ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from Sonos' big return to our review of the 'impressively premium' Mac Book Neo | Tech Radar

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ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from Sonos' big return to our review of the 'impressively premium' Mac Book Neo

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When is a quiet week in tech not a quiet week in tech? How about right now. Because while this week lacked the huge launches of the previous one, it was still packed with big stories and impressive new tech.

For starters, we delivered our expert verdicts on the Apple devices that were revealed last week, and the Mac Book Neo in particular blew us away. We also sat down for a long chat with Sonos' CEO as the audio giant launched two new speakers, and delivered our Google Pixel 10a review.

In fact, so much happened this week that we didn't even have space to include the two massive Gemini-powered features coming to Google Maps, so scroll down for your full catch-up and when you’re finished here be sure to read our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows you need to watch this weekend.

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DJI's first 360-degree drone has long been rumored, and this week it finally broke cover. And though we don't know everything about it yet, we do know its name, launch date, and one core spec.

The Avata 360, as it will be known, will be equipped with 8K video recording and will launch on March 26. Further specs, and the price, are yet to be revealed, but we're already getting pretty excited about it.

It will compete against the excellent Antigravity A1, which debuted last year as the world’s first true 360-degree flying camera, but the Avata 360 will have an advantage over that rival in that it will settle into an already formidable DJI drone ecosystem. Watch this space for more info ahead of that launch date.

Read more: DJI’s Avata 360 will land this month — here’s what we know about DJI’s first 360 drone, and 3 reasons I’m psyched for its arrival

HBO Max’s password crackdown is going global according to the company's CEO and president of global streaming, JB Perrette.

That means you may no longer be able to share an account with another HBO max user, unless you pay an extra member fee — though that option is currently only available in the US.

However, how much longer will HBO Max even be around? HBO Max's future currently depends on whether regulators approve the acquisition of its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, by Paramount Skydance. According to at least one prominent media analyst, if that goes ahead then HBO Max could be shut down by the end of 2027.

Read the full story: HBO Max is launching a global password-sharing crackdown

5. Apple prepared its 50th anniversary celebrations

Apple will turn 50 in a couple of weeks, and Tim Cook has been teasing what the tech giant has planned to celebrate the occasion.

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"In the coming weeks, Apple and its global community will celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary, recognizing the creativity, innovation, and impact that people around the world have made possible with Apple technology," said Cook, before ending with a note to fans that "If you’ve taught us anything, it’s that the people crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

So, does that mean we should prepare for a crazy launch? The new Mac Book Neo was impressive (see more on that below), but perhaps the company has something folded up its sleeve for April 1?

Read the full story: Apple announces major anniversary celebrations

Even amongst the flashiest, most expensive tech there's a place for a budget champion, and in the Android world the Google Pixel 10a is a strong contender for that title.

Our Managing Editor Jacob Krol put it through its paces over the past week or so, and as his review states, "it proves you don’t need big upgrades to make a great phone."

So, while it doesn’t get a new processor or upgraded camera hardware this year — instead sticking with the Tensor G4 and the same dual-camera system as the Pixel 9a — it nails the basics: a comfortable design, strong battery life, bright display, and a dependable camera, all for a low price of

Read more: Google’s Pixel 10a review: still one of the best budget options

Sticking in the world of budget smartphones, we also reviewed Apple’s i Phone 17e, and it too proved its worth as an affordable winner.

No, it doesn’t reinvent Apple’s budget i Phone approach, but it does bring some meaningful refinements to the i Phone 16e thanks to its A19 chip, double the starting storage at 256GB, and the long-awaited addition of Mag Safe — all for the same starting price as the previous model.

The single rear camera will be a let down if you love taking snaps, and the display isn’t as crisp as the i Phone 17’s, but if you’re after an affordable i Phone there isn’t a better option based on our tests.

Read the full review: I tested the i Phone 17e, and it's an even better budget i Phone

The Apple Mac Book Neo doesn’t sound like it should work. It runs on an i Phone chip, boasts just 8GB of unified memory, and includes ancient USB 2.0 technology. Yet the Neo manages to deliver an excellent Mac Book experience — there’s zero mac OS compromises, and it’s a far more capable machine than its budget counterparts running Windows 11 and Chrome OS.

Why? Well for a start the performance is solid. Yes, you’ll want to stick to Apple’s own apps over third-party alternatives and keep multi-tasking to a low level, but you can get a good level of utility out of this machine.

Then there’s the design, which is simply beautiful, with the Neo’s color being showcased across its aluminum shell, Magic keyboard, and even in mac OS elements — plus the display is stunning.

And then there's the price. At

Read more: Apple Mac Book Neo review: the best budget laptop you can buy

1. Sonos gave us two new speakers — and some explanations

Sonos has not had a great time of it of late, with its disastrous and well-documented app relaunch leading to much criticism and, eventually, the replacement of its CEO in January 2025.

That was then and this is now, though, and this week Sonos released not one but two new speakers in the form of the Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL. And, its current CEO Tom Conrad was eager to sit down with us and explain what went wrong in 2024, what its strategy is for the future, and why we should be excited about the new devices.

You can read our Managing Editor of Home Tech Matt Bolton's full interview with Conrad here, and also check out Conrad's insights into what went wrong with the Sonos app upgrade. But for now, let's focus on the speakers.

The Sonos Era 100 SL is a new, more affordable version of the existing Era 100, but without microphones; so, it lacks the smart home functions of the original, but comes at a much cheaper price.

More interesting still, though, is the Sonos Play. This new portable speaker sits between the Roam and Move models in terms of price and characteristics, and Conrad thinks it might be the “Goldilocks” speaker. And we think he might just be right.

Read the full story: Sonos launches a new portable Play speaker and a cheaper Era 100

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for Tech Radar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

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Key Takeaways

• ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech news stories from Sonos' big return to our review of the 'impressively premium' Mac Book Neo

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• When is a quiet week in tech not a quiet week in tech

• For starters, we delivered our expert verdicts on the Apple devices that were revealed last week, and the Mac Book Neo in particular blew us away

• In fact, so much happened this week that we didn't even have space to include the two massive Gemini-powered features coming to Google Maps, so scroll down for your full catch-up and when you’re finished here be sure to read our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows you need to watch this weekend