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I was standing outside my Airbnb in Lisbon at midnight, trying to call my host because the door code wasn't working. My phone had data, but no actual phone number, since the eSIM I'd bought before the trip was one of those data-only deals. I ended up asking a stranger to borrow their phone just to make one call.

aloSIM covers 200+ destinations with prepaid data starting at around $3.50 per week, and, unlike most travel eSIM providers, many qualifying plans include a phone number through its sister app, Hushed.

aloSIM: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: aloSIM)

You can buy aloSIM data by single country, by region, or through the Global plan, either as fixed data with a set validity window or as a per-day unlimited plan.

The unlimited plans cap full-speed data at 2 GB a day. After that, speeds drop to 512 Kbps until the next day resets. That's fine for maps and messaging, but it'll slow down video calls.

If you're crossing borders on a single trip, regional or Global plans usually save money compared to buying a new eSIM at each stop, as long as your route stays within the countries covered by each bundle.

Here’s what the pricing looks like for the popular regions:

Metric

Global

Europe

Asia

Caribbean

Central America

North America

South America

British Isles

Australia and NZ

Starting price

$10.00

$5.00

$5.00

$6.50

$10.00

$5.50

$6.50

$4.50

$10.50

Countries

147

35

14

20

6

3

8

2

2

Frequent travelers also earn 5% back in aloCASH on every purchase, with credit that stays valid for a year and rolls over into future eSIM purchases. But the real reason to pick aloSIM over competitors like Airalo or Saily isn't the price. It's the bundled Hushed number.

What makes aloSIM different?

(Image credit: aloSIM)

aloSIM comes with a real phone number through Hushed, an eSIM profile that never expires, free hotspot sharing on every plan, and an app that runs smoothly across supported devices. Most competitors offer one or two of these. aloSIM bundles all four, and that's really the whole case for choosing it over a plain data-only eSIM.

Real phone number

Qualifying plans include a free US or Canadian number through Hushed, with calls, texts, and voicemail working over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Claim it from your aloSIM account after purchase, under Calling and Texting.

You get $3 in credit to start, then it's pay-as-you-go or a subscription. It doesn't matter if your trip has nothing to do with North America either; the number still works for calling and texting anywhere in the world once it's active. This matters most for calling a hotel or rental agency, not just messaging friends on WhatsApp.

Reusable eSIM profile

Once installed, the profile stays on your device permanently, not just for the current trip. Return to the same country six months or a year later, and there's no reinstall, no new QR code, no re-entering settings. You just buy another data plan and top up the existing profile. For frequent flyers to the same handful of destinations, this alone cuts real setup time.

Free hotspot sharing

Every plan includes tethering at no extra cost, so a laptop or tablet can piggyback off your phone's data without a separate purchase. Most competitors either charge for this or cap it at a daily limit. aloSIM doesn't meter it separately, though heavy hotspot use will still draw down your plan's regular data allowance faster.

The aloSIM app

Most day-to-day account management, plan purchases, and eSIM installs occur through the app rather than the website. A couple of features are worth knowing before you download it. Real-time usage notifications flag when you're running low on data, so you don't get stranded mid-trip. Automatic installation skips the QR code entirely on supported devices, pushing the eSIM straight onto your phone with a single tap.

aloSIM: Installation and activation

(Image credit: aloSIM)

If you've never used an eSIM before, aloSIM's step-by-step guide walks you through choosing your device model and the installation process, making setup one of the more beginner-friendly experiences available.

Setup takes about two minutes if your phone is already unlocked and eSIM-ready:

• Check: Dial *#06# and look for an EID number. If it's there, your phone supports eSIM. aloSIM also has a device checker on its site if you'd rather skip the dialing.
• Shop: Pick a destination, choose a data size, and pay in the app or on the website.
• Install: If you're buying through the mobile app, the 'Automatic Installation' button installs the eSIM directly on your device without scanning anything. On desktop, you'll scan a QR code instead. Stay on home Wi-Fi so the install doesn't glitch out.
• Activate: Decide whether your regular SIM stays active for calls, or you go fully dual-data with aloSIM handling everything. The eSIM connects automatically once your phone picks up a partner network at your destination.

aloSIM: Compatible devices

Most eSIM-capable phones from the last five or six years will work. If your phone is tied to a payment plan or locked to a carrier, none of this matters until it's unlocked. Check the full compatibility list if your phone is older or less common.

Here's the rundown by brand:

Brand

What Works

Things To Know

Apple iPhone

XR and newer, through the 17 series

Phones bought in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao are excluded

Apple iPad

Air, Mini from 2019 on, Pro 11 and 12.9 inch from 2020 on

Cellular models only

Samsung Galaxy

S20 through S26, Z Fold and Flip 3 through 6, Note 20

US and Hong Kong versions of the S20, S21, and Note 20 Ultra aren't supported

Google Pixel

4 through 10 series
Any Google Pixel phone purchased in Hong Kong lacks eSIM support completely

Pixel 3 and 3a support depends on your carrier and region

Motorola

Razr (2019 onward), Edge series, ThinkPhone 25, and select Moto G models

Support varies by model. Check the official compatibility list for the latest supported devices.

Huawei

Mate 40 Pro, P40, P40 Pro

P40 Pro+ isn't supported. Support is limited to these models.

Select laptops

Dell Latitude, HP Elite, Lenovo ThinkPad, Microsoft Surface

Cellular or LTE versions only

aloSIM: Support

Support is available 24/7 via live chat, with a help center covering installation, activation, compatibility checks, and APN troubleshooting.

The refund policy covers two specific situations: your phone doesn't support eSIM, or you can't connect to a local network once you land. You'll need your original receipt and a short explanation of what happened. For connection issues, support will walk you through basic troubleshooting first, before approving anything. It's not a change-of-mind policy, and it won't help if you've already burned through your data.

And if you bought through a third-party voucher bundle like StackCommerce, the sale is final the moment you redeem the code in-app.

Think of it as a fair policy, but not a generous one. aloSIM will make you right if the eSIM genuinely doesn't work, but it won't cover buyer's remorse or a plan you simply didn't use. For a $5-$10 purchase, that's a reasonable trade.

aloSIM: Final verdict

(Image credit: aloSIM)

aloSIM isn't necessarily the cheapest travel eSIM, but it's one of the few that combine reliable international data with a genuine calling solution. It's a good option for travelers who expect to call hotels, rental agencies, tour operators, or receive verification texts while abroad.

If none of that applies to you and you only need mobile data, Airalo or Saily will save you money. But the moment you need to make an actual phone call abroad, aloSIM is the one built for it.

aloSIM: FAQsWhat is aloSIM?

aloSIM is a Canadian eSIM company that sells prepaid data in 200+ destinations, with plans usually starting at around $3.50. It's run by AffinityClick out of Ottawa, and many qualifying plans include a free phone number through its sister app, Hushed.

Can I use aloSIM on my laptop?

Yes. aloSIM supports select laptops, including certain Dell Latitude, HP Elite, Lenovo ThinkPad, and Microsoft Surface models, as long as they have a built-in cellular modem. That's rare among travel eSIMs, since most providers only support phones and tablets.

What happens if my phone doesn't support eSIM?

aloSIM offers a refund if your device turns out to be incompatible or you can't get a connection at your destination. You'll need to provide your original receipt and a brief explanation of what went wrong to start the refund process.

Is aloSIM good for group travel?

Yes, aloSIM works well for group travel since its regional and Global plans cover multiple countries with a single purchase. Each traveler still needs their own eSIM installed on their own device, since data and phone numbers can't be shared across a group.

How much data do social media apps use per hour?

It varies by platform. Video-heavy apps burn through the most data: TikTok uses close to 1 GB per hour, and Instagram Reels uses similarly high amounts. Standard feeds are far lighter. Facebook and Instagram use about 0.1 GB an hour, Snapchat around 0.06 GB, and Twitter barely registers at 0.004 GB. If you're on a 1 GB plan, an hour of TikTok can eat a week's data in one sitting.

How much data does video streaming use while traveling?

More than most people expect. Standard definition runs about 1 GB per hour on Netflix or Crave, jumping to 3 GB per hour in HD and up to 7 GB per hour in 4K. YouTube's bandwidth usage ranges widely, from 0.03 GB per hour at its lowest quality to over 9 GB per hour at 8K. If you're on a smaller aloSIM plan, switching to a lower streaming quality or downloading content over Wi-Fi before you leave will stretch your data much further.

• Logitech facing a class action lawsuit over tariff refunds, with the lawsuit alleging the company raised the price of some products to pass the cost of tariffs onto customers
• The US government collected an estimated $166 billion in IEEA tariffs which are to be returned to businesses, but their are no mechanisms in place to return the cost of tariff-inflated goods back to customers
• Nintendo and Sony are also facing lawsuits over tariff cost refunds

Following President Donald Trump’s return to power in January 2025, he almost immediately levied numerous International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEA) tariffs on imports of almost all goods coming into the United States.

According to Trump, the tariffs were imposed to boost domestic production of goods, and increase the purchasing of products manufactured in the US. Somewhat shortsightedly, the US was not able to suddenly change to the mass production of most imported goods and the tariffs were passed on to consumers as part of the price of imported goods.

Many of these and subsequent tariffs were deemed illegal by the Supreme Court of the United States, with around $166 billion in IEEA tariff revenue collected by the government to be refunded to businesses. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t really want to hand that money back to consumers, and Logitech is now being taken to court for it.

