016.
Apple is leading the pack in one laptop category, but it’s not an award anyone would want to flaunt. The MacBooks have taken the throne as the worst in laptop repairability.
The latest Failing the Fix report from the U.S PIRG Education Fund ranked these notebooks at the bottom. In the 2026 edition of the annual report, the group measured both major smartphones and laptop brands on how repairable their products were.
What do the rankings reveal?
Apple
The report used European repair data and additional adjustments tied to Right to Repair lobbying and support. In the laptop section, the PIRG ranks ASUS with a B+ rating, followed by Acer with a B. HP, Dell, Samsung, and Microsoft were all tied at B-, while Lenovo got a C. Then there’s Apple, which finished last with a C-.
Why is Apple at the bottom of the list?
PIRG is pretty direct about the result. In the official summary, it says Apple is “finally” last among laptop brands covered in the scorecard, with no grade change from 2025 to 2026. The group further adds that laptop repairability as a whole looks fairly stagnant this year, with only slight movement across the major brands.
PIRG uses laptop grades based on France’s repairability index for laptops. The scoring looks at factors such as how hard a device is to disassemble, the availability of spare parts, and repair documentation, tool and fastener requirements, and software support. There’s extra weight given to disassembly because that is the part of repair that most likely reflects the real-world difficulties consumers would face.
While the report found that Apple made some real progress on parts pairing in the smartphone space, MacBooks don’t get a similar treatment, and finish in last place in laptops this year.
“The Scuba V3 punches above its weight-class with both outstanding performance and value”
Lightweight
Cleans well
Intuitive app
Lightweight
Cleans well
Intuitive app
Will not clean the water surface
Mediocre battery life
Will not clean the water surface
Mediocre battery life
Instant Insight
I have always maintained that owning a pool is like owning a boat – you will spend 90% of your time maintaining and cleaning it and 10% of your time enjoying it, especially if you live in Oregon as I do. Over the years, we have seen robot cleaners evolve from erratic, cord-tangled wall-bumpers to reliable vacuums, and technology keeps getting better, especially in the age of AI. Priced at $1,199 MSRP (with a street price currently around $970 USD), the Aiper Scuba V3 is not trying to be the cheapest impulse buy at the pool store, but instead, positions itself as a premium AI-driven assistant that brings sophisticated navigation of high-end robot vacuums to the bottom of your backyard oasis.
New for 2026, the Aiper Scuba V3 robotic pool cleaner has new AI features and more value, although it sacrifices some tech to offer such a good value. The Scuba V3 is currently priced between the top-of-the-line Scuba X1 Pro Max ($1699) and the Scuba X1 ($899.99), offering newer AI-focused features for just $70 more. The Scuba V3 is equipped with AI Vision and dToF(Direct Time of Flight) sensors, which give this pool cleaner more of an organized purpose than recklessly bouncing around the pool.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
During my tests, the Scuba V3 proved to be a reliable, hardy worker with long battery life. If you already have a pool cleaner that is a few years old and working great, it’s not worth spending money on the Scuba V3, but if you are in the market, then I would recommend jumping into the pool cleaner ecosystem. Paired with the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 skimmer, both of these devices should do the job in keeping your pool spotlessly clean.
Aiper V3 Specifications:
Here is how the Aiper Scuba V3 measures up :
Specification
Details
Dimensions (L x W x H)
17.48 x 14.96 x 8.58 inches
Weight (Dry)
18.1 pounds
Suction Power
4,800 Gallons Per Hour (GPH)
Filtration Level
3-micron MicroMesh™ Multi-layer Filtration
Debris Basket Capacity
3.5 Liters
Battery Energy Content
149.76 Watt Hours (Lithium-ion)
Run Time
Up to 150 minutes per charge
Charging Time
5 Hours via Wireless Charging Dock
Navigation Technology
AI Patrol, dToF, VisionPath™ Adaptive Planning
Drive System
Tank treads with dual scrubbing brushes
Cleaning Zones
Floor, Walls, Waterline (JetAssist™)
Design and Weight: Like a paper tank
Like most pool cleaners on the market, the Scuba V3 uses a tank tread design to move the unit around. And like the rest of the products in the Aiper robot pool cleaner line-up, the casing is made up of a piano black finish that looks high-quality. Rather than the gold or carbon fiber surround found on the more expensive Aiper units, the V3 has some light blue trim, which would indicate more of a value virtue signal. Dimension-wise, the Scuba V3 is considerably smaller than the Scuba X1 or Scuba X1 Pro Max, which are not only taller, longer, and wider, but also considerably heavier.
