Technology

• Researchers from Morphisec spotted Matanbuchus 3.0 in the wild
• The malware serves as a loader for Cobalt Strike or ransomware
• The victims are approached via Teams and asked for remote acccess

Security researchers are warning about an ongoing campaign leveraging Microsoft Teams calls to deploy a piece of malware called Matanbuchus 3.0.

As per cybersec outfit Morphisec, an unidentified hacking group first carefully picks its victims, and then reaches out via Microsoft Teams, posing as an external IT team.

They try to persuade the victim that they have a problem with their device and that they need to grant remote access in order to fix the issue. Since the victims are cherry-picked, there is a higher chance of success.

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Expensive malware-as-a-service

Once the access is granted, usually through Quick Assist, the attackers execute a PowerShell script that deploys Matanbuchus 3.0, a malware loader that can lead to Cobalt Strike beacons, or even ransomware.

"Victims are carefully targeted and persuaded to execute a script that triggers the download of an archive," Morphisec CTO Michael Gorelik said. "This archive contains a renamed Notepad++ updater (GUP), a slightly modified configuration XML file, and a malicious side-loaded DLL representing the Matanbuchus loader."

This malware was first spotted in 2021, The Hacker News reports, where cybercriminals advertised it on Russian-speaking forums for $2,500. Since then, the malware has evolved to include new features, better communication, more stealth, CMD and PowerShell support, and more. It also apparently costs more, now having a monthly service price of $10,000 for the HTTPS version and $15,000 for the DNS version.

While the researchers do not identify the attackers, they did say that similar social engineering tactics were used in the past by a group called Black Basta to deploy ransomware.

In the past, Black Basta was one of the most dangerous ransomware operations in existence, but has since then slowly phased out. In late February this year, a cybercriminal released chat logs that detailed the inner workings of the group.

Via The Hacker News

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• Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't offer the Nintendo Switch 2's Nvidia DLSS upscaling technology
• Digital Foundry explains in its tech review that the game only supports AMD's FSR1 tech with SMAA
• Mario Kart World also doesn't feature DLSS

One of the Nintendo Switch 2's most appealing traits is Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), an upscaling technology that wasn't offered with the original Switch and majorly improves graphics quality and performance. However, just like Mario Kart World, this feature isn't available for Donkey Kong Bananza.

In Digital Foundry's tech review of Donkey Kong Bananza, it's noted that the latest Switch 2 exclusive title doesn't support DLSS, despite it being one of the console's major features.

While the game is still commended for its visuals, it's confirmed that it only utilizes AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 1 (FSR1) with Subpixel Morphological Antialiasing (SMAA).

"The Switch 2 supports technologies such as DLSS, and we've seen them in numerous games," said Digital Foundry's John Linneman.

"But Nintendo does not take advantage of it at all. Instead, we simply have this combination of AMD's FSR1 with SMAA, a post-process anti-aliasing. I'll admit it, the image quality is decent. But seriously, FSR1 again? Come on, Nintendo, we can do better than this."

Digital Foundry also notes that finer details are less pronounced in the game's target resolution of 1080p to 1200p using dynamic resolution, but in handheld mode, the game does seem to "produce a convincingly 1080p presentation on the internal screen".

It's unclear why Nintendo has chosen not to utilize the hardware's powerful upscaling tech for its latest first-party games. Interestingly, DLSS is available for the Switch 2 versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, as well as several third-party games such as Cyberpunk 2077.

In TechRadar Gaming's Donkey Kong Bananza review, hardware writer Dash Wood said the game "is the greatest Nintendo Switch 2 title to date, delivering an incredible destruction system that showcases the power of the new system."

"It’s visually impressive and, while the story isn’t anything to write home about, benefits from charming and expressive voice acting and animations. Throw in a seemingly endless stream of collectibles and secrets, and you have a meaty adventure that’s a delight to explore."

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• MIXX StreamQ D3 headphones are affordable but with active noise cancellation
• £80; non-ANC D2 version available for £50
• Sonos Ace headphones are also deeply discounted today

If you want good-looking headphones but don't want to pay a high price, today could be your lucky day: MIXX has launched a set of extremely affordable ANC over-ears that look rather like the Sonos Ace headphones – and if you've got a bit more cash to splash, those Sonos headphones are actually available with a pretty big discount right now.