Tariffs refunded to businesses but not passed on to consumers

A class action lawsuit has been filed by Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP, by the District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, against Logitech.

The lawsuit alleges Logitech raised the price of many of its products to cover the costs of the import tariffs, but the company has not made it possible for customers to claim back the tariff costs they covered.

As the companies were the ones who paid the tariffs, there is no mechanism in place for consumers to claim back the costs that companies silently imposed on them.

According to the lawsuit, Logitech investors were told by its executives that the price of its products had to be raised to offset the cost of the tariffs.

Around half of the Logitech product catalog saw price rises at around 14%, but the costs of some products were raised by as much as 25%.

Nintendo and Sony also in hot water

While the lawsuit singles out Logitech, numerous other companies have also been accused of raising the costs of goods to cover tariffs and then keeping the refunds for themselves.

For example, Nintendo’s operating profits were reported to be around $902 million between April 1 and June 30. But during the same period the previous year, the operating profit was around $360 million.

While some of this profit increase can be attributed to a boom in games sales and software purchases for the Switch and Switch 2, much of the profit has been alleged to have actually come from tariff refunds.

Nintendo claims to have covered the costs of tariffs itself despite the price of both Switch consoles rising by as much as $50 in 2025.

Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against the US government, demanding that the refunds from the “sweeping” and “constantly changing” tariffs be paid back with interest. Nintendo is also battling a lawsuit in court that demands the tariff refunds are also passed on to consumers.

Sony has been handed an estimated $508 million tariff refund, but raised the prices of key products such as the PlayStation 5 to cover the costs of the importation tariffs. A lawsuit has been filed, but Sony has made no indication that consumers who bought PlayStation consoles at elevated prices will see a dime back.

I had been putting off travel eSIMs for a long time. Most looked the same: different logos, same big promise, and no way to know if they'd actually work until you were standing abroad with no signal. Then last spring in Barcelona, my local SIM just stopped working, and I was staring at a roaming bill I didn't want to open.

easySim is part of the easy® family, the same group behind easyJet and easyHotel, which makes it feel more trustworthy than most newer eSIM brands walking in cold. Plans start at $3.99, work in 200+ countries, and let you share data via a hotspot with no monthly fees or SIM swaps. The catch is that it's data-only, so no calls or texts. But for most UK and European trips, it's a simple, safe choice.

easySIM: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: easySIM)

Prices shift by destination, since some countries cost easySim more to license data for than others; that's the country breakdown above. Buying by continent instead? Regional plans follow the same logic, and here's what the smallest bundle (1GB, 7 days) starts at across each one:

Region

Starting Price

Europe

$4.49

North America

$5.99

Oceania

$6.49

Asia

$6.49

Middle East & Africa

$8.99

South America

$7.99

Caribbean

$12.99

Africa

$15.99

The European regional plan covers 36 countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, and Turkey. Check the full list on easySim's website before buying if your destination is less common.

For most travelers, fixed-data plans are the better pick. A 5GB or 10GB plan covers a typical one-or two-week trip without any slowdowns. Unlimited plans suit longer stays or heavy daily use, but if streaming is part of your routine, a large fixed-data plan will serve you better than the throttled unlimited tier.

easySIM: Key features

easySim keeps things simple. There's no plan store to dig through, and once the eSIM is installed, you top up whenever you need more data without touching the setup again. You'll get an alert once you've used 80% of your allowance, and if you lose your phone, easySim can disable the eSIM remotely so it's not sitting there exposed.

I also like easySim for the way its hotspot and network access function. Fixed-data plans come with fully unlimited hotspot, no daily cap the way Holafly imposes one, so you can share your entire allowance with a laptop or another device without watching a counter.

And in key markets like Spain and the UK, easySim switches between multiple local carriers instead of locking you to one, which matters more than you'd think until you're standing somewhere with one bar of signal.

easySIM: Installation and activation

(Image credit: easySIM)

Setup takes about five minutes, and you'll be done before the kettle boils. Install the eSIM before you travel so you can sort out any issues while you're still on Wi-Fi.

Here's the four-step process:

• Check compatibility: Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number next to your IMEI, your phone supports eSIM. Also confirm it's carrier-unlocked. easySim's website has a compatibility checker if you're unsure by model.
• Buy a plan: Go to easysim Global, pick your destination and data size (starting at $3.99), then pay.
• Install the eSIM: Your account shows a QR code or tap-to-install link within ten minutes. On iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM. On Android: Settings, Connections, SIM Manager, Add eSIM. Stay on Wi-Fi for this step to avoid setup issues, then set easySim as your active mobile data line.
• Activate on arrival: Enable data roaming for easySim, the step most people miss, and it won't connect abroad without it. Turn off roaming on your home SIM too, or your phone might quietly switch back and charge you anyway. Single-country plans activate the moment your phone picks up a local network; regional plans may kick in as soon as the eSIM is installed.

(Image credit: easySIM)easySIM: Compatible devices

easySim works with lots of eSIM-compatible phones and tablets from all the big brands. Every device needs to do two things: support eSIM (not all phones do, even newer ones), and be unlocked from any specific network.

Here's a quick summary by brand:

Brand

Compatible Models

Key Exclusions / Notes

Apple iPhone

iPhone XS, XS Max, XR; iPhone 11–17 series; iPhone SE 2020 and 2022

iPhone X and older do not support eSIM. Some regional variants may differ, so check the exact model.

Apple iPad

iPad Pro 3rd gen and newer; iPad Air 3rd gen and newer; iPad mini 5th gen and newer; iPad 7th gen and newer

Cellular/LTE models only. Wi-Fi-only iPads do not support mobile eSIM plans.

Samsung Galaxy

Galaxy S20–S25 series; Galaxy Z Fold 3–6; Galaxy Z Flip 3–6; Galaxy Note 20 Ultra; select A-series models like A35, A54, and A55

Galaxy S20 FE and S21 FE do not support eSIM in most regions. A-series support can vary by region and carrier.

Google Pixel

Pixel 4–9 series, including Pixel 9 Pro Fold; Pixel 3a has limited support in some regions

Pixel 3 and older do not support eSIM. Pixel 3a support is inconsistent across regions.

Motorola

Razr 40/50 series; Edge 30 Pro; Edge 40/40 Pro; Edge 50 Pro/Ultra

Most Moto G-series phones do not support eSIM, though some newer regional variants may.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi 12 / 12 Pro, Xiaomi 13 / 13 Pro, Xiaomi 14 / 14 Ultra, Mix Fold 4 global models

China-market models, Redmi, and POCO phones mostly do not support eSIM.

Other Android

OnePlus 11/12 global; Oppo Find X6 Pro and Find X7 Ultra; Honor Magic 5 Pro, Magic 6 Pro, Honor 90; select Sony, Nokia, ASUS, and Huawei models

Support varies a lot by region, carrier, and software version. Always check for an EID before buying.

Recent flagships are reliably supported. For anything older or less common, use easySim's compatibility checker on its website.

How easySim's six-month guarantee works

Most eSIM providers sell you data and wish you luck. easySim gives you 6 months to find out whether it actually works on your phone before it's your problem to solve alone.

• The guarantee covers one scenario: the eSIM can't be installed or activated, and you haven't used any data. Phone incompatibility is the usual culprit. Not every device that claims eSIM support plays nice with every provider, and you often don't find that out until you're already trying. Most rivals give you a much tighter window. Saily voids refunds once you've used 1% of your data . easySim gives you six months.
• What it doesn't cover: slow speeds once the eSIM is up and running or data you've already used up. Weak signal at your destination isn't grounds for a refund either. This guarantee is strictly for activation failures, nothing else.

To claim, get in touch via live chat, WhatsApp, or email, confirm you haven't used the plan, and explain what went wrong. Refunds are returned to your original payment method or to your easySim wallet. Reviewers on REVIEWS.io who went through the process describe it as quick, usually resolved within a couple of days.

This one matters most if it's your first eSIM or you're not fully sure your phone will cooperate. Some Android models are hard to verify in advance, and the guarantee is what takes the risk out of finding that out the hard way.

easySIM: Support

(Image credit: easySIM)

easySim has an AI assistant called Kerry that'll walk you through the app, check your phone for eSIM support, and handle the basic stuff.

For anything trickier, like an activation that's stuck, you're routed to a real person via chat, WhatsApp, or email. No phone line here, so don't expect to call anyone.

The FAQ section covers most of what you'd want to know before buying, including compatibility, hotspot, calls, and texts, so you can skip the chat entirely for those questions. The one recurring gripe is getting past Kerry before reaching a human for the harder stuff. Once you're through, resolution is fast.

easySIM: Final verdict

easySim is best for travelers who want affordable plans, unlimited hotspot, and one of the strongest refund policies in the eSIM market. For most UK and European trips, it's an easy recommendation.

Network availability varies by destination, though. Some countries get multiple carrier partners; others rely on a single local network, so your experience will differ depending on where you land.

If you need a local phone number or calls and texts, look elsewhere; easySim is data-only. And if you want the most feature-rich app experience, Airalo or Saily edge out the rest. For everything else, easySim does the job without the extras you probably won't use anyway.

easySIM: FAQsWhat is easySim?

easySim is a UK travel eSIM company. It sells prepaid mobile data plans in 200+ countries worldwide, starting at $3.99. It's part of the easy® family of brands, the same group that includes easyJet and easyHotel. It was started in 2023 by Jim Guest and Richard Gwilliam, who are based in Portsmouth, England. You install the eSIM once and buy data bundles as needed for each trip.

