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• The White House wants to reallocate hundreds of billions of dollar worth of federal funding away from universities and peer reviewed research panels
• The funding would instead go to individual scientists and AI-native laboratories
• The credibility of the plan is undermined by the US government's track record on science and AI

The Trump administration has unveiled plans to shift around $200 billion dollars of research funding into individual scientists and a ‘national AI-for-science initiative’.

The move would pull funding from university research and ‘slow’ consensus peer review panels in an effort to stay ahead of China, which is making strides to catch up in AI and quantum computing technology.

Plans were laid out in a new report, dubbed ‘Science: A New Golden Age’, presented to Donald Trump by the Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Michael Kratsios.

Funding to be moved to AI and individual scientists

Peer-reviewed study has been the basis of American research since the end of World War II, but Krastios says that science must again be reinvented in a way “that frees American scientists to do their most groundbreaking work, revives the national pursuit of ambitious scientific missions, and positions the United States to lead the AI-driven scientific revolution that will define the next century.”

The report is a suggestion of the direction the Trump administration wants to shape the future of federal funding for science, but the federal funding budget is underwritten by Congress.

The point of peer reviewed research is to prevent research from being performed in an echo chamber, to spot errors and misinformation, and to provide criticism on research methodology and bias. By moving away from peer review and placing funding with individual scientists (likely vetted by the government to provide conclusions that toe the party line), this shift in how academic research is conducted will undermine US scientific credibility both at home and on the global stage.

The report also suggested providing full funding for the ‘Genesis Mission’, which seeks to unite “National Labs, industry, academia, and more to harness AI for breakthroughs in energy dominance, discovery science, and national security” by creating “AI-native scientific institutions better suited to an era of machine-augmented research.” There are obviously use-cases for AI in science, but the US government does not have the best track record of using AI for science.

The US government has already been previously caught out using AI to create documents presented in hearings, with a research report presented by US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being riddled with errors and citing studies that did not exist - a classic case of AI hallucination.

Trump has also made significant deviations to the direction of climate science in the US, with peer-reviewed authoritative assessments on the US national climate being deleted from US government websites, the US withdrawal from the Paris Accord, alongside funding and staffing cuts across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Mauna Loa Observatory, and multiple climate monitoring centers.

In order to maintain the forefront of AI development, the US is also experiencing a mass-buildout of AI data centers to provide capacity for usage, training, and development of frontier models. But this has presented a major challenge in providing enough power to sites already running, as well as planned sites that will require multi-gigawatt connections.

Trump has encouraged AI companies and data center developers to lean into fossil fuels to provide extra energy capacity, with many AI campuses deploying natural gas burning turbines. Some of these sites operate at noise levels matching an international airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with local residents reporting illnesses and symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vertigo, and sleep disruption as a result of the infrasound emitting from turbines.

AI was supposed to level the playing field. So far it has done the opposite. The enterprises that already had the most resources are pulling further ahead, while the small businesses that stand to gain the most are still waiting for tools built for them and their workflows.

The appetite is there with 72% of small business owners in the US see AI as a way to support their staff and work more efficiently. What is missing is access. Most of what ships today is built for enterprise scale and enterprise budgets.

That is a design problem as much as a pricing one. Tools built for large organizations assume infrastructure, technical teams, and time to onboard.

Most small businesses have none of the three. The result is a widening gap between what AI can do and what a small business can actually use.

The admin tax on small teams

Ask any founder where their week goes, and the answer is rarely the work they started the business to do. It goes to outreach, follow-ups, meeting prep, and the dozens of small tasks that keep the lights on. In a small team, where roles blur, most of it lands on the founder.

Most founders have adapted by becoming more efficient with menial tasks. They get faster at outreach, better at juggling calendars, and sharper at the administrative work that never required their judgement or insight in the first place.

None of it is optional, and all of it competes with the time that should go to customers and growth. For a small business, winning that time back is the difference between surviving and building something that lasts.

AI is becoming part of the team

For most of the past two years, AI has played a supporting role. It drafted copy, summarised documents, answered questions, always useful but also always waiting for instructions.

That is changing. The newest systems do not just help with tasks. They take them on. They can hold their own queue of work, make decisions, and run multi-step jobs from start to finish with little supervision. The software starts to behave like a teammate that owns a workload, rather than a tool that waits for the next prompt.

The shift also changes what good looks like. When AI was viewed as a glorified writing assistant, the standard was defined by its output quality. When it owns a workload, the measure is reliability or how well it follows through with tasks with minimal human input. This is what separates tools that earn trust from ones that create a new challenge.

From orchestrator to strategist

As AI takes on more of the operational load, the founder's job changes. Less time supervising the day-to-day means more time on the work only a founder can do: setting direction, building partnerships, planning past the next quarter. In a cautious economy, that shift is what separates the businesses that merely survive from the ones that compound.

It only works if the tools earn their place. AI saves time only when it does not create more of it. Anything that adds friction, complexity, or one more thing to manage will not deliver an advantage. It will breed resentment.

The founders who adapt to adoption early will be the most technical who know where their judgment is genuinely needed and where it has just been the only option available. That distinction is harder to make honestly than it sounds. The burden of time and limited resources make this necessary.

Built for small teams

A new class of platforms is being built around how small businesses actually operate, rather than as scaled-down enterprise software. They assume no technical team and no lengthy onboarding. The ones that win will fit the messy, improvised way small teams really work, and make people more capable without asking them to learn a system first.

Pricing and access are not the only barriers to adoption. Trust is a big factor. Many small business owners have fallen victim to software that overpromises and underdelivers. The bar for small businesses goes beyond functionality. There must be transparency with any AI tools about what it is doing and why.

Bridging the gap

Enterprises had the head start on AI. They had the budgets, the engineers, and the time. Small businesses had none of that, and they are the ones who need the leverage most.

Closing that gap is the real opportunity in front of this technology. Meet small teams where they already are, give them tools that work on day one, and you hand them something they have never had: a fair shot at competing with companies many times their size. That is the version of AI worth building.

We list the best small business CRM software.

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

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Update adds more Grok commands to Tesla models
• Navigation can now learn recurring stops and plan routes accordingly
• Improved parental controls for the rear screen have been added

Tesla regularly releases major updates to its vehicles that bundle together a host of software upgrades that not only keep its fleet of vehicles bug-free and running smoothly, but also at the cutting edge of in-car technology.

For its Summer Update, Tesla has added a slew of new Grok commands that allow its AI voice assistant to take care of more key vehicle functions, without drivers needing to hunt around in on-screen menus.

When it was first introduced into Tesla models back in 2025, Grok was merely an AI voice assistant that could answer generic questions — it wasn't able to control features on the vehicle.

https://t.co/mYFSdKeCuwJuly 21, 2026

This has slowly been changing, with a Spring Update earlier this year adding a wake word, and the ability for users to set reminders based on location.

Now, Grok can make or answer hands-free phone calls, skip tracks or change radio stations on the media screen, and adjust the climate inside the vehicle.

Similarly, it's also able to open the glove box — something that traditionally involves navigating an on-screen menu — with a voice command.

On top of the major Grok updates, Tesla has also added improved parental controls for the rear display that's available for a number of models, allowing front-seat occupants to have full control over what's playing in the rear, or lock it out entirely.

Analysis: Grok updates make Tesla more competitive

(Image credit: Tesla)

Despite Elon Musk's wider focus on artificial intelligence across much of his business empire, Tesla has been relatively slow to introduce advanced AI voice assistant functionality into its cars.

Numerous Chinese competitors have long offered smart voice assistants that are able to control key vehicle functions and even open windows, while the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen have been rolling out a mix of LLM-powered assistants and in-house-developed voice assistants that can deal with general queries as well as more specific vehicle-based requests.

However, Tesla has once again demonstrated that it can improve its vehicles as they age, rather than reserving its hottest new features for new customers only; the Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck remain some of the best examples of software-defined vehicles on sale today.

• LG monitors are reportedly installing bloatware on Windows 11 PCs
• The LG Monitor App Installer carries a McAfee pop-up and is automatically installed when connecting an LG monitor to a PC
• There's a fix for this, but it's a rather fiddly affair

It's no secret that Windows 11 users have voiced frustrations regarding bloat on the operating system for years, and unfortunately, LG's monitors are reportedly making the situation worse.

As reported by Windows Latest, LG monitors are installing McAfee bloatware on Windows 11 PCs without consent, and there's evidence of this in the changelog of LG's monitor app on the Microsoft Store.

