Category: Tech

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Thanks to continuous advancements in TV technology, televisions are better and more affordable than ever. As a result, if you’re in the market for a new TV on a tight budget, you don’t have to sacrifice too much on features or picture quality. Most TV models on sale in 2025 have 4K resolution and include features such as HDR support, wide color gamut, multiple HDMI ports for seamless connectivity, and a smart TV operating system, providing easy access to apps, including popular streaming services.

Some models also include gaming features and advanced audio capabilities so that you don’t miss out on gaming or the best audio that the movie world has to offer. However, if you want the most bang for your buck, it can be tricky to choose between dozens of affordable and decent TV models. To help, we have handpicked the best affordable TVs on Amazon to buy right now.

Amazon Fire TV 4-Series (50-inch)

The 50-inch model of Amazon’s Fire TV 4-Series is one of the best cheap TVs you can buy. With a price tag of $400, which is often discounted to around $300, this Amazon TV model has several advantages. It features a 4K HDR panel, which may not compare to high-end TVs in terms of brightness or accuracy but has a good contrast ratio and a reasonable color gamut. The TV design is fairly nondescript, but that’s to be expected from a budget model. You also get four HDMI 2.0 ports, one of which doubles as an eARC port, enabling you to pass audio seamlessly to a connected soundbar or AV receiver.

As the name suggests, the Fire TV 4-Series runs on Amazon’s Fire operating system, which provides access to all popular streaming services and the Alexa voice assistant. In addition to navigating your TV, you can use Alexa to control compatible smart home devices. The Amazon Fire TV 4-Series has garnered an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 from almost 1,500 reviews. Amazon shoppers appreciate its value for money quotient, clear and vibrant visuals, and easy setup process. However, some buyers point out its poor viewing angles and excessive advertisements. 

Roku Select Series (55-inch)

Like Amazon, Roku offers its own lineup of televisions, with the 55-inch Select Series model being an excellent choice for budget-conscious shoppers. This 4K TV comes with a price tag of $350, but you can often purchase it for as low as $300 after a discount. It runs on the company’s Roku Smart TV operating system, which is known for its ease of use and intuitive design. Like other smart TV operating systems, it offers apps (or channels, as Roku prefers to call them) for all the most popular streaming services and supports live local TV broadcasts. 

One highlight of the Roku OS is the built-in support for Apple AirPlay, which enables you to cast content from your Apple device to your TV. In other features, the company has included support for both HDR10 and HDR10+ to enjoy high dynamic range content; the presence of HDR10+ is particularly notable, as it is often not found on budget TVs. There are also three HDMI 2.0 ports, including an eARC port and Wi-Fi 5 connectivity.

Amazon shoppers have given the Roku Select Series an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from around 1,200 reviews. Some of the positives mentioned by buyers include ease of use, a responsive interface, and cost-effectiveness. However, a small selection of buyers are not happy with the sound quality and the need to use a USB-C to USB-A adapter for connecting USB-A accessories with the TV.

Hisense A7NF

If you prefer the Fire TV operating system and want a budget 4K TV with a wide color gamut, the Hisense A7NF is a no-brainer. The 55-inch model of this Hisense TV will cost you only $350, or even less if you are willing to wait for a deal, which are often available. Besides a wide color gamut, it packs several features that you don’t get in most affordable TVs, such as support for variable refresh rate (VRR), a feature typically used in gaming, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos. However, VRR support is limited to 48Hz to 60Hz, as the TV doesn’t have a high refresh rate panel.

As mentioned, it runs on Amazon’s Fire TV operating system, giving you access to the Alexa voice assistant, the ability to control compatible smart home devices from your TV, and all popular streaming services. Moreover, the TV has AirPlay support, two HDMI 2.0 ports, one HDMI eARC port, and two USB-A ports for connecting external storage drives.

Thanks to its impressive features, the Hisense A7NF is well-liked among Amazon buyers, who have given it an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 from over 560 reviews. Shoppers enjoy its well-balanced feature set and aggressive pricing. However, the TV is not without its faults, as some buyers had issues with game mode, Hisense customer service, and viewing angles.

Hisense QD6QF

Want a large screen size, tons of features, and Fire TV OS? It’s hard to go wrong with the 65-inch model of the Hisense QD6QF. Part of Hisense’s quantum dot lineup, the QD6QF is a QLED TV (which differs from LCD and OLED) with 4K resolution, meaning it can deliver vibrant and lifelike visuals. Like the A7NF, it runs on Fire TV OS and supports AirPlay, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and VRR. However, it also comes with Filmmaker Mode, a special picture mode designed to eliminate the extra processing introduced by the TV, allowing the content creator’s vision to remain true.