Is easySim connected to easyJet?

Yes, easySim uses a brand license from easyGroup, the company that owns the easy® trademark and includes easyJet. The two companies are separate, but easySim uses the easy® name under a proper agreement with easyGroup, which is chaired by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The travel connection and brand name are real; this isn't a loosely linked third party.

How does the six-month money-back guarantee work?

The guarantee applies when your eSIM can't be installed or activated, and you've used little or no data. If you encounter a compatibility issue or activation failure within 6 months of purchase, contact the support team via live chat, WhatsApp, or email to request a refund. The money is returned to your original payment method or your easySim wallet for future use. The guarantee doesn't cover cases where you used data, but the speeds were slow. It's only for when the service doesn't activate at all.

Can I use easySim as a hotspot?

Yes, every fixed-data plan from easySim includes fully unlimited hotspot and tethering. There's no daily cap and no limit on how much you share. A 10GB plan can be shared with a laptop or tablet. Unlimited plans support hotspots too, but shared data counts toward the 3GB per day of full-speed use. After 3GB, speeds slow down until the next day.

Can I make calls or send texts with easySim?

No, easySim is data only and has no calls or texts on any plan. Your regular home SIM runs at the same time as the easySim eSIM (this is called Dual SIM mode), and it handles your calls and texts as normal. Most travelers find this works fine. Apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime handle most communication over data, while your regular phone number remains reachable through your home SIM.

Which countries does easySim cover?

easySim covers 200+ countries. You can get single-country plans for the most popular travel destinations. The Europe regional plan covers 36 countries, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. There are also regional plans for Asia, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania.

How does the Refer & Earn program work?

If you refer a friend and they complete their first purchase using your referral link, you both get wallet credits. Your credits are added to your easySim account and used as a discount on plan purchases. The exact amount of credits is shown in your account. It's a nice bonus for regular travelers who already tell friends and family about the service, and it adds real savings over several trips.

Does easySim have an app?

Yes. easySim offers Android and iOS apps, although most features are also available through the website. You can buy plans, view your QR code, and manage your account on any browser through easysim Global. Data usage alerts come through email or your account dashboard.

The last time I paid for carrier roaming was a four-day trip to Germany. €62 for data; I rationed so carefully that I barely loaded a video the entire trip. Three weeks after I got home, the bill arrived, and I sat with it for longer than I'd like to admit. That experience sent me looking seriously at travel eSIMs, and eventually to Jetpac.

Most providers in this space are near-identical. You pick a destination, buy a data pack, scan a QR code, and hope it connects when you land. The real differences between Airalo, Holafly, and the rest come down to pricing and country lists.

Jetpac does something none of them do: it accounts for the part of travel that has nothing to do with data. Your flight is delayed. The gate area is packed. You have three hours and nowhere to go. That's where SmartDelay comes in. Free airport lounge access, triggered automatically when your flight hits a 60-minute delay.

Jetpac: Plans and pricing

Jetpac sells three types of data packs: single-country, regional, and global. All are one-time purchases. No subscription is required. Plans activate automatically when you arrive at your destination.

Plan Type

Starting Price

Coverage

Data

Validity

Hotspot

Single-Country (e.g., Japan)

From $10

1 country

5GB-40GB+

4-30 days

Yes (unlimited)

Regional (e.g., Europe)

From $22 (on sale)

32-43 countries

10GB-40GB

30 days

Yes (unlimited)

Global

From $69.99

96 countries

30GB-50GB

30-365 days

Yes (unlimited)

Unlimited (select markets)

From $65.99

Select countries

Unlimited*

30 days

Yes (unlimited)

*Unlimited plans run at full speed for the first 3GB in any 24-hour period, then throttle to 1Mbps for the remainder of the day.

New user offer: Your first pack can be 1GB for $1, valid for 4 days. It is a real trial. Buy it before a trip, test connectivity on your specific route, then upgrade to a larger pack once you know it works for you.

Single country plans

Prices vary by destination. In Japan, as a benchmark, 5GB costs $10, 10GB costs $20, and 30GB costs around $30 with current promotions. The US plan costs $15.99 for 10GB over 30 days and is available via AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. These are fair prices for a destination-specific pack.

Single-country plans work well for focused trips. They activate upon arrival, and the clock starts only once you connect.

Regional plans

Regional packs are the sweet spot for multi-country travel. The Europe plan covers 32 to 43 countries, depending on how Jetpac counts them (independent reviewers land on 32 confirmed). At around $20 for 10GB (sale price; standard pricing varies; confirm on the live product page before publishing) or $34.99 for 40GB (sale price; $70 at standard pricing), it undercuts most competitors that offer similar coverage. Prices reflect current promotional rates as of June 2026 and are subject to change.

Other regions available include Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Oceania. Each region has its own country count and pricing.

Global plans

The global plan covers 96 countries, a useful number for frequent multi-region travelers, though short of the 200+ the homepage markets. It starts at $69.99 for 30GB over 30 days, rising to $249 for 50GB over 365 days.

It suits people who travel across continents in a single trip or want a single plan that works year-round without having to think about regions.

Unlimited plans

Available in select markets including the US, UK, and Japan. The daily speed cap is the key thing to understand: full speed for the first 3GB, then 1 Mbps until midnight local time. At 1 Mbps, you can browse and message without issue. Video streaming becomes inconsistent.

If you use a lot of data, a large fixed-data regional pack like Europe 40GB (currently on sale for $34.99) often delivers a better day-to-day experience than the unlimited tier.

Jetpac: Features

Jetpac keeps the product focused. The app is clean, the plan selection is not overwhelming, and the features that exist are useful rather than decorative.

• Global coverage: One profile, 200+ marketed destinations. The app connects automatically to the strongest available local network: T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, O2 and Vodafone in Germany, KDDI and SoftBank in Japan. You land, turn on data, and it picks up. No manual network selection needed.
• Single reusable eSIM: Install Jetpac once. On every future trip, you buy a new data pack, and it loads onto the same eSIM profile. No QR codes to scan again, no reinstalls. For frequent travelers, this saves real time over the course of a year of trips.
• Unlimited hotspot: All plans include full tethering with no separate cap on tethered data. Single-country, regional, global, unlimited, all covered. If your laptop needs to connect to the internet through your phone, any plan will handle it.
• Apps that stay active after data runs out: When your data pack runs out, WhatsApp, Google Maps, Uber, and Grab keep working at no extra charge. Running out of data at midnight in an unfamiliar city is a lot less stressful when you can still call a ride. Note: this applies to packs of 3GB and above.
• Paid lounge passes: For travel days without delays, Jetpac sells individual DragonPass passes in the app for $30 to $55, covering 1,300+ lounges worldwide.
• Fast Track security: Paid passes range from $12 to $20 and are available at select airports across Europe, the UK, and parts of China. Discounts of up to 50% regularly appear in the app. Not available in North America.

How Jetpac's SmartDelay lounge benefit works

(Image credit: Future)

Every eSIM on the market sells you data. Jetpac sells you data and then gets you into an airport lounge when your flight goes sideways. It's called SmartDelay and runs on Collinson's LoungeKey network, which covers 1,100+ lounges worldwide. The same infrastructure behind Priority Pass and DragonPass, except you're not paying $32 a visit.

Setup takes two minutes. After buying any Jetpac pack, open the app, go to SmartDelay, and enter your flight number and departure date. Register any time after booking, but no later than 24 hours before departure. You can add one companion, and each data pack covers up to two flights.

When FlightStats reports a qualifying gate delay, Jetpac sends the LoungeKey voucher straight to your email. Show it at the entrance and walk in.

Who actually benefits from this? Economy travelers without a premium credit card or airline status. If you're flying Ryanair or AirAsia and your flight goes sideways, you have no lounge fallback. This is it, at no extra cost.

A few real limitations I came across:

• Delays under 60 minutes don't qualify, even if they result in a missed connection
• Weather and ATC-coded delays may not trigger it, depending on how the airline files the reason
• Coverage is strong at major hubs like Changi, Heathrow, and Frankfurt, but thin at smaller regional airports. Check the lounge finder if you regularly fly from a secondary airport.

SmartDelay is included with every Jetpac pack, from the $1 new-user trial upward. No competitor at this price point offers anything close.

Jetpac: Installation and activation

Setup takes around five minutes on an iPhone. Android can take slightly longer if manual APN configuration is needed.

Here is the full step-by-step process:

• Download the app. Search "Jetpac Global" in the App Store or Google Play.
• Create an account. Sign in with your email (a one-time verification code is sent, no password required) or continue with Google or Apple ID.
• Buy a plan. Select your destination, choose a data size, and pay in-app via card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
• Install the eSIM. On iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM. Name the line "Jetpac" and follow the activation steps. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM. Some Android models require you to enter APN settings manually. Jetpac's help center lists the correct APN by carrier.
• Turn on data roaming. This step is easy to miss. Go into your mobile data settings and make sure roaming is enabled specifically for the Jetpac line.
• Land and connect. The plan activates automatically when you arrive. Most users are online within two to three minutes of landing.