I put some charts below that show the weight of the Scuba V3 compared to others in its price range – it comes in on the lighter side in the comparison (when not wet), which is nice for those who really have trouble pulling these cleaners out of their pool. Aiper sells a caddie to help you transport their pool cleaners to and from the pool, but would surmise that most people can skip the caddie, as the V3 is pretty light.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
I found that the tank treads did a great job moving the V3 around my pool, and they stuck to the side of the pool without issue, despite a suction lower than that of higher-end models. Underneath, you have four scrubbing brushes – two in the front and two in the back – that do a good job agitating algae, mineral deposits, and debris before the suction kicks in. The debris is funneled into a newly designed 3.5-liter collection basket wrapped in a Micromesh filter.
The overall build quality feels premium; the plastics are thick, the moving parts feel solid, and there are no flimsy latches that feel destined to snap off after a single summer in the sun. I noted in my Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra review that they put extra screws and parts in the box, which is a clear sign to me that something is going to wear out.
The Aiper Scuba V3 is a thoughtful and rugged piece of engineering.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
When you are dealing with robotic pool cleaners, dry weight directly correlates to user experience, specifically, how miserable it is to pull the machine out of the water once it has finished its cleaning cycle. Here is how the competitive landscape breaks down:
The Featherweights (Under 20 lbs): The Aiper Scuba V3 (18.1 lbs) and the Dolphin Liberty 400 (17.9 lbs) are the clear winners here. Aiper managed to pack the V3 with a complex AI vision system and heavy-duty tank treads without inflating its mass. It is incredibly easy to retrieve one-handed using the included hook. We also included the corded Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus (20.8 lbs) as a baseline to show that premium cordless tech doesn’t necessarily mean a heavier machine.
The Featherweights (Under 20 lbs): The Aiper Scuba V3 (18.1 lbs) and the Dolphin Liberty 400 (17.9 lbs) are the clear winners here. Aiper managed to pack the V3 with a complex AI vision system and heavy-duty tank treads without inflating its mass. It is incredibly easy to retrieve one-handed using the included hook. We also included the corded Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus (20.8 lbs) as a baseline to show that premium cordless tech doesn’t necessarily mean a heavier machine.
The Middleweights (23 to 25 lbs): The highly anticipated Beatbot Sora 70 (23.0 lbs) sits right in the middle of the pack. While it is about five pounds heavier than the Scuba V3, that extra weight is justified by its internal buoyancy chambers, which allow it to float up and clean the surface of the water (a feature the V3 lacks). The older Aiper Scuba S1 Pro (25.0 lbs) and Beatbot Aquasense Pro (24.3 lbs) also live in this tier, representing the maximum weight most users can comfortably lift without straining their backs.
The Middleweights (23 to 25 lbs): The highly anticipated Beatbot Sora 70 (23.0 lbs) sits right in the middle of the pack. While it is about five pounds heavier than the Scuba V3, that extra weight is justified by its internal buoyancy chambers, which allow it to float up and clean the surface of the water (a feature the V3 lacks). The older Aiper Scuba S1 Pro (25.0 lbs) and Beatbot Aquasense Pro (24.3 lbs) also live in this tier, representing the maximum weight most users can comfortably lift without straining their backs.