It also comes with four HDMI ports, including an eARC port and two USB-A ports. The USB ports are limited to USB 2.0 speeds and 2.5W power, like most other televisions, which restricts the types of devices you can connect to them.

The TV is priced at $400 and has an average user rating of 4 out of 5 on Amazon from over 900 reviews. A small selection of buyers reported receiving defective units, whereas others found the Fire TV implementation on the QD6QF to be buggy and slow. Otherwise, the TV has generally positive reviews, with shoppers highlighting its good picture quality, affordable pricing, and decent built-in speakers.

TCL Q651F

The 65-inch model of the TCL Q651F is another excellent large-screen TV that’s affordable and chock-full of exciting features. It will set you back $380 and comes with features such as 4K resolution, Quantum Dot technology, and support for Dolby Vision, Atmos, HDR10+, and AirPlay 2. The TV runs on Amazon Fire OS, meaning you get the same smart TV features as most of our other recommendations, including access to a wide range of apps and games, as well as the Alexa voice assistant. Plus, you get three HDMI 2.0 ports and one USB 2.0 Type-A port (here are some good ways to use it).

One notable feature of the TCL TV is its support for VRR and 120Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution, making it a decent, cheap gaming TV. However, you’ll only get the refresh rate of 60Hz when playing games in 4K, as the TV’s native refresh rate is 60Hz, and in order to increase it, the TV has to lower the resolution. The TCL Q651F has received an average rating of 4 out of 5 from over 540 reviews on Amazon. Buyers appreciate the TV’s excellent picture quality and the easy setup process. However, some individuals have experienced issues with customer service when they received defective units.

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Abu Dhabi is accelerating its aim to become a global hub for deep technology, and at the centre of this effort is VentureOne, a government-backed venture builder turning cutting-edge research into market-ready startups.

In just 18 months, it has launched four deep-tech companies, a pace that underscores how the UAE’s coordinated approach to innovation is reshaping the journey from laboratory breakthroughs to commercial success.

That pace is no coincidence. VentureOne sits within the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), alongside Aspire, which identifies real-world challenges, and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), which develops the technology to solve them. VentureOne then takes those breakthroughs and turns them into commercial ventures.

“Our pace comes from having a fully integrated innovation ecosystem under ATRC,” says Reda Nidhakou, CEO of VentureOne.

“This pipeline minimises fragmentation and accelerates the journey from lab to market. Early internal funding gives each startup room to validate its technology and hire as needed, ensuring both speed and quality.”

The approach reflects a broader national ambition – to make the UAE not only a consumer of global technology but also a creator of it. By linking research, innovation, and commercialisation under one umbrella, Abu Dhabi has built a model designed to deliver homegrown, high-impact startups at scale.

Unlike traditional incubators, VentureOne doesn’t chase trends – it focuses on solving critical challenges. “We don’t choose sectors, we choose problems,” says Nidhakou. That has led to ventures in AI, autonomous robotics, post-quantum cyber security, and climate technology, fields that often require heavy R&D and long-term vision but deliver transformational value once commercialised.

The process starts with Aspire, which collaborates with government entities, industry leaders, and end-users to select problems worth solving. TII’s researchers then develop prototypes or proofs of concept, and VentureOne steps in to evaluate scalability, pilot with clients, and design viable business models.

“This demand-led, data-driven model replaces speculation with validation,” Nidhakou says. “It dramatically increases our chances of delivering measurable, real-world impact.”

A major differentiator in Abu Dhabi’s model is talent. VentureOne has successfully attracted researchers and engineers from global tech giants such as Google, DeepMind, Meta, and Microsoft. According to Nidhakou, this is about more than competitive salaries or quality of life: “At ATRC, people get to build something valuable from start to finish. They work on high-impact challenges and see their innovations deployed. That sense of purpose is deeply motivating.”

Supporting this ecosystem is the UAE’s agile regulatory framework and unified innovation agenda. Government-backed funding reduces early-stage risk, while clear pathways to licensing and market entry make it easier for startups to grow.

“The government wants to export deep tech,” Nidhakou says. “They create an environment where technologies can be developed, validated, and scaled rapidly.”

Of course, turning research into viable products is not without challenges. The toughest part, Nidhakou admits, is bridging the “last mile” between technical readiness and market deployment. Many prototypes fail because they aren’t designed for integration or compliance. VentureOne tackles this by embedding engineering and advisory teams alongside clients to co-develop scalable, market-ready solutions.

The results are already visible. Four startups have launched across multiple sectors, each addressing real-world problems with advanced technology and strategic market validation, and more are set to follow over the next year.

“We’re seeing great traction locally and internationally,” says Nidhakou. “VentureOne is helping position the UAE as a global hub for bold, high-impact deep-tech ventures. Our goal now is to keep the momentum and build a strong ecosystem of successful, homegrown companies.”

