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Review information

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: July 11, 2025

To be frank, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 didn’t have a particularly tough job on its hands. Five years prior, the 1 + 2 remake landed during the Covid-19 pandemic and reminded us that the series was an absolute gem, actually, despite what Pro Skater 5 led us to believe in 2015, so all this remake had to do was match the quality of the last installment.

Even though development transferred from Vicarious Visions to Iron Galaxy, it’s safe to say they smashed it out of the park with a fantastic nostalgia hit, complete with all-new content, and I’m hooked all over again.

The start of a new era

(Image credit: Activision)

When I played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 almost five years ago, I had goosebumps as I rolled down that first ramp in the Warehouse level, struggling to fathom that I was really experiencing this game that comprised so much of my childhood again, but this time looking a heck of a lot better.

That moment never came with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, but that's not a slight. In fact, I'd argue it's a compliment, because those goosebumps were thanks to the novelty of playing those games again, whereas we're now fortunate enough for this to be a semi-regular release, provided we get a remake of Tony Hawk's Underground next, anyway.

Back in the day, some may argue the series peaked with the third game. Pro Skater 3 was the best version that was just all about performing sick combos, completing objectives such as the SKATE letters or impressing pro skaters for the sake of it, essentially making each level a skateboarding sandbox. Pro Skater 4 took these goals a tiny step further by giving them context. The SKATE letters need collecting because the janitor tasks you with tidying up, for example.

This has been removed from the remake, and while there was outrage initially, it turns out it was blown considerably out of proportion. Sure, the Pro Skater 4 levels in the remake lose a little bit of charm, no longer having NPCs to actually talk to, but it means the game retains its fast-paced flow better, and the whole package feels like a single game. Keeping that part would be a touch disjointing, going from the THPS 3 levels without those NPCs, to the THPS 4 levels with them, despite this being one game now.

Passing the torch

(Image credit: Activision)

Iron Galaxy has proved itself more than capable of handling the Tony Hawk series from here onwards, though, because once again, I've spent hours upon hours grinding through the levels, completing all of the goals, including the pro ones.

At the time of writing, THPS 3 is 100% complete, and I have just a few levels in 4 left to go, and frankly, it's been hard to put the controller down. Watching back footage of the original games shows just how impressive and fluid the remake feels now, and even though mechanics like skitching and acid drops didn't feature in the original THPS 3, the fact that both games are identical mechanically now is a huge positive.

Best bit

(Image credit: Activision)

There are a few new levels that weren't in the original games, and the last one, Pinball, is a delight to explore, with plenty of secrets and hidden areas.

The only complaint I have, and it may well be anecdotal, is that 3 + 4 feels slightly buggier than 1 + 2 did when I rinsed it for weeks on end five years back. I've glitched through the world a couple of times, got stuck bouncing on the ground where the game thinks my skater is in mid-air, but they're not, and every now and then it feels like my button inputs don't entirely register correctly.

I'd be remiss not to mention the soundtrack too because it's such an important component of any Tony Hawk game. It's safe to say the originals had a significant bearing on my music tastes throughout my entire life so far because these days, I love a mosh pit and some heavy metal or pop punk, but there aren't quite as many tracks retained from the prior soundtracks as I'd have liked.

That said, they have included some incredible, more modern bands, such as Turnstile, Idles, and 100 gecs. Huge shout out to Boys in the Better Land by Fontaines DC, too, which is such a perfect fit, and don't worry, folks; Motorhead's Ace of Spades hasn't gone anywhere.

Crowning a new king

(Image credit: Activision)

It's hard to argue that this isn't the best skateboarding game of all time, to be honest. The amount of content is staggering, and while some folks may prefer something more realistic like the Skate series - somewhere you can't perform The 900 into a revert, followed by 50+ more tricks all in the same combo. After all, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is very much an arcade game; it's the Need For Speed to Skate's Gran Turismo.

Once you beat all the levels and complete every goal in both games, you unlock pro goals, which are essentially five even more difficult objectives to complete in each level. Beat all of these, and you get your hands on solo tour mode, which gives each individual skater a unique goal in each level depending on their skateboarding style.

Then you have speedrun mode, which allows you to set the highest score you can on different levels and enter leaderboards, along with create-a-park to either design your own level or play those made by the community. Oh, and there's multiplayer, which is endless fun in and of itself. Then there's a bunch of customization options and collectibles to find in each level, plus challenges, including two expert categories which will likely take you a long time to complete.

This is, quite frankly, a no-brainer to pick up if you've enjoyed a single Tony Hawk game in the past. It's one of the best video game remakes in recent memory, and even levels that have a completely different aesthetic now have been improved tenfold. If you haven't played one for many years, then it may be a somewhat steep learning curve, especially for the harder objectives. But it's not too tricky to pick up if you're happy chaining together some kickflips and bluntslides, rather than going for million-plus score combos.

Even the product placement, which usually feels incredibly on the nose, is so well integrated here, with brands such as Vans and Red Bull placed in natural-feeling spots. Although I don't think there's actually a Vans shop right on Trafalgar Square in London, but then again, I also don't think Trafalgar Square is full of quarter-pipes and ramps. Could be mistaken, though.

Should you play Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4?Play it if...

You played the original games 20+ years ago
This remake is so well done, even if you don't think you'll be as skilled as you used to be, experiencing these two games from so long ago remade in such clarity and with so many small enhancements is worth it alone.

You love an arcade sports game
Tony Hawk games are never about realism, so 3 + 4 is wacky and wonderful in the sense that you can combo 50+ tricks as if your skater has robotic legs that don't get tired, all while chasing a van around London's Trafalgar Square with a nearly-nude man with an elephant mask on in the back.

Don't play it if...

You didn't play the originals, or you don't have the time to learn the skillset
Getting really good at a Tony Hawk game is hard, and 3 + 4 is no different. You may get frustrated if you don't have the nostalgia aspect in your favour and you're struggling to beat some of the score goals.

Accessibility

You cannot remap the base controls, but you can choose which button combos individual tricks are applied to, and you can choose between wallplants being either a one or two-button press.

The camera can be inverted, lots of HUD options can be toggled, and if you're struggling, you can enable assists such as perfect balance on rails, manuals, and lip tricks, and you can turn off bails entirely.

How I reviewed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4

According to my in-game time played, I have sunk 13 hours and 30 minutes into Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 so far, all on a base PS5 with a DualSense controller. This was entirely in the fidelity graphics mode on a Samsung QN88C 55" TV and a Samsung HWMS650 soundbar.

I've entirely completed all of the THPS 3 content, and I'm around halfway through the levels in THPS 4, and while I've given multiplayer a spin, I haven't spent too much time in it. I have also played around with some custom-made levels, both playing community-made ones and making my own.

