Apple

AMAZON has quietly slashed the price on a top-rated portable charger.

Usually a hefty £130, the Dbasne Magnetic Power Bank has been slashed down to just £19.99.

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Dbasne Magnetic Power Bank, £129.99 £19.99

That’s an 85% saving on a portable charger that has all the features I’d look for in this kind of tech.

I’ve tested and written about countless power banks, from bulkier bricks to ultra-slim wireless chargers, and I know what stands out.

For the price, the Dbasne Magnetic Power Bank genuinely impresses.

The design is ultra-portable, slimmer than a centimetre thick, weighing only 109g, and about two-thirds the size of a phone.

Despite the compact body, it carries a 5000mAh capacity, enough to comfortably get most people through a day without scrambling for a wall socket.

The big sell here is the strong magnetic connection, engineered with a grip force that snaps securely to your iPhone.

There’s no button-pressing or fiddling around; the Dbasne charger attaches instantly and starts charging automatically.

Wireless charging gets you from zero to around 55% in just half an hour on iPhone 12 through 16 series.

While the USB-C outport is there if you prefer a wired boost, pushing you up to 70% in the same time.

It’s a fast and fuss-free option, and reliable enough for daily use or travel.

It also comes with built-in protections against overheating, overcharging, and voltage spikes, giving peace of mind.

Another clever touch is the retractable lanyard cable, which doubles as a charging cord.

It cuts out clutter and keeps the charger close at hand, whether you’re commuting, at the office, or heading out away from a wall charger.

While I’m impressed by the design and value, it’s not just me taking notice.

Shoppers themselves have given it a rare 5-out-of-5-star rating with a 97% approval rate on Amazon, which is almost unheard of for a product in this category.

One buyer raved: “Small, quick, and dependable, what a lifesaver this power bank is. It is ideal for everyday usage or travel, and a phone can be charged multiple times thanks to the battery’s strong capacity.”

Another called it an “Awesome little powerbank”

They added that it’s “Lightweight, charges with cable or wireless. Quick charge, fits in small purses, besides, it’s really cute and smooth.”

A third praised its longevity: “Reliable and powerful. The battery lasts a surprisingly long time.”

“I can use it for multiple charges without recharging the power bank itself. It’s perfect for travel, busy days out.”

This isn’t the only tech deal I’ve had my eyes on of late.

Mobiles.co.uk is currently offering three months of free Apple Music with the iPhone 16e, with plans starting at just £25 a month.

And for those eyeing the latest flagship, head to my Apple iPhone 17 pre-orders page, which has the best SIM-free and pay-monthly plans.

Dbasne Magnetic Power Bank, £129.99 £19.99

Sept. 12 (UPI) — Apple is postponing the release of the latest version of its iPhone in China over regulatory issues related to the company’s eSIM, a digital version of a traditional SIM card used in wireless phones.

China’s three large telecom companies have yet to obtain the necessary approval from the country’s government to sell devices using the eSIM technology.

Apple China’s website has a message that says “release information will be updated later,” for the new iPhone Air.

The California-based tech giant announced this week it would start selling the ultra-thin iPhone Air, as well as the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, on Sept. 19.

Global pre-orders for the devices began Friday.

The iPhone 17 uses the traditional, physical SIM card that can be removed from the device.

The iPhone Air does not contain the chip, with the eSIM built into the phone.

“It’s eSIM only, and so we were able to take the battery and extend the battery to areas that previously had the physical cell,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said Friday during an interview with CNBC.

The iPhone Air is the company’s thinnest so far, coming in at 0.22 inches.

The base model of the phones is expected to retail for $799.

APPLES are ripening and tumbling from branches across gardens and hedgerows.

Or you may find that generous neighbours or friends with apple trees are offering the fruit for free.

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Here’s how to make the most of the harvest . . . 

APPLE STORE: Apples are often stored in fruit bowls, but they will last longer in the fridge.

The fruit also emits a gas that can speed up the ripening of other produce such as oranges, giving another reason to keep them separated.

NICELY PUDD: Apple pie or crumble is the perfect autumnal dessert. Crumbles are slightly quicker to make and great with kids. Use the following recipe from Tesco. Peel and core and cut three or four cooking apples into chunks.

Pop the fruit in a saucepan with two tablespoons of caster sugar, and two tablespoons of water, cooking until the apples have softened.

If you have a glut of apples, you could prepare double or triple the mix and freeze portions for using at a later date.

Pop in a greased ovenproof dish. Then mix 110g of self-raising flour, 40g of demerara sugar, 40g of diced salted, butter and two tablespoons of rolled oats in a bowl until it’s breadcrumb texture.

Add to the apple mix before baking for around 45minutes until golden.

GO DRY: Dried apples are a great healthy snack — perfect for lunchboxes.

Slice the apples thinly and bake for a few hours on a low heat.

The longer you leave them in, the crispier they become. Then store in an air-tight container.

JUICE IT: Use apples to make a delicious juice without a juicer. Start by chopping and deseeding three or four apples.

Boil and cover with around 120ml of water until the apples are soft and mushy.

Line a colander with muslin cloth and put over a bowl before pouring in the cooled mixture.

Press down on the mixture and let the bowl collect the juice. You can then add honey or lemon juice to taste.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

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Little helper

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I WAS one of the first people in the world to have a go with the new iPhone Air.

Details about the ‘thinnest ever’ Apple mobile had leaked before this week’s launch event and I was expecting to think it was a bit pointless. But actually, it’s quite brilliant.

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I had a chance to go hands-on with the ultra-svelte smartphone at Apple Park in California this week.

Apple showed off four new mobiles including the iPhone 17, plus three upgraded Apple Watch models and a fresh pair of AirPods.

But the iPhone Air – with its shockingly skinny 5.6mm side profile – stole the show.

It’s what everyone is talking about. Just trying to get a hold of it at the Apple event felt like entering a warzone.

Once I managed to squeeze past an army of influencers and the world’s tech press, I got a good 10 minutes with the new model.

Here’s what I was worried about.

Firstly, I’m quite used to giant phones. I usually use the Pro Max models, and they fit in my pocket just fine.

Secondly, when you make a phone very thin, you usually have to make some compromises.

It often means sticking a rubbish camera on the back, or slashing battery life, or both.

Apple has managed to produce what is an extremely pocketable mobile with seemingly very few compromises.

The screen is a fairly giant 6.6 inches, making it bigger than the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.

It’s also very lightweight at 165 grams.

By comparison, my iPhone 16 Pro Max is 227 grams. The difference is night and day.

The iPhone Air felt feathery in my hand, even though it’s built from weighty (and tough) titanium.

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It’s also nice to hold because of the slim frame.

Apple has crammed most of the core components into the camera bump, leaving the rest of the phone’s body free for battery.