The MIXX StreamQ D3 ANC headphones are one of two new launches alongside the even more affordable, non-ANC StreamQ D2. Those are £50 (about $67 / AU$104), and their ANC siblings are £80 ($107 / AU$166). They're available now in the UK – as US launch is planned too, but with no confirmed price or date yet.

The D3 on the left, and D2 on the right – not a lot of visual difference in the core design. (Image credit: MIXX)MIXX StreamQ D3 ANC headphones: key features

The MIXX StreamQ D3 ANC headphones deliver up to 45 hours of battery life, customizable sound profiles and of course, active noise cancellation. There's a transparency mode as well as normal noise cancellation, and the MIXX Control app enables you to toggle transparency/ANC and adjust the EQ settings.

The spec is impressive for a pair at this price: there are beamforming mics with algorithmic enhancement to deliver clear voice in calls, and there's wear sensing to automatically play and pause tracks when you put the headphones on or take them off. The package also includes a 3.5mm cable for wired listening.

We've also spotted a serious Sonos saving

If like us you think these new over-ears look like they're hitting the same aesthetic goals as the Sonos Ace, you might want to check out the Amazon deal on the Sonos Ace that's currently more generous than Sonos's own: while Sonos has dropped the price of the Ace from its £449 RRP to £299 in the UK, Amazon's gone lower with a price tag of £269. That means they're currently sitting at the lowest price we've ever seen them listed for.

In the US, you can get the Sonos Ace for $299 at Amazon (down from $449), which is also a record-low price.

The Sonos Ace are capable of dynamic Dolby Atmos head-tracked spatial sound over Bluetooth or from a Sonos soundbar, and have high-end active noise cancellation and a comfortable, slimline design. There's also hi-res connectivity for music. This is the lowest price we've ever seen them, £30 cheaper than the previous best, and makes they seriously good value.View Deal

In the US, this is the lowest price that these headphones have been, and it makes them strong value – they're very comfortable, amazing with movies in particular, and are very enjoyable with music. The noise cancellation is extremely good, too.View Deal

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• Windows 11 had a change in testing to streamline the taskbar
• The tweak made the date and time display in the system tray more compact
• Microsoft ditched the idea due to negative feedback from testers, but this seems shortsighted, and I'm not sure why choices weren't provided here

Windows 11 won't be getting a simplified date and time panel in the taskbar, an idea that was introduced in preview builds in the past, and the reason is simple - testers hated this more streamlined look (apparently).

The rejig of the date and time display dropped the year, so it only showed the day and month, as well as also ditching the AM or PM label from the time. The result was a space-saving measure in the system tray - freeing up about the width of an icon - which worked quite effectively, I thought, to streamline this part of the taskbar (at the bottom-right of the desktop).

Windows Central's Zac Bowden remembered that this change had been paused in testing - and then never reintroduced - and asked on X as to when it might return, receiving a reply from Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc (senior product manager for Windows).

The feedback we got about that was not pleasant. That’s why is disappeared.July 12, 2025

As LeBlanc indicates, there was clearly quite a lot of negative feedback about this idea, and therefore it was abandoned.

There was another space-saving tweak accompanying this change, whereby the notifications bell didn't appear in the system tray when ‘Do not disturb’ mode was switched on. That, too, has been scrapped.

Analysis: a middle road not worth the effort?

(Image credit: Future)

Do we need the year shown in the clock display in the taskbar? I'd argue very much not (though it may be handy for time travellers, perhaps - newspapers being trickier to find these days for that all-important year reveal). As for the indication of whether it's morning (AM) or afternoon (PM), there's perhaps more of a case for that, though again, I don't think it's needed (and I use the 24-hour clock anyway, rendering it redundant, of course).

I appreciate that some folks may not like the look of the new, slimmed-down clock and date info, and that's fair enough. So, my question for Microsoft is: why not just have a choice of which configuration you want? It seems like a simple enough compromise to let folks choose, and indeed an option to have the more compact affair, or the standard date and time, was present in testing way back when. (You could toggle 'Show time and day in the system tray' under the Date and Time options in the Settings app).

Choosing what you want - isn't this the best of both worlds? And if Microsoft was worried about the change confusing people, the company could have simply made the traditional form the default - and the compact mode a change you needed to opt-in for (by switching the relevant setting).