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At the moment, there's a lot going on over at Disney+, who's gearing up to release a slate of new titles in August. Indeed, when it comes to its next monthly schedule, it's TV shows galore.

New Marvel animated miniseries Eyes of Wakanda lands on Disney+ August 27, marking the 15th television installment in the MCU and the first series in Phase Six. As well as the new Marvel show, there are plenty of documentary and reality shows to choose from, including new episodes of Limitless: Live Better Now with Chris Hemsworth and Project Runway – which has reached an impressive 21 seasons.

While it's exciting to see fresh shows come to one of the best streaming services, it's best to note that the availability of the following Disney+ titles are subject to change and will vary by region – so it's best to keep this in mind when looking for your next TV obsession.

August 1

• King & Prince: What We Got (Japanese Version)
• Outdoor Adventure Stream 

August 3

• Naming the Dead season 1 episodes 1-6

August 6

• Christmas Wars season 1, episodes 1-2
• Christmas Wars season 2, episodes 1-4
• Low Life season 1, episodes 1-2
• Rachael Ray’s Holidays season 1, episodes 1-4
• Raising Asia season 1, episodes 1-13
• Wild Vietnam season 2, episodes 1-2
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder season 3

August 7

• Ancient Aliens: Origins season 1, episodes 1-12
• Project Runway season 21, episode 3

August 8

• Christmas Hotel (movie)
• A Christmas in Tennessee (movie)
• The Christmas Pact (movie)
• Radio Christmas (movie)
• SuperKitties: Su-Purr Adventures: Shorts season 2, episodes 1-10

August 10

• Traveling with Snow Man episode 2

August 12

• Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends season 1, episodes 1-6

August 13

• Chibiverse season 2, episodes 1-3
• Chibiverse season 3, episodes 1-12
• Low Life season 1, episodes 1-2

August 14

• Project Runway season 21, episode 4

August 15

• Limitless: Live Better Now episodes 1-3
• Stand Up to Cancer 2025

August 17

• Disney Jr. Ariel - The Little Mermaid: Songs from the Crystal Cavern Shorts season1, episodes 1-10

August 20

• Ice Road Rescue season 7, episodes 1-8
• Ice Road Rescue season 8, episodes 1-8
• Ice Road Rescue season 9, episodes 1-9
• Reminder season 1, episodes 1-8

August 21

• Me & Winnie the Pooh season 2, episodes 1-6
• Project Runway season 21, episode 5

August 22

• Disney Jr.’s Ariel season 1, episodes 1-8

August 25

• The Last Rhinos: A New Hope (documentary)
• LEGO Disney Princess: Villains Unite 
• Princess Stream

August 27

• Chibi Tiny Tales: Shorts season 6, episodes 1-6
• Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends season 4, episodes 1-3
• Eyes of Wakanda episodes 1-4
• Shipwreck Hunters Australia season 2, episodes 1-6

August 28

• Project Runway season 21, episode 6

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• Dell Pro Max 18 Plus workstation already supports up to 128GB of CAMM2 RAM
• 256GB configuration is expected soon for data-heavy or AI-driven work
• Oddly no AMD support despite clear AI and performance-focused design goals

Dell is planning to offer a high-end workstation laptop with a massive 256GB memory option later this year.

The Dell Pro Max 18 Plus is already available to buy now and sits at the top of Dell’s mobile workstation lineup, as we predicted it would last year.

It’s powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, paired with up to an Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU, and supports up to 4TB of SSD storage, making it one of the best business laptops around.

But no AMD option?

Memory configurations start with a single 16GB 6400MTs DDR5 CSoDIMM and users can upgrade to 32GB or 64GB using dual modules.

There’s also the option for 128GB of 6400MTs CAMM2 dual channel memory, although you’ll pay a premium for it – an additional $1,895 to the total price in fact.

And if 128GB still isn’t enough, Dell plans to offer a 256GB CAMM2 RAM option later in the year.

While 256GB will be well beyond what most users need, it could appeal to engineers, researchers, and developers who regularly work with demanding datasets and compute-heavy workloads.

Dell has made thermal improvements to the Pro Max 18 Plus to keep performance consistent under load. It claims up to a 44 percent increase in graphics performance compared to the previous 18-inch model.

The system also features better serviceability, with a modular USB-C port and an easy-access upgrade panel.

Combined with Dell’s manageability tools and security features, it is clearly built for enterprise environments.

One noticeable omission is AMD support. Dell’s Pro Max 14 includes Ryzen AI processors and is part of the Copilot+ lineup, which makes it all the more unusual that the 18 Plus, positioned as the most capable model, doesn’t offer AMD options.

With Ryzen processors widely praised for their NPU performance and strong efficiency, their absence may be something of a deal breaker for users looking for AI-focused alternatives.

We can only hope that Dell sees the error of its ways and brings AMD options to future Pro Max models.

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• Booster Gold is said to be moving ahead on HBO Max
• The DC Universe TV show has reportedly had its pilot episode greenlit
• Our Flag Means Death's showrunner is apparently on board to helm it

It's been two and a half years since James Gunn announced the original line-up for Chapter One of the new-look DC Universe (DCU) – and, finally, one of its most unexpected projects appears to be moving forward.

According to Deadline, Booster Gold, a TV series we've heard nothing about since Gunn confirmed it was part of his and Peter Safran's DCU Chapter One plans, has had its pilot episode greenlit by HBO Max.

The series has also seemingly found its creator. David Jenkins, who's best known for his work on Our Flag Means Death, aka one of the best HBO Max shows that was unceremoniously canceled after two seasons last January, is believed to have signed on to helm its first entry.

If HBO executives like what they see, Deadline's sources have indicated it'll order a whole series, with Jenkins in line to be installed as its showrunner.

A post shared by Deadline (@deadline)

A photo posted by on

If true, Booster Gold will be the second DCU project that's received a development, well, boost in recent days.

On July 21, Gunn confirmed the lead writer for the DCU's Wonder Woman movie. Meanwhile, Clayface, one of two DC comic book films set for release in 2026 alongside Supergirl, may have found its lead actress in Star Wars alumna Naomi Ackie, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, published yesterday, July 22, 2025.

But back to Booster Gold. There's only one way we'll know if Jenkins is involved and whether the show's pilot has been approved, and that's by hearing from Gunn.

At the time of publication, the DC Studios co-chief hadn't taken to social media to confirm or deny Deadline's report. I'll update this article if he does and/or if I hear back from HBO, whom I've reached out to about the forthcoming TV project.

Who is Booster Gold?

Created by Dan Jurgens, Booster Gold – real name Michael Jon 'Booster' Carter – is a US footballer-turned-superhero who actually hails from the future. In DC literature, he wasn't born until the 25th century, but like Batman, he calls Gotham City his home.

