ICYMI: the 8 biggest tech stories of the week

Welcome to our regular ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) recap on TechRadar, which we run every week so you can catch up on all the most significant happenings in the world of tech over the last seven days.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>Welcome to our regular ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) recap on TechRadar, which we run every week so you can catch up on all the most significant happenings in the world of tech over the last seven days.</p><p>We say this every week, but we're going to say it again: it's been a bumper week of news, views, and reviews. There have been new ereaders from Amazon and new tablets from Samsung, as well as a phone built specifically for kids — and that's just the start.</p><p>So settle down and make yourself comfortable and we'll take you through the stories that mattered, whether or not you caught them first time around. And we'll be back next week with what will no doubt be an equally packed ICYMI...</p><h2 id="8-we-let-meta-s-muse-into-our-personal-life">8. We let Meta’s Muse into our personal life</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="TP3S4aAXyBKaqFtEBy5S9g" name="Muse-experience-hero" alt="Muse" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TP3S4aAXyBKaqFtEBy5S9g-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">We've been testing Muse out </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Future)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Meta has a new Muse AI agent app, which is intended to sit on your phone and provide useful, proactive assistance whenever you need it. From filling out forms online to making sure you don't forget what's on your grocery list, Muse wants to give you context-sensitive help any time of day or night. The only catch? It also wants you to hand over a lot of data.</p><p>As TechRadar's Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff discovered when he put Muse through some vigorous testing, the AI is most useful when it knows as much about you as possible — what's on your calendar, what's in your email inbox, and so on. That means there's a privacy trade-off to be made, and it's unlikely that everyone will be comfortable with it.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/i-gave-muse-access-to-my-personal-data-and-now-i-know-why-personal-agents-are-probably-going-to-change-the-world">I gave Muse access to my personal data, and now I know why personal agents are probably going to change the world</a></li></ul><h2 id="7-peloton-claimed-its-new-treadmills-beat-smartwatches">7. Peloton claimed its new treadmills beat smartwatches</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="WNyYwDgN8zKN5SWB5ZKSBV" name="Peloton split image" alt="Split image of Tread Vision camera, and journalist running on Peloton Tread Vision" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WNyYwDgN8zKN5SWB5ZKSBV-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Can a treadmill replace your wearable? </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Peloton / Future)</span></figcaption></figure><p>To get the inside story on the new and improved treadmills from Peloton, our Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans spoke to Peloton executives Nick Caldwell and Meg Higgins about what makes them worth our money — and in particular, the capabilities of the AI-powered camera tracking that can watch your form as you go through your workouts.</p><p>According to the execs, the treadmill cameras can do a better job at assessing how you're doing than wearables strapped to your wrist, and that might be enough to tempt serious athletes into picking up one of the new models. There's plenty more to talk about with these new treadmills too, including a new cushioning system and a redesigned interface.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/exercise-equipment/could-a-treadmill-make-you-a-better-runner-than-an-apple-watch-peloton-cpo-nick-caldwell-and-cmo-megan-imbres-believe-the-peloton-tread-visions-ai-cameras-offer-much-higher-accuracy-than-wearables?utm_term=CE44150E-86FB-4740-A8A4-80487B310226&lrh=f6746b25fe139fd32304ba6e865df25fa48256deecbd4daa622bafc253e97a49&utm_campaign=CAD172D8-A062-47A3-9762-76106DCF6967&utm_medium=email&utm_content=450F7951-B951-4606-93A5-0F2949D19E53&utm_source=SmartBrief">Could a treadmill make you a better runner than an Apple Watch? Peloton execs believe the Peloton Tread Vision's AI cameras offer 'much higher accuracy' than wearables</a></li></ul><h2 id="6-the-prime-big-deal-days-kicked-off-early">6. The Prime Big Deal Days kicked off early</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2560px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:55.82%;"><img id="8M3QkDqUXaCztV9ZYw62C4" name="collections-preview-image-4-2026-10-01T11-33-20" alt="A collage of tech deals from the Prime Big Deal Days early sale, including a Nintendo Switch 2, Samsung Galaxy Fit 3, Kindle Colorsoft, Ember TV, Anker speaker and Ring doorbell." