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As public perception continues to sour, and private businesses ban smart glasses from their events and premises, it feels like the writing might be on the wall for Meta’s Ray-Bans. At least as we know them.

Even without many laws changing, camera-equipped specs are becoming increasingly difficult to wear, especially if you don’t want to be branded a perv or a creep.

Because of this changing tide against Meta Ray-Bans and others, the most recent episode of the TechRadar podcast is a smart glasses special. Podcast regulars Josie, Axel and myself brought Tom’s Guide’s Jason England on board to discuss the issues facing smart specs and the risks they pose — while also acknowledging how useful the tech can be when used appropriately.

We rounded things up with a quick discussion on what smart glasses could do to solve their privacy problems and clean up their public perception. I want to continue that chat here with you, our readers and viewers.

Below I’ll outline four possible paths forward, followed by a quick poll asking you which path you believe we should take.

1. Keep cameras in glasses

(Image credit: Meta)

If you are a smart glasses maker like Samsung, Meta or one of the many others, this would likely be your preferred approach: keep calm, and carry on churning out glasses with cameras (or AirPods if a recent Apple leak is to be believed).

The backlash against surveillance tech is at a fever pitch right now, but public outrage has a way of waxing and waning. Smart specs have been wildly popular before, who says they won’t go back to being mega popular in a few months?

This process could also be sped along by rolling out new privacy policies, or software which aims to mitigate the way smart specs with cameras are misused. If new useful features are released, marketing could also help to make smart glasses look more essential, and get their detractors to overlook the glaring privacy issues they’re so bothered about right now.

For current smart specs users it means their Meta Ray-Bans would still be completely usable, and fully functioning — allowing them to rely on the first-person content capture capabilities for recording memories, informing their AI, or for accessible needs that the glasses are offering the visually impaired.

It’s also unclear how effective a ban could be if it wasn’t universal.

Countries like China already feature major public surveillance and tight regulation of what people can share online, so the downsides of camera glasses aren’t as strongly felt there. As such they’re less likely to see a ban. Bad actors could import glasses from countries where they are sold and attempt to dodge restrictions from brands who might not be as willing to address concerns as Meta has been with its various safety updates.

On the flip side, not banning features in some way means that the privacy issues persist — plenty of folks could still be being recorded without their knowledge or consent. This could lead to serious public consequences if people take action into their own hands, or heavy-handed legal consequences if governments decide to ban smart glasses in all their forms to avoid any possible workarounds — depriving us of the useful features XR specs could offer in all aspects of our life (if the technology was allowed to develop).

2. Ban smart glasses outright

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Rather than waiting and letting things continue before taking action, we could ban smart specs right now.

Of course this would limit access to the useful features they provide, and would see people’s purchases become paperweights, though it would tackle the privacy problems head on.

I’ll address banning simply camera glasses below, but the one advantage of this approach is it also hits glasses with microphones that could be used as a form of covert surveillance technology. While audio is often less invasive than video or images, privacy advocates would argue any kind of surveillance is a terrible thing.

As I touched on above, removing smart specs entirely would deprive us of some potentially exceptionally useful and awesome tech that could provide benefits to our work, our ability to travel and communicate, and our play.

However, smart specs are also causing plenty of headaches. This approach would make them all go away if it proves effective.

3. Ban cameras in glasses

(Image credit: Future / Cas Kulk)

A less heavy handed approach would be to merely ban cameras, but allow glasses with displays, speakers and/or microphones only to continue.

This would allow smart specs to offer audio or screen-based AI assistance, to play music, let you watch a TV or film, or perform a host of tasks that don’t depend on computer vision.

Though a lack of cameras would limit the tech’s immediate usefulness quite considerably. I’ve touched on this already, but the snapper can provide context to the AI when you ask it questions about a landmark or sign you can see, it can offer hands-free recording capabilities many like to use while on vacation or while doing an action sport, and it has been used as an accessibility tool by the visually impaired to allow their smart specs to describe the world around them.

The advantage to smart spec makers is this approach could see them dodge an outright ban on glasses wearables — cameras or not. It may also keep a door open for a safer camera-equipped version of smart glasses to materialize; a model that addresses the privacy concerns of the original.

Of course, this wouldn’t remove the risks of covert audio recording posed by smart specs, though you could argue that the dangers posed by such recordings is less severe, especially since plenty of other accessible covert tools (even a smartphone) could be used to privately record sound.

4. Keep the cameras, ban video recording

(Image credit: Meta)

The issue with camera glasses isn’t necessarily that they can record, it’s that they can record relatively discreetly. While Meta’s glasses do have a recording light it’s easy to miss if you don’t know to look for it.

For photos, an obvious solution would be to require the specs to play an audible camera snapping effect whenever a shot is captured. Meta’s specs can already do this, and it's a requirement of smartphone cameras already in countries like Japan.

Because Meta glasses don’t have zoom capabilities you can’t take useful photos from very far away, meaning an audible effect like this would be heard by anyone you attempt to photograph covertly. They could then confront you about being a creep in much the same way someone obviously taking photos with a phone or camera could be addressed in the moment.

Video is a little tougher to make obvious and still usable in the end result. An audible effect would need to play throughout the recording which could spoil the clip’s audio. An alternative could be to make the recording light brighter and have it pulse to make it a little more obvious, but it still may not be completely noticeable. So you could simply ban video recording with smart glasses.

This halfway house would allow the specs to sense the world around them — facilitating AI and accessibility tools — but could greatly restrict the harm they could cause.

The downside is hackers could modify the cameras to facilitate video recording as all the hardware would still be there. That said, tamper-proof measures could mitigate this risk.

Now it’s time to have your say. These four possibilities are somewhat simplistic, but I think they capture four general strategies we could deploy to ‘solve’ our smart glasses problem. Let me know which you like best, or feel free to comment below with your thoughts!

No matter if it's your first or fourth time here, thanks for checking out this week's TechRadar Crossword. Yes, I'm still having a lot of fun putting together these little puzzlers for you every Friday, so let's see how you get on with this latest grid-based arrangement of tech trivia.

TechRadar Crossword

Missed a previous puzzle? You can browse the archive and play all TechRadar Crosswords right here.

I try to mix a fairly broad range of tech subjects into each crossword to ensure there's a bit of variety, but it does require a lot of effort to stop myself from filling them with clues about gaming and movies — being the two biggest interests of mine.

I have, obviously, snuck a couple of clues in on those areas, given we technically cover them here at TechRadar in our gaming and streaming categories, but I'm very cautious that I don't just fill the grid with clues in those areas.

Reading more of the site has helped me broaden my horizons a little when coming up with clues, too. I've taken in more of the news we've covered and features we've written about AI, cameras, electric vehicles, and, relevant to this week's puzzle, solar panels, for example.

The latter is most interesting, given the news that plug-in options will soon be available to buy in the UK before the end of the month. It's got me thinking about whether I could add some to my home, if it'll be possible to find any of the limited stock.

Solar panel stock tracker incoming? Quite possibly. Enjoy the puzzle and I'll catch you soon.

• Early Beats retail listing pages have been spotted by Redditors
• New headphones are set to be called the Beats 360
• There's no word on a potential release date

It's been several months since Beats' anticipated new over-ear headphones were teased at the 2026 World Cup, and all we've had to go on since then is fan speculation as to when they could launch. But now, finally, we have more to go on.

Over on Reddit (which is where all the Beats noise has been happening), a thread has emerged thanks to some users finding early listing pages for the new headphones on Amazon and certain other retailers. Pictures and descriptions are being shared which reveal loads about the new cans.

The headline news is that we know the (likely) name: Beats 360. In the audio world, the name '360' is usually used to refer to spatial audio (as in Sony 360 Reality Audio, for example), pointing to a potential selling point for these new cans.

Image-wise, these match what we saw on Lamine Yamal and Lee Kang-in during the soccer tournament, even down to the Shrek-colored lime green option the latter was seen with.

If you haven't seen them, the headphones look to have a thin headband with a soft pad, and circular cups with a protective material. They're a far cry from the generic headphone look many other companies go for, and look like more svelte versions of the AirPods Max 2.

However, that comparison may not go as far as you'd hope...

Listings tell us what's missing

(Image credit: Future)

Many Redditors have noticed that the Beats 360 listing makes no mention of Apple's H2 chip, which many were hoping would show up in the headphones. This offers advanced ANC, battery life efficiency and top-tier DSP capabilities.

The listings suggest that the Beats 360 have "1.75x more noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro", but it's not quite clear what that actually means, since ANC can't be quantified that cleanly. Is that a better handling of loud sounds? Or an improved capability with low, consistent rumbles? Or, perhaps, a meaningless number?

The Beats 360 apparently have interchangeable cup cushions and headband pads, so you can swap colors or, perhaps, materials (though the latter is speculation). Beats calls these its first cans designed to survive sweat and water, with an IPX4 rating.

Also in the listings, an "all-day battery life" is mentioned, even when you're listening with ANC. However, brands use "all-day" to refer to a wide range of figures (some count the working day, others a literal 24-hour day), so this doesn't give us much to go on.

Many of the listings share a price, which looks to be around $299 / £330 (there's no Aussie listings, but that converts to around AU$700). Take these with a grain of salt, though. In early listings, we often see placeholder prices listed before the actual ones are confirmed.

These listing sites give us a huge look at the Beats 360, even more than we'd seen from World Cup glimpses. And the fact that these pages are live suggests that the new headphones might be along before too long, defying the aforementioned speculation about a 2027 release.

• The price and release date for the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition have seemingly leaked
• Reliable leaker 'billbil-kun' says it will cost around $899.99 (roughly £660 / AU$1,255)
• It will reportedly launch on November 27

After the price and release date for Microsoft's 25th anniversary Xbox Wireless Controller were leaked earlier this week, details of the matching limited edition Xbox Series X have also surfaced.

As per the reliable 'billbil-kun' of Dealabs, who has accurately reported on new and unannounced hardware in the past, the upcoming Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition, which sports a translucent green shell, will cost a whopping €899.99.

This translates to an estimated $899.99 price point in the US (roughly £660 / AU$1,255), and is about €100 / $100 more than the regular 1TB Xbox Series X with a disc drive.

When Microsoft announced the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition and the matching Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition in June, it said that both would be together in select markets as a limited-edition collection in November.

Now, billbil-kun claims the console will release on November 27, which aligns well with Black Friday.

It's unclear when pre-orders begin, but the leaker recently reported that the matching controller's October 20 release date and $79.99 / £74.99 / €79.99 price point will be revealed at Gamescom 2026, with pre-orders beginning on August 26.

Both the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition and the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition are translucent "OG green," inspired by the original Xbox, and feature light-up buttons and "Xbox 25" branding.

After the Xbox Series X25 reveal during Xbox Fanfest at Summer Game Fest 2026, free consoles were reportedly given to fans in attendance.

TeamGroup is a name we see often in budget and mid-range memory kits, and this one's worth a look if you need a DDR5 upgrade amid sky-high component costs. Right now the TeamGroup's 16GB DDR5-6000 CL38 kit has dropped to $215 (was $248) at Newegg with code BTSF3667.

It's already reduced down to $240, but Newegg's coupon code shaves an extra $25 off the price at a time where we're seeing sharp increases on RAM pricing across the board driven by AI data center demand.

DDR5-6000 RAM kit 16GB (2x8GB): was $247.49 now $214.99
16GB (2x8GB) DDR5-6000 (PC5-48000) kit with CL38 timings, 1.25V operating voltage, and support for both AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 profiles. Black heat spreader design, non-ECC unbuffered. For the full discount, use code BTSF3667. View Deal

Why we recommend it

TeamGroup has a solid track record in the budget-to-mid-range memory space, and this kit covers the fundamentals: DDR5-6000 speeds with CL38 timings, a common and well-supported configuration for both Intel and AMD platforms, plus AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 profile support so you're not stuck manually tuning timings.

The bigger context here matters more than usual. DDR5 prices have risen dramatically since late 2025, driven by AI data centers absorbing memory manufacturing capacity that would otherwise go toward consumer RAM. Kits that cost $80 to $120 a year ago now regularly run $350 or more for larger capacities, so a straightforward 16GB kit at this price, while not a steep discount, is landing in a market where prices have been climbing rather than falling.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the TeamGroup DDR5-6000 kit if...

You need to build or upgrade a system now and can't wait out the current memory shortage, you want a straightforward DDR5-6000 kit without RGB lighting driving up the price, or your motherboard is confirmed to support EXPO or XMP 3.0 at this speed.

❌ Skip the TeamGroup DDR5-6000 kit if...

Your current build doesn't strictly need more memory right now, you're hoping for a return to pre-shortage DDR5 pricing (that's not coming soon), or you'd rather wait and watch prices given how volatile this market has been.

Price Context & Historical Value

What makes this worth flagging at all is the broader memory market: DDR5 prices have roughly tripled to quadrupled since late 2025 due to the ongoing shortage, and industry analysts don't expect meaningful relief until 2027. In that context, this isn't a dramatic deal, but it's also not an inflated price relative to where DDR5 currently sits.

For more savings, every week we track the best RAM deals on the market.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

It's worth checking your motherboard's QVL or compatibility list before buying, since DDR5-6000 speeds aren't guaranteed on every platform without manual tuning. Given how volatile memory pricing has been, it's also worth comparing against other retailers before checking out, since prices on kits like this one can shift day to day.

Also consider

32GB Manta XFinity RGB DDR5 RAM: was $450.69 now $399.99
This is a 32GB dual-channel kit comprising two 16GB DDR5-6000 modules. It runs at CL30 with 30-38-38-76 timings and supports both Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO profiles, making it easier to run the memory at its advertised settings on compatible systems. Use promo code BTSF3652 for the full discount.View Deal

Vengeance RGB DDR5-6000 32GB (2x16GB): was $479.59 now $469.59
Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 memory delivers fast performance and eye-catching lighting for modern desktops. This 32GB kit includes two 16GB modules running at 6000MT/s with CAS latency 38 and 1.35V operating voltage. The speed helps keep demanding applications and multitasking responsive, while customizable RGB lighting adds vibrant style to any build. View Deal

The G.SKILL Flare X5 DDR5-6000 16GB kit delivers fast, stable performance with CL36 timings and AMD EXPO support. 16GB capacity, low-profile heat spreaders, and proven reliability make it an easy upgrade today for builders facing today’s volatile memory market.View Deal

• See other memory deals at Newegg.

• Nikkei Inc's 2025 report is in, and it shows a growth in global camera shipments
• Canon extends its lead at the top, while Fujifilm leapfrogs Nikon to #3
• Fujifilm shipments have more than doubled since 2023

The global shipment numbers for digital cameras sold in 2025 are in from Nikkei Inc (see boxout) and they make for encouraging reading for the industry as a whole. But the news is particularly good if you're a fan of Canon or Fujifilm.

What is Nikkei?

Nikkei Inc is Japan’s premier financial media group and the country’s equivalent to the Wall Street Journal or Financial Times. Its annual Major Products and Services Share survey is a definitive industry report tracking global market share across dozens of tech and manufacturing sectors — including digital cameras. These estimates are considered the gold standard for global accuracy, and its digital cameras data provides breakdowns by brand.

The biggest growth in shipments since the dawn of the smartphone was led by Canon once more, which tops the table with 4.5 million units (a huge increase of approximately one million more units year-on-year), while Sony maintained second place with 2.42 million shipments, following a much smaller increase.

It's a change in rankings, however, that catches the eye — Fujifilm leapfrogged Nikon to complete the top three; while Nikon's shipments saw a small dip, Fujifilm's grew significantly to surpass one million units, shipping 1.16 million versus 740,000 the year before (and 430,000 units the year before that).

Panasonic also enjoyed a major leap in shipments for 2025 to keep hold of position #5, while Ricoh Imaging stole sixth from OM Digital, thanks to the launch of its flagship premium compact, the GR IV.

You'll notice there's no mention of Leica or Hasselblad. That's because the numbers are for Japanese camera manufacturers only, which do in fact make up the vast majority of global digital camera sales.

I've listed the data for the last three years, below, but what can we can learn from the numbers?

The camera shipments data

The brands are listed below in order of camera shipments (and market share), with the year-on-year change in market share for 2025 in bold. You can find this data compiled at Mirrorless Rumors.

2025 ranking

Canon – 4.5 million units (45.7%, +2.5%)
Sony – 2.42 million units (24.6%, -3.9%)
Fujifilm– 1.16 million units (11.8%, +2.8%)
Nikon – 880,000 units (8.9%, -2.8%)
Panasonic – 430,000 units (4.4%, +1%)
Ricoh Imaging – 210,000 units (2.1%, +1.3%)
OM Digital – 150,000 units (1.5%, -0.4%)

2024 ranking

Canon – 3,53 million units (43.2%)
Sony – 2.33 million units (28.5%)
Nikon – 960,000 units (11.7%)
Fujifilm – 740,000 units (9.0%)
Panasonic – 280,000 units (3.4%)
OM Digital – 160,000 units (1.9%)
Ricoh Imaging – 70,000 units (0.8%)

2023 ranking

Canon – 3.34 million units (46.5%)
Sony – 2 million units (27.9%)
Nikon – 810,000 units (11.3%)
Fujifilm – 430,000 units (6.0%)
Panasonic – 260,000 units (3.6%)
OM Digital – 180,000 units (2.5%)
Ricoh Imaging – 60,000 units (0.8%)

What the data tells us (and what it doesn't)

To start with, it's important to understand that the numbers are for shipments only, and do not indicate revenue. Some brands specialize in pricey high-end gear, others cover a broader spectrum, meaning revenue rankings could be different.

For shipments, however, Canon remains the #1 camera brand, enjoying a huge growth in shipments for 2025. It covers more categories than any rival; DSLR, mirrorless and compacts, and has options for all budgets and experience levels, from the PowerShot V1 to the EOS R100 and EOS 5D Mark IV. Sony, meanwhile, has maintained its position in second place.

When we get to the rest, the numbers can be skewed somewhat year-on-year given the smaller numbers, based on busier or quieter product cycles. For example, Ricoh saw a big bump in shipments in 2025 with the launch of the GR IV, whereas it had no flagship new products the previous two years.

Nikon actually had a decent year, with its TechRadar award-winning Z5 II. Even still, it has plateaued somewhat in recent years, now with a shift in focus to cinema gear following its acquisition of RED which may have acted as a potential shipments handbrake in the immediate.

There's no denying Fujifilm's impressive growth, however. Its numbers go beyond individual models, and point to an overarching demand for retro gear, sparked by the success of its own X100 series, especially the X100VI from 2024. Going from 430,000 units in 2023, to 740,000 in 2024 and 1.16 million in 2025 is remarkable, especially with global component shortages and delays to stock (and those numbers do not take into account Instax).

The X-E5, one of Fujifilm's more recent efforts (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Will the retro boom, which is also seen in Fujifilm's mirrorless cameras such as the X-E5, continue? 2026 has been a pretty quiet year so far for new products — in fact, no new Fujifilm or Nikon models so far — so I'm not so sure.

As a longtime Nikon fan, I'm a little worried. Its last new camera was the Zr from September 2025, and the Z5 II before that in April. It has seemingly abandoned beginner cameras and its Coolpix brand, too. Sony has arguably had the strongest year so far with the new A7R VI, FX5, and the revival of its popular bridge camera series with the new RX10 V, so I expect it to only extend its lead above Fujifilm.

What do you make of the shipment numbers? Which camera brand do you shoot with? Make sure you vote in our poll and have your say below.

• Huntress spotted a ClickFix campaign targeting security pros via fake conference invites
• Victims tricked into pasting code that installs AMOS infostealer on macOS
• If lured, isolate systems, reset credentials, rotate secrets, and review cryptocurrency wallets

Cybercriminals are targeting security professionals with a highly tailored ClickFix campaign in an attempt to get their computers infected with infostealer malware, experts have warned.

An active campaign against people who have attended, or have a history of attending, various cybersecurity conferences such as Black Hat, or DEF CON has been detetced by security researchers Huntress, who were targets themselves.

The attack starts on X, where the threat actor uses a fake account to interact with people visiting and sharing content from these conferences. After establishing rapport, they move into DMs, claiming they’re organizing a conference of their own, and sharing a Google Docs file containing “more info” with the victim.

Follow-up attack

Here is where the attackersy go for the ClickFix attack. The document comes with a vertical sidebar, apparently as a security feature that keeps the contents of the file encrypted. The victim is given a decryption code to enter, but it returns an error and offers a solution - to bring up the Terminal and copy/paste a piece of code.

From here, it’s the usual ClickFix practice: the victim ends up downloading and running AMOS, a notorious Mac infostealer capable of grabbing browser information, cookies, keychain data, cryptocurrency wallet information, Telegram files, and more. The Windows variant did not work when Huntress tried to analyze it, but it’s safe to assume the end goal is the same.

Huntress also found that this is not where the attack ends. If the victim does not install the infostealer, the threat actor will follow up with a different document, this time pretending to be for Dropbox and working only with the desktop app. Of course, the download button leads straight back to the infostealer.

The researchers shared a full list of Indicators of Compromise (IoC) which can be found on this link. They also advised anyone who interacted with this kind of lure to isolate the system from the network, collect relevant forensic evidence, and “consider reimaging the system”.

“Assume that credentials on the system have been compromised”, they said. “Revoke active sessions, reset passwords, and rotate API keys or any other secrets that may reside on the system. Review cryptocurrency wallets as well, if present.”

Best Buy has launched a massive week-long Anniversary sale, and its discounts remind me of its upcoming (and popular) Labor Day sale.

• Shop Best Buy's full Anniversary sale.

Best Buy is a popular destination during Labor Day thanks to record-low prices on best-selling tech and appliances. I've been impressed with Best Buy's anniversary sale, with record-low prices on this year's best-selling TVs, Apple devices, laptops, headphones, and appliances.

You can find first-time significant discounts on new releases, like LG's 65-inch C6 OLED TV and Apple's AirPods Pro 3. You can also find cheap laptops, with prices starting at just $189, and a range of TVs on sale, including 4K, QLED and OLED displays from Samsung, LG and TCL.

Keep in mind that these are limited-time offers and Best Buy's Anniversary sale ends this Sunday at Midnight. You can score record-low prices right now and enjoy your upcoming Labor Day holiday.

