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Apex Recordhunter drone unofficially set a new air speed record of 434 mph

High-speed demonstrator will help develop next-gen military drones

Company targets further records with interceptor drones soon

Germany’s Quantum Systems Group has broken the world airspeed record for an electric drone, hitting speeds of 699km/h (434mph) during internal testing on June 26, 2026.

Though the company is yet to carry out a formal, independently verified attempt at setting a record under the official measurement rules to be recognized by both Guinness World Records and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the speed far exceeds that of the current record holder – 657.59km/h (409mph).

The latest, unverified record was set in straight and level flight, and would represent a 6.3% increase over the current record. Official testing is expected within the coming weeks, the company said in a press release .

Record-breaker is merely a technology demonstrator

Quantum Systems explained that the Apex Recordhunter drone was developed over the past year, but “serves as a technology demonstrator for next-generation high-speed systems” rather than being a commercially viable product. “Several innovations from the project are expected to support future interceptor drone programs,” the company added.

It is a battery-electric, fixed-wing aircraft developed by the firm’s N3XT advanced development team, benefiting from Porsche-subsidiary-supplied V4Smart battery cells.

Of course, the drone and its successors would not target consumer photographer and hobby markets, instead focusing on high-speed interceptors for modern warfare. Quantum Systems says lessons learned from Apex will directly influence future interceptor platforms for real-world defense scenarios.

“Super proud of the Quantum Systems team, showing our engineering ambition across our Group and reinforcing our commitment to developing world leading technologies,” co-CEO Florian Seibel wrote.

Engineers from Quantum’s Ukrainian WIY Drones division also contributed to the program – a noteworthy inclusion because Russia has increasingly deployed high-speed, jet-powered one-way attack drones. Deploying high-speed drones like the one Quantum Systems has developed could be much cheaper and more accessible than sending off expensive air-defense missiles.

Records continue to be broken as rapid development continues

By mid-July, the company also hopes to have set two other records. The first – the highest speed achieved by an FPV interceptor drone carrying a 500g payload – by its STRILA Interceptor. Second, its SPYS drone, gunning for the highest speed achieved by an anti-aircraft class FPV interceptor drone.

These achievements and potential records reflect an ongoing global race to develop faster military drones, but they also underscore the growing relevance of airborne, remote and autonomous weapons in modern warfare.

That said, other electric drones have technically achieved even higher speeds. Tom’s Hardware recently reported of a New Zealand duo who recorded high speeds of 730km/h (453mph) – that Blackbird drone uses sawtooth carbon fiber prop blades.

Despite lacking official recognition, the duo had previously set a record of 626km/h (388mph) in December 2025 with a separate drone, before quickly being overtaken by another record-holder which achieved a higher 659km/h (408mph). Regardless, an 11.7% increase from December’s first record to today’s unofficial record confirms there’s plenty of scope to continue pushing the boundary.

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I test a lot of espresso machines here at TechRadar — over a dozen a year — and so far 2026 has delivered a particularly impressive crop. Whether you're looking for your first ever coffee maker or are a seasoned pro hunting for the perfect premium brewer, there's an option for you.

There are so many new espresso machines, in fact, that you might be spoilt for choice, which is where I come in. To help make your decision easier, I've rounded up this collection of the three best machines we've tested this year. Each one has been through our rigorous review process, and received a score of at least four and a half stars out of five.

If you can't see something that quite suits your needs, take a look at our complete roundup of the best espresso machines you can buy today, and the best Nespresso machines if you prefer your morning brew in pod form.

Philips Café Aromis

Future Future Future Future Future Future Future Future Release date: March 2026

Score: 5/5

This espresso machine (the Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series, to give it its full name) is a premium coffee maker that looks stunning, makes sublime coffee, and is fun to use as well. It has a menu of 50 drinks — hot and cold — and is astonishingly quiet in use too thanks to cleverly designed noise shielding.

Its milk system is particularly impressive, producing different textures to suit the type of drink you're making, and because the milk never enters the body of the machine itself, it's a piece of cake to keep clean. Just detach the carafe, disassemble it into its three hard plastic components, and wash them in the top drawer of your dishwasher. There are separate carafes for hot and cold milk, and they both work equally well with dairy or plant-based equivalents.

Espresso machines with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity are quite common, but after connecting your phone, usually all you get is a simple instruction manual. Not here. The Philips Home app is styled like an AI chatbot, and asks you a series of questions about your beans and taste preferences to help tailor the brew setting to your liking. It's certainly not cheap, but it's a superb espresso machine that earned a full five stars.

Read our full Philips Café Aromis review

Philips Baristina

Future Future Future Future Future Future Future Future Release date: February 2026

Score: 5/5

Philips has been really nailing it when it comes to espresso machines this year. The Baristina is very different to the Café Aromis, but if you're new to the world of speciality coffee, or just want something reasonably affordable, it's the better choice.

This is the smallest and cheapest bean-to-cup coffee maker I've ever tested, and it's so easy to use, it's a great option for anyone thinking of making the switch from coffee capsules. Just load your beans in the top, fill the water tank, push in the empty portafilter handle, and slide it to the right. The Baristina will grind the perfect dose of coffee into the basket, tamp it down, then slide the whole handle to the left and pull the shot for you.