The Heavyweight (30+ lbs): Aiper’s flagship model, the Scuba X1 Pro Max (33.1 lbs), is an absolute behemoth. While it offers a staggering 5-hour battery life and 8,500 GPH of suction, pulling 33 pounds of dead weight (plus trapped water) out of the deep end is a genuine physical workout.
The Heavyweight (30+ lbs): Aiper’s flagship model, the Scuba X1 Pro Max (33.1 lbs), is an absolute behemoth. While it offers a staggering 5-hour battery life and 8,500 GPH of suction, pulling 33 pounds of dead weight (plus trapped water) out of the deep end is a genuine physical workout.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
Ultimately, the Scuba V3 strikes a near-perfect balance, offering premium AI navigation in a chassis light enough that anyone in the family can confidently deploy and retrieve it.
Navigation: The most important part of any robot cleaner
I get asked a lot about what makes these pool cleaners so much better than the other, and the answer is simple: Does it clean the pool to your satisfaction, and is it low maintenance? Sounds simple, but as you know, it’s not that easy. Pools come in a lot of shapes and depths, so to get a pool clean, you need a good brain to tell the cleaner how to navigate (and you need long battery life, too).
Powered by what Aiper calls its “Cognitive AI Navium Mode” and “VisionPath Adaptive Path Planning,” this robot uses an integrated underwater camera combined with dToF (Direct Time of Flight) optical sensors. Think of dToF as a form of laser radar; it sends out light pulses and measures how long they take to bounce back, creating a highly accurate 3D map of your pool’s interior. When you drop the Scuba V3 into the water, it doesn’t just wander. It assesses the shape of the pool, detects obstacles with its optical sensors, and plans a precise, overlapping, lawnmower-style route.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
But the really cool trick is the “AI Patrol” mode. I actively tested this by tossing a handful of fine potting soil and a few sunken leaves into the deep end. The Scuba V3’s camera has a 2-meter detection range and is trained to recognize over 20 different types of debris. As it cruised nearby, I literally watched the robot alter its path, turn directly toward the dirt pile, and suck it up before resuming its standard grid.
It was like watching a predator spot its prey.
There is a very visible difference in how the Scuba V3 seems to navigate compared to the Scuba X1, for example. The V3 looks very “aware” almost like a living being; it’s creepy at first. Furthermore, Aiper equipped the front of the unit with dual LED headlights. This allows the AI vision system to function perfectly during night cleanings, illuminating the murky depths so it never loses its way. And for the privacy-conscious, Aiper guarantees zero image storage and zero image upload – what happens in your pool, stays in your pool.
Performance: Suck it up, kid
In all my robot pool cleaner testing, I am still wondering what the point of diminishing returns is when it comes to gallons per hour (GPH) of suction. Spend more on a pool cleaner and get a higher suction rate, but what is the minimum you need for good performance in the category? I have yet to find that out. The Scuba V3 measures in at 4800 GPH, which isn’t nearly at the top of its class, but not weak either. The higher-end and slightly more expensive Scuba X1 comes in at 6600 GPH, which feels like A LOT more compared to the V3, but in my tests, the Scuba V3 did just fine.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
During my two-week testing period, my pool was subjected to a barrage of spring pollen, wind-blown sand, and the inevitable barrage of leaves. The V3 offers multiple cleaning modes, but “Auto” (which hits the floor, walls, and waterline) and “AI Patrol” were my easy-option choices. Let’s talk about the filtration first. The basket utilizes a 3-micron MicroMesh filter. For context, a single strand of human hair is about 70 microns thick.
This mesh is so fine that it doesn’t just trap leaves and twigs; it captures that incredibly annoying, cloudy silt and fine sand that usually blows right through the exhaust of cheaper robotic vacuums. You can pull the micro-mesh filter out and use the standard filter if you want. I’m located here in Western Oregon, where I do not need to deal with sand or fine debris, as you might get in Arizona or Nevada, so I typically stick with the standard filter.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
Wall climbing is where the Scuba V3 truly shows off. It scales the vertical walls of my pool effortlessly. But the standout feature is the JetAssist™ horizontal waterline cleaning. Many robots will climb a wall, poke their nose out of the water, and fall back down. The V3 climbs up to the waterline and then uses a directed jet of water to push itself horizontally along the pool tile, vigorously scrubbing the scum line with its dual brushes.