Best Buy Anniversary sale – quick links

• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & iPads from $99
• Appliances: up to 50% off Dyson, Ninja & Shark
• Cameras: up to $1,000 off Canon & GoPro
• Gaming: PS5 & Switch games from $14.99
• Headphones: up to $160 off Bose & Sony
• Laptops: from $119
• Phones: up to $250 off Samsung, Apple & Google
• Smartwatches: up to $250 off Apple & Samsung
• Soundbars: up to $1,000 off Sonos & Samsung
• TVs: from $69.99
• Vacuums: save up to $450 on Dyson & Shark

Best Buy Anniversary sale — my top deal picks

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $189.99
Apple's newest premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds really are 100% flagship audio and the noise-cancelling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods, and the best price this year outside of Prime Day.View Deal

55-inch F70 Series 4K QLED Mini-LED Fire TV: was $699.99 now $249.99
Insignia's F70 Series QLED TV boasts Mini-LED and Quantum Dot technology, delivering bold, vibrant colors and lifelike images. You also get Dolby Atmos Audio, smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV.View Deal

The newest Ring Battery Doorbell Plus model drops to under $60 in the latest Best Buy sale. Its camera features 1536p resolution, night vision with color, and an improved motion sensor. It also includes an increased head-to-toe field of view of 150 by 150 degrees, so you can get a fuller picture of who's at your door.View Deal

IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: was $419 now $189
Display: 14 inches
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB

This super-cheap Lenovo Chromebook is a very basic device that's best suited to light use and schoolwork, but it's a bargain at this low price from Best Buy. The lean ChromeOS operating system gets more from low-end components, but it relies on you using more web-based applications such as Google Docs. And while it will struggle with anything beyond basic tasks, this also ensures exceptional all-day battery life, making it a strong portable option at a very affordable price.View Deal

75-inch S5 4K LED Fire TV: was $649.99 now $399.99
The TCL 75-inch S5 4K LED TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, HDR10, and HLG, while there’s Dolby Atmos sound and a built-in subwoofer. It also has a dedicated Game Mode for lower input lag and latency, and Motion Rate 240 technology for smoother motion. It’s all wrapped up in a highly attractive price tag for a screen of this size.View Deal

If you want to get your hands on Apple's latest and greatest smartwatch, the retailer has a $100 discount on the Apple Watch Series 11. The thinnest Apple Watch yet, with a wraparound LTP3 OLED display, it's a great-looking watch with Apple Intelligence-powered smarts and a boosted battery compared to previous Apple Watches, clocking in at 24 hours of average use.

Read our full Apple Watch Series 11 reviewView Deal

77-inch B5 OLED 4K Smart TV: was $2999.99 now $1399.99
The LG B5 is this year's best budget OLED TV, and Best Buy has a massive 53% discount on the 77-inch model. Released last year, the LG B5 is TechRadar's best budget OLED TV and was awarded four and a half stars in our review. The LG display delivers an exceptional picture with brilliant colors and sharp contrast. You also get excellent gaming features, thanks to the four HDMI 2.1 ports and new AI tools, including AI Search, AI Concierge, and an improved AI Chatbot.

Read our full LG B5 reviewView Deal

WH-1000XM5: was $398 now $249.99
Quite simply, the best in Sony's class-leading wireless over-ear lineup. The older XM4 headphones were outstanding, the XM3 cans before it were excellent, and it'll come as little surprise to know that Sony's XM5 proposition is also incredibly hard to beat – especially with a whopping $150 off. They don't fold up like the XM4, but, as a quick glance at our Sony WH-100XM5 review proves, there's not much else to pick fault with. View Deal

Gen5outsize Absolute: was $1149.99 now $699.99
The Gen5outsize is a scaled-up version of the Gen5detect, with a larger dust cup and wider floorhead. This model is designed for larger homes and has the same high-tech features as its regular-sized sibling, including real-time dust reports and automatic suction adjustment. Today's deal from Best Buy is a record-low price.View Deal

Hero 13 Black: was $479.99 now $354.99
Here's a super-tempting record-low price for one of the best action camera bundles in the world right now. The camera offers an impressive 5.3K video resolution inside a rugged and completely waterproof body. A sweet deal for your remaining summer adventures.View Deal

QD50 58-inch Hi-QLED 4K TV: was $399.99 now $149.99
I can't speak too much about the overall quality of this TV given we haven't had extensive testing time, but I can't deny that it's a super low price for a TV of this size. It also sports the budget version of Hisense's QLED tech, which offers superior brightness and more vivid colors, although it's not as powerful as the premium displays. Still, this is a big and cheap TV that will be ideal for general everyday viewing and streaming for someone who isn't too bothered about getting the very best picture possible.View Deal

Best Buy Anniversary sale TV deals

F20 32-inch HD Fire TV: was $129.99 now $69.99
It's one of the smallest and cheapest TVs you can buy, but if that's all you need, then this Insignia F20 is very hard to beat. Definitely don't expect the best picture quality or the fastest performance, but if you just need a display for infrequent streaming in a kid's room, the bedroom, or kitchen, then it's up to the job — and it doesn't cost very much at all.View Deal

55-inch F50 Series 4K Smart Fire TV: was $349.99 now $199.99
Get the best-selling Insignia 55-inch F50 Series 4K TV for an incredible $199.99. The Insignia F50 Series TV features 4K HD resolution, DTS Studio Sound, smart capabilities with Fire OS, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV.View Deal

55-inch F70 Series 4K QLED Mini-LED Fire TV: was $699.99 now $249.99
Insignia's F70 Series QLED TV boasts Mini-LED and Quantum Dot technology, delivering bold, vibrant colors and lifelike images. You also get Dolby Atmos Audio, smart capabilities with the Fire operating system, and a voice remote with hands-free Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your TV.View Deal

QD50 58-inch Hi-QLED 4K TV: was $399.99 now $149.99
A 58-inch QLED TV for $149.99 is an incredible deal, especially since this is a new 2026 model. While the Hisense QD50 isn't a premium display, it offers QLED technology, which delivers superior brightness and more vivid colors. You're also getting Dolby Vision, Game Mode Plus, and Roku's streaming platform.View Deal

65-inch C6 OLED TV: was $2699.99 now $1799.99
The LG C6 is the successor to our best-rated TV, LG's C5 OLED, and it has a whopping $900 discount at Best Buy's sale. The 2026 OLED TV delivers more accurate, brighter colors than the C5 with powerful contrast thanks to its new Alpha 11 AI processor. The C6 also includes impressive gaming features and LG's intuitive smart TV platform.

Read our full LG C6 reviewView Deal

65-inch LS03FA The Frame QLED TV: was $1599.99 now $999.99
If you've been eyeing Samsung's gorgeous The Frame QLED TV, Best Buy has the 65-inch model on sale for its lowest price yet. The 2025 Samsung Frame TV features Pantone art-validated colors that deliver lifelike images. The display now comes with Streams, a complimentary set of artwork streamed from the Samsung Art Store.View Deal

65-inch G6 OLED 4K TV: was $3399.99 now $2999.99
The LG G6 is a pricey TV, but this flagship OLED delivers superb picture quality and unbeatable gaming performance. It uses a new-gen Primary RGB Tandem 2.0 OLED panel and a new Alpha 11 AI Gen 3 processor to deliver a better bright-room viewing experience than the previous model. With four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting a full suite of features, the G6 is also a fantastic gaming display.

