Veteran motorcycle builder Ducati has revealed its first road e-bike , and it's seriously impressive. At first glance, the Ducati Futa looks like a conventional high-end carbon road bike, but tear your eyes off its sleek carbon monocoque frame and you'll notice a 250W rear hub motor – the maximum permitted for a road-legal e-bike in the company's native Italy.

That motor has five power assistance levels (most e-bikes only offer three) and is controlled by a Garmin computer operated from the handlebar. You get a 250Wh integrated battery, with an optional 250Wh range extender, though Ducati hasn't given an estimate for its maximum range.

As you'd expect from a premium e-bike, the Ducati Futa is extremely light, with the medium frame size tipping the scales at 12.2kg. It's not as featherweight as the HPS Domestique , but you're getting more power here, plus top-end components. These include a K Force WE groupset with 2x12 speed wireless electronic shifting, Vision AGX30 wheels with carbon rims, sturdy Pirelli Cinturato Velo 'tubeless ready' tires, and a tough, aerodynamic Trimax Carbon Aero handlebar.

Style and substance

Many premium brands are now building pedal-assisted e-bikes that are fast, sleek and powerful, turning a machine that was once considered frumpy and uncool into a real status symbol. Porsche , Lamborghini , and Bugatti are just some of the luxury carmakers adding e-bikes to their lineup.

Moving into e-bikes is a particularly natural step for motorcycle builders. Yamaha is one of the oldest e-bike builders, and Harley Davidson is taking them seriously, too; in 2020 it launched Serial 1 , a whole spin-off company dedicated to electric bikes, together with a line of bikes that take design cues from the first-ever Harley motorcycle.

It's therefore little surprise that Ducati is expanding its own lineup and bringing its luxury e-bikes onto the road. As Roadc reports, the new bike sits alongside Ducati's existing line of e-MTBs, all of which were built in collaboration with Italian e-bike builder Thok .

The standard Ducati Futa certainly isn't cheap, but at £7,690 (about $10,000 / AU$14,000) it's far from the most expensive e-bike we've seen. The Porsche eBike Sport , which launched alongside the Taycan Cross Turismo in 2021, was priced at £9,600 (about $13,000 / AU$17,000).

If you've got some more serious cash weighing you down, however, there's also a Futa Limited Edition. This will lighten your wallet by £11,990 (about $16,000 / AU$22,000), and gives you the range extender battery, a Garmin Edge Explore GPS bike computer, and the glow of knowing you own one of only 50 numbered bikes in existence.

Instant Pot Pro Crisp & Air Fryer vs Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Smart multi-cooker: which should you choose?

Multi-cookers have increasingly become the must-have kitchen gadget over the last ten years. Combining several appliances in one, you can ditch your slow cooker, pressure cooker, steamer, sous vide, and yogurt maker and combine them into one multifunctional appliance.

Instant Pot may have been the first multi-cooker on the market but it was quickly followed by several other brands, including Ninja which has become one of its biggest competitors. These two brands produce some of the best multi-cookers available right, and with each model they get bigger and better.

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp & Air Fryer is the brand’s top-of-the-range multi-cooker that can replace one the of best air fryers on top of the long list of cooking functions it already offers, and was unveiled in 2021 (although it’s also available without the air frying capability, a model which is just called the Instant Pot Pro ).

Ninja followed suit with the launch of the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid, which is known as the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker in the UK But how different are the top-of-the-range models from both of these trusted brands, and which should you choose?

We’re pitted the two head-to-head, whipping up curries, chillies, and batches of fries to help you choose the right appliance for your kitchen.

Best Instant Pot Pro and Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid deals

Read on to discover how these two multi-cookers compare – or, if you’ve already decided which of the two you wish to buy, check out the best prices for each right now:

Price

Before we delve into how well these multi-cookers perform when it comes to producing an array of dishes, let’s look at the price.

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp is the more affordable of the two as you can get your hands on one for $249.99/ £249.99 . Meanwhile, the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid, which is known as the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker in the UK is priced at $349.99/ £299.99 . However, it does offer a handful more cooking methods (more about that below) and comes with a temperature probe for cooking meat perfectly, so we think this slightly higher price tag is acceptable.

Both models are the brand's top-of-the-range multi-cooker so they sit at the pricier end of the multi-cooker market, but they offer the latest and best features including air frying capabilities. Neither model is currently available in Australia.

Design

Despite offering a similar range of core functions, there are notable differences in the design of these two multi-cookers, the most obvious being the lids. The Instant Pot Pro has two lids, one for dry cooking functions such as air fry and bake, and an additional lid for the other cooking functions including slow cook, pressure cook, and steam. The Ninja on the other hand has just one hinged lid that can perform all functions, offering a more convenient and space-saving solution.