It looks like it is defying gravity.
It did a solid job of cleaning the waterline, cleaning about 1 inch higher up on the side; it literally hit the brick surround that hangs over the pool. One area that the V3 needs help with (and most pool cleaners do) would be the stairs. The Scuba V3 would make it up the first step no problem, then struggle with the second on occasion. I still had to manually clean the stairs every couple of weeks to finish the job thoroughly, though.
It is important to understand where the Scuba V3 sits in terms of raw power. Here is a quick visual breakdown of how it compares to its direct competitors:
Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max: 8,500 GPH
Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max: 8,500 GPH
Aiper Scuba S1 Pro: 6,000 GPH
Aiper Scuba S1 Pro: 6,000 GPH
Beatbot Aquasense Pro: 5,500 GPH
Beatbot Aquasense Pro: 5,500 GPH
Aiper Scuba V3: 4,800 GPH
Aiper Scuba V3: 4,800 GPH
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: 4,500 GPH
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: 4,500 GPH
The Aiper App and connectivity: Now with a weather forecast
I’ve always liked the Aiper app and find it to be easy to operate their products. It’s also easy to set up a new Aiper device with the app. Like their previous products, you need to install the app, turn the Scuba V3 into Bluetooth mode, connect the device to the app, and then set up Wi-Fi. 9/10 on the ease of use scale.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
I find the interface to be clean and functional. It’s easy to find instructions and support for your product through the app in the event that you throw out the setup guide. Aiper calls their app AI Navium because it’s an “advanced, cognitive AI mode designed for intelligent pool and yard management”. The key selling points by Aiper include:
Cognitive Cleaning plans: It will generate weekly cleaning plans based on AI analysis
Cognitive Cleaning plans: It will generate weekly cleaning plans based on AI analysis
Weather/History Sync: Analyzes local weather and past cleaning logs to determine optimal cleaning times
Weather/History Sync: Analyzes local weather and past cleaning logs to determine optimal cleaning times
Vision Path Integration: Combines AI vision and dToF (direct time of flight) sensors for precise navigation
Vision Path Integration: Combines AI vision and dToF (direct time of flight) sensors for precise navigation
Smart Yard management: You can store different yards and products so that the system can schedule devices based on yards.
Smart Yard management: You can store different yards and products so that the system can schedule devices based on yards.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
AI Navium is an attempt by Aiper to get you to buy into their entire ecosystem of products so they can fully automate your yard. From sprinkler systems to pool cleaners and pool skimmers. I can’t really give you a detailed review of the AI Navium ecosystem based on a couple of products.
I love the idea of scheduling based on the weather, but it feels more gimmicky than anything. For me, it’s as simple as dumping the cleaner into the pool and coming back a few hours later and expecting the pool to be clean. How the cleaner does that isn’t really important to me.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
I want to point out, like I do for all of my pool cleaner reviews, that once the cleaner is submerged, you will lose a Wi-Fi connection to it. WiFi signals will not travel through water unless you have a special Wi-Fi communication device like the Aiper HydroComm, which will set you back $300-$400.
The Aiper HydroComm product not only extends Wi-Fi to your submerged cleaner, but also gives you pool chemical readings so you know if you need to add more chemicals to your pool. You decide if you need something like that. For me, personally, I am not changing the cleaning settings mid-cycle, so I am perfectly fine without a Wi-Fi connection while it’s underwater.
Skimming off the top
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The Aiper Scuba V3 does have one feature missing that might be important to a lot of people – the ability to skim the top of the water to get floating debris. Here is why I don’t think this is that important: I would prefer to have a dedicated skimmer like the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 than to have it built into the pool cleaner itself. Once my pool bottom and walls are clean, I will pull the cleaner out, but I like to keep the EcoSurfer S2 running all day and sometimes all night.