Read our full LG G6 reviewView Deal

75-inch S5 4K LED Fire TV: was $649.99 now $399.99
The TCL 75-inch S5 4K LED TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, HDR10, and HLG, while there’s Dolby Atmos sound and a built-in subwoofer. It also has a dedicated Game Mode for lower input lag and latency, and Motion Rate 240 technology for smoother motion. It’s all wrapped up in a highly attractive price tag for a screen of this size.View Deal

Best Buy has an impressive discount on Samsung's 2026 75-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K Smart TV. Perfect for watching football, Samsung's R85H Series delivers brilliant colors that come to life thanks to its Micro RGB technology and AI engine. Today's whopping $800 discount brings the price down to a record low.View Deal

77-inch B5 OLED 4K Smart TV: was $2999.99 now $1399.99
The LG B5 is this year's best budget OLED TV, and Best Buy has a massive 53% discount on the 77-inch model. Released last year, the LG B5 is TechRadar's best budget OLED TV and was awarded four and a half stars in our review. The LG display delivers an exceptional picture with brilliant colors and sharp contrast. You also get excellent gaming features, thanks to the four HDMI 2.1 ports and new AI tools, including AI Search, AI Concierge, and an improved AI Chatbot.

Read our full LG B5 reviewView Deal

77-inch Bravia XR8B Smart Google TV: was $2999.99 now $2499.99
If you're looking for a big-screen premium display to watch your favorite team, Sony's 77-inch Bravia XR8B OLED TV is now at a record-low price of $2,499.99. Sony's Bravia 8 features a sleek, slim design, a wide viewing angle, brilliant images with deep contrast, and cinematic sound across the entire screen.View Deal

85-inch QM7L Mini LED TV: was $2499.99 now $1699.99
A massive $800 price cut makes this 85-inch TCL QM7L a great choice if you're looking for a truly big-screen TV for football season. This 2026 model features impressive brightness and plenty of pop thanks to its Mini-LED display, and it also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K gaming. Of course, the main selling point here is this particular TV's massive 85-inch display, which will make it the centerpiece of any room. View Deal

Best Buy Anniversary sale Apple deals

AirTag 4 Pack (2nd generation): was $99 now $89
The best-selling Apple AirTag is on sale for $89 during Best Buy's Anniversary sale. A great way to track a child's backpack or luggage, the AirTag can be attached to anything you don't want to lose, and your iPhone can locate it.View Deal

Best Buy has Apple's AirPods 4 on sale for $99.99. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and feature Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You also get a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for USB-C for wireless charging.

Read our full AirPods 4 reviewView Deal

Best Buy's Tech Fest Sale also has the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation for $149.99, which is the best deal you can find right now. The AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation.

Read our full AirPods 4 with ANC reviewView Deal

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $189.99
Apple's newest premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds really are 100% flagship audio and the noise-cancelling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods, and the best price this year outside of Prime Day.View Deal

AirPods Max (USB-C): was $549 now $449.99
Best Buy has a $50 discount on the all-new AirPods Max 2, which is the lowest price we've seen. The over-ear headphones now include Apple's H2 chip, which delivers adaptive audio, personalized volume, and improved voice isolation for superior sound. You're also getting up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation and 20 hours of battery life.View Deal

Best Buy has a $30 discount on the already affordable Apple Watch SE 3, making it an excellent bargain at just $219. While the Apple Watch Series 11 currently holds the title of the best smartwatch for most people, the SE 3 is still packed with features, including activity, heart rate, and sleep tracking, plus an impressive 18 hours of battery life.

Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 reviewView Deal

If you want to get your hands on Apple's latest and greatest smartwatch, the retailer has a $100 discount on the Apple Watch Series 11. The thinnest Apple Watch yet, with a wraparound LTP3 OLED display, it's a great-looking watch with Apple Intelligence-powered smarts and a boosted battery compared to previous Apple Watches, clocking in at 24 hours of average use.

Read our full Apple Watch Series 11 reviewView Deal

iPad 11-inch (A16, 2025): was $449 now $399
Apple's latest base iPad is $50 off at Best Buy, bringing the price to $399. The biggest upgrade over the previous generation is the newer A16 chip for faster performance, and you'll also get double the standard storage (128GB instead of 64GB). Other features include a sharp 11-inch Liquid Retina display and solid 12MP front- and rear-facing cameras, making this iPad the best for casual streamers and scrollers.

Read our full 11-inch iPad A16 reviewView Deal

11-inch iPad Air M4,: was $749 now $649
The 2026 iPad Air M4 is now on sale at Best Buy for $649 - that's the lowest price we've seen since Apple's price hikes in June. The 11-inch iPad Air delivers laptop-like speed and power thanks to Apple's M4 processor, plus you're getting 12GB of RAM, Bluetooth 6 support, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

Read our full 11-inch iPad Air M4 reviewView Deal

Apple MacBook Neo at Best Buy: save when you trade-in and get a free $25 Starbucks gift card
If you're looking to upgrade and trade in your current laptop, this is a fantastic deal at Best Buy. Depending on your trade-in value, you can save big on Apple's MacBook Neo and get close to that Target scam price of $119. The retailer is also throwing in a free $25 Starbucks gift card with your purchase - no strings attached.View Deal

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5 Pro): was $2199 now $2049
For creative professionals, the 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the performance-driven M5 Pro chip is the one to choose. This beast flies through demanding workloads like video editing without skipping a beat.

Read our full MacBook Pro M5 reviewView Deal

Best Buy Anniversary sale laptop deals

IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: was $419 now $189
Display: 14 inches
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB

This super-cheap Lenovo Chromebook is a very basic device that's best suited to light use and schoolwork, but it's a bargain at this low price from Best Buy. The lean ChromeOS operating system gets more from low-end components, but it relies on you using more web-based applications such as Google Docs. And while it will struggle with anything beyond basic tasks, this also ensures exceptional all-day battery life, making it a strong portable option at a very affordable price.View Deal

Display - 14 inches
Processor - MediaTek Kompanio 540
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB

You don't always find a laptop with 8GB of memory for under $300, so this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook really stands out in Best Buy's latest sale. Other components are good for light use, but that bump to 8GB of RAM will really help with everyday performance and load times. It's still a fairly basic laptop, but with enough extra power to avoid dramatic slowdown when multitasking.View Deal

Chromebook Plus 516: was $479 now $349
Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel i3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB

This version of the Acer Chromebook Plus offers a solid amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel i3 processor, boosting performance, boot times and load times. Storage of 128GB is a bit underwhelming, but you do get a large and bright IPS display, and decent battery life of around 12 hours — that's more than enough to last a full working day. At a little under $350, it's a smart buy for school or college, or just as a home laptop for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

OmniBook X Flip: was $1199.99 now $749.99
Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB

This powerful and versatile HP OmniBook Flip offers impressive performance for the price, with powerful components such as a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM to boost performance, and a decent 1TB SSD for storage. You can comfortably handle everyday tasks, demanding work, video calls, media streaming and more with this laptop, all with the option to flip it around to a 16-inch touchscreen tablet when needed, too.View Deal

Apple MacBook Neo at Best Buy: save when you trade-in and get a free $25 Starbucks gift card
If you're looking to upgrade and trade in your current laptop, this is a fantastic deal at Best Buy. Depending on your trade-in value, you can save big on Apple's MacBook Neo and get close to that Target scam price of $119. The retailer is also throwing in a free $25 Starbucks gift card with your purchase - no strings attached.View Deal

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5 Pro): was $2199 now $2049
For creative professionals, the 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the performance-driven M5 Pro chip is the one to choose. This beast flies through demanding workloads like video editing without skipping a beat.

