TechRadar News

• The UK government wants more Apple Pay alternatives for consumers
• It’s proposing opening the technology up to other companies
• It also wants Apple to charge lower fees for access

If you pay for an item using the contactless tech on any of the best iPhones, you’re locked into Apple’s way of doing things. But the UK government’s competition regulator — the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) — is proposing new rules that could blast open the way you pay using your iPhone.

According to a press release on the UK government website, the CMA believes that “Apple’s fees and rules are blocking UK fintechs and other businesses from innovating and growing” and that its proposed changes are “expected to result in substantially lower access fees, helping make it commercially viable for more businesses to innovate and compete.”

The CMA pointed out that no rivals to Apple Pay exist in the UK, as opposed to in the EU, where several alternatives can be used. The CMA believes this is due to both high fees charged by Apple and restrictions placed on certain technology by the Cupertino giant.

For instance, while Apple allowed third-party companies to offer Apple Pay alternatives in the UK back in 2024, one condition was that these firms had to use Apple’s Secure Element, which encrypts important payment card information during transactions.

In the EU, however, European Union-wide rules mean that Apple must let companies use host card emulation (HCE) for free instead of the Secure Element, if they wish. The CMA wants that kind of technology to be available in the UK and says it does not believe that doing so would raise any “inherent security concerns.”

Commenting on the CMA’s move, Mattias Eld, CEO & Co-founder at contactless firm Fidesmo, said: “Buying an iPhone should not mean handing Apple the keys to your wallet. Consumers should rightly choose how they pay, and banks should choose who they work with. But for over a decade Apple has honed its domination over tap-to-pay, through the careful and deliberate stifling of its competitors. This has allowed Apple to charge banks inflated transaction fees, with the threat of exclusion from such a vast market leaving them little choice but to pay.”

Apple pushes back

(Image credit: Apple)

The CMA says that while it isn’t seeking to dictate the prices or terms that Apple must set, it wants to propose “principles for how this should be determined, with the expectation that charges would be substantially lower than Apple’s current fees while still fairly rewarding Apple for providing access.”

However, Apple has pushed back against the CMA’s proposals, telling Reuters that “We do not believe the CMA should require ​Apple to adopt an approach with lower privacy and security protections. We will continue to engage constructively to reach ​an outcome that is in the best interest of our users.”

Why does Apple restrict access to contactless payment tech? One answer might simply lie in the almighty dollar: as with the App Store, Apple charges third-party firms for access and likely doesn’t want to give up that revenue stream.

I’m not entirely convinced that that’s the main reason, however — after all, Apple is one of the wealthiest companies on the planet and makes huge profit margins on every product it sells. Is nickel and diming really such a core strategy when its iPhone revenue alone jumped 21% to $54.25 billion in the third quarter of 2026?

Analysis: Apple fears it could pay the price

To me, a stronger argument centers on something else: control. This has been an obsession for the company since the days of Steve Jobs, and Apple is acutely, painfully sensitive to how its products are perceived.

If Apple loosened its grip on something so vital to the user experience as payments and financial services and a third-party contactless provider then got hacked or scammed customers, Apple fears that that will reflect badly on itself as a company. For the perfectionists at Apple, anything that lessens the user experience due to Apple’s actions is an absolute no-go. By taking payments entirely under its own aegis, Apple reassures itself that nothing will go wrong.

There’s a degree of logic to that. Apple has proven its security credentials and works harder than many companies to keep its systems incredibly safe. Going with a third-party means trusting someone else whose track record might not be as strong. But that certainly doesn’t mean that only Apple can safeguard your payment information — or indeed that only Apple should be allowed to even try.

If the CMA gets its way, Apple might be forced to change its ways. The company has already been forced to crack open its contactless walled garden in the EU, and the UK might soon follow. The way you pay using your phone might look very different as a result.

• Two new Chicago lawsuits claim unauthorized biometric data collections
• In these cases, the biometrics are face and body scans
• Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics have denied the allegations

The backlash to what's perceived as surveillance technology continues, with two Chicago residents taking robot delivery companies to court over the alleged collection of biometric data while dropping off food and groceries.

As the Associated Press reports, the two men bringing the cases claim that robots from Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics turned up — via DoorDash and Uber Eats respectively — even though robot delivery hadn't been requested in the app.

The key allegation is that when these individuals were unlocking the robot cargo bay to get their orders, their hands and faces were scanned via camera and LiDAR technology, without explicit prior permission. If true, that would put Coco and Serve in breach of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) of 2008.

Both class-action lawsuits claim that video and sensor data is being retained by these bots in violation of privacy law, and shared with AI companies for training purposes. Statutory damages of $1,000 per negligent violation or $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation are being claimed through the courts.

Both Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics have denied the allegations. We've reached out to both companies and will update this story if we hear back, but the AP reports Coco as saying the legal action is "frivolous", while Serve says it "does not use data to identify individuals or create biometric profiles".

'Fundamentally misunderstands our technology'

A Serve delivery robot (Image credit: Serve Robotics)

The Coco Robotics privacy policy — last updated in 2022, before it started operating in Chicago — is a little light on data retention policies, but does mention sharing data with third parties and affiliates, though most of this seems to be aggregated and anonymized before it's used.

As for the Serve Robotics privacy policy, it's been updated much more recently. It says data retention periods are determined by "contractual obligations with our delivery partners", and there's the standard vagueness about sharing information with unnamed "service providers and vendors" on occasion. There's also an explicit mention of sharing data "to train AI agents and models".

It's obviously impossible for a delivery robot to work without scanning its environment and navigating around sidewalks and pedestrians, and that's the defense being put forward here. The crux of the case will be whether the data collection involved was done without permission, and contravenes the Illinois privacy act.

"This lawsuit fundamentally misunderstands our technology, we have not collected biometric data in Chicago," a Coco spokesperson told the AP. "The data we share is navigational data used to make sidewalks safer for all users."

With complaints around Flock cameras, delivery drones, 'spy' glasses, and other tech on the rise, it does feel there's more privacy scrutiny than ever before — with Redditors describing these bots as "mobile data thieves" and "sidewalk surveillance".

• Unitree has shown off an impressive demo for its new 'kung fu' robot
• It's based on the company's H2 platform, and is designed for security
• It's unlikely to go on general sale, though, and there are no details on pricing or availability

Humanoid robots are improving at a rapid pace, and the world's biggest robotics manufacturer, Unitree, has just revealed a Robocop-esque new model called the H2-X Kung Fu Legend Guardian.

A one-minute teaser video released on X and YouTube (below) shows the H2-X in action across a series of slightly bizarre scenarios. The first few clips show the robot unleashing a series of knees and punches to cars in a scrapyard, in scenes reminiscent of a Street Fighter II bonus stage.

Beyond the robot's kung fu credentials, it isn't exactly clear what real-world roles Unitree is trying to showcase there. But the rest of the video shows that the H2-X is being billed as a personal security guard that can jump in front its owner during attempted robberies, or lift cars to release humans trapped underneath.

Unitree hasn't revealed much in the way of specs for the H2-X, with the only specifics being that it's capable of jumping from four-meter high platforms and also standing for "approximately eight hours" between charges.

However, the similar Unitree H2 robot is a 1.8-meter tall humanoid that comes with an optional Nvidia Jetson AGX Thor chip and costs $29,900 (around £22,380 / AU$42,720). We've asked Unitree for some more specifics on the specs and pricing for the H2-X, and will update this story if we hear back.

Not quite ready for security guard duty

It's fair to say that Unitree's H2-X Kung Fu Legend Guardian video is more of a tech demo than a consumer product showcase, in much the same vein as its rollerblading and iceskating demos earlier this year.

However, that doesn't mean Unitree isn't making big strides in humanoid robots, or what is often billed as "embodied intelligence". At Computex 2026 the trio of Unitree, Nvidia and Sharpa announced a collaboration to create an H2+ blueprint for next-gen robots, with Nvidia supplying the much-needed training data and its Jetson AGX Thor T5000 chip.

The H2-X Kung Fu Legend Guardian demo appears to be a different project that's focused more on physical prowess. But despite those impressive jumping abilities, the robot would find it nigh-on impossible to clear the global and national consumer certification hurdles necessary for it make it to market as a personal bodyguard.

It's possible that a version of the robot could be designed for industrial or military uses, but Unitree hasn't yet commented on its future plans. What is clear is that Unitree is keen to continue the momentum it's gained after its IPO in August 2026, which started well but then ran into turbulence last month after a 55% slump from its peak.

According to Reuters, that drop has apparently prompted China to put the brakes on a humanoid robot IPO rush, which has seen half a dozen Chinese robotics companies queuing up to follow Unitree's stock-market debut.

Still, Unitree's latest H2-X video at least keeps us dreaming that personal robot safety guards are coming, even if they might dent a few cars along the way.

Anomalith might be one of the most interesting releases of 2026. A third-person survival shooter set in a twisted, retro vision of Japan, it’s a major departure from publisher FuRyu Corporation’s usual role-playing game (RPG) output.

It looks almost like the company’s take on Resident Evil, with 17-year-old protagonist Reona Minazuki venturing into deadly anomaly zones filled with grotesque creatures at the behest of a shadowy government organization.

Real-time gun combat, managing your small inventory, and keeping track of precious ammunition form a key part of every mission. Each run unfolds in an almost extraction-shooter-like format, and between missions you can use the resources you’ve scavenged to upgrade your gear.

There’s more to Minazuki than meets the eye, though, with the hero able to harness a mysterious set of mutant powers brought on by exposure to these supernatural environments. I spoke to producer Gai Kidokoro over email to learn a little more about how this project took shape and discover some of what’s in store for players.

Expanded arsenalFuRyuFuRyuFuRyu

Anomalith is Kidokoro’s first original project, having joined FuRyu in the company’s anime division, which has helped produce hit titles like Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, before making the leap to its gaming business to direct some licensed titles. Working on games has “always been an area I was interested in,” he says, adding that his career has been “a little different from that of FuRyu’s other producers.”

It therefore seems only fitting that he is producing quite a unique project, with Anomalith standing apart as FuRyu’s first third-person shooter. Interestingly, Kidokoro says that the genre was chosen because both he and the director “love third-person shooters and guns” and set out to create something based on the things they enjoy.

“Rather than thinking, 'Let’s deliberately challenge ourselves with a completely different genre,' it was really more about wanting to make a game in a genre that we personally love,” he continues.

This fascination with firearms seems evident in the game’s weapon customization system, which lets players “swap out a fairly detailed range of parts,” including a variety of attachments such as “sights, grips, stocks, and more.” These help you personalize the appearance of each gun, but also provide statistical bonuses to help in the field.

(Image credit: FuRyu)

The producer is also keen to highlight the player’s ability to scavenge “pieces of equipment called Artifacts that enhance your character’s stats” and change your overall build.

“These include loot-based, hack-and-slash-style elements,” he teases, “and if you manage to equip an Artifact with extremely high values, some skills have the potential to become incredibly powerful.”

The team is well aware that not everyone is going to be interested in tweaking their guns or experimenting with the nitty-gritty of their character’s stats, which is why the game offers a wealth of cosmetic options for players to outfit themselves with – some already available to try in the recent free Steam demo.

“We realized that there are quite a lot of people who don’t necessarily get the same enjoyment we do from firing their favorite, carefully customized gun,” Kidokoro begins. “We thought, 'Maybe adding character outfits and customization would make it more fun for those players,' and that’s why we ended up including such detailed character customization options. Judging from the response to the demo, I’m really glad we added the outfit customization.”

Uncanny valley

(Image credit: FuRyu)

The world design is shaping up to be a treat, with plenty of intricate detail to pore over. In fact, Kidokoro highlights this as one part of the experience that he is most excited about. “The development team has put a tremendous amount of effort into designing the Otherworlds,” he explains. “There are many areas where something may initially look like nothing more than an ordinary ceiling, but if you stop and look up, you might find something that gives you a real sense of unease.”

