Week in Review: The top stories in phones, AI, entertainment, and more

A big week in AI world – and it's even getting in on the Black Friday action Created for techradar.com@quicklydone.com | Web Version   November 21, 2025 CONNECT WITH TECH RADAR  CONNECT WITH TECH RADAR    SIGN UP ⋅   WEBSITE Welcome to the Week in Review Artificial intelligence has become so infused into every part of our lives that we felt it was only natural to honor it with a week of content here at TechRadar. How was TechRadar’s AI Week different from all the others that have preceded it? Well, it was simply more AI.    Actually, there were some incredible stories this week, like the woman who said she fell in love with an AI, and Google’s surprise release of Gemini 3. The latter was no minor update, and we found the new Gemini to be as good as ChatGPT in most prompt-driven pursuits. However, Gemini 3 Pro surprised me when I pitted it against ChatGPT 5.1 and Claude AI on a 'vibe-coding' task. This was also the week, by the way, that we reviewed what might be the first AI/camera hybrid, the Caira. Who knew Google’s Nano Banana model could fit on a pint-sized micro-four-thirds camera?   We even asked AI to help us save money during Black Friday shopping duties. Did it work? The results were… inconclusive.   I think most of us are open to a “whatever works” approach when it comes to our Black Friday shopping strategies. Even though the official date is still a week away, the deals are very much here, and if you fancy a spot of bargain-hunting this weekend you could do worse than check out our round-ups of the best Black Friday deals at Amazon US, and the best Black Friday deals in the UK. I'm shopping for a new vacuum this year, and I'll be making sure to consult our guide to the best vacuum deals.   Over in Apple land, the tech giant crowned its best apps of 2025, and we saw a new accessible phone grip, and rumors about next year's iPhone release schedule. Personally, I’m more than ready for 2026 and a much smarter Siri to arrive.   Google made a big iPhone splash of sorts with the introduction of cross-platform QuickShare (think AirDrop that works between iOS and Android). It currently works on Pixel phones only, so if you have one of those you might want try it before Apple thinks about pulling the plug.   As ever, do make sure you head into your weekend armed with our picks for the best new movies and shows to watch. I can’t believe I still haven’t watched Pluribus, but I think I will be reserving a seat for Wicked: For Good, especially after reading Jasmine Valentine's review.   We’ll see you next week.   Lance Ulanoff, Editor at Large The week in AI We've been marking the latest AI models' homework Gemini 3 vs ChatGPT 5.1: the everyday AI challenge We've been comparing the most powerful AI models yet from Google and OpenAI, to see how well they handle the sort of everyday tasks most of us will use them for. Read the full story Can ChatGPT save shoppers cash over Black Friday? The expert view Drone maker lets robot fly a drone to scare the heck out of us What is Google AI Mode – and should you use it? TechRadar recommends I tested three 5-star OLED TVs from LG and Samsung – this is one I'd buy on Black Friday With tempting Black Friday TV deals up for grabs, is it worth opting for a mid-range OLED over a flagship OLED? We tested models from LG and Samsung to find out. See our top TV pick The Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 10 are both discounted ahead of Black Friday – here's the Android flagship I'd choose The GoPro Max 2 and DJI Osmo 360 are both on sale for Black Friday – which 360 camera should you go for? Looking for a charming and affordable camera gift? My top pick is a personalized Camp Snap retro compact FEATURED CONTENT Exclusive offer from Incogni Take control of your privacy and save today with Incogni Protect your privacy with automatic data removal and secure your personal information easily with Incogni. Right now, you can use this exclusive code to score 55% off annual plans. The week in Apple What will follow the iPhone 17? (Future) Apple tipped to overhaul its iPhone release schedule Apple is reportedly spreading its 2026 iPhone launches out across more of the year in a bid to boost sales – find out when the iPhone 18, the iPhone Air 2, and more might arrive. Read the full story These are the 15 best apps for your Apple devices, according to Apple This may be the oddest but most accessible MagSafe iPhone grip yet Watch out, Apple fans – this scary scam uses real Apple Support tickets Today's best Black Friday Deals, hand-picked by our experts Best Buy's Black Friday sale is live: shop today's 19 best deals Hundreds of Black Friday deals are live at Best Buy, and these are our top picks, with big savings TVs, laptops, appliances, headphones, game consoles, and more. View US deals The best Black Friday Apple deals at Amazon US, including record-low prices on AirPods, Apple Watch, MacBooks and more These are the best Black Friday headphones and earbuds deals in the US and UK – big savings on Sony, AirPods, Bose and more Today's best Black Friday Fitbit deals in the US and UK – save up to 45% on some of the best fitness trackers we've tested The week in Phones We're waiting for a successor to the Galaxy S25 Ultra (Future) Samsung's phone lineup for 2026 just leaked Want a sneak preview of phones Samsung is expect to unveil next year? A new leak may have revealed all the key details, with at least six new handsets on the schedule. Read the full story It's actually happened: Android now works with AirDrop for file sharing 3 reasons why Apple might decide to block Google's new AirDrop trick The latest Samsung Galaxy tri-fold leaks suggest a launch is imminent The week in Entertainment A new The Conjuring movie has landed on HBO Max (Warner Bros. Pictures) The best new movies and shows to stream this weekend From horror frights and R-rated fantasy, to dramas and comedies aplenty, there's lots to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming platforms over this weekend. See our top picks Lanterns won't burn bright on HBO Max in early 2026 Pluribus episode 4 introduces us to a mysterious new character Wicked: For Good turns out to be the most unmissable movie of 2025 Help Spread the Word Share Now Or copy and share your personalized link: newsletter.smartbrief.com/techradar/?referrerId=mvaKglYwVl Follow TechRadar Contact Us: Feedback | Advertise Sign Up | Update Profile | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms and Conditions © Future Publishing Limited. Reg No. 2008885 England. Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA.