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The enterprise software playbook seemed clear: everything moves to the cloud eventually. Applications, databases, storage: they all followed the same inevitable arc from on-premises to software-as-a-service.

But with the arrival and boom of artificial intelligence, we’re seeing a different story play out, one where the cloud is just one chapter rather than the entire book.

AI systems

AI workloads are fundamentally different beasts than the enterprise applications that defined the cloud migration wave. Traditional software scales predictably, processes data in batches, and can tolerate some latency.

AI systems are non-deterministic, require massive parallel processing, and often need to respond in real-time. These differences reshape the entire economic equation of where and how you run your infrastructure.

Take the challenge of long-running training jobs. Machine learning models don't train on schedule; they train until they converge. This could be hours, days, or weeks. Cloud providers excel at providing infrastructure at short notice, but GPU capacity at hyperscalers can be hard to get without a 1 year reservation.

The result is either paying for guaranteed capacity you might not fully use, or risking that your training job gets interrupted when using spot instances to reduce costs.

Then there's the inference challenge. Unlike web applications that might see traffic spikes during Black Friday, AI services often need to scale continuously as customer usage grows.

The token-based pricing models that govern large language models make this scaling unpredictable in ways that traditional per-request pricing never was. A single customer query might consume 10 tokens or 10,000, depending on the complexity of the response and the size of the context window.

Hybrid approaches

The most intriguing development involves companies discovering hybrid approaches that acknowledge these unique requirements rather than abandoning the cloud. They're using on-premises infrastructure for baseline, predictable workloads while leveraging cloud resources for genuine bursts of demand.

They're co-locating servers closer to users for latency-sensitive applications like conversational AI. They're finding that owning their core infrastructure gives them the stability to experiment more freely with cloud services for specific use cases.

This evolution is being accelerated by regulatory requirements that simply don't fit the cloud-first model. Financial services, healthcare, and government customers often cannot allow data to leave their premises.

For these sectors, on-premises or on-device inference represents a compliance requirement rather than a preference. Rather than being a limitation, this constraint is driving innovation in edge computing and specialized hardware that makes local AI deployment increasingly viable.

Infrastructure strategies

The cloud providers aren't standing still, of course. They're developing AI-specific services, improving GPU access, and creating new pricing models. But the fundamental mismatch between AI's resource requirements and traditional cloud economics suggests that the future won't be a simple rerun of the SaaS revolution.

Instead, we're heading toward a more nuanced landscape where different types of AI workloads find their natural homes. Experimentation and rapid prototyping will likely remain cloud-native. Production inference for established products might move closer to owned infrastructure. Training runs might split between cloud spot instances for cost efficiency and dedicated hardware for mission-critical model development.

The approach represents a step toward infrastructure strategies that match the actual needs of AI systems rather than forcing them into patterns designed for different types of computing

The most successful AI companies of the next decade will likely be those that think beyond the cloud-first assumptions and build infrastructure strategies as sophisticated as their algorithms.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• The Lenovo Legion Go 2 prototype outperforms the MSI Claw A8 in new benchmark video
• The MSI Claw A8 featured in the video has 16GB of RAM, while the Legion Go 2 has 24GB
• The Legion Go 2 prototype is available on second-hand markets in China, but is yet to launch officially

As we approach the latter stages of 2025, several new contenders are about to enter the handheld gaming PC market – and one of them in particular, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, looks like it will make a big impression.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 outperforms the MSI Claw A8, according to a new benchmark by Lines Tech on YouTube. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the MSI Claw A8 hit an average of 44 fps, while the Lenovo Legion Go 2 had an average of 49 fps, the latter producing 10% better performance.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is still in its prototype phase, but is already available on second-hand markets in China. Both the Legion Go 2 and the MSI Claw A8 utilize AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, so it may be a bit confusing to see the former managing better performance.

However, it more likely comes down to the amount of RAM available; the MSI Claw A8 has 16GB of RAM, while the Legion Go 2 has 24GB, which is 8GB more. It's also worth noting that the Legion Go 2 appears to have a placeholder CPU name, but we know it has the iGPU that's in the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, which is the Radeon 890M.

For the MSI Claw A8, there has strangely been been little to no mention of other configurations featuring less RAM than the marketed 24GB (according to the specifications on its website), which should specify 'up to 24GB', but that's beside the point.

Ultimately, based on these benchmarks, the Lenovo Legion Go 2's top configuration (featuring 32GB of RAM) should outperform the MSI Claw A8, which will be limited to a maximum of 24GB of RAM. We'll need to see both handhelds and their 24GB configurations go toe-to-toe, and if Lenovo's handheld still comes out as the victor, it could simply be due to better cooling.

Analysis: None of this will matter if availability and pricing are an issue...

Having seen the performance benchmarks of the MSI Claw A8 and personally used its similar counterpart, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, I've already written off a purchase of both handhelds. While the performance leap from AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme is evident, it's not enough to warrant such a huge expense, but that's slightly different with the Lenovo Legion Go 2.

If the Lenovo Legion Go 2 doesn't come with an unreasonable price tag above $1,000, I could see it being a big hit considering all the benefits. It has an 8.8-inch OLED screen powered by the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, and if it wasn't clear already, the OLED display is what gives it an extra edge.

However, I'm worried that potential buyers will be thrown off by pricing – or worse, a lack of availability. Even if I had decided that I wanted to buy an MSI Claw 8 AI+, the stock would disappear before I could even come to a decision.

Fortunately, that's gradually changing with better availability at Currys in the UK, but I could easily see the same stock woes happening with the Claw A8 and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 when it eventually goes on sale.

Tariffs on Taiwan are certainly part of availability issues, as it's where both Lenovo and MSI manufacture these handhelds. Let's just hope it doesn't get out of hand...

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Cybersecurity and resilience are essential for organizations striving to succeed in our highly connected world. With threats evolving at a breakneck pace, protecting your business requires more than vigilance. It demands a two-pronged strategy. First, proactive measures that detect and stop attacks before they happen. Second, an agile, efficient response plan to recover quickly if a breach occurs.

Attack timelines in the age of AI

One of the most misunderstood aspects of cybersecurity attacks is timing. Cyberattacks don’t begin when they are detected; they begin when access is gained. This could be weeks or even months before detection. Studies suggest that the period between the disclosure and exploitation, known as “dwell time,” has a global median of around ten days.

During this window, attackers operate in stealth mode. They analyze your systems, identify gaps and vulnerabilities, and position themselves strategically for maximum impact. Attackers exploit this period to steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or deploy malware like ransomware.

AI is now reshaping the timing and nature of these attacks. A report from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) highlights a growing disparity between organizations equipped to counter AI-enabled threats and those that falter. Worse, AI has the potential to increase the attack surface while simultaneously reducing dwell time. This dual dynamic will challenge even the most prepared defenders.

The cybersecurity challenges of AI

Every technological leap creates the potential for new security gaps, and AI is no exception. The NCSC stresses that improperly integrated AI systems can expose vulnerabilities. Generative AI (GenAI), for instance, introduces risks related to data exposure, manipulation of outputs, sensitive information leaks and even injection attacks that compromise AI tools.

Maintaining the integrity of training and inference data is becoming a growing challenge, especially as the data itself becomes more distributed. Nearly 90% of companies surveyed in Dell’s Global Data Protection Index recognize AI will generate large volumes of data requiring robust protection.

Yet 65% of organizations back up 50% or less of their total AI data, according to Enterprise Strategy Group research. This gap underscores an urgent need for comprehensive data protection strategies across infrastructure, operations and governance.

Proactive defense for staying ahead

The modern world of cyber threats requires smarter, faster responses. Proactive defense rooted in zero-trust principles is critical. Zero-trust is an architectural approach to security versus a product you buy.

It never trusts and always verifies legitimate business use before granting anyone or anything access to resources. This means that users and devices are not trusted by default, even if they’re connected to a permissioned network and even if they were previously verified.

The ability to advance cybersecurity maturity starts by focusing on three core practice areas: Reducing the attack surface, detecting and responding to threats, and recovering from potential breaches.

Reducing the attack surface literally means making it harder for the bad actors to get into your network, move around and cause havoc. This requires a multilayered approach, starting with penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential security gaps that require immediate attention.