Even if you don't install the app yourself, Windows Update will do so, and then treat you to a McAfee pop-up. All you have to do is plug in the LG monitor to your PC, and the automatic installation of McAfee is also shown by checking the Windows Reliability Monitor, which documents a 'successful Windows update' for the LG Monitor App Installer package.

We've reached out to LG for a comment, but haven't received a response yet. In the meantime, though, there appears to be a fix that requires users to do the following: press the Windows key and R, and type 'gpedit.msc', then hit Enter.

From that point, navigate your way to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > "Prevent automatic download of applications associated with device metadata", then select the 'Enabled' box and apply.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

In theory, this should stop any unwanted applications from being installed, specifically with devices like LG monitors that do so via device metadata.

And if you already installed the LG monitor app manually, you should remove it, because as noted, the description on the Microsoft Store suggests McAfee is a fundamental part of the monitor application.

Bloatware can be problematic for Windows 11 users because it hogs system resources, and LG is adding to that system drain, not to mention the annoyance of continually seeing that pop-up.

Alongside LG, Microsoft hasn't provided a statement on the matter yet. I'd expect Windows 11 users will want an answer of some kind, especially because of the rather fiddly steps involved to prevent these automatic installations — and frankly, this shouldn't require extra effort from anyone.

• Chick‑fil‑A confirmed a credential stuffing attack between June 17–19, breaching thousands of accounts
• Exposed data includes names, emails, membership numbers, payment details, birthdays, and addresses
• Company logged out users, removed payment methods, restored balances, and notified multiple US states

Chick-fil-A is notifying its customers of a worrying cyber incident involving their sensitive information being leaked.

In a data breach notification letter being sent to affected customers, the fast food giant said it recently identified “suspicious login activity”, which prompted it to investigate further.

That investigation determined that unidentified threat actors ran a credential stuffing attack between June 17 and June 19 2026, successfully breaching an unknown number of accounts.

Logging everyone out

A credential stuffing attack is when threat actors use automated systems to try thousands of username/password combinations against a service to see which ones work. The login credentials are usually obtained on the black market, in advance.

Since the attackers broke into people’s accounts, the data found inside was exposed. According to the notification letter, that data includes names, email addresses, Chick-fil-A One membership numbers, mobile pay numbers, QR codes, last four digits of payment cards, and the amount of Chick-fil-A credit.

“The information may have included the month and day of your birthday, phone number, and address,” the company added.

After it discovered the intrusion, Chick-fil-A logged everyone out of their accounts and removed any stored payment methods. It also restored impacted customers’ account balances and, in some cases, added rewards to victim accounts, too.

We don’t know exactly how many people are affected by the breach, but it is definitely in the thousands.

BleepingComputer found that the company notified the Texas Attorney General that the breach impacted 2182 of its citizens. Similar notifications went out to Iowa, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Chick-fil-A is one of the largest fast-food restaurant chains in the US, operating more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It employs over 200,000 people and generated about $10.3 billion in annual revenue in 2025.

After a grand reveal in the latest Galaxy Unpacked event, preorders for the brand-new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 are now live. Retailers and mobile networks have several launch deals available for those interested in picking up a device on August 7, so I've had a look through and picked out the best options.

One of the standout deals in the US is at the official Samsung store, where you can get savings of up to $1,200 with a trade-in, as well as an extra $30 off if you registered your interest ahead of Unpacked. As for the networks, you can get even larger discounts of up to $1,900 at T-Mobile when you add an eligible line, or get a Galaxy Z Fold 8 for as little as $30 a month at Verizon.

In the UK, the Samsung store is also a strong option, as you can get an extra £100 off with a trade-in, and use the £30 voucher from registering your interest to save on accessories. Meanwhile, networks such as Sky Mobile are offering their own large trade-in rebates of up to £934, plus a free Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 with the latest handsets.

I'll update this list with all the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorders as I spot them over the coming days, so hopefully there will be a combination of phone and plan that suits you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 deals in the US

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: up to $1,200 off with a trade-in or $200 off without
Samsung's offer on its new Flip and Fold range include trade-in rebates of up to $1,200 for the Fold 8 and up to $600 for the Flip 8. Don't have a phone to hand over? You can get a flat $200 in Samsung credit when buying the Fold 8 or $150 with the Flip 8. There are also bundle discounts of up to 15% when buying other accessories or the opportunity to get an extra $100 off with PayPal.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: up to $1,900 off the Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra with a trade-in and qualifying line
T-Mobile's launch offer for the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Fold 8 includes a saving of up to $1,900 on the Fold 8 Ultra when you trade in — that will effectively bring the price of the device down to $100. You will need to add a qualifying line to your account at the same time, such as the Experience Beyond plan.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: get a Galaxy Z Fold 8 for $30 a month
The standout launch deal at Verizon is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for $30 a month on a 48-month contract — and that's with no trade-in required, either. If you are looking to upgrade, you can get up to $1,100 off with a trade-in, and even add a Galaxy Watch 9 or Galaxy Tab S10 FE for free when you buy a new phone or upgrade.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: get the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for $0 with an eligible trade-in
AT&T's standout offer on Samsung's new foldable line-up is this offer that can get you a Z Fold 8 for free when you trade in an eligible device and sign up for an eligible unlimited plan. You can also add a Galaxy Watch9 and Tab A11 Plus for $1.99 per month each with a new line, and get $200 off a new line when you order online.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: get an extra $400 with a trade-in, plus a $350 Amazon Gift Card
One of the stronger options if you just want to buy a device outright is at Amazon. As well as a savings bonus of up to $400 when you trade-in, you also get a gift card worth up to $350 with Samsung's latest foldable handsets. There's also a bundle that includes a pair of Galaxy Buds 4 Pro with a 10% discount.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 deals in the UK

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: up to £752 off with a trade-in, and an extra £100 off with the code 'Z8'
The launch offer for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Fold 8 range at the official Samsung store includes a discount of up to £752 when you trade-in and an extra £100 saving when you use the code 'Z8' at the checkout. Contract options are also available from £18 per month and from £649 upfront. Finally, six months of Google AI Pro are included with all handsets.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: from £47 per month, up to £528 off with a trade-in, plus £1 Buds 4 Pro
Offers for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 start at £47 per month at EE on the 125GB Essential package. If you have a phone to trade in, you can also get a saving of up to £528 across all three devices, plus there's the option to add a pair of Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for only £1.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: trade-in to save up to £1,750
Vodafone's is offering its biggest ever trade-in deal for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, with savings of up to £1,750 when trading in an eligible device. You can also get up to £1,280 off the Galaxy Z Flip 8 with a trade-in. Unlimited data contracts then start from £25.67 per month and from £40 upfront.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: up to £1,325 off with a trade-in, plus Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for £1
Trade-in offers at O2 include savings of up to £1,325 on the new Galaxy Z series devices when you pair them with an Unlimited Classic or Unlimited Plus plan. To sweeten the deal further, you can add a pair of Galaxy Buds 4 Pro to your preorder for just £1.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: save up to £1,678 with a trade-in and get unlimited data
Three's trade-in offer for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Fold 8 includes a discount of up to £1,678 when you hand in an eligible device. You can also get a pre-order bundle featuring the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and a Samsung OEM Mag Case for £270, or the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and a Clear Mag Case for £153 — that's a saving of up to £124.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: up to £946 off with a trade-in, plus free Galaxy Watch 9
Over at Sky Mobile, you can save up to £946 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, Fold 8, and Fold 8 Ultra when you trade in your existing handset. Contract prices with a handset start at £38 per month and £12 upfront for 256GB of data. As a bonus, every Galaxy Z Flip 8 preorder includes a free Galaxy Watch 9 (40mm) worth £349, while a Galaxy Z Fold 8 preorder comes with a free Galaxy Watch 9 (44mm) worth £379.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8: from £39.99 a month, plus get £100 in Clubcard points
Rather than the big trade-in savings offered by others, Tesco Mobile is going strong on zero upfront costs and low monthly prices for its launch deals, with prices starting at £39.99 for 6GB of data. These offers are exclusively available for Clubcard members, and you get £100 Clubcard points with your order.View Deal

• Bluehost has launched AI agents to help businesses grow 24/7
• Agents span a range of services including website building, store management, and customer service
• Other AI tools include a domain name generator, copywriting, and a hosting agent

Bluehost, one of the biggest website hosting and building companies in the world, has announced the rollout of ‘intelligent AI agents’ that can build, grow, and run your online presence.

According to a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, the new AI agents will offer capabilities ranging from building websites and running online stores to capturing leads, answering customer questions, and booking appointments.

Users will be able to interact with the AI agents using plain-English prompts, removing the need for technical experience.