Or, he used to. You see, Carter was a rising football star for Gotham University. However, after his deadbeat father re-entered his life and convinced him to deliberately lose games for gambling reasons, it wasn't long until Carter was exposed for his crimes and expelled from studying at the prestigious institution.

Carter's days of breaking the law weren't over, though. After taking a job as a nightwatchman at the Metropolis Space Museum, he learned all about the 20th century's most famous heroes via the superpowered artifacts on display.

Long story short: with the aid of his robot sidekick Skeets, Carter steals some of the aforementioned tech, travels back in time to the 20th century, and uses his newly-acquired gadgets to remodel himself as Booster Gold, a showboating metahuman who can fly, create energy blasts, gains the usual superhuman abilities via his power-suit and, of course, time travel.

Despite making his debut in 'Booster Gold' #1 in February 1986 and being a member of popular DC superteam The Justice League, Carter hasn't gone on to achieve the level of fame in the real world that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have. If anyone can breathe new life into this C-list superhero and turn him into a household name, though, it's Gunn – with more than a little help from Jenkins, of course.

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• Banking trojan Coyote now abuses Microsoft’s UI Automation framework
• The framework allows it to spot when a person opens a banking site
• It can cross-reference the data in the browser with a hardcoded list of banking and crypto apps

Coyote, a known banking trojan malware capable of attacking dozens of crypto and banking apps, has been upgraded to identify crypto exchanges and bank accounts opened in the web browser, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers Akamai, who have been warning about Coyote since December 2024, noted how in previous iterations, Coyote would either log keys or present phishing overlays, in order to exfiltrate login information for 75 banking and cryptocurrency exchange apps. However, if a user would open these accounts in the browser, Coyote wouldn’t be triggered.

However this new variant abuses Microsoft’s UI Automation framework to identify which banking and crypto exchange sites the victim opened in their browser, too.

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Brazilians in the crosshairs

Microsoft's UI Automation (UIA) framework is an accessibility system that helps software interact with Windows apps.

It’s especially useful for things like screen readers and automated testing, as it lets programs “see” buttons, menus, and other parts of an app, and even click or read them.

According to Akamai, Coyote can now use UIA to read the web address found in the browser’s tabs or address bar, and then compare the results with a hardcoded list of 75 targeted services. If it finds a match, it will use UIA to parse through the UI child elements, trying to find which tabs or address bars there are.

"The content of these UI elements will then be cross-referenced with the same list of addresses from the first comparison,” they explained.

Akamai says that Coyote primarily targets Brazilian users. The banks it usually goes after are Banco do Brasil, CaixaBank, Banco Bradesco, Santander, Original bank, Sicredi, Banco do Nordeste, Expanse apps, and different crypto exchanges (Binance, Electrum, Bitcoin, Foxbit, and more).

The researchers first warned about UIA being abused in credential theft late last year, and now their predictions seem to have come true, since Coyote is apparently the first one to use this tactic in the wild.

Via BleepingComputer

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A new study reports on a novel way to short-circuit the parasite that spreads the disease so people wouldn't get infected with a mosquito's bite.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a great flip phone that gives you the best of Samsung’s mobile might in a package that’s innovative and polished. To say it’s an improvement over past Galaxy Flip phones would be an understatement – this is the Flip I’ve been asking Samsung to make for years.

It’s not quite the best flip phone you can buy, but that’s because flip phones have gotten really good; and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 makes a perfect argument for why flip phones may be today’s best form factor.

Think about it, what’s better than a flip foldable? The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a huge screen – the same 6.9 inches as the mighty Galaxy S25 Ultra – but it’s smaller and lighter in every way, even before you fold it in half. And instead of the Ultra’s questionable S Pen, the Flip 7 gives you a whole second screen to use. On top of that, it costs $200 / £200 / AU$550 less than an Ultra.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Flip phones just make too much sense, so what’s stopping them from being more popular? First, there’s the durability question. The seventh generation of Samsung’s flip phones still can’t keep dust out, though it can handle being dunked in water thanks to its IP48 rating.

Second, there are sacrifices required to make a folding phone, and the cameras are a downgrade from other Galaxy phones. This year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 got a 200MP main camera, but the Flip 7 keeps its 50MP cameras on the back. There’s no zoom, only wide and ultra-wide. A 200MP sensor would have alleviated the disappointment of not having a 3x telephoto lens or better.

Finally, the battery takes a hit with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 – maybe too big of a hit. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 doesn’t last long enough. I think this is more of a Samsung problem than a flip phone problem, because the Moto Razr Ultra offers great battery life, though it is marginally thicker and heavier than the Flip 7.

A Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 (left) and Galaxy Z Flip 7 (right) with TechRadar on the cover displays (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

It’s impossible to avoid comparing the Flip 7 to the Motorola Razr Ultra / Razr 60 Ultra, which is its biggest competitor (for now, Apple?). Samsung should be thrashing the Razr, but Motorola has been consistently eating Samsung’s lunch in the flip phone café.

With the Flip 7, Samsung finally catches up to Motorola on the cover display. Its cover display doesn’t just fill the front of the phone, it features the thinnest bezels Samsung has ever used on a Galaxy phone screen.

The Flip 7 can also, albeit with some difficulty, use every app on the cover display. You can navigate with AllTrails maps, watch some TikTok, and play Vampire Survivors without opening the phone.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Still, as Samsung takes a big leap forward, Motorola continues its slow and steady pace as the flip-phone frontrunner. Today’s Razr Ultra is faster than the Galaxy Flip 7 in every way. The processor is faster; games run faster; the screen refreshes faster; the battery even charges faster.

Does all of that speed matter? Yes, but some folks will appreciate Samsung’s deep feature set and customization options more than a bit of extra speed.

Samsung’s One UI 8 is a powerhouse, especially if you mix business and pleasure on your smartphone. The Flip 7 also ships with Android 16, and this is the first time Samsung foldable buyers haven’t had to wait for an upgrade to the latest version of Android.

Samsung promises seven years of major Android updates and security patches, more than any competitor except Google. It has a good track record of delivering on such promises, while many Motorola fans are still waiting for promised updates for past Razr phones.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Is it time to consider a flip phone? Absolutely. As you’ve probably noticed, I’m a fan of flip foldables, and the Flip 7, with its versatile cover display, rock-solid design, and hefty set of features, offers more value than the sum of its parts.

In fact, I think most people would appreciate the Flip 7, with its unique benefits, more than other phones that don’t make the same sacrifices.

Ask yourself, does your phone need that tiny zoom camera? Wouldn’t you rather have a phone you can slap shut and slip in your front pocket? And I use the cover display on my Galaxy Z Flip 7 far more than I use the S Pen on my Galaxy S25 Ultra.