Other critical measures include network segmentation, strict access controls, isolating sensitive data and consistently updating software and systems to mitigate exposure to risks.

Yet, no matter how much the attack surface is reduced, breaches can still occur. Therefore, companies must also work on the second pillar - actively identifying and addressing potential security incidents and malicious activities in the earliest stages of a breach.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solutions harness the power of AI to monitor systems in real time, detect unusual activity and neutralize threats before they escalate. Whether it’s anomalies like strange login patterns, unusual traffic or tampered data, these systems catch issues early.

When combined with automation, these systems can immediately isolate compromised accounts or devices, preventing malicious actors from moving deeper into the network.

But detection goes beyond surface anomalies. Advanced analytics analyze data to granular levels, identifying even subtle warning signs of potential attacks. These tools can detect when data has been tampered with, signaling a possible breach before damage spreads. This foresight is invaluable, enabling organizations to act well before a threat spirals into a full-blown crisis.

When proactive measures aren’t enough

No defense strategy is foolproof, even with strict security protocols and advanced detection systems in place. Human error, insider threats or highly sophisticated cyberattacks can and will occasionally bypass safeguards. When this happens, recovery becomes the priority. Recovery can be guided by three AI-powered principles: isolation, immutability and intelligence.

An isolated recovery environment protects critical backups by separating them from normal operations. This containment prevents attackers from tampering with the stored data. Additionally, ensuring immutability means that backups cannot be altered, deleted or overwritten, providing a secure foundation for restoration. Automated System Recovery (ASR), for example, is a hardware-based tool that can bring compromised servers back to their last functioning state quickly.

AI-powered intelligence completes the recovery process. Analytical tools can review data for signs of corruption, look for anomalies like unauthorized encryption or mass deletions, and assess damage levels across the entire digital infrastructure. These forensic insights help businesses better understand the severity and scope of an attack while preparing for future resilience.

Navigating the threat landscape

We’re at a pivotal juncture for cybersecurity. Attackers are using AI to outmaneuver defenses more rapidly than ever before, but defenders are equally equipped to use the same technology to strengthen their protection and response strategies. By focusing on reducing vulnerabilities, detecting threats early and empowering teams with recovery mechanisms, organizations can achieve a resilience that’s critical for both surviving and thriving in today’s threat environment.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Spotify is now asking UK users to prove their age to access mature content
• The age verification checks have been introduced as part of the UK's Online Safety Act
• Spotify says it will present age checks if it suspects you're under 13, but many users have encountered checks despite being over 18

Spotify has become the latest app to introduce measures designed to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, by asking users to undergo age verification checks if they want to view or listen to age-restricted content – and many users aren't happy.

The age verification requirements of the Online Safety Act came into effect from July 25, and requires all platforms that display adult content to verify that users are over 18 using age verification checks.

So far, we've seen the likes of Xbox, Discord and Reddit introduce age verification, and now Spotify has done the same.

Like Reddit and X, Spotify has partnered with digital identification firm Yoti, a service that conducts age checks via facial scanning. For Spotify users, Yoti will use different means of age verification, from facial scanning to requesting a scan of your ID if it suspects you’re under 13 (Spotify’s minimum age requirement).

It will also use algorithmic methods to estimate a user’s age. But Spotify is taking it a step further, stating in its official outline that "your account will be deactivated and eventually deleted" if you fail to complete the age verification process.

While Yoti claims that your data will be kept safe, and eventually deleted, the new requirement has caused uproar among some Spotify users.

Some have take to forums such as Reddit to point that young people are clever enough to find ways around the checks, for example using a VPN to change their location to somewhere other than the UK – and a minority have even threatened to revert to piracy (see below).

Comment from r/ukpoliticsWhat is ‘mature content’ in Spotify?

(Image credit: Spotify)

This is the burning question among Spotify fans, considering the music streaming app doesn't host X-rated content on the same scale as Reddit or X. However, the platform does have certain features that are aimed at mature users.

In Spotify's case, you may be asked to verify your age if you try to "access some Spotify content and features, like Music videos that are labeled as 18+ by rightsholders". This could also apply to podcasts that discuss mature content and songs with explicit lyrics.

Fortunately, there is a way back if your account becomes deactivated due to an inaccurate age estimation. According to Spotify, you'll get an email that "allows you to reactivate your account within 90 days of deactivation", after which you'll need to go through age verification checks again.

So far, I haven’t been asked to verify my age in the Spotify app when trying to access mature podcasts and music videos, but a handful of users on forums like Reddit who are well over the age of 18 have have already encountered the checks.

Why have VPNs become so popular?

Spotify has explained in various community posts that it isn't designed to work with VPNs, and you naturally shouldn't use one to circumvent any age verification checks.

However, this hasn't stopped free VPNs from dominating Apple's UK App Store, as internet users look to find ways of protecting their data from future breaches, or perhaps even bypass those checks completely.

VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic, but they're not all equal – so it's important to choose the right one for your needs. Free VPNs can log an excessive amount of data, which could ultimately put your privacy at risk, and sometimes lack important security features.

If you're interested in some of the best deals for paid VPNs, you can check them out below.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, July 31 (game #1284).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1285) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1285) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1285) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1285) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1285) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• M

• W

• A

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1285) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1285, are…

• ACTOR
• MEALY
• WIDTH
• ADOBE

Knowing letters that go together can really speed up a Quordle game. Today, it was predicting the TH in WIDTH and LY in MEALY that helped me complete the puzzle.

That said, I still struggled with a wrong guess, trying “maple” ahead of the correct word.

As with many Quordle games ADOBE was pulled from my memory bank of previous games – this is its third entry since March.

Daily Sequence today (game #1285) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1285, are…

• WREST
• LATHE
• ALERT
• WOULD

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO
• Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE
• Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR
• Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM
• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS
• Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER
• Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT
• Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST
• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, July 31 (game #781).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #782) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PLAYWRIGHT
• DEAN
• ROOF
• TEMPLE
• FACULTY
• WREATH
• BENT
• SWORD
• GARLAND
• HAY
• GIFT
• WRAP
• JACKPOT
• FLAIR
• GABLE
• ROAD

NYT Connections today (game #782) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Skill
• GREEN: A letter you cannot hear
• BLUE: Silver screen icons
• PURPLE: A striking word in common

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #782) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: APTITUDE 
• GREEN: SILENT "W" 
• BLUE: LEGENDS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD 
• PURPLE: HIT THE ____ 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #782) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #782, are…

• YELLOW: APTITUDE BENT, FACULTY, FLAIR, GIFT
• GREEN: SILENT "W" PLAYWRIGHT, SWORD, WRAP, WREATH
• BLUE: LEGENDS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD DEAN, GABLE, GARLAND, TEMPLE
• PURPLE: HIT THE ____ HAY, JACKPOT, ROAD, ROOF

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

I made two mistakes today trying to put together what I thought was a group about plant-based decorations, based on the fact that GARLAND and WREATH were the only two words in common that I could see among the entire 16.

Thankfully, I abandoned this dead end and made the link between GABLE, DEAN and TEMPLE and then the four words featuring a silent W.

My struggles weren’t over, however, as I had JACKPOT instead of FACULTY before realizing my error after getting a “one away”. I hope it was a bit easier for you.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, July 31, game #781)

• YELLOW: FIRST___ AID, LADY, NATIONS, RESPONDER
• GREEN: SECOND___ COMING, FIDDLE, GUESS, NATURE
• BLUE: THIRD___ EYE, PARTY, RAIL, ROCK
• PURPLE: LAST___ LAUGH, RESORT, STRAW, SUPPER

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, July 31 (game #515).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Slithering away

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• CANADA
• TRADER
• PLACE
• BEAT
• POLAR
• CLEAR

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #516) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 6th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #516) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #516, are…

• ADDER
• PYTHON
• COBRA
• MAMBA
• VIPER
• ANACONDA
• RATTLER
• SPANGRAM: SERPENT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

I was expecting the spangram to spell out “snake”, but that would be too obvious – and too short.

Despite knowing what we were searching for, I struggled to find a SERPENT – but did locate plenty of non-game words, so I took a hint to get me going. ADDER set me off and from there I slithered to glory.