“Our customers aren't developers, and they shouldn't have to think like one. We build for the florist, the electrician, the therapist who wants a site or store that runs itself, and books appointments while they run their business," said Salim Ali, Chief Marketing Officer for Bluehost.

Bluehost’s new AI agents

Bluehost has broken its AI agents into specific roles, making them easier to manage:

• Bluehost AI Site Builder: An agentic website builder that aims to simplify the building process and support best practices across key areas such as design and SEO.
• Bluehost AI Store: A dedicated agent for online stores, delivering reports that help users track orders, customers, stock, payments, and sales channels.
• Bluehost AI Front Desk Agent: A dedicated AI receptionist and sales assistant that is available 24/7 to manage everything from missed calls and messages to answering visitors' questions.

Bluehost claims its new features build on its four-in-one LLM pack and no-code agent creation options, promising to help small businesses manage key processes 24/7.

"AI shouldn't stop at building a website," said Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost Group and Network Solutions Group. "It should help you answer customers, manage appointments, sell products, and grow your business. Our vision is simple: give every small business the capabilities of a much larger company without the complexity or cost. Every AI capability we build is guided by one principle: save time, reduce complexity, and help entrepreneurs focus on serving their customers, not learning another tool."

Bluehost also offers several other AI-powered tools aimed at small businesses, including:

• AI domain name generator
• All-in-one access pack to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok
• AI copywriting and content tools
• AI agent hosting for developers
• GatorClaw AI agent builder fpr creating an deploying AI agents

Businesses are moving quickly to bring artificial intelligence (AI) into the workplace, exploring how it can support everything from recruitment and workforce planning to performance management and employee services.

Employee confidence in this technology, however, is struggling to keep up. Research suggests only 46% of people say they trust AI systems, while almost a third (31%) of employees are concerned they could be replaced by AI.

As AI becomes more involved in decisions around hiring, performance and progression, employees are asking more questions about how those tools are being used and where the boundaries should sit.

Without confidence in how AI is integrated into these processes, even the most promising AI initiatives can struggle to gain acceptance.

Employees aren’t necessarily resistant to AI

There is often an assumption that employees are reluctant to embrace AI. But in reality, many workers would welcome technology that helps tackle the admin burdens or tedious tasks that consume their time each day.

European employees lose an average of 15 hours every week to administrative tasks. Only 43% say they spend most of their working day focused on work that delivers direct value, while more than a quarter (26%) say they’re spending most of their time on administration outside their core role.

That helps explain why AI is attracting so much interest in the workplace. Used well, it can automate repetitive tasks, simplify processes and make it easier for employees to access the information they need.

Employees do not necessarily want technology to do their jobs for them. They want more time to focus on the work they were hired to do. Almost three in ten (29%) of employees say they would enjoy their job more if they had greater freedom to focus on creative work.

The challenge is that discussions around AI are no longer limited to productivity. As organizations introduce AI into more workplace processes, employees naturally want to understand what role it is playing and what influence it has over decisions that affect them.

Clear boundaries build confidence

Recent headlines have done little to ease those concerns. Stories involving AI analysis of workplace communications and AI-enabled employee monitoring have prompted wider discussions about where organizations should draw the line. While these examples do not reflect every organization's approach, they have contributed to growing uncertainty about how AI could be used in the workplace.

Those concerns become even more pronounced when AI moves closer to areas such as hiring, performance management and career progression. Most employees are comfortable with AI helping them complete a task, find information or reduce administrative work. They become less comfortable when they are unsure how much influence the technology has over decisions that shape their careers.

This is why businesses need to be clear about where AI fits into workplace decision-making. Employees should understand where AI is supporting decisions, where human judgement remains essential and who is ultimately accountable for outcomes.

AI can help identify patterns, analyze information and provide recommendations. It can help managers make better-informed decisions and reduce administrative effort. Responsibility for decisions that affect an individual’s career, development or wellbeing, however, should remain with people.

The clearer organizations are about where AI supports work and where people remain accountable, the easier it is for employees to feel confident about its role in the workplace.

Bringing employees into the conversation

Employees are more likely to embrace new technology when they understand how it works, why it is being introduced and how it can help them in their role.

That means businesses need to invest in communication, training and skills development alongside technology deployment. Employees should have opportunities to learn, experiment and develop confidence in using AI themselves.

This is particularly important at a time when concerns about replacement remain widespread. People are far more likely to view AI positively when they see it helping them become more productive, develop new skills or spend more time on higher value work.

The conversation should not simply focus on what AI can do but also focus on how employees can work alongside it.

Trust has to be earned

AI has enormous potential to improve employee experience and reduce the administrative burden that continues to frustrate many workers. But successful adoption depends on more than introducing new technology.

Employees do not need every answer about AI, but they do need honesty about where it is being used, where decisions remain human and what role they have in the process.

Ultimately, confidence is built when employees can see that technology is helping them do their jobs better, not quietly making decisions on their behalf. AI can automate work, but building trust still requires people.

We review the best employee management software.

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

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Flock is abandoning plans for a 'human distress detection' feature
• It had previously been rolled out as a small trial
• Consumer groups say it's evidence of 'mission creep' from the company

It's fair to say Flock isn't the most popular tech company at the moment, with major consumer concerns around surveillance and privacy in regards to its widespread license plate cameras — but it has at least now pulled one of its most contentious features.

That feature is 'human distress detection', which was recently trialed on a small scale, and used Flock's network of urban acoustic detectors to listen out for sounds of human screaming and panic. If those sounds were detected, then the police would be alerted, potentially giving law enforcement a head start in responding to an incident.

After "careful consideration and community consultation", Flock says it's now removing the human detection element. The acoustic detectors remain in place, and continue to listen out for sounds including gunshots and vehicle crashes — but the 'human distress' element experiment is over, and won't be rolled out more widely.

In a detailed defense of its technology, Flock says "the system cannot understand speech, analyze language, or identify voices". Audio isn't recorded by default, but a rolling five-second window is continually processed. If a matching event is detected, then the clip is processed, encrypted, and stored.

A 'victory' for campaigners

One of Flock's license plate readers (Image credit: Flock)

Consumer rights and privacy groups are welcoming the decision. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has declared the move a "victory" for campaigners, though the organization still has many concerns around the existing gunshot and collision technology the microphones are still set up for.

"Gunshot-detecting microphones eventually being used to listen for screaming is exactly the type of mission creep that we've seen happen with other pieces of surveillance technology, including Flock's license plate readers," says Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst at the EFF.

The reaction online to the feature being pulled is less triumphant — most commentators simply don't believe that Flock is going to limit these acoustic detectors in the ways it says it will. "I don't believe that for a second," is a Reddit response typical of the general sentiment, amid ongoing privacy concerns.

What doesn't help Flock's reputation is that its representatives have apparently lied before about what its devices can do, and what data is being collected — making it difficult for citizens to fully trust its stances on privacy, even if this latest move does seem like a win.

• Spotify has rolled out its first music video charts playlist
• It's part of the platform's steady expansion of its music video ecosystem
• Spotify is once again battling YouTube, but it's not close competition

Music videos in Spotify are becoming one of the most popular ways to engage in digital music streaming — now the service is expanding its video ecosystem in another attempt to one-up YouTube.

For the first time, Spotify is bringing music videos to its Charts hub with the launch of Music Video Charts Global, a new top 50 playlist of the most streamed videos. Additionally, the platform has also rolled out a new Videos for You editorial playlist, which offers personalized music video recommendations based on your streaming habits.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Music Video Charts Global rolled out on July 21, and is already playing a big role in Spotify’s gradual expansion of its video content. Recently, Spotify altered the video uploading process for musicians, allowing them to upload their own videos directly through Spotify for Artists instead of going through their label and distributor to do so.

Artists can also pitch videos to Spotify’s editorial team to give them a better chance to feature in playlists such as Best New Videos, Live Performances, and Today's Top Videos.

If you were like me and spent most of your youth scouring through music TV channels before they were sadly phased out, Spotify’s new music video charts might evoke a sense of nostalgia — but the platform is doing it in a way that’s designed for the streaming era.

(Image credit: Future)

Music Video Charts Global ranks the top 50 videos around the world based on daily music video streams, refreshing daily at 6pm ET / 11pm GMT / 8am AEST (the next day). Spotify also shared that it will spotlight the top 10 music videos across its social media channels every Tuesday — but there’s another reason why the best music streaming service is doubling down on its commitment to music videos.