Read our full MacBook Pro M5 reviewView Deal

Best Buy Anniversary sale headphone deals

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are our pick for the best running headphones for endurance. So, if you’re running longer distances, these are excellent. The incredibly well-engineered earhook design delivers a secure fit, and the buds offer solid battery life and good sound quality. Today's deal from Best Buy is $20 shy of the record-low price.View Deal

Best Buy has Apple's AirPods 4 on sale for $99.99. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and feature Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You also get a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for USB-C for wireless charging.

Read our full AirPods 4 reviewView Deal

Best Buy's Tech Fest Sale also has the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation for $149.99, which is the best deal you can find right now. The AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation.

Read our full AirPods 4 with ANC reviewView Deal

AirPods Pro 3: was $249 now $189.99
Apple's newest premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds really are 100% flagship audio and the noise-cancelling quality is outstanding. Today's deal is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods, and the best price this year outside of Prime Day.View Deal

AirPods Max (USB-C): was $549 now $449.99
Best Buy has a $50 discount on the all-new AirPods Max 2, which is the lowest price we've seen. The over-ear headphones now include Apple's H2 chip, which delivers adaptive audio, personalized volume, and improved voice isolation for superior sound. You're also getting up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation and 20 hours of battery life.View Deal

OpenRun Pro 2: was $179.99 now $139.99
Treat yourself to one of the best pairs of bone conduction headphones at their lowest-ever price. Not only do they deliver outstanding sound, but they're also incredibly comfortable. They're highly recommended by our Fitness & Wearables Editor, Matt Evans, and are now more affordable.View Deal

WH-1000XM5: was $398 now $249.99
Quite simply, the best in Sony's class-leading wireless over-ear lineup. The older XM4 headphones were outstanding, the XM3 cans before it were excellent, and it'll come as little surprise to know that Sony's XM5 proposition is also incredibly hard to beat – especially with a whopping $150 off. They don't fold up like the XM4, but, as a quick glance at our Sony WH-100XM5 review proves, there's not much else to pick fault with. View Deal

Studio Pro Premium Wireless Over-Ear Headphones: was $199.95 now $169.95
Grab the highly-rated Beats Studio Pro for $169.95, which is just $10 shy of the all-time record-low price. They're gorgeous-looking, easy to use, and the sound is good (read about it in our Beats Studio Pro review), so if the lack of multipoint pairing (they do auto-switch with Apple devices, though) and wearer detection doesn't bother you, this is a very solid deal.View Deal

The summer bank holiday may still be over a week away, but that hasn't stopped Amazon from dropping an unusually high number of early deals across tech, appliances, essentials, toys, and more. I've searched through this weekend's latest batch of offers and picked out 26 of the best deals that I'd recommend.

• See all of this weekend's best deals at Amazon UK

Amazon devices make up a surprising number of this weekend's offers, so there are discounts available on Fire TV Sticks, Ring doorbells, and Fire tablets. Many of these have been cheaper during Prime Day and Black Friday, though, so while the savings of up to 40% are solid, we're far from record-low prices in some cases.

However, one standout deal is this Blink Outdoor 4 Camera and Video Doorbell for £34.99 (was £129.95). That's fantastic value for money for a beginner smart home bundle, and an easy-to-use first set if you're trying out the tech for the first time.

Other deals I like the look of include this Lenovo Chromebook Duet for £199.99 (was £349.99) that's ideal for students, the budget-friendly Fitbit Inspire 3 for £58.99 (was £84.99), and the fantastic Shokz Open Run Headphones for £94 (was £129.95).

You can check out all of my top picks below. While these offers aren't part of any official bank holiday sale at Amazon, I suspect that most will remain available over the next week or so, unless otherwise stated on the site.

26 best weekend deals at Amazon UK

Outdoor 4 Camera with Blink Video Doorbell: was £129.98 now £34.99
This excellent value bundle includes a Blink Outdoor 4 security camera and a Blink Video Doorbell at an incredibly low price. It's one of my top picks if you want to dabble with some cheap smart home tech. The 4th-generation outdoor security camera features two-way audio, a two-year battery life, and works with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control and interconnectivity with other smart devices. Meanwhile, the Blink Video Doorbell is a cheap and easy way to get alerts on your phone when motion is detected or when guests are at your door.View Deal

If you're in the UK, here's a strong saving on some of the best bone conduction headphones for runners. Even with age, they offer impressive audio quality, a comfortable fit and useful safety features. The Shokz OpenRun also boast an eight-hour battery life, but you can fast-charge them for ten minutes before going for a run in order to grab a full 90 minutes of juice. This deal is just £5 more than the previous record-low.View Deal

USB-C Charger Cable (2-Pack): was £7.99 now £5.99
Can you ever have too many USB cables? The box full of them under my desk would suggest you can. However, if you want a couple more to leave around the house or take with you when out and about, this pair of USB-C to USB-A cables from top brand Anker is now super-cheap.View Deal

The discount may be small, but the Fitbit Inspire 3 is an excellent value-for-money device for newcomers or those curious about the usefulness of exercise and health tracking. The tracker is packed with features and content that a beginner needs to get started, including heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, stress management scoring, and sleep tracking. Plus, the battery lasts for a lengthy ten days, it can receive notifications from your phone, and six months of Fitbit Premium are included for free.View Deal

Double Stack XL Air Fryer: was £269.99 now £189.99
Ninja's recent space-saving air fryer is just £5 more than its lowest-ever price, which is still a bit of a steal for the popular and well-rated appliance. We loved it at TechRadar, scoring it full marks in our Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer review and even putting it in our best air fryer buying guide. Well-built and great-looking on any countertop, it offers five cooking levels across two drawers and two racks, while the 9.5L capacity is ideal for medium to big families.View Deal

This Warmco Portable handheld fan is a slightly more high-tech and serious-looking device. We haven't reviewed it, but it does have good Amazon reviews and the price is right thanks to this latest deal. According to the user reviews, this looks to be a surprisingly powerful little fan that also offers excellent battery life if you need to take it with you when on the go.View Deal

The Philips OneBlade 360 is a quick, simple and affordable electric razor that's suitable for a wide variety of face and body grooming needs. This jam-packed bundle was a little cheaper over Black Friday, but today's offer is still a solid one. This bundle includes the handle, as well as a spare blade, a 5-in-1 adjustable comb, and a USB-A charging cable.View Deal

45W 10.000mAh Portable Charger: was £21.99 now £18.66
It's always handy to have a portable charger to take with you when you're on the go, and this 10000mAh one from popular brand Inui is a smart buy in my eyes. For starters, it's small and super-slim, making it easy to carry around in a pocket or slip into your bag, while still offering enough juice to charge some of the latest phones and tablets to above 50%. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A, meaning you can charge multiple devices at once. There's even a handy detachable USB-C cable included for free.View Deal

Display - 11 inches
Processor - MediaTek Kompanio 838
RAM - 4GB
Storage - 128GB

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a flexible 11-inch laptop and it's now available for a great price following this discount. In our very positive Lenovo Chromebook Duet review, we thought it offered an excellent balance between tablet portability and Chromebook flexibility. This version is a basic model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, so it's best for light use or school. However, the day-long battery life is a huge boost for those who are always on the go. View Deal

The Nespresso Vertuo Next is a small and convenient pod coffee machine — and it's now back to its lowest price this year. With multiple drinks in multiple sizes available at the touch of a button, it could be the ideal no-fuss pick for your room or shared kitchen.View Deal

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: was £49.99 now £26.99
Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is almost 50% off right now. Considering it's only a few quid more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get access to higher-resolution streaming — as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but this is more than enough to cover general everyday use.View Deal

