Summer is officially over, and the cooler weather is a perfect excuse, if you needed one, to cosy up at home with a Lego kit. So what does Lego have new in for October? It's not quite as extensive a lineup as I've seen in previous months — and there's a disappointing lack of Spooky Season sets — but there are still some gems worth checking out.

One standout addition is the Santa Holiday Countdown; a jolly Mr Claus perched in a chimney with an adjustable countdown clock set into it. Listen, I know it's too early to be thinking about holiday season, but apparently Lego didn't get that memo — and I have a feeling this one is going to be popular. If you're an early celebrator, there's also a Buddy the Elf (complete with candy canes, one of the four main food groups) joining the lineup.

For UK residents and fellow Bristolians in particular, I'm very pleased to see Aardman making an overdue Lego debut. You can now swap plasticine for bricks and build your own Wallace & Gromit on motorbike and sidecar. And while this US lineup is sorely lacking in new kits for Halloween, Brits can at least have the option of a couple of new Wednesday themed sets. Have fun sorting out all those black and gray bricks.

Scroll down to explore all the new Lego sets for October.

New Lego for October: US kits

Jump down the new UK launches

New Lego for October: UK kits

Lightweight down jackets really start to come into their own in the fall. These jackets pack up small and light, and deliver a surprising amount of cosiness for their bulk and weight. They're also great for layering, if you need a little extra protection against the elements.

A number of big outdoor retailers are running deals events right now, with some particularly good discounts on down (and synthetic down) jackets. I've rounded up my top recommendations below — including a number of my favorite brands from my time spent reviewing outdoors kit.

Some of these are pretty major discounts, so it stands to reason they're selling quickly. I've tried to stick to options where there's still a good range of sizes left, but if you're in the mood for some digging around, there are more excellent down jacket deals (with limited stock and sizes) available on each retailer's site. Pick one up now and you'll thank me when the cold weather really sets in.

Men's down jacket deals

Hop to the women's down jacket deals section

Women's down jacket deals

Here at TechRadar, we have our own ranking of the best tablets around. So when I discovered it was possible to view a list of Amazon's best-selling tablets, I was intrigued to see if it bore any relation to the tablets we regarded most highly.

There are some obvious points of deviation. We tend to focus on tablets for adults, and there are a number of kid-focused models in Amazon's ranking. Similarly, whereas Amazon bundles ereaders in with tablets, we have them in a separate best ereader ranking.

It also makes sense that Amazon's own models sell especially well on the platform, given that they tend to get the best discounts. I'm not surprised to see the Kindle Paperwhite taking the #2 spot, for instance, when we put two Kobo models above it in our list.

Although the iPad (A16) 11-inch — Amazon's #1 bestseller — isn't our favorite tablet, we still scored it very highly in our review. We were less enamored with Amazon's #3 slate, the Fire HD 10 (2023), awarding it three stars and declaring it "only smoldering". It is, however, relatively cheap, which helps explain its popularity here.

Scroll down for a list of Amazon's best-selling tablets (as of 22 September, in the US), in order. Hit the View details button to see what we thought of them in our real-world testing — and learn which ones are worth buying.

Top tablets

DJI built its name on drones, but nowadays it has firmly established itself in multiple other content creator gadget markets too. That includes mics. The brand makes a selection of microphones, including two models released this year. Our testers have been extremely impressed with all of them — so much so, we awarded every single one a perfect five stars in their respective reviews.

If you're a content creator looking to upgrade your audio so it's just as good as your video, how do you choose between them? There's no dud option here, but certain models will be better than others depending on your needs. Below, you'll find an overview of the brand, links to find out more about each one, and a handy specs comparison table. Here's everything you need to know about DJI's microphone range.

DJI mic range

There are two main microphone lines: Mic and Mic Mini. The former is more pro-friendly, larger and higher specced (details vary by model, but expect superior audio quality, more adaptable noise cancelling and features like timecode and built-in storage). The latter is more compact and lightweight — although note the main Mic models aren't exactly bulky — and an excellent entry-level choice.

Scroll down for more details, and tap the View details button for a summary of each model, plus a link to read the full reviews.