The Instant Pot has 11 cooking functions, these are pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, sous vide, air fry, roast, bake, broil/ grill, de-hydrate, keep warm. But with a whopping 14 cooking functions (15 in the UK) there’s no beating the Ninja. Its available functions include pressure cook, air fry, grill, bake, dehydrate, prove, sear/ sauté, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sous vide, and keep warm along with two new programs; steam air fry, steam bake. These use steam during the cooking process, even though they are considered ‘dry’ methods to keep foods moist and succulent.

The UK model differs slightly from the US model and doesn’t have the sous vide function but comes with three additional steam programs;  steam meals, steam roast and steam bread.

In terms of capacity, there’s not much in it, the Instant Pot has an 8 quart / 8 liter capacity, while the Ninja is advertised as 8 quart / 7.5 liter. Likewise, you won’t find much difference in the measurements either, with the Ninja being 0.5 inches taller. But as we already mentioned, with two lids to store, the Instant Pot will take up more space in your cupboard.

For pressure cooking, the method and ease of steam release is an important consideration, and these two multi-cookers tackle this in very different ways. If you opt for the Instant Pot, the lid automatically seals for pressure cooking as you close it. But at the end, you’ll need to flick the switch to ‘vent’ in order to release the steam.

The Ninja also seals itself, it does this when the slider is moved into the pressure cooking position. The steam release however is fully automated and you can select one of three steam release methods for a completely hands-off process.

They come with a similar selection of accessories in addition to the main cooking pot, including air fry baskets and cooking racks. Uniquely though, a meat probe is included with the Ninja. This connects into the multi-cooker and the other end goes into the meat you’re cooking. On the main menu screen, you choose the type of meat, select how well you want it cooked, and the Ninja will do the rest. It’s a unique feature that we haven’t seen on any other multi-cooker.

Features on test

While they differ in terms of design these two multi-cookers both produced excellent quality meals when we put them to the test. We made tasty slow-cooked and pressure-cooked meals in both cookers. However, we struggled to achieve the results we were looking for when steaming in the Instant Pot. Whereas the Ninja model comes with a useful recipe book that includes cooking charts, this takes away the guesswork and makes it easier to get it right the first time.

The additional functions available on the Ninja, such as steam air fry give you more scope to brown foods like chicken, whilst ensuring that the meat stays moist and succulent. What’s more, the included meat probe allows even novice cooks to produce perfect results. We successfully used it to cook a medium-rare steak and if you want hassle-free meats cooked exactly to your liking, this is a feature you’ll love.

While both come with dishwasher-safe cooking pots for easy cleaning, the Instant Pot is supplied with a stainless steel pot, whereas the Ninja pot is non-stick so is easier to wash by hand. Having said that, the Ninja pot doesn’t have a completely flat base, which is noticeable when sauteing because oil pools around the outside of the pot so results can be uneven. Instant’s cooking pot is completely flat so sauteing is more even.

Both multi-cookers are simple to use with clear display screens and easily adjustable time and temperature settings. And regarding the lids, it comes down to personal preference, some people will prefer just one hinged lid, but others may prefer a fully removable lid and not mind that there are two.

Verdict

Both these multi-cookers are from leading brands, they’re well made, easy to use and produce great results. When deciding which is best for you, it’ll come down to your priorities. If price is driving your decision, the Instant Pot is the cheaper of the two and it still offers a great range of useful functions. But with two lids to store, it will take up more space.

But if you’ve been holding back because you’re nervous of pressure cooking and steam release, the hands-free automatic steam venting offered by the Ninja multi-cooker is a good way to go. And the Ninja is also the best choice if you want the maximum number of cooking functions for the most multi-purpose appliance. Not forgetting the innovative meat probe feature.

From A Quiet Place to BAFTA nominee, why Millicent Simmonds is 2022's rising star

Millicent Simmonds is a fighter. The breakout star of A Quiet Place is known for battling alien monsters as Regan in the horror-thriller film series, but it’s another courageous act that’s setting the 19-year-old Deaf actor apart from her peers. Namely, the fight for a more inclusive society and entertainment industry, especially when it comes to authentic Deaf representation on the big and small screens.

And, despite her tender age, Simmonds’ advocacy for the Deaf community and acting talents are starting to be fully recognized. The 2021 Hollywood Critics Association’s Midseason Best Actress winner is among the 2022 BAFTA EE Rising Star award nominees – an achievement Simmonds describes as “really overwhelming”. Not only that, but Simmonds is already taking on dual actor-producer roles in True Biz, an upcoming TV adaptation of Sara Nović’s book of the same name. Add in her roles in the recently announced A Quiet Place 3 and Helen & Teacher – a movie adaptation of Joseph Lash’s biography about iconic Deaf author and activist Helen Keller – and Simmonds’ star is certainly on the rise.