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8M3QkDqUXaCztV9ZYw62C4-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2560" height="1429" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">We've got deals for you </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Future / Nintendo / Samsung / Amazon / Anker)</span></figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/seasonal-sales/26-best-early-deals-ahead-of-prime-big-deal-days-at-amazon-uk-shop-record-low-prices-on-nintendo-kindle-samsung-blink-and-more">Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days</a> is approaching, and the TechRadar team is all over it. Even if you're feeling fatigued in the hunt for top tech discounts, we've got you covered — and while the sales haven't officially started yet, lots of offers are already live. Click through to find significant price drops for hardware from Samsung, Blink, Nintendo, Philips, Anker, and more.</p><p>You can save yourself hundreds of pounds in some cases, and we're coming across certain products that are lower than they've ever been on the retail site. Prime Day proper gets underway on October 6 (next Tuesday), so even if you do avail yourself of some of the deals included here, make sure you check back with TechRadar over the next few days.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/seasonal-sales/26-best-early-deals-ahead-of-prime-big-deal-days-at-amazon-uk-shop-record-low-prices-on-nintendo-kindle-samsung-blink-and-more">26 best early deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days at Amazon UK — shop record-low prices on Nintendo, Kindle, Samsung, Blink, and more</a></li></ul><h2 id="5-a-fresh-amazon-fire-tv-stick-landed-with-a-new-remote">5. A fresh Amazon Fire TV Stick landed with a new remote</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="VskSqphmGrCLE5DTa7dbj8" name="Fire TV Stick 4K and remote 2026" alt="A split image. The Amazon Fire TV 4K Stick with its remote on one side, and the new Fire TV Remote Plus is on the other side." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VskSqphmGrCLE5DTa7dbj8-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">There's a new Fire TV Stick on the market </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Amazon)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The first Amazon hardware refresh of the week came with a new Fire TV Stick 4K, promising faster performance compared to its previous 4K streaming dongles and bringing with it a redesigned remote control. There are also some AI updates for Alexa+ here, and all for $59.99 / £69.99 (about AU$86, with international pricing to be confirmed).</p><p>According to Amazon, the update remote is more tactile and easier to hold than before, with some tweaks to help you navigate its various buttons through touch alone, without looking at it (you can buy the new remote separately to work with an old Fire TV stick, if you want). Oh, and discounts are being promised to coincide with the Prime Big Deal Days next week.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/televisions/streaming-devices/theres-a-new-amazon-fire-tv-stick-thats-faster-to-use-and-a-redesigned-remote-and-itll-have-a-huge-discount-for-amazons-big-prime-sale-coming-soon?utm_term=CE44150E-86FB-4740-A8A4-80487B310226&lrh=f6746b25fe139fd32304ba6e865df25fa48256deecbd4daa622bafc253e97a49&utm_campaign=CAD172D8-A062-47A3-9762-76106DCF6967&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DF30A925-A7FA-4A8B-9636-6EBB8DDC9BA2&utm_source=SmartBrief">There's a new Amazon Fire TV Stick that's faster to use, and a redesigned remote — and it'll have a huge discount for Amazon's big Prime sale coming soon</a></li></ul><h2 id="4-we-were-blown-away-by-vivo-s-400mm-phone-lens">4. We were blown away by Vivo’s 400mm phone lens</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2500px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.24%;"><img id="6JFtrRYRCLSQ7AvxWWctm8" name="Vivo X500 Pro Max" alt="Tim Coleman, TechRadar's Cameras Editor, holding the Vivo X500 Pro Max phone with teleconverter lens attached, while stood on a wooden walkway in a birdlife reserve in Shanghai, China" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6JFtrRYRCLSQ7AvxWWctm8-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2500" height="1406" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Testing out the teleconverter lens </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tim Coleman )</span></figcaption></figure><p>When it comes to phone brands, Vivo may not be as well known as the likes of Apple, Samsung, or Google, but it's done something rather special with its new G2 Ultra 4.7x teleconverter lens — a specialist add-on that it just unveiled alongside its flagship X500 series of phones, and which gives you a serious amount of zoom from your phone.</p><p>In the words of our Cameras Editor Tim Coleman, who's been testing out the new accessory, the teleconverter "is a real showcase of what smartphone cameras can be capable of". For the time being, the device is only available to buy in China, but you can check out some of the stunning shots that the G2 Ultra 4.7x is capable of capturing.