I don't see how this wasn't the path chosen, frankly, unless Microsoft thought that so few people wanted the new (abandoned) layout that it wasn't worth the effort to implement the tweak (or that it was bulking up taskbar options unnecessarily, as there are already quite a few).

Even if it was the case among testers that the change was pretty much universally hated - which I can only assume was the case - Microsoft must remember that those Windows Insiders are more hardcore enthusiasts whose views may not reflect the broader computing public. Indeed, looking at some of the reaction online, it's clear there's some feeling that the compact view for the date and time was appreciated in some quarters (and yes, still shot down in others, to be fair).

Am I just nit-picking here? Yes, to an extent, and of course this is far from the biggest problem with Windows 11 - this is comparative small fry, naturally - but it still feels odd to me that Microsoft didn't at least compromise here and provide a choice.

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• The Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Switch 2 physical release arrives in 2026
• The full game will be included on the cartridge, seemingly dodging Nintendo's divisive game-key card system
• A car customization trailer has also been published to YouTube

Some good news from Sega today as the publisher confirmed that the physical Nintendo Switch 2 version of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will have the full game on cartridge.

If you're unsure as to why exactly that's positive, it means that Sega is seemingly side-stepping Nintendo's controversial (and honestly extremely pointless) game-key card system that effectively makes a game a glorified digital download.

Announced via a press email received by TechRadar Gaming, you will unfortunately have to wait a bit longer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds' physical release, as it's currently set to launch in "early 2026." A Switch 2 upgrade pack will also be made available for those who purchase the original Switch version, with which all "content and progress will carry over to Nintendo Switch 2."

Sega has also released a new Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds trailer, which you can view above. The trailer focuses on the game's car customization and equippable gadgets that can help give you an edge in each race.

Sega has confirmed that CrossWorlds will feature more than 40 vehicles, over 70 gadgets, and "100+ vehicle parts and decals," so players should have no trouble finding a favorite driver and kitting their vehicle out with all manner of creative styles and liveries.

The Extreme Gear boards, returning from the Sonic Riders series, also appear to be fully customizable. Furthermore, customizations do seem to have an effect on your car's stats, including speed, acceleration and handling.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launches on September 25, 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Once again, those hoping for the physical Switch 2 release will still need to wait until early 2026.

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• Google Pixel Watch 4 specs have reportedly leaked
• According to Android Headlines, Watch 4 will sport a larger capacity battery
• Other improvements include a brighter screen, but the watch will wield the same Snapdragon chipset as last year

The Google Pixel Watch 4 specifications seem to have leaked, giving us an advance preview of what's sure to be one of the best Android smartwatches of the year.

As reported by Android Headlines, the Google Pixel Watch 4 will again arrive in two sizes: a 41mm and 45mm. It's said to be getting a revamp in several areas, including a brighter screen with up to 3,000 nits of brightness, and a new co-processor to handle the workload of on-device AI.

Crucially, it will apparently be getting a larger capacity battery, with the 41mm said to be able to reach 48 hours in battery saver mode and the 45mm reaching 72 hours.

Battery saver mode on Pixel Watch disables the always-on display, can delay notifications and dims brightness. We're not sure yet how it would interact with Gemini, but it's likely the power-hungry AI features would be affected too.

Wear OS 6, the operating system the Google Pixel Watch 4 will be running, is said to be battery-efficient despite the colorful Materia 3 Expressive redesign and AI functionalities, with Google stating watches running the OS get 10% more battery life. That's really encouraging, although if battery saver mode prevents users accessing Gemini features, the larger capacity battery will only serve to keep the Pixel Watch 4 at the same 24 hours between charges as its predecessor.

Analysis: I've been begging for longer battery life on smartwatches for years

I've been saying it for years: health-focused watches that are designed to be worn for battery-sapping GPS workouts and sleep tracking need longer battery lives in order to be useful. There are a lot of people who hate charging their watches every day, so seeing Google equip its latest Pixel Watches with larger-capacity batteries is very encouraging.

However, there's not much point in buying an AI-equipped watch if you don't use the AI features. If battery saver mode impacts Gemini on Google watch, it's likely that we'll be stuck with the same old 24 hours or so, as we'll mostly leave battery saver off in order to make the most of Wear OS 6's advanced suite of AI-powered tools.