In the main range the Mic 2 (launched 2024) and Mic 3 (launched 2025) are still widely available. In the Mini range, it's the Mic Mini (launched 2024), Mic Mini 2 and Mic Mini 2S (both released 2026). We awarded every single one of them a perfect five stars in our reviews, so you can expect a very capable mic no matter which one you go for.

Broadly speaking, within each lineup it's the newer the model, the more advanced the specs — although the gaps between some generations are bigger than others. The Mini 2S came out more recently than the Mini 2, and offers a number of upgrades over that model, most notable of which is internal recording.

For each model, you can also choose from various bundles of transmitters (TX), receivers (RX) and charge cases. These elements can, broadly speaking, also be purchased individually.

DJI Mics: specs compared

We're gearing up for the second wave of major marathons this year: runners will be heading for the start line in Berlin at the end of the week (27 September), with the Chicago marathon following on 11 October and New York rounding out the season on 2 November.

Perhaps you're wondering what kind of footwear is propelling elite athletes to these kinds of times? I've hunted out the shoes worn by a selection of marathon winners, and rounded up the results below.

The Adidas Adios range crops up time and time again. Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha both sprinted to stunning sub-2 hour success at the 2026 London marathon while wearing Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes (currently sold out in the US, but a restock is coming in the UK on 24 September.) Sawe wore Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2 to take the gold at the Berlin 2025 marathon, as did Benson Kipruto for his 2025 New York win.

Hot on Kipruto's heels in Berlin 2025 was Alexander Mutiso Munyao, wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4. Incidentally, women's champ Rosemary Wanjiru was also wearing Adios Pro 4. In Chicago 2025, Hawi Feysa took the gold in the women's race wearing Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1.

Nike's winning line is the Alphafly. Jacob Kiplimo won the 2025 Chicago marathon in Nike Alphafly 3 — also the running shoe of choice of record-breaker Eliud Kipchoge.

It's not all about Adidas and Nike, though. John Korir has won two Boston marathons in a row while wearing prototype versions of the Asics MetaSpeed Sky, and Sharon Lokedi wore Under Armour Veliciti Elite 3 to defend her crown at Boston 2026. Hellen Obiri took the women's crown at the 2025 New York marathon in On LightSpray Cloudboom Strike — particularly notable for their laceless, 'spray-on' style.

If you're a keen runner and find yourself gripped by marathon fever, perhaps these are some models worth considering for your next long-distance race. But a couple of important caveats, before we start: First, if you're already in training for one of the upcoming marathons, you definitely don't want to be switching up your footwear in the run-up to the event. Second, these shoes are aimed at experienced long-distance runners; if you're not at that stage yet, head to our general best running shoe roundup for more beginner- and intermediate-friendly recommendations.

US: Marathon-winning running shoes

Jump down to UK shoes

UK: Marathon-winning running shoes

Colder, wetter weather might on the way, but that doesn't mean outdoor adventuring is off the cards. Quite the opposite, actually — with the right kit, fall and winter can be an excellent time to get out and about. If you need to fill out your cold weather wardrobe, head to Backcountry's flash sale, where for a (very) limited time, there's up to 70% off a massive range of outdoor clothing, accessories, and footwear from brands including Patagonia, The North Face, Mammut and Rab.

I've combed through the sale and rounded up my top picks below. I spent two years reviewing outdoors kit, and some of my favorite brands are included here. If you can't see what you want, it's well worth exploring the sale yourself — there are hundreds of products discounted, so chances are you'll find what you're looking for. You'll need to be quick though, as at time of writing the sale was due to end in a matter of hours.

Backcountry bargains

Today's best smartwatches are ultra-capable, feature-packed powerhouses. But is it just me, or are they all starting to feel kinda samey? Casio recently made headlines with its delightfully retro F-B100W, which takes your classic, rubbery, blocky Casio watch and adds in step-counting features. That sent me off on a hunt for other smartwatches and fitness trackers that do something a bit different, and I was not disappointed with the results. I've rounded up my favorites below.