That said, I did tap out “rattle” instead of RATTLER about three times before adding the R once there was no other option.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, July 31, game #515)

• SPONGE
• LAVA
• BUNDT
• FRUIT
• POUND
• CHEESE
• FUNNEL
• SPANGRAM: PIECE OF CAKE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• Meta and Stanford University researchers have developed new MR glasses
• These specs use holography to produce high-quality images
• Support rumors that Meta's headsets may turn into slim goggles

Meta’s newly published research gives us a glimpse at its future XR plans, and seemingly confirms it wants to make ultra-slim XR goggles.

That’s because Meta’s Reality Labs, alongside Stanford University, published a paper in Nature Photonics showcasing a prototype that uses holography and AI to create a super-slim mixed reality headset design.

The optical stack is just 3mm thick, and unlike other mixed reality headsets we’re used to – like the Meta Quest 3 – this design doesn’t layer stereoscopic images to create a sense of depth. Instead, it produces holograms that should look more realistic and be more natural to view.

That means it’s not only thin, but high-quality too – an important combination.

(Image credit: Suyeon Choi, Changwon Jang, Douglas Lanman and Gordon Wetzstein)

Now there’s still more work to be done. The prototype shown in the image above doesn’t look close to being a consumer-grade product that’s ready to hit store shelves.

What’s more, it doesn’t yet seem to pass what’s called the Visual Turing Test. This would be the point at which it's impossible to distinguish between a hologram and a real-world object, though that goal looks to be what Reality Labs and Stanford hope to eventually achieve.

Even with this technology still likely years (perhaps even a decade) from making it to a gadget you or I could go out and buy, the prototype’s design does showcase Meta’s desire to produce ultra-thin MR tech.

It lends credence to rumors that Meta’s next VR headset could be a pair of lightweight goggles about a fifth as heavy as the 515g Meta Quest 3.

Given these rumored goggles are believed to be coming in the next few years, they’ll likely avoid the experimental holography tech found in Meta and Stanford’s report, but if Meta were looking to trim weight and slim down the design further in future iterations, the research it’s conducting now would be a vital first step.

Are glasses and goggles the future? (Image credit: Oakley / Meta)

I, for one, am increasingly excited to see what XR tech Meta is cooking up.

It's Ray-Ban, and now Oakley, glasses have showcased the wild popularity that XR wearables can achieve if they find the sweet spot of comfort, utility, and price, with that first factor looking to be the most vital.

Meta’s other recent research into VR on the software side also highlights that a lighter headset would remove friction in keeping people immersed for hours on end.

This could lead to more meaningful productivity applications, but also more immersive and expansive gaming experiences, and other use cases I’m excited to see and try when the time is right.

For now, I'm content with my Meta Quest 3, but I can't deny it now looks a little like a boulder next to this 3 mm-thick prototype design.

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• A new report suggests it'll help the studio to make a cheaper film
• If true, it might solve a big mystery about one of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's cast members

A new report claims Marvel is looking for up-and-coming actors to play the X-Men in its rebooted film series – and, if true, it might solve one of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's biggest mysteries.

Per Variety, the comic giant is eyeing younger talent to portray its iconic mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). According to an agent Variety spoke to, Marvel's decision to hire rising stars and unknown quantities is part of a new cost-cutting mandate that aims to reduce how much it spends on new movies and Disney+ shows.

Variety's article, which was published yesterday (July 30), arrives just over a week after Marvel president Kevin Feige dropped the biggest hint yet over the type of star he wants to see in Marvel's untitled X-Men movie.

Speaking to Nerdist, Feige, who also confirmed Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier would direct the flick after online reports claimed he would, said: "Jake has his pulse on, shall we say, a younger demographic. Not – he’s younger than me, for sure – but he’s tapped into that in a way that I think is important. It was important for Thunderbolts* [and] much more important for X-Men, because X-Men, as it was in the comics, will be a very youth-oriented, focused, and cast movie."

What has Marvel's X-Men movie cast scouting got to do with Spider-Man 4?

Tom Holland's next Spider-Man film will reportedly see him appear opposite a Stranger Things star (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)

In some ways, Marvel's plan to scour the globe for young talent to star in its forthcoming X-Men film is similar to 20th Century Fox's approach to its own X-Men movie series reboot. The latter saw the likes of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence appear in four films – starting with 2011's X-Men: First Class – that featured a younger version of Professor X, Magneto, and company.

If it's true that Marvel is seeking out less established actors to portray the MCU's X-Men to save cash, it almost certainly puts a pin in one cast rumor concerning Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Indeed, Spider-Man 4, which has just started filming in Glasgow, Scotland, is reportedly set to feature Sadie Sink in a substantial role alongside Tom Holland's webslinger.

There's been no official word on which character the Stranger Things actor might play – in fact, nobody close to the movie's production has actually confirmed that she's part of proceedings. Nevertheless, one of the prevailing theories about who she could portray is Jean Grey, aka one of the most famous mutants in Marvel's storied history.

In light of Marvel's apparent desire to keep costs down across the board on its X-Men project, though, the possibility that Sink could play Jean Grey is basically a non-starter.

Some Marvel fans think Sadie Sink has been hired to play Jean Grey in Spider-Man 4 (Image credit: Netflxi)

According to a Puck newsletter circulated to subscribers in January 2023, Sink is reportedly set to earn over $7 million for Stranger Things season 5. At the time, Puck indicated the wildly popular Netflix show's final season led to all of its main cast members receiving bumper new pay deals.

It's difficult to corroborate Puck's claim. However, if it's true, Sink's seven-figure sum for one of the best Netflix shows' final hurrah would basically rule her out of playing Jean Grey in the MCU. Marvel isn't going to pay Sink that kind of sum if it planned on hiring her to play the telekinetic superhuman across multiple projects. Feige has already confirmed the X-Men will be front and center of the MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars wraps up the Multiverse Saga. Whoever signs on to play one of mutant-kind, then, will be in it for the long haul and Marvel will ensure they're locked into deals that won't increase their pay 10-fold every time they appear.

Need more proof that hiring non-A-listers for comic book movies is the way to go from a financial perspective? Just look at Superman, the first DC Universe (DCU) movie released as part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted cinematic franchise. According to a July 2025 edition of the Puck newsletter, leading man David Corenswet was paid just $750,000 to appear in the DCU Chapter One film. That's around a tenth of what Sink is apparently going to earn from Stranger Things 5.

If Marvel wants to save money, it should follow DC Studios' lead and not fork out seven-figure sums to anyone it hires to play one of the X-Men. It's for that reason alone that I'm more than convinced than ever that Sink can't possibly be playing Jean Grey in Spider-Man's next big-screen adventure.

For more on Holland's next MCU project, including why Spider-Man 4's release date was delayed, check out my dedicated guide on Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Once you're done, peruse the below section for more X-Men, Spider-Man, and Marvel-based content.

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• Ingram Micro confirmed suffering a ransomware attack in July 2025
• It has been revealed this was the work of the SafePay group
• The threat actors have added Ingram Micro to its data leak site

Ingram Micro has been added to SafePay’s data leak site, meaning the countdown is on before terabytes of data are leaked on the dark web.

The company suffered a ransomware attack in July 2025 which forced it to shut down parts of its infrastructure. As a result, its business operations were disrupted, and some of its employees were sent to work from home.

The company managed to restore its services rather fast, but the miscreants made away with 3.5TB of sensitive data - which they are now threatening to release unless they are paid.

Terabytes of sensitive files

At the time of the attack, the company did not say who the threat actors were, but BleepingComputer has now uncovered the attack was the work of SafePay, a relatively young ransomware operation that emerged between September and November, 2024.

This group engages in the usual double-extortion tactics (encryption + data theft), and claims to have breached more than 200 organizations across different industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, or education.

At the time of the attack it was also said SafePay broke through the company’s GlobalProtect VPN platform, and left ransom notes on employee devices.

Among the systems impacted by the breach was Ingram Micro’s AI-powered Xvantage distribution platform, and the Impulse license provisioning platform.

Should SafePay leak Ingram Micro’s data, it could send ripples throughout the business world, since it is one of the biggest B2B service providers and technology distributors around, servicing more than 160,000 customers globally, including giants such as Apple, HP, and Cisco.