Two things to get right before you start. First, install on Wi-Fi, not mobile data. Installing an eSIM profile over cellular causes failures. Second, after activation, turn off automatic data switching on your device. If your phone reverts silently to your home carrier's data connection, you will be charged roaming rates and wonder why Jetpac is not working.

Jetpac: Compatible devices

Brand

Compatible Models

Notes

iPhone

XR, XS, XS Max, 11–17 series (all variants)

iPhone 14+ in the US is eSIM-only. China/Hong Kong models may not work

iPad

7th gen+, Air 3+, Mini 5+, Pro 11"/12.9" 3rd gen+

Cellular/LTE models only

Samsung Galaxy

S20–S25 series, Note 20/Ultra, Z Fold/Flip series, A54 5G

US, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong variants of S20/S21/Note 20 Ultra are NOT compatible. FE models not supported

Google Pixel

Pixel 3 through Pixel 10 series

Some older Pixel 3/3a models from AU/JP/TW are not supported

Huawei

P40, P50, Mate 40 Pro

Non-China-purchased units only

Motorola

Razr (2019+), Edge series

Region-dependent

Others

Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Nokia, ASUS, Honor

Model-specific. Check the compatibility page before buying.

If you are on a recent flagship like the iPhone 17, Pixel 10, or Galaxy S25, compatibility is confirmed. Jetpac's device page was last updated in November 2025 and covers current models.

For any older or less common device, use the compatibility checker at jetpacglobal.com before purchasing. Jetpac's support team also confirms compatibility over WhatsApp in minutes.

Jetpac: Customer support

Support is available via in-app live chat, WhatsApp, and email at support@jetpacglobal.com, with round-the-clock availability advertised across all three channels. Email is quoted within 24 hours; most reviewers report WhatsApp responses well within that, regardless of the hour.

Customer support is the most praised element; users regularly describe issues being closed within 10 to 30 minutes via WhatsApp.

Negative reviews cluster around Android installation failures (almost always solvable with manual APN setup), regional connectivity gaps, and occasional SmartDelay voucher delays. Reddit threads echo this, with iPhone and mainstream Samsung users rarely posting problems at all.

Jetpac: Final verdict

For most international travelers, Jetpac lands in a strong position. Data packs are priced fairly, the single reusable eSIM is a practical convenience, and SmartDelay is the kind of perk that actually changes the experience of a delayed flight, not just something listed on a features page.

The $1 new-user trial is the right starting point. Buy it before a trip, verify coverage works on your specific route, and size up from there. The risk is as low as a dollar.

The real limitations are specific. The global plan covers 96 countries, not 200+. Unlimited plans throttle usage after 3GB per day, making them a poor fit for remote workers or heavy streamers. Android setup is less smooth than iPhone. And SmartDelay only covers one companion, not the five older reviews suggest.

If you need a local incoming number, a truly unlimited high-speed connection, or coverage in very remote areas, competitors like Holafly or Airalo are worth comparing. For the frequent economy traveler who wants working data and airport perks without a premium credit card, Jetpac is the best option in its price range.

Jetpac: FAQs Does Jetpac offer airport lounge access?

Yes. Every Jetpac data pack includes SmartDelay, which provides free lounge access through the LoungeKey network (1,100+ lounges worldwide) when a registered flight is delayed by 60 minutes or more. You and one companion are covered. Paid DragonPass lounge passes are also available in the app for use without a delay.

How does SmartDelay work?

You register your flight in the Jetpac app at least 24 hours before scheduled departure. If FlightStats reports a qualifying delay of 60+ minutes, Jetpac automatically sends a LoungeKey voucher to your email and an SMS notification. Present the voucher at the lounge to gain access. No manual request or support call is required.

Can I use Jetpac on a cruise?

Jetpac covers land-based destinations and does not support maritime or satellite connectivity. At sea, the eSIM will not function. When your ship docks at a port in a covered country, the eSIM should pick up the local network, though signal quality depends on how close to shore you are and what carrier coverage exists at that port.

Does Jetpac support hotspot sharing?

All Jetpac plans include unlimited hotspot tethering with no separate data cap. You can share your connection with a laptop or tablet on any plan. If you are on an unlimited plan, tethered data counts toward the 3GB daily full-speed allowance, after which tethering continues at 1Mbps.

Is Jetpac cheaper than carrier roaming?

In almost every case, yes. Most international roaming plans from carriers charge $5–$15 per day for capped data. Jetpac's Europe plan offers 10GB covering 30+ countries for around $22 on sale (around $32 at standard pricing, verified June 2026). On a typical one-week trip, the savings are often $60–$100 compared to carrier roaming, and the lounge perk comes with it.

Can I get a refund from Jetpac?

Yes. Jetpac offers a 30-day refund window for data packs that cannot be installed or activated due to a verified technical problem on Jetpac's side, after completing troubleshooting with the support team. Refunds are not issued for device incompatibility or for packs that have been successfully activated and used. Approved refunds are processed within 5–10 business days to the original payment method.

Does Jetpac work with iPhone?

Jetpac is compatible with iPhone XR and all models through the iPhone 17 series. iPhones purchased in mainland China and Hong Kong may not be eSIM-capable. US iPhones from iPhone 14 onward are eSIM-only and fully supported. The device must be carrier-unlocked for the eSIM to work.

I first heard about ByteSIM at a hostel in Chiang Mai. A guy at my table was hotspotting his laptop, his tablet, and his friend's phone simultaneously. I asked what he was on. He showed me his ByteSIM app with a $2.90 entry, unlimited tethering, and coverage across 25 Asian countries on a single eSIM.

I switched that same night, sitting there on the hostel Wi-Fi. Over the next two weeks, hopping between Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea, I put it through its paces properly. Long rides, remote towns, underground metro tunnels. Here is what two weeks of daily use actually look like.

ByteSIM: Plans and pricing

ByteSIM splits its plans into two buckets. Local eSIMs for single-country travel and regional eSIMs for hopping across multiple destinations. What you pay depends on how much data you need, how long you're traveling, and where you're headed.

The pricing holds up well on larger packages; anything from 10 GB upward is genuinely competitive. Below that, cheaper options exist elsewhere. Unlimited plans are on the table too, though they come with a fair usage policy, so check the high-speed cap for your destination before committing.

Local eSIM Plans

Destination

Starting From

USA

$2.90 USD

Japan

$2.90 USD

Japan - 5G Ultra Unlimited by KDDI

$12.90 USD

Indonesia

$2.90 USD

Malaysia

$2.90 USD

Vietnam

$2.90 USD

Thailand

$2.90 USD

South Korea

$2.90 USD

Taiwan

$2.90 USD

The Japan 5G Ultra Unlimited plan by KDDI is a premium option for travelers needing the fastest speeds on Japan's leading 5G network.

Regional eSIM Plans

Region

Starting From

Global (125 Countries)

$4.90 USD

Europe Unlimited (57 Countries)Max

$2.90 USD

eSIM Europe (42 Countries)Lite

$2.90 USD

Asia (25 Countries)

$2.90 USD

China & Hong Kong & Macao

$2.90 USD

US & Canada

$2.90 USD

North America

$2.90 USD

South America

$2.90 USD

Note: Prices shown are starting prices and are subject to change. Always verify current rates on ByteSIM's website before purchasing.

ByteSIM: Features

ByteSIM's regional plans span up to 125 countries; most plans include free hotspot sharing, and select destinations offer local numbers for calls and texts. It's also one of the few eSIM providers that keeps Google and WhatsApp accessible in mainland China without a VPN.

• Unlimited Data: An unlimited data plan is included among ByteSIM's offerings. However, as with telecom networks, unlimited data doesn't literally mean what it says. There's a fair usage policy that limits how much high-speed data you can consume before browsing speeds are throttled to 128 kbps. This data cap varies depending on the underlying network.
• Regional Plans: Like many eSIM providers, ByteSIM offers regional plans that unlock network connectivity across multiple countries with a single eSIM. For example, the Asia plan provides coverage in 25 countries. If you plan to visit multiple Asian countries, you should choose the Asia plan, as it's more affordable compared to paying for a new plan in each country you visit.
• Unlimited Hotspot: With your ByteSIM data allowance, you can use your smartphone as a hotspot without limits. For example, you can share data with friends during your trip or connect your laptop to the internet from your smartphone. Many eSIM providers restrict how much data you can use in hotspot mode, but ByteSIM imposes no restrictions on most plans, though availability can vary by destination and carrier.
• Local Numbers, Calls, and SMS: On select destination plans, ByteSIM now offers local phone numbers with unlimited calls, texts, and data. This is available in destinations including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France. Check the specific plan details on ByteSIM's website to confirm availability for your destination.

ByteSIM: Installation

To install your ByteSIM eSIM, visit www.ByteSIM.com or download the ByteSIM app from the Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS).

On the app or website, you can view all plans offered by ByteSIM, choose your desired plan and duration, and see the corresponding price. Enter your personal details, including your email address, and pay for your plan.

Scan the QR code to install your eSIM onto your device. Your plan will activate automatically when you connect to a local network at your destination.

With ByteSIM's step-by-step instructions, the installation process is quick to complete. If you need help, you can consult ByteSIM's FAQs page and blog or contact the support team. ByteSIM's mobile app isn't required to install your eSIM, but it makes the process smoother. After activating your eSIM, you can monitor data usage from this app or top up data if needed.