Whether you're asking Gemini to summarize your notifications, add something to your workout plan or text your significant other to ask for items to add to your grocery list, this is going to be the Pixel Watch 4's key selling point. I'd just love it if I could wear my Pixel Watch for 48 hours straight while using all its features, like I can the best Garmin watches.

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• New renders show the alleged colors coming to the iPhone 17 Pro range
• Information on the iPhone 17 colors has also leaked out
• The iPhone 17 Pro might also get an even stronger display

We don’t normally get a peek at Apple’s upcoming iPhones until the company unveils them at its September launch event. But that’s all changed with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, as AppleInsider has produced a set of renders that it says are based on “prevalent rumors and speculation.”

Much of that speculation is based on a report from Macworld earlier this week, which claimed to have obtained an “internal document” used by Apple to detail the forthcoming colors, complete with Pantone color names.

Now, AppleInsider has put that information to use in its renders. The images show the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in five colors: Orange, Dark Blue, Gray, Black and Silver.

That’s quite a departure from the colors found in the iPhone 16 Pro range. Although the Black and Gray tones will supposedly correspond with the Black Titanium and Natural Titanium of the iPhone 16 Pro, the Orange, Dark Blue and Silver shades do not match with any color currently in use in a Pro-tier iPhone.

(Image credit: AppleInsider)

AppleInsider didn’t provide renders for the non-Pro devices in the iPhone 17 range, which is set to include the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air. However, Macworld’s recent leak gives us a few hints of what we might see there too.

According to Macworld’s report, the iPhone 17 will apparently be available in six different options: Black, White, Steel Gray, Green, Purple and Light Blue. The Black and White tones will be the same as the ones you find in the iPhone 16, with the other four being new.

As for the iPhone 17 Air, it will supposedly come in Black, White, Light Blue and Light Gold – colors claimed by leaker Majin Bu earlier in July. While its Black shade will be the same as that found in the iPhone 16, the White option will be a touch brighter compared to that device.

An even stronger display

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

The new colors are not the only enticing iPhone 17 Pro leak that has just appeared. According to a source speaking to MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Pro could get a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display that provides more protection than Apple’s current Ceramic Shield protective glass.

What’s unusual is that this tech was originally rumored in March 2024, but it was later suggested that production issues meant Apple might put it on hold. Now, it seems to be on the way again – although only in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, not the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Air.

Given the back-and-forth history of this feature, we’ll take this latest rumor with a dose of skepticism. But if Apple is able to strengthen the iPhone 17 Pro’s display – and offer the device in a range of intriguing new colors – it could be a tempting device when it launches later this year.

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• A joint operation has disrupted a major pro-Russian DDoS network
• Operation Eastwood saw 2 suspects arrested and over 100 servers affected
• Major infrastructure related to the group was taken offline

A joint international operation carried out by law enforcement agencies from France, Spain, Sweden, Poland, and others, has disrupted a major pro-Russian cybercrime network NoName057(16). Operation Eastwood, supported by Europol and Eurojust, saw 12 countries take simultaneous actions against offenders and infrastructure belonging to the criminal network.

As a result of the operations, 2 suspects were arrested, 7 arrest warrants were issued, 24 houses were searched, 100 servers were disrupted, over 1,000 supporters were notified of their legal liability, and major parts of the NoName057(16) main infrastructure were taken offline.

The criminal network unsurprisingly primarily attacked targets in Ukraine, but had recently shifted its focus to Ukraine’s allies in the Russia/Ukraine war, many of which are NATO members.

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NoName057(16)

The group is allegedly responsible for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks across Europe against organizations and critical infrastructure including banks, defense firms, transportation firms, government agencies, and energy suppliers.

“National authorities have reported a number of cyberattacks linked to NoName057(16) criminal activities. In 2023 and 2024, the criminal network has taken part in attacks against Swedish authorities and bank websites. Since investigations started in November 2023, Germany saw 14 separate waves of attacks targeting more than 250 companies and institutions” Europol confirms in a statement.

Criminal cybernetworks like these are a bit of a cat and mouse game for law enforcement, which is illustrated by the fairly regular major disruptions to criminal networks, which may temporarily subdue the attacks in one area, but barely make a dent in the number of overall attacks or offensives.