There's the new-out Huawei Watch D3, which looks like your standard, modern smartwatch, but has a secret, in-built blood pressure cuff. For those who prefer a traditional watch aesthetic, there are the Garmin Instinct Crossover and Withings Scanwatch 2, both of which have smartwatch features but also mechanical hands. Neither is especially new, but both have maintained popularity by their seamless blending of digital and analog.

Finally, a couple of especially intriguing options from outside the big watch brands. The Jaye band is an ultra-minimalist smartwatch that displays only the most important notifications on its tiny screen to minimize distractions. And then there's the LightInk, which can run for an absurd 400 days on a single charge. Such a lengthy runtime is achieved by adding solar charging, swapping your average vibrant AMOLED display for a low-energy, monochrome e-ink one, and stripping the smart features right, right back. It's open source, so with the aid of a 3D printer and a few basic components, anyone could own one.

Scroll down for a closer look at these weird and wonderful smart trackers — hit the View details button to learn more about each one.

Weird watches

Talk to anyone about Dyson, and you can be certain that pricing will come up before long. It's not unjustified: this is the brand that gave us a $399 (£299 / AU$549) hair dryer, back in 2016 when that kind of price tag was unfathomable for such a product. It's the brand whose current flagship stick vacuum costs $979.99 (£749.99 / AU$1,349). And, most recently, it's a brand that unveiled an electric toothbrush that costs $499.99 (£419.99 / AU$799).

I'm not surprised, therefore, that at a roundtable I attended at the recent Dyson Unpacked launch event, the conversion ended up turning to pricing. Nor was I surprised to hear that the roundtable guest of honor, Jake Dyson — son of brand founder James and company Chief Engineer — had plenty to say on the subject.

[To avoid confusion, throughout this feature I'll use 'Jake' to mean the person, and 'Dyson' to refer to the brand.]

"If you want the best, you have to pay," he begins. "If you want the best engineering, you have to pay. If you want all the features."

If you move past the price tag, Dyson's products often really do achieve something different. That hair dryer's unusual design breathed new life into a market that had been stagnant for years. That flagship stick vacuum can sense exactly the size and number of particles it's sucking up and adjusts its suction in response. And the toothbrush? It has an in-built camera and can detect gaps between your teeth, into which it'll shoot mouthwash.

So the price tag might not be on a par with that of competitor products, but neither are the products.

"We're not interested in doing the cheapest. At all. We want to introduce new technology and do new things. That's what we're interested in," continues Jake. "We're also not afraid to have the most expensive. Because, unfortunately, doing things like this, you can't do cheaply."

He's also, frankly, sick of the constant discussions about it (of which I'm aware this article is a part). "We get quite a lot in America where it's just attacks on price every single time we launch a product," he says. I can sense the frustration from spending months and years developing a product, only for the headlines to be dominated by comments about the price."

He continues: "They've completely missed the fact that… look at what it's doing for you." He gestures to the CameraJet, which is the hero launch from the event. "Look at the advance in oral care. And, you know, we can't make things cheaply because they have high-tech technology in them. And they perform as well as they do."

What is unfortunate about this particular example is that following our roundtable discussion, reports started rolling in from early customers that the CameraJet wasn't performing well. In fact, in many cases, it was refusing to perform at all. I've discussed that in more detail in a separate article, and Dyson is adamant it's an isolated issue with a handful of specific batches of products, rather than a design fault.

It's enough here to state that not every product is going to be a slam-dunk. I've tested a ton of different Dyson products and there are innovations I love, and innovations I don't rate at all, but my overriding feeling is that I'm pleased that someone is out there changing things up. You don't have to buy it, after all.

Combatting copycats

Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but Jake is less than enamored with the copycat products that have a habit of following any successful Dyson launch.

"We obviously patent areas of the product, if we can patent them, to prevent that. But we do that in every product, and they always find a way," he says. "And they find a way, but the product isn't as good. They say that it is, but it isn't."

The brand similarly guards against third-party accessories being subbed in. There are chips in the brush heads that mean the CameraJet will detect if a non-Dyson head is attached — just as the vacuums will know if you've added a fake battery, and the hair stylers know if you've picked up a budget attachment pack on Amazon. That kind of thing does start to sting a little, because Dyson accessories tend to come with their own hefty price tag. The toothbrush heads are $29.99 / £25 / AU$49 for a pack of two, for example.