He describes the fundamental concept behind it all as the “anxiety and fear lurking within familiar scenery” and reveals that it was inspired by popular ideas of “liminal spaces, including things like the Backrooms,” referring to the viral meme featuring endless wallpapered corridors that recently inspired a horror film adaptation.

“Within the development team, we often use phrases like ‘give it a liminal-space atmosphere’ when discussing the visual direction.”

(Image credit: FuRyu)

This extends to the soundtrack. Aside from the game’s title theme, the music of Anomalith doesn’t feature any vocal tracks. Nevertheless, the producer argues fans “can definitely look forward to the soundtrack” and warns “many of the tracks are quite dark and unsettling.” He jokes: “I recommend listening to them during the daytime.”

Although Anomalith seems very different, long-time FuRyu fans will recognize some common elements shared with the publisher’s past games, such as the focus on a teenage protagonist. Kidokoro thinks the reasons behind this particular motif “would vary” depending on the title, but personally reckons “that it is easier for audiences to emotionally root for younger characters.”

“Watching boys and girls confront unreasonable circumstances and ultimately overcome them can also feel more hopeful and moving than a story centered on adults,” he continues. “Of course, we have been influenced by other games. However, we try to keep those influences as references rather than simply copying them. Our main criterion is always whether a particular element is necessary for players to enjoy the world and experience of Anomalith.”

We will be able to find out whether this formula pays off when Anomalith launches for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PlayStation 5 on October 29, 2026.

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella extols virtues of "frontier ecosystem" for AI
• AI can do great things for human workers, but there still needs to be some control
• Microsoft reveals new research showing a divide between bosses and employees over the future of AI in the workplace

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has urged businesses to embrace AI even further to push on and succeed, but urged caution around giving such systems too much control in everyday work tasks.

"When I think about what keeps us grounded every day at Microsoft, it's our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more,” Nadella told the company’s Frontier Tour London event.

Looking at what he called the "frontier ecosystem", Nadella identified three key pillars which need to be tackled - including recapturing individual empowerment, as although AI is taking charge of the dullest parts of our jobs, there is still need for a human to have control.

Frontier AI

Nadella also highlighted "the reverse information paradox" - with a digital learning system which is constantly improving itself, the challenge is for organisations to "capture that knowledge and keep it locally to yourself...in other words, you have to own the knowledge that gets created, both with the human capital that you have, as well as the token capital that you generate"

The final challenge concerns trust, as Nadella noted, “our scaling laws are producing even more powerful models that are less and less trustworthy…you need to treat these models as new forms of insiders, and create a zero-trust architecture around it.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The speech came as Microsoft unveiled new research revealing something of a divide between bosses and employees over the future of AI in the workplace.

It found the vast majority (84%) of business leaders believe the UK can become a world-leading AI economy within five years, compared with just 41% of employees.

But it also noted that workers are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact on jobs and opportunities for young people, with over half (57%) of employees using AI at work afraid it will reduce opportunities for young people, while 35% fear for their own job security.

For bosses, the future was a bit brighter, with 90% of leaders claiming they had a clear AI strategy in their business, while 84% of those in organisations already adopting AI say they’ve already experienced moderate or significant changes to how their work gets done.

“Bending the curve changes what the UK can achieve, increasing productivity, business growth, better public services, and the measure of that progress is the difference that people feel in their everyday lives,” noted Darren Hardman, Microsoft UK CEO.

“We will not bend the curve unless people see a place for themselves in what comes next…the question is no longer whether you have a strategy, it’s whether AI is actually changing how work gets done.”

“For organizations here, the challenge is to turn AI's potential into improvements that people can feel in the work they do, the services they use, and the opportunities that are open to them...our role at Microsoft to bring intelligence and trust together in AI that puts your organization's knowledge to work helping people achieve more while providing the safeguards and visibility to stay in control.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve poured so many hours into Warhammer 40,000, but playing a bunch of the Dawn of War 4 campaign has absolutely captivated me, and almost made it feel like I was playing from my living room floor 30 years ago all over again.

After seeing a glimpse of the game last summer, I knew it was on the right track, but after a couple of weeks with Dawn of War 4, it’s safe to say that the series’ rip-roaring, gritty action, and moreish strategic map play is back with a vengeance, and channels all that made the first game brilliant.

My time with the chunky preview build has shown that King Art Games are an incredibly safe set of hands for the next Dawn of War game.

Going back to Kronus

(Image credit: King Art Games/Warhammer/Games Workshop)

The planet of Kronus provides the setting for Dawn of War 4, and while a part of me wonders whether it might have been more exciting to go for a brand new setting and premise, the familiar planet is still superbly executed by the new developer.

Each map is extremely well detailed and feels alive with wind-blown sand and tumbleweeds across barren landscapes, blinking lights and crumbling epic architecture in urban maps, and wonderfully icy and snowy maps providing some of the best backdrops.

No matter where you are, though, you’re always cheered on by some mega, epic battle music, and the individual unit audio from ambient mechanical whirring, distinct machine clunking, and furious fighting are all absolute chef's kiss level.

Underneath the aesthetic excellence, there is a real meaty campaign here. My preview build dived in and out of a few armies’ storylines, and the branching narrative is interesting and genuinely compelling, with twists that you can make decisions to impact through mission selection and choices (from what I’ve seen), while the accompanying cutscenes are also fantastic.

Even the in-game story moments help to give me the feeling of those excellent battle write-ups in the old White Dwarf magazines that I remember poring over for hours at a time.

Unrivaled units and chaotic combat

(Image credit: King Art Games/Warhammer/Games Workshop)

Moving your forces around that campaign is the true highlight: this is a properly meaty and fabulous strategy experience, and a 40K experience.

Taking control of the Orks or Adeptus Mechanicus in my preview, it really does feel like the perfect real-time recreation of seeing your miniatures on a tabletop. The action can be slower and methodical; or you can embrace some chaos and have fights on multiple fronts as you aim to use speed to your advantage over the battlefield.

There were multiple times in both scenarios where managing large masses of a mix of units was a genuine thrill, with each resource point captured, the mowing down of enemy infantry, or the blowing up of tanks with grenade barrages more satisfying than the last.

The power fantasy is real in Dawn of War 4

If you remember the best thing about moving units across maps in the Dawn of War games of yesteryear, then you’re in for a treat. Orks feel as wild and chaotic as they should; and the Adeptus Mechanicus have wonderful machine-focused units as well as biomechanic infantry that can pack more of a punch than you think, especially from cover.

However, Dawn of War 4 simultaneously feels more modern, and there’s an effort to streamline some controls to make things more straightforward. You can drag over a whole heap of enemies, and your units will automatically attack the ones most vulnerable to their attack type; and you can right-click on any unit’s ability so it will automatically trigger during missions.

Engaging with the units — be you a more casual player, or a really experienced one — is superb, and starts with them being a treat for the eyes. Units really look the part, and every combat encounter does too. King Art Studio’s attention to detail, with bespoke combat animations for every combination (it seems) that look genuine, and plenty of blood splatter and rag doll physics on show. Even the armor and weaponry of all units look radiant and detailed, down to the lustre on metals.

The machine endures

(Image credit: King Art Games/Warhammer/Games Workshop)

There’s a good mix of missions that keep things interesting and elevate the branching campaign, too. That’s a really great thing in a particular way, as my one ‘gripe’, if you can really call it that, is that Dawn of War 4 continues the series’ trend of sometimes being purely a numbers game.

Especially in base-building missions; if you can pace your play a bit, secure your territory, and build an army that’s massive, you’ll rarely fail. This can offset the nuances and ‘other’ factors to think about too when managing Orks and the WAAGH! that fuels them in battle, and the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Nosphere links that strengthen buildings and open up more development options.

That’s why the mix of missions is welcome: while those base- and army-building ones are heavily present, there’s usually a gauntlet or defence mission around the corner to mix things up — and I’ve probably enjoyed the latter two more on the whole.

Dawn of War 4 successfully takes me back to early 2000s LAN parties

Not that dominating a map is unenjoyable, of course. The power fantasy is real in Dawn of War 4 and can feel fantastic, but the game is also wonderfully successful at creating those ‘If I can just make it to that resource point’ or ‘if I can just hold off this enemy encounter’ or ‘if I can just create a couple of units quickly ot turn the tide here’ kind of moments, which are a thrill.

I could talk about more of the individual features in the game that make it shine, but the most important thing about my time with the game for preview is that everything adds up to an authentic Dawn of War experience and really captures the feeling and the essence of the series — as well as translating the turn-based tabletop game into a real-time action setting once again.

Dawn of War 4 successfully takes me back to early 2000s LAN parties, devouring campaigns over and over again, and building massive armies to crush my foes as I did in the first game over two decades ago — and now I just want more.

Apple iPhone Duo: Two-minute review

In the early days of the iPhone, seeing one in the wild, usually in a brave early adopter's hands, was like spotting a unicorn. The excitement was palpable. Over the years, though, as every smartphone has become a glass and metal slab, making it difficult to tell one iPhone release from another, the excitement has diminished. Where I used to keep my 'regular' iPhone review units out of sight, I now casually carry them around in a case, and no one is any the wiser.

That, though, is not the case with the iPhone Duo. In my effort to spend as much time using the new folding iPhone as possible, I carried it everywhere, including to a wedding party for my friend's son. My iPhone Duo test unit was somewhat disguised by being clad in a Taupe Folio with a Kickstand case, but as I held it aloft to photograph the newlyweds, the bride's eyes grew wide.

"Is that...?!"

My eyes darted from her to the phone in my hand, and I considered stuffing it back in my pocket, but I was intrigued by her reaction. I hadn't seen this level of interest and excitement in years.

I nodded wordlessly; the newlyweds started peppering me with questions, and as I folded and unfolded it, and they glimpsed the inner display, the bride's jaw dropped. She asked if I liked it. I mumbled, "Yes, I think so," without offering much more information.

I was determined to use the iPhone Duo's two external 48MP cameras to photograph the event, which meant this scenario repeated itself more than once.

It was obvious that, unlike every other iPhone of the last decade or so, the iPhone Duo could not travel incognito; people were, it seemed, intensely interested in Apple's first truly new iPhone form factor in basically forever.

The interest is warranted.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The iPhone Duo is not simply an iPhone folded in half. I'd argue it's only marginally an iPhone and more of a hybrid, splitting the difference between a sub-sized smartphone and a slightly larger, 8-inch iPad mini.

From the highly polished titanium frame to the curves and pitch-perfect tolerances, the iPhone Duo's design is Apple at its best, and while it doesn't reinvent the genre, the nano-texture finish on the main display cannily solved the chief folding phone complaint: that darn crease. It's not that the crease is completely gone, but in daily use it's virtually invisible. As an added bonus, that matte finish kills reflectivity in bright sunlight, and makes almost everything look better.

Apple includes four cameras, three of which are powerful enough to produce high-quality photos across a range of styles. I saw excellent color accuracy and low-light performance, and the ultra-wide camera feels expansive. The inner-display camera is, it appears, just 4MP, but it does a good job with casual selfies and FaceTime calls.

Apple has almost stuck the landing here, but there is a slight step backwards. I'm fairly certain its decision to move the status bar and dock to the right side of the 5.4-inch outer screen, and therefore shrink the width of most apps, will divide opinion. I like how this makes it easy to tap an app with your right thumb, but the remaining screen real estate makes some app experiences look and feel cramped.