I’m rooting for flip phones – and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is an exceptional flip for serious smartphone users.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Starts at $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799 for 256GB of storage
• The best color – Mint – is a Samsung online exclusive

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799, which is the same price as last year’s Z Flip 6. The price seems reasonable to me, considering that you’re getting two displays for the price of one, plus glass that bends in half like a dang magic trick.

Galaxy Z Flip phones used to seem pricey, but the rest of the phone world has slowly crept up to meet Samsung, and now $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799 actually seems fair, especially if you’re getting this phone from your carrier with a steep discount (most US carriers offer it for free with a new contract).

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 costs more than an iPhone 16 Pro (except in Australia, where it’s the same price), and less than an iPhone 16 Pro Max. It costs the same as a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, or Samsung’s new and thin Galaxy S25 Edge.

The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 (left) is more expensive than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (right) (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Most importantly, the Flip 7 costs less than the new Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 in the US, where the Razr Ultra starts at $1,299. In the UK, the Razr 60 Ultra costs the same: £1,099. Motorola claims it has been outselling Samsung in flip phones, and its cheapest flip, the Razr 2023, is available for $349 in the US.

At launch, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 only comes in four colors, while last year’s Flip 6 was available in seven hues. Mint and Coralred are exciting (the former is a Samsung web store exclusive); Jetblack and Blue Shadow are more staid. I wish Samsung would try something unique with its materials and finish, but it likes to dress the entire product family in the same sweater for holiday portraits, so all the Galaxy phones look alike finish-wise.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Specification

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

When Samsung admitted that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 would use its own Exynos 2500 processor instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy found in every other flagship Galaxy phone this year, it was like a record scratch moment from a comedy show. Rumors suggest this could have been the CPU inside every Galaxy S25 phone, but Samsung changed its plans late in the game on those phones. Instead, this new Samsung chip debuts in the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Samsung claims the Exynos 2500 is more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy that’s in last year’s Flip 6, and this lets the Flip 7 use Samsung DeX, a feature that was oddly omitted from last year’s Flip. I don’t buy it. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 had the same processor and the same RAM, and the Fold 6 could run DeX. Heck, even the Galaxy S24 FE with its mid-range Exynos 2400e chipset could run DeX. I’m calling shenanigans on this claim.

The display is bigger this year, up to 6.9 inches for the internal display from 6.7 inches last year, and the phone is 4mm wider to accommodate this. Otherwise, the specs are mostly unchanged from the Flip 6 – 12GB of RAM; a 50MP wide camera and a 12MP ultra-wide; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back cover. The battery is larger this year, but maybe not as big as it needs to be.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Dimensions (folded):

85.5 x 75.2 x 13.7mm

Dimensions (unfolded):

166.7 x 75.2 x 6.5mm

Weight:

188g

Main display:

6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED
1080 x 2520 pixels
1~120Hz adaptive refresh
2,600 nits peak brightness

Cover display::

4.1-inch Super AMOLED
948 x 1048 pixels

Chipset:

Samsung Exynos 2500 (3nm)

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB / 512GB

OS:

Android 16 / One UI 8

Primary camera:

50MP f1.8

Ultrawide camera:

12MP f2.2

Selfie Camera:

10MP f2.2

Battery:

4,300mAh

Charging:

25W wired; 15W wireless

Colors:

Blue Shadow, Jetblack, Coralred, Mint

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Design

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Big and beautiful cover display with ultra-slim bezels
• Nice colors, but design is a bit bland for a flip phone

After years of me complaining that the Galaxy Z Flip wasn’t using enough of its cover space for the front screen, Samsung finally listened (I’d like to think). The 4.1-inch screen on the front of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 takes up every possible inch – Samsung says it has the thinnest bezel ever on a Galaxy phone.

The Flip 7’s cover screen looks like the future of phone displays, and I’m excited for the internal screen to catch up, with a bezel this slim.

Otherwise, the phone is a standard 2025 Galaxy model. It has flat sides, with the power and volume buttons on the right. The power key acts as an effective fingerprint scanner, though it’s more recessed than the power button on other Galaxy phones, and it was hard to find in the dark.

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(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Image 2 of 3

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(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

My review sample is Blue Shadow, and the blue certainly has a nice depth to it, though I still wish the color had more pop – there’s not much room for color on a flip phone. Only one half of one side of the phone is actually blue; the rest is all display. Three quarters of the phone is a screen. Is that worrisome? Maybe it should be.

I’ve had the Galaxy Z Flip 7 a week and I’ve been using it extensively. I throw it into my bag with my car keys, and let it bang around with my cameras and other phones in my pockets.

I don’t have a case on it, but some friends at UAG are sending an armored case my way. It may be too late. My back glass – a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panel – already has noticeable scuffs and scratches marring the shadowy blue. I don’t see any nicks on the screens, so that’s a plus, but I should have gotten that case before I started using this phone. Consider yourself advised.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Displays

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Big inner display is super-bright and clear
• Cover screen is a showstopper – it’s the future of displays

I could rave about the new cover display again, but I’ll start with the impressive inner screen, because the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has been very satisfying to use thanks to this exceptionally bright and clear AMOLED. It was always a joy to open, even in bright outdoor light.

Don’t worry about the crease on the inner screen. It’s completely invisible when you’re using the phone, and it never bothered my fingers when I was swiping across the screen. After all these years it still feels like a magic trick to fold a piece of glass in half, and it still shocks friends who haven’t seen a flip foldable in person before.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cover display is, as I’ve mentioned, also spectacular. The ultra-thin bezels make it seem to disappear, and you get plenty of room to work with apps and widgets on the 4.1-inch space. It’s a great improvement to the Flip line, and one I’ve been impatiently waiting to see.

• Displays score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Software

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• The best flip for getting things done
• Maybe too focused on productivity, not enough on fun

If you want a smartphone you can tweak and customize to your heart’s content, get a Samsung phone. If you prefer something simpler, you can still grit your teeth and ignore most of the settings, the pop-up features, and the extra steps required to make things work.

How bad is Samsung’s software? Take the cover display, for example. On the Motorola Razr, when you’re using an app and you close the phone, the app shows up on the cover display. That’s simple and intuitive. On the Galaxy Z Flip 7? Not even close.

To use an app on the front screen, you have to find the setting to enable apps on the cover display. This isn’t in the Cover Display settings menu; it’s in a menu called Advanced Settings, and then Labs.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Labs. Can you imagine a more frightening way to hide a crucial feature? Why not just call it Dungeon?

And once you find Labs, you’ve only gotten started. You can enable a few pre-selected apps to work on the cover display – Maps, Messages, Netflix – or you can download another widget called Multistar from the Samsung Galaxy App Store.

Multistar creates a home screen that lives on your cover display, and on that screen you can add any app on your phone. On the cover, you swipe to the Multistar screen and tap the app you want to open.