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I’ll tell you a secret: I hate having to update our best cheap tablets guide. Not because I’m against the idea of affordable tech slates, but because I feel bad about the state of the cheap tablet market in 2025.

There are really only a handful of lower-end tablets worth considering at the time of writing, and it’s a challenge to recommend anything other than Apple’s latest entry-level iPad, which, I acknowledge, stretches the definition of ‘affordable’ for most people.

I’m mildly relieved, then, that Huawei has announced a refreshed version of its impressive MatePad 11.5 tablet, which is coming to the UK and Europe later this month. This 11.5-inch slate will boast a 120Hz LCD display with a 2.5k resolution, 8GB of RAM, a sizeable 10,100mAh battery, and optional PaperMatte technology – all decent specs, if Huawei gets the price right.

Of course, if you’re living in the US, this is useless information. The MatePad 11.5 won’t be getting a truly global release, just as the OnePlus Pad Go and all of Xiaomi and Honor’s budget-friendly tabs are confined to British, European, and Asian markets.

The existing Huawei MatePad 11.5 (above) is getting a 2025 refresh (Image credit: Huawei)

For our friends across the pond (I’m writing this from London), the cheap tablet situation boils down to three, maybe four options. If you’re willing to stretch your budget a little further, the iPad 11-inch (2025) is, hands-down, one of the best tablets you can buy, while Android fans should consider the Lenovo Tab or Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. For a truly affordable option, I’d recommend one of Amazon’s cheap and cheerful Fire tablets.

That’s pretty much it. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 never came to the US, and while US folks can buy the larger Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, that device launched almost two years ago, meaning it’s hard to recommend in 2025. There’s still no sign of the Galaxy Tab A10 series.

Similarly, the Google Pixel Tablet debuted in May 2023, and we haven’t heard a peep about a potential second-generation model (August’s Made by Google showcase will almost certainly be reserved for the Pixel 10 series and Pixel Watch 4).

The iPad 11-inch (2025) is our go-to cheap tablet recommendation (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

It’s nothing new for US buyers to have access to a smaller pool of products than those in other regions – good luck getting one of the best Xiaomi phones or best Oppo phones in the US – but the affordable tablet situation feels particularly dire.

There are, of course, various strategic, economic, and even political factors at play here, and I’m not going to weigh in on whether those factors are right or wrong. Rather, I’m just drawing attention to a problem I keep encountering when updating our best cheap tablets guide each month: there are very few options worth recommending to a global audience.

Apple’s entry-level iPad is an excellent device, but I’d like to see Google and Samsung have another proper crack at the lower end of the tablet market.

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Have your own summer movie night with these picks.

• Microsoft has put together a new promotional video
• It sells the benefits of transferring to a new PC via the Backup app
• However, it's also pushing a OneDrive subscription - but there are free alternatives

Microsoft has published a video clip explaining how easy it is to move to Windows 11 using the Backup app to transfer the contents of your Windows 10 PC (or most of them, anyway).

Windows Latest spotted the new promotional video from Microsoft, which shows how easy it is to make the leap to a Windows 11 PC (see the clip below).

As the video makes clear, you can back up your personal files, Windows settings, and also some apps from your Windows 10 PC, and transfer them directly to a Windows 11 computer with a minimum of fuss (or that's certainly the idea).

To be fair to Microsoft, it also points out the major catches with using the Windows Backup app to switch over to a Windows 11 PC.

Namely, that you can't take third-party apps with you - they need manual reinstallation, only Microsoft Store apps can be ported across (their pins will be where you left them, and you can click on the relevant pin to restore the application) - and that you're limited to 5GB of files by default.

The 5GB restriction is in place because the backup that the Windows app creates is stored on OneDrive - so you need an account with Microsoft's cloud storage locker. The basic free account only has 5GB of cloud storage, and if you want more space than that, you'll have to pay for a OneDrive subscription.

(Image credit: Foxy burrow / Shutterstock / Microsoft)Analysis: other options for PC migration that are free

So, the long and short of it is, if your data and settings amount to more than 5GB - which it surely will in most cases - then you'll need a paid plan on OneDrive to ensure Windows Backup transfers all your stuff to a new Windows 11 PC.

In other words, this is Microsoft not-so-subtly pushing a OneDrive subscription (not for the first time, I might add). If you want to use Microsoft's built-in Windows Backup facility, there's no alternative to OneDrive. If you paid for cloud storage with another provider, no choice is offered to use that cloud locker instead.

There are alternatives to paying for a OneDrive subscription to ensure you have enough capacity to fully transfer all your files across to a new PC. You can simply be very selective about what you choose for Microsoft's Backup app to port over, and perhaps leave out the hefty chunk of media files (photos, videos) you may have on your computer.

To move those media files, you could simply copy them to an external drive, and then subsequently manually move them onto the new PC - okay, that's a bit of extra hassle, but it's not really a big deal. (If you do go this route, don't delete the files from the original PC until they're safely transferred - always be sure to keep multiple copies. Never rely on a single copy of any data, as in this case, if the external drive goes kaput, you've lost everything).

Another eventual option will be the PC-to-PC migration feature in the Windows Backup app, which transfers your files over from one computer to another via the local network (with no need for OneDrive). However, you will need a Microsoft account still, and in this case, no apps will be ported across at all (not even those from the Microsoft Store).

Even so, this will be a useful alternative in the future, but the feature isn't live yet. Indeed, it hasn't appeared on Windows 10 at all - only the non-functional shell of the PC-to-PC migration feature is available on Windows 11 currently - but I can only presume that Microsoft is working to get this up and running before October 2025, when Windows 10 support runs dry.

Notably, though, Microsoft doesn't mention PC-to-PC migration in the above video clip. Fair enough, as noted, it isn't working yet, and so the company does have an excuse - but I'm betting there won't be an all-singing-and-dancing promotional video campaign for this feature when it debuts. Unlike pushing OneDrive, this isn't going to give Microsoft any immediate (potential) financial benefit.

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The next Nintendo Direct presentation is almost here! Promising a look at third-party publisher games, this Partner Showcase will hopefully give us a peek and the next biggest titles coming to both the Nintendo Switch 2 and a smattering of extra life being breathed into the older Switch models.

This update from third-party publishers could shine further light on what the Switch 2 is going to be capable - more modern games of recent times coming to the handheld machine? - as well as what life there is left in the older Switch. Elsewhere, could we see Hollow Knight: Silksong? More information on The Duskbloods? Who knows, but color us excited!

Join us as we count down the next couple of hours until the live stream, keeping you up to date with all the pertinent info, as well as some of our predictions and hopes for a bit of fun before covering the event live, moment to moment.

July Nintendo Direct countdown

If you're after a visual feature to show exactly how long left until today's Nintendo Direct, then our handy graphic below has you covered.

July Nintendo Direct how to watch

As ever, the most reliable and straightforward place to catch today's Nintendo Direct is going to be on the official Nintendo YouTube channel. You can also watch on the official Twitch page if you prefer.

I'd recommend bookmarking the page for easy access, but we've got the YouTube video embedded below for convenience.

July Nintendo Direct start time

July's Nintendo Direct takes place today on July 31, 2025. It starts at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST.

Nintendo confirmed the Direct via a social media post and wek now that this one will be "roughly 25 minutes" long.

Our July Nintendo Direct predictions

Right off the bat, let's temper expectation. As a 'Partner Showcase', the Nintendo Direct is expected to be solely focused on third-party releases for both Switch and Switch 2.

That's not to say there isn't plenty to be excited about. The big ticket third-party Switch 2 release is definitely FromSoftware's The Duskbloods, due to launch sometime in 2026. This showcase could be the first time we see a bigger gameplay deep dive.

There's been plenty of noise about Hollow Knight: Silksong, too, though mainly over in the Xbox camp and the upcoming launch of the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Still, Nintendo could steal some of Microsoft's thunder here.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised to see more from Square Enix, particularly Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. Fighting game fans may also want to tune in, as a Tekken 8 Switch 2 release could be a possibility here. There's also been some buzz on X / Twitter around a re-release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, though admittedly there's nothing concrete here aside from Capcom's strong presence at Nintendo Direct presentations typically.