Earlier in 2025, Europol arrested 17 suspects and seized millions from a criminal banking network which allegedly provided money laundering services to criminals and evaded law enforcement by using cryptocurrency and a structured underground financial system.

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The last Apple event came and went without even the smallest of hints at a foldable iPhone. And with the rumors thin on the ground, I'd be skeptical if such a phone is even in the works; it could just be a shelved Apple project.

As it stands, our list of best foldable phones is dominated by the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and OnePlus Open. So there's room for some iOS-orientated disruption, though when that will happen isn't clear.

Our best guess is 2025 at the earliest, when Apple can be fairly confident that the foldable phone tech is mature enough for its foray into the arena. Until then, read on for everything we've heard so far and what you need to know about the so-called foldable iPhone.

Latest news

The foldable iPhone could be 4.8mm thick.

• The best foldable phones we've seen so far

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Potentially the first folding phone from Apple
• When is it out? Possibly 2026, or maybe much later
• How much will it cost? Expect it to be expensive

Foldable iPhone release date and price

It's possible (based on multiple rumors) that the iPhone Fold could land in 2025.

But if anything, it might land much later, with a report from October 2018 suggesting Apple might first launch a foldable iPad in late 2024 or early 2025, with a foldable iPhone landing at a later date.

Another report back in February 2024 said a September 2026 launch was planned for the foldable iPhone, which would likely see it land alongside the iPhone 18. This report added that Apple was apparently moving much of the Vision Pro team over to development of this phone, and that the company is aiming for sales of 50 million. The 2026 claims have since been backed up by a leaked Apple roadmap too.

More recently still, we've heard that the foldable iPhone might be delayed from late 2026 until early 2027, and some analysts now believe the foldable iPhone project might end up getting canceled, so there's a chance we won't see it at all.

And even more recently, a TrendForce report states that Apple is "unlikely to release a foldable phone before 2027", due to the company's "strict requirements for crease and reliability".

Since then, we've heard that while a 2026 launch was previously planned, Apple has accelerated development so that it can launch the foldable iPhone in 2025.

However, the most recent foldable iPhone leaks again point to a 2026 launch. We've heard a 2026 release date multiple times in late 2024 and early 2025, with a leak as recently as June 2025 pointing in that direction, while in July of 2025 we heard that Apple had started making prototypes of the device, with an aim to launch it in the second half of 2026, so that's our best guess for now. That said, Apple is at least apparently close to choosing a display supplier for the phone.

Whenever it lands, the foldable iPhone probably won't be a one-off, with one report suggesting it will get an annual refresh.

Naturally, we don't know how much the foldable iPhone might cost if and when it does land, but given that a lot of foldable phones demand well over the $1000 / £1000 / AU$2000 mark, it's safe to expect a high price to pay. One of the few foldable iPhone price leaks we have seen so far points to a figure of $2,500 (which is around £2,220 / AU$3,970), so we'd recommend saving now.

That said, a more recent foldable iPhone price leak points to a lower but still high price of $2,000 (around £1,540 / AU$3,175), while a third leak splits the difference, claiming a price of roughly $2,300, and more recently still we've heard the foldable iPhone will cost between $2,100 and $2,500.

The latest price leaks at the time of writing put the foldable iPhone at either $1,800-$2,000 or much more than current foldables, depending on who you believe.

But despite the likely high price, this could prove a very successful phone, with reputable analyst Mark Gurman predicting that a foldable iPhone will sell much better than any of the Plus or mini models, or the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

That said, analyst Ming-Chi Ku says to expect "premium pricing" for the foldable iPhone, and that this could limit its sales.

As for the name, we've heard mutterings that it could be called the iPhone Flip, likely referring to the Galaxy Z Flip-like patents we've seen that hint at a clamshell folding format. In truth, though, it could be called anything.

Foldable iPhone leaks and rumors

At this point, foldable iPhone rumors fall broadly into two camps: those which suggest the device will have a true folding display, and others that point towards it having two distinct screens separated by a hinge.

Several designs were revealed in a patent dump back in February 2019, some with a large display on the inside of folding sections with a single hinge, while another had two hinges for a hypothetical three displays that fold in on themselves in a Z-shaped formation.