Since it’s powered by solar, the battery literally never runs out, so you have a product that will likely suck up the debris before it hits the bottom of the pool. It’s like preventative maintenance, and I think the Aiper Ecosurfer S2 is the best skimmer on the market. Aiper sells both the Scuba V3 and the Ecosurfer S2 together in a package that saves you around a hundred bucks; that’s what I would personally recommend.
If you want a pool cleaner that also skims on the top, there are plenty to choose from, but I highly recommend you get one with long battery life so it has plenty of time to clean the surface. Larger pools might give your pool cleaner an impossible challenge in this department if you do not size up the cleaner’s battery with your pool. You can read my Aiper Surfer S2 review if you want to know more about it.
Battery life
Battery life is what will really matter to you, especially if you have a larger pool. In my real-world testing, a full charge reliably delivered around 140 to 150 minutes of continuous cleaning. For my standard 15,000-gallon pool, this was more than enough time for the V3 to meticulously scrub the entire floor, climb every wall, and trace the entire waterline. Once the V3 was finished with the floor and walls, I had about 30 minutes of batter life leftover, not enough for another cleaning before it needed a recharge, but enough time leftover for me to run some errands and know that it’s still floating at the surface waiting for retrieval (the Scuba V3 will find an edge of the pool and float there thanks to its fans, waiting for you to pick it up out of the pool).
Aiper packs a wireless charging dock with the Scuba V3, which lets you just set the robot on the dock without plugging anything into it. Typically, only more expensive robot cleaners come with a dock like this. The Beatbot Sora 70, for example, doesn’t come with a wireless dock and has a price tag of over $300 more. Using the charging dock, fully charging the Aiper Scuba V3 took a few hours to get to a full charge – pretty standard.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
The chart at the top of this response illustrates how the Aiper Scuba V3’s battery life stacks up against leading cordless robotic pool cleaners in the $900 to $1,900 price bracket.
As the data shows, the Aiper Scuba V3 ($949) sits squarely in the middle of the pack with its 150-minute run time. Here is a breakdown of what that means for your purchasing decision:
The Direct Competitors: The Scuba V3 goes toe-to-toe with the Polaris Freedom, which typically retails for around $1,300 and offers an identical 150-minute battery life. However, the V3 heavily outperforms the similarly priced Dolphin Liberty 400 (~$1,200), which taps out after just 90 minutes of cleaning.
The Direct Competitors: The Scuba V3 goes toe-to-toe with the Polaris Freedom, which typically retails for around $1,300 and offers an identical 150-minute battery life. However, the V3 heavily outperforms the similarly priced Dolphin Liberty 400 (~$1,200), which taps out after just 90 minutes of cleaning.
The Budget Alternative: Interestingly, Aiper’s own older model, the Scuba S1 Pro ($549), actually delivers 30 more minutes of runtime (180 minutes total) for less money. While you sacrifice the V3’s advanced AI Vision navigation and wireless charging dock by dropping down to the S1 Pro, it remains a fantastic option if sheer battery longevity on a budget is your top priority.
The Budget Alternative: Interestingly, Aiper’s own older model, the Scuba S1 Pro ($549), actually delivers 30 more minutes of runtime (180 minutes total) for less money. While you sacrifice the V3’s advanced AI Vision navigation and wireless charging dock by dropping down to the S1 Pro, it remains a fantastic option if sheer battery longevity on a budget is your top priority.
The Premium Upgrades: If you have an exceptionally large pool that demands marathon cleaning sessions, you will have to pay for it. The Beatbot Aquasense Pro ($1,861 and one of my favorites) pushes past the 3-hour mark with 205 minutes of bottom-cleaning endurance, while Aiper’s flagship Scuba X1 Pro Max ($1,830 and another favorite of mine) dwarfs the competition with an astonishing 300 minutes (5 hours) of battery life on a single charge.