Hey gamers! We're officially less than a couple of hours away from today's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. This is the first big Nintendo Direct presentation we've had since the launch of Switch 2. While we're not expecting any big first-party announcements along the lines of Mario, Zelda, and so on, there's likely still going to be plenty of exciting games from third-party developers and publishers. We hope you'll join us for up-to-date coverage as the presentation happens.

The elephant in the room...

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

I know it, you know it, we all know it. Every Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase and Indie World Showcase is inevitably accompanied by the same question: "Where's Silksong?"

There's a big difference this time, though. We know Hollow Knight: Silksong is scheduled to launch sometime in 2025. And recently, Microsoft has made waves with its announcement of the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Xbox has also stated that Silksong will be playable on these devices when they launch.

Recent leaks have suggested that the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds could launch during Gamescom 2025, on August 20. This could also mean that Hollow Knight: Silksong will arrive around that same time.

So what does that have to do with this Nintendo Direct? Well, it's entirely possible Nintendo has beaten Xbox to the punch with its own Silksong announcement plans. We also saw around five seconds of the upcoming game at the initial Switch 2 Direct way back in April. So Nintendo certainly has previous with the anticipated indie title.

We'll know for sure (or not) in less than two hours...

What do we know about The Duskbloods?

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Nintendo stunned the world when it revealed the Switch 2 would be getting an exclusive title from acclaimed developer FromSoftware. The Duskbloods is set to launch in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2 only, and will be an asymmetrical multiplayer-focused title.

The game will differ from Elden Ring Nightreign in that it will have a strong PvP element, as opposed to Nightreign's strict PvE gameplay. One similarity, though, is that The Duskbloods will feature preset characters, all with their own skills and backstories.

Quite obviously taking cues from Bloodborne, The Duskbloods explores a gothic horror setting. But there does appear to be more modern elements, such as trains and a railway system.

Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki was interviewed by Nintendo in a Creator's Voice piece. I strongly recommend reading this if you haven't already, as Miyazaki provides a lot of insight into the game and its development.

Whether or not The Duskbloods makes an appearance at this Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase remains to be seen, but I've certainly got my fingers crossed.

What is a Partner Showcase?

At Nintendo Direct showcases, we're used to expecting big first-party announcements. However, Partner Showcases differ in that the focus is less on Nintendo itself, and more on its third-party partners who'll be bringing games to Switch and Switch 2.

On that note, don't expect any big Nintendo-centric announcements here. We don't know when the next big Nintendo Direct will be, but this isn't quite one of them. Even still, Partner Showcases still have the capacity to surprise us. Developers like Capcom, Square Enix and Bandai Namco have shown up in the past to deliver plenty of excitement, and I hope that will also be the case here.

Our Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Bingo Card!

We've made a simple bingo card for the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, which you can see just below. Feel free to play along!

(Image credit: Future)Ubisoft to make a splash?

(Image credit: Assassin's Creed Shadows)

I (Rob) really enjoyed both Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows - the latter more so - and can definitely see Ubisoft having the intent on getting both onto Nintendo's latest handheld console.

The Assassin's Creed ports on the original Nintendo Switch were pretty successful and ran nicely so there is precedent in those games coming to such systems. And with the Switch 2's beefier specs, it should be more than capable of running Outlaws or Shadows with a bit of optimisation.

What do you think? Would these be good additions to the Switch 2's third-party library?

Should we expect a date for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?

(Image credit: FromSoftware Inc.)

It's a strong possibility. Especially as we know this Switch 2 version of Elden Ring is due to release in 2025. Tarnished Edition packs the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion into one. There's also going to be new starter classes, customization options for Torrent and even new weapons. These updates will also be coming to other versions of the game on PC, Xbox and PlayStation, so there's no fear of missing out if you don't own a Switch 2.

If we don't get The Duskbloods here, this would be the next best thing from the FromSoft camp. Unless they do something mad and put a King's Field collection on Switch 2. I'd be so down for that.

One hour to go!

Just an hour left before the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase begins!

What about Sonic?

(Image credit: Sega)

I actually can't believe I forgot to include the speedy blue hedgehog in the bingo card! Something Sonic-related has a very good chance of showing up at today's Partner Showcase.

Most likely, this will be a new trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Sega has pulled out all the stops when it comes to marketing this game, to the point where it seems like we're getting a new trailer or gameplay snippet every week. It wouldn't be too crazy to expect another one at this showcase, perhaps revealing some new tracks or guest characters.

Half an hour to go!

We're now at the half-hour mark! Just 30 minutes left until the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase kicks off. Remember, this one's only going to be 25 minutes long, so don't expect an absolute abundance of announcements. Still, we're hoping there'll be plenty of top quality games to look forward to over the coming months.

• Google's Project Zero gives vendors 90 days to fix a bug, and 30 days for patch adoption
• 'Upstream patch gap' means it takes too long for a patch to become available
• Reporting more details will encourage more transparency

Google has pledged to make updates to its Project Zero disclosure policy to report more security details quicker in an effort to improve security by enabling developers quicker access to the finer details of vulnerabilities.

Launched in 2021, Project Zero launched with a 90+30 policy – 90 days for vendors to fix a reported bug, and an additional 30 days for users to adopt the patch if it's fixed within the 90-day window.

However, since then, a so-called 'upstream patch gap' has emerged whereby the time between when a fix is available upstream and when it becomes available by downstream vendors is longer than ideal, extending the lifecycle of vulnerabilities.

Google's Project Zero will disclose even more infromation

A new trial policy will improve reporting transparency by disclosing the vendor or open-source project, the affected product, the date of the filed report and the 90-day disclosure deadline.

The changes were announced by the Project's Tim Willis, who explained: "For the end user, a vulnerability isn't fixed when a patch is released from Vendor A to Vendor B; it's only fixed when they download the update and install it on their device."

"By providing an early signal that a vulnerability has been reported upstream, we can better inform downstream dependents," Willis wrote.

Google hopes that the Project Zero update to include more details sooner will help the public track how long it takes between a vendor first making a patch available and that patch becoming available on the end device. Willis explained that an environment where transparency is normal and expected is the goal

Willis stressed, "no technical details, proof-of-concept code, or information that we believe would materially assist discovery will be released," therefore earlier reporting won't give attackers the upper hand.

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DJI Osmo 360: two-minute review

The DJI Osmo 360 is DJI’s long-awaited entry into the 360 camera game, and it lands with the kind of swagger and polish you’d expect from a brand that’s spent years perfecting its action-cam chops.

It’s a slick, pocketable camera that blends design cues from rivals like the Insta360 X5 and GoPro Max: it’s square-bodied, dual-lens, dark grey, and built to withstand a beating – sort of. Despite being IP68-rated and able to function in sub-zero temperatures, DJI itself discourages underwater use due to potential stitching issues, which is an odd caveat for something that’s otherwise billed as rugged. It also lacks the user-replaceable lenses that made the Insta360 X5 so appealing to adventure-minded types.

That aside, the Osmo 360 impresses from the get-go, not just for what it can do but also for how much it undercuts its main rival on price. Starting at £409.99 / AU$759, it’s significantly cheaper than Insta360’s equivalent bundles (the Osmo 360 is not available in the US at launch – see the 'Price and availability' section below for more info). And that’s before factoring in the Osmo 360’s generous 128GB of built-in storage.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Design-wise, there’s a lot to like: a crisp 2-inch touchscreen, an intuitive three-button layout, a removable battery, USB-C charging, and two mounting options (tripod thread and DJI’s own magnetic quick-release system). It feels solid in the hand, well-balanced and thoughtfully laid out.

The camera itself uses a pair of 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensors with large 2.4μm pixels, and DJI claims that the shape allows it to use the full sensor area, setting it apart from rivals which crop quite heavily from their rectangular sensors. Whether that’s marketing spin or technical fact, the results are undeniably sharp. Video tops out at 8K 50fps in 360 mode or 5K 60fps (or 4K 120fps) with a single lens, with 10-bit color and support for the flat D-Log M profile if you want to color-grade in post.

