Each week, we’ve put together our ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) roundup of the top stories that have appeared on the TechRadar website over the past seven days – just in case you’ve missed any of the big stories in the tech world from last week.
The ICYMI series has been around for a long time at this point, and we haven’t had a quiet week yet. However, even by this feature’s standards, we’re coming to the end of a particularly busy seven days in the tech world.
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7. Sony and TCL’s new TV venture has become official
Two of the biggest names in the TV industry are teaming up: Sony and TCL announced a new partnership this week under the name “Bravia, Inc.” Even though TCL will have a (slightly) larger stake in the company, the TVs themselves will continue to carry the Sony Bravia brand, and we can apparently expect the same “premium” experience that Bravias are known for.
Also included in the deal are Sony home theater projectors which have also been a hit with consumers concerned about their living room layout. We hope the deal will result in higher quality TVs at lower prices, although it’s unclear what this will mean for future models, particularly the high-end OLED TVs that Sony is currently so well known for.
- Learn more: It’s official: TCL will make future Sony TVs in a new joint venture, so say hello to ‘Bravia, Inc’
6. Samsung has improved the health of its watches
While blood pressure monitoring through Galaxy Watches has long been available in markets such as South Korea and the United Kingdom, users in the United States have had to wait patiently for the feature to gain regulatory approval. It’s now done and Samsung has announced that US owners of a Galaxy Watch 4 or later can now get started with blood pressure monitoring.
It’s not as simple as strapping a Galaxy Watch to your wrist and pressing a button, as the smartwatch will still need to be calibrated with a proper blood pressure cuff every 28 days (this ensures that the readings you get on your wrist match your actual blood pressure). You will also need to install the Samsung Health Monitor app.
- Learn more: Do you have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or later? Very soon you will be able to “monitor your blood pressure directly from the wrist”
5. We tried the AirPods Max 2
It’s been a five-year wait for the AirPods Max 2 after the original earbuds launched, but they’re here now — and TechRadar editor-in-chief Jacob Krol has tested them thoroughly. If you want to know if they’re worth upgrading and what difference the updated H2 chipset makes to audio quality, this is where you’ll find out.
In addition to this new chipset, the AirPods Max 2 headphones bring improved active noise cancellation technology and a new adaptive audio mode that really impresses. However, there’s also a lot that’s the same here, including 40mm drivers in each earbud, the colors you can buy them in, and the battery life (which can last up to 20 hours).
- Learn more: I tried the AirPods Max 2, and it’s an upgrade worth the five-year wait – it’s the smartest, most immersive listening experience that stands out
4. Netflix hampered its Apple TV app
Netflix rolled out a pretty big change to its app for Apple TV streaming boxes this week, and it’s not a change that’s been well-received by viewers. The app now uses Netflix’s own on-screen control system rather than the standard system built into tvOS, meaning some playback features that have been around for years are now no longer available.
Buttons on the Apple TV remote that previously performed one action now do another, for example, and online reactions to the annoying changes have been rather negative, to say the least — for some, it’s even worth unsubscribing, especially since Netflix recently raised its monthly fees again. Maybe it’s time to return to physical media…
- Learn more: “Time to unsubscribe”: Netflix made a major change to its Apple TV app, removing a ton of useful features
3. Artemis II took off with iPhones on board
NASA launched its first mission to the Moon in more than 50 years this week, and as the crew of the Artemis II mission skirts around our nearest celestial neighbor rather than landing on its surface, records will be broken: It’s the farthest humans have ever gone from Earth, as the Orion spacecraft passes the moon and then back.
So what’s the technology angle? Well, in addition to all the fancy instruments NASA has installed aboard Orion and is using to monitor its progress, astronauts have been allowed to put iPhones into orbit for the first time. We can’t wait to see the photos and videos captured, although some of the same technical bugs also occur in space.
- Learn more: Smartphones in space: the Artemis II crew launches an iPhone in weightlessness
2. Apple turned 50
Apple, as a company, celebrated its 50th anniversary this week, and it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s responsible for some of the most important and iconic gadgets in history. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve curated a host of different features and retrospectives, including a look back at the best Apple devices in history (as voted for by you, the TechRadar readers).
We also have some rare personal insights from Apple CEO Tim Cook, a look at the best retro Apple accessories you can buy, a look at Apple and the iPod’s everlasting impact on the music industry, and a huge quiz on all things Apple. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Apple, though: we’ve also covered some of the company’s biggest failures.
- Learn more: 50 Years of Apple: All our coverage in one place
1. We lived with Samsung’s new flagship OLED TV
Hopes are high for the Samsung S99H/S95H OLED TV, leading Samsung’s TV lineup for 2026, and after TechRadar’s John Archer spent a week in the company of the 77-inch version of that model, our anticipation levels have simply gone up a few more notches. He describes it as having “the potential to be really special” when it hits stores.
This model’s predecessor – the Samsung S95F – was crowned TechRadar TV of the Year in 2025, and this 2026 model features a refreshed design, a notable increase in screen brightness, and improved HDR performance, among other improvements. There is also the option to reduce cabling by purchasing a Wireless One Connect box as well.
- Learn more: I’ve been living with Samsung’s new flagship OLED TV – and I’ve never seen anything like it