(Image credit: ByteSIM)ByteSIM: Coverage and speed

ByteSIM offers eSIM coverage in 200+ regions, or virtually all countries where it's possible. Whether traveling across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, South America, or Oceania, you'll find a suitable eSIM package on ByteSIM.

This widespread coverage is one of the main reasons for ByteSIM's popularity, particularly its regional plans that offer data coverage across multiple countries via a single eSIM. ByteSIM is also one of the few eSIM providers to offer reliable coverage in mainland China, including access to Google and WhatsApp without a separate VPN.

You can access 5G connectivity with ByteSIM if it's available in your location. As a ByteSIM user, you're dependent on local telecoms infrastructure in the country you visit, meaning speeds can vary. In urban areas, 5G connectivity is more accessible but can be unavailable in rural areas. If 5G is unavailable, you'll be switched to 4G or LTE.

If visiting these countries, you're more likely to enjoy 5G connectivity with ByteSIM.

ByteSIM: Support

(Image credit: ByteSIM)

ByteSIM offers support via email and WhatsApp, and both channels are genuinely quick. I reached out on WhatsApp when my eSIM wasn't connecting in Vietnam and had a response within a few minutes. Not a bot, an actual person who walked me through the fix. That kind of turnaround is not guaranteed with every eSIM provider.

If you prefer to sort things out yourself first, the FAQs page covers the usual suspects well. Device compatibility questions, step-by-step installation for both iOS and Android, and what to do when your connection drops or slows unexpectedly.

The blog sits alongside it with destination-specific setup guides that are actually useful rather than filler. Between the two, most issues get resolved before you need to ping anyone. The support is not the flashiest part of ByteSIM's offering, but it holds up when it matters.

ByteSIM: Final verdict

ByteSIM is not the cheapest option on the market, and the unlimited plans will cost you more than basic alternatives. But if you travel frequently, move between countries, and actually use your phone for more than maps and WhatsApp, the value proposition holds. Genuine hotspot freedom, solid China coverage, and a regional plan structure that saves you from buying a new eSIM every time you cross a border are the real reasons people stick with it.

Where it falls short is predictable. The 128kbps throttle after the daily cap is painful if you hit it mid-afternoon; calls and SMS are off the table on most plans, and topping up means buying a new plan outright. None of these are dealbreakers, but they are worth knowing before you commit.

If you are a light traveler who needs a few gigabytes in one country, there are cheaper options to start with. If you are moving fast across multiple destinations and need something that just works without micromanaging data, ByteSIM earns the recommendation.

ByteSIM: FAQsDoes ByteSIM work in China?

Yes. ByteSIM is one of the few eSIM providers to support mainland China, routing traffic through international servers so Google, WhatsApp, and YouTube remain accessible without a separate VPN. This works because the data travels through an international gateway rather than domestic Chinese infrastructure, which means the Great Firewall does not apply. It is worth noting that this only covers your mobile data connection. Switch to hotel or cafe Wi-Fi, and the usual restrictions kick back in.

What happens when I reach the unlimited data cap?

Once you hit the unlimited data cap, speeds drop to 128kbps for the rest of that day, then reset the following morning. At 128kbps, you can send messages and check emails, but streaming, browsing, and anything data-heavy will feel broken. The cap threshold varies by destination and carrier, so check the specific plan details before you buy.

Will my eSIM expire if I don't use it right away after purchase?

No. Your ByteSIM eSIM does not expire simply because you have not activated it yet. You can purchase a plan in advance and install it on your device before your trip. The validity period of your plan starts only when your eSIM first connects to a local network at your destination, not from the date of purchase.

Should I switch on Data Roaming when using a ByteSIM eSIM?

Yes. Data Roaming must be enabled on your ByteSIM eSIM line for it to connect to local networks abroad. Go to your phone's mobile data settings, select the ByteSIM line, and make sure Data Roaming is turned on. It is also recommended to turn off Data Roaming on your home SIM at the same time to avoid any accidental roaming charges from your home carrier.

Will my physical SIM still work while the ByteSIM eSIM is installed?

Yes. ByteSIM works alongside your physical SIM on dual-SIM devices. You can keep your home SIM active for calls and texts while using the ByteSIM eSIM for mobile data. This means you stay reachable on your regular number without incurring roaming data charges from your home carrier.

UK organizations are investing heavily in AI tools. According to latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, 29% of UK businesses were using at least one type of AI technology as of June 2026.

Yet despite growing adoption, many organizations are still focused on the wrong question.

Most AI discussions start with the technology. Which models should we use? Which platform should we buy? How quickly can we deploy it?

While these decisions matter, they are not what determines success. The biggest obstacle to AI transformation is not technology but the people.

Organizations have managed to navigate major technology shifts before, from cloud migration and agile development to Zero Trust security. AI, however, represents something different. Rather than simply introducing new tools, it is changing how work gets done.

The businesses that succeed will be those that give AI tools the context they need to be useful and the people who know how to put that context to work.

The first shift: changing the mindset

One of the most striking trends in AI adoption is the gap between individual use and organizational readiness. According to recent research, nearly one in five UK workers now uses generative AI daily, yet only one in ten UK organizations has successfully scaled AI or embedded it into core operations.

Employees are embracing AI, whilst organizations are still figuring out how to turn that enthusiasm into lasting business value.

The people seeing the biggest gains aren't treating AI like business software. They're treating it like another worker. They know how to provide context. They know how to set expectations. They know how to review outputs, challenge assumptions and refine results. In short, they're managing AI rather than simply using it.

That distinction matters. AI isn't behaving like traditional software. It behaves more like a worker. The people getting the most value from it are those who know how to brief it, direct it and assess its output.

For many employees, that way of working is still emerging. AI is often used as a faster route to information rather than a collaborative tool capable of helping shape and execute work. Increasingly, every employee will need to become an AI manager. The ability to brief, direct and challenge AI will become a core workplace skill, regardless of role or department.

The second shift: treating upskilling as a business priority

Organizations cannot hire their way to AI readiness. There simply aren't enough people with the necessary expertise, and external hiring alone cannot replace the institutional knowledge already sitting inside the business.

The businesses moving fastest are investing in the people they already have. They're helping employees develop the confidence, judgement and practical skills needed to work alongside AI every day.

Giving employees access to AI tools is only the starting point. Organizations also need structured training, clear governance and opportunities for practical experimentation. The real opportunity lies not in teaching people to use AI, but in helping them understand how to work alongside it, applying critical thinking and human expertise to deliver stronger outcomes than either could achieve alone.

As AI capabilities continue to evolve, the organizations that treat learning as an ongoing discipline rather than a one-off training program will be best positioned to adapt.

The third shift: redesigning the organization itself

The final shift is organizational.

For decades, businesses have been structured around functions, departments and clearly defined handoffs. These models were designed to create accountability and specialization, but they can also introduce friction.

As AI begins working across teams and systems, some of those traditional boundaries begin to blur. Processes that once relied on handoffs between departments can increasingly be coordinated through connected digital workers. Activities that once required multiple individuals, applications and approval chains can increasingly be coordinated through connected digital workers.

While organizational structures will remain important, leaders will need to reconsider how work is organized and how value is generated.

Businesses will increasingly organize around outcomes rather than functions. As AI takes on more coordination work, we may start to see entirely new operating models emerge, including businesses capable of generating enormous value with far fewer employees than would have previously been possible.

AI runs on context

Many organizations are focused on the latest AI capabilities, but AI can only work with the context it has access to. The more relevant context AI can access, the more valuable its outputs become.

This is why digital transformation remains so important in the age of AI. Not because every organization needs to reinvent how people work overnight, but because information needs to flow more freely across the business.

Too often, transformation is viewed as a large-scale overhaul. Some of the most impactful improvements come from making existing workflows smarter.

For years, organizations have viewed printing as a blocker to digital transformation. Although when connected to modern workflows, cloud platforms and business systems, the print action can become an enabler instead. It can help trigger processes, route information and connect systems in ways that support both employees and AI.

Sometimes transformation starts with a major initiative. Sometimes it starts by making familiar actions more intelligent. The goal is the same: making information easier for both people and AI to access and use.

AI transformation is a people transformation

As organizations race to adopt AI, it's easy to assume success will be determined by the technology itself.

The real differentiator will be how effectively organizations prepare their people and unlock the knowledge already sitting across the business.

AI can only work with the context it has access to, and much of that context still lives in documents, workflows and everyday processes.

The organizations that see the greatest value from AI won't necessarily be those with the most advanced models. They'll be the ones that make information easier to access, enable people to work differently and create an environment where humans and AI can contribute together.

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• Slack Code will let workers code as a team
• Dedicated channels will let coding teams track changes in real time
• A wide range of AI agents will be available to use

Cracking those complex coding tasks could soon be a lot easier thanks to a new release from Salesforce and Slack.

The new Slack Code looks to brings AI-powered coding into the team workspace, changing how employees build and work, making coding "multiplayer".

The launch will allow teams to set up dedicated channels where teams can focus on a singular task or project, sharing it with their fellow workers to ensure nothing gets missed.

Slack Code

"We’re in the middle of a coding boom that’s changing how people build and work," a Salesforce blog post announcing the news declared, citing the popularity of coding agents such as Claude Code, Claude Tag, Devin from Cognition, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Vercel.

"Now the challenge is connecting what you’re building to the conversations your team is having, all in one interface."

Slack Code will look to tackle everyday tasks such as updating a web page or fixing a bug, but is also designed for the next big project or idea. Users simply tag in their coding agent of choice, which then creates a code channel to begin.

