In case you miss it, we are here with our collection of the biggest tech news of the week so you can get up to speed on a flash.
This week we saw a large PlayStation Network (PSN) power outage, tried the world’s thinnest collapse and was treated with a new Apple product teaser – with launch set for Wednesday next week. All that and more is explained below.
Once you get the news a week, check out our choices for the 7 new movies and TV shows for stream and more this weekend (February 14) – and the latest episode of Techradar Podcast, which is about games.
1. We were ready to meet the newest member of the Apple family
Tim Cook has teased a brand new Apple device with a post that tells us to “get ready to meet the newest member of the family” on February 19th.
There is no indication of what this new device will be-our best alternative is that it is the very rumored iPhone SE fourth generation, but it can also be a new Mac, another generation of Airtag, a new iPad or something entirely other.
The only other clue is the image we shared above that shows the Apple logo in front of a kind of circle – even though it doesn’t get us much help to guess what is being launched, so we just have to put in on Wednesday To see what Apple is showing.
2. PlayStation Network crashed
If you tried to access PSN last weekend, you probably had some problems, from around 10 pm. 18 A Friday (February 7) until 7 p.m. 18:58 A Saturday (February 8) the service was down.
Players were locked out of accessing online features for their games -including many Monster Hunter Wilds Beta players who were unable to once download the client if they hadn’t already installed it. If your choice of game was an online-only title, it was completely inaccessible.
With the help of an apology, Sony has said that all PlayStation Plus members will automatically receive an additional 5 days of service and blamed the power outage of “an operational problem.” Either way, many PS5 players are still disappointed. For more details here is our full report on the 5-day PS Plus extension and the reaction to it.
3. State of Play gave us a reason to love PlayStation again
The latest state of the game was sent on February 12 and blasted us with a true blocking of upcoming PlayStation 5 releases. One of the greatest highlights was the reveal of Times of AnnihilationA hectic hack and slash set in a beautiful post-apocalyptic London ravaged by fantasy beings inspired by Arthurian Legend. We also finally got release dates for the highly expected Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Borderlands 4It arrives on August 28 and September 23, respectively.
On top of this we got confirmation of a new Stellar leaves DLC that adds a selection of pretty skimpy outfits to protagonist Eve inspired by Goddess of Victory: nod Mobile games. This was on top of lots of cool looking smaller titles, like the hectic shooting game Metal Eden – As we had the chance to try in front of the stream.
The most controversial news, however, was the message about Days were remastered. This PS5 port in 2019 PS4 Zombie Game, which can already be fully played on Sony’s latest console thanks to backward compatibility, upgrades its visuals and adds some new conditions. Fans are divided on whether it is worth it, with some wishes that the resources from Developer Bend Studio were aimed at new titles rather than upgraded versions of things we have already played.
4. Powerbeats Pro 2 landed and they are large
This week, Apple finally revealed the new warmly expected Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones from Beats and we’ve been practical in the gym to find out how they are stacked up as training headphones.
The new model brings an excellent new design that is safer and comfortable than ever before. The sound is solid, like noise -canceling, and the life of the battery is better than ever with up to 10 hours of playing time.
In our hands-on, we really enjoyed using them to train, but can’t quite wrap our heads around the new heartbeat surveillance function. It is very cool and impressive technology, but Apple has confirmed to us that for both iPhone and Android users a smartwatch with heartbeat will prioritize. As such, there is not really any appeal here for people who already own a smartwatch.
They are still excellent training headphones and we are happy to see the HRM feature on AirPods later in the year, but the way the feature works right now is a bit of a head-scratcher.
5. We tried the world’s thinnest foldable
Oppo has officially revealed Find N5, the world’s new thinnest folding phone in Book style. Although most details are still under wrapping, Oppo has shared that the phone is only 8.93 mm when folded – barely thicker than an iPhone 16 Pro Max – and weighs in at 229G, which is actually five grams lighter than Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. We expect further details of this futuristic foldable when it is launched in global markets on February 20th.
At a recent practical event, Techradar’s mobile computing staff writer Jamie Richards got hold of Oppo Find N5, found it was a clear winner over Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 with regard to ergonomics. The latest rumors point to a folded thickness of 4.2 mm, which would make the phone slimmer than any folding device that rods Tri-Fold Huawei Mate XT. We have the latest details when they arrive, so be sure to keep up with our phones.
6. Garmin Tactix 8 just launched
We have been treated with a few new garmins in recent weeks, but no one is more conspicuous than the brand new Garmin Tactix 8.
Tactix 8 is designed with military use in mind and is a formidable, robust watch with a 47 mm or 51 mm AMOLED screen. There are also solar options, and on board you get an applied ballistics solver to help you with long -range rifle shooting. It is essentially a golf watch for gun users.
You also get Garmin’s usual package of industry-leading health tracking features, including support for Rucking, a trendy new fitness craze involving walking around with a weighted backpack on.
Prices start at $ 1,299/£ 1,189/AU $$ 2,299. With durability of military quality, advanced GPS, a killing contact and night vision compatibility, this is not a Garmin to help you tackle your next parking.
7. Captain America 4 was too scared to start
The first Marvel movie from 2025 is here – but the truth has to be said, it is not very good. Captain America: Brave New World has spread its wings and flown into theaters, but Sam Wilson’s first big screen excursion, as the titular is not as big as we had hoped. You can learn more about why this is the case in Senior Entertainment Reporter Tom Power’s Captain America: Brave New World Review. Instead of spending your money on a ticket to see them at your local theater, you might be able to wait for Captain America 4 to make its yet unannounced streaming debut on Disney Plus instead.