It's a piece of cake, and much easier to clean than a typical automatic espresso machine because there's no moisture or debris building up inside an enclosed case. The only drawback is that it can't steam milk (unless you pick up a bundle with the standalone milk frother), but Philips has just launched an updated version — the Baristina Latte — that solves that particular issue. I'm very much looking forward to testing it

Read our full Philips Baristina review

Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2

Future Future Future Future Future Future Future Future Release date: March 2026

Score: 4.5/5

The Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 (available direct from Meraki in the US, and from Bella Barista in the UK) is the most stylish coffee maker we've tested so far this year, with its satin finish, chrome and wood accents, pivoting touchscreen display, and separate 'towers' for its twin boilers, water tank, and bean hopper. It's huge, but if you've got the space, it's worth every centimeter.

This is a manual espresso machine, but is packed with thoughtful features that make achieving a delicious brew that little bit easier. For example, there are built-in scales beneath the grinder and grouphead to help you grind exactly the right dose of beans, then weigh your extracted coffee and stop the pump at precisely the right time. There's a temperature sensor to help you avoid scalding your milk, and if you really want a helping hand, you can scan a code on a bag of Meraki's own coffee beans, and the machine will adjust its own settings accordingly.

The standout feature, though, is its dual boiler, which is something we rarely see in a home espresso machine. "Not only does it produce exceedingly well-extracted espresso over and over again, it easily froths a range of milks without losing pressure or cooling down," said our reviewer Josh Russell.

Read our full Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 review

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Mercedes-Benz sold 97,100 EVs in the first half of the year.

The electric CLA, GLC, and GLB led the brand’s EV growth.

Europe and North America grew while Asia did most of the damage.

Sales of battery-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz have surged this year, but overall demand for their models has contracted, highlighting a shift that several other car manufacturers are experiencing.

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Through the first half of the year, the entire Mercedes-Benz Group moved 1,011,500 vehicles, down 6 percent from the first half of 2025. First-quarter sales had actually risen 2 percent to 511,900, so the slide arrived later in the period. The picture looks worse for Mercedes-Benz Cars itself, which includes the company’s Vans division.

Read: Mercedes Sales Are Out And The Most Interesting Thing Is What They Won’t Tell Us

So far this year, Mercedes-Benz Cars has sold 837,200 vehicles worldwide, a 7 percent decline. Second-quarter sales fell 8 percent to 417,800 units against the prior year. The bright spot is battery-electric demand, which is running strong, though the brand hasn’t been kind enough to break out sales figures for each individual EV model.

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EVs Prove Strong

A total of 97,100 new EVs were sold by the brand this year, 28 percent up from the same period last year. Demand proved particularly strong in the second quarter, rising 51 percent to 52,900 units. As sales from the Mercedes-Benz Vans division are included, total BEV sales rise to 113,300 units year-to-date, a 30 percent increase from last year. Mercedes credits the electric CLA, electric GLC , and electric GLB as the main growth drivers, and says strong European demand did much of the lifting on EV deliveries.

While BEVs are performing well, the rest of the company’s models are struggling. In its Top-End category, which consists of Mercedes-AMG, Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS, EQS, and EQS SUV models, sales are down 8 percent this year to 119,600 units. Similarly, sales of the Core models, including the C-Class, E-Class, EQE, and EQE SUV, are down 7 percent to 497,300, and Entry Level models, like the A-Class, B-Class, EQS, and EQB, have fallen 5 percent to 220,300.

Mercedes pinned part of the Top-End decline on planned product changeovers and the timing of model availability, and pointed out that G-Class deliveries actually rose 3 percent during the quarter.

Most of the overall decline traces back to Asia. Across the region, total Mercedes-Benz Cars sales fell 25 percent to 291,000 units through the first half. China was worse still, down 28 percent to 210,200, and the slide steepened in the second quarter as sales dropped 30 percent to 98,600. Mercedes did confirm, though, that several China-focused models, including the long-wheelbase electric GLC L SUV, will land in that market during the second half of the year.

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Similarly, sales across the ‘Rest of World’ dropped 11 percent. By contrast, sales in Europe were up 5 percent this year, and North American sales rose 15 percent.

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Mercedes-Benz Sales 2026

Category Q2 2026 % Chg Q1 ’26 % Chg Q1 2 ’25 YTD 2026 % Chg YTD ’25

Mercedes-Benz Group 511,900 +2% -6% 1,011,500 -6%

└ Thereof BEVs 63,000 +25% +50% 113,300 +30%

SWIPE

Mercedes-Benz Cars 417,800 0% -8% 837,200 -7%

└ Thereof BEVs 52,900 +19% +51% 97,100 +28%

SWIPE

Top-End 58,100 -6% -10% 119,600 -8%

Core 249,300 0% -9% 497,300 -7%

Entry 110,400 +1% -4% 220,300 -5%

SWIPE

Europe** 166,400 +5% +4% 325,000 +5%

└ Germany 56,000 +13% +6% 105,300 +7%

Asia 138,300 -9% -27% 291,000 -25%

└ China 98,600 -12% -30% 210,200 -28%

North America*** 91,300 +2% +13% 180,900 +15%

└ U.S. 81,900 +1% +10% 163,000 +15%

Rest of World 21,700 +16% -10% 40,300 -11%

SWIPE