Soundcore 2 Portable Speaker: was £39.99 now £24.97
If you want a cheap and basic Bluetooth speaker, then you can't go wrong with this Anker Soundcore for almost £25. Sure, it's not going to give you the biggest and boldest audio quality, but it's still a solid option at an affordable price. Battery life is an impressive 24 hours, too, so it's great to use around the home or take it with you when on the go.View Deal

Paper Pro Bundle: was £429 now £339.99
This bundle features the reMarkable Paper Pro tablet and Marker Plus Pen for a record-low price. We concluded that this is an "elegant writing tablet" in our four-star review, so it's hard to argue against it while it has such a strong discount. If you want an E-ink screen for your writing or sketching, then it's worth taking advantage of this deal while you can.View Deal

The Ring Outdoor Camera is back to its lowest-ever price this weekend at Amazon — the same offer we saw on Prime Day. The Alexa-enabled security camera features motion-activated notifications, two-way talk, and can be placed outdoors thanks to its weather-resistant design and a battery life of six to twelve months.View Deal

If you picked up those USB cables for cheap, you might also want a charger plug to use with them. There are several on sale right now at Amazon, but I like this Ugreen option the best. It's a 100W fast charger with three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, offering support for multiple phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds, and more, with the option to charge more than one at a single time with the correct arrangement. The small and compact design, is the ideal finishing touch.View Deal

iO Series 2: was £100 now £39.99
The iO range is usually a more expensive option in Oral-B's range of electric toothbrushes, but this is an excellent deal on an entry-level option that's also bundled with a few handy extras. It doesn't boast many high-end features, but it has the basic ones you really need to brush your teeth effectively and efficiently, including a two-minute timer and a visible pressure sensor. Plus, you get a refill holder and a travel case included for free.View Deal

Battery Video Doorbell: was £79.99 now £44.99
The latest wireless Ring Doorbell has been discounted to its lowest price since Prime Day. We've tested this and have been impressed with the video quality, high zoom, and night vision colour, but it's a shame that some of this device's value is only available with a Ring Protect subscription. However, if you're fine with paying for a subscription or already using a Ring-based home security system, it's worth the cost.View Deal

Get the highly rated Renpho smart scale on sale for under £20 this week. The smart scale has over 300,000 reviews on Amazon and holds a solid 4.6-star rating. You can use this smart device to measure your body fat ratio, BMI, and weight via the Renpho app.View Deal

Fire TV Stick HD: was £39.99 now £23.99
You can get the upgraded version of Amazon's standard Fire TV Stick for £23.99 right now — that's the best price since Prime Day. In our Fire TV Stick review, we found the original version was a cheap way to add essential smart features to your TV, including access to streaming apps in HD, Alexa voice controls, and the ability to control other smart home devices.View Deal

Perhaps you're moving into halls or other university accommodation and want an option to get some exercise in at home, well, this cheap pack of resistance bands could be useful. For under £10, you get five different-strength bands, ranging from light to XX-heavy, that can help with all sorts of different home training, yoga, pilates, and other exercises.View Deal

The Google Pixel 10a is our pick for the best bargain phone for its balance between affordability and functionality. It features a Tensor G4 processor and a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which offers solid performance at this price point. You also get a Gorilla Glass 7i screen for better drop protection and scratch resistance. For £100 off, you can get this smooth and affordable smartphone for its lowest price yet, or save another £50 on top if you're OK with 128GB of storage.View Deal

Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon: was £734.99 now £578.99
If you want one of the biggest building challenges Lego can provide, then this 7,542-piece Millennium Falcon from the Lego Star Wars Ultimate Collectors Series is the one for you. And with over 20% sliced off its original price tag, the Force is strong with this deal.View Deal

IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: was £249 now £179.99
Display: 14 inches
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 520
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB

This version of the Lenovo Chromebook offers a solid amount of power for the price. It includes a very basic MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, but you do get 8GB of RAM to boost performance, boot times, and load times. There's also 128GB of storage and battery life is good at around 13 hours on a single charge. That's more than enough to last a full day. At under £200, it's a bargain for school or college, or as a home laptop for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Core Mini Air Purifier: was £49.99 now £39.99
I actually bought a Levoit Core Mini for myself when moving into a new house that hadn't been lived in for a while to get rid of the dust and debris, and I also think it works as a great option for any allergy problems. What I like most is that it's small and quiet, so it is perfect for all sorts of spaces, such as the living room and bedroom. It's now also very affordable at 20% off.View Deal

The Ninja Blast Portable Blender is a powerful all-in-one portable blender — and it's now got a small price cut at Amazon. It has a 530ml container with a leakproof lid and sip spout, while the carry handle means you can take it with you to the gym or on your walks. It’s capable of blending ice and frozen fruit, as well as any liquids and powders, while one charge gives you up to two hours of battery life.View Deal

The Amazon Fire HD 10 sports one of the largest screens in the range, making content look nicer and easier to see. Plus, it has a convenient 5MP front-facing camera for taking calls as you move. It all comes together to provide a slightly faster and more appealing way to use a tablet, while still keeping costs down and providing that all-important Alexa support. Today's offer is a good price, but just know that it has been cheaper in the past.View Deal

I could just delete the addictive social media apps, but what’s the fun in that?

If you're headed off to college soon, a gaming laptop can be a wise investment. You'll not only have enough power to study or handle coursework, but you'll also have a machine that can tackle your game library out of hours.

Finding a decent deal is a little tough these days with the cost of components like RAM skyrocketing — there are still bargains, however. Both Walmart and Best Buy are in the final stretch of the back-to-school sales season, meaning students, teachers, and just about anyone can take advantage of various discounts.

I've been scanning retailer pages today, and I found five good value gaming laptops with varying prices for different budgets. While there are quite literally hundreds of laptops on sale this weekend, these are the handful that I'd consider personally.

A particular highlight has to be this heavily discounted Gigabyte A16 for $1,249 (was $1,849) at Walmart. A little pricey, perhaps, especially as a machine with an older chipset, but in terms of bang for the buck, this one takes some beating right now with its RTX 5070 graphics card and 32GB of RAM.

Another great choice is this Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S at Best Buy for $2,089 (was $2,199). You'll need seriously flush pockets to get this deal, but this configuration features an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, OLED display, and a Core Ultra 9 chipset, meaning it's very well-specced for the price. You can read more about this deal and other cheaper options just below.

This weekend's best gaming laptop deals

Victus 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $1124 now $649.99
Graphics card: RTX 3050
Processor: Intel Core i5-13420H
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

This HP Victus is a cheap (and I mean cheap) gaming laptop, so don't expect too much in terms of performance. It's got an older chipset, graphics card, and only 8GB of RAM. With that said, you can play some basic games with this machine, including relatively recent titles if you're willing to tweak your settings. I'd highly recommend spending more, but this one will play most popular esports titles, 2D games, and less graphically demanding Indie titles.View Deal

Cyborg 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $1299 now $949
Graphics card: RTX 5060
Processor: Intel Core 5 210H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This MSI Cyborg is a nice compromise between budget and power. It's not a super high-end configuration with its Intel Core 5 chipset and 512GB SSD, but it does have a mid-range RTX 5060 graphics card, which should give you a nice bump in performance versus the cheaper machines on the market. As an all-in-one machine for study and gameplay, this is a good value. View Deal

Gaming A16: was $1849.99 now $1249
Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core i7-13620H
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

In terms of sheer bang for the buck, not much can touch this Gigabyte A16 at Walmart today. It's not only one of the cheapest machines in recent months to feature a powerful RTX 5070 graphics card, but you also get 32GB of RAM right out of the box. The chipset is a little older, and this machine is pretty weighty for a laptop, but this is a very good option indeed if you want to play the latest games smoothly.View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 5060
Processor: Intel Core i7-14700HX
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

This Lenovo Legion 5i is on the pricey side for a machine with a mid-range RTX 5060 graphics card, but this particular model features a stunning high-end OLED display. If you can afford to spend a little extra, then you'll appreciate the display for both gaming and content. Annoyingly, this configuration only comes with 16GB of RAM, which is the sacrifice you have to pay to get such a nice display at this price. View Deal

Predator Helios Neo 16S: was $2199.99 now $2089.99
Graphics card: RTX 5070 Ti
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9-275HX
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

For a no-compromise option, I'd recommend this Acer Predator Helios, which is currently on sale with the Best Buy 60th Anniversary sale. The savings aren't huge, but I think the price is right here considering you get an RTX 5070 Ti, Ultra 9, 32GB of RAM, and a high-end OLED display. You'll have no issues with all the latest titles with this machine - and everything will look fantastic thanks to the OLED display.View Deal

Ahead of the Practical Magic 2 movie this September, Ninja is commemorating the iconic franchise with new spellbinding shades.