The Premium Upgrades: If you have an exceptionally large pool that demands marathon cleaning sessions, you will have to pay for it. The Beatbot Aquasense Pro ($1,861 and one of my favorites) pushes past the 3-hour mark with 205 minutes of bottom-cleaning endurance, while Aiper’s flagship Scuba X1 Pro Max ($1,830 and another favorite of mine) dwarfs the competition with an astonishing 300 minutes (5 hours) of battery life on a single charge.
Ultimately, while the Scuba V3 doesn’t claim the crown for the longest-lasting battery on the market, 150 minutes is more than sufficient for the average 15,000-to-20,000-gallon residential pool.
Durability and Warranty
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
When you drop $1,199 on a piece of technology that lives underwater, you want absolute confidence that it isn’t going to short out or fall apart after a few months. The Aiper Scuba V3 feels incredibly robust. The outer shell is made of a high-impact, UV-resistant plastic that showed absolutely no signs of fading or chalking despite sitting out in the sun for hours on end. The tank treads are thick rubber, showing minimal wear even after aggressively scrubbing abrasive pool plaster for two weeks.
Internally, the brushless motors are sealed tightly, and the elimination of the physical charging port via the new wireless dock removes the most common point of failure for underwater electronics (water leaking into the battery compartment).
Aiper backs the Scuba V3 with a comprehensive 2-year warranty. In the world of pool robotics, 2 years is the standard benchmark, though some higher-priced competitors (like Beatbot) stretch to 3 years. Aiper’s customer service has built a solid reputation over the last few years, offering 24/7 support and a 30-day free return window if the robot simply doesn’t gel with your pool’s specific layout. Furthermore, Aiper regularly pushes over-the-air firmware updates via the AI Navium app, ensuring the robot’s navigation algorithms continue to improve over time.
Ian Bell / Digital Trends
Full disclosure on my part: I only had the Aiper Scuba V3 for about a month, and while I had no issues with reliability, one month isn’t nearly long enough to test a pool cleaner in my opinion. So I’ll come back to the review and update it after I have the Scuba V3 for a while longer. I would recommend checking out the customer reviews on their website and any user reviews that might show up on Amazon, Google, and Reddit.
Should you buy the Aiper Scuba V3?
If you are in the market for a new pool cleaner, I would highly recommend the Scuba V3 and the Ecosurfer S2. With both products, you will have a spotless pool in no time. I think the Scuba V3 is a great value for the price; you get an effective cleaner built by a supportive company, a wireless charging doc and a very intuitive app to use.
How I Tested The Aiper Scuba V3
To evaluate the Aiper Scuba V3, I used it as my exclusive pool cleaning solution for 14 consecutive days in a 15,000-gallon, rectangle-shaped, in-ground plaster pool located in a high-wind environment prone to heavy debris. Testing involved subjecting the robot to both high-load days (deliberately dumping measured amounts of fine potting soil, sand, and larger cherry tree leaves into the deep end) and low-load days featuring standard ambient dust and bugs.
I tested the robot in all available app modes, closely monitoring the AI Patrol’s ability to recognize and divert toward specific debris clusters. Battery runtimes were measured from the moment the robot submerged to the exact moment it engaged its Smart Waterline Parking feature. Navigational efficiency was visually tracked to ensure overlapping floor coverage without repeated blind spots, and the wireless charging dock was evaluated for ease of use and consistent charging times in an uncovered outdoor environment.
ASUS has officially released its new Zenbook A14 and Zenbook A16 in the US, expanding its latest Copilot+ PC lineup with two thin-and-light laptops built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 platform.
The Zenbook A16 is the headline model in the latest A series lineup, with ASUS calling it the fastest Snapdragon-powered laptop on the market. Meanwhile, the A14 is the more portable notebook with similar specs and features to its larger sibling.