It’s impressive engineering and looks great.

On top of that, my early fears about camera and battery life might come to nothing at all.

Apple says you’ll get a very healthy 27 hours of video playback per charge from the iPhone Air.

I think as long as it gets you through a day comfortably, it’s perfectly fine.

Of course I won’t know for sure until I test it out, but Apple has made a promising…promise.

The camera also looks quite clever.

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I had a quick (and successful) demo in the Steve Jobs Theater, but it’s a beautiful and brightly lit room, so that doesn’t tell me much.

But on paper, the camera sounds decent enough.

You’ve got a 48-megapixel Fusion camera system that allows for multiple focal lengths, plus a telephoto-style system that delivers 2x zoom to what Apple calls “optical quality”.

And it can even capture video in 4K Dolby Vision at 60 frames per second.

The phone packs in Apple’s brand new and very powerful A19 Pro.

And at £999/$999, it’s cheaper than both of Apple’s top-end models – the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max – by £100/$100 and £200/$200 respectively.

It’s one of the most striking iPhone models we’ve seen in years, and I’m excited to test it.

Air we go…

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Sept. 9 (UPI) — Apple debuted its new iPhone 17 during its annual Apple Event on Tuesday, with four new models including the thin iPhone Air, a base model and the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models.

The phones go on sale Sept. 19, with preorders starting Friday.

The event, titled, “Awe Dropping,” showcased the latest versions of its flagship devices.

The Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3 are the company’s latest smartwatches, with Apple launching a new standard smartwatch, and other entry-level and premium wearables. Apple also unveiled new AirPod Pro 3 earbuds.

The base model phone, which has upgraded storage, still starts at $799. The iPhone 17 Pro now costs $1,099, which is a $100 price raise from the iPhone 16 Pro. But the new phone comes with 256GB of storage.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199, the same as last year’s model.

The new iPhone Air debuts at $999. It’s $100 more than the iPhone 16 Plus it replaces in the lineup.

Apple says it made changes to the iPhone 17 Pro to manage the temperature of the device. There’s a new vapor chamber to help dissipate heat and deliver thermal performance.

Apple also launched iOS 26 with a new design, Apple Intelligence capabilities and improvements to apps. The new design is called Liquid Glass, which “makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful, bringing greater focus to content while keeping iOS instantly familiar,” Apple said. It will be released Monday.

Apple Intelligence now translates text and audio with Live Translation, helping users communicate across languages in Messages, FaceTime and phone, the company said.

Apple also introduced N1, a new Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. N1 improves the overall performance and reliability of features such as Personal Hotspot and AirDrop, the company said.

The new Apple Watch 11 offers longer battery life, more durable cover glass and 5G cellular capabilities in the thinnest design yet, Apple said. The new watch can notify users of chronic high blood pressure and better sleep insights. The watch has up to 24 hours of battery life and new glass that’s more scratch-resistant.

The new watch OS 26 has Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, a wrist flick gesture and new watch faces. The Watch 11 is available for pre-order now and is available Sept. 19.

The new AirPods Pro 3 claims the world’s best in-ear active noise cancellation, removing up to two times more noise than the previous-generation AirPods Pro. The updated design helps AirPods Pro 3 fit better and offers better in-ear stability during activities. The AirPods Pro 3 can now measure heart rate and track over 50 workout types in the Fitness app on the iPhone. They also offer Live Translation. Pre-orders are available and the AirPods will come out Sept. 19.

Apple’s latest product announcements apparently didn’t excite investors. Apple shares were down about 1.5% when the event was over.

During an earnings call in July, Apple chief executive Tim Cook mentioned the company was working on a more personalized Siri, and it is expected to be released next year.

Apple TV+ has implemented an 11% price rise but there are ways to watch hit shows like Severance, Slow Horses and The Morning Show for less.

Apple TV+ has quietly increased the price of a monthly subscription, but there are several ways to get it cheaper if you know where to look. Last month, the streamer upped its subscription fee £8.99 to £9.99 for both new and existing customers.

This 11% rise may not seem like a huge increase, but it makes Apple TV+ one of the more expensive platforms compared to the basic subscription tiers of Netflix (£5.99), Disney+ (£4.99) and Prime Video (£8.99). However, each of these plans has adverts, while Apple TV+ is ad-free.

Apple told the BBC that while the new price applies immediately for new users, existing subscribers have until 30 days after their next renewal before they start paying more. It comes as Apple TV+ is gearing up for the return of hit shows including The Morning Show (September 17) and Slow Horses (September 24).

Also on its 2025 slate is Matthew McConaughey survival drama The Lost Bus (October 3) and Pluribus (November 7), a new sci-fi series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. With this in mind, we’ve pulled together several ways to get an Apple TV+ subscription for less.

Watch for free with a seven-day trial

New Apple TV+ members can watch everything on the platform without paying a penny by signing up for a seven-day free trial. This is ideal for those only wanting to watch a particular series as it allows members to binge every episode in one week, just remember to cancel the trial before it moves to a paid subscription.

However, there is a way to reduce the cost for those happy to stick with the service.

Apple TV+ Annual Plan

£119.88

£89

Apple TV+

Get Apple TV+ here

Apple TV+ members can save £30.88 by paying for a year up front.

Save £31 with an annual plan

Members who have no intention of cancelling their subscription anytime soon may want to consider an Apple TV+ annual plan. Paying for a year’s access up front has not increased so still costs the usual £89, while 12 monthly payments will now end up costing £119.88 on the new rate.

This means those who are loyal to Apple TV+ can save £30.88 if they’re happy to make the commitment.

Get 3 months free with an eligible device

Apple offers three months of Apple TV+ access to shoppers buying an eligible Apple device including iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. They don’t have to be bought from Apple, with new devices bought from retailers including Sky Mobile and Amazon usually eligible for the deal.

One of our favourite options at the moment is Sky Mobile’s iPhone 16e deal, which is down to a record low price of £18 when spreading the cost. The catch with this plan is that it only comes with 100MB of data, but larger allowances are available for those happy to pay a little more.

Sky also offers the new MacBook Air 13” M4 for £20. Other options include Amazon’s £101 discount on an iPhone 16 for £698, or £70 discount on the latest iPad Air M3 for £529.

Save 44% with Apple One

This option is ideal for customers subscribed to multiple Apple services such as Apple TV+, Apple Music and iCloud. An Apple One bundle rolls all of these into one monthly subscription offering discounts up to £28.99 per month compared to paying for each service separately – a saving of 44%.

A subscription can also be shared by up to five people on select plans, perfect for cutting costs for the whole family. Apple One comes in a choice of three plans:

• Individual (£18.95) – TV+, Music, Arcade, iCloud+ 50GB.
• Family (£24.95) – TV+, Music, Arcade, iCloud+ 200GB.
• Premier (£36.95) – TV+, Music, Arcade, iCloud+ 2TB, Fitness+ and News+.