Even though Spotify is trying to emulate these channels, a form of music consumption that once shaped listening habits, the platform is backing its music video expansion with data linked directly to streaming.

In an email sent to us, Spotify shared “After streaming a video on Spotify, listeners stream that song 64% more over the next three weeks, are 1.4x more likely to save it, share it, or add it to a playlist, and go on to stream the rest of that artist's catalog 57% more”.

For Spotify, its new ecosystem does more than lead to higher fan engagement and video views — it also gives artists an opportunity to boost audio streams. This is beneficial for both fans and artists, but as someone who doesn’t use Spotify for music videos I see this as just another way for it to compete with YouTube.

The Spotify-YouTube battle continues

Spotify has been playing catch up to YouTube ever since it rolled out music videos in 2024. Although there are users out there who do use Spotify for videos, and the platform has the numbers to support it, I’m just not one of those people. As soon as the music TV channels went bust, it was YouTube that filled the void for me, and it’s been that way ever since.

However, Spotify knows it can’t just build a music video ecosystem and hope that YouTube users will flock to it, it has to offer something extra — which is why it’s taken advantage of early releases. For example, artists like Taylor Swift and BTS have each released music videos to Spotify as exclusive content before uploading the videos to YouTube in the days after. This is where Spotify has the upper-hand.

Because Spotify is centered around music and audio streaming, it’s more likely that artists will gravitate towards the company when it comes to exclusive partnerships. Though YouTube has its own music platform, its standard video player houses content across countless genres from web series, interviews, how-tos, vlogs, and so much more — so music isn't the only place it makes its money. Besides, YouTube Music isn’t as influential as Spotify.

Do I think that Spotify is going good by bringing classic music video charts into the streaming era? I guess so — but I still don’t think it’s enough to entice loyal YouTube-first music video viewers to make the switch.

• The Light Flip is a flip phone designed to prevent you doomscrolling
• It doesn't have social media apps or a touchscreen
• But it does include 5G, an OLED screen, and other modern tech

If you’ve been looking for ways to spend less time on your phone then you might already be familiar with Light — a brand that makes distraction-free phones, designed to be used when needed but without the risk of you wasting hours doomscrolling.

Previously, these have been touchscreen slab phones like the Light Phone III, but now there’s the Light Flip, which takes the same principle and applies it to a flip phone.

It runs LightOS, which is a take on Android, but one without most of the apps. Instead, you just get basics like GPS, an alarm, a podcast player, and a calendar, among a handful of other tools.

The idea — according to the company’s home page — is that this phone should be used “as little as possible.”

As well as lacking apps, the Light Flip also lacks a touchscreen, instead leaving you reliant on a T9 keypad which — along with its tiny 2.8-inch display — is something else that should limit how much you want to use it.

Old-school style meets modern specsLightLight

But the specs are rather better than those of the old-school phones it’s inspired by, and include 5G, an OLED display, 128GB of storage, 6GB of RAM, and a 12MP camera. So it should perform rather more smoothly than phones of yesteryear.

The Light Flip isn’t cheap though, coming in at $299 (roughly £225 / AU$430), which seems quite a lot for such a basic phone, even if it is a lot cheaper than your average smartphone. And even if you are in the market for this kind of device, it has some competition from the recently announced Commodore Callback 8020, which is a similar prospect but with wider Android app support (though it still blocks social media apps).

That phone is actually more expensive at $500 (around £375 / AU$715). Both phones are available to pre-order now, though while the Commodore is set to ship later this year, you won’t receive the Light Flip before April 2027.

• Cybernews found Carla’s exposed AWS bucket with 48,000 PDFs containing customer rental data
• Files included names, emails, phone numbers, rental details, and travel patterns useful for phishing
• Carla secured the database after disclosure; no evidence of malicious access, but risk remains

Car rental comparison and booking platform Carla kept a database with sensitive customer information unlocked on the open internet, freely available to anyone who knew where to look.

Cybersecurity researchers from Cybernewsreported finding an exposed Amazon Web Services (AWS) bucket with approximately 48,000 PDF files. These files, which was later determined belonged to Carla, contained car rental details and drivers’ personal information.

Among other things, these files held vouchers and confirmation numbers, drivers’ names, email addresses, and phone numbers, rent periods, costs, pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as general vehicle information.

Carla reacts

Cybernews says the data could have been used in convincing phishing attacks. Not only would malicious actors get contact information, but they could also deduce individuals’ travel patterns, which could be used to establish trust with the victims - a crucial step in social engineering attacks.

After disclosing the findings with Carla, the company locked the database down. Currently, there is no evidence that it was accessed by malicious actors in the past, but Cybernews says “if our team uncovered it, so too may have threat actors that have automated tools searching specifically for unprotected corporate data.”

The service does not own a feel of its own. Instead, it works like a travel booking site, aggregating offers from hundreds of rental providers and offering users to compare prices and reserve cars online.

Misconfigured databases continue to be one of the key causes of major data spills. Businesses often misunderstand the shared responsibility model of cloud providers, leaving systems with default settings, or setting up weak and easily guessed credentials.

Cybernews recently also reported discovering an exposed ElasticSearch cluster belonging to Nextcloud and containing 367,000 records of employee data, client company data, contracts, and various scripts.

'Intelligent Eyewear' is the fresh term Samsung is using to perhaps give its new wearable technology a fresh start in a market that's showing signs of smart glasses fatigue. With a focus on style and design, the company has unveiled a series of Warby Parker- and Gentle Monster-designed glasses that put fashion and Gemini at the center of the experience.

Samsung unveiled the long-promised collaboration between it, Google, and these premier eyewear brands alongside its new suite of Galaxy foldables at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 22. Its Intelligent Eyewear is finally challenging chief competitor Meta, whose own Ray-Ban and EssilorLuxottica smartglasses have become the dominant products in this space.

In a preview just before the big launch, I got an up-close look at the new smart frames, though Samsung was insistent that I not try them on or actually use them, which was disappointing.

Samsung's Intelligent Eyewear consists of designs ranging from classic square and round-style frames to cat-eye-style silhouettes, and in colors ranging from amber to green and black. Lenses are available in clear and transition. There's no pricing, and the ship date is described as "this Fall".

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

As I picked up multiple frames (but never donned them, mind you), I quickly noticed that the frames, which are filled with, among other things, Qualcomm Snapdragon wearable silicon, are quite lightweight. Also, aside from somewhat larger stems than you'd find on standard glasses, they're pleasingly thin, so that someone looking at you head-on might not initially realize you're wearing smart...er...intelligent eyewear.

There are, however, tells.

On the front of the frames are a pair of what look like cameras, but only the one on the right is a shooter of indeterminate megapixels (more info Samsung chose not to share), and the one on the left is the critical LED to let people know you're taking photos or videos.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

When I flipped the lenses around and looked at the left stem very near the frames, I noticed a large meta switch. Yes, this Intelligent Eyewear appears to feature a large power button, something I have not seen on previous smart frames.

I then flipped the frames over to look at the bottom of the stems where I spotted the stereo speakers (one for each stem) and what appear to be a pair of far-field microphone holes.

There's a single button on the top of one stem that you can use to trigger a photo or video capture or to summon one of the personal assistants. Though I asked multiple times, I was told that there's no gesture recognition for the frames that you could use, say, to lower or raise the audio volume.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

As with other intelligent wearables Samsung has produced with partner Google (see the much more powerful, reality-mixing Samsung Galaxy XR headset), the new Warby Parker and Gentle Monster Intelligent Eyewear put AI access at the center. The notion is that you will use your voice to summon Gemini and have it assist you in a variety of ways. Think having it identify what you're looking at, translate signs and menus in a foreign language, answer general prompts, help you ideate while on the go, give you email summaries, guide you through a recipe, and maybe access your email.

Nestled alongside Gemini is Samsung's Bixby assistant. It has the less-exciting job of, say, accessing phone apps and controlling eyewear features like volume.

I also got a chance to look at both the Warby Parker and Gentle Monster charge cases, nice white containers that were a bit lighter than the Meta Glasses case I didn't bring with me to the UK because (with the glasses inside) I thought it was too heavy.

Samsung on design choices, limitations, and looming privacy concerns

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I can't tell you much about how these frames work, but we did get some useful insight about Samsung's strategy from James Choi, Samsung's Head of XR R&D Team EVP.

One thing Choi made clear is that, for now, these glasses are in no way a replacement for the phone. Part of the issue is the demands of AI processing, which for now are too high to place solely on the Intelligent Eyewear, but, he noted, "We want to extend heavy use of AI on phone to here."