Footage looks punchy and vibrant straight out of the camera, if occasionally a little over-processed. The camera also captures 120MP stills and includes several specialty modes, including SuperNight, which enhances low-light performance in 360 mode, and Boost, which delivers wide-angle, high-frame-rate single-lens footage reminiscent of a classic action camera. Both are welcome additions, and SuperNight in particular is impressive for after-dark footage.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Audio is handled by four built-in microphones that do a competent job in fair conditions but struggle with wind. The real standout on this front is the Osmo 360's compatibility with DJI’s own wireless microphone systems: pair it with a DJI Mic 2 or DJI Mic Mini and you can record pristine 24-bit sound, control gain and noise cancellation directly on the camera, and get clean, clear voice capture in challenging environments. It’s a genuinely useful ecosystem advantage for DJI users.

Performance is strong across the board. The Osmo 360 pairs with the existing DJI Mimo mobile app for control, previews, firmware updates and quick editing. The app includes an AI-powered auto editor for creating quick shareable clips with barely any human input, though its functionality is currently limited to daylight action like cycling or skiing.

More comprehensive editing is available in the new DJI Studio desktop app, which brings keyframing, tracking, filters and export tools to macOS and Windows PCs. It’s streamlined, easy to pick up, and feels like a real competitor to Insta360’s more mature software suite.

Ultimately, while the Osmo 360 doesn’t manage to dethrone the Insta360 X5 on pure performance (it can’t match its battery life, underwater confidence or lens swappability) it comes very close, and at a very palatable price. For anyone already in the DJI ecosystem, or those getting into 360 video capture for the first time, it’s a very solid option.

DJI Osmo 360 specsDJI Osmo 360 specs

Type:

360 camera

Sensor:

1.1-inch x 2

Max aperture:

f/1.9

Screen:

2-inch 314 x 556 touchscreen

Storage:

128GB internal plus microSD slot (1TB max.)

Dimensions:

2.4 x 1.4 x 3.2 inches / 61 x 36 x 81mm

Weight:

6.45oz / 183g

The Osmo 360 magnetically mounted on a selfie stick (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)DJI Osmo 360: Price and availability

• Launched worldwide on July 31 2025 – except for the US
• Standard Combo priced at $TBC / £409.99 / AU$759
• Adventure Combo priced at $TBC / £549.99 / AU$989

The DJI Osmo 360 was announced on July 31 2025, and is available to order now from DJI’s own online store and various retailers.

At launch, it’s available in two different bundles. The Osmo 360 Standard Combo includes the Osmo 360 camera, a single Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus, a protective pouch, a rubber lens cap, a lens cleaning cloth and a USB-C to USB-C cable, and is priced at £409.99 / AU$759.

The Osmo 360 Adventure Combo, meanwhile, comes with all of the above plus the Osmo Action Multifunctional Battery Case 2, a quick-release adapter mount and a 1.2m selfie stick. It costs £539.99 / AU$989.

The DJI Osmo Adventure Combo includes a plethora of useful accessories (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

This is noteworthy pricing, because it’s a lot cheaper than the Insta360 X5, the camera it’s competing with. At launch the X5’s Standard bundle (which is just the camera and one battery) cost $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99 and the Essentials bundle (including a selfie stick, charging case, second battery, fast charging case, lens guards, carry case and lens cap) cost $659.99 / £609.99 / AU$1,109.99. That’s quite a gap, and it doesn’t take into account the microSD card you’ll need for the X5 either.

You’ll have noticed that I haven’t mentioned US pricing, and that’s because it’s still TBC, likely as a result of the continuing uncertainty surrounding tariffs. A DJI spokesperson told me that the camera “will not be available for sale immediately in the U.S. market through official DJI channels. We currently do not have an estimated timeline for when it will be available, but we will keep you posted when we do.”

• Price score: 5/5

DJI Osmo 360: Design

• IP68 build and ability to operate in -20C / -4F temperatures
• Includes tripod and magnetic quick-release mounts
• Not recommended for underwater shooting

The DJI Osmo 360 resembles a cross between its 360 camera rivals the GoPro Max and Insta360 X5. It has the squat, square shape of the former and the control layout and centrally located fisheye lenses of the latter. Like both, it’s constructed from robust dark-grey plastic, with its lenses bulging outwards on either side.

There’s a 2-inch 16:9 touchscreen on one side, plus three physical controls: a power button (which can be tapped to toggle between shooting modes), a shutter button, and a third button that flips between the two camera views on the screen. There are also two openable flaps on the device, one covering the USB-C port (used for charging and data transfer) and the other protecting the removable battery and microSD card slot.

The bottom of the camera features a standard 1/4-inch tripod mounting point, as well as clips and a magnet for DJI’s proprietary quick-release mounting system. I like that it comes with two mounting options.

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To keep it safe when not in use, the Osmo 360 comes with both a soft carry case and a protective rubber lens cap. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)Image 6 of 6

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The Osmo 360 is IP68-rated, waterproof to a depth of 10m and able to operate in temperatures as low as -20C / -4F. However, DJI cautions that, due to its convex optics, underwater shooting may result in “image distortion and stitching errors” and thus doesn’t recommend it. It’s interesting that DJI doesn’t have confidence in its underwater capabilities, because the Insta360 X5 has the same convex lenses and its manufacturer encourages sub-aqua shooting, including a special picture profile and corrections specifically for that purpose.

On the durability front, DJI doesn’t offer the same user-replaceable lenses as the Insta360 X5, which is a real shame – the way in which 360 camera lens extend out of the camera body means they’re easy to scratch, and Insta360’s efforts in this area have been really impressive. On the plus side, Osmo 360 users can at least buy an optional lens protector kit, or take out a DJI Care Refresh protection plan which includes a limited number of free replacement cameras in the event of accidental damage, for either one or two years. It’s priced at £23 / AU$42 for one year, or £38 / AU$69 for two years.

• Design score: 4/5

DJI Osmo 360: Performance and features

• AI-edited videos via DJI Mimo app
• Battery life of up to 100 minutes with 8K 30fps recording
• Directly compatible with DJI Mic 2 and Mic Mini

The Osmo 360 works with the existing DJI Mimo mobile app, which will pair your phone with the camera and allow you to remotely operate it, download and apply firmware updates, and browse your photos and videos. The app features a simple but effective video editor that makes creating slick reframed or panoramic clips using keyframes or AI-assisted subject tracking quick and easy.

The app has an AI-assisted auto editor that selects clips, framing angles, transitions and music to create a quick shareable ‘finished’ clip, much like the Insta360 app, but it’s not quite as impressive – at least not at the time of writing. For one thing, it’s currently suitable only for skiing, cycling and motorcycling videos filmed in the daytime, but I’d expect DJI to expand its capabilities and suitable subjects with future updates. I've embedded an example of what it can currently do below.

DJI has also, at the time of writing, just released DJI Studio, a free desktop app for macOS and Windows that allows for similar easy 360 video editing on your computer. After offloading the files, you can set keyframes, use AI-assisted tracking, add filters and music, and trim videos to your liking, before exporting them as a reframed standard video or a panoramic 360 video. I used it to put together a few clips on my MacBook, and found it straightforward and very easy to pick up.

The Osmo 360 uses the same 1950mAh Osmo Extreme Battery Plus that was launched with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. Practicality-wise, that’s great news for people who own both cameras, but the Extreme Battery Plus is noticeably smaller than the 2400mAh capacity batteries that come with the Insta360 X5 and offer up to 185 minutes of use.

Battery life on the Osmo 360 is shorter as a result: I left the camera running at 8K 30fps and it recorded about 90 minutes of footage on a full battery. That’s not bad at all – it’s just not as good as the X5’s mammoth battery life – and Osmo Extreme Batteries support PD fast charging and are relatively cheap, too ($49 / £29 / AU$55), so stocking up on a few isn’t a huge investment.

The Osmo 360 is fully compatible with the DJI Mic Mini and Mic 2 (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

There are four built-in mics on the camera, and audio quality is impressive in good conditions; I found that voices and environmental sounds were captured clearly. As with most built-in camera mics, however, it does pick up wind noise very easily, which can disrupt the clarity.

The Osmo 360 is also compatible with OsmoAudio products, meaning it can directly connect to a DJI Mic 2 or DJI Mic Mini transmitter for higher-quality audio. I used it with my Mic Mini and was able to record 24-bit audio, adjust and preview gain levels on the 360’s screen, and turn noise cancelling on and off, and thanks to the windshield and noise cancelling I was able to record crisp, clear voice audio even while riding my bike on a breezy day.