President Trump is scheduled to dine with tech executives from Apple, Meta, Google and OpenAI on Thursday night at a White House event in the newly renovated Rose Garden.

The gathering is the latest example of how the world’s most powerful tech leaders are forging stronger ties with Trump’s second administration.

There’s one high-profile tech executive who won’t be at the gathering: Tesla and xAI Chief Executive Elon Musk, who backed Trump but then feuded with the president after temporarily leading an effort to slash government spending.

Musk posted on X that he “was invited, but unfortunately could not attend” and a representative would show up on his behalf.

The Hill first reported that roughly two dozen tech and business leaders, including Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai and OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman, are on the invite list. The gathering is scheduled to take place after First Lady Melania Trump hosts an event for the new Artificial Intelligence Education task force.

“The president looks forward to welcoming top business, political, and tech leaders for this dinner and the many dinners to come on the new, beautiful Rose Garden patio,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Hill.

Meta declined to comment. Apple and xAI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ahead of the dinner, Microsoft and OpenAI announced ways the companies are supporting the White House’s efforts to expand AI literacy. As AI disrupts industries including entertainment and healthcare, workers have expressed anxiety about whether they will lose their jobs.

OpenAI said it’s working with businesses such as Walmart and John Deere to build a platform that will help employers find workers with AI skills. The San Francisco tech company, which also has a platform where people can learn about AI, plans to offer certifications so workers can showcase how much they know about the technology. OpenAI said it aims to to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.

Microsoft outlined several ways it’s trying to help students and workers learn more AI skills through its grants, partnerships and products, including offering a year of Microsoft 365 Personal — which includes the company’s AI assistant Copilot — free for all U.S. college students if they sign up before the end of October.

“AI is the defining technology of our time, and how we empower people to use it will shape our country’s future,” said Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella, who is also expected to attend the dinner, in a video. “That’s why we are so grateful to the President, First Lady and the entire administration for making it a national priority to prepare the next generation to harness AI’s power.”

Silicon Valley tech executives had a contentious relationship with Trump during his first term, sparring with the president over issues such as immigration.

They’ve struck a more friendly tone with the president during his second term as they push for a more hands-off approach to regulation while competing to dominate the artificial intelligence race.

In July, the Trump administration released an action plan that aimed to cut “red tape” so tech companies can quickly develop and deploy AI technology as they go head-to-head with firms in China and elsewhere. Trump tapped venture capitalist David Sacks, who is also expected to attend Thursday’s dinner, to guide the White House’s policy on AI and cryptocurrency.

As tech companies charge ahead, child safety and advocacy groups have raised concerns there aren’t enough guardrails in place to protect the mental health of young people as they spill their darkest thoughts to chatbots.

Trump has also publicly criticized many tech executives before striking deals with them. After Trump called for the resignation of Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan over alleged conflicts related to his reported investments in Chinese companies, tensions cooled after they met. Intel then announced in August that the U.S. government would take a roughly 10% stake in the semiconductor company.

Trump also struck an unusual deal with Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices that allows the companies to sell certain chips to China in exchange for giving the U.S. government a 15% cut of those sales.

This raised questions among politicians and legal experts about whether that agreement is legal. Nvidia previously said it would spend up to $500 billion over the next four years on AI infrastructure.

Other tech executives have shown support for building in the United States as they face the threat of tariffs from the Trump administration. They also donated to Trump’s inaugural fund after he won the presidential election and have been showing up at high-profile events.

Apple in August pledged to spend an additional $100 billion on domestic manufacturing, bringing its total U.S. investment commitment to $600 billion after Trump criticized the company for expanding iPhone manufacturing in India.

OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank announced this year that they planned to invest a total of $500 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next four years.

Bad Sisters, a black comedy developed by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel and Brett Baer, first aired on Apple TV in August 2022 and returned for a second series in November last year

Award-winning sitcom Bad Sisters has been axed after just two series, it is reported.

The black comedy, set in Dublin, was widely praised since it first aired on Apple TV in August 2022 and returned for a second season last November. It has won two BAFTAs among other awards and fans had hoped to see more of the programme, developed by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel and Brett Baer.

But it is understood Bad Sisters won’t return to our screens despite its popularity. Fans have been left fuming after a source said the show, starring the likes of Anne-Marie Duff and Eva Birthistle, had reached “a natural conclusion”.

One viewer posted online: “Noooo, Bad Sisters on Apple TV was pretty good.” Another shared: “Damn, Bad Sisters on Apple TV is so good. Worth the watch.”

READ MORE: BBC axes Paddy McGuinness comedy as it would be ‘insensitive’ to his former wife ChristineREAD MORE: ITV’s Piglets given second series despite being ‘absolutely slammed’ by critics

The TV insider told The Sun: “Many viewers who watched the first couple of series felt like the story reached a natural conclusion anyway, but of course, they hoped there’d be more.

“With every passing month it seemed less and less likely and now the show has been shelved by Apple completely, it’s not a huge shock, but it’s still a big disappointment for fans.

“It’s a particularly sad state of affairs because it was one of the few comedies in recent years that seem to have cut through with audiences, and many will be sad to see how short lived it is.”

Horgan also has a lead role in the programme – she plays one of the five Garvey siblings at the heart of the comedy. Sarah Greene and Eve Hewson make up the quintet, who are bound together by the deaths of their parents and the promises they made to always protect one another.

But they end up at the centre of a life insurance investigation after one of the women wants rid of her vile husband, and he ends up getting bumped off with the help of her sisters. The Mirror has contacted Apple TV about the future of Bad Sisters, rated as 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The development comes after a second series of ITV sitcom Piglets was confirmed – despite criticism following its opening season last year. The Police Federation even blasted Piglets as “highly offensive” before its release in July last year, after which critic panned the programmne for being outdated and using stereotypes. Watchdog Ofcom received more than 100 complaints after the first episode alone.

But ITV are sticking with the show, which stars Sarah Parish and Mark Heap, and the green light has been given for a second series, it is understood.

Ricky Champ, who plays Daz in it, said on the Reading Between The Lines podcast: “Piglets has been commissioned for series two. It’s crazy, because we got absolutely slammed. The first series came out and it was met with absolute venom – across the board.”

The trailer for the fifth season of Slow Horses has been released by Apple TV+ and sees the return of Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb

The fifth season of Slow Horses is just around the bend, and Apple TV+ has just given us a sneak peek with the release of the trailer for the BAFTA Award-winning spy drama.

This six-episode series is based on London Rules, the subsequent novel in Mick Herron’s popular book series.

The trailer sees Sir Gary Oldman reprising his role as Jackson Lamb, the genius yet grumpy leader of the espionage team.