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Telco Orange has revealed the first landing on European soil of the Medusa undersea cable system, designed to transform infrastructure in the Mediterranean region.

Owned by African infrastructure and telecoms operator AFR-IX Telecom, the Medusa Submarine Cable System is 8,760km long, and will be the first and longest subsea cable to connect the main Mediterranean countries, providing access to telecommunications infrastructure and 16 landing points around the Mediterranean Sea.

The cable will have segments with up to 24 fibre pairs, with a capacity of 20Tbs per fibre pair. Its festoon architecture is said to offer a unique design.

Designed as an open-access system, Medusa will look to offer telecom providers across the region with access to advanced connectivity services, supporting the roll-out of 5G, the growth of cloud infrastructure, and the increasing bandwidth demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and future technologies.

Operationally, Medusa will have two main regions: Europe and North Africa. In Europe, it has local operational branches in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus. These branches hold licenses and permits. The Network Operations Centre is based in Europe. In North Africa, Medusa has agreements with local licensed operators for landing parties.

Medusa is seen as being crucial for developing the digital ecosystem of populations in North African countries, taking a significant step towards closing the digital divide between Europe and North Africa, connecting countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Egypt with high-capacity fibre-optic links to six European Union (EU) member states: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus.

The investment is expected to have a positive impact on the economy of these countries, which will lead to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It is also backed financially by the EU.

With the arrival of the 1,050km-long submarine cable segment, Orange says it is reaffirming its commitment to international connectivity and digital dynamism in the Mediterranean through the continued development of its infrastructure in Marseille.

The cable is part of the ongoing development of submarine networks connecting both sides of the Mediterranean, from Marseille to Bizerte in Tunisia, meeting growing needs for bandwidth in the region.

With the fully redundant fibre optic infrastructure, Orange says it will provide its Marseille customers with simple, secure and direct access to all of the city’s datacentres, which are now interconnected and also have direct links to major European hubs such as Paris, London and Frankfurt, as well as the rest of the world. All aspects of the cable are fully managed by Orange, including from a technical, regulatory, security and environmental point of view.

The Marseille-Bizerte segment also benefits from co-financing by the EU through the Connecting Europe Facility. Three pairs of fibre belonging to Orange are supported in the framework of the European Global Gateway strategy, aimed at strengthening connections between Europe and Africa, supporting digital transition and reducing the digital divide.

The Medusa cable provider is Alcatel Submarine Networks. Elettra, a subsidiary of Orange and the project coordinator, managed the operation. Orange Marine’s cable ship, Sophie Germain, was tasked with the cable landing operations in Marseille. 

“We are proud to bring our leadership and expertise to the Medusa cable, hosted within our secure infrastructure in Marseille, with laying operations carried out by our cable ships, Teliri and Sophie Germain,” said Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale.

“Our infrastructure offers a key link in Mediterranean basin connectivity, ensuring digital resilience and supporting socio-economic development,” he added. “With this landing, Orange enhances Europe’s digital sovereignty and positions Marseille as a global digital hub, now hosting the arrival of 17 submarine cables connected worldwide.”

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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given Google strategic market status (SMS) for search and search advertising.

The regulator said that designating Google with SMS enables it to consider proportionate, targeted interventions to ensure that general search services are open to effective competition, and that consumers and businesses relying on Google can have confidence that they are treated fairly.

Before introducing such interventions, however, the CMA must carry out further public consultation on their terms and impact.

Google products covered by the SMS designation include Google Search, irrespective of how it is accessed, and all the information it returns, including through AI Overviews and AI Mode. “This ensures that our designation reflects the changing nature of Google’s search product. It also includes Google’s organic search,” said the CMA.

But although some people are using Google’s Gemini AI engine for internet searches, the CMA has not included Gemini as part of the SMS designation.

Will Hayter, executive director for digital markets at the CMA, said: “By promoting competition in digital markets like search and search advertising, we can unlock opportunities for businesses big and small to support innovation and growth, driving investment across the UK economy.

“We have found that Google maintains a strategic position in the search and search advertising sector, with more than 90% of searches in the UK taking place on its platform.

“Having taken into account the feedback received following our proposed decision, we have today designated Google’s search services with strategic market status.”

Numerous companies submitted comments to the CMA’s investigation earlier this year, which focused on whether Google should be designated SMS.

In its submission, browser developer Vivaldi discussed the significant support Mozilla Foundation, which operates the Firefox web browser, received from Google and the status of Google Search in the Firefox browser.

Vivaldi said: “We believe that Google and Microsoft’s search functionality should be available to any browser, and the revenue share should be the same percentage, whichever company uses their search. Neither search provider should be allowed to offer better terms to be default, nor dictate other terms, such as which other organisations a browser vendor partners with for search, or other revenue-generating deals.