Then there's the lack of Face ID on the cover screen, which means this is the first iPhone in ages that I have to use my finger to unlock.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

I'm also less than thrilled that a nearly $2,000 / £1,999 phone starts with just 256GB of storage; although, to be fair to Apple, the $1,899.99 / £1,699 Galaxy Z Fold 8 also starts with the same amount.

Those small nits are like pointing out the missing eyelashes on the Mona Lisa, though. Overall, this is a fantastic entry into the folding phone space, offering the dual capabilities of a glanceable and attractive iPhone that fits in any pocket or hand, and a versatile 7.6-inch tablet.

Not everyone needs two screens in one device, or wants to pay as much as they would for a home appliance for their next smartphone; but for those who feel confined by the boundaries of a typical iPhone and want to do more in less space, the iPhone Duo, which starts out smaller than your average smartphone but unfolds to reveal an almost twice-as-large tablet display, is well worth your consideration.

Apple iPhone Duo review: Price and availability

• From $1,999 in the US
• From £1,999 in the UK
• From $3,499 in Australia

Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first folding phone, as its "one more thing" during the Surprise and Shine event on September 9, 2026.

The list price is $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,499 for the 256GB model, which is in line with most of its folding competitors from Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, and Oppo. It's available in storage configurations up to 2TB for $3,199 / £3,199 / AU$5,899.

The iPhone Duo is the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever made, but we should put this in context. Like most foldables, this is a two-in-one device: a pint-sized smartphone with a 5.4-inch 4:3 screen, and a 7.6-inch tablet. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which has a similar passport-style shape, and even the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which is a more conventionally sized and shaped foldable, the iPhone Duo's larger main screen supports digital pen input (this wasn't available for my testing period, but it's expected by November).

You may also be able to soften the price blow a bit with a trade-in; or you might want to look at Apple's leasing program, which will run about $57-to-$83 / £47 to £66.63 / AU$97.19 to over $161 a month for the base model.

In total, the iPhone Duo is probably better value than you think.

Apple iPhone Duo pricing

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,999.99

£1,999

AU$3,499

512GB

$2,199

£TBD

AU$TBD

1TB

$2,599

£TBD

AU$TBD

2TB

$3,199

£TBD

AU$TBD

• Value score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone Duo review: Specs

These are the key specs of the Apple iPhone Duo:

Dimensions:

Unfolded: 164.6 x 117.8 x 5.2mm, Folded: 84.1 x 117.8 x 11.3mm

Weight:

254g

Displays:

Main: 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR, Cover: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR

Resolution:

Main: 1878 x 2670, Cover: 1398 x 2034

Refresh rate:

1-120Hz (main and cover)

Peak brightness:

3,000 nits

CPU:

A20 Pro

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

OS:

iOS 27

Cameras:

48MP wide (f/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)

Selfie cameras:

11MP Center Stage camera (f/2.2) outer, 4MP (f/1.8) inner

Battery:

4,800mAh (approximate)

Charging:

60W wired, 35W wireless

Colors:

Star White, Night sky

Apple iPhone Duo review: Design

• Polished titanium
• Exquisitely engineered hinge and folding operation
• Unfolds flat
• IP68
• Thicker and heavier than nearest competition
• No Face ID

'Satisfying' is the best way to describe the feeling of repeatedly opening and closing the iPhone Duo. It's as if Apple inadvertently created a digital fidget spinner — the more I carried around the iPhone Duo, the more I found myself absentmindedly folding and unfolding the phone.

Apple's exceptional engineering makes it possible to unfold the phone initially, with almost no effort (it almost springs open at the slightest intentional touch), before the internal torque kicks in to allow for the Duo to be opened to almost any angle between zero and 180 degrees (flat).

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

While you can't see the work that went into making this hinge, the effort is evident in every single touch and move. Inside are hundreds of magnets and other components that keep the phone securely closed, but never get in the way of an easy opening. More so than with any folding phone I've tested, the hinge essentially disappears when the iPhone Duo is unfolded flat.

At 5.2mm thick, the fingerprint-attracting polished titanium iPhone Duo is the thinnest iPhone ever. At least that's how Apple markets it, but that's in tablet mode; I do like the sound of a 5.2mm-thick tablet. The 7.6-inch device is thinner than the 8-inch iPad mini (6.3mm). Folded, the iPhone Duo is 11.3mm thick, almost 2mm thicker than the folded Galaxy Z Fold 8. And at 254g, the iPhone Duo outweighs the Galaxy Z Fold 8 by a noticeable 53 grams. It's even slightly heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which weighs 249g.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

The upshot of all this is that while the 4.64-inch by 3.31-inch folded iPhone Duo fits in even the smallest pocket, you will feel its heft, especially if you pop, say, a Folio with Kickstand case on it.

The iPhone Duo stands out in a way few iPhones have in recent years. Folded, it's closer to square than rectangular in shape, resembling a squat iPhone Pro Max. Plus, the asymmetry — flat and square on one side and curved on the other when folded — means the Duo cuts a unique profile among smartphones.

It does feel good in the hand, though the wider body might take some getting used to. I like the Ceramic Shield 2 front and back, especially the matte-finished back, which makes the Duo almost slip-from-your-hand-proof. The large dual-camera array bump is reminiscent of the iPhone Air, though the similarities end there.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The volume buttons live on the top edge, another departure from the traditional iPhone, and indeed from smartphone design in general — I'm not sure I love that decision. On the right is the long Touch ID-enabled power/sleep/Siri AI button, and below that is the Action button. I often forget that last button exists on my iPhone 18 Pro Max, and I wonder if it was truly necessary here.

I appreciate the inclusion of Touch ID (I registered my index finger and thumb), but the lack of Face ID is frustrating — I had no idea how much I relied on it for quickly unlocking my phone until it wasn't there. Multiple times I've stared at the iPhone Duo's cover screen waiting for something to happen, forgetting that I have to intentionally touch the Touch ID button. A nearly $2,000 device lacking Apple's most powerful biometric security feature is close to unforgivable — I'll probably set up a workaround so that I can unlock the Duo via my Apple Watch.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on left, iPhone Duo on rightLance Ulanoff / FutureSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on left, iPhone Duo on rightLance Ulanoff / FutureSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on left, iPhone Duo on rightLance Ulanoff / FutureSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on left, iPhone Duo on rightLance Ulanoff / FutureSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on bottom, iPhone Duo on topLance Ulanoff / FutureSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 on left, iPhone Duo on rightLance Ulanoff / Future

Along the bottom edge are the USB-C port (the phone ships with a charging cable but no power adapter), the speakers, and the mics.

Unfolded, the iPhone duo feels like a thin, compact tablet — I hesitate to say 'iPad' since the operating system is essentially iOS with some small adjustments for the new form factor.

Lance Ulanoff / Future

Remarkably, Apple comes out of the folding gate flourishing an IP68 rating, which means the iPhone Duo is protected against dust and even water. Naturally, I submerged the Duo under a running faucet, and it was none the worse for the experience.

Overall, I like the design and form factor, but it's different from a traditional iPhone, so it does take some getting used to. I struggled, for instance, to figure out the best way to hold the phone for photography. Do I need to turn it into landscape mode, or should I just hold it the way I hold a 'regular' iPhone? I do wonder how many will choose to unfold the phone, and shoot pictures in the same way they might with their iPad.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone Duo review: Displays

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

• Adorable and unusually shaped 5.4-inch cover display
• Industry-leading 7.6-inch foldable internal display
• Crease is canily hidden via a combination of expert engineering and a nano-etched display
• Bright, sharp, fluid screens

Credit to Apple for not skimping on either of its iPhone Duo displays. Both the 5.4-inch outer and the 7.6-inch flexible inner screens are Super Retina XDR-class OLED panels, both with variable refresh rates up to 120Hz, always-on functionality, and up to 3,000 nits of brightness.

Both displays look impressively sharp, and actually offer slightly higher resolutions than the comparable displays on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The iPhone Duo's 5.4-inch cover display has a 2034 x 1398 resolution (compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 cover display's 1972 x 1248), and the 7.6-inch Inner display is 2670 x 1878 (compared to the Z Fold 8's 2448 x 1848 main display).

At first glance, the iPhone duo Cover screen is instantly recognizable as an iPhone, but close scrutiny reveals some interesting adjustments for the relatively short and wide display. First, the pill-shaped Dynamic Island sits in a vertical space along the right side, and when you look at the home screen, the dock is stacked vertically below the time and a status button (a single tap on it expands it to show connectivity and battery, and also drops down the full Control Center).

The Duo takes that right-hand space and rarely gives it up, which means that websites can look cramped in Safari, and some apps like TikTok, and even Apple's native ones, like Sports, can feel a bit squeezed. There are exceptions, like when you use the screen as a viewfinder in the Camera app, or look back at images in the Photo Gallery. In those cases, the imagery fills the entire screen.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I'm less conflicted about the glorious main screen. It's big, it's responsive, and the matte, nano-texture covering almost completely hides the crease by dispersing any light bouncing off it, instead of directing it right back to your eyes. The display looks and feels perfectly flat, plus that matte covering kills all reflections, and makes every image look almost magazine-quality. It could be argued that a tiny bit of visual punch is lost in the texture, but I really enjoyed everything I viewed and did on the screen. It feels wonderful to the touch, and I had fun playing games like PUBG, browsing the web on a big screen, watching Netflix, reviewing and editing my photos, and multi-taking (more on that later).

Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and 8 Ultra, the iPhone Duo's inner display supports a stylus, specifically the USB-C Apple Pencil. That support is not yet live, but I can't wait to start drawing on the Duo. I did attempt some Procreate Pocket sketches with my finger, and it didn't go well, which is mostly a me problem. However, I had slightly better luck with an analog stylus (see below).

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Apple hides the 4MP inner FaceTime camera behind a handful of pixels, but they don't appear to have the exact same mix of matte and pixel density as the rest of the display, and as such are easy to spot. I wonder if Apple should have just gone with a standard, albeit smaller, cutout.

As on the cover display, Apple has positioned the status and dock vertically on the right side of the main display. I wonder why, in Tablet mode, Apple didn't simply copy the iPad and put this bar at the base of the screen. Still, I noticed that the dock disappears when you're in apps like Safari.

There's more to say about app compatibility with this platform, which I'll get into later in the Software section of this review.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I especially like the redesigned Standby feature, which takes advantage of the Duo's multiple displays and foldable nature. You can prop up the phone like a tent and have the Standby display appear in landscape mode. If you flip the phone up so it's standing on your desk like an open book, the Duo knows to switch Standby to the inner display. At one point I popped the Duo onto my old Belkin MagSafe charger, and used it as a nightstand clock. It's so smart and useful.

What we have here are two excellent displays with a wide array of capabilities in one device. It's both a tiny iPhone and a mini tablet, with two screens that should please both the iPhone and iPad crowds. I have my reservations about the cover screen, but as an overall multi-display package, I'm impressed with the Duo.

• Display score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone Duo review: Cameras

• Two strong 48MP cameras
• Excellent 12MP Center Stage camera
• Inner camera is lower-resolution but effective for FaceTime
• No telephoto camera

It's been a long time since I've reviewed an iPhone on which camera considerations come second to design and mechanical engineering, but the excitement revolving around the iPhone Duo is about its folding capability, creaseless inner screen, and unique-among-iPhones form factor.

Even so, there's no indication that Apple has skimped on three of the four cameras. Yes, the inner camera is just a 4MP shooter that's primarily devoted to FaceTime calls, but the rest of the lenses — 48MP f/1.6 Main, 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and 12MP f/2.2 Center Stage — are all excellent.

While I haven't had a lot of time with the iPhone Duo, I have managed to shoot in a variety of conditions and situations, pushing the cameras on speed, image quality, color, and low-light performance.

The two external cameras default to shooting at 24MP, which means each photo has effectively twice as much information per pixel (the process is called binning).