He was also fairly transparent about things they have yet to solve with the frames, like adjustable nose bridge and stems. On the latter, Choi admitted that with regular glasses the stems are highly adjustable, but that's not the case with Samsung Intelligent Eyewear because there's technology and sensors in there.

In fact, when I examined some of the new frames, I noticed I could see through the housing to view some of that stem-based technology. What Choi seemed unaware of, though, is that with the just-released Meta Glasses from Essilor Luxottica, both the stems and nose bridge are adjustable.

Choi also discussed at some length the growing privacy concerns being raised with the entire smart glasses category.

He explained that some of the negative response to the technology is rooted in particular societies and cultures, noting that, in South Korea, with all the public transportation, people are closer and the concerns can be greater.

"Regarding public acceptance, it takes time," he added.

It's by no means a settled issue for Samsung. Choi explained that the company continues to work on what is an important topic for them and indicated that some future innovations in the shape or form factor could impact acceptance.

These concerns, though, are not a reason to end development or stop trying.

"We cannot stay here without innovating this. Intentional bad uses need to be covered and protected. If, because of that, we stop innovation, we don’t go anywhere."

What's coming in the Display Intelligent Eyewear space

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Samsung has not forgotten about display lenses, and Choi assured us that they have "something with very good technology better than what’s in the market."

He also acknowledged the challenges and, without mentioning Snap and its recent release of the chunky Specs, the technical challenges of combining displays in a form factor meant to be worn discreetly on the face.

Samsung wants its display glasses to be, as he waved around a pair of the Warby Parker Intelligent Eyewear, “almost near to this form factor.”

It's not just the design that's a challenge. Battery life is a considerable issue (one of the reasons why display lenses still tend to be so thick). "If we publish display glass, we want to promise a certain level of daily use… really tough. We’re working on it."

Every year I espouse my admiration for flip phones, and in particular Samsung's foldable devices, but I've yet to make the leap away from the brick form factor.

While there's nothing more satisfying than snapping shut your phone to end a call, and I'm a real sucker for the more whimsical design and customizable software features on cover screens, the simple fact is that flip phones just aren't as powerful as the flagship devices I'm used to.

This year, though, Samsung has come tantalizingly close to converting me with the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8, despite not making very many changes in the hardware department over last year's model.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 launches at $1,199.99 / £1,149 / AU$TBC, which is a $100 / £100 increase over the Z Flip 7, a price hike that owes much to the ongoing RAM crisis. It's the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Flip yet, its improved hinge makes it noticeably easier to open and close, and some neat upgrades to the cover screen iterate on the Z Flip 7's similarly light-touch improvements.

But what I'm most excited about is two new video features that will help me capture the moment.

(Image credit: Future)

Earlier this year, Samsung introduced an impressive new feature with the new Galaxy S26 series: Horizontal Lock, which impressed us in our testing. It works by utilizing the phone's built-in gyroscope and accelerometer to measure your movement and rotation while filming, and the camera sensor then crops and shifts the frame to compensate.

The result is that even if you rotate your phone by 360 degrees, the footage will remain level. It's no miracle worker, and you'll lose some image quality if you push it too far, but if you use it as intended to stabilize footage while you or your subject are moving, it can save you an editing headache, and let you focus on the moment while you're recording a live event.

Another neat feature that makes the Z Flip 8 feel even more primed for capturing the moment is Fan Cam mode. If you're a K-Pop lover, you'll know exactly what this one's for: using subject tracking, the software crops in and reproduces videos at your chosen aspect ratio with just your selected subject in the frame.

I go to a fair few live performances, and this one is a game changer for making sure I can enjoy the moment through my own eyes without making sure my camera is constantly perfectly framed through energetic dance numbers and crowds. It's also great for sporting events, whether that's at an international scale or when you're capturing the moment your little one scores their first goal in a soccer game.

The elephant in the flip

However, there's one thing holding the Z Flip 8 back from true video greatness: the cameras themselves. Offering the same 50MP wide lens, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and 10MP selfie camera as both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Flip 6, the Z Flip 8 does little to impress. In stark contrast, I've been spoiled by the iPhone 17 Pro's fantastic camera array of late; a recent holiday was made all the more special for the fact I could capture incredible shots without a hulking great big camera in hand.

Lower-spec cameras aren't a shortcoming that's exclusive to Samsung's Z Flip phones; squeezing in powerful rear cameras alongside the windowed display while also keeping the device slim and affordable continues to pose a challenge for designers of flip phones. Even so, compared to the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 (aka the Razr 70 Ultra in some regions) with its triple 50MP front and rear cameras and a mere £50 price premium in the UK (the pricing gap is wider at $300 in the US), Samsung is lagging a little here.

Everything about the flip-phone form factor lends itself to content capture. The folded camcorder and tabletop mode are intuitive and versatile, and these new features are a huge boon — they're just not enough to tear me away from a flagship phone's stellar array.

Slow-going, but still showyFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFuture

It's another safe year for the Galaxy Z Flip line, and that might be a sensible move for now. Shaving 0.4mm from the previous phone's thickness and thinning the cover-screen bezels to just 1.2mm seems about as far as Samsung can push the form factor for now, and the new hinge and advanced armor aluminum frame feel, at least based on my brief one-hour testing period, robust. Plus, I just adore the pink and cream colorways, even if they are an unsure bet for its target audience of younger women.

The Flex Window also finally feels complete, with new software features that make it genuinely useful, rather than a customization-first screen; Samsung Galaxy AI is running on all cylinders here, displaying AI automations as well as new Now Brief and Now Nudge features.

For example, hay fever sufferers can have personalized Now Brief cards with a quick glance of the day's pollen forecast, and Now Nudge can show contextual suggestions, like the details of your dinner reservation when the restaurant is calling you.

As mentioned, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 costs $100 / £100 more than its predecessor at launch. It's a shame, then, that in return for that price hike we're only getting another iterative upgrade, but until some grand breakthrough allows flip phones to pack in better cameras without compromising on form and functionality, we're unlikely to see any radical upgrades — look instead to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for such bold strokes. I'll be testing the Galaxy Z Flip 8 thoroughly in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for my full verdict!

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: One minute review

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might look much the same as last year’s Galaxy Watch Ultra, but it feels very different to wear thanks to Samsung’s efficiency savings. A 12% slimmer titanium body and a lighter band (that remains the same size) mean the watch weighs less as an overall package and has better lockdown onto your wrist, so it doesn’t move around as much during strenuous exercise.

It’s got a new chipset under the hood: the AI-capable Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite, which, Samsung says, offers 32% faster CPU and 19% faster GPU performance compared to last year’s model. It’s launching with three new bands, new wellness features like Vital and Heart Health, and all the usual smartwatch goodies like notifications, call accept/reject, digital wallet and third-party app support. The Ultra comes with LTE capabilities as standard to add the watch to your phone’s data plan, and new fitness tools tailor-made for adventurers, including trail running features with GPX routes, a Daily Cardio Load metric, mid-activity hydration alerts, professional-level diving certifications and — soon — a dedicated diving app.

Fortunately for them (but perhaps unfortunately for Samsung) adventurers find themselves spoiled for choice these days between the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the best Garmin watches, and challengers from brands such as Coros, Polar and Amazfit. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may be good in a vacuum, with excellent health and fitness features, but it’s fighting for space amid a crowd of exceptional wearables. Ultimately, it’s the best Galaxy Watch ever from a specs perspective, and does everything you expect a smartwatch to do (and several things you might not expect); but it’s also expensive, big and bulky. I do wonder how many Samsung users will opt for this over either the much cheaper Galaxy Watch9 or, at the other end of the scale, a chunky specialist tool such as the Garmin Fenix 8 if they’re really interested in wilderness exploration.

It’s fast, it’s accurate (albeit with some niggles — see the Performance section below for more details), it’s got the brightest screen of any smartwatch, on-device Gemini capabilities, and is packed with enough features to make any smartwatch aficionado happy. It’s a terrific gadget, and if you’re a Samsung user who wants the best native watch for your phone’s ecosystem, this is it. But if you’re buying it for trails and routes, Garmin does this better, and with far better battery endurance, albeit with a less robust AI-powered interface for all your communication features.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Specifications

(Image credit: Future)

Component

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

Price

$699.99 / $649

Dimensions

47mm: 47.4 x 47.1 x 10.7mm

Weight

61g

Caze/bezel

Titanium

Display

498 x 498 Super AMOLED

Operating System

One UI Watch 9 (Wear OS 7)

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite

Memory

2GB of RAM

Storage

64GB storage

GPS

(L1+L5 Dual Frequency GPS)

Battery life

Up to 60 hours with always-on display

Connection

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE

Water resistance

WR100 (diveproof)

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Price and availability

• $699.99 in the US
• £649 in the UK
• AU TBC

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is priced at $699.99 / £649, with AU pricing TBC. This is actually a small increase of $50 / £50 in the UK over the launch price of the original Watch Ultra, likely due to the escalating price of electronics components.