“To create fair competition conducive to more innovation and higher consumer benefits, the playing field needs to be levelled for big and small companies. Otherwise, Microsoft and Google will maintain dominance across different market segments by refusing to share search revenue with smaller players.”

However, a comment submitted by airline IAG noted that while Google Flight Search (GFS) plays an important role in the market, IAG said it was not concerned about Google’s strategic market status in respect of its provision of general search and search advertising services. 

The CMA will need to balance the needs of e-commerce sites and those who are calling for Google to be forced to scrap the revenue-sharing deals it has with companies like Apple.

For instance, airline easyJet noted the changes made through the European Union’s Digital Market Authority had led to a significant shift in traffic from GFS to other vertical search services, such as online travel agencies and metasearch engines. “This shift has diluted easyJet’s direct web sales, impacting our ability to offer customers the best value and service,” it said.

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In a “first-of-its-kind” test in the country, Italian operator Fastweb + Vodafone has revealed that a trial on its commercial 5G network in Rome has achieved a peak speed of 2.5 Gbps, marking a significant milestone for next-gen mobile and potentially transforming Italy’s digital landscape.

The trial was conducted in collaboration with mobile technology providers Honor, Qualcomm Technologies and Xiaomi. Fastweb + Vodafone claims it is set to revolutionise connectivity, paving the way for 5G Advanced, enabling support for advanced applications, and unlocking next-generation services based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

Six carriers were aggregated to conduct the trial: five 4G LTE bands and one 5G New Radio (NR) based entirely on 5G transmitters, along with 1024QAM modulation applied on the 5G NR component, creating a network architecture that uses advanced techniques to increase spectral efficiency. The evolution of the mobile network to 2.5 Gbps was achieved through the technology partners.

Fastweb + Vodafone is engaged in a process of enhancing its network infrastructure, with the aim of improving the quality of indoor and mobile services. Fastweb + Vodafone has already launched the configuration, targeting high-traffic radio stations in Rome and Milan, to make more efficient use of the frequency spectrum and offer its customers better quality connectivity services.

Among the innovations unveiled were two projects currently being implemented. The first involves the use of smart devices on 4G radio stations to improve the performance of wireless systems which, with the use of AI-based functionality, are able to improve coverage in offices, shopping centres and public places.

The second involves the use of AI-driven optimisation techniques for the automatic adjustment of network parameters to balance traffic in real time, and then to ensure better performance for customers, with greater sustainability thanks to more efficient energy consumption.

The operator noted that in the coming months, with the spread of new compatible smartphones, an increasing number of users will be able to benefit from the innovations supported by 2.5 Gbps throughput for applications such as augmented and virtual reality and immersive entertainment. Such throughput and greater capacity are seen by the operator as crucial features for supporting advanced applications and situations with high network loads, such as wearables, smart and connected factories, and applications aimed at expanding the use of AI agents to reduce low-level activities.

Moreover, the operator sees even networks capable of exceeding 1 Gbps as paving the way for new advanced applications for industries and businesses in a wide range of fields, from logistics to manufacturing automation, education and healthcare.

“The milestone achieved today in Rome allows us to accelerate the development of advanced 5G solutions that use artificial intelligence to constantly improve performance. In this way, we are accelerating the development of high-value services to make a concrete contribution to the digitalisation of the country,” said Max Gasparroni, chief technology and security officer at Fastweb + Vodafone.

“Offering an ever-better experience to our customers is the goal for which we continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies and innovative infrastructure, which make our mobile network the best in Italy, as recognised by several independent reports. Ours is a mobile ecosystem capable of adapting quickly to customer needs, to which we are now able to add new capacity and flexibility.”

Dino Flore, vice-president of technology at Qualcomm Europe, added: “We would like to congratulate FastWeb + Vodafone on this significant milestone and were honoured to have worked with Honor and Xiaomi on this trial. The improvements in network performance and spectral efficiency offered by 5G Advanced are significant. This is an important step on that journey and we look forward to collaborating with all of the companies involved to bring exciting new services to customers.”

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It’s easy to view PC refreshes as simply cosmetic. Businesses get new designs, faster processors and maybe a thinner chassis. But while these enhancements are certainly welcome, the real significance of a device refresh strategy runs much deeper.

By investing into modern AI-powered PCs, businesses are building a more secure, productive, and resilient future. As we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Microsoft Windows 10 reaches end of support, now is the perfect time to explore how a modern PC strategy plays an important role in securing organisations.

While the shift to hybrid work has seen employees enjoy greater flexibility, IT teams are also facing an expanded attack surface. Endpoints are no longer safely behind the corporate firewall. Instead, they connect from home networks, public Wi-Fi and everywhere in between, making them prime targets for cyber criminals. As businesses adjust and advance remote working policies, ensuring the security of all devices is paramount.