In this new instalment, eyebrows are raised when resident tech whizz Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) brings a stunning new girlfriend into the picture.

As a string of peculiar incidents unfold across the city, it’s up to the Slow Horses to connect the dots, reports the Express.

READ MORE: ‘Brutal’ Apple TV+ series leaves no stone unturned in ‘eye-opening’ historical dramaREAD MORE: ‘Explosive’ thriller from Slow Horses writer with A-list stars unveils first look

The trailer features Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) detailing how eleven individuals were fatally shot, an incident they suspect Ho might be involved in.

Jackson immediately doubts his new flame as it emerges that “sinister forces” are attempting to destabilise the nation.

With the clock ticking, the Slow Horses have just sixty minutes to prevent the perpetrators from executing their next violent act, potentially endangering over 5,000 lives.

To make matters worse, it seems the Slow Horses have been duped by one of their own following a suspected breach in their system.

Viewers have already rushed to the comments section to express their excitement about the captivating trailer, which features Emmy Award nominee Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, James Callis, Tom Brooke, and Academy Award nominee Jonathan Pryce.

One viewer gushed: “One of the best shows ever created,” whilst another enthused: “Oh that’s cheered me up.”

A third remarked: “I have to watch this,” and a fourth declared: “This show made me fall in love with the quality of Apple Tv. Never gonna leave Apple TV.”

The fifth series will also feature Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed making a special guest appearance.

Reviewers praised it as “undoubtedly the best spy series on television,” describing it as a “truly epic espionage thriller” that is “utterly brilliant”.

Slow Horses launches in September with the opening episode, then continues with weekly instalments until October 29.

The sixth and seventh series of the darkly comic espionage drama have already been confirmed.

Slow Horses season 5 will debut on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, September 24.

Car owners are heading to Amazon in droves to pick up a smart device for vehicles that’s dropped in price.

This handy gadget, similar to Apple Carplay, is now just £36.99, a 20% discount from its original price of £45.99.

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Aonerex Car Stereo, £36.99 (was £45.99)

This deal has been so popular that the device is the fourth best-selling car stereo on the Amazon website at the time of writing.

While we in the Sun Shopping team haven’t tested this car device ourselves, it comes with a wide range of features that are pretty impressive-looking for that low price.

It’s also gathered some rave reviews from happy drivers on Amazon.

Think of the Aonerex Wireless Auto Screen as a portable, all-in-one smart device for your car.

It’s a 7-inch HD touchscreen that’s super easy to install: you just plug it into your car’s power outlet (it works with any 12-24V socket) and use either the suction cup or the base stand it comes with.

The screen itself is really sharp and clear.

It has a built-in speaker, but for a better sound experience, you can connect it to your car’s stereo using Bluetooth, an AUX cable, or by matching the FM radio frequency.

It works seamlessly with both iPhone and Android phones, so everyone can use it.

Basically, this gadget allows you to:

• Connect wirelessly: Use wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto by connecting your phone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
• Get real-time navigation: Send smart GPS navigation software, like Google Maps, from your phone directly on the screen.
• Control with your voice: Use Siri or Android voice assistants to make calls, send messages, and control your music hands-free.
• Mirror your phone: Cast your iPhone or Android screen to the large 7-inch display to watch videos or stream sports games.
• Enjoy powerful audio: Play music through the device’s built-in speaker or connect to your car’s speakers for a richer sound.

With an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on the Amazon website, shoppers are loving this device.

One happy customer wrote: “Good, affordable and works perfectly.

“I bought this because it was affordable and I was curious to see how it would work in my car with navigation… I have to say, it performs much better than I expected.

“The screen size is just right, and installation was simple.

“I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a budget-friendly CarPlay option.”

Another buyer said: “Great CarPlay screen. Easy to fix to the dashboard and set up either wired or Bluetooth with phone.

Works really well with iPhone. Really good clear display and plays music well. Touchscreen is good and great for maps.”

And a third customer noted: “Fantastic price, great for using Maps to navigate.

“Android screen mirroring works perfectly, brilliant for Netflix or Spotify.”

Amazon has this marked as the ‘lowest price in 30 days’, so we’re not sure if it’s a temporary deal or if the price is going to stay like this for a while.

And one final note: while you might be able to cast video to the device’s screen, please drive carefully, folks. Keep those eyes on the road.

Aonerex Car Stereo, £36.99 (was £45.99)

Head to The Sun’s shopping motoring hub for more news and deals for car owners.

Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook joined President Trump and senior Cabinet members in the Oval Office to announce the company’s plan to invest $100 billion into U.S. manufacturing over the next four years. This comes on top of Apple’s previously unveiled $500 billion domestic infrastructure commitment.

Apple’s ramped-up infrastructure efforts have clear implications for Broadcom‘s (AVGO -3.65%) long-term growth trajectory. As Apple expands its U.S. footprint, Broadcom stands to benefit not only from increased demand for chips but also from its emerging role in powering next-generation networking, connectivity, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Let’s break down why Apple’s continued investment in infrastructure strengthens Broadcom’s strategic position, and how it accelerates the company’s ambitions in AI and beyond.

Broadcom has deep inroads with hyperscalers

While Apple may be one of Broadcom’s most visible partners, the company has also been quietly building deep ties with AI hyperscalers — Alphabet being a notable one.

Broadcom’s portfolio spans custom silicon, networking switches, and optical interconnects — the foundational layers that power modern data centers. These may not be headline-grabbing products, but they serve as the invisible scaffolding that enables AI models to train at scale and keeps data workloads flowing smoothly — avoiding costly compute and connectivity bottlenecks.

What makes Apple’s reliance on Broadcom so compelling is how it bridges two high-growth landscapes: consumer electronics (i.e., semiconductor components for the iPhone) and enterprise-grade AI infrastructure. Broadcom’s established relationships with hyperscalers validate its role as a provider of specialized, mission-critical technologies. Meanwhile, Apple’s endorsement amplifies that credibility — signaling to the broader AI ecosystem that Broadcom is a trusted partner.

In essence, Broadcom is solidifying its influence across the entire technology stack — from chips inside of consumer devices to the infrastructure driving next-generation AI applications inside hyperscale data centers.

Image source: Getty Images.

Broadcom is a quiet beneficiary of rising AI infrastructure investment

The explosion of AI workloads has only heightened the need for networking gear and the specialized chips that enable big tech to operate at scale. While Broadcom dominates many of these use cases, it rarely commands the same spotlight as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

The reason is straightforward: Broadcom isn’t building GPUs that capture headlines. Rather, the company designs the connective tissue that allows GPUs, CPUs, and memory chips to communicate efficiently. Without Broadcom’s technologies, generative AI advancements would remain throttled by data transfer limits and networking bottlenecks.