The engineering flair is one thing, but Dyson products tend to also have a recognizable aesthetic, and part of that is the colors. Some of them have a personal connection, says Jake: "This blue [on the toothbrush] is inspired by Yves Klein, who's an artist that my father really likes. He wasn't allowed to use the same blue, but we created our own. And the first vacuum cleaners have purple in them, because of the lavender from the south of France, which is something he loved as well."

He continues: "So it's about, you know, references, but [also] about art, bringing that creativity into the product, and also recognizing it as a Dyson product."

Doubling up

Blazing new trails inevitably requires a lot of effort and time (and therefore money). Dyson is also keen to be as efficient as possible. "We can make one thing and use it across multiple products," says Jake. "You try not to do things twice that take an awful long time and a lot of investment. You try and use it again in another product."

He talks about certain innovations the brand will seek to "platform". So a version of the shrunk-down motor and heater that's used in the Airwrap also features in the Supersonic r hair dryer, and now also in Dyson's new Airsmooth hot brush.

Similarly, the battery platform developed for the PencilVac also shows up in the PencilWash. "Once we've done the electronics and the management system for the batteries, which is an expensive development, we can all use the same thing in multiple [products]. So platforming is quite important," he adds.

The process for this happens naturally. "You cross-pollinate, you join the dots — 'If we put that with that, we could do this'," he shares. "You're thinking about other areas of the home, things people use every day… As a company, we're getting much better at predicting that before we do it."

He continues: "It makes us realize there are other technologies we need to develop ourselves — which we are, behind the scenes — to enable us to go into those new areas and do something better than anyone else."

So we won't expect Dyson's pace of innovation to slow any time soon, then — but neither should we expect prices to drop. It's a strategy that has paid off so far. As Jake recalls, of the brand's decision to launch its $400 Supersonic when you could get a hairdryer for $40: "It didn't stop anyone buying them."

Hunting for a great Pixel 11 case to keep your new phone protected? I've sorted through the options to find covers that keep your handset safe from scratches, protect against drops, and still look good. And because the Pixel 11 comes in some particularly juicy colors (the purpley Frost shade is my top pick, but I'm not averse to a bit of Hibiscus), I've included a number of transparent options in the mix. And don't worry, they're all anti-yellowing.

While there are dozens — maybe hundreds — of ultra-cheap cases on Amazon, I'd recommend spending a bit more on a good-quality case. There are a handful of brands I tend to steer towards: Mous for streamlined cases, CASETiFY for fun designs, Spigen for rugged protection, Snakehive for leather cases and wallets, and OtterBox for useful extras like grippy sections and stands. Scroll down for my top Google Pixel 11 cases in the US and in the UK.

Gone for a different version? I've also rounded up the best Google Pixel 11 Pro cases, and the best Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold cases.

Google Pixel 11 cases: US

Hop down to the UK options

Google Pixel 11 cases: UK

Trying to decide between Kobo and Boox? This guide is here to help. These are two very popular e-ink tablet brands, and both feature in our ranking of the best ereaders. However, there are some distinct differences.

Kobo specializes in ereaders. It has a small range of different models, but all are geared towards reading — and in some cases, can be used for annotating and note-taking. They offer an offline-first experience, and they're almost all waterproof, which is great news if you like to read in the bath.

Boox (from parent company Onyx) is more of an e-ink tablet brand. Boox tablets run a full version of Android, which means you can use them in a wide variety of ways and for many different tasks. It's a particularly good option for those who have a Kindle but are looking to switch, because you can simply install the Kindle app from the Google Play store and then you'll still have access to all your books.

The Boox range is wide and sprawling, and includes a selection of options that are shaped and sized like a phone. It also just launched three new models earlier this week: the Note Air6 C, Note Mini C, and Palma 3.

Below, I'll dig into the two brands in more detail, starting with an overview of the different ranges and then moving into specs comparison and some buying pointers.