From phishing to fraudulent websites, cyber crime is more prevalent than ever, with the latest UK government cyber security breaches survey revealing 43% of businesses have experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months.

Our recent UK research with Intel found that for nearly half (46%) of IT decision-makers, news of high-profile cyber breaches is the primary motivator to refresh their PC fleet – more so than an operating system deadline itself. As threats grow more sophisticated and costly, organisations must rethink all IT decisions through a security-first lens. This is where a strategic approach to the PC lifecycle comes into play, transforming a routine refresh into a critical security update.

The hidden risks of an ageing fleet

Holding onto older devices for too long might seem like a cost-saving measure, but it often creates hidden risks. It potentially leaves millions exposed to significant cyber threats, as they will no longer receive crucial security updates, making them vulnerable to new viruses and cyber attacks.

Crucially, these outdated devices don’t have integrated neural processing units (NPUs) to run AI workloads securely and efficiently on the device itself. By processing sensitive data locally, AI PCs shrink the attack surface, improve data control in line with regulations like GDPR and build resilience against threats that target cloud-based applications.

Furthermore, Windows 11 has been designed with a security-first mindset, requiring hardware with features like a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0. This chip provides hardware-based security functions, such as creating and storing cryptographic keys, that are far more secure than software-only solutions. Attempting to run modern software on legacy hardware not only hampers performance but also leaves critical security gaps. Without the underlying hardware support, organisations can’t fully use the advanced protections that new operating systems offer, leaving them vulnerable to cyber attacks.

The rise of on-device AI and small language models

The conversation around AI is rapidly shifting from massive, cloud-exclusive models to a more decentralised approach. The rise of small language models (SLMs) trained for specific tasks makes it possible to run powerful AI directly on an endpoint. This allows organisations to deploy AI for sensitive operations like financial analysis, code development, or reviewing confidential documents without that data ever leaving the device.

This move toward on-device AI is not a distant future – it is happening now. However, it is entirely dependent on having the right hardware. AI PCs with dedicated NPUs are purpose-built to handle these SLMs, supporting a new class of secure, private and low-latency AI applications. For businesses, this means the PC refresh is no longer just about keeping up – it’s about preparing for a fundamental change in how enterprise AI will be deployed.

How modern PCs help build a secure foundation

Threat actors are persistent, but a modern AI PC provides a crucial line of defence in a zero-trust world. The security of on-device AI processing is built upon a foundation of hardware and firmware-level security features that operate below the operating system. This provides a more resilient defense against attacks that aim to compromise software protection.

In day-to-day use, features like BIOS and firmware verification ensure the device is tamper-free, while secure storage for credentials protects against identity attacks – one of the biggest challenges for organisations today. Before even reaching an employee, modern PCs from trusted vendors can include optional supply chain security measures. For example, a digital certificate created in the factory that allows organisations to verify component integrity and safeguard against tampering. This hardware-level trust is what makes on-device AI a viable and secure strategy.

A refresh strategy for a resilient future

Viewing PC refresh as part of an organisation’s security strategy helps build a more resilient and productive enterprise. It’s an opportunity to move beyond a tactical upgrade and adopt a security-first hardware strategy that works in the AI era. This approach delivers tangible benefits – it reduces the burden on IT teams, improves employee experience, and most importantly, strengthens an organisation’s overall security posture against an ever-evolving threat landscape. Our research shows that refreshing to modern devices running Windows 11 can result in up to 62% fewer security incidents, a testament to the power of an integrated, security-first hardware strategy.

Now is the time business leaders should look at their PC fleet through a new lens. In an age where AI is reshaping every industry, your employees are the first line of defence and equipping them with the right tools is imperative. An AI PC fleet is not just a collection of faster devices; it is a foundational component of a robust, future-proof security strategy.

Louise Quennell is UK senior director of the Client Solutions Group at Dell Technologies

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OpenAI and Jony Ive have ambitious plans for an all-new AI device. While this non-smartphone product looks more and more like the series of AI pals we’ve seen in the past few years, including Humane’s AI Pin and that Friend necklace, it seems Sam Altman and Ive are having issues perfecting the device.

According to the latest Financial Times report, the San Francisco-based startup still struggles with the device’s software and the infrastructure needed to power it. With that, the teams face privacy issues, the necessary budget for the computing power to run OpenAI’s models on this consumer device, and its personality.

A person familiar with the matter said that “Amazon has the compute for an Alexa, so does Google, but OpenAI is struggling to get enough compute for ChatGPT, let alone an AI device.” Still, this AI device, which is designed to sit on a desk or table, could be delayed to late 2026 or even 2027.