Is Broadcom stock a buy right now?

While Broadcom lacks the same levels of excitement that have crowned peers like Nvidia as an “AI darling,” this hasn’t translated into a bargain stock price. On the contrary, Broadcom now trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 45 — well above its three-year average and essentially at the highest point of the current AI cycle.

AVGO PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

Broadcom’s premium valuation tells a clear story: The market increasingly views the company as a structural beneficiary of ongoing AI buildouts. Although expectations remain high, Broadcom’s relationships with hyperscalers, as well as its alliance with communications leaders such as Apple help diversify the company’s ecosystem and drive home its broad depth across various applications and use cases.

Unlike Nvidia or AMD, Broadcom does not need to rely on generational product cycles to capture the attention of investors. Instead, the company’s appeal lies in its subtle, less-visible services that keep the digital economy humming along.

This quiet, indispensable nature makes Broadcom less vulnerable to hype-driven volatility while still offering meaningful upside given its exposure to myriad secular trends reshaping the technology landscape.

While the stock isn’t cheap, Broadcom represents a durable infrastructure play as the AI narrative continues to unfold. To me, Broadcom is a compelling opportunity to buy and hold over the long term.

Ted Lasso fans are going wild as one of the show’s biggest stars is taking on a brand new role that’s worlds away from the plucky football comedy

Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein is nothing like his iconic grumpy footballer Roy Kent in a heartwrenching trailer for an upcoming sci-fi drama film.

Helmed by one of the directors of Black Mirror, William Bridges, who co-wrote the film with Goldstein, All Of You is led by the star opposite Imogen Poots in a decades-spanning romance for the ages.

Set in the not-so-distant future, the AppleTV+ film follows two best friends from college who drift apart when one of them takes a test that promises to find your soulmate.

Their lives still cross over the years and they’re forced to confront their unspoken feelings.

An official synopsis for the film reads: “Best friends since college, Simon (Goldstein) and Laura (Poots) drift apart when she takes a test that finds her soulmate despite years of unspoken feelings between them.

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“Over the years, as their paths cross and diverge, neither can deny the feeling that they’ve missed out on a life together.

“Faced with the uncertainty of changing the course of their lives, are Simon and Laura willing to risk everything to experience the love that had been between them all along, or should they accept their fate?”

The trailer, released this week, has already received a rave response from fans who are eager to see the Ted Lasso favourite taking on a new role.

One fan predicted a stellar performance from the leading man: “Brett Goldstein’s ‘face acting’ is next level.

“He can perform an entire, silent dialogue with just one look. It’s so good to see him in a role like this.”

While another quipped: “It’s so weird to see Roy Kent be friendly and not growl every 5 seconds.”

For those still not quite convinced by the tear-jerking trailer, the film has already received critical acclaim after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.

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It currently stands at an impressive 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics warning fans to have tissues at the ready.

Entertainment Weekly called it a “weepie of the highest order”, adding: “It’s familiar fodder for romantic drama, but it’s of the highest caliber thanks to its sharp script and devastating central performances.

“Watching All of You is like pressing on a bruise, and ooh, baby, it hurts so good.”

Awards Buzz declared: “Goldstein and Poots are both terrific and would certainly be deserving of Golden Globe nominations.”

While Matt Neglia raved: “ALL OF YOU just emotionally soothed and wrecked my heart.

“An aching adult drama about the choices we make, the regrets we feel, and whether or not we actually have soulmates out there for us in the world.

“I adore adult romantic dramas where the conflict doesn’t feel manufactured & the characters behave like adults. I got plenty of that here with two heartfelt & endearing performances from Brett Goldstein & Imogen Poots.”

Are you ready to get your heart broken by All Of You? There’s just a few more weeks to wait before this devastating drama hits screens.

All Of You premieres Friday, 26th September on Apple TV+.

AMAZON has just slashed the price on a pair of wireless earbuds that shoppers are loving.

Right now, the Cillso H97 Wireless Earbuds are reduced from £129.99 to just £20.99, a huge 84% saving.

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Cillso H97 Wireless Earbuds, £129.99 £20.99 on Amazon

These pocket-sized earbuds are packed with features you’d normally expect from big-name brands with triple the price tag.

The sound profile is a real crowd-pleaser, powered by 14mm drivers that deliver solid bass with oomph up to 90dB.

And thanks to ENC noise-cancelling tech, background distractions fade away, leaving you with clear music and clear calls.

While ENC isn’t quite as advanced as ANC, it is designed to make calls clearer, rather than blanketly blocking out all ambient noise.

The Cillso buds are also built for everyday life, boasting an IP7 waterproof rating that shrugs off sweat, rain and gym sessions.

You get smart touch controls to skip tracks, answer calls or adjust volume with a tap, much like pricer models from Apple.

But, unlike Apple’s offering, the Cillso H97 buds feature a dual LED display that shows exactly how much battery you have left.

Speaking of battery, these little earbuds clock in at around six to eight hours of listening per charge, with the case boosting that to a massive 40 hours, plus fast USB-C charging when it’s time to top up.

Shoppers on Amazon have been won over, with an almost-perfect 4.9-star average rating and 95% of reviewers handing them a full five stars.

One thrilled buyer wrote: “Absolutely fantastic sound! I was going to splash out on AirPods, so glad I didn’t, these are THE best headphones I’ve ever had.”

Another raved: “The sound quality is excellent, clear, crisp audio with surprisingly deep bass for earbuds in this price range.

The same shopper continued, “The noise-cancelling feature works really well, blocking out background noise during calls and when listening to music.”

A third said: “The battery display counted down remaining hours and achieved a full day of playback before recharge.”

With feedback like that, it’s no wonder these are quickly becoming one of Amazon’s most popular budget audio buys.

The Cillso Wireless Earbuds are still in stock at the time of writing, but at £20.99, it’s easy to see why shoppers are snapping them up.

I’ve also spotted a few other Amazon steals this month that are well worth a look.

Another pair of noise-cancelling headphones dropped to just £22, with shoppers calling them “better than Apple”.

And for those chasing power, Amazon fans love this “incredibly fast-charging” £140 power bank, now only £26.

To see how the Cillso model stacks up against the big names, check out my tried-and-tested guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones.

Cillso H97 Wireless Earbuds, £129.99 £20.99 on Amazon

The legendary singers reunite in Apple TV’s KPOPPED

Apple TV is set to host an unexpected Spice Girls reunion in its new competition show.

KPOPPED, which lands on the streamer on Friday (August 29), follows iconic Western musicians as they reimagine their hit songs in the style of South Korean pop music.

The stars are paired up with a Korean group and sent off to rehearse for a final performance, which will be judged by a Seoul-based audience.