Multistar on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover display (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Unfortunately, you can’t set any of this up on the cover display itself. You can’t even add widgets to the cover display without opening the phone. It feels like Samsung is still getting the hang of this whole cover-display thing, but the Flip7 is its best effort yet.

This complex procedure exemplifies Samsung’s software ‘philosophy,’ if it has one. The phone has lots of features, and they all work… somehow. Finding those features and making them work can feel like an endless chore, and then features work in a way that seems slapped together and haphazard.

I don’t want to open an app twice, on two different home screens, after loading a specialized widget hidden under three layers of settings. I just want to open an app, close my flip phone, and see the same app on the cover. Easy peasy.

Aside from those issues, I have many questions about Samsung’s AI strategy. The company has a habit of talking up features that never materialize. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was supposed to have a special version of Google Gemini that could talk to me live while the flip screen was half closed, but I haven’t been able to find a mode that works that way.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Samsung’s Now Brief home screen widget and app is also a key selling point for its AI features, but it’s truly a useless bit of software. It never offers me more than the weather and the first few appointments on my company calendar, which are always people who scheduled a day off.

Samsung promised that this Now Brief and its Galaxy AI features would offer highly personalized information as the AI gets to know you through your Samsung devices and usage behavior. I carry multiple Samsung phones and wear a Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I’ve never seen anything personalized for my interests or habits.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Very good cameras with fun and useful features
• Samsung is clearly tuning its cameras for more realistic photos

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a good set of cameras that took photos I enjoyed sharing. Images taken with Samsung cameras usually pop with bright colors and a highly-sharpened look, but I’ve noticed on the last couple of phones (this one and the Galaxy S25 Edge) that Samsung has been toning down this artificial look for a more natural photography style, closer to what the iPhone produces. I’m all for it.

Don’t worry, Samsung fans, you still get photos that look great, especially if you opt for Samsung’s specialized modes.

Samsung’s Portrait mode is probably the best on any smartphone. It isolated my subject neatly and blurred the background for a gorgeous look. Samsung’s Food mode is by far the best camera phone mode for taking food photos – I reach for my Galaxy phone whenever I bake something tasty and I want to share it.

Samsung’s AI editing features are also the best I’ve used on any smartphone. When you cut an unwanted person or object out of your photo, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 does a perfect job of filling in the gaps. If there are floor boards or vertical blinds behind them, it fills these in seamlessly.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Of course, the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s coolest camera trick is letting you use the cover display as your viewfinder for photos. You can take selfies at the full 50MP resolution when you point the main camera at yourself and use the cover display. You can also set the phone in an interesting position – way down low or hanging from up high – and then take shots with voice commands or by signaling the camera with a wave.

My only complaint is the lack of a real zoom lens. I have a kid who plays sports, and the digital zoom isn’t good enough to capture him on the field. If you take photos from far away often, you’ll miss the lack of real zoom. Maybe Samsung should try a zoom camera instead of an ultra-wide on the Flip 8.

• Cameras: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Performance

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Performance is adequate, but not superlative
• Exynos is not going to win over any fans from Snapdragon

In my real-world tests, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 performed well. I used it for a variety of complex tasks, including running two apps with one at the top and the other at the bottom of the inner screen, and plugged the phone into my monitor for the full Samsung DeX treatment.

I like Samsung DeX because I have all of my work accounts for email, Slack, and Google Drive on my phone, so when I use my phone I don’t need to log in again, as I do when I use my laptop. I just plug my phone into my USB-C laptop dock and get a little bit of work done, then unplug and go. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was great at this, and I’m happy to see DeX on the Flip 7 after missing it on last year’s Flip 6.

That said, in benchmark tests it’s clear that the Samsung Exynos 2500 lags behind the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it’s a shame that the Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 run on different platforms.

In Future Labs tests, the Exynos 2500 did not beat the Galaxy S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy platform in a single test – not processor speed, graphics performance, web browsing, AI and machine learning tests, nor any other benchmark we run. In every way, the Exynos 2500 is inferior to the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Worst of all may be the chip’s power consumption, which I’ll get to in the next section. Samsung isn’t doing itself any favors by ditching one of the best mobile platforms I’ve ever used – the Snapdragon 8 Elite – and I hope it doesn’t ever make the same mistake again.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Battery

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Battery life is unimpressive and charging should be faster
• Could the Exynos platform be to blame?

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 usually lasted a full day in my testing, unless I used it extensively for taking and editing photos or playing games. On camera testing days, I needed to charge up to keep it going until bed time.

It could have been worse, but I wonder if the cover display makes a difference. After all, there were plenty of times when I used the cover when I might have used the full screen on a normal phone, and the inner screen certainly draws more power than the half-sized cover display.

The reason I was pessimistic about the battery life was the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s poor showing in Future Labs battery testing. The Z Flip 7 has a battery that’s 300mAh larger than the cell in the Z Flip 6, but it only delivers about 90 minutes more runtime in our rundown tests.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Compare that to the Motorola Razr Ultra, which uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The Razr Ultra has a battery that’s 400mAh larger than the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s, but in our tests it lasted almost 6.5 hours longer than the Z Flip 7! The Z Flip 7 died in just under 12.5 hours in our lab tests, while the Razr Ultra lasted almost 19 hours.

I have to assume the Snapdragon is sipping power compared to Samsung’s Exynos chip, and that’s why the Razr Ultra lasts so much longer with only a slightly larger battery. Motorola’s displays are just as bright, and actually pack more pixels, which means they could draw more power. If it isn’t the display saving electricity, it must be the chipset.

• Battery: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7?

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Solid value considering you get two displays for the price of one, plus all of the technology Samsung packs inside. There are cheaper flip phones, but none that can do as much as the Flip 7.

4 / 5

Design

A nice design that will be familiar to Samsung fans. I still wish it were more exciting, and some scuffs during my review time left me more concerned about durability than before.

4 / 5

Display

Excellent displays inside and out. The inner display is bright and clear and a joy to use. The cover screen has the smallest bezels ever, and it's more useful than before.

5 / 5

Performance

The Flip 7 can do more than ever, but Samsung doesn’t make it easy. Expect hidden features, extra steps, and hacked-together solutions. Also, the AI features don’t seem fully baked.

3 / 5

Software

Nice cameras that tone down the saturation for a more realistic look. The best camera modes in the biz, including great portraits and appetizing food shots. Solid AI editing tools remove artifacts flawlessly. I wish it had zoom.

4 / 5

Cameras

Disappointing performance all round thanks to the Exynos 2500. I’m being extra harsh so Samsung doesn’t make this mistake again and use an inferior Exynos chip when the Snapdragon is obviously superior. This phone should be faster.