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I was particularly impressed by the level of detail in the main-camera shots — just look at the specks of pollen on the marigold flower in the gallery below. That same image shows an exceptional balance of shadows and light; the sunlight bleed on the right does not overwhelm the exposure of the rest of the image.

In a challenging social-club environment, the main wide and ultra-wide cameras acquitted themselves nicely, making exposure adjustments to capture the moment without too much grain. Obviously, there was some motion blur, but I think it added to the emotional weight of the event.

With the iPhone duo, Apple has introduced Smart Take, which I liken to your own personal fashion photographer. The setting lives under the grid menu (drawer) in the Camera app, and once it's on, you can set the phone folded at 90 degrees on a desktop, start posing in front of the camera, and Smart Take will capture the 'best shots.'

When I used it, I noted that while I was trusting the phone to take some decent photos of me, I couldn't see a display to keep track of what it was capturing (Smart Take is not supported on the 4MP inner camera). Still, I started striking poses, assuming that the camera would deem those best. It kind of worked, though I think Smart Take would work best if you're able to put the iPhone Duo up on a tripod or shelf to make sure the camera is closer to eye level.

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Similar to what we've seen on other foldable phones, Apple has included a camera mode, Duo Preview, that lets you use the best main or ultra-wide camera while still using the cover display as a viewfinder. It's a useful table-stakes feature that I'm glad Apple included, especially since the inner camera is so underpowered.

Apple says you get 2x effective optical zoom on the main camera, but that's a sensor crop. Yes, the pixels and image information will be real, but I prefer a proper zoom lens. To be fair, the iPhone Duo camera array is quite similar to the 50MP pair on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which also lacks a telephoto lens.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I also used the cover screen Center Stage camera to shoot some portrait-mode selfies. They were, as you might expect, impressive (not the subject, just the brilliant bokeh).

The iPhone Duo's trio of high-quality cameras meets, in my estimation, the high watermark set by lenses on previous iPhones, including the iPhone 17 Pro (the 18 Pro models come with a variable aperture).

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• Camera score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone Duo review: Software

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

• An iOS tablet hybrid that somehow works
• Dock position will split some
• Split screen for multitasking
• Third-party app support is a work in progress

With the iPhone Duo, iOS officially means multiple things. Where it was once a smartphone platform, it's now a multi-hardware-configuration operating system that can, depending on where it's installed, fork appropriately.

Instead of the iPhone Duo unfolding and converting into an iPad, it remains steadfastly an iPhone with tablet-like capabilities. This has resulted in some odd decisions on Apple's part, like hiding some of the ever-present status-bar information, including battery life, and rotating and moving the dock. Even the iPad doesn't put the dock on the right-hand side.

On the cover screen, the status bar and dock placement cut into screen real-estate for some apps and browser experiences; this is less of an issue on the larger inner screen.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Since this is not pure-play classic iOS, there is some discontinuity in third-party app support. During my testing, Gmail and LinkedIn didn't look great. The former is stretched wide but doesn't fill the full depth of the display; LinkedIn floats in the middle.

For unoptimized apps, I did have the option of using the very iPad-like 2x zoom icon, which stretched the app to fit more of the screen. In some instances, apps appeared to work, but some features were broken. When I played Asphalt Legends on the inner display, tilt-to-steer was broken, though it worked perfectly on the cover display.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

Some third-party apps, including Netflix (clips looked pretty good on the Cover display), and first-party apps like Safari and Messages, look great, and effectively use all the 7.6-inch display's real estate. There are even some apps that are already custom-designed to take advantage of the dual-display setup.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

One of my favorites is a game called Toastie. On the inner screen, you butter your bread, add cheese and other ingredients, then hit grill, at which point you fold the phone closed, and it gently pulses for each second of cooking. You have to decide when to stop. To see your grilled cheese sandwich, you open the phone — I did this a half dozen times before I had a virtually edible sandwich.

Lane Ulanoff / FutureLane Ulanoff / Future

Deck-Man is also a cute concept; this turns your iPhone duo into a classic cassette tape player, complete with the static you hear when the player is on but not playing a tape. When the iPhone is open, you choose a cassette and virtually put it in the player, then you close the phone to access the player controls. I especially liked how "rewinding" the tape reproduced the classic sounds of a physical tape rewinding in an old-school player.

I also played Battle Fleet, which is a Battleship knockoff, and works well when you set up the phone in 90-degree opened desktop mode.

These are all clever apps, though I wouldn't argue that any are the Duo's 'killer app.'

The 7.6-inch inner display is also a good canvas for multitasking. You split the screen by swiping up from the bottom of the display and slowly dragging an app left or right. Inside each pane, you can swipe up to choose a different app. I used this to have Messages and Safari side-by-side, and also for the drawing app Procreate on one side and a reference image from Safari on the left.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

Unlike on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, you can't run three apps, though the iPhone Duo will let you add picture-in-picture video on top of two apps you have open.

The iPhone Duo is a good showcase for Apple's growing AI ambitions. Siri AI now knows more about me and my smartphone, so when I ask if there are any emails I should know about, it automatically accesses 'Priority Mail' in the Mail app, and quickly starts reading off the first crucial message. Siri AI is better at maintaining context, so I don't have to restate myself, but it's still not foolproof. I asked Siri where I had been yesterday, and it showed me a picture of myself and listed my age. Siri AI should, though, get better as it continues to index my system.

In general, iOS 27, which is more customizable that ever, has useful widgets and more powerful AI features, and is the perfect platform for Apple's biggest iPhone design leap. It may not have all the design elements right, and the app support is lagging a bit behind, but these are all minor, and I think easily adjustable or fixable, issues.

• Software score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone Duo review: PerformanceLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

• Powerful A20 Pro CPU
• 12GB RAM
• Smooth performance across the board

Apple smartly put the same CPU, the 2-nanometer A20 Pro, in the iPhone Duo as it did in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. As a result, the performance on its first foldable device is equally impressive. In Future Labs benchmark tests, the A20 Pro on an iPhone Duo beat the Galaxy Z Fold 8's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy in Geekbench 7 single- and multi-core tests, and it also edged out the Qualcomm chip in most of our graphics tests. None of this was by a wide margin, and I'd challenge anyone to notice the difference in real-world scenarios. Still, it's nice to know that the Duo is cooking with gas, just like its Pro counterparts.

In my experience, the iPhone Duo is fast and fluid. Speaking of which, it's fun to start with some third-party apps on the cover screen, and then flip open the iPhone Duo to see the virtually seamless graphics handoff from the smaller display to the larger one. It's both a software and performance feat that nothing stutters or stalls in the handoff process.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The larger inner screen will probably encourage many to try even tougher tasks, like editing 40K 60fps video. I used CyberLink PowerDirector to do so, and while the system and app handled the task fine, the non-optimized app couldn't properly fill the 7.6-inch display.

The back of the phone, near the camera bump, can get a little warm during gaming and other CPU-intensive operations, like recording the aforementioned 4K video, but not uncomfortably so.

Apple's A20 and the 12GB of RAM on board seem well suited to local tasks like photo editing in Cleanup, and both realistic and fanciful image creation in Image Playground.

Apple's AI-powered image cleanup is getting really good. Look at how it removed this woman from a photo of my wife.Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureYou never know when you're going to need a dragon riding a car in the desert.Lance Ulanoff / Future

The iPhone Duo starts with 256GB of storage, which matches the Galaxy Z Fold 8. At this price, though, I think it should start with double that. You can expect strong connectivity across the board from the iPhone Duo. Inside is Apple's C2 modem for better 5G connectivity. Plus, there's support for WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Messages via Satellite.

Apple iPhone Duo benchmark scores

Apple iPhone Duo

Geekbench 7.1 single-core

4007

Geekbench 7.1 multi-core

11363

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited

7171

3DMark Wild Life Extreme (fps)

45.3

3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited

16496

3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited (fps)

6.3

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone Duo review: Battery

• Solid all-day battery life
• Fast wired charging

Apple reportedly squeezed a fairly large, almost 5,000mAh, battery into the iPhone duo, and is promising some pretty impressive battery-life numbers based on fairly specific types of usage. Video playback, which doesn't rely all that much on energy-draining resources, can, Apple claims, go for an eye-watering 44 hours, or 31 hours on the larger inner display.

In more varied use, Apple is claiming a full day of battery life on a charge. In my real-world tests I got around 14 hours, and in our more stringent Future Labs tests, we got 13 hours. That's commendable performance, but not as good as what the same Future Labs tests show for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which managed 14.33 hours.

I still think the iPhone Duo's numbers are good, especially because my experience was easily cruising through a full day of phone activities, without any concern that I needed to plug in.

The phone supports fast charging and, with a 45W charger, I charged to 60% in 30 minutes. The MagSafe back also supports fast wireless charging.

• Battery score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Apple iPhone Duo?Apple iPhone Duo scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Most expensive iPhone ever but it's truly a two-in-one device and few will pay the full price upfront anyway, especially with the new leasing option.

4 / 5

Design

Beautifully designed and engineered foldable that makes the hinge and, virtually, hinge disappear. Wish it was thinner and lighter.

4.5 / 5

Displays

Sharp cover dsispl;ay and brilliant inner display that hides the crease and offered a beautiful matte finish. Everything looks good on it

4.5 / 5

Camera

Two strong 48MP lenses and an above average Center Stage selfie camera that all produce top-notch images. The inner camera is best for FaceTime only and we miss a true telephoto.

4.5 / 5

Software

Apple shows how iOS can also be a tablet platform without losing its iPhone essence. Siri AI is starting to live up to its promise. We need more app support and not a huge fan of Status and Dock placement.

4.5 / 5

Performance

An excellent A20 Pro CPU helps the iPhone Duo live up to its promises. There are zero lags, even when playing console-level games

5 / 5

Battery

All day battery life is virtually assured.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You've been waiting for Apple to enter the folding race
The iPhone Duo is pretty much everything you want or could dream of from a folding iPhone

You want two screens but also cuter and pocketable
The iPhone Duo might be thicker and heavier than a Galaxy Z Fold 8, but it's right-sized for small hands and smaller pockets, and while the Galaxy Z Fold line is all flat edges and sharp corners, the iPhone Duo has curves.

You don't want to see a crease
Apple now holds the crown for best crease concealer, hiding it under nano texture finish that makes it almost impossible to spot the crease unless you really look for it.

Don't buy it if...

You want an affordable smartphone
The iPhone Duo is not just the most expensive iPhone; it's more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Either way, think carefully before buying; not everyone needs two displays in one device.

You want a telephoto camera
The iPhone Duo's main camera promises 2X optical equivalent zoom, but that's a sensor crop, which means there's no dedicated telephoto camera.

Apple iPhone Duo review: Also consider

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Samsung has adapted familiar elements to make a phone that's ready to fit your lifestyle with its practical size, excellent screens, and plenty of software and performance potential. It’s still costly, and the lack of some features seems extra disappointing given the price, but what’s here gels together in a wonderfully cohesive way.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review

Motorola Razr Plus 2026

This is currently our best flip-style foldable pick, and it might be the better device for you if you're looking for a foldable that can go the distance with its battery, and don’t mind only having a standard-sized phone screen when you open it up.