• Performance score: 4/5

DJI Osmo 360: Image quality

• Dual 1/1.1-inch sensors
• Captures 10-bit 8K video at up to 50fps and 120MP photos
• Dedicated low-light and single-lens modes

DJI has kitted out the Osmo 360 with a pair of square 1/1.1-inch sensors, which it claims outperform rivals due to the large pixel size of 2.4μm – that's roughly twice the size of the pixels used by the Insta360 X5. The sensor’s square shape, DJI says, is a key factor, because none of the surface area is wasted; other 360 cameras, built around rectangular sensors, use only the central portions of them, but the Osmo 360 makes use of every bit, allowing it to have those larger pixels and deliver much better image quality. At least, that’s the idea.

The Osmo 360 supports 360-degree video capture up to 8K 50fps (and 5K 60fps or 4K 120fps), and single-lens capture at up to 5K 60fps as well as photos up to 120MB (or 30MB with HDR). It also supports 10-bit color, and gives users the option to shoot in a flat D-Log M profile for more scope in post-production color grading.

I found image quality to be generally excellent for a 360 camera. At the default settings and shooting in bright daylight, 360 videos are sharp with rich, bright colors.

There’s clearly some enhancement going on, resulting in some noticeable over-sharpening and overly intense colors at times (skies can veer too much towards turquoise at times, for instance), but the settings available give users plenty of scope to adjust results to their personal tastes.

The lenses deal relatively well with flare, automatic selfie-stick removal is effective, and the image stabilization and horizon leveling seem nigh-on faultless to me.

Overall, I’m highly impressed, but I would also say that, if I had recently bought an Insta360 X5, I don’t see anything here that would cause me to regret my purchase. Comparing clips side by side, there’s very little between the two cameras when it comes to standard 360 video, despite DJI’s claims about the Osmo 360’s pixel size and sensor design greatly boosting quality.

Perhaps the highlight of the Osmo 360’s specialist video modes is SuperNight. Available with 360 capture only, it's designed to offer high-sensitivity, high-quality low-light recording indoors or at night, although while I was hoping those huge sensor pixels would give the Osmo 360 an edge over the Insta360 X5 after dark, my test footage looked fairly similar.

In other words, it's good by 360 camera standards, but not the kind of pristine, low-noise video I'd be happy using in pro-level content creation – not without a little help in post-processing, anyway. Sudden motion in particular can cause some distracting blur around bright light sources.

There’s also Boost (single-lens only), an ultra-wide-angle mode with high dynamic range, good low-light quality, and up to 120fps frame rate that seems designed to ape a classic action camera. It's definitely a useful mode to have if you're biking or using the Osmo 360 as a dashcam.

• Image quality score: 5/5

DJI Osmo 360: testing scorecard DJI Osmo 360

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Significantly cheaper than the Insta360 X5, for similar spec and features.

5/5

Design

Freezeproof and waterproof, but the lack of replaceable lenses is a pity.

4/5

Performance

Decent apps and battery life, and compatibility with OsmoAudio products.

4/5

Image quality

Challenges the Insta360 X5 on image quality, but doesn't outright beat it despite having a larger sensor.

5/5

Should I buy the DJI Osmo 360?Buy it if...

You want premium 360 video at the cheapest price
Despite offering similar specs, features and performance to the Insta360 X5 (not to mention built-in storage), the Osmo 360 is significantly more affordable at launch.

You're already invested in the DJI product ecosystem
If you own a DJI Mic 2 or Mic Mini, you can hook it up to the Osmo 360 to instantly up its sound-capture quality a few notches.

Don't buy it if...

You just bought an Insta360 X5
DJI has delivered a strong rival to the excellent Insta360 X5 – but not an outright conqueror. If you already own the X5, there are few reasons to swap it for an Osmo 360.

You want a truly rugged 360 camera
The Osmo 360 is IP68-rated and pretty tough, but it's not as adventure-ready as the Insta360 X5 and its easy-to-replace lenses. If you scratch a lens here, you'll need to replace the whole camera.

Also consider

Insta360 X5

The current top dog of the small 360 camera market, the X5’s rugged build, replaceable lenses, low-light performance, ease of use, and battery life keep it ahead of the Osmo 360 – just about. Its biggest asset is how simple it makes the process of creating great-looking 360 videos, but the Osmo 360 runs it very close.

Read our full Insta360 X5 review

Akaso 360

At around half the price of the Osmo 360, budget action camera brand Akaso’s first 360 camera represents real value for money. While it’s short on fancy features, the 360’s automatic stitching and stabilization is impressive, and video quality is more than adequate when shooting outdoors in good lighting.

Read our full Akaso 360 review

How I tested the DJI Osmo 360

• I tested a full production model for two weeks
• I mounted the camera on an invisible selfie stick and bike mount
• I recorded videos day and night on foot and cycling

DJI sent me a review sample of the Osmo 360 Adventure Combo well ahead of its release date, giving me plenty of time to test the camera’s panoramic and single-lens modes in a variety of situations: day, night, indoors and outdoors, on foot and while riding my bike. I was able to test it with DJI’s own invisible selfie stick and Mic Mini, as well as edit videos using the DJI Mimo mobile app and new DJI Studio desktop app.

• First reviewed July 2025

After years owning the 360 camera space with some of the best 360 cameras, most recently the X5, Insta360 finally has some proper competition with the arrival of the DJI Osmo 360. They could soon be joined by the GoPro Max 2 too (if GoPro does indeed bring its long-awaited 360 camera to market).

DJI has a slightly different take on the format to Insta360, delivering what it says are several industry firsts, most notably twin 1-inch sensors. The immediate question, therefore, is which model is best? Can the Osmo 360 dethrone our current favorite, the X5?

You can learn more about DJI's first 360 camera in our in-depth Osmo 360 review. We also have a hands-on versus feature on the way, for which we're pitting the Osmo 360 against the Insta360 X5 in several scenarios to see which model comes out on top.

For now, let's look at how the Osmo 360 and X5 compare based on the specs and features in seven key areas.

1. Sensors

• DJI Osmo 360: twin 1/1.1-inch square sensors with 2.4μm pixel size
• Insta360 X5: twin 1/1.28-inch sensors with 1.2μm pixel size

The headline feature of the DJI Osmo 360 is its twin sensors, specifically made for 360 capture. They're square format, meaning less wasted pixels than on a traditional rectangular sensor like the one the X5 uses, given that 360 cameras only use the central portion of the sensor.

The sensors are effectively 1-inch in size, which means they're the largest of their kind, and each pixel on the Osmo 360's sensors is twice the size of those in the X5. Still, before the Osmo 360, the X5's sensors were the largest, being bigger than the X4's, so it's hardly a slam dunk for DJI.

The advantage of larger pixels is, in theory, cleaner image quality, especially in low light, and a wider dynamic range, which is helpful in bright sunny conditions. Both cameras can shoot HDR video though, so expect plenty of detail in highlights and shadows with either camera.

A still taken with the Osmo 360, in the tiny-planet style (Image credit: DJI)2. Image quality

• DJI Osmo 360: 8K up to 50fps, 10-bit, 120MP stills
• Insta360 X5: 8K up to 30fps, 8-bit, 72MP stills

Both cameras shoot 8K video at their best; however the Osmo 360 offers frame rates up to 50fps, while the X5 tops out at 30fps. Stop the resolution down to 5.7K and frame rates even out, while at 4K both cameras can shoot 4x slow-motion video.

In addition to the benefits of its larger sensors we can expect richer color from the Osmo 360, because it can record 10-bit color depth, whereas the X5 is limited to 8-bit color depth. It also offers DJI's D-Log flat color profile – a popular profile for serious filmmakers wanting the most amount of tonal detail, who don't mind putting in time in the editing suite.

For 360 photography, the Osmo 360 shoots stills up to 120MP, while the X5 can record up to 72MP. Clearly, DJI's stills pack more detail.

The specs favor DJI, then, but we're currently conducting extensive tests with both cameras to see which comes out on top in real-world use.

3. Battery

• DJI Osmo 360: 1,910mAh battery
• Insta360 X5: 2,400mAh battery (an 'Ultra' 2,800mAh battery is also available)

At 1,910mAh, the Osmo 360's battery has a lower capacity than the X5's. However, DJI says its 360 camera is the first of its kind able to shoot 8K 30fps video continuously for up to 100 minutes.