The Iranian regime has dismissed President Trump's threats to crush the country economically, saying that years of U.S. sanctions have failed.

(Image credit: Hadi Mizban)

President Trump has declared economic warfare on Iran in an effort to pressure the country back into negotiations. And, the Supreme Court is set to decide on the future of Trump's ballroom. 

(Image credit: Finn Gomez)

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

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

aloSIM: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: aloSIM)

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

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

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

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

Metric

Global

Europe

Asia

Caribbean

Central America

North America

South America

British Isles

Australia and NZ

Starting price

$10.00

$5.00

$5.00

$6.50

$10.00

$5.50

$6.50

$4.50

$10.50

Countries

147

35

14

20

6

3

8

2

2

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

What makes aloSIM different?

(Image credit: aloSIM)

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

Real phone number

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

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

Reusable eSIM profile

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

Free hotspot sharing

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

The aloSIM app

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

aloSIM: Installation and activation

(Image credit: aloSIM)

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

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

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

aloSIM: Compatible devices

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

Here's the rundown by brand:

Brand

What Works

Things To Know

Apple iPhone

XR and newer, through the 17 series

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

Apple iPad

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

Cellular models only

Samsung Galaxy

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

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

Google Pixel

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

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

Motorola

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

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

Huawei

Mate 40 Pro, P40, P40 Pro

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

Select laptops

Dell Latitude, HP Elite, Lenovo ThinkPad, Microsoft Surface

Cellular or LTE versions only

aloSIM: Support

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

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

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

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

aloSIM: Final verdict

(Image credit: aloSIM)

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

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

aloSIM: FAQsWhat is aloSIM?

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

Can I use aloSIM on my laptop?

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

What happens if my phone doesn't support eSIM?

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

Is aloSIM good for group travel?

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

How much data do social media apps use per hour?

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

How much data does video streaming use while traveling?

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

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

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

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

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

Tariffs refunded to businesses but not passed on to consumers

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

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

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

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

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

Nintendo and Sony also in hot water

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

easySIM: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: easySIM)

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

Region

Starting Price

Europe

$4.49

North America

$5.99

Oceania

$6.49

Asia

$6.49

Middle East & Africa

$8.99

South America

$7.99

Caribbean

$12.99

Africa

$15.99

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

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

easySIM: Key features

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

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

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

easySIM: Installation and activation

(Image credit: easySIM)

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

Here's the four-step process:

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

(Image credit: easySIM)easySIM: Compatible devices

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

Here's a quick summary by brand:

Brand

Compatible Models

Key Exclusions / Notes

Apple iPhone

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

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

Apple iPad

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

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

Samsung Galaxy

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

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

Google Pixel

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

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

Motorola

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

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

Xiaomi

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

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

Other Android

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

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

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

How easySim's six-month guarantee works

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

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

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

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

easySIM: Support

(Image credit: easySIM)

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

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

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

easySIM: Final verdict

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

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

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

easySIM: FAQsWhat is easySim?

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

Is easySim connected to easyJet?

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

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

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

Can I use easySim as a hotspot?

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

Can I make calls or send texts with easySim?

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

Which countries does easySim cover?

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

How does the Refer & Earn program work?

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

Does easySim have an app?

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

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

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

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

Jetpac: Plans and pricing

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

Plan Type

Starting Price

Coverage

Data

Validity

Hotspot

Single-Country (e.g., Japan)

From $10

1 country

5GB-40GB+

4-30 days

Yes (unlimited)

Regional (e.g., Europe)

From $22 (on sale)

32-43 countries

10GB-40GB

30 days

Yes (unlimited)

Global

From $69.99

96 countries

30GB-50GB

30-365 days

Yes (unlimited)

Unlimited (select markets)

From $65.99

Select countries

Unlimited*

30 days

Yes (unlimited)

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

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

Single country plans

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

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

Regional plans

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

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

Global plans

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

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

Unlimited plans

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

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

Jetpac: Features

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

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

How Jetpac's SmartDelay lounge benefit works

(Image credit: Future)

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

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

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

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

A few real limitations I came across:

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

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

Jetpac: Installation and activation

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

Here is the full step-by-step process:

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

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

Jetpac: Compatible devices

Brand

Compatible Models

Notes

iPhone

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

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

iPad

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

Cellular/LTE models only

Samsung Galaxy

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

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

Google Pixel

Pixel 3 through Pixel 10 series

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

Huawei

P40, P50, Mate 40 Pro

Non-China-purchased units only

Motorola

Razr (2019+), Edge series

Region-dependent

Others

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

Model-specific. Check the compatibility page before buying.

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

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

Jetpac: Customer support

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

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

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

Jetpac: Final verdict

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

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

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

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

Jetpac: FAQs Does Jetpac offer airport lounge access?

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

How does SmartDelay work?

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

Can I use Jetpac on a cruise?

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

Does Jetpac support hotspot sharing?

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

Is Jetpac cheaper than carrier roaming?

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

Can I get a refund from Jetpac?

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

Does Jetpac work with iPhone?

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

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

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

ByteSIM: Plans and pricing

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

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

Local eSIM Plans

Destination

Starting From

USA

$2.90 USD

Japan

$2.90 USD

Japan - 5G Ultra Unlimited by KDDI

$12.90 USD

Indonesia

$2.90 USD

Malaysia

$2.90 USD

Vietnam

$2.90 USD

Thailand

$2.90 USD

South Korea

$2.90 USD

Taiwan

$2.90 USD

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

Regional eSIM Plans

Region

Starting From

Global (125 Countries)

$4.90 USD

Europe Unlimited (57 Countries)Max

$2.90 USD

eSIM Europe (42 Countries)Lite

$2.90 USD

Asia (25 Countries)

$2.90 USD

China & Hong Kong & Macao

$2.90 USD

US & Canada

$2.90 USD

North America

$2.90 USD

South America

$2.90 USD

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

ByteSIM: Features

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

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

ByteSIM: Installation

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: ByteSIM)ByteSIM: Coverage and speed

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

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

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

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

ByteSIM: Support

(Image credit: ByteSIM)

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

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

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

ByteSIM: Final verdict

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

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

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

ByteSIM: FAQsDoes ByteSIM work in China?

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

What happens when I reach the unlimited data cap?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The first shift: changing the mindset

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

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

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

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

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

The second shift: treating upskilling as a business priority

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

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

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

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

The third shift: redesigning the organization itself

The final shift is organizational.

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

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

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

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

AI runs on context

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

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

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

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

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

AI transformation is a people transformation

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

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

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

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

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

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