Read our full Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Considering the minimal price difference, you might be better off saving a little extra money and getting the full-fat fold experience with more screen space, a telephoto camera, and a longer-lasting battery. The Z Fold 8 Ultra isn't as well-suited to video, though.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra review

Apple iPhone Duo

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Motorola Razr Plus 2026

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Price (at launch):

From $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,499

From $1899, £1699, AU$2699

$1,099, £1,000

From $2,099 £1,899. AU$2,999

Dimensions:

Unfolded: 164.6 x 117.8 x 5.2 mm, Folded: 84.1 x 117.8 x 11.3 mm

Unfolded: 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm, Folded: 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm

Unfolded: 2.9 x 6.7 x 0.3 in

Folded: 3.5 x 2.9 x 0.6 in

Unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1mm, Folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm

Weight:

254g

201g

189g

215g

Displays:

Main: 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR, Cover: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR

Main: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Cover: 5.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Main: 6.9-inch AMOLED, Cover: 4-inch AMOLED

Main: 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x, Cover: 6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Resolution:

Main: 1878 x 2670, Cover: 1398 x 2034

Main: 2448 x 1848, Cover: 1972 x 1248

Main: 1084 x 2640, Cover: 1272 x 1080

Main: 2256 x 2504, Cover: 1080 x 2520

Refresh rate:

1-120hz

1 - 120Hz (main and cover)

1 - 165 Hz (main and cover)

1 - 120Hz (main and cover)

Peak brightness:

3,000

3,000 nits (main and cover)

Main: 3,000 nits, Cover: 2,400 nits

3,000 nits (main and cover)

Processor:

A20 Pro

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB

12GB, 16GB (1TB model only)

12GB

12GB, 16GB (1TB model only)

Storage:

256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

256GB

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS:

iOS 27

Android 17 with One UI 9

Android 16

Android 17 with One UI 9

Cameras:

48MP wide (f/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)

50MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide

200MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto

Selfie cameras:

11MP Center Stage camera (f/2.2) outer, 4MP (f/1.8) inner

10MP inner, 10MP outer

32MP

10MP inner, 10MP outer

Battery:

Approximately 4,800mAh

4,800mAh

4,500mAh

5,000mAh

Charging:

60W wired, 35W wireless

45W wired, 20W wireless

45W wired, 15W wireless

45W wired, 20W wireless

Colors:

Star White, Night sky

Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Mint (Samsung Store exclusive)

Pantone Mountain View

Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow (Samsung Store exclusive)

How I tested the Apple iPhone DuoWhy you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I used the iPhone Duo for almost a week for everything from social media to Slack and email. I perused websites, watched videos, played games, followed maps and turn-by-turn directions, and took photos. In short, I tried ot use it as my primary device

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2026

• President Trump says data center developers should offer a 'dividend' to get local community approval for campuses
• Nebius CRO says the company is "100% in principle" considering some form of local investment
• Paying local residents to approve a local data resident didn't go so well in Hazle, Pennsylvania

President Trump has told data center companies that one way to get local residents to support new developments is to “make deals” with local residents.

Trump suggested offering communities a “dividend,” adding, “I have watched the process closely, and Data Centers that were highly unpopular in a certain area, have become extremely popular when a financial deal is struck.”

“MAKE DEALS, and get them built!!! GREAT FOR THE U.S.A.,” the President wrote on Truth Social. But as one town has already demonstrated, these payments are viewed as a bribe that threaten to turn communities against each other.

Dividend or bribe?

As the November 2026 midterm elections draw closer, data centers have become a make-or-break topic for some candidates. Data center developers and AI companies have been channeling millions of dollars into political action committees in an effort to get a more favorable view of data centers.

Multiple states are considering enacting moratoriums on AI data center development, which if approved could cost developers and AI companies billions in lost investment. Environmental concerns and issues relating to noise and light pollution are high on the list for residents protesting against local developments.

NorthPoint Development is currently seeking to build an AI data center in Hazle, Pennsylvania, and offered each household $10,000 in an attempt to convince residents to get on board with having the campus approved. But the residents did not react as planned, calling the payment a bribe and turning it down over fears it could split the community in two - those who live near the campus and declined and those who live further away and took the payment.

When questioned by Trump’s proposal, Marc Boroditsky, CRO of Nebius told CNBC that the company is “100% in principle” having discussions about potential investments in local communities.

“We see it today in terms of the tax revenue that are arriving. I could see something like a benefit of some sort that’s more direct economic opportunity for the community as well,” Boroditsky said. “A dividend is being paid in different forms — investing in education, job development, overall economic development. The concept that the president identified... it’s not crazy to consider something like that"

Via CNBC

OpenAI recently introduced GPT-6, a new model of ChatGPT. You've probably heard about a lot of its new features but one that I don't think has had nearly enough attention, especially considering how much fun you can have with it, is Intelligent UI.

It allows ChatGPT to generate interactive experiences directly within a conversation. OpenAI explains: “With Intelligent UI, responses can include graphics, tappable buttons, forms, charts, and interactive experiences you can use directly in your conversation.”

What's interesting is there isn’t a single format. Which means, depending on what you ask, ChatGPT might create an interactive diagram, a calculator, a mood board, a map or even a little gaming console.

There are some genuinely useful applications here, from making complicated subjects easier to understand to building simple tools on the spot. But I was particularly interested in something a little less practical — games.

ChatGPT can now create games you can actually play within the chat window. And while there are all sorts of possibilities for educational games, quizzes and entirely new creations, I wanted to see what would happen if I asked it to recreate some old favorites.

So I started with five classic games, including Snake, Pong and Tetris. I gave ChatGPT simple prompts to see how faithfully it could recreate them. I then asked it to reinvent each game with new aesthetics, unexpected gameplay mechanics and a few deliberately chaotic twists. Think Snake in a neon cyberpunk world and Tetris with rules that change every time you clear a line.

Here's what happened when I put ChatGPT's new game-making abilities to the test.

Snake gets a neon makeover

(Image credit: Future)

The prompt: "Create a playable version of the classic Snake game directly inside this conversation."

ChatGPT got the basics right straight away. The game was instantly recognizable, with responsive controls and even a slider to adjust the speed. It looked good and, importantly, it was actually fun to play for a couple of games.

I then asked it to give Snake a neon cyberpunk makeover, complete with moving obstacles, special power-ups and a speed increase every five points. Say hello to Neon Snake.

(Image credit: Future)

There was one small hiccup. Instead of creating the new game directly in the chat window, ChatGPT initially gave me the code. Which wasn't much use when the whole point was to play it there and then.

I tried another prompt asking it if it could make it directly playable in the conversation and that worked. The results of that experiment were fun. The neon aesthetic looked good, everything was color-coded and the new mechanics gave the classic (and, let’s be honest, sometimes boring) game an extra layer of challenge.

Tetris gets new rules

(Image credit: Future)

The prompt: "Create a playable game inspired by Tetris directly inside this conversation."

This one worked really well from the start. I’d just assumed it would be a bit buggy and glitchy because there’s so much going on compared to Snake, but the controls were intuitive and responsive, and the classic block-stacking mechanic was all there.

But what if Tetris changed the rules every time you cleared a line? That was the idea behind my follow-up prompt.

(Image credit: Future)

I asked ChatGPT to introduce unexpected twists, which could include rotating the board to adding unusual block shapes or special powers that could destroy part of the grid.

And it delivered. The changing rules introduced a fun element of unpredictability to a game that's usually all about getting into a rhythm. I also came away thinking about how much further you could take this. There are so many opportunities to experiment with different rules, challenges and power-ups.

Space Invaders becomes a First Contact situation

(Image credit: Future)

The prompt: "Build me a fully playable retro arcade game inspired by Space Invaders"

Again, ChatGPT recreated the classic arcade experience surprisingly well. It looked and played like the original, with straightforward controls and all the fun of shooting at waves of approaching aliens.

But I wanted to see whether it could do something a bit more imaginative than adding extra enemies or making everything move faster. So I asked it to introduce a choice: what if I could defend Earth by fighting the aliens or negotiating with them?

(Image credit: Future)

I wanted waves of pixel-art enemies, but also decisions between rounds that could unlock weapons, stop an invasion or make the next attack more dangerous.

ChatGPT called its reinvention First Contact, which I loved. Up until this point it was calling most of the games "chaos" or "chaotic" so this felt more inventive.

It was a fun way to introduce a new dimension to a familiar game. But did it work well? I don't know, I couldn't ever make it past the first level. This experiment really suffered with my poor alien-fighting abilities.

Haunted Pac-Man

(Image credit: Future)

The prompt: "Create a fully interactive retro maze game inspired by Pac-Man that I can play directly inside this ChatGPT conversation."

This was easily my favorite of the five, but I have always adored Pac-Man. ChatGPT's first attempt was a fun, responsive maze game with the familiar mechanics of moving around, collecting things and trying to avoid enemies. Bonus points for the fact it renamed it Maze Muncher.

For the reinvention, I decided to lean into Halloween. I asked it to turn the game into a haunted 1980s arcade, with me playing a little ghost hunter instead of Pac-Man.

(Image credit: Future)

I also wanted the maze itself to change. Every ten orbs collected would trigger a surprise, like shifting walls, new passages or an extra ghost. And I asked for temporary power-ups that would let me chase the ghosts for a change.

ChatGPT handled this well but didn't wait until I'd collected orbs. It was super fast-paced and there were new ghosts, secret passages and changing mechanics from the start. It was quick, easy to control and genuinely fun to play.

Pong reinvented

(Image credit: Future)

The prompt: Build me a fully playable version of Pong inside this conversation.

Pong might be the simplest game of the bunch, but ChatGPT made a really solid version. The controls were easy, the aesthetics were nice and it even offered easy, normal and hard difficulty settings.

I decided to ruin that simplicity and asked ChatGPT to create a more chaotic version where every point triggered a random modifier. The ball could split in two, the paddles could shrink, gravity could change or an obstacle could appear in the middle of the court.

The result definitely delivered on the chaos. The familiar back-and-forth gameplay was still there, but the changing rules made each rally a little less predictable. It was also a reminder of how much fun you can have with a simple idea. You don't need to reinvent every part of a game to make it entertaining.

(Image credit: Future)

I was genuinely impressed with how well all five games worked, especially considering how simple my original prompts were.

Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, like ChatGPT deciding to give me code instead of a playable game a couple of times. But overall, the controls were responsive, the games looked good and the reinventions were more imaginative than I expected.

What I enjoyed most was how easy it was to experiment. You could take a game you already know, change the aesthetic, introduce an unexpected mechanic or come up with something completely ridiculous and see what ChatGPT made of it.

I can imagine this being a fun way to waste half an hour, especially if you loved these games growing up. Although, after all this experimenting, I do feel like I should remind you that the originals are still out there, and they're well worth revisiting too.

• Nvidia's RTX 6060 may not arrive until 2029 a leaker claims
• They note that when there are supply issues (the current RAM shortage), Nvidia tends to drag out the release of lower-end GPUs
• They also believe it's unlikely the RTX 6060 will match the PS6 for frame rates

Nvidia's budget GPU for its next-gen range may not be released for three years yet, if a new rumor about the RTX 6060 turns out to be correct.

Wccftech spotted a post from leaker Kepler on the NeoGAF forums, who chipped in with speculation on Nvidia's graphics cards in a thread about the cost of the PlayStation 6.

Kepler was responding to a comment observing that the PS6 is going to go up against the RTX 6060 when it launches in terms of comparisons to PC gaming, and the leaker said — add seasoning with this as ever — that the "6060 will launch much later (and based on recent trends I doubt it will match PS6)".

In a further post, the leaker added: "When there's a supply shortage Nvidia tends to really drag the release of lower end cards. There's a good chance RTX 6060 comes out in 2029."

This would mean we're looking at an early-to-mid 2028 launch for the RTX 6090, 6080 and 6070, which lines up with more recent rumors. Of course, that's not a foregone conclusion, and Kepler is clearly speculating here.

Recent reports from analysts indicate that the PS6 will likely launch in 2028, though some have argued that Sony's next-gen console could appear late in 2027 (alongside other devices, perhaps).

Analysis: late, as well as short on performance?