Insta360 delivered an X5 firmware update, however, and one of the upgrades is improved battery life – it's Endurance Mode is now available for 8K recording, and increases battery life to “just under two hours” of continuous recording.

There are often plenty of caveats to actual battery performance, and often the reality is less than what the makers claim, especially for action cameras.

That said, Insta360 also launched a new 'Ultra' battery for the X5 alongside that firmware update, which costs $49.99 / £44.99 (Australia pricing TBC). With its 2,800mAh capacity, battery life is improved by another 17%.

Each brand claims better battery life than the other – our upcoming real-world tests will reveal which is best.

4. Storage

• DJI Osmo 360: micro SD plus 105GB internal
• Insta360 X5: micro SD

Both cameras record to micro SD card, and are compatible with large-capacity cards for hours of 8K recording. However, the Osmo 360 also features 105GB of built-in storage, and two convenient ways to record media is a win for DJI.

One of the many Osmo 360 accessories. The camera has both magnetic and screw-mounting options. (Image credit: DJI)5. Accessories

• DJI Osmo 360: DJI Mic 2 / Mic Mini wireless mic, numerous mounts
• Insta360 X5: Mic Air compatible, plentiful mounts and selfie stick options

Both Insta360 and DJI have had their skin in the action camera game for years, and each already has a wide range of accessories and mounts that can be used with their 360 cameras in various scenarios, whether that's for biking, in-car action, or for selfies.

Until recently, DJI had the upper hand for audio recording, with its class-leading wireless mics. The Osmo 360 is directly compatible with the Mic 2 and Mic Mini. Yes, you can mix and match brands for wireless audio, but direct compatibility is all the more convenient.

However, Insta360 recently launched its own wireless mic, the Mic Air. While not quite the mic that DJI's Mic 2 is, Insta360's mic, like DJI's, can be paired wirelessly and through Bluetooth within its respective eco system.

Insta360 is yet to launch a mic with the features of DJI's Mic 2, though, so DJI still has the edge in this respect.

6. Price and availability

• DJI Osmo 360: from £409.99 / AU$759; not yet available in the US
• Insta360 X5: from $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99

So, the Omso 360 seemingly has the advantage on all of the above – on specs alone at least. However, at launch there's good news and bad news regarding the Osmo 360. The bad news is that it isn’t directly available at launch in the US. The good news is that, where you can buy it, it costs less than the X5, starting at £409.99 in the UK and AU$759 in Australia. That price is for the Standard Combo, while the Adventure Combo costs £539.99 / AU$989.

That price is super-impressive when you consider the twin 1-inch sensors (and built-in storage) on board. As for the US, I asked a DJI Spokesperson about Osmo 360 pricing and availability and they said: "The Osmo 360 will launch globally on Thursday, July 31, at 8AM ET, but it will not be available for sale immediately in the U.S. market through official DJI channels. We currently do not have an estimated timeline for when it will be available, but we will keep you posted when we do."

It's a similar story with DJI's most recent drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, which hasn't launched in the US. The picture for DJI in the US looks bleak.

(Image credit: DJI)7. Lenses and design

• DJI Osmo 360: 184g, 2-inch screen, fixed lenses, lens protectors available
• Insta360 X5: 200g, 2.5-inch screen, replaceable lenses

DJI's Osmo 360 design is squarer than the X5's, with the latter being taller and squeezing in a larger 2.5-inch touchscreen. At 184g, the Osmo 360 is about 10% lighter than the X5, but no one is really going to notice the difference in weight, even if it is mightly impressive how light DJI has made the Osmo 360 considering the features on board.

Both cameras come supplied with a rubber lens guard to keep the lenses safe when not in use, plus clear lens protectors for the times that the lenses are at risk of damage during use, such as when shooting extreme sports.

Those clear lens protectors can compromise image quality, though, introducing flare and softness. For best quality, you're better shooting without them, even if that means the bulbous lenses are at risk.

The X5 has a feature unique to 360 cameras – replaceable lenses. You can buy spare lenses and, should you damage the original ones, swap them out for new ones. The DJI Osmo 360, like every other 360 camera, doesn't offer this.

DJI Osmo 360 vs Insta360 X5: key specs

DJI Osmo 360

Insta360 X5

Sensor

1/1.1-inch

1/1.28-inch

Video

8.K up to 50fps

8K up to 30fps

Photos

120MP 360 photo

72MP 360 photo

Size

61 x 83 x 47mm

46 x 124.5 x 38.2mm

Weight

184g

200g

Battery

1,910mAh (100 mins 8K)

2,400mAh (around 2 hours 8K)

Storage

Micro SD, 105GB built-in

Micro SD

Price

£409.99 / AU$759 / US N/A

$549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99

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• I tested Akaso’s first 360 camera and it beats Insta360 and GoPro for value, just don’t take it underwater

• Mozilla has announced that its VPN is now available on all Linux distributions
• This move comes after the full device protection service previously only worked on Debian-based setups, such as Ubuntu
• Users will now be able to access the virtual private network service with easy installation via Flathub or a single-line terminal command

Mozilla VPN can now be installed by Linux users via Flatpak on Flathub, expanding the accessibility of the VPN, which is now available on any compatible Linux distribution without the need for specific packages or extra configurations.

While the move doesn’t necessarily transform Mozilla into the best VPN on the market in terms of features, it represents an important boost for the spread of this privacy-focused VPN, which had so far only worked on Debian-based systems like Ubuntu, among Linux users.

The new setup bridges the big gap that separates it from other VPNs offering ample Linux support, such as NordVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark, and could see it rise in the rankings, overtaking some competitors due to its comprehensive distribution list. A trusted and ubiquitous brand in the digital space, universal availability may well carve out Mozilla’s place as the one to beat.

Mozilla VPN arrives on Flathub

Using Flatpak as the universal installer – an approach that works on virtually all major Linux distributions (Fedora, Arch, Mint, Kilimanjaro) – Mozilla VPN now simplifies access and setup to its service for Linux users. This should ensure compatibility across different distributions thanks to sandboxed installation, reducing the risk of conflicts or vulnerabilities at the system level.

The app offers the same functionality regardless of distribution, ensuring a consistent experience without the need to change settings for different environments, with easy installation via Flathub or simple terminal commands. This makes it much easier to set up for less experienced users, particularly among desktop users who will appreciate its simple graphical user interface (GUI), while increasing the VPN's visibility.

Additionally, Flatpak apps run in isolated containers, in line with Mozilla's philosophy of putting privacy first and striving to eliminate vulnerabilities through security controls. This ethos remains one of the reasons why users have adopted Mozilla VPN in the past, coming from a trusted brand that has always positioned itself in the market as a completely non-profit company, fighting for a healthy web since the late 1990s.

(Image credit: Mozilla)

The new Flatpak approach seeks to reinforce the promise of “powerful privacy for maximum peace of mind” championed on its website, encouraging adoption by users who appreciate a deep commitment to open-source values.

Additionally, although Mozilla VPN Flatpak on Flathub is not currently verified, it is still an official upload managed by Mozilla, so it is considered reliable even without the badge.

These changes do not alter the technical chops of the Mozilla VPN offering, which remains a reliable and adequate solution for security and speed thanks to its app security audit, split tunnelling, multi-hop connections, support for the secure WireGuard protocol, and its Mullvad network underneath.

However, the VPN remains a technical underdog when compared to the best Linux VPN options that continue to top the rankings. It's also unlikely that the move will influence the opinions of users who have so far criticised the VPN, previously calling it an expensive repackaging of the Mullvad VPN network, with Mozilla’s higher prices ranging from $4.99 to $9.99 per month.

The choice to use Flatpak is also interesting, as it is still a relatively niche route for VPN distribution, and only Mozilla is officially supported by the provider so far.

Will other VPNs follow suit? That remains to be seen – some features on Flatpak may still be limited or require additional configuration. Indeed, VPNs such as NordVPN already offer command-line tools or configuration files that work on different distributions, without the data bloat of one-file-fits-all Flatpak.

One thing is for sure, though: Mozilla is competent and universally available. For some, this might well be enough.

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