ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week, from the best gadgets of IFA 2026 to GPT-6 Astra and 'the AGI era'
We're looking back over the last week to pick out the most important stories published on TechRadar.
1. The Lake America saga led to Google and Apple updating their maps to reflect the change from Lake Ontario to Lake America, despite MapQuest's resistance to the new name. This decision by the Trump administration has sparked backlash on social media.
2. IKEA introduced its first smart radiator thermostat, called the Liljebagge, which allows users to control the temperature of their radiators independently through a connected app or buttons on the device itself. The product supports both Matter and Thread protocols, promising a smart home solution at an affordable price.
3. TechRadar's Jason Cipriani reviewed the Google Pixel 11 Pro, praising the phone's specs, design, display, performance, software, cameras, and battery life. The review calls the Pixel formula "enticing to potential iPhone converts" and highlights a "truly magical" AI feature.
4. Sonos CEO Tom Conrad provided exclusive insights into the company's new Ultra products, including the Ace Ultra headphones and Beam Ultra soundbar. Conrad discussed the AI-infused operating system that runs across all Sonos devices and shared his perspective on returning the company to its strong audio roots.
5. The TechRadar team attended the IFA 2026 tech show in Berlin, where they showcased their favorite gadgets and reviewed various products. The event provided an opportunity to see the latest offerings from numerous brands and discover standout technology.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