3 / 5

Battery

Battery life isn’t terrible, but it’s disappointing considering other phones have seen huge advancements thanks to new battery tech and more efficient (Snapdragon) platforms. It still lasts a full day, most of the time.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You want more phone in your phone
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 lives up to the flip-phone promise, giving you more than the sum of its parts. It’s two devices in one.

You can find a great deal on this phone
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is priced well, but Samsung phones see great discounts from wireless carriers and bonus offers for a good trade.

You want a flip but you’re a serious person
The Motorola Razr may be shiny and colorful, but it doesn’t have Samsung DeX or the full suite of software Samsung offers to get things done.

Don't buy it if...

You want simpler software
The Motorola Razr hews closer to Google’s Pixel version of Android, while Samsung’s One UI is feature-packed, but overcomplicated.View Deal

You don’t like the Samsung Galaxy look
The Flip 7 should have been a cooler-looking flip phone, but instead it looks like every other Galaxy, bent in half.View Deal

You hang out in very dusty places
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has an impressive level of water resistance, but it can’t keep out dust smaller than a big piece of lint, so be careful.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Also consider

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Motorola Razr Ultra
The Razr Ultra is more expensive, but it beats the Z Flip 7 on almost every metric, including processor speed and battery life.

Read our in-depth Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 review

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
It costs $100 / £50 / AU$100 less and blows the Z Flip 7 away for battery life and performance, plus it comes with a 3x telephoto zoom lens.

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 / Razr 60 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

Price

$1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799

$1,299 / £1,099

$999 / £999 / AU$1,699

Processor

Samsung Exynos 2500

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

Cameras

50MP main; 12MP ultra-wide; 10MP selfie

50MP main; 50MP ultra-wide; 50MP selfie

50MP main; 12MP ultra-wide; 10MP telephoto (3x zoom); 12MP selfie

Future Labs Battery Test (HH:MM:SS)

12:24:30

18:57:12

18:46:04

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

• Review test period: two weeks
• Testing included: everyday use, including web browsing, social media, photography, gaming, streaming video, and music playback
• Tools used: Geekbench 6, and Nit-brightness-testing system

I tested the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for two week before writing this review, using it as my primary work phone for that entire period. I tested the phone using a T-Mobile account provided by Samsung for my review period.

I used the phone extensively for communicating with colleagues, using apps including Slack, Google Meet, Airtable, Gmail and more. I played games including Vampire Survivor and Call of Duty Mobile, and I connected the phone to an Xbox Wireless Controller for games.

I used Android Auto with the Flip 7 in my car, a Kia EV6, for navigation, listening to music and audiobooks, and sending messages using voice input.

I connected the Flip 7 to my Galaxy Buds Pro 3 earbuds, Moto Buds Loop, a Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch, and Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses. I used the phone for fitness tracking, snore and sleep apnea detection with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and other health and fitness activities.

Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.

For battery testing we perform proprietary tests that are the same for every phone, which enable us to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

First reviewed July 2025

• Wednesday has been renewed for season 3
• This news comes ahead of the season 2 premier on August 6
• The creators have teased they "want to continue digging deeper into characters while expanding the world of Nevermore"

Wednesday season 3 is officially happening, with Netflix confirming the news ahead of the upcoming Wednesday season 2 premier on August 6.

The news was confirmed on Wednesday (of course), July 23, when Netflix shared a new poster featuring the iconic disembodied hand, aka Thing, holding a crystal ball with the number 3 on it.

A post shared by Wednesday Netflix (@wednesdaynetflix)

A photo posted by on

The tagline reads "bad things come in threes", focusing on the Addams Family's tendency to focus on the macabre and thankfully not the quality of the series. It's one of our best Netflix shows for a reason after all.

Speaking about the renewal, co-creator and co-showrunner Alfred Gough said in a press release: “Our goal for season 3 is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can. We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday.”

What's coming up on Netflix's Wednesday?

The wider Addams Family will be explored in Wednesday season 2. (Image credit: Netflix)

Right now it feels like the world is Wednesday's oyster, as Wednesday season 2 is shaping up to be bigger and better than the first installment. I enjoyed the first season immensely and can't wait to see the new one.

Season 2 will focus on the wider family, much to Wednesday's horror, with creator Tim Burton teasing to Tudum: "This year, we bring the family to Nevermore. Your family at school is the worst thing possible, isn’t it?”

We should expect to see an expansion of the lore focusing on both Nevermore Academy, the school for outcasts which Wednesday attends, as well as meeting some more members of the morbid family.

Following Gwendoline Christie's departure in season 1, legendary actor Steve Buscemi steps into the role of Nevermore's principal, while British icon Joanna Lumley plays Wednesday's grandmother. So there's an expansion of the already brilliant cast this season, as seen in this sneak peek which teases bucketloads of Addams Family lore.

As for season 3, we'll have to wait and see where the story goes but I'm confident it'll keep going from strength to strength. With plenty of dark and comical Addams Family lore to dive into, I could quite happily watch many more seasons of this.

The new season is split into two parts this time, mirroring popular shows like Stranger Things season 5. The second part of Wednesday season 2 releases on September 3, so there's not too much of a wait.

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• Proofpoint observed hackers using stolen files to spoof businesses
• The threat actors would send RFQ emails and ask for Net 45 financing terms
• The goods would end up sold in African countries

Cybercriminals have found a way to leverage stolen company files to obtain actual physical goods, and it revolves around a business practice called Request for Quote (RFQ).

An Request for Quote is when one business asks another how much it would cost to purchase certain products, and is used when buying in bulk, wanting to compare prices, or looking for volume-based discounts.

But according to security researchers at Proofpoint, scammers are using files stolen in other cyberattacks to spoof the businesses and create convincing RFQ emails.

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Shipping to Ghana

In the emails, they would ask for all kinds of equipment, from networking gear, to CCTV cameras, healthcare hardware, and similar.

After receiving a quote, they would then ask for Net 15/30/45 financing terms - payment terms that give the buyer 15, 30, or 45 days to pay the full invoice amount, with interest, *after* receiving the goods - which is common practice in B2B transactions.

If the victim business agrees, the scammers would share a shipping address. Sometimes, these are residential addresses, and other times, they lead to rented warehouses across the US. From there, the crooks would hire shipping forwarding services that specialize in sending goods to West African countries like Nigeria and Ghana, where the gear ends up (likely to be sold).

The victim, on the other hand, never gets their money as the scammers just disappear.

Proofpoint also stated the shipping forwarding services most likely don’t even know they’re transporting stolen goods, and that people living in houses listed as the shipping address can be scammers, or former scam victims themselves looking to pay off a debt.

The researchers also said they were tracking and blocking emails associated with RFQ scam groups, and partnered with the company’s Takedown Team to successfully take down 19 domains associated with these scams.