The synopsis reads: “This energetic music series, starring PSY and Megan Thee Stallion, features surprising collaborations and behind-the-scenes moments of connection from iconic Western artists and top K-pop idols while they create genre-blending covers of their biggest hits.”

While PSY and Megan Thee Stallion are pegged as the stars of the show, the series also features Spice Girls legends Mel B or and Emma Bunton.

The duo will compete in episode two, where they team up with Korean girl group Itzy to reimagine their hit singles ‘Wannabe’ and ‘Say You’ll Be There.’

Alongside a modern performance of these chart-toppers, viewers will also be treated to behind-the-scenes footage of Emma and Mel as they prepare for the final battle.

But the celebrity appearances don’t stop there, KPOPPED also features fellow pop icon Kylie Minogue, R&B star Patti Labelle and rapper Vanilla Ice.

Other musicians taking the stage include Kesha, Eve, J Balvin, TLC, Boy George, Jess Glynne, Ava Max, and Boyz II Men.

As for the K-Pop groups, BILLIE, Itzy, KEP1ER, JO1, Ateez, STAYC, Kiss of Life, and Blackswan are all on the line-up.

As viewers gear up for the series premiere, many have taken to social media to gush about its star-studded cast.

Taking to the trailer video’s YouTube comments, one person penned: “IT’S SOOOO INSANE to see Boys to Men, Kylie, Megan and Spice Girls, legends that have directly inspire K-pop be finally put together in a show with live K-pop performers!”

Someone else gushed: “The show hasn’t even come out yet, but I already think it deserves another season.”

A third fan said: “Never have I ever imagined Megan, Billie, Spice girls will do a show with K-pop groups! I’m happy for Blackswan they’re underrated! Best of luck Ateez, Itzy & Kep1er! This is going to be ICONIC.”

KPOPPED premieres on Friday, August 29 on Apple TV+

Aug. 26 (UPI) — Apple announced Tuesday that it will unveil the iPhone 17 at an event in September that could include notable upgrades to one of the company’s signature gadgets.

The tech giant has been tight-lipped about what to expect about the September 9 event at its Cupertino, Calif., campus. Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in a post on X to prepare for an “awe dropping” event that included a glowing image of the company’s logo.

The latest iPhone will include a “super thin” version at 5.5 millimeters thick, making it the thinnest iteration of the device to date, according to MacRumours. Other highlights of the event will include Pro versions of the iPhone, which will have an improved camera and will come in new colors, as well as better noise cancellation for AirPods.

Apple is also expected to update its Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3, reported TechCrunch.

The company previously showcased its iPhone 16 model at its annual hardware event on the same date last year. The model included artificial intelligence and the company also announced its upgraded Apple Watch would include a sleep apnea feature and its AirPod would have clinical-grade hearing aid functions.

Elon Musk on Monday ramped up his legal feud with OpenAI as his companies filed a new lawsuit against OpenAI and Apple accusing both of anticompetitive behavior in the artificial intelligence industry in a growing clash of tech titans.

Apple and OpenAI announced a partnership last year that would allow Apple customers to connect with OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, on iPhones. Musk’s social media firm X and artificial intelligence company X.AI LLC say that the deal has hindered their ability to compete and has locked up markets to maintain what they describe as Apple and OpenAI’s monopolies.

“Plaintiffs bring this suit to stop Defendants from perpetrating their anticompetitive scheme and to recover billions in damages,” according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Texas on Monday. Musk’s companies, Bastrop, Texas-based X and Palo Alto-based xAI, are seeking a permanent injunction against Apple and OpenAI and more than $1 billion in damages.

The lawsuit adds to a long-running fight between Musk and OpenAI’s Chief Executive Sam Altman. Musk was an early investor in OpenAI but later left its board and started a rival AI business, xAI. Musk has an ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman, accusing them of fraud and breach of contract over OpenAI’s efforts to change its corporate structure.

“This latest filing is consistent with Mr Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment,” OpenAI said in a statement.

Musk companies’ lawsuit claims ChatGPT has at least an 80% market share in the generative AI chatbot market, whereas xAI’s chatbot Grok has just a few percentage points in market share.

“As a result of Apple and OpenAI’s exclusive arrangement, ChatGPT is the only AI chatbot that benefits from billions of user prompts originating from hundreds of millions of iPhones,” according to xAI’s lawsuit. “This makes it hard for competitors of ChatGPT’s generative AI chatbot and super apps powered by generative AI chatbots to scale and innovate.”

xAI has asked to integrate Grok directly with Apple’s software ecosystem, iOS, but hasn’t been allowed to do so, Musk’s companies said in their lawsuit. While users can access other AI chatbots on iPhones by using a web browser or downloading an AI chatbot’s app, “those options do not provide the same level of functionality, usability, integration, or access to user prompts as ChatGPT’s first-party integration with Apple,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also accuses Apple of deprioritizing the AI chatbot apps of OpenAI’s competitors in the App Store.

Apple did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment on the lawsuit.

Earlier this month, Musk said on X that he planned to take legal action against Apple, causing a sparring match on the social media platform between him and OpenAI’s Altman.

“Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation,” Musk wrote on Aug. 11.

Altman later posted on X, “This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like.”

Apple previously told Bloomberg that it collaborates with many developers “to increase app visibility in rapidly evolving categories” and features thousands of apps in charts, algorithmic recommendations and curated lists by experts using objective criteria.

“The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias,” Apple told Bloomberg.

Apple has also faced backlash and criticism from some developers and the Department of Justice over the way it operates its App Store. Last year the DOJ sued Apple, accusing it of engaging in practices that prevented other companies from offering apps that compete with Apple’s offerings.

At the time, Apple said that if the government’s lawsuit was successful, it would hurt its ability to create the type of technology people expect from Apple “where hardware, software, and services intersect.”

“It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology,” Apple said.

Staff writer Queenie Wong and Editorial Library Director Cary Schneider contributed to this report.

A COMMON phone mistake that you think is saving battery life is actually doing the opposite.

Millions of us do it every single day – but even Apple has warned users not to bother.

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Loads of iPhone owners spend time every day quitting their apps.

They’ll swipe them closed, quitting them in order to save a bit of battery life.

But Apple says it doesn’t actually save battery life at all.

“You should only close an app if it’s unresponsive,” Apple said.

The iPhone maker continued: “Typically, there’s no reason to quit an app.

“Quitting it doesn’t save battery power, for example.”

In fact, it could even be making things worse.

After you move to a different app, the old one will be “suspended”.

“After you’ve switched to a different app, some apps will run for a short period of time before they’re set to a suspended state,” Apple explained.

“Apps that are in a suspended state aren’t actively in use, open or taking up system resources.”

They’re kept in a suspended state so that it’s quicker and more power-efficient to relaunch them.