OpenAI’s always-on device aims to be like Siri but better

José Adorno/BGR

Another person familiar with the matter said, “The concept is that you should have a friend who’s a computer who isn’t your weird AI girlfriend… like Siri but better.” With that, the company is still struggling with the right personality for this device, as “it can’t be too sycophantic, not too direct, helpful, but doesn’t keep talking in a feedback loop.”

If OpenAI and Jony Ive are able to crack these problems, we could be just a few months before an iPhone-like revolution, as we’d have a device that works like a true companion, taking action, explaining things around us, and saving time with daily tasks.

OpenAI, which has recently been valued at $500 billion, wants to justify its new price tag with a push into hardware. While the company promised this future non-smartphone will be the first of many hardware products expected with Ive’s partnership, we still have to see what they will be able to do together.

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Windows 10 was launched in July 2015. It was supposed to be the last major operating system (OS) upgrade, but Microsoft released Windows 11 in October 2021, and now Windows 10 has reached end of life, which means it will no longer be updated.

Consumers who register for extended support and back up their PCs in the Microsoft cloud will be able to get free security updates until October 2026. Corporate PCs and devices connected to Active Directory will only receive Windows 10 security updates if they are covered by an Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription.  

In July, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warned that the security risks of not upgrading are significant. As the NCSC notes in a blog post on its website, in addition to the difficulties associated with being out of support, an out-of-date operating system is a prime target for cyber criminals.

“We saw this when a vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6-11 was exploited after Windows XP support ended on 8 April 2014, and before it was patched on 1 May 2014. And again in 2017, a vulnerability in unpatched versions of XP was exploited extensively by the WannaCry ransomware – an attack which resulted in huge costs and damage globally,” says the NCSC in the post.

Analyst Forrester’s Say goodbye to Windows 10 to reduce your cyber risk report points out that Windows 11 now has significant security features that are not available in Windows 10. These include administrator protection that Forrester says helps enable least privileged access. There is a feature called Smart App Control, which is used to validate the applications before they are run. In the report, Forrester notes that the latest version of Credential Guard extends account protection to machine account passwords, which is a new feature in Windows 11.

“Much has been made about Microsoft’s plans to better control the security of the kernel after CrowdStrike’s 2024 issue. Their goal isn’t to completely lock out vendors, but to ensure incidents like this don’t reoccur; if features and functions can be moved out of the kernel and into the user space, they should be,” write Forrester analysts Paddy Harrington, Merritt Maxim, Sophia Barrett and Christine Turley in the report.

But the improvements in Windows security also make it more difficult to move older hardware onto Windows 11. One of the difficulties holding organisations back is the hardware requirements of Windows 11, which introduced a need for PCs to have the Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0), UEFI and support for Secure Boot. “If your devices lack even one of these features, you’ll be unable to upgrade easily,” says the NCSC. 

System requirements for Windows 10 and 11

Following an analysis of its customers’ PCs, Nexthink estimates there has been a 33% decrease in Windows 10 devices between 19 May and 1 August. Assuming a further 33% reduction by 14 October – the date on which support officially ends – this leaves around 121 million Windows 10 PCs still running the operating system at the end of support deadline.

Discussing the challenge of migration, Tim Flower, DEX strategist at Nexthink, says: “Windows 11 brings powerful new capabilities, but only if devices and employees are ready to take advantage of them.”

Why Windows 10 wasn’t the last major OS update

Microsoft releases two major updates of its Windows operating system each year. Windows 10 was supposed to be the largest refresh before it moved to bi-annual updates, as Gartner research director Ranjit Atwal recalls.

“When Windows 10 came out after Windows 7, Microsoft, I’m sure, said it was going to be the last big operating system upgrade,” he says. “Effectively, Microsoft was saying there would be no Windows 11 after Windows 10, and we took that for gospel to mean that it would be the last upgrade.”

However, in a Computer Weekly YouTube video, Atwal points out that the success of the Windows operating system actually hinders progress.

“So much legacy software and peripherals are supported through the operating system. At some point, that’s just become too much in terms of the code and managing the updates,” he says.

What this implies is that, at some point, updates to device driver software will no longer be available. If a PC continues to run outdated device drivers, there is a risk that the old driver software could have a known vulnerability that is being exploited. Clearly, Microsoft is unwilling to coordinate the effort required to support device drivers indefinitely, which means that perfectly good peripherals will lose support eventually; they may still run using the older (legacy) device driver, but there will not be any newer versions (see box: MacOS end-of-life).

To discourage people from trying to continue using these device drivers, Windows 11 uses a feature called Secure Boot, which enforces signed device drivers. This means only software that has a current digital signature can be installed. But like many features in Windows, there are workarounds, and unless an IT department runs a fully locked-down PC environment, savvy end users can workaround the Secure Boot feature.