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, what Kepler contends here is what Nvidia is supposedly planning right now, and just as with the PS6, a lot of the direction that Team Green goes in with its next-gen GPUs will depend on the memory crisis. Graphics cards do, of course, use video RAM (VRAM), and the next generation of GeForce products will be expected to up the ante on that score. (Gamers are already unhappy with Nvidia's current-gen VRAM configurations).

The problem is that there's no shortage of predictions that RAM cost inflation is going to get even worse in 2027, after it has already spiked in a big way through the middle of this year. The theorizing then runs that 2028 is also going to be a difficult year, which lends weight to the argument that the RTX 6060 will indeed be late to the GPU party.

In short, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a 2029 arrival for the RTX 6060 as suggested, which obviously isn't great news for those hoping to score a more wallet-friendly next-gen Nvidia GPU.

It's also interesting to note that Kepler believes the RTX 6060 won't be as powerful as the PS6 for gaming frame rates, but I'd take that claim with even more salt than the rumors around timing.

Gauging hardware capabilities at this stage is obviously a trickier task, but Kepler's assertion isn't an impossibility of course. Note that the current RTX 5060 matches the PS5 Pro's gaming performance (roughly, for rasterization as opposed to ray tracing), so if the RTX 6060 couldn't equal the PS6, that would be a clear disappointment for PC gamers on a budget (particularly if the VRAM loadout again turns out lean).

• Two in three IT leaders say their infrastructure isn't ready to handle AI and analytics
• Complex data regulations are giving them a major headache
• AI PCs also form part of the broader infrastructure considerations

According to a new report by Dell, UK businesses are struggling more than their EMEA counterparts when it comes to AI, with three in five (61%) British firms lacking a clear roadmap covering AI, data and security, compared with 46% across EMEA.

But one thing they have in common with their Europe and Middle East counterparts is that legacy infrastructure is likely one of the biggest factors slowing effective AI deployment.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of IT leaders say their infrastructure is not yet fully prepared to support AI and analytics workloads at scale, noting substantial gaps between ambitions and reality.

Data foundations and IT infrastructure are still holding back AI

Having to coordinate compliance and regulatory factors across their entire stacks is also making it difficult for enterprises to lay out solid foundations, the report claims. More than half (55%) say security and compliance concerns have already slower or delayed their AI strategies, with 64% of leaders worried about regulation compliance when using their data for AI.

And it's not just complex IT infrastructure that's holding back widespread deployment, because even end-user devices need to be considered. Nearly all (92%) respondents agreed that modern devices help them in terms of productivity, but four in five (79%) are being held back by outdated devices.

To that tune, 86% of EMEA leaders now agree that AI PCs will play an important role in their strategies going forward. As of the beginning of 2026, AI PCs accounted for around 44% of all PC shipments (per Omdia tracking), marking a healthy ongoing rise.

"The focus is shifting from exploring what's possible to connecting the infrastructure, data, security and workplace technology needed to turn AI into real business value at scale," UK&I MD and Dell SVP Steve Young explained.

While IT leaders clearly understand some of the factors holding back effective AI deployments, at least two clear challenges are identified in Dell's report – complex regulatory environments and an expensive PC market driven by component shortages.

• UK government cracks down on people who annoy others with phone music
• Fines of up to £100 for those people
• It's cheaper to just buy these headphones

People who play music, TikTok videos or out-loud video calls on public transport probably aren't self-aware enough to know how annoying it is, but apparently the UK government does, because it's finally cracking down on so-called "headphone dodgers".

From next Monday, transport authorities will be allowed to fine rule-breakers by up to £100 if they're causing a nuisance. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is fronting the campaign, after previous governments toyed with the idea.

It's a good idea, but the success is dependent on enforcement, as transport safety officers and not drivers are expected to hand out the fines. Given how minimally-staffed most public transport services are, some (me) are dubious that the rules will make a difference.

However if you've been a 'headphone dodger' and you want to turn a new leaf (good on you), it'd make sense to buy a pair of headphones that cost much less than the £100 penalty fare.

And naturally, we've tested a few that we can recommend…

Sennheiser CX 80U

(Image credit: Future)

Starting with something nice and cheap, we've got some wired earbuds, which you can easily plug into the USB-C port on a phone and keep bundled up in your pocket the rest of the time. No Bluetooth dropouts, no losing a bud as you board the bus, no apps, none of that.

The Sennheiser CX 80U sound great, block surrounding noise quite well, and offer a nice simple design. We gave them 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review, only knocking them for some missing features of pricier buds.

Best of all, though, they're really cheap. They launched for $39.95 / £34.99 in January this year, but you can find them even a little cheaper than that on Amazon.

Sony WH-CH530 (or even the Sony WH-CH730N)

(Image credit: Sony)

If you want great-value headphones, you can't go wrong with a pair from Sony, and its recently-released Sony WH-CH530N are really affordable at $69 / £50.

We haven't yet finished testing these on-ears, they're that new, but their predecessors the WH-CH520 got 4.5 stars in our review. We praised the balanced sound and long-lasting battery, and the newer pair will likely bring improvements.

As you can see in the picture, they come in a wide range of colors, and also have noise cancellation, which isn't something you can say about all options at this price point.

Prefer over-ears? Go for the just-reviewed, all-new Sony WH-CH730N: a solid four stars and they're just under that £99 (or equivalent, in your country of residence) fine line, if you'll pardon the pun…

JLab JBuds Mini ANC

(Image credit: Future)

Last, but not least, let's look at some standard wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, which we got to try earlier this year.

The JLab JBuds Mini ANC are tiny — you can even clip the case onto your keyring — so you've got no excuse for not having buds on the bus. At $49.99 / £49.99 they won't break the bank either.

We enjoyed the non-ANC JLab JBuds Mini too, when they came out three years ago, and they're ideal for people who want lightweight buds.

Have further thoughts? Drop us a comment — or better yet, fill out the poll below this text and then add your comment!

Businesses invest heavily in attracting, developing and retaining talent. At the same time, many continue to view workplace technology primarily through the lens of procurement cycles, standardization and cost. Yet the technology employees use every day shapes how they experience the business and how effectively they can contribute.

As AI becomes embedded in everyday work, that connection becomes even more important. The organizations that realize the greatest value from AI will not simply introduce new tools. They will ensure employees have the technology, support and confidence to use them effectively.

The employee experience starts with technology

When workplace technology works well, it is largely invisible. When it does not, the effects are felt in everyday moments: a video call that starts late because something will not connect, a laptop that struggles through a day of meetings, or a workspace setup that is inconsistent from one location to the next. Individually, these are minor frustrations. Collectively, they influence productivity, engagement and perceptions of the workplace over time.

Employees do not judge technology by specifications or refresh cycles. Increasingly, they judge employers by the quality of the digital experience they provide and whether they can work without friction. As a result, organizations are increasingly looking beyond individual devices and considering the broader technology environment.

The PC, display, peripherals and collaboration tools all contribute to the employee experience, shaping how effectively people can collaborate, stay productive and adapt to changing business needs.

From access to enablement

This conversation is becoming more significant as AI moves from experimentation into everyday workflows. As these capabilities become more commonplace, organizations are recognizing that successful AI adoption depends on more than simply providing access to new tools. It requires the surrounding systems, processes and technology environments that enable employees to use them effectively.

This challenge is reflected in Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index, which highlights a growing "Transformation Paradox": employees are increasingly ready to work with AI tools, while many organizations are still adapting their systems, processes and operating models to fully support them.

While AI is often discussed in terms of applications and platforms, employees experience it through the devices they use every day. For most employees, the PC remains the primary workspace: the place where meetings happen, content is created, decisions are made and work gets done. As AI is embedded in everyday business applications, the role of the PC is evolving.

It is no longer simply a gateway to information or a communication tool. Increasingly, it is becoming a platform through which employees interact with AI-powered capabilities as part of their daily work.

As these capabilities become embedded into everyday workflows, employees can spend less time summarizing meetings, searching for information or completing repetitive administrative tasks and more time on work that requires judgement, creativity and human interaction. The outcome is not simply productivity in the traditional sense. It is a better day-to-day experience of work.

The technology behind workforce readiness

Workforce readiness increasingly depends on whether employees have the tools and support required to make effective use of emerging capabilities. This is where device strategy becomes increasingly important. Ageing technology rarely creates a single catastrophic failure. More often, it limits potential through delays, workarounds and interruptions that make it harder for employees to take full advantage of new ways of working.

At the same time, AI is raising expectations about what employees should be able to accomplish. If organizations want people to embrace new ways of working, they need to consider whether the technology environment supporting them is fit for that purpose. That means looking beyond refresh schedules alone and considering the broader role workplace technology plays in enabling productivity and workforce readiness.

Why device strategy is becoming talent strategy

Organizations do not build successful workplaces through technology alone. Yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate workforce outcomes from the technology environment that supports them.

That is why the conversation around AI PCs is expanding beyond IT and procurement to include HR and business leaders. As organizations look for ways to improve employee experience, strengthen productivity and prepare people for AI-enabled work, device strategy is becoming part of a broader talent conversation.

In the past, technology was viewed as infrastructure that supported work. In the AI era, it is increasingly becoming infrastructure that supports talent. Organizations that recognize technology as part of their talent infrastructure will be better positioned to attract, empower and retain the people they need to succeed.

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Psychologist Abraham Maslow once warned: “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” Agentic AI is becoming the enterprise version of that hammer.

Once people understand what agentic AI can do, the list of possible use cases grows quickly.

While that enthusiasm should be applauded, it can lead to strategies that are back to front “If AI is the answer, what’s the question?” By the time it comes to looking at results and whether the investment in AI has been fruitful, it’s hard to identify what’s been achieved and why achieving it was important in the first place.

Start with the value, not the agent

In the rush that followed ChatGPT, many organizations deployed AI tools to their workforces at large with no defined value or end goal. People started working differently almost immediately, but with no baseline captured, there was no way to know what had actually improved. Who knows how long it takes to write a coherent email and who knows what time is saved by having ChatGPT rephrase it for you!

This is what McKinsey calls the “gen AI paradox”. Its 2025 survey found just 39% of organizations reported any enterprise-level financial impact from their AI investment, despite mass adoption.

Organizations need to be precise about what they want to measure. There are three layers to this and most only capture the first.

• Adoption: are people using it?
• Behavior: are people doing their jobs differently?
• Outcome: revenue per salesperson, tickets closed per engineer, cycle time on a review gate.

Adoption and outcome together show a correlation; for example, people who use AI sell more. But it’s the, often missed, behavior layer in the middle that turns that correlation into causation, i.e. they sell more because they are now able to use AI to fill in more client reports, leaving more time to hit the phones.

Know your workflow

If organizations can’t see how work is really being done, two things happen. The baseline measures the wrong process, making any claimed improvement meaningless and an agent given the wrong steps cannot complete the job.

One procurement process at Atos looked like a four-step workflow on paper, but when we looked carefully and asked those doing it, it was closer to 10. People moved between Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Outlook and spreadsheets, copying information, waiting for replies and re-entering data manually.

A baseline on four steps would have measured the wrong process and an agent given four steps couldn’t have completed a job that takes ten.

Not every problem needs an agent

Understanding the workflow also shows whether agentic AI is the right technology at all. If tasks follow fixed rules “if this happens, do that” the answer may be Robotic Process Automation (RPA), workflow automation or a process change.

Agentic AI is better suited to workflows where the system needs to interpret context, coordinate across tools, make recommendations or act within defined boundaries. Even then, it needs a clear measure of success and a credible business case. The economics of deploying Agentic AI are still in infancy, but this will act as a natural filter for only the most valuable cases.

Prove the value before building

Value is where the tough work of a clear business case comes in. Proving the value of Agentifying a process before any code is written.