But if you fully force-quit an app, it will need to reboot from scratch, which is slower and takes up more power.

So it’s better to just leave them in a suspended state unless there’s an actual issue with the app – like it keeps freezing or crashing.

HOW TO CHECK WHAT’S REALLY DRAINING YOUR BATTERY

So what are you supposed to do if your iPhone’s battery life isn’t as good as you’d like?

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Well you can very easily check to see which apps and features are draining the most battery.

Just go into Settings > Battery and you can look at a long list of apps order by how much charge they’re using.

If there are any high-drain apps you don’t really care about, consider deleting them.

Or try turning off Background App Refresh for that app if you don’t want it to periodically check for new info (like email notifications). Just note that this might make the app work less well.

BATTERY SWAP

Another option is to check up on the health of your iPhone’s battery.

Over time – as you charge and discharge them – phone batteries get worse. This is just the nature of lithium ion batteries.

That means the more you use your iPhone, the less charge it will hold over time.

So your iPhone will run out of battery more quickly.

IPHONE BATTERY SWAP – HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Here’s how much you’ll pay for iPhone battery replacements in the UK and the US..

iPhone 5 Series

iPhone SE Series

• iPhone SE (1st gen) – £N/A / $69
• iPhone SE (2nd gen) – £65 / $69
• iPhone SE (3rd gen) – £65 / $69

iPhone 6 Series

• iPhone 6 – £N/A / $69
• iPhone 6s – £N/A / $69
• iPhone 6s Plus – £N/A / $69

iPhone 7 Series

• iPhone 7 – £65 / $69
• iPhone 7 Plus – £65 / $69

iPhone 8 Series

• iPhone 8 – £65 / $69
• iPhone 8 Plus – £65 / $69

iPhone X Series

iPhone XR/XS Series

• iPhone XR – £85 / $89
• iPhone XS – £85 / $89
• iPhone XS Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 11 Series

• iPhone 11 – £85 / $89
• iPhone 11 Pro – £85 / $89
• iPhone 11 Pro Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 12 Series

• iPhone 12 mini – £85 / $89
• iPhone 12 – £85 / $89
• iPhone 12 Pro – £85 / $89
• iPhone 12 Pro Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 13 Series

• iPhone 13 mini – £85 / $89
• iPhone 13 – £85 / $89
• iPhone 13 Pro – £85 / $89
• iPhone 13 Pro Max – £85 / $89

iPhone 14 Series

• iPhone 14 – £95 / $99
• iPhone 14 Plus – £95 / $99
• iPhone 14 Pro – £95 / $99
• iPhone 14 Pro Max – £95 / $99

iPhone 15 Series

• iPhone 15 – £95 / $99
• iPhone 15 Plus – £95 / $99
• iPhone 15 Pro – £95 / $99
• iPhone 15 Pro Max – £95 / $99

iPhone 16 Series

• iPhone 16 – £95 / $99
• iPhone 16 Plus – £95 / $99
• iPhone 16 Pro – £109 / $119
• iPhone 16 Pro Max – £109 / $119

Picture Credit: Apple

You can get to see how degraded your iPhone’s battery has become by going into Settings > Battery > Battery Health.

Normally you’d expect to be at around 80% capacity versus new after two years – or roughly 500 “charge cycles”, which are full charges and discharges.

That means your phone only holds 80% of the charge it held when it was new.

There’s no way to fix that beyond getting a new battery.

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Apple will replace your iPhone’s battery at the Apple Store. It usually costs somewhere between £60 and £100 / $60 and $100 depending on the model, but it could be more or less than that.

This will give you like-new battery life, and costs far less than buying a new iPhone.

You might even find that your iPhone’s performance improves, as sometimes processor speed can be limited as a protection feature if your battery is severely degraded.

Apple TV+, home of series including “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” is raising its subscription price by $3 to $12.99 a month, it announced Thursday.

The move comes as many streamers have been raising their prices, as the cost of production increases and the businesses are facing more pressure by investors to increase profits.

Apple TV+ launched in 2019 at $4.99 a month, positioned as a low-cost perk for people to watch high-quality shows and movies with a free trial if they bought Apple products such as iPhones and iPads. Since then, the streamer has raised its prices, mostly recently in October 2023 from $6.99 to $9.99.

Like other tech giants, Apple has faced scrutiny from the Trump administration on its U.S. manufacturing presence. Earlier this year, when the Trump administration proposed increasing tariffs, some analysts were concerned about the adverse effect that would have on Apple’s iPhone business, which makes iPhones in China.

Since then, Apple has increased its commitment to manufacturing in the U.S., most recently pledging an additional $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing.

If Apple continues to face pressure on major businesses including the iPhone, it could cause the company to look at other aspects of its business that aren’t drawing as much revenue, analysts have said.

In March, tech and business news site the Information reported that Apple TV+ is losing significant amounts of money. Analysts have long viewed Apple TV+ as part of the company’s larger push into services to go along with its hardware.

While Apple TV+ is increasing its monthly subscription price, it is not raising its $99.99 annual price or the cost of bundling Apple TV+ with other services through Apple One, the company said in a statement.

Apple declined to say how many subscribers Apple TV+ has or the reasons behind the monthly subscription price increase. The streaming service is part of Apple’s larger services category, which brought in $27.4 billion in revenue in its fiscal third quarter, up 13% from a year earlier.

Unlike other major streaming platforms, Apple TV+ does not offer an ad-supported version of its service.

SHOPPERS who use Apple Pay or Google Pay may be at higher risk of fraud, consumer group Which? has warned.

It said the use of one-time passcodes by banks could be making people with digital wallets an easy target for scammers.

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A survey by the consumer champions found that the majority of banks are still using these security features, putting consumers at risk.

Unlike contactless cards, there is no £100 spending cap on cards added to Apple and Google Pay, so fraudsters can quickly drain victims’ accounts once they gain access to it.

Scammers normally trick people into divulging their card details by setting up a fake transaction, Which? said.

People will think they’re paying for a bargain product advertised online, or they might fall victim to a phishing message.

A common example is parcel delivery scams, where you’re asked to pay a nominal amount for re-delivery.

Scammers monitor the transaction in real time, inputting the victim’s card details into a digital wallet on their own phone.

Many banks will then ask for a one time passcode (OTP) to verify the cardholder, which the scammer then asks the victim for to complete the “transaction”.

The fraudsters are then able to drain the victim’s bank account.

Which? surveyed 15 banks and card providers about their digital wallet setup process between April and May this year, and found the majority still use OTPs sent through text message as one of the options for adding cards to a digital wallet.

Of the 14 providers that allow cards to be added to wallets (Capital One is the exception), just two banks confirmed they do not use OTPs, while a third appeared not to when Which? researchers tested the process.