While it’s still relatively competitively priced compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and premium Garmins such as the Garmin Forerunner 970, it’s certainly on the higher end of the smartwatch price scale; but then again, this is a higher-end smartwatch.

• Value score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• 12% slimmer, but still quite bulky
• Titanium squircle cushion
• Strap is 25% lighter

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 iterates on the titanium squircle case design we first saw on the original Ultra, which Samsung calls a ‘cushion’, and which has since become a staple of the entire Galaxy Watch range. Housed within this body is the circular display, which is, according to Samsung…

The cushion incorporates new innards, including a larger 800mAh battery and a new Snapdragon Wear Elite processor. Despite the upgrades, the chassis is actually 12% slimmer than the original Watch Ultra’s, which is really a blessing, as that watch was a real beast. The cushion shape looks bulbous, but while it’s still a big watch that’s unsuitable for small wrists, it’s now better suited to a slightly wider variety of wrists than 2024’s enormous cuboid.

Couple this with the bands being 25% lighter this year, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has had a serious size and weight reduction, which makes it much better for staying locked on your wrist during strenuous exercise, where the previous model was prone to moving around.

The Ultra 2 has the Samsung Galaxy Watch series’ standard pair of side buttons, plus the programmable ‘Quick Button’ that only the premium watches get. This is set to opening ‘my exercises’ as standard, while a long press can activate the watch’s emergency siren, but you can assign a different function to this button to suit your needs. If you’ve used a Samsung watch before, the UI (One Watch UI, to be exact, based on Google’s Wear OS) is virtually unchanged, and for beginners it’s easy and intuitive to use.

The redesigned, AI-forward Samsung Health app is simple to use too, and even though much was made of its big makeover, it’s a far cry from Google Health’s chatbot-focused premium tier.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• All the smartwatch features you’d expect
• Parcel of new health metrics: Vitals, Vascular Load & more
• Diving and trail-running features

The Ultra 2 offers all the usual smartwatch features you’d expect from an LTE-enabled watch, so I won’t list them all here, but suffice to say you can use virtual wallets, accept calls, message, control or store music, use the screen as a viewfinder for a Samsung phone’s camera, and even use Google Gemini via the new, easier Raise-to-Talk feature. Gemini works across devices, so you can make a quick voice note in the moment, and have it transcribed and saved to Samsung Notes or Google Keep, to be viewed later on your phone, tablet or laptop.

Samsung watches have always had strong health credentials, and the Ultra 2 is no different. It retains more esoteric features like blood-pressure monitoring (which requires an inflatable cuff for regular calibration, then uses your biometrics to predict fluctuations) and body composition (which uses electrical signals to estimate your fat and muscle mass) alongside the usual heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, ECG scan functionality (which is medically certified, according to Samsung) and more. Running Coach, introduced last year, also makes a welcome return, along with its advanced analytics for runners.

New health features include Vitals, which looks at readings of five different heart-related metrics while you sleep and lets you know of any baseline deviations, a Daily Cardio Load score that estimates how much stress your exercise routine is putting your heart under, and Vascular Load, which measures stress and arterial stiffness.

Finally, new features have been added in the shape of two adventure-themed activity profiles. The watch is now a working dive computer — or will be when its companion app is released later this year in partnership with diving company Mares. The Apple Watch Ultra has a similar app, so I’m sure Samsung has been working overtime to catch up.

The Trail Running profile now includes the ability to save GPX routes into the workout activity itself, so you can follow turn-by-turn directions and see maps on your watch with a swipe of your finger. You can download routes yourself, or you have the option to save previous outdoor runs as a route to test yourself against later on, if you want to try to beat your own personal best. What you can’t do is create your own routes in-app, as you can in Garmin Connect for example.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Heart rate had some drift compared to Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Polar H10, but tightened up after 10-15 minutes of wear
• Watch is more comfortable to wear than its predecessor
• Accurate sleep tracking

I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for five days and four nights before writing this review, and I'll update it when I’ve logged enough nights sleep for features like Vitals to calibrate with seven-day averages. I was dreading wearing the Ultra 2 to bed given its bulkiness and size, but the slimmer, lighter Watch Ultra 2 was surprisingly comfortable for all-day wear — although I’m a man of fairly average build, and those with slimmer wrists may still find it uncomfortable.

Battery life was as described, with the Ultra 2 lasting the as-described 60 hours with always-on display enabled before needing a charge. Sleep was estimated accurately, with the watch and app correctly identifying my wake-up times during the night, and generating numbers corresponding with my energy levels.

To test GPS and heart rate accuracy, I went on a 30-minute run with the Watch Ultra 2 on one wrist, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on the other, and a Polar H10 electrical heart-rate monitor (the gold standard for wearable heart-rate accuracy) strapped to my chest.

I was initially quite surprised at the difference in heart-rate readings the Watch Ultra 2 recorded at the start of the workout compared to the other two devices, with the Samsung watch sometimes reading 20 beats per minute lower than the Apple and Polar devices. However, after 15 minutes of exercise, I found that the Ultra 2’s readings were closely matching those of the other devices, as you can see from the corresponding graphs and readings below / above.

Initial heart rate ‘drift’ is a known problem with many optical heart-rate sensors (used by all smartwatches) in comparison to electrical ones, although Apple seems to have ironed out much of the problem with its Ultra 3. Still, even if the Samsung Ultra 2 does show some deviation at the beginning of a workout, if you’re exercising for any length of time your results are likely to be broadly accurate. I repeated this test during an indoor HIIT workout, and the results were the same: accurate after a brief warm-up period.

I also tested Body Composition, which uses the same method as the best smart scales — an electrical pulse moving through fat, muscle and water at a variety of speeds. I tested this against an industrial scale at my local gym after my run, and the ticket the scale produced showed that I was at 19% body fat. The smartwatch estimated 9%, a huge difference. It wasn’t until I did the test again later that day, after hydrating and adjusting my technique by raising my arms, that the watch showed 16% — a much closer result, and within the range of deviation I’d expect from two different devices.

I also tested the Ultra 2’s water lock feature by dunking it in a glass of water — after all, I’ve been burned before by so-say dive-ready watches — and it worked just fine afterwards.

(Image credit: Future)

• Performance score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

On a par with similar devices in its category.

4/5

Design

Bulky, but much improved over its predecessor, with an intuitive UI.

4.5/5

Features

Absolutely stacked.

4.5/5

Performance

Some health feature are fiddly to use, but generally very accurate.

4/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Future)Buy it if…

You’re a runner

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is awash with terrific running features, and now trail runners are well catered for too.

You’re a Samsung phone user

Unsurprisingly, the Watch Ultra 2 works perfectly within the wider Samsung ecosystem.

You’re a Gemini user

Use AI for everything? Samsung’s Raise-to-Talk functionality and true on-watch Gemini makes using the smart assistant a doddle.

Don’t buy it if…

You need ultimate battery life

If you prioritize battery life and fitness features over connectivity, consider a Garmin or Coros watch.

You’re a casual exerciser and gym-goer

The Samsung Galaxy Watch9 is a much better-value fitness tracker for those who won’t use all the extra adventuring, diving, and safety features.

You’re an Apple user

The Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t work with Apple phones.

Also Consider…

Garmin Forerunner 970

A similarly-priced, adventure-ready Garmin watch with lots of running features.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 970 review

Google Pixel Watch 4

Not as rugged, but a solid alternative for Wear OS users.

Read our full Google Pixel watch 4 review

How I tested

I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for the better part of a week, running the battery down and using it as my daily driver to accept and reject calls, check notifications and messages, use Gemini and control music. I tested it against devices such as the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Polar H10 electrical heart rate monitor, and an industrial smart scale, and I dropped it into a glass of water to test its water lock feature.

First reviewed: July 2026

I’ve tested plenty of the best foldable phones in my time at TechRadar, but I’ve never opted to use one of these devices as my main handset long-term.