Zenbook A16: Leading in size and performance
ASUS Zenbook A16ASUS
The new Zenbook A16 is built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, with up to 80 TOPS of NNPU performance. ASUS is pitching this model as a powerful Snapdragon-powered laptop, which is paired with a 16-inch ASUS Lumina OLED display with a 3K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
You also get six speakers, up to 48GB of LPDDR5X memory, 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, an FHD IR camera, HDMI 2.1, dual USB 4 Type-C ports, USB-A, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader. ASUS is bringing back the Ceraluminum build for the premium feel on the Zenbook A16, which weighs around 2.65lb (about 1.2kg).
This model starts for $1,699.99 in the US, and will be available for purchase through Best Buy and the brand’s official store in mid-Q2 2026.
ASUS Zenbook A14ASUS
Zenbook A14: Lighter and cheaper
The Zenbook A14 is the more portable option of the two. Asus says it weighs just 2.18 pounds (about 0.98kg) and still uses the Snapdragon X2 Elite platform with an up to 80 TOPS NPU, while also promising over 33 hours of battery life and 50% charging in 30 minutes. In the US, it starts at $1,349.99 and is available now through both Best Buy and the Asus Store.
Asus is also leaning hard on its Ceraluminum branding for both machines, describing it as an in-house material that combines the feel of ceramic with the durability of aluminum. The company says that design language now stretches across the wider Zenbook family.
Motorola is gearing up to launch the successor to last year’s Razr 60 Ultra. Early CAD renders recently offered a first look at the device, suggesting that the upcoming Razr 70 Ultra won’t change much in terms of design. However, a new leak now hints that Motorola could focus on unique colors and finishes to help it stand out.
What are the new color options?
Reliable tipster OnLeaks has shared press renders (via Android Headlines) of the Razr 70 Ultra in two standout finishes: Orient Blue Alcantara and Pantone Cocoa Wood. The Orient Blue variant is expected to feature a faux leather back with a diamond stitch pattern, giving it a premium look and feel. The Cocoa option, on the other hand, could feature a wood-like texture with visible grain.
Instead of just offering the device in different shades like most smartphone makers, Motorola appears to be giving each color a distinct finish, adding a tactile element that goes beyond standard glossy or matte coatings. With the overall design expected to remain unchanged, the finishes should help the company differentiate the new model from its predecessor.
Motorola has already taken this approach with previous Razr models, offering vegan leather backs and Pantone-inspired colors. The Razr 70 Ultra seems to be taking that a step further by pairing bold colors with more noticeable textures. It’s a subtle shift, but one that could make the device feel more unique.
What else do we know about the Razr 70 Ultra?
Although Motorola hasn’t officially shared any details yet, the device is expected to pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The images also suggest that Motorola may stick with a dual-camera setup, though it’s unclear if there will be any sensor upgrades.
More details should surface in the coming weeks ahead of the official launch, which could take place later this month. Motorola unveiled the Razr 60 Ultra in April last year, so it’s likely the successor will arrive around the same time.
Almost 30 years after his cinematic debut, iconic villain Darth Maul returns to glory in his long-overdue Disney+ series, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Set a year after the Clone Wars ended, Maul – Shadow Lord follows the titular villain (Sam Witwer) as he tries to rebuild his criminal empire in the shadows of the Galactic Empire. At the same time, he pursues the fugitive Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) in the hopes of making her his new apprentice.
Only two episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord have debuted on streaming at this time. Nevertheless, the showhas already established itself as a strong, unique addition to the Star Wars Universe. It is rated fresh by both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and Disney and Lucasfilm are already working on a second season.
Not only does the series expand Maul’s story, but it also brings fresh faces to the franchise that help tell a relevant and engaging crime story. Mixing the social and political intrigue of Andor with the animation, whimsy, and mysticism of The Clone Wars, Maul – Shadow Lord is a must-see Disney+ series for Star Wars fans, young and old.
Maul shines in Shadow Lord
Disney+ / Disney+
Since his debut in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Maul has become one of the most popular villains in the franchise. However, it was in animated shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels that his character achieved greater depth and prominence. Rising from the depths of this failure to become a vicious crime lord, Maul became a terrifying and powerful force all his own. Voice actor Sam Witwer imbues the character with greater intensity through his eerie, hypnotic performance.