(Image credit: Salesforce)

Anyone in the channel can see the conversation, review code diffs, check live previews, give feedback, and approve the work before it ships, without the need to ever leave Slack.

Every code channel maps to one project, meaning it (should) so it stays focused and tidy, with the ability to mute or archive when it's not needed.

All users will be able to follow the work as it happens, including live previews, in their own tabs, with the ability to see exactly what has changed, with old code being struck through. When it's ready to preview, the team can watch the HTML output run live, and when a task is completed, the channel archives itself, with the record remaining as an audit log.

Organizations can tailor agent behavior and connect with existing tools, including auto-provisioning of accounts, authenticating users, and automating parts of the workflow to fit how your company works.

"Coding agents changed how individuals build. Now Slack Code changes how teams build," Salesforce's blog post adds.

"Squeezing complex, multi-turn agent work into standard threads creates noise, and letting developers retreat into private browser tabs means losing the thing that makes teams effective: shared context. Slack Code gives your team a dedicated place to work with an agent on a specific coding session or project, together, right in Slack."

Why is the car race in this part of D.C.? Will it be streaming? Who's paying for it? Here's what to know before the Freedom 250 Grand Prix hits the National Mall this weekend.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

The USS Abraham Lincoln is now on its way home after spending nine months at sea. Experts weigh in on the mental-health challenges of prolonged confinement and isolation aboard an aircraft carrier.

(Image credit: U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

U.S. officials say the ever-growing population of wild horses that roam federal lands in Colorado is depleting natural resources. But some activists say efforts to remove the horses are inhumane.

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In dozens of states around the country, people are vandalizing, blocking and taking down Flock cameras. The surge in this type of activity underscores the growing resistance to this police surveillance technology.

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Experts warn Trump's transactional approach to alliance will erode political trust

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Trump threatens economic pressure campaign against Iran, SCOTUS to weigh in on whether Trump's ballroom project, investors dump stocks and bonds despite government's efforts to calm market.

For StoryCorps, a mother remembers her daughter who was killed in a mass shooting by speaking with her daughter's best friend.

Critical infrastructure faces a common challenge. Across transport, utilities and communications, organizations are expected to deliver higher levels of performance, resilience and security while working with ageing assets and increasingly constrained budgets.

Large-scale replacement programs are rarely practical, affordable or necessary.

Instead, the organizations making the greatest progress are taking a different approach. They are building a much deeper understanding of the IT infrastructure they already own, using data and operational insight to improve performance, target investment and extend asset life.

This shift reflects a broader change in how infrastructure is managed. Rather than asking what needs replacing, operators are asking how existing IT assets can deliver more value.

Intelligent Infrastructure is helping answer that question by connecting assets, improving visibility and enabling better operational decisions.

For organizations responsible for critical infrastructure, success increasingly depends on understanding what is already in place, optimizing its performance and ensuring every investment delivers measurable value.

Different sectors, the same infrastructure challenge

While the infrastructure itself may differ between sectors, many of the challenges facing operators today are remarkably similar.

Whether managing a rail network, a water treatment facility, an electricity distribution network or a communications system, there is growing pressure to improve performance while operating within increasingly constrained budgets. At the same time, expectations around reliability, resilience and cybersecurity continue to rise, with customers and stakeholders expecting services to be available whenever they are needed.

Many organizations are also reliant on infrastructure that has been in operation for decades. In some cases, assets are performing well beyond their original design life. Replacing them is often costly, disruptive and difficult to justify when investment priorities are competing for limited resources.

Alongside this, operators are being asked to meet wider sustainability objectives, reduce unnecessary site visits and make better use of the resources available to them. The result is a complex balancing act between maintaining existing infrastructure, delivering operational improvements and planning for future requirements.

These challenges are not unique to one industry, and many organizations are asking the same questions. How can they improve resilience without significantly increasing costs? How can they make better use of existing assets? How can they prioritize investment with greater confidence? And how can they continue to meet rising expectations while working within finite resources?

Finding the answers starts with understanding infrastructure performance in greater detail. Not simply knowing whether an asset is operational, but understanding how it is performing, how its performance changes over time and what those changes might indicate. As infrastructure networks become larger, more connected and increasingly complex, that level of understanding is becoming essential.

Why understanding asset performance has become a strategic advantage

Infrastructure operators have never had access to more information about their assets than they do today. Connected devices, sensors and operational systems continuously generate information about the condition and performance of infrastructure. The opportunity now lies in making better use of that information to gain meaningful understanding to enable operational decision making, supporting desired business outcomes.

For many organizations, operational data exists across multiple systems, technologies and teams. Individual systems may provide valuable insight into specific assets, but they rarely provide a complete view of how the wider infrastructure network is performing. This can make it difficult to identify emerging issues, understand relationships between assets or recognize changes in performance before they begin to affect service delivery.

This becomes even more challenging where infrastructure has evolved over many years and comprises different technologies from multiple manufacturers. Legacy systems often operate alongside newer technologies, with each generating its own data and requiring its own management processes. Bringing these different sources of information together provides a far richer understanding of how infrastructure is performing.

Greater visibility allows operators to move beyond simply reacting to faults. It creates an opportunity to understand what normal performance looks like, identify trends over time and recognize when assets begin operating outside expected parameters. In many cases, these early indicators provide valuable time to investigate, prioritize activity and resolve issues before they affect customers or critical services.

This is where Intelligent Infrastructure begins to deliver real value. By securely connecting assets, bringing together operational data and providing a clearer understanding of infrastructure performance, organizations are better equipped to make informed decisions about how networks are managed, maintained and developed.

From operational insight to better decisions

Traditionally, many maintenance programs have been built around routine inspection schedules or simply responding to faults after they occur. While these approaches continue to play an important role, they do not always reflect the actual condition of assets or where engineering effort will have the greatest impact.

A clearer understanding of infrastructure performance allows operators to take a more informed and prognostic approach. Maintenance activities can be prioritized according to operational need, performance trends and potential risk rather than treating every asset in the same way. Engineering teams are able to focus their attention where it will deliver the greatest benefit, while emerging issues can be investigated before they develop into larger operational problems.

Over time, this supports a more informed approach to asset management. Maintenance ceases to be reactive and becomes increasingly proactive driven by the condition and performance of assets rather than fixed schedules alone. This can help reduce unplanned outages, improve network resilience and minimize disruption for customers and end users.

The benefits extend well beyond day-to-day operations. Better insight into infrastructure performance also supports longer-term planning by helping organizations understand where investment will deliver the greatest value. It provides greater confidence when deciding which assets continue to perform effectively, where upgrades are required and how infrastructure investment can be prioritized over time.

For organizations operating large and complex infrastructure estates, this is becoming increasingly important. Every investment decision carries an opportunity cost, making it essential to understand where resources will have the greatest impact. Better operational insight provides the evidence needed to support those decisions while helping organizations maximize the value of the infrastructure they already own.

It also contributes to wider organizational objectives. Targeted preventative maintenance can reduce unnecessary site visits, improve the efficiency of engineering teams and support sustainability ambitions by reducing travel and extending the useful life of assets where appropriate.

Understanding infrastructure will define its future

The debate about critical infrastructure often focuses on what needs replacing. In reality, the bigger opportunity lies in making better use of what already exists.

Organizations that combine connectivity, operational data and engineering expertise will be able to make better decisions about maintenance, investment and long-term asset management. They will improve resilience, extend asset life and deliver stronger outcomes without relying solely on large-scale capital programs.

Intelligent Infrastructure gives operators the insight to act earlier, invest with greater confidence and make better use of the assets they already own. Over time, that leads to more resilient networks, longer asset life and better outcomes for the customers and communities that rely on them.

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For organizations looking to gain an edge by adopting AI tools, the decision has been dominated between large language models.

Every new release promises better reasoning, greater accuracy and more capabilities than the last.

But as foundation models become increasingly powerful and widely available, the real differentiator for organizations won't be which model they choose - it will be how effectively they deploy agentic AI to solve real business problems.

At the recent 2026 Gartner Data and Analytics Summit, the message from analysts was clear; standalone AI models are outdated and autonomous, interconnected AI agents are the future. But to get real value from agentic AI, IT leaders should prioritize “high-frequency, low-complexity use cases, apply guardrails and upskill the workforce.”

To this statement, I would add that the next phase of enterprise AI isn't about having access to the biggest model. It's about building better agents.

That means moving beyond seeing AI as simply another chatbot and instead treating it as an operational capability that can augment employees, automate repetitive work and unlock efficiencies throughout the organization.

The biggest AI opportunity isn't conversational

For many people, AI still means asking ChatGPT a question and receiving an answer. That's certainly one application, and conversational interfaces have played an important role in making AI accessible. But that’s only scratching the surface of what's possible.

Some of the most valuable agentic AI deployments are focused on operational work rather than conversation. For example, in higher education, AI agents are helping students navigate support services by answering routine questions about enrolment, campus facilities or administrative processes, freeing staff to deal with more complex issues.

In transport, agents can combine timetable information, onward travel options and customer support into a single interaction, saving users from having to search across multiple services.

Elsewhere, organizations are using AI agents to qualify sales enquiries, summarize complex documentation, and extract information from contracts. Tasks that previously required hours of manual effort.

The common thread isn't simply that these agents can answer questions. It's that they remove administrative burden and enable people to focus on work that requires judgement, expertise and human interaction.