I use my phone for consuming content — scrolling, reading, watching — more than I do for productivity tasks, and so the appeal of having a heavier phone with a giant, square-sized foldable screen isn’t, for me, all that strong. Why would I watch a YouTube video with big black letterboxing above and below it, when I could simply use my regular phone in landscape for a better video-watching experience?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a different proposition entirely. It’s still a book-style foldable — it’s got one smaller screen on the outside, and one larger screen on the inside that you open with both hands — but it’s shorter, wider, and dare I say cuter than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 before it. It’s the Galaxy Z Fold 7.5 in all but name (or maybe the Galaxy Z Fold Fat?).

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)Future

This passport-shaped foldable has a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch main display, with aspect ratios that make it, when closed, easier to use one-handed and better suited to video-watching when open. Specifically, when closed, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 3:4 ratio in portrait — meaning your thumbs can easily reach the top of the screen — and a 4:3 aspect ratio in landscape. When open, it’s a 10:16 ratio that’s optimized for widescreen content.

For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — and indeed the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which retains the former’s tall and narrow form factor — has a 21:9 cover display and an almost square 1.11:1 inner display, which is great for spreadsheets and multitasking, but less brilliant for watching World Cup highlights on the train home.

Here’s how the video-watching experience on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — which you can read about in our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra preview — compares, in both orientations:

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)Future

Yes, I know — the black bars are still very much visible when the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is unfolded. But still, they're significantly smaller than those on the Ultra, and as for the outer display, the difference is night and day.

This is the key selling point of Samsung’s new shorter, wider foldable. Its displays have the same 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000-nit peak brightness as the pricier Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but they don’t waste as much screen real estate as those on that square-sized premium model. If, like me, you use your phone primarily for watching videos and scrolling through social media, this is a big deal.

“We realize that there's enough of a segment where consumers are very heavy on media, and basically you consume social media, you consume videos, you play games, and you read books in a mostly similar form factor,” Samsung told us for our deep-dive into why it built the Galaxy Fold 8.

The company also describes the phone’s unfolded screen size as “the new standard for viewing content,” which makes sense when you consider that Apple is also rumored to be releasing a similarly sized foldable iPhone later this year.

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♬ original sound - TechRadar Small but mighty

The entire Samsung Galaxy Z 8 lineup (Image credit: Future)

An important note: in the case of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, smaller does not mean less powerful. It’s got the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset under the hood — i.e., the same chipset as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the entire Galaxy S26 line — plus 12GB of RAM in every storage configuration except 1TB, in which you’ll get 16GB of RAM.

Naturally, I didn’t have enough time to really test the mettle of this chipset, but let’s be honest: we already know it’s a beast. It powers plenty of the best Android phones, and I don’t expect the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to feel any different to those Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-equipped devices from a performance perspective.

The first real differences between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its larger sibling come in the camera department. This wider foldable packs a respectable 50MP wide lens and a 50MP ultra-wide lens, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets a superior 200MP wide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens for zoom shots.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left), Galaxy Z Fold 8 (center), and Galaxy Z Flip 8 (right)FutureThe Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (left), Galaxy Z Flip 8 (center), and Galaxy Z Fold 8 (right)Future

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra also has a slightly larger battery (5,000mAh) than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (4,800mAh), but both phones finally — finally! — use silicon-carbon battery technology, so you should still get plenty of life from the latter’s smaller cell.

Silicon-carbon batteries can store up to 50% more energy in the same physical space as conventional smartphone batteries, so I’m expecting the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to deliver longer battery life than the 4,400mAh-equipped Galaxy Z Fold 7, which lasted for around 12 hours (standard use) in our testing.

For reference, Chinese foldable manufacturers like Oppo, Honor, and Vivo have been using silicon-carbon batteries for some years now, so Samsung’s adoption of this technology is a significant (if long overdue) step forward in markets like the US, where it hasn't been readily available.

As for charging, you’ll get 45W wired charging and 20W wireless charging, regardless of which model you choose, so the choice here is really between content and cameras. Would you prefer the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 for scrolling and watching videos, or the taller Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for productivity and taking photos?

Personally, I think the former’s shorter, wider form factor will be better suited to my needs, though I'm intrigued to see how much weaker the Galaxy Z Fold 8's main camera is compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's. At $2,099.99 / £1,899, the latter phone is more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — which costs $1,899.99 / £1,699 — so it's safe to expect a noticeable gulf in photo quality.

I look forward to testing both devices properly after Unpacked.

I’ve been using, and loving, my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 for the past year — for me it's simply the best phone money can buy.

The foldable form factor is perfect for watching videos — either on the massive inner screen, or using the design to prop the phone up and watch on its outer display — and also for gaming, productivity, or capturing selfies with the 200MP main sensor rather than the lower-res selfie cam.

Its thin design is comfortable to hold and easily slips into any pocket, and the design has been durable enough to survive without me using a case; I did have a case for a few months but I hated it, so I’ve reverted back to my screen-protector only strategy.

(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

As great as the Z Fold 7 is, though, it isn't flawless. The cameras could be better (a fact highlighted by the excellent cameras Samsung put in the Galaxy S26 Ultra that I also carry with me), the battery life isn’t as good as I need at times, and the crease can be quite noticeable in certain lighting thanks to annoying reflections on the inner display.

Thankfully, Samsung looks to have addressed a lot of my issues with the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — the true successor to last year's Fold 7 (the new non-Ultra Z Fold 8 adopts a squatter design this year), and the frontrunner to be my favorite phone of 2026, after spending just an hour or so with the new device.

Ultra by name, Ultra by nature

The Samsung Galaxy Z 8 phone lineup (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra looks almost identical to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Unlike the Z Fold 8, the Z Fold 8 Ultra offers the exact same screen dimensions as the Z Fold 7, with an 8-inch inner display and 6.5-inch cover display.

It’s supremely thin and light, so that even when folded it doesn’t feel like a brick, and it offers a similar camera array to the Z Fold 7 (more on that in a moment).

The only design change you’ll notice is the redesigned hinge. It makes it easier to open the Z Fold 8 Ultra, and allows the phone to sit more flat when open — which in combination with the inner screen’s new matte coating makes the crease less noticeable.

Instead of reinventing the wheel in areas where the Z Fold 7 already shines, such as its superb form factor, Samsung has introduced upgrades with the Z Fold 8 Ultra that make this phone even more capable.

(Image credit: Future)

My favorite improvement is new silicon carbide battery tech that allows for a much larger 5,000mAh battery than the Z Fold 7’s 4,400mAh cell, despite the Z Fold 8 Ultra being (very slightly) slimmer.

The battery life of the Z Fold 7 isn’t ideal. I frequently find that my typical usage — which admittedly involves streaming a lot of video, gaming, and multitasking to watch and work at the same time while on the go — leaves my battery running low by late afternoon.

The larger capacity of the Z Fold 8 Ultra probably won’t save me from needing to carry a charger with me ‘just in case’, but I’m hoping it’ll mean that I rarely, if ever, run out of juice completely — which can happen with my Z Fold 7, even when I adapt my usage to be more conservative.

(Image credit: Future)

The Z Fold 8 Ultra's cameras are a solid upgrade too. Alongside the Z Fold 7 I also use the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, because its cameras are so impressive — in particular, I’m in love with its 5x 50MP telephoto lens.

The Z Fold 8 Ultra doesn't, unfortunately, improve on the Z Fold 7’s 12MP 3x telephoto camera, but the existing 200MP main sensor has been enhanced with new HDR abilities to match Samsung’s S26 lineup, and the 12MP ultra-wide has been upgraded to 50MP, making the new phone's array feel more 'Ultra'.

It also gets the impressive Horizontal Lock video stabilization tech which I've loved on the S26 Ultra.

Having tried out the new cameras, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is certainly a major upgrade, and I’m keen to test them out further. Sure, the Z Fold 8 Ultra won’t win any prizes for best camera phone of 2026, but the versatility offered by the new camera array should help to make this foldable feel like a supremely capable all-round device, and not a phone with so many compromises that you can’t appreciate its incredible design wins.

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♬ original sound - TechRadar A sort of silver lining

(Image credit: Future)

There's also a new chipset — the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy the S26 series is outfitted with — that powers a suite of new AI tools, and a brighter 3,000-nit display, which should help to make colors more vivid on the Z Fold 8.

As you might expect from a phone that's packed with upgrades and sporting a new Ultra moniker, and which is launching in the middle of the ongoing RAM crisis, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will cost more than the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The silver lining is that the price hike isn't as big as I and many others feared — the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99 / £1,899 / AU$TBC, where the Z Fold 7's launch price started at $1,999 / £1,799 / AU$2,899.

No price increase is ever ideal, but considering how much worse I was expecting it to be, I’ll happily take the $100 / £100 increase on the chin.