Barclays, Co-op, HSBC (with its sister banks First Direct and M&S Bank), Santander and Virgin Money said they currently use SMS OTPs, though they are not the only verification option.

Starling said it still uses OTPs for setting up Apple Pay alongside other options, but it removed them from Google Pay in 2022.

TSB said it is working to set up in-app verification, but is using OTPs in the meantime.

American Express, Lloyds Banking Group and NewDay (which operates the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card) – did not outline which verification methods they use.

When Which? tested the set up processes for cards, Amex did use SMS and email OTPs, while Halifax did not and instead offered several “more robust methods” including in-app approval.

Chase and Monzo said they have never used OTPs for setting up digital wallets.

It comes after Cifas, UK Finance and the Cyber Defence Alliance previously warned about the link between OTP use and digital wallet fraud.

Providers can also limit how many wallets a card can be added to overall, or within a certain time period, but most banks do not implement these restrictions.

Virgin Money allows an individual card to be added to a maximum of five devices.

Starling with a total limit of 15 devices, while Monzo customers can only add their Monzo cards to a digital wallet twice in a 24-hour period and three times every 30 days.

However, Which? said that even with these limits in place, consumers can still fall victim to scammers as they only need to add one card to a digital wallet to start spending.

Which? Money deputy editor Sam Richardson said: “For millions of us, digital wallets are a quick, easy and secure way to make payments, but weaknesses in card providers’ security means they can also be a gift to scammers.

“Banks have known for years that using one time passcodes (OTPs) to verify account holders is leaving consumers vulnerable.

“It’s clear further investment is needed to make the digital wallet set-up process fit for the threats consumers face in 2025.

“In the meantime, we’d caution shoppers to always think twice before sharing their payment details – or OTPs – online.

“If you think you’ve been a victim of a scam, contact Action Fraud and your bank immediately.”

Apple told Which? it is not responsible for approving or rejecting the addition of a card to Apple Pay, or for approving or rejecting transactions.

It said that it takes users’ security seriously and Apple Pay has been designed in a way to protect users’ personal information. 

A Google spokesperson said: “Security is core to the Google Wallet experience and we work closely with card issuers to prevent fraud.

“For example, banks notify customers when their card has been added to a new digital wallet, and we provide signals to help issuers detect fraudulent behaviour so they can decide whether to approve added cards.” 

An American Express spokesperson said: “Privacy and security are a priority for American Express.

“We have controls designed to protect customer accounts and guard against unauthorised fraudulent activity, and if we identify activity that may be fraud, we will take protective actions.” 

Barclays said that the verification method used for adding a card to a digital wallet will depend on the user journey. It said it does not currently have plans to phase out use of OTPs.

Co-Op Bank said it monitors for fraudulent registrations through its fraud detection systems and has multiple strategies in place to detect digital wallet fraud. It does not currently have plans to phase out use of OTPs.

HSBC said it has no immediate plans to phase out OTP delivery for adding cards to digital wallets, however, it keeps its digital wallet provisioning process under review.

Lloyds said it has invested millions of pounds in multi-layered fraud defences, and continues to regularly review its authentication methods.

Nationwide said that it has multiple layers of protection in place to keep its customers safe from fraud including warning messaging, AI models and sophisticated internal analytics. It is currently exploring alternatives to OTPs.

Natwest said it regularly reviews its customer experience and authentication to ensure security, and said it is reviewing how it uses OTPs.

NewDay declined to comment.

Santander said it is looking at other forms of authentication, and other security measures, which may be less visible to a user than the mechanism used for two-factor authentication.

Starling said it currently only uses OTPs for Apple Pay, and removed this option from Android phones in 2022.

TSB told Which? that it is working closely with card and wallet providers to implement approval via the TSB Mobile App. In the interim, OTP verification is accompanied by the necessary risk verification, alongside fraud controls to keep customer details safe.

Virgin Money said its fraud team has heightened monitoring and controls around digital wallet fraud. It also said that it is looking at in-app verification as an option but has no current plans to phase out use of OTPs.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Marvel fans say this blockbuster was their best movie of 2025 and you’ll soon be able to stream it at no extra cost

Disney+ will soon be streaming one of the best comic book movies of the year at no extra charge.

The film is currently available to rent or buy at home, though you’ll still have to pay up to £13.99 on platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video and Sky Store.

Thankfully, there’s not long to wait until Disney+ users will be able to stream the film whenever they want without paying anything on top of their monthly subscription.

Comic book fans have called it one of Marvel Studios’ best blockbusters in years – and, no, it’s not the recently released The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Instead, we’re talking about Thunderbolts*, which is set to debut exclusively on Disney+ on Wednesday, 27th August.

Starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Sebastian Stan, the film follows an unlikely team of heroes and villains from across the Marvel universe who reluctantly team up to protect the Earth from a dangerous and unpredictable new threat.

READ MORE: ‘Gruesome’ Netflix horror movie based on classic novel gets release date with unexpected twistREAD MORE: House of Guinness release date, plot and cast as Peaky Blinders creator lines up new Netflix drama

Pugh returns as Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow, an elite mercenary who is struggling to find her place in the world when the enigmatic Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) entrusts her with an important but suspicious new mission.

Following a period of disappointment for the superhero franchise, both box office and critical, Marvel fans were pleasantly surprised when Thunderbolts* burst onto the big screen back in April.

One five-star Google review described the film as an “absolute gem of the superhero genre”.

“If you’re looking for a fresh, high-octane adventure with a unique twist, Thunderbolts is exactly what you’ve been waiting for,” they went on to promise.

“This story is a masterclass in reimagining the traditional superhero team-up, featuring a lineup of antiheroes, former villains, and morally ambiguous characters who are forced to work together for a common cause.”

Someone else gushed: “Thunderbolts* was an incredible surprise. This movie fixes so many of the problems that recent MCU projects have suffered from.

“It actually feels like one director was in charge of this, not a committee of executives. The humor also feels natural, not forced.

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“Which makes everything better. It doesn’t feel like this movie was reworked and reshot a thousand times. The characters are also great. Every actor is doing their absolute best and their chemistry is great.”

Another die-hard fan raved on X: “Had the time of my life with #thunderbolts! One of the best mcu projects in recent years.

“The movie does an outstanding job of exploring its themes surrounding mental health. I absolutely love [the] team and their dynamic, I cared so much about all of them. Easy 10/10.”

And a final viewer admitted: “Shocked how good THUNDERBOLTS* is. Putting emphasis on the character work and practical action makes this feel like the old Marvel that had us for a decade plus.

“Wish we’d gotten this sooner. Helps that this dysfunctional team has chemistry too.”

Will you be checking out Thunderbolts* for the first time or giving the film a much-deserved rewatch next week?

Thunderbolts* will be available to stream on Disney+ from Wednesday, 27th August.