Still, even if she triumphs at this year’s awards ceremony on Sunday, March 13, Simmonds knows there’s a long way to go before there’s truly notable change in the industry. Award-winning movies, including The Sound of Metal and CODA , are breaking the stigma surrounding the Deaf and hard of hearing community. But, as Simmonds insists: “More needs to be done – we need greater assistance to access certain spaces and navigate them.”

Ahead of the 2022 BAFTAs , TechRadar sat down with Simmonds to talk about greater inclusivity in the film and TV industries. We also discussed her EE Rising Star nomination, what she knows about A Quiet Place Part 3, and how she plans to use future projects to continue pushing for better representation of Deaf communities.

TR: Congratulations on the nomination. How does it feel to be among this year's nominees? Have you spoken to your A Quiet Place co-stars since the announcement?

MS: Thank you so much. It's a huge honour and really overwhelming. I never would have expected to be in this position, but I feel so lucky to be here. John [Krasinski] congratulated me on Instagram – he's super sweet. Both John and Emily [Blunt] have said they’re very proud of me.

TR: We’ve seen movies like Apple TV Plus ’s CODA and Prime Video ’s The Sound of Metal win big at other awards ceremonies. How do you think they’ve helped to challenge the industry’s outdated stereotypes concerning the Deaf community?

MS: In the last five years, I’d say there’s been a huge shift. It’s slowly coming, but it is there, and so we're seeing a lot more deaf actors on the scene. So I'm glad to not be here by myself. I think it's really important for not just the industry, but for the general public to see that. I think it's allowing people to learn some signs – you're seeing more American Sign Language being taught in schools, and to make sure that captioning is available so that movies become accessible for Deaf audiences and foreign audiences. I think it all contributes to having more empathy and more open mindedness.

TR: What specific changes have you personally noticed in the industry? And what more needs to be done to make workplaces more inclusive and welcoming?

MS: For Deaf people to have more sign language interpreters, to have more captioning, and for people to have more empathy and patience. We can't expect things to be perfect overnight, but we do need to be listened to and we need the assistance in order to access certain spaces and navigate them. But it's great to see that people are being much more mindful about access – not just for Deaf people, but for hard of hearing people, or for seniors who have lost their hearing and struggle to understand. It's helpful to everyone.

TR: A Quiet Place 3 was recently announced by Paramount , but it won’t arrive until 2025. Do you have any ideas about its plot, or has John spoken to you about Regan’s character arc?

MS: I haven’t heard anything from John or anyone else about A Quiet Place 3, but I’m excited for it to happen. I'm excited to see where it goes, and I think that Regan needs her own spa day. She's got a lot on her plate.

TR: You’ll soon be starring in a movie adaptation of Helen & Teacher. How do you think portraying an iconic historical figure in Helen will challenge you as an actor?

MS: Yeah, definitely. She's a real person, right? It's not a character that you're making up, so there's no flexibility in terms of that – she was an actual genuine human. So we’re taking our time with this project and doing as much research as we can. We’re reaching out to people who knew her personally, making sure we've read books about her life, and to see how she's done things.

TR: Do you feel a sense of pressure to ensure your portrayal is as authentic as possible?

MS: Absolutely, but I think that pressure is a good thing, right? Because that's just going to make me work harder to make sure I get this right. And not just for me – this is for the whole community. So I want to do her justice, and I want people to feel proud of her and what she's done.

TR: Moving away from movies, do you see yourself re-entering the world of television again after your Andi Mack and This Close appearances?

MS: I'm actually working on a TV show called True Biz. We're trying to develop this as me being the main character and producer, so I'm really excited to have a completely different experience. I've been learning a lot and working with a lot of amazing people. It's harder work than I thought it would be, but I’m excited and super motivated. I love being involved with creating something beyond the acting role, getting to engage with the writers, and being able to provide my input as well.

TR: What other opportunities would you like to pursue in the future? Could you see yourself directing, or taking on theatrical stage roles?

MS: Yeah, I'd be really up for those two opportunities. I actually started out in drama club at school, so I do miss the theatre and being on stage. It's quite different so, hopefully, I'll be able to come back to the stage at some point in my career.

Public voting for the EE Rising Star Award is open at eeo.uk/BAFTA until Friday, 11 March. The winner will be announced at the EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, 13 March 2022.