Image 1 of 3

Image credit: Apple / US Patent and Trademark Office (Image credit: Apple / US Patent and Trademark Office)

This design shows how an iPhone could look when folded.

Image 2 of 3

Image credit: Apple / US Patent and Trademark Office (Image credit: Apple / US Patent and Trademark Office)

These two designs show possible ways the screen could store in the body of the device when folded.

Image 3 of 3

Image credit: Apple / US Patent and Trademark Office (Image credit: Apple )

This design shows what a device would look like when folded into three sections.

Other patents, like the one discovered in March 2020, reveal that Apple could be working on a foldable with two distinct displays separated by a hinge. While the patented design suggests the tech giant would attempt to minimize the bezel between the screens as much as possible, it would still be more noticeable than a truly folding long display.

That’s what leaker Jon Prosser suggested on Twitter in the same year: Apple’s foldable iPhone design (at the time) had two separate display panels on a hinge.

While it’s purportedly just a ‘current prototype’ and not a final design, it’s described as having rounded edges like the iPhone 11, unlike the squared-off edges on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 ranges.

There’s also no notch for front-facing cameras: the sensors checking Face ID will be housed in a ‘tiny forehead’ on the outer display, according to Prosser.

(Image credit: Patently Apple)

This matches a later Prosser leak that suggested the iPhone Flip may come in a clamshell shape – similar to the Motorola Razr 2020 or the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip – and the same source said it'd be sold in "fun colors."

We think that means you can expect some bold shades for the iPhone Flip when it lands.

We've seen another image of what the foldable iPhone could look like thanks to another patent, this one showing a device that folds out into a bigger device like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This device, which we're dubbing the iPhone Fold, has one display that's longer than the other, so when it's folded shut you can see your notifications to one edge.

A separate leak suggests this folding iPhone could come with Apple Pencil support, and have a display measuring 7.3-inch or 7.6-inches across.

Indeed, we've more recently heard that Apple's first foldable may have a screen of roughly 7-8 inches, which likely means it would be a book-style foldable.

More recently, another source claimed the foldable iPhone could have a 7.9-inch screen and that the foldable display could be on the outside of the phone, like the Huawei Mate Xs 2 pictured below. This would mean there's only one display, but it can be used either like a phone or a tablet depending on whether it's folded or unfolded.

Image 1 of 3

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 (Image credit: Huawei)Image 2 of 3

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 (Image credit: Basil Kronfli)Image 3 of 3

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 (Image credit: Basil Kronfli)

In January of 2025 we similarly heard that the foldable iPhone could have a main display of between 7.6 and 7.9 inches, along with a surprisingly small 5.3-5.5-inch cover screen. This leak adds that it will have a wider aspect ratio than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and that it will use LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide), likely meaning a 120Hz refresh rate.

Elsewhere, we heard that the foldable iPhone might have a foldable display of over 12 inches, which sounds unusually large. They also stated that the phone would be 9.2mm thick when folded, and just 4.6mm thick when unfolded (though a more recent foldable iPhone leak puts it at 4.8mm). The same source as the 4.6mm claim also points to a 5,000mAh battery, and a dual-lens rear camera, with an ultra-wide snapper but no telephoto.

More recently still (in February of 2025) we heard that the foldable iPhone could have 7.74-inch and 5.49-inch screens.

The same source (Digital Chat Station) has since added that the foldable screen will have a resolution of 1,920 x 2,713 and the cover screen will have a resolution of 1,422 x 2,088. They also claim that the foldable screen will have an under-display camera but that the foldable iPhone won't have Face ID.

And they've said to expect the two rear cameras to both be 48MP, the foldable screen to be 7.58 inches, and the construction to include "a hinge made of a more durable amorphous metal glass composite, and a titanium alloy body."

That claim of an under-display camera and no Face ID for the iPhone Fold has since been made by another source too, so this at least may well be the case.

We've also heard from another source that this screen might be thinner and lighter than existing foldable phone displays, as well as delivering higher brightness and better color accuracy.

Beyond the size and resolution of the screen, we've also heard that the foldable iPhone's display might have a near invisible crease.

We've also heard from an analyst that Apple is testing an Electronic Paper Display (EPD) from E Ink for the cover screen of a foldable phone. This would be like an e-reader screen, but in color, and could be left on for long periods without draining much battery.