Better agents start with better problems

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding agentic AI is that organizations should begin by deciding where they want an AI agent.

In reality, for organizations looking to develop their AI offering, the first question shouldn't be, "Where can we deploy AI?" It should be, "What business problem are we trying to solve?"

Starting with technology often leads organizations to build agents that deliver little value because they're automating the wrong process. The organizations seeing the strongest returns are those identifying operational pain points first, in areas where employees spend large amounts of time on repetitive administration, searching for information or manually moving data between systems.

When those challenges are clearly understood, agentic AI becomes an effective operational tool rather than technology looking for a use case.

The model is becoming less important than the implementation

Today's leading AI models are improving at an extraordinary pace. They're becoming more capable, faster and increasingly cost-effective which means that the competitive advantage is shifting

Organizations are unlikely to outperform competitors simply because they've selected one foundation model over another. Instead, success will increasingly depend on everything that surrounds the model.

Data quality is one of the biggest differentiators. An AI agent is only as good as the information it's grounded on. Contradictory documentation, inconsistent policies, or poor knowledge management inevitably reduce the quality of outputs.

Prompt engineering is another often overlooked capability. Designing an agent isn't simply a matter of giving it instructions and expecting consistent results. Well-designed prompts establish clear guardrails, define the agent's responsibilities and ensure it stays focused on its intended purpose.

The same is true of governance. A good agent shouldn't answer every question it's asked. It should understand its role, know when to decline requests that fall outside its remit and operate only with the information and permissions it genuinely needs. Applying the principle of least privilege isn't just good security practice, it also improves efficiency by reducing unnecessary processing and keeps costs under control.

Ultimately, the quality of the implementation matters far more than the size of the underlying model.

Trust is built through iteration, not ambition

Another common mistake is assuming that agentic AI should be deployed through large-scale transformation programs. But, in practice, the opposite is usually true.

The organizations achieving meaningful outcomes tend to start with a tightly defined use case that delivers measurable value. This creates confidence among employees, demonstrates return on investment, and provides an opportunity to refine governance before expanding into more sophisticated workflows.

Agentic AI should be treated as a product that evolves over time rather than a project that's complete on launch day. However, that also changes the way organizations approach testing.

Traditional software is designed to deliver identical outputs every time. AI agents are probabilistic by nature, meaning consistency becomes just as important as functionality. Continuous testing, monitoring, and refinement therefore become integral to successful deployment.

Just as importantly, employees need to be part of the journey. Building trust isn't about unveiling an AI agent once it has been completed. It's about involving teams throughout development, helping them understand how decisions are made, where guardrails exist and how the technology is intended to augment and not replace their expertise.

Better agents will define the next phase of AI

It’s inevitable that the AI industry will continue producing faster, cheaper and more capable foundation models. But what isn't inevitable is whether organisations will be able to translate those capabilities into meaningful business value.

The next AI race won't be won by those with access to the biggest model. It will be won by those that build trusted, well-governed agents capable of solving real operational problems.

Understand your costs with the best accounting software for small business.

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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has become something of a legend over the years, being the one big game in the franchise that never left its original platform – the PlayStation 3.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 27, 2026

Finally, the port once thought impossible has returned in the new Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2. The first collection packaged the classic stealth trilogy with the MSX and NES games that preceded it, and this time around the package is headlined by the return of Metal Gear Solid 4 and the duo of the PlayStation Portable’s excellent Peace Walker and underrated Game Boy Color spinoff Ghost Babel.

Off the bat, it may seem like a bit of a raw deal for the second to only feature one bonus title compared to the first collection, which offers three of the greatest games ever made along with four bonus titles and two graphic novels.

However, the work done on Metal Gear Solid 4 is far more than the bare-bones re-releases of the first game and Bluepoint's 2011 HD Collection versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 found in its predecessor, while Peace Walker is a phenomenal mainline entry and Ghost Babel ranks among the series' greatest spinoffs (and is better than the NES games at least).

It's a fairer trade than the numbers suggest.

War has changed

(Image credit: Konami)

Metal Gear Solid 4 is the crown jewel of this collection, and unlike the first – which had some major issues at launch – I'm happy to report that this is a phenomenal port. Running at 4K and a solid 60 frames per second (fps) throughout with massively improved loading times between areas, it's hard to see any flaws in this version of the stealth classic… well, aside from those that were already there.

Long thought unportable due to being made specifically for the esoteric PS3 system architecture and a hefty number of licensed products appearing in-game, Metal Gear Solid 4 remains mostly intact.

You still have the iPod; you still see the PS3 console in your plane. However, Konami has gone back and remixed some elements to make sense on modern consoles, with the famous "we're on PS3" scene changed to your platform of choice – even if the almost 20-year difference in Christopher Randolph's voice is pretty obvious.

In fact, the only thing I noticed that was missing was the now-redundant installation menu featuring Snake smoking between chapters.

(Image credit: Konami)

Despite its notoriety, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a strange game. I'd even argue it's the worst of the six main games in the series, even if it is still a great time.

It gets off to a really strong start with chapters set in the Middle East and South America, featuring some incredible stealth gameplay with a unique battlefield stealth mechanic which allows you to manipulate the ongoing war between rebel militia and PMC groups.

It's a genius bit of game design, and it’s a shame that it's abandoned by the end of the second chapter.

After an Act 3, which boils down to a not-so-great tailing mission, Metal Gear Solid 4 goes off the rails with its plot, lengthy cutscenes, and gameplay segments.

Some of these are highlights of the game, such as the entirety of Act 4 or the final boss fight that ranks among the best in the series. However, some plot decisions and retcons make for the messiest story in the franchise's history – I won't go into detail, but a particular retcon about Metal Gear Solid 3's Para-Medic is a terrible choice that I'm still bugged by years later.

(Image credit: Konami)

What's there is still a great game I'd recommend to anyone, though it's a shame some of the most interesting gameplay elements are abandoned almost entirely, even if the rollercoaster ride of set-piece and fan-service moments is a joy to play through.

The opening to Act 4 in particular is one of my favorite gaming moments ever and still gives me chills to this day.

We're nomads, and we always will be

(Image credit: Konami)

Peace Walker, on the other hand, is an unsung part of the saga. Originally released on the PSP, it was somewhat overlooked, but this game is Metal Gear Solid 5 in all but name.

Taking place between Snake Eater and The Phantom Pain, Peace Walker is Metal Gear crossed with Monster Hunter, with a mission-based design that allows for short bursts of play. It introduced base management, weapon development, and nicking soldiers via balloon aspects that The Phantom Pain would later expand upon.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Konami)

Returning to Shadow Moses in Act 4 of Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the greatest bits of fan service ever deployed in a game, and the needle drop of The Best Is Yet To Come still sends chills down my spine almost 20 years later.

While not quite on the level of the original trilogy, Peace Walker has a great story, which helps show how Big Boss eventually became the person we saw as a villain in the original MSX games – arguably better than The Phantom Pain did. It also features one of the best supporting casts in the series, with Kazuhira Miller returning from Metal Gear Solid and being fleshed out into one of the series' best, while the likes of Amanda, Paz, and Professor Galvez are memorable additions to the series canon.

I say Metal Gear crossed with Monster Hunter, but nowhere is that more felt than in the bossfights, which have you take on massive mecha over a prolonged period. While I like this in theory, these bosses are unfortunately the worst the series has to offer – and aside from the titular Peace Walker and true final boss – are not memorable in the slightest.

(Image credit: Konami)

Peace Walker also features co-op and versus multiplayer modes, which are present in this new collection, though I wasn’t able to test them over the review period. From my experiences with the HD Collection version, Peace Walker multiplayer is a blast.

This port is a bit rougher than Metal Gear Solid 4, mostly because there isn't too much you can do to make PSP assets shine in 4K. However, the addition of new higher-quality versions of the comic-book-like cutscenes by Ashley Wood is a welcome bonus

It's not over yet

(Image credit: Konami)

If you played Master Collection Vol 1, you will have a good idea of what to expect this time around. Both main games come with a Screenplay Book and Master Book, which features rundowns of the story, background info on characters, and strategy-guide-esque details to let you find secrets in-game.

There are also soundtrack selections and the ability to download other language versions of the games if you please. The Metal Gear Solid 4 edition also features the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database app, which was released on PS3 around the launch of the original game, although sadly its version of Metal Gear Online is not present.

And while the bonus titles included the original MSX2 version of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 – which I wrote about how good they are a few years back – and the less-good NES versions of them, this time around the only additional title is Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color.

(Image credit: Konami)

Ghost Babel takes gameplay akin to Metal Gear 2, but fuses it with some elements of the PS1 classic while adapting it to a stage-based formula for handheld. While it doesn't quite match the main series, Ghost Babel should not be slept on, as it's one of the best spinoff titles the franchise has to offer.

Sadly, that's it though. It's a shame, as the likes of Metal Gear Acid or Metal Gear Rising would've been much appreciated additions.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 is another package of two fantastic games, with some great bonuses included. While it's mostly a vehicle to get Metal Gear Solid 4 out of PS3 jail, Peace Walker and Ghost Babel are two brilliant additions that you might have missed the first time around.

Should you play Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2?Play it if...

You didn't have a PS3
Metal Gear Solid 4 is out of PS3 jail after almost 20 years. For those who have been waiting, this is one of the biggest dream ports to finally get, and being able to play it in a version that sticks to a solid 4K resolution and 60fps is worth a return trip even if you did play it on PS3.