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/phones/i-tested-vivos-400mm-teleconverter-lens-with-the-x500-pro-max-and-no-other-phone-from-oppo-honor-or-apple-can-rival-it">I tested Vivo's 400mm teleconverter lens with the X500 Pro Max, and no other phone from Oppo, Honor, or Apple can rival it</a></li></ul><h2 id="3-the-freckle-phone-made-us-rethink-kids-39-phones">3. The Freckle Phone made us rethink kids' phones</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="jf39h7L6Z7u7LoAsPztuC3" name="Freckle-Phone-green-interface-photo" alt="Freckle" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jf39h7L6Z7u7LoAsPztuC3-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Meet the Freckle Phone </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Freckle Phone)</span></figcaption></figure><p>No one has quite worked out the best age for kids to get phones yet, or what those phones should be allowed to do when they are given to children. The latest device to try and find a solution is the Freckle phone, which has a lot of phone-like features (such as calling and photo-taking), without being weighed down by apps that are potentially unhealthy.</p><p>The design of the Freckle Phone is chunky and colorful, but it's really the software that makes it stand out. The developers of the device have eschewed a conventional operating system to offer a collection of curated apps that encourage kids to get outside and go on adventures — something we can probably all agree is going to be good for their growth.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/phones/this-colorful-gadget-might-be-the-first-phone-for-free-range-kids-but-im-still-not-sure-freckle-phone-can-overcome-the-ai-gadget-curse?utm_term=CE44150E-86FB-4740-A8A4-80487B310226&lrh=f6746b25fe139fd32304ba6e865df25fa48256deecbd4daa622bafc253e97a49&utm_campaign=CAD172D8-A062-47A3-9762-76106DCF6967&utm_medium=email&utm_content=450F7951-B951-4606-93A5-0F2949D19E53&utm_source=SmartBrief">I'm fascinated by the 'Freckle Phone' — a kids' smartphone with no social networks and tools to help your child explore the outside world — so I asked its creator my burning questions</a></li></ul><h2 id="2-samsung-revealed-its-new-ipad-pro-rival">2. Samsung revealed its new iPad Pro rival</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="TWqDguRKwipYpgNWYXYeG8" name="Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra" alt="The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra on a yellow background" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TWqDguRKwipYpgNWYXYeG8-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Samsung / Future)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Samsung has launched two more tablets to take on the iPad, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and the Galaxy S12 Ultra. The huge 14.6-inch Ultra is the pick of the pair, bringing with it faster performance and a slimmer design compared to its predecessor, and these two new slates could be the best options you've got at the moment if you want a tablet running Android.</p><p>We've got all the details on the Galaxy Tab pair here, including key specs, starting prices, and our <a href="https://www.techradar.com/tablets/samsung-skips-the-galaxy-tab-s12-for-s12-ultra-and-s12-tablets-but-should-it-have-skipped-all-three">hands-on first impressions</a> — plus there's also a new Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 3 to talk about. Samsung's latest Bluetooth tracker works with iPhones for the first time, and adds new features as well as range improvements when you're trying to hunt down something you've lost.</p><ul><li><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.techradar.com/tablets/the-samsung-galaxy-tab-s12-ultra-is-here-to-take-on-the-ipad-pro-m5-and-its-joined-by-a-smarttag-3-with-ios-support">The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is here to take on the iPad Pro M5 — and it's joined by a SmartTag 3 with iOS support</a></li></ul><h2 id="1-amazon-39-s-new-kindles-fixed-our-biggest-gripes">1. Amazon's new Kindles fixed our biggest gripes</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="3pdS5we7NcNrWHqagbySEo" name="Amazon-Kindle-2026-lineup-hero" alt="Amazon Kindle lineup 2026" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3pdS5we7NcNrWHqagbySEo-1920-80.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">We've got new Kindles </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Last but not least, we've got the second Amazon hardware unveiling of the week, which was a complete refresh for its Kindle line. The 13th-generation ereaders bring with them changes to the design, some new colors, and aluminum unibodies in some cases, and there are updated accessories too — including devices with physical page turn buttons.</p><p>It feels like another step forward for the Kindle family, even if it's not a huge one, and we're pleased to see the power button has been moved from the bottom to the side of the Kindles for the first time. It's a change that's long overdue and should lead to fewer accidental presses (especially when you've got these Amazon ereaders propped up).</p><ul><li><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ereaders/amazon-new-kindles-for-2026">Amazon has moved the power button on all its new Kindles — and I feel vindicated</a></li></ul> </article> ]]>