Maul – Shadow Lord captures the fear his character invokes as he becomes the center of his own story. Though his syndicate, the Shadow Collective, collapsed during the rise of the Empire, Maul continues to inspire dread in the hearts of crime bosses such as Nico Deemis (John Carroll Lynch) and Looti Vario (Chris Diamantopoulos). This series is very much the Star Wars version of DC’s The Penguin, with shows depicting a villain trying to gain power in a ravaged, crime-filled world, taking on a new protégé, and waging war on multiple crime families.
Such a show also fills in the gaps in Maul’s story between his fall in the Clone Wars and his return in Star Wars: Rebels. We glimpsed at Maul’s criminal empire after the Clone Wars in Solo: A Star Wars Story, which revealed that he was the one behind the syndicate Crimson Dawn. However, after the film underperformed in theaters, the Star Wars franchise failed to expand upon it until now with Maul – Shadow Lord.
A grounded, thrilling cop drama in the Star Wars universe
Disney+ / Disney+
Maul – Shadow Lord adds variety to the Star Wars franchise by presenting a procedural crime drama set in the galaxy far, far away. Though Maul is the title character, we also follow police detective Brander Lawson (The Secret Agent’s Wagner Moura) as he investigates the villain’s crimes on the planet Janix. On top of that, Lawson has a sort of “buddy cop” dynamic with his droid partner, Two-Boots (voiced by The IT Crowd‘s Richard Ayoade).
Lawson isn’t a Force-user or an Imperial soldier. He’s just a regular guy trying to do good in a world that gets progressively bleaker. Lawson struggles even more as he tries to connect with his son, Rylee (Charlie Bushnell), only for his police work to pull him away. With a character like Lawson, the series breaks away from the Skywalkers and Palpatines to tell a hyper-local story about ordinary people trying to live and maintain order in a galaxy ruled by criminals and a corrupt government.
Maul – Shadow Lord draws heavy parallels to the cyberpunk film Blade Runneras it follows Lawson through his robot-filled police precinct and the vibrant, neon streets of Janix. The show also injects plenty of thrills into its stories as the cast engages in high-speed police chases featuring blasters and hovercrafts.
Star Wars remains a timeless story
Disney+ / Disney+
Since its inception in 1977, Star Wars has presented deep political and social commentaries through its tales of the Jedi, the Sith, the Rebellion, and the Galactic Empire. Maul – Shadow Lord continues this franchise’s tradition by exploring the modern issues and anxieties through its characters.
For example, in the series, we see Lawson is reluctant to get the Empire involved in his local investigation into Maul’s crimes, fearing they’ll put Janix on lockdown. Whether or not this was intentional, this storyline reflects the growing anxieties and conflict between state and federal law enforcement in the United States following the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Shadow Lord also explores crime and its connection to poverty. Having been branded a criminal with all the other Jedi, Devon resorts to stealing to survive on the street as she and her master, Eeko-Dio-Daki (Dennis Haysbert), hide from the Empire. Maul exploits Devon’s desperation and resentment for the Empire to persuade her to join him in getting revenge on his former Sith master, Emperor Palpatine.
In Star Wars, we’ve seen good characters like Anakin Skywalker turn to the dark side after succumbing to fear, anger, hate, and greed. Through Devon and her relationship with Maul, we see how a good person can be tempted to enter a life of crime when they’re left on the streets with little food or money. The fact that Devon was falsely accused of being a criminal by the Empire highlights how crime and poverty can be created or worsened by the governments meant to prevent them.
While Rebels fans are familiar with Maul’s ultimate fate in the franchise, Shadow Lord is a crucial, entertaining chapter in the villain’s story that demands to be seen. As we follow the dark lord in the shadows of Janix, we continue to see the world of Star Wars grow as the franchise explores new creative territories.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is now streaming on Disney+.