You never played Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Yes, Metal Gear Solid 4 is the main event of this collection, but Peace Walker is one of the best games the series has to offer. Not to mention an essential part of the storyline heading into Metal Gear Solid 5.

Don't play it if...

You haven't played Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1.
Metal Gear Solid 4 was made with the idea that you'll have the knowledge of the original trilogy of Metal Gear Solid games at a bare minimum, leading to a plot that will be extremely hard to follow for anyone not caught up. Not to mention that all of the emotional impact will be nullified without prior knowledge

Accessibility features

Both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker have subtitles and controller remapping features, but otherwise the accessibility features included in this collection are the same as they were back in the original releases.

This means no color blind support, audio description, or gameplay tweaks are available – which could cause issues during moments in both games when tons of button mashing is required.

How I reviewed Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2

I played 12 hours of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 on PS5 Pro using a DualSense Wireless Controller, on an LG C5 OLED TV with an LG-US70TY soundbar.

During this time, I played a full run of Metal Gear Solid 4 while skipping most cutscenes (as I had replayed the game very recently for comparison) through to the end of Act 4. I played through to the end of Chapter 1 of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, and roughly half of Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. I have played all of these games multiple times before this review, and was able to compare to other versions where applicable.

First reviewed August 2026

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has become something of a legend over the years, being the one big game in the franchise that never left its original platform – the PlayStation 3.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 27, 2026

Finally, the port once thought impossible has returned in the new Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2. The first collection packaged the classic stealth trilogy with the MSX and NES games that preceded it, and this time around the package is headlined by the return of Metal Gear Solid 4 and the duo of the PlayStation Portable’s excellent Peace Walker and underrated Game Boy Color spinoff Ghost Babel.

Off the bat, it may seem like a bit of a raw deal for the second to only feature one bonus title compared to the first collection, which offers three of the greatest games ever made along with four bonus titles and two graphic novels.

However, the work done on Metal Gear Solid 4 is far more than the bare-bones re-releases of the first game and Bluepoint's 2011 HD Collection versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 found in its predecessor, while Peace Walker is a phenomenal mainline entry and Ghost Babel ranks among the series' greatest spinoffs (and is better than the NES games at least).

It's a fairer trade than the numbers suggest.

War has changed

(Image credit: Konami)

Metal Gear Solid 4 is the crown jewel of this collection, and unlike the first – which had some major issues at launch – I'm happy to report that this is a phenomenal port. Running at 4K and a solid 60 frames per second (fps) throughout with massively improved loading times between areas, it's hard to see any flaws in this version of the stealth classic… well, aside from those that were already there.

Long thought unportable due to being made specifically for the esoteric PS3 system architecture and a hefty number of licensed products appearing in-game, Metal Gear Solid 4 remains mostly intact.

You still have the iPod; you still see the PS3 console in your plane. However, Konami has gone back and remixed some elements to make sense on modern consoles, with the famous "we're on PS3" scene changed to your platform of choice – even if the almost 20-year difference in Christopher Randolph's voice is pretty obvious.

In fact, the only thing I noticed that was missing was the now-redundant installation menu featuring Snake smoking between chapters.

(Image credit: Konami)

Despite its notoriety, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a strange game. I'd even argue it's the worst of the six main games in the series, even if it is still a great time.

It gets off to a really strong start with chapters set in the Middle East and South America, featuring some incredible stealth gameplay with a unique battlefield stealth mechanic which allows you to manipulate the ongoing war between rebel militia and PMC groups.

It's a genius bit of game design, and it’s a shame that it's abandoned by the end of the second chapter.

After an Act 3, which boils down to a not-so-great tailing mission, Metal Gear Solid 4 goes off the rails with its plot, lengthy cutscenes, and gameplay segments.

Some of these are highlights of the game, such as the entirety of Act 4 or the final boss fight that ranks among the best in the series. However, some plot decisions and retcons make for the messiest story in the franchise's history – I won't go into detail, but a particular retcon about Metal Gear Solid 3's Para-Medic is a terrible choice that I'm still bugged by years later.

(Image credit: Konami)

What's there is still a great game I'd recommend to anyone, though it's a shame some of the most interesting gameplay elements are abandoned almost entirely, even if the rollercoaster ride of set-piece and fan-service moments is a joy to play through.

The opening to Act 4 in particular is one of my favorite gaming moments ever and still gives me chills to this day.

We're nomads, and we always will be

(Image credit: Konami)

Peace Walker, on the other hand, is an unsung part of the saga. Originally released on the PSP, it was somewhat overlooked, but this game is Metal Gear Solid 5 in all but name.

Taking place between Snake Eater and The Phantom Pain, Peace Walker is Metal Gear crossed with Monster Hunter, with a mission-based design that allows for short bursts of play. It introduced base management, weapon development, and nicking soldiers via balloon aspects that The Phantom Pain would later expand upon.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Konami)

Returning to Shadow Moses in Act 4 of Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the greatest bits of fan service ever deployed in a game, and the needle drop of The Best Is Yet To Come still sends chills down my spine almost 20 years later.

While not quite on the level of the original trilogy, Peace Walker has a great story, which helps show how Big Boss eventually became the person we saw as a villain in the original MSX games – arguably better than The Phantom Pain did. It also features one of the best supporting casts in the series, with Kazuhira Miller returning from Metal Gear Solid and being fleshed out into one of the series' best, while the likes of Amanda, Paz, and Professor Galvez are memorable additions to the series canon.

I say Metal Gear crossed with Monster Hunter, but nowhere is that more felt than in the bossfights, which have you take on massive mecha over a prolonged period. While I like this in theory, these bosses are unfortunately the worst the series has to offer – and aside from the titular Peace Walker and true final boss – are not memorable in the slightest.

(Image credit: Konami)

Peace Walker also features co-op and versus multiplayer modes, which are present in this new collection, though I wasn’t able to test them over the review period. From my experiences with the HD Collection version, Peace Walker multiplayer is a blast.

This port is a bit rougher than Metal Gear Solid 4, mostly because there isn't too much you can do to make PSP assets shine in 4K. However, the addition of new higher-quality versions of the comic-book-like cutscenes by Ashley Wood is a welcome bonus

It's not over yet

(Image credit: Konami)

If you played Master Collection Vol 1, you will have a good idea of what to expect this time around. Both main games come with a Screenplay Book and Master Book, which features rundowns of the story, background info on characters, and strategy-guide-esque details to let you find secrets in-game.

There are also soundtrack selections and the ability to download other language versions of the games if you please. The Metal Gear Solid 4 edition also features the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database app, which was released on PS3 around the launch of the original game, although sadly its version of Metal Gear Online is not present.

And while the bonus titles included the original MSX2 version of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 – which I wrote about how good they are a few years back – and the less-good NES versions of them, this time around the only additional title is Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color.

(Image credit: Konami)

Ghost Babel takes gameplay akin to Metal Gear 2, but fuses it with some elements of the PS1 classic while adapting it to a stage-based formula for handheld. While it doesn't quite match the main series, Ghost Babel should not be slept on, as it's one of the best spinoff titles the franchise has to offer.

Sadly, that's it though. It's a shame, as the likes of Metal Gear Acid or Metal Gear Rising would've been much appreciated additions.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 is another package of two fantastic games, with some great bonuses included. While it's mostly a vehicle to get Metal Gear Solid 4 out of PS3 jail, Peace Walker and Ghost Babel are two brilliant additions that you might have missed the first time around.

Should you play Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2?Play it if...

You didn't have a PS3
Metal Gear Solid 4 is out of PS3 jail after almost 20 years. For those who have been waiting, this is one of the biggest dream ports to finally get, and being able to play it in a version that sticks to a solid 4K resolution and 60fps is worth a return trip even if you did play it on PS3.

You never played Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Yes, Metal Gear Solid 4 is the main event of this collection, but Peace Walker is one of the best games the series has to offer. Not to mention an essential part of the storyline heading into Metal Gear Solid 5.

Don't play it if...

You haven't played Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1.
Metal Gear Solid 4 was made with the idea that you'll have the knowledge of the original trilogy of Metal Gear Solid games at a bare minimum, leading to a plot that will be extremely hard to follow for anyone not caught up. Not to mention that all of the emotional impact will be nullified without prior knowledge

Accessibility features

Both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker have subtitles and controller remapping features, but otherwise the accessibility features included in this collection are the same as they were back in the original releases.

This means no color blind support, audio description, or gameplay tweaks are available – which could cause issues during moments in both games when tons of button mashing is required.

How I reviewed Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2

I played 12 hours of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 on PS5 Pro using a DualSense Wireless Controller, on an LG C5 OLED TV with an LG-US70TY soundbar.

During this time, I played a full run of Metal Gear Solid 4 while skipping most cutscenes (as I had replayed the game very recently for comparison) through to the end of Act 4. I played through to the end of Chapter 1 of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, and roughly half of Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. I have played all of these games multiple times before this review, and was able to compare to other versions where applicable.

First reviewed August 2026

A charter aircraft carrying eight people crashed at a remote radar site in western Alaska on Thursday, killing all on board, the U.S. military said.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

Tens of thousands of people in Indiana are entering a second week without power after a deadly storm toppled trees and power lines. Schools remain closed and businesses have been unable to reopen.

(Image credit: Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)