I can't wait to spend more time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. I love my Z Fold 7, but after spending just a short time with its successor, I already know that it’s time for an upgrade.

When it comes to battery life, foldables have it harder than regular phones. These devices need to power not one, but two screens (one of which is twice as large as the other), and so it's important to pick a model with decent endurance if you don't want to lug around a portable battery at all times.

Yet in the throes of a seemingly unquenchable thirst for thinness, Samsung has somewhat neglected the battery tech in its foldable phones. That is, until now, because the brand has finally introduced silicon-carbon batteries in its latest devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8. The former, specifically, packs a 5,000mAh cell that, based on Samsung's own testing, offers 27 hours of video playback.

Now, as uninteresting as this may sound, it's actually pretty big news, especially given that the phone is thinner than ever and the same weight as last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. We were invited to an exclusive, early-access hands-on session alongside SuperSaf to try out the new phones, and we discussed this change (and others) in our latest podcast episode, which you can watch just below.

It's not just us professional tech nerds moved to excitement by the news; in a poll we shared in the weeks running up to the latest Samsung Galaxy Unpacked show, our readers overwhelmingly agreed that a larger battery life would be their biggest wish for the latest and greatest Samsung foldable, and those prayers have been answered. Feels good, right?

The sad news is, the second-most desired change remains unmet — that being the re-introduction of the S Pen and the digitizing layer under the display that makes the technology compatible. In fact, as reported by 9to5 Google, Samsung recently quietly removed product listings for all previous-generation S Pens, which perhaps doesn't bode well for the longevity of the styluses overall.

It's a real shame, and one I highlighted in the podcast as being particularly at odds with the phone's productivity-first marketing messaging; if the idea is that the best way to use this phone is like a tablet, which, for me, includes doodling, taking notes and not having to constantly wipe off grubby fingerprints, then hand me the S Pen and be done with it, even at the cost of a few more millimeters thickness.

That being said, at least in the case of the S26 Ultra phones, a Samsung exec shared with TechRadar just last year that the S Pen is a crucial part of the phone's DNA, so I hope that gives at least a little more runway for these handy accessories.

You can watch the full episode of the TechRadar podcast above or head directly to YouTube to hear all of our expert opinions on the latest slate of Samsung foldables and smartwatches.

• US data center electricity usage is expected to quadruple by 2035
• There has been a surge in signups for Trump's Ratepayer Protection Act
• Residential electricity rates have risen by 25% over the past four years

US data centers are expected to use four times more electricity by 2035 than they currently use, bringing the total consumption to one fifth of the country's electricity production.

In an attempt to quell the national dissatisfaction with AI and the data centers needed to support capacity, over 200 entities have joined President Trump’s pledge to not pass on rising electricity costs to consumers.

But Trump’s pledge is entirely voluntary, and has little control over electricity pricing which is decided by state regulators and electricity buyers and sellers - and in some states with huge data center buildouts electricity pricing has already risen significantly.

Electricity consumption set to quadruple

A new report by BloombergNEF seen by TechCrunch predicts that global AI compute will rise to as much as 200 gigawatts over the next decade, with most of it concentrated in the US. Additionally, many already strained power grids across the US will struggle to handle new data center connections without huge infrastructure buildouts. Current infrastructure buildouts have seen the US government seize private property from landowners using eminent domain.

The PJM Interconnection across Virginia and Illinois is expected to see 34% of its electricity go to data centers over the next decade. In the same timespan, Texas’ ERCOT will have to divert 22% of its electricity to data centers.

There is one caveat, however. The BloombergNEF report is likely a conservative estimate. Compared to a report released in December, BloombergNEF’s new electricity usage estimates are 83% higher than the previous prediction.

The strain caused by the buildout of AI data centers is even causing a rift between utility companies and grid operators. American Electric Power threatened to pull out of the PJM interconnection due to the supply-demand imbalance causing prices to rise by as much as 76% in the last year.

Trump pledges to stop electricity price rises caused by big tech

According to exclusive WSJ reporting, there has been a huge surge in signups to Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which is a voluntary commitment to not pass on the rise in electricity prices caused by AI data center buildouts to consumers. The pledge encourages private companies to “build, bring, or buy” new electricity sources.

Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI were among the first to sign up back in March 2026, but since then the nation’s biggest utilities and data centers developers have also joined the pledge, including NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, Equinix and Digital Realty.

New commitments for the Ratepayer Protection Pledge are expected to be announced by Trump at an event by the Environmental Protection Agency, but Trump’s track record on environmental protection has been less than stellar. New fossil fuel energy production facilities can now expedite their application process, and Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” policy has significantly reduced funding and support for clean and renewable energy sources, which are far cheaper than their fossil fuel counterparts.

Despite the pledge not to pass on the rising costs of electricity to consumers, there have already been significant consumer electricity price increases across the US.

According to ElectricChoice statistics, average US residential electricity rates are up 7.4% year-over-year, with Ohio alone seeing a 19.4% increase in the same period. 13 US states have seen double digit increases in year-over-year electricity pricing, while only 5 states have seen pricing stay the same or decrease.

(Image credit: Electric Choice)

In the past four years, residential electricity rates have risen by 25%, with grid modernization investments and record data center construction cited as two of the main reasons for the rapid growth in pricing.

According to Cleanview, the US currently has 1,214 operating data centers with a further 1,714 planned or in construction.

(Image credit: Cleanview)

A bill that seeks to actually hold tech companies responsible for their contributions to the increase in consumer electricity prices has been introduced to congress, called the Ratepayer Protection Act. The bipatisan bill looks to introduce a “large load standard” requiring tech companies to bear the cost of the energy they use, alongside upgrades to the local grids they connect to.

If you're looking for a cheap portable monitor for travel, then I definitely recommend the AOC 16T35 for $60 (was $90) at Best Buy. This is a very limited-time deal though, which runs out soon.

We tested the AOC 16T3EA, which is identical in size, weight, and screen, awarding it 4.5 stars and a Highly Recommended badge in our review.

Now, the AOC 16T35 is a significant upgrade that's actually cheaper to buy. Notably, it boasts two USB-C ports rather than one, an additional mini HDMI port and, addressing one of our issues with the stripped back version, it has built-in speakers. They're not ultra loud, but I always find it's better to have them if you're just jumping on a quick video call.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the AOC 16T35 if...

You're looking for a budget portable monitor that delivers a good display for office tasks. In our tests, we found it made viewing and editing business documents "absolutely superb."

❌ Skip the AOC 16T35 if...

You're a creator. While the FHD display makes it a great business companion, we found the limited color accuracy holds it back from being a recommended pick for creative professionals.

A 15.6in display with a slim and lightweight design. This 3.3lb portable monitor has a built-in kickstand for portrait and landscape viewing, features a 1920x1080 resolution, two 1W speakers, two USB-C ports, a single 3.5mm audio jack, and one mini HDMI port. View Deal

Why we recommend it

In our review, we called AOC's portable screen "a solid, lightweight option for working on the move." And that was for the pared back AOC 16T3EA.

This is a much better offer at a much better price. The AOC 16T35 increases USB-C ports from one to two, adds a mini HDMI, and includes built-in speakers. If you were choosing between the two, I wholeheartedly recommend the 16T35 model.

The portable monitor performed well in our tests particularly for business-oriented tasks like viewing PDFs, browsing, checking emails, and running office software.

We found it very easy to set up, and we appreciated the amount of control you have over the display in the OSD.

It's not suitable for professional creative tasks, given the color accuracy - although, if you're just using it to expand screen real estate while editing photos for your social media page, it's more than suitable for that. Just don't go using it for editing features or print-ready marketing materials.

In fact, in our testing, we specifically highlighted that: "Overall, the monitor performed well, with a clear display and a beautiful matte finish that made it ideal for office work and browsing the internet. In creative use, it was also a good option for palettes, as well as email, documents, and anything else that didn't require absolute colour accuracy."

Price Context & Historical Value

At $60, this sits firmly at the budget end of the best portable monitors we've tested. Considering what you get here - a second screen with three actually useful ports, a clever kickstand, and built-in speakers, this is an easy recommendation. A lot of cheap portable displays that hover around the $50-60 mark - particularly the non-branded ones - lack all of these features.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

Obviously I've mentioned the color accuracy issue already. But if that forms any part of your workflow, avoid this monitor. And look for one with a higher resolution, too - 2K should do nicely.

The other issue is the speakers. While I always appreciate them, it's fair to say the ones equipped to the AOC 16T35 aren't especially powerful. They're fine for video calls or checking videos, but I'd recommend investing in a proper external speaker if you're relying on audio in your job.

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