Kobo ereaders

Boox ereaders

Note for UK readers: some of these models are only available direct from Boox at the moment. On the Boox Europe store, prices are only provided in Euros, but there are UK versions available and it does not look like they're being shipped from abroad.

Boox vs Kobo: specs compared

Spec notes

There are a few specs I haven't included here, because they aren't helpful when it comes to making a decision between models.

I haven't included battery capacity. This is worth considering, of course, but how it relates to runtime depends heavily on what you're using the tablet for. If you're mainly just reading, with a low backlight, even a small battery will deliver many days of use without needing to recharge. Conversely, lots of note-taking or internet browsing will drain a larger battery relatively quickly.

You also won't find screen resolution here. In almost every case the resolution will be the same: 300ppi in black and white, dropping to 150ppi in color if the ereader supports that. There's a lot more variety in the display technology used, but the categories here aren't standardized so comparing them — especially across brands, using different terms — is very tricky.

Finally, I haven't included supported file formats. Pretty much all of these models offer a wide range of file support, including but not limited to: LIST, PDF, EPUB, EPUB3, MOBI, TXT, CBR, CBZ, and RTF. That's before we get into the support for image and audio formats. If you have a specific file type you're interested in, double check the specs on the brand's own site before buying.

Boox vs Kobo: product lineup

Kobo lineup

Kobo currently has four ereaders in its lineup. The Clara range is the most basic: the screens are the smallest (at 6 inches), the storage is limited to 16GB (which is lower than all the other options here but realistically will still enable you to store more books that you'll ever need), and there's no writing support. You can choose between black-and-white (BW) or color versions.

If you want writing support and compatibility with Google Drive and Dropbox, you can choose between Libra Colour or an Elipsa 2E. The Libra Colour is the smaller and more basic option. The Elipsa 2E has a large, 10.3 inch screen and comes with a Kobo stylus included. It's the only model in Kobo's lineup to not be waterproof.

Boox lineup

Boox has more options, and includes four main lines: Note, Go, Palma and Tab.

The Boox Note series is rather sprawling, encompassing Mini (small screen), Max (large screen), and Air (medium screen) options. These are billed as all-in-one productivity tools — they're on the thicker side and on the larger options you can snap a magnetic keyboard on. The newest models are the Note Mini C and Air6 C.

The Boox Go series also offers options with different screen sizes, the smallest of which is an ultra-compact 6 inches. These options are marketed as being travel-friendly, and are generally thinner than the Note series. The newest options are the Go 6 (Gen II), the Go 10.3 (Gen II), the Go 10.3 (Gen II) Lumi, and the Go Color 7 (Gen II).

The Boox Palma models have the size and shape of a phone, with a 6.2-inch screen. They're designed for on-the-go reading and note-taking. The newest options are the Palma 3 and Palma 2 Pro.

The Boox Tab series seems to be limited to just the Tab X C. It's a large ereader tablet with support for a magnetic keyboard.

Boox vs Kobo: buying advice

Buy a Kobo if...

✅ You want to read in the bath: Pretty much all Kobo ereaders are waterproof to IPX8 standard, which means they can withstand up to an hour in two meters of water. In contrast, Boox models are 'water-resistant' at best — which means anything more than a sprinkle of water could spell trouble.

✅ Your priority is reading: Kobo's slates are specialized for reading — and occasionally also annotating. If you aren't looking for a general-use tablet, Kobo is a better bet.

✅ You're on a tighter budget: Almost all of Kobo's ereaders are cheaper than Boox's options — and if you don't need the extra functionality offered by Boox, Kobo will be a more cost-effective option.

Buy a Boox if...

✅ You want tablet functionality: Boox ereaders run a full version of Android, which means you can download a variety of apps to unlock up a wide range of functionality, depending on your needs. These tablets aren't just for reading.

✅ You want a pocket-sized option: The Boox Palma models are around the same proportions as a phone — perfect for on-the-go reading and note-taking.

✅ You want the biggest screen: Boox makes a number of slates with 13.3-inch screens, whereas Kobo models top out at 10.3 inches. Boox is the place to go if you're seeking a generously sized ereader.