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• Microsoft has fallen back on its $80 game price standard, starting with The Outer Worlds 2
• It comes after the cancellation of Perfect Dark and the shutdown of The Initiative developer
• It's another example of the impacts of consumers voicing frustrations about rising game prices

After the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, Nintendo revealed a new $80 game price standard, and it didn't take very long for Microsoft to follow suit for Xbox titles. Now, it's taken a drastic turn just weeks after the controversial announcement.

As reported by our friends at Windows Central, Microsoft is backtracking on $79.99 game prices for its mainline titles, starting with The Outer Worlds 2, an upcoming title for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It will also process refunds for players who have already pre-ordered the title, releasing on October 29, 2025.

In a statement to Windows Central, Microsoft said: "We're fully focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore and will keep our full-priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99, in line with current market conditions".

This comes shortly after the cancellation of its recently announced titles, Perfect Dark, Everwild, and an unannounced project, along with the shutdown of Perfect Dark's developer, The Initiative.

This also isn't the first time we've seen a backtrack on the controversy of new game prices; Gearbox Software announced Borderlands 4 won't cost $79.99, but instead stick with the current $69.99 standard, after major uproar due to Randy Pitchford's comments.

It's now left the door wide open for Nintendo to revert to industry-standard game prices, and perhaps acts as a warning to Sony and other game publishers who intend to raise prices.

(Image credit: Xbox)Analysis: The game development excuse is out of the window, so don't stop voicing your frustrations now

While I can't say I'm surprised since I've said multiple times that voting with your wallet can make changes, Microsoft's reasoning for its return to the $69.99 standard is one that has exposed something significant.

The excuse of video game development costs ultimately leading to higher retail prices is now bogus, as Microsoft cited this as a reason. So, what suddenly changed overnight?

The backlash towards The Outer Worlds 2's price is simply another example of why consumers mustn't ignore egregious stunts, and I'm certain that's why Microsoft has conceded. It also makes me wonder what would have happened if consumers applied the same pressure on the industry when game prices suddenly jumped to $69.99 (which I still want gone).

Will Nintendo follow suit? No, I don't think so, because I think it's already too late since the Switch 2 has launched, and Mario Kart World, an $80 game, is selling like hotcakes.

Do I think it will scare Sony and other publishers? Yes, and rightly so, because the last thing we need is for the dust to settle on game prices, leading to yet another increase in the near future.

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Only Murders in the Building season 5: key information

- Renewed for season 5 in 2024
- Filming wrapped in early July
- Releases on September 9, 2025, no trailer yet
- Show’s main cast to return
- Renée Zellweger, Keegan-Michael Key, Christoph Waltz and more joining the cast
- Plot details scarce, bar speculation on season 4’s finale
- Co-creator John Hoffman hopes for more seasons

In the Arconia, the murder-solving, podcast-making trio of Only Murders in the Building can't seem to catch a break. While it appeared there was finally some resolve in the season 4 finale, the show, once again, got quickly turned on its head. And so, the iconic trio of Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short must return to solve yet another mystery in one of the best Hulu shows.

In Only Murders in the Building season 4, the trio's famed podcast was catapulted into a movie production, then overshadowed by a flurry of murders, including the death of Charles' beloved stunt double, Sazz Pataki. Unfortunately, as has been the case for the past four seasons, murder seems to follow wherever they go – and it did so all the way into the finale. So, with Only Murders in the Building season 5 almost on screens, here's everything you need to know, including cast, plot, and when it could be released on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally).

Full spoilers follow for Only Murders in the Building seasons 1 to 4.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 release date

Season 5 of #OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding premieres September 9 on @hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus. Drop a ⛲️ if you can't wait! pic.twitter.com/3tjFcTwSakJuly 23, 2025

It's official! Only Murders in the Building season 5 is returning to screens on September 9, 2025. We'll get the first three episodes on its debut date, with the rest of the series released on a weekly basis. This only falls short of our original prediction of an August drop by a few weeks, but hey, what's a bit of extra time when you know brilliance is on the way?

We've also got a first-look image at the new season, with our main trio re-enacting the 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil' saying on the floor of what looks like wine cellar. Why are they there? With these three, that's anybody's guess.

Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin in Only Murders in the Building season 5. (Image credit: Hulu/Disney+)

Filming for season 5 started in March and was confirmed to have wrapped in early July. Given there's only a few weeks between filming and new episodes being released, we really can't complain... that's a darn quick turnaround.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 trailer: is there one?

Only Murders in the Building season 5 only wrapped filming a few weeks ago as of writing, so there’s no trailer to share yet. We’ll update this section once the trailer drops, which historically has come out mere weeks before the show’s return. So, hold tight until we get a little closer to September.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 confirmed cast

A flurry of guest stars will join the trio in Only Murders in the Building season 5 (Image credit: Disney)

It wouldn’t be Only Murders in the Building without the charismatic and endearing trio of Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin, who will all be returning. We also have a confirmed guest star for season 5 - Téa Leoni - who appeared in the season 4 finale, which we'll discuss more in the plot speculation below. Plus, an abundance of guest stars are also joining the show.

Here's the confirmed Only Murders in the Building season 5 cast so far:

• Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
• Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
• Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
• Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin-Putnam
• Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams
• Jackie Hoffman as Uma Heller
• Ryan Boussard as Will Putnam
• Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris
• Keegan Michael-Key as TBC
• Renée Zellweger as TBC
• Christoph Waltz as TBC
• Logan Lerman as TBC
• Jermaine Fowler as TBC
• Beanie Feldstein as TBC

Despite already having a star-studded main cast to lead the show, Only Murders in the Building has proven that it will always bring in an incredible list of guest stars - from Tina Fey in season 1 to Meryl Streep in season 3. Although Streep has since become a recurring cast member. Not forgetting, there’s the Charles, Mabel, and Oliver of the season 4 movie adaptation, played by Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifinakis.

And season 5 is no different. In a flurry of cast announcements, Deadline exclusively revealed that Keegan Michael-Key, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Jermaine Fowler and Beanie Feldstein are all joining the Only Murders in the Building season 5 cast.

Variety also revealed the addition of Christoph Waltz in a "recurring role". Though details of their characters are being kept firmly under wraps, which is no surprise in a show as mysterious as this one.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 synopsis and story rumors

Who killed Lester? (Image credit: Hulu/Disney Plus)

Major spoilers follow for Only Murders in the Building season 4.

Here's the official season 5 synopsis: "After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond – where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them – one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge."

While the trio successfully solved yet another murder by the end of season 4 - this time of Charles’ stunt double, Sazz Pataki - it felt once again like they’d finally be free to relax. But, it wouldn’t be a show without another murder.