This requires access to good data sets. Evidence on cost and business value before introducing Agentic AI is needed before budget is committed. Where the benefits are measurable and enough open data exists, it’s possible to build something real in a week. Where the data still requires work, it is always worth refining the data you have before attempting to justify a business case.

Work managed upfront will save cost and time and give you evidence of value.

Build a portfolio, not a queue

Once there is a shortlist of use cases, organizations can prioritize against financial impact, feasibility, process impact, technology requirements, human impact and risk. Scoring across multiple factors rather than ranking on ROI alone creates a portfolio instead of a queue. A lower-value use case with fast impact might prove value early and build credibility for agents that follow. A high-value use case with a two-year runway may need to wait.

Budget for a new mortgage

Even once the right case has been selected, many organizations still struggle to see impact because they focus on the build, then under-resource the work needed to make the change land.

Gartner calls this a “transition mortgage”, where AI adoption demands more support than traditional technology, often requiring 25% more training effort and up to 200% additional change management.

In our own organization, we were guilty of building independent tools in different regions and teams to solve the same business problem. We have now established clearer oversight of our use cases. The issue was not the quality of the tools, but duplicated effort, cost and resources.

Not every workflow needs a hammer

C-suite leaders should start with fewer use cases where the value and workflows are clear, the baseline is measurable, the data is available and the role of the agent is well defined. Then they should budget for communications, adoption, measurement and scale.

The value from agentic AI is not measured by the number of agents an organization deploys. It is measured by whether the work changed and whether the organization can prove it. Agentic AI is a powerful hammer, but success lies in understanding which problems are nails and which are not.

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The most fascinating thing about Apple's new iPhone Duo – and others like it – may not be that it folds. It may be the innovation required to keep it cool. Because at a time when performance demands from edge AI continue to increase, we’ve now taken available smartphone real estate and – though not exactly halved it – constrained it more than ever. And that impacts heat. Which impacts performance.

What makes the Duo interesting isn't simply the engineering required to create a folding phone. It's that Apple is confronting the same challenge every edge device manufacturer now faces: AI capability is increasing faster than our ability to manage the heat it generates.

That’s why I believe we’re entering a new phase of device innovation, with thermal design increasingly shaping what’s possible. In the edge AI era, managing heat helps determine what a device can do, how long it can sustain performance, and how small or thin it can be.

The iPhone Duo is just the latest reminder that smartphone manufacturers have run into a stubborn engineering problem: How to keep mobile processors cool when there’s almost nowhere left to put a cooling system.

For its part, with the Duo, Apple has packed its A20 Pro and other heat-generating electronics into an exceptionally thin, foldable design. It’s also created a custom vapor chamber to help dissipate heat and sustain performance in the new form factor.

The latter is more than an engineering footnote. It’s a glimpse at a challenge the edge AI industry is starting to confront. Thermal design and industrial design are inseparable. And new solutions to thermal challenges must be considered.

Foldables Make the Challenge Obvious

Foldable phones make the thermal management challenge easy to perceive. Conventional smartphone design gives engineers a relatively predictable enclosure in which to arrange the processor, battery, cameras, and thermal management system. A foldable must accommodate a hinge and two display sections while remaining thin enough to fold comfortably and fit in a pocket.

At the same time, the processor and other electronics still generate heat – more, even, when we consider how people are starting to use mobile devices. Which means foldable designs necessarily concentrate significant heat-generating components into smaller and thinner portions of the device, precisely where space for thermal hardware is already constrained.

In general, vapor chambers remain one of the most effective ways to manage heat in a compact electronic device. They work by moving heat away from a concentrated source, such as a mobile processor, and spreading it across a larger area. But vapor chambers ultimately spread heat rather than remove it.

Sure, as processors become more powerful, manufacturers can increase the size and effectiveness of the vapor chamber. But eventually that thermal component itself becomes a design constraint, especially in foldable phones.

Agentic AI Makes the Challenge Urgent

In foldables, innovating around thermal management is itself an admirable design goal – if folding were the only technological advancement engineers had to tackle. But they’re pushing the envelope on physical design at the exact moment when smartphones are being asked to do much more. Namely, to process agentic AI workloads.

As agentic AI moves from the cloud to edge devices – AI-capable smartphones, wearables, glasses, and more – thermal management becomes the industry's most important challenge. Imagine a new foldable smartphone with its own specialized thermal management system, designed to accommodate an innovative new form factor. Now imagine asking that foldable to process vast amounts of data differently than before.

Unlike traditional mobile apps that perform discrete tasks, AI agents operate continuously. They sense their environment, preserve context, analyze streams of data, and act in real time.

In my view, the industry is still underestimating how significant this transition will be. Historically, a smartphone's thermal profile was defined by short bursts of activity: launching an app, streaming a video, capturing a photo. Agentic AI at the edge changes that model entirely. Devices are moving toward persistent intelligence, continuously sensing, processing, reasoning, and responding. With these sustained workloads, a device’s ability to manage heat becomes a defining constraint on its performance.

Passive thermal technologies remain indispensable. Vapor chambers, graphite, heat spreaders, and advanced materials will continue to play a critical role in future devices. The challenge is that Edge AI introduces thermal loads that increasingly benefit from more than heat spreading alone. As devices become thinner and workloads become more persistent, designers will need additional ways to not just to move heat away from sensitive components, but to move heat out of the system entirely.

Micro-Cooling Complements the Vapor Chamber

So here we are, with foldable smartphones capable of agentic AI processing. It’s a perfect storm of thermal design challenges. Engineers can continue enlarging or customizing the thermal systems they integrate into new and different form factors. Or they can find other ways to extract more thermal performance from available space.

The latter approach is where active, micro-cooling technology becomes a viable and important solution.

Unlike miniature rotary fans, which exist today and take up precious real estate of their own, MEMS-based piezoelectric actuators, fabricated in silicon, generate airflow inside extremely compact packages. Basically, it’s a fan on a chip, capable of precise active cooling that fits where conventional solutions cannot.

With micro cooling (µCooling), heat isn’t just spread out, it’s removed from the device entirely before it can sink into the case, delaying or eliminating thermal throttling. This hybrid approach to cooling in highly constrained spaces delivers better thermal performance in today’s AI-enabled smart devices.

It also creates greater design flexibility – a must as devices themselves become more physically flexible. If active µCooling can provide additional thermal performance, manufacturers may not need to maximize the physical dimensions of vapor chambers. A more appropriately sized, passive thermal system could be paired with localized active µCooling and thereby free up internal volume for other components and give designers more flexibility in how a device is assembled.

Put simply, with µCooling, thermal hardware wouldn’t have to consume as much of a device’s design envelope.

µCooling As Part of the Compute Architecture

The implications extend beyond folding smartphones. AI glasses, headphones, watches, robots, and other edge devices face the same fundamental problem, often with even tighter constraints on size, weight, and power.

The industry wants to put more intelligence into mobile devices while simultaneously making them smaller and more comfortable. That creates a physical contradiction. More compute generates more heat. Smaller devices provide less room to manage it.

µCooling offers a way to change the equation. Not by eliminating vapor chambers and other passive solutions, but by supplementing them with localized active cooling that provides additional thermal headroom while giving product designers more freedom.

As AI runs more continuously in the background, edge devices will spend more time computing and less time idle. Sustaining performance will matter as much as reaching peak capability. Foldable phones make this challenge acute, but it extends across the edge AI market as more intelligence and local processing place greater demands on compact hardware.

That intelligence has a thermal cost. Over the next decade, progress will depend as much on what physical devices can sustain as on what AI models can do. That’s why I believe thermal management is becoming a foundational technology of the edge AI era. The companies that solve this challenge will help define the next generation of intelligent devices.

Manufacturers already know this, which is why thermal management is so essential to product design. µCooling is the innovation behind the innovation – like smartphones that fold.

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The "enterprise brain" is a term featuring more and more prominently in the enterprise technology market and at the C-suite level. Technology vendors of all varieties are scrambling to connect internal documents, knowledge bases and structured data systems into a unified architecture.

The compelling goal is to provide AI agents with as deep organizational context as possible so they can reason, automate and assist with scarcely believable accuracy.

But as businesses pour resources into linking their databases, policy documents and CRM entries, a significant blind spot remains.

Efforts to build an enterprise brain often overlook the intelligence contained in the millions of conversations employees are already having with customers, colleagues and candidates across phone calls and messaging channels.

Documents tell you what your policies are and CRM records can tell you what happened, but business conversations tell you why an incident happened.

For any company that is serious about building a true enterprise brain, conversations cannot remain a missing layer of organizational intelligence.

Beyond the confines of structured data

Standard business tools are excellent at tracking outcomes but terrible at preserving nuances. Structured systems may record instances of an enterprise deal stalled, an account at risk of churning or a candidate withdrawing from an interview process. But it of course can’t put its finger on the actual trigger.

A deal doesn’t just stall, there will always be a key factor that changed the buyer's mind during a late-stage call. Similarly a candidate doesn’t just decline an offer, maybe a competitor introduced a work-from-home policy during a quick negotiation chat.

When organizations rely solely on static databases to train AI models or inform strategy, they are feeding their enterprise brain an incomplete diet. They receive the post-mortem without the symptoms, and AI needs the sometimes messy, real-time context found in human dialogue to understand the operational reality of a company.

Actionable context

Artificial intelligence has reached a level of maturity where analysing high-volume voice and chat interactions is no longer a nice to have or a bonus. But just recording every interaction and dumping raw transcripts into a data lake, which effectively hoards unstructured audio, solves absolutely nothing. To make conversational context truly useful, businesses must focus on a few core operational pillars.

First, conversational insights must automatically sync with existing enterprise systems rather than living solely within a VoIP dashboard, allowing real-time data from a support call to enrich the CRM and trigger automated alerts. Second, the extracted intelligence needs to be routed immediately to the teams equipped to act on it. For example, if sales calls routinely show that prospect friction stems from a specific pricing tier, that signal should flow directly to product strategy and marketing rather than remaining trapped in the revenue organization.

Finally, while AI should perform the heavy lifting of summarization, sentiment analysis and pattern recognition, human judgment must always remain the final filter for important decision-making. While this may seem obvious, it is amazing how overly reliant on AI many employees have quickly become, including using it for critical business judgement calls.

Breaking down knowledge silos

Knowledge silos continue to be huge challenges for many organizations. Sales teams learn what buyers want, support teams learn where the product fails, and recruitment learn how the market perceives employer branding. All is highly valuable information, but all too often these groups don’t share a unified intelligence pool.

When conversational context is ingested into the enterprise brain, these walls dissolve across every department. For instance, when a prospect mentions a niche feature gap during a sales demo, that insight can prompt product teams to prioritize the feature while sales updates its outreach messaging.

Similarly, if a customer casually mentions an upcoming corporate restructuring on a support call, account management can initiate proactive outreach to protect the account before contract renewal.

By connecting these conversational dots across departments, organizations shift from reactive firefighting to proactive alignment.

Value over volume

Now this is not to say that trying to capture, transcribe, and analyze every single internal interaction is the way forward. Because it goes without saying, this is borderline impossible. If attempted, it can lead to sky-high compute costs and even legitimate anxiety regarding employee monitoring.

To build a functional, trusted enterprise brain, organizations must prioritize value over volume. The focus should be on high-value workflows where conversation directly drives business outcomes, such as customer-facing revenue calls, critical support interactions or key talent acquisition touchpoints.

Focusing on these targeted areas minimizes data noise while delivering immediate ROI. Organizations must build trust by maintaining clear boundaries. Conversational analysis should focus on market trends, product feedback and operational blockers instead of micromanaging employee tone or enforcing rigid scripts.

The complete enterprise brain

A truly intelligent enterprise cannot run on paperwork and revenue tables alone. It requires the context and nuance that only human interactions provide.