Moving to Windows 11

The NCSC says Windows 11 introduces a secure-by-default setup, which includes BitLocker, virtualisation-based security (VBS) and support for native passkey management. While some of these features were available in Windows 10, they are now switched on by default. “Devices that don’t meet Windows 11 hardware requirements – and are therefore unable to use the features that are needed to secure Windows – remain fundamentally vulnerable to attack,” the NCSC warns.

Among the benefits of migrating is the built-in artificial intelligence (AI) that Microsoft is promoting, which is available in Copilot+ PCs. AI PCs will represent 31% of the total PC market globally by the end of 2025, according to Gartner. The analyst firm’s latest forecast projects that worldwide shipments of AI PCs will total 77.8 million units in 2025.

By the end of 2026, Gartner expects 40% of software providers to prioritise investments in AI capabilities directly on PCs, up from 2% in 2024. In the same year, multiple small language models (SLMs) will run locally on PCs, up from zero in 2023.

Unlike five years ago, there is growing interest in using ARM-based hardware to support AI inference workloads on Windows 11. According to Microsoft, ARM-based PCs offer all-day battery life.

Gartner’s forecast shows that ARM-based laptops will gain a larger share of the consumer market than the business market, as application compatibility challenges are overcome. Its research found that business users prefer x86 PCs to run Windows. According to Gartner, the x86 PC market is expected to make up 71% of the AI business laptop market in 2025, with ARM making up 24%.

Discussing the forecast, Atwal says: “Businesses are evaluating ARM-based PCs to understand if it is a viable platform. The issue is that not all of the applications they need run on ARM at the moment, although the large majority of applications are ARM-compatible.”

Microsoft says applications need to be rebuilt to run natively on Windows ARM-based PCs. Applications that have not been rebuilt can be run using the Prism emulation that was shipped with Windows 11, version 24H2.

Atwal expects more native ARM applications to become available over the next 12 months. In particular, he sees an opportunity to use small language models directly on AI PCs, offering faster response times, lower energy consumption and reduced reliance on cloud services.

As Atwal notes, SLMs provide task-specific intelligence. “Since the AI runs directly on devices, SLMs help keep user and business data secure,” he adds.

Over time, the partnership between Qualcomm and Microsoft to deliver ARM-based Copilot+ PCs is likely to result in an enterprise alternative to x86-based Windows hardware.

“That partnership is driving ARM onto mainstream PCs, which is different to where we were maybe five years ago or 10 years ago when ARM hardware was around the edges,” says Atwal.

However, the support for new hardware and constant development of new and improved PC peripherals mean Microsoft will continue to be challenged with how much legacy software the Windows OS can support. From an IT management perspective, this means support for older hardware will continue to drop and IT leaders will continue to plan PC and operating system refreshes to ensure their PC estate remains current.

Microsoft Windows Timeline

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will have 10,000 artificial intelligence (AI) companies in five years’ time, up from 1,500 currently. At the same time, it intends to incentivise traditional industry sectors to use AI where they can to gain and retain market share.

Backing this plan to become an AI superpower are government schemes and an intent that saw the Gulf emirate become the world’s first to appoint a minister for AI in 2017, HE Omar Sultan Al Olama. He spoke at this week’s Expand North Star event in Dubai, where he outlined the UAE government’s frameworks aimed at encouraging AI-oriented organisations.

“We’re trying to have a balanced approach where we understand what the end game is, and we’re doing it with very active steps,” said Al Olama. “We’re doing a lot to try to attract the best brains and the best companies here. We have over 1,500 companies that are pure AI companies, and that’s the highest in the region. We believe this is a starting point, and our goal is to reach 10,000 in the next five years.

“To try to create that, we need to create an environment where the rest of the brightest people can come aboard the UAE.”

While the private sector forms the vast bulk of UAE economic activity, the public sector is a vital cog in its economy and society. The emirate’s plans in AI have a broad government planning backdrop in its UAE Centennial 2071 initiative.

This will mark the country’s 100 years of independence from Britain, and sees AI plans to boost public and private sector performance at all levels and make the country a world leader in the field – an aim that will help its successful diversification away from over-dependence on oil and gas revenues.

Core to its AI-centric schemes is an AI certification and ranking programme, where companies are rated according to their level of competency and embeddedness in the UAE economy. Companies that apply for certification are ranked from simply being an AI company, through to those that have a full presence in the country and it’s where they build their models and have developed products for in-country use.

Al Olama said: “If you are just an AI company, you will get a D. If you have a representation here, the rank will go up to a C. If you do some R&D here, the rank will be a B. It’s almost like a health check for restaurants.