As the trio enjoyed the fact that Oliver’s wedding day to Loretta (Meryl Streep) had gone unspoiled, they’re quickly brought back to reality as they find Lester, The Arconia’s doorman and beloved recurring star of the show, dead in the fountain. As has been the case with previous seasons, this cliffhanger ending sets up the tale for the next investigation - and season 5.

But, that’s not the only investigation hinted at as season 4 wrapped up. A mysterious woman, who introduces herself as Sofia (Téa Leoni), asks Charles and Mabel to find her husband, Nicky ‘The Neck’ Caccimelio. Now, we heard this name on a news report in episode nine saying Nicky, the dry-cleaning King of Brooklyn with links to the Caputo crime family, had disappeared. A report that Mabel reacts to. Sofia says she’ll pay them well to help her, to which they explain they only investigate murders in the building. Her reply, his disappearance has everything to do with the building. Though they turn her away, she leaves her card and the hint that her story will very much be intertwined in season 5.

A hint that has since been confirmed by co-creator John Hoffman to Deadline: "I think she's the great tease at the end of the finale and a little bit of an intriguing bump forward." Adding: "But beyond that, it's a world opened up potentially that we haven't talked about too much yet in New York, so she holds a lot of intrigue."

There’s even more to discuss though - murders aside. The finale saw Oliver and Loretta wed, though Loretta’s TV show has relocated to New Zealand, and so did she. Leaving Oliver behind at The Arconia with his friends, they agree that they’ll make their unconventional relationship work, even with distance. Given this, we’d assume this won’t be the last we see of the newlywed, Loretta Durkin-Putnam.

Then, there’s the shocking return of Jan Bellows (Amy Ryan), who despite being imprisoned in season 1, saves the trio by shooting and killing Marshall P. Pope, aka Rex Bailey, aka Sazz’s killer. Though she appeared earlier in the season, Charles was also hallucinating Sazz, so it wasn’t clear whether he had imagined Jan, too. Fortunately, she wasn’t a pigment of his imagination and consequently killed to avenge Sazz, her friend after a visit in prison in season 2, and save Charles (and Mabel and Oliver). But, as the police took her away in handcuffs, Jan said: “It’s not goodbye, Charles. It never is with us. We’re endgame.” To this, we’d predict, that we haven’t said farewell to Jan after all.

Only Murders in the Building season 4 also concluded with the movie still filming. So, a return of Eva Longoria, Zach Galifinakis, and Eugene Levy could well be on the cards for season 5. Plus, with another murder in the building, we’d expect the return of the usual stalwart Arconia residents (who haven’t been murdered, yet) returning to aid in whatever way they can, especially now it involves a man who has helped them all before.

While we also met some of the unusual residents of the West Tower in season 4, it’s not clear whether they’ll be returning to help with Lester’s death, or return to their lesser-known side of The Arconia.

And when it comes to the recurring role of Paul Rudd - first as actor Ben Glenroy in seasons 2 and 3, and then as Ben’s stunt double, Glen Stubbins in season 4, co-creator John Hoffman told TVLine: “ The fact that he likes the show as much as he does, and keeps at it with us, moves me to the point of making terrible choices. Dramatically, I can’t take anything off the table for him or for Jane Lynch. Or anyone else, frankly.”

Only Murders in the Building: future seasons?

There's hope for more seasons of Only Murder in the Building (Image credit: Hulu)

Back in season 3, showrunner John Hoffman told Screen Rant he was very eager to return for many seasons: “This is one of those shows where everyone involved in it is so happy doing it – and I know I speak for the trio and everyone else.”

Continuing: “I hope it gives it a good long life.” While three seasons have now turned into five, we can only hope for more.

Hoffman certainly has ambition for more, if Hulu wants it. During an interview with Variety, he said: “Once you get over the hump of how many murders can happen in one building, you’re really stepping back and looking ultimately at the true original concept, which is three lonely people in New York City brought together by a common interest in true crime.

"Hopefully, we’ve tethered out our stories and hit reflections of things that we all recognize about life and death — and being that close to it and examining and investigating and following that, and then reflecting back. All of that feels very fertile always, so I’ll go as long as they’ll have us.”

There’s no official news past season 5 though. With a swift renewal in the midst of season 4, if we’re going to hear more, we imagine it’ll be after season 5 has got underway.

For more Hulu and Disney+ TV-based coverage, read our guides on Shōgun season 2, Daredevil: Born Again season 2, and X-Men 97 season 2.

The first two episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 dropped on Prime Video last week, and boy did they come hurtling out of the gate with problems.

Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) didn’t manage to graduate on time, then proposed haphazardly to Belly (Lola Tung) without a ring, but has also cheated on her in the interim… twice. Add to this the fact that Belly’s brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) woke up from a coma after being in a car accident on exactly the same day Jeremiah chose to propose, and it’s a wonder the hit Prime Video show had anywhere to go after here.

But luckily for us, it does. The main crux of the show is the love triangle that develops between Belly, Jeremiah and his brother Conrad (Christopher Briney) during one of 16-year-old Belly’s annual family summer trips to Cousins Beach. Fast forward three seasons and Conrad is having to watch his brother badly propose to the love of his life, even though Jeremiah is absolutely tanking, if you were measuring the two against each other.

Sadly for Belly, making stupid decisions as a kid is par for the course, with the aftermath of the proposal playing out in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 3. Unsurprisingly, nobody is that impressed with Belly’s news, but it’s Conrad’s reaction that’s set to become this week’s viral internet meme.

Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 3 leaves us all feeling bad for Conrad

Christopher Briney as Conrad in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3. (Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

I mean, just look at that face. When Belly shows Conrad her engagement ring, which frankly needs a magnifying glass in order to be seen with the naked eye, Conrad can’t hide his emotions on his face. If anything, it’s the perfect microcosm for the wider issues at play, with Conrad helplessly watching Belly run towards half-hearted efforts she doesn’t deserve. It’s Conrad’s big return to the series as well, and this is the news he’s met with? Can’t the boy catch a break?

What’s even worse is how abundantly clear it is that Conrad isn’t over Belly in the slightest. He’s come back in time (just) for his mother’s memorial garden ceremony to find the girl he loves announcing she’s getting married in a few weeks time. He’d previously been open to the idea of “exposure therapy” to get over Belly, equally being willing to take on a job at Garth’s (Jeremiah Fisher) lab. But now his world has been rocked so horribly, will any of his plans actually happen?

I doubt we’ll even start to scratch the surface of this in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 4, with Conrad’s fight to win Belly back likely stretching over the course of the season. There’s no point in assuming any therapy will work on him – not only is he in too deep, but that doesn’t make for a compelling storyline – so the heat will be on Conrad to make Jeremiah accountable for his disappointing actions. If I was Belly I’d ditch them both and just lie on the beach all day, but she won’t figure out life is much more peaceful when she prioritizes herself until she’s at least 30.

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