As enterprise AI continues to evolve at rapid pace, having the largest static document libraries will count for nothing. The organizations that thrive will be the ones who successfully pair their structured business data with the rich, dynamic intelligence hidden inside their everyday conversations.

Checkout our list of the best business intelligence platforms.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

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• US data center developers have requested 1,066GW of grid connections, but Wood Mackenzie expects utilities to commit to only about 28%
• Utilities are demanding collateral, longer contracts, and study fees; Exelon's high-probability load fell from a whopping 18GW to 11GW once it insisted on the former
• Because grid costs are shared, phantom demand risks landing on household bills, and nobody knows how much of it is real yet

US utilities and grid operators are now demanding higher rates, longer contracts, collateral, and steep engineering study fees from data center developers, in an attempt to weed out what the industry calls "phantom" data centers.

Reporting from The Wall Street Journal claims the reasoning is straightforward: Grid costs are shared, so if a utility builds substations and transmission lines for a project that never shows up, everyone else on the network ends up helping to pay for them.

The numbers back up the nerves in play: developers have requested 1,066GW of grid connections for US data centers, according to a Wood Mackenzie analysis first reported by Bloomberg in August 2026, a figure equal to roughly 83% of the country's entire utility-scale generating capacity at the end of 2025.

A queue full of ghosts as collateral becomes the norm?

Wood Mackenzie expects utilities to commit to serving only about 28% of it: roughly 12% that already has firm service commitments, plus a further 17% that looks likely. The WSJ also cites a separate Wood Mackenzie measure that puts just 23% of disclosed requests in its high-confidence category.

Much of the gap is due to duplication; developers who don't yet know which utility can deliver power fastest file the same project with several of them and keep every option open until one pans out.

Others are simply speculators: commentary in POWER Magazine argued that private equity funds, land brokers and shell companies are claiming queue positions without site control or a signed customer, betting that land with a grid connection attached will find a buyer.

The phenomenon isn't new. Utility Dive was writing about phantom data centers in 2025, and TR reported in July that 67% of electricity executives surveyed by Capgemini were seeing speculative applications for capacity. The change is that utilities are now pricing the problem, and it is causing many adverse effects.

Exelon's attempts to lock down potential consumers

Exelon, which runs utilities across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, offers the clearest look at what happens when developers are asked to put money down.

After it began requiring transmission security agreements (TSAs), contracts that bind customers to credit obligations, committed revenue contributions, and shortfall payments, its high-probability data center load fell nearly 40%, from 18GW at the end of 2025 to about 11GW in the second quarter. Its wider pipeline of projects under study dropped from about 43GW to 25GW.

Jeanne Jones, Exelon's CFO, told the WSJ that typical requests used to be around 50MW and now often run to 1,000MW or more. The question she kept fielding, internally and externally, was "How do you know what's real?"

Exelon, however, also told analysts its $41 billion capital plan through 2029 is unchanged, so a 40% cut in expected data center load has not, so far, shrunk the spending plan.

None of this would matter much if grid capacity were cheap, but it simply isn't. PJM, the largest US grid operator, saw its capacity auction clear at the price cap for the third time in a row this summer while missing its reliability target by 6.8GW.

In September, its independent market monitor told federal regulators that 4,017MW of forecast data center load, 42% of the growth PJM had assumed, had already been canceled or delayed.

Households are feeling the cost increase; reports in July indicated that Henrico County, Virginia, asked staff and schools to cut electricity use after a 24.9% rate increase. Virginia has also moved to stop utilities passing data center costs onto everyday users, and Texas bills are rising faster than inflation. Lindsey Short of the Ohio Manufacturers' Association warned against building the grid around "the most optimistic number on somebody's spreadsheet."

Underbuilding carries its own risks, though, especially when transformers can take years to arrive, as a recent deep dive on grid bottlenecks laid out. That is why utilities are locking in the customers they do accept. Average minimum contract lengths for large customers have risen to about 10.8 years from 4.6 before 2024, according to filings aggregated by Halcyon and cited by the Journal, and a separate research brief built on Halcyon's tracker found a similar jump.

What nobody can yet say is how much of the AI power rush is real, and that poses problems for planners, stakeholders, and households alike. Until it does, utilities are doing what any lender would: asking to see the money first; households just happen to be roadkill if things don't pan out.

• Trump administration officials asked CISA to hack a voting machine just months into his second term
• CISA was told not to disclose any vulnerabilities to the voting machine manufacturer
• CISA has been gutted by job cuts and a lack of funding, with many state officials hesitant to trust the agency with securing the midterm elections

Towards the start of President Trump’s second term, allies in the Department of Homeland Security tasked the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with secretly acquiring a voting machine with instructions to hack it and not tell anyone except the White House about the vulnerabilities they found.

ProPublica, who spoke to two former administration officials with knowledge of the request, noted that the standard practices of CISA require the agency to let manufacturers know of vulnerabilities in their technology, but the political appointees explicitly asked CISA not to.

“My thought was they could keep it in their back pocket to invalidate any [election] results they don’t like,” one of the former officials told ProPublica. “This goes against everything CISA represents.”

CISA asked to hack voting machine

CISA has been a relentless target of the Trump Administration, with the agency’s jobs being cut by one third and the majority of its senior leadership resigning or being fired.

In total, CISA has cut 1,000 jobs since the start of Trump’s second term - largely down to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency - with additional cuts to funding in 2027 likely to result in a further 900 jobs being lost.

As a result of these job cuts, remaining CISA employees told the political appointees that the request to hack a voting machine couldn’t be fulfilled.

Since 2018, CISA has been responsible for helping to protect election infrastructure from cyber attacks and interference, but has had to cut back on much of its work in these areas due to a lack of funding and staff. Many state officials have been unable to seek election support ahead of the November midterm elections.

As a result of Trump’s cuts to CISA’s jobs and funding, many state officials fear the agency has become a shell occupied by Trump loyalists. “They’ve violated the entire premise of that information-sharing relationship,” a former high-ranking federal cybersecurity official told ProPublica. “There’s no fucking way they’re ever going to give any information to CISA. And it’s unclear if they ever will in the future.”

In response to the claims, White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said, “President Trump has done more than any other President to ensure we have free and fair elections.”

“I don’t pay attention to what the president says. I pay attention to what his administration does,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “And what they’ve done is basically cut us off and left us on our own.”

Voting difficulties start early

Early voting for the midterms has already started in some states, but early polling sites at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Western Carolina University have been shut down, with Guilford County board members saying the resources could be better allocated elsewhere.

Shutting the polling sites makes it significantly harder for the collective 40,000 students to vote, with university policy preventing some students from owning a car during their first year of study.

Shia Rozier, a senior at North Carolina A&T and cofounder of student organization Protect Ours NC told NPR, “In order to get to the polls, they now have to get a Lyft or get a Uber or get somebody to take them at a time where gas prices are extremely high, creating an additional barrier to the poll.”

In response, students organized a march to the nearest polling site over 45 minutes away.

• Amazon Prime subscriptions will increase to AU$12.99 per month or AU$99 per year, up from AU$9.99 and AU$79, respectively
• These prices are effective immediately for new subscribers, while existing members will be charged starting from November 25
• Inclusions and perks like Prime Video, Music Prime and sale events remain unchanged

Amazon Australia has revealed its monthly Prime membership fee has increased from AU$9.99 to AU$12.99, effective immediately for new subscribers — a significant 30% hike from the previous cost. The annual membership price also increases from AU$79 to AU$99, a 25% rise.

In emails sent to Prime members, Amazon said the new pricing reflects the growing range of products and benefits available through the service, although the inclusions remain the same, including free and expedited delivery, Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, video games with Amazon Luna, and member-only events such as Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days.

Existing customers will continue to pay the usual AU$9.99 per month and the price increase will apply from their first membership renewal date on or after November 25, 2026.

In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson told TechRadar that this price change is specific to Australia and attributes it largely to the expanded delivery footprint, new Prime Video content and access to Alexa+.

"We are committed to growing the value of Prime for members, and in just the last six months we have brought Prime Free overnight delivery before 8am on hundreds of thousands of products to four cities, expanded Prime Free Same-Day Delivery available now in nine regions across Australia, added new TV series and movies to Prime Video plus live sport, given free access to Alexa+, provided exclusive deals through events like Prime Day, and more," the spokesperson said.

"With the continued expansion of Prime member benefits, and so we can continue growing the offering, we will change the price of Prime to $12.99 per month or $99 per year. Prime has never offered as much value for members as it does today."

This price hike comes just in time before Amazon’s own Black Friday sale in Australia, which we expect to start a few days before the actual Black Friday date of November 27, and will run until Cyber Monday on November 30.

While the US has seen multiple price increases recently, this is Amazon’s second round of hikes in Australia since launching in 2018. Initially just AU$6.99 per month or AU$59 per year at launch, Amazon later bumped that up to AU$9.99 per month (43%) or AU$79 per year (34%) in May 2023 as more inclusions were added. As mentioned, the price doesn’t reflect better inclusions, which is surely going to factor into household costs for many regular Amazon shoppers.

Earlier this month, Amazon opened its third Sydney fulfilment centre located in western suburb of Horsley Park which is “a 12-hour drive of 80% of Australia”, meaning even more shoppers will benefit from same-day delivery. Perhaps this goes some way in justifying a price increase, along with the fact that Amazon typically offers the best prices on thousands of items even outside of major sales. However, with an additional AU$2 monthly payment to get rid of ads on Prime Video, this news is sure to sting some customers.

While the Amazon Black Friday sale in Australia isn’t a Prime-exclusive event, the best prices will be for subscribers, so it does still pay to have a subscription. Thankfully, Amazon also makes it easy to cancel your subscription any time, although you won’t be eligible for the usual 30-day free trial if you’re a returning customer.

• Lucasfilm Games vice president Douglas Reilly suggests more Star Wars games could be made following the success of Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars: Zero Company
• Reilly says that while "huge triple-A games like Battlefront are always going to be an essential part of the strategy," the "goal" is to find "the best partner"
• This goes for both triple-A and smaller independent studios

It sounds like Lucasfilm Games wants to release more Star Wars games following the success of Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars: Zero Company, but it's not necessarily looking for triple-A studio pitches.

That's according to Lucasfilm Games vice president Douglas Reilly, who told The Game Business that games developed by independent studios "very much is part of the strategy."

"Obviously, huge triple-A games like Battlefront are always going to be an essential part of the strategy," Reilly added. "But one of the great things about Star Wars is it has all kinds of other opportunities to tell stories in different genres.

Reilly said, "The goal has been to find the best partner who makes that experience come alive inside the galaxy far, far away," and it doesn't necessarily "have to always be triple-A."

"Sometimes it can be double-A, and it’s really about the experience that we’re delivering and the fantasy we’re fulfilling," he said, adding that Lucasfilm Games has "tried to be more flexible about who we’re willing to take pitches from."

Saber Interactive is quietly working on its Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, which it confirmed is still in development, while a new game from Arcnaut Studios and Mass Effect trilogy director Casey Hudson, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, is now in the works.

In addition, a new report has now claimed that Destiny developer Bungie and DICE are "aggressively" pursuing a Star Wars: Battlefront 3 project, but official confirmation has yet to come in.

"Good ideas can come from a lot of different places," Reilly continued. "You don’t have to necessarily be a top five publisher to make a great Star Wars game. There are some hurdles.

"We have a high-quality bar, and that means typically we work with more experienced teams than ones with no track record. But we’re exploring all kinds of things, large and small, with partners that are going to surprise folks."

I reviewed both Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars: Zero Company, and they're among the best games of the year. Galactic Racer is the Star Wars racing game I've always wanted and an exhilarating roguelike racer with endless customization, while Zero Company acts as an excellent companion story to the Clone Wars era with immensely fun turn-based tactics gameplay.