“And then, if you have your headquarters here, you actually build your models here, your team is here, and your AI is modelled for the UAE, then you get an S-ranking,” added Al Olama.

“So, as a government agency, if someone comes to pitch, if there are two players that are exactly the same, one has an S-ranking and the other has a C-ranking, the government agency is required to go with the S-ranking company.”

The AI minister said the plan is to extend that beyond startups and tech firms, so that all UAE companies can benefit from the competitive edge that using AI can bring.

“There are companies that have been here for decades – companies that are not startups, which have to prove their AI worth to you,” said Al Olama. They will want the ranking, so they will be incentivised to come and talk to us.

“If you think about the UAE’s position, we are in the logistics space, the tourism space, the airline space, and so on,” he added. “The market share we have captured in the past five decades is there because we’ve invested in new ways of doing business. So we want to make sure all of our industries use AI.”

A core belief of the minister and the UAE’s AI programmes is that the technology must be put to useful applications.

“Success to me is AI that improves the quality of life. It should help make your life better,” said Al Olama. “Failure would be you come to a show and you see a robot dog and people using things that are gimmicks to tell you that they are AI.”

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UK police are building a new system to help fight economic crime and improve the tracking, management and recovery of criminal assets, the Police Digital Service (PDS) has announced.

Set to replace the legacy Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD) that has been used since 2003 to locate and seize illicit assets – including cash, property, vehicles and high-value goods – the Asset Recovery IT (ARIT) project aims to streamline the way criminal assets are tracked and shared, help disparate teams work more effectively together, and improve the evidence provided to courts.

It will also aim to prevent criminal money from funding further illegal activity, with PDS committing to working closely with police officers, financial investigators, prosecutors and local authorities to build a cloud-based system that meets their individual needs.

The system is also expected to support international and cryptocurrency recovery capabilities, helping more than 3,500 users to manage the recovery of assets held abroad or in digital currencies. All of this will take place within a single, streamlined system.

The ARIT announcement follows the Home Office’s conclusion that JARD’s technology was outdated, expensive to maintain, and lacked the flexibility needed for more complex investigations. 

The need to replace JARD has been known for some time, with the Home Office initially publishing a contract notice – worth an estimated £25m – for the “Replacement of the Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD) IT Systems” in August 2020.

“JARD is an aging system that has been modified and updated on a number of occasions over its 15-year plus lifecycle,” reads the notice. “It is now, however, reaching the end of its useful life as it is not conducive to modern expectations of electronic data capture and subsequent analytical filtering and manipulation.”

Now contracted to NEC Software Solutions – the Japanese software supplier behind the facial recognition algorithms used by the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police – for an estimated £14.4m, PDS said it is aiming to have a “minimum viable product” in place by September 2026.

At this point, JARD will be decommissioned, with the more than 180 government and law enforcement agencies using it – including HM Revenue & Customs – being transitioned over to the national ARIT system by the end of that year.

Computer Weekly contacted the Home Office about what happened with the earlier contract notice – as PDS was only formally commissioned to work on JARD in April 2024 – and why it has taken five years to find a supplier to develop a replacement for a system that was deemed out of date in August 2020. However, the Home Office had not responded by the time of publication.

“ARIT represents a bold step forward in our mission to equip UK law enforcement with the digital tools needed to tackle the evolving threat of economic crime,” said Tony Estaugh, PDS CEO and the former biometrics commissioner of England and Wales.

“This project is a testament to the impact of collaboration and innovation in public service, and I’m proud of the role PDS is playing in delivering a solution that helps safeguard communities and ensure that crime doesn’t pay.”

Marco Fiorentino, the executive director at NEC, added: “The new system will make it easier to protect the public and stop criminals from profiting from illegal activity. With ARIT, whether it’s a police officer seizing a suspect’s luxury car, a financial investigator tracking laundered cryptocurrency, or a council officer handling illicit cash, they’ll be able to log and track evidence quickly and simply.  

“This will lead to quicker action, clearer evidence, and improved results in court.”

PDS said the project falls under the Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Recovery (AMLAR) Programme, which is led by the Home Office’s Economic Crime Division, and forms a “key” plank of the department’s wider Economic Crime Plan.

According to the plan, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) – one of the law enforcement bodies that will be using ARIT – estimated in 2021 that, while exact amounts are unknown, it is a “realistic possibility” that over £100bn is laundered through the UK or UK corporate structures every year.

In May 2024, the UK’s then-deputy foreign secretary, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, said that nearly 40% of the entire world’s “dirty money” is going through the City of London and other crown dependencies.

The latest Home Office statistics on illicit asset seizure show that £284.5m worth of assets were recovered from confiscation, forfeiture and civil recovery orders in the financial year ending March 2025. This represents an increase of 15% on the previous financial year.

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