Apple's foldable phone might also have a protective layer on top of the screen that can defend against cracks and fill in pre-existing micro-cracks, to help avoid fractures. Apple has a patent for this tech, so it's certainly something the company is toying with, at least.

Elsewhere, an Apple patent details a slim yet strong hinge that could be used with a smartphone with a flexible display. This doesn't tell us much but it's more evidence that an iPhone Fold or iPhone Flip might be in the works. On a related note, we've heard the foldable iPhone could have a liquid metal hinge for better durability, with another source adding that the hinge will be higher quality than on other phones.

Plus, one report also suggests that Apple has two foldable iPhone designs that have already passed durability tests. That doesn't mean this will be happening any sooner, but it's a good sign that Apple is on the right track.

Another Apple patent we've seen details touch-sensitive, solid-state buttons that would allow users to navigate a foldable iPhone using its edges, rather than its display alone. Alongside basic illustrations of the device (below), Apple explains how touch sensors would sit within “sidewalls” (as opposed to conventional walls) made up of “thin metal lines that are sufficiently small to be invisible to the eye."

Apple illustrates how solid-state buttons might work on a foldable device (Image credit: United States Patent and Trademark Office)

Beyond the design and display, we've heard that the foldable iPhone might have a dual-lens camera, Touch ID, and an ultra-thin battery. Despite that, the foldable iPhone could offer all-day battery life, with Apple apparently making its battery longevity a priority.

And beyond all the leaks, we've also now seen essentially a prototype iPhone Flip made unofficially by a team in China. You can see some images of this below.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: AST)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: AST)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: AST)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: AST)

There were a lot of compromises involved in making it, but if Apple's foldable is similar in design to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip line, then it could look like a much more polished version of this.

iPhone Flip: 5 things we’d like to see

(Image credit: Future)1. Top-tier cameras

Foldables bridge the gap between phones and tablets, but the ones we’ve seen released, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate Xs, have packed the best cameras featured on those brands’ other flagship phones.

While there’s no reason to guess Apple wouldn’t do the same, the tech giant hasn’t bothered to upgrade the cameras on its iPads in generations. What's more, given that the iPhone SE 2020 didn’t improve upon the lens of its predecessor, the iPhone 8, Apple set a precedent that could see it give its foldable iPhone a single camera instead of the full suite seen in today's best iPhones.

(Image credit: Future)2. Apple Pencil support

One way Apple could easily match other foldables: introduce Apple Pencil support. Samsung introduced stylus integration with its Z Fold series, and given how the Apple Pencil 2 attaches magnetically to the newest iPad Pro tablets, we’d love to see how Apple’s styluses could be integrated with its foldable iPhone.

(Image credit: Apple)3. The old Apple polish

Yes, we'll say it: even though the first few rounds of foldables have been impressive for simply pulling off folding screens, they’ve come with design weaknesses, from hinge issues to cracking screens. We’d love to see a design that makes everything move smoothly and stand up to punishment.

Not that Apple’s lineup is unimpeachable, as crackable iPhone displays, malfunctioning butterfly keyboards, and battery-throttling on older iPhones have shown. But in looks and function, at least, Apple has maintained a reputation for sleek and functional design.

(Image credit: Apple)4. iPadOS integration

When iPadOS split off from iOS, we got excited for the possibilities of a new operating system forking off to truly take advantage of iPad screen real estate. Thus far, we’ve been pretty pleased with the multitasking features that let us pull up multiple apps at the same time, which we’ve found personally handy in writing in Google docs while looking up stuff in Safari, for instance..

We’d love to see a version of the OS in the foldable iPhone for the same reasons, though of course, there’s a lot of unknowns. Will the device’s display be large enough to properly handle the iPadOS controls? If it expands to 7.9 inches, the size of the iPad Mini’s screen, it conceivably could be able to, but until we know what the foldable will look like, it’s unclear how good a fit iPadOS will be.

(Image credit: Future)5. Strong battery life

Foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X have had respectable battery life for first-generation devices, but we’d like more in Apple’s take on foldable phones. iPhones in general aren’t known for lasting longer than a day, and flagships from Samsung and Huawei pack larger-capacity (in sheer milliamp Hours) batteries that seem to take them past the one-day mark handily.

We’d like Apple to use the extra device space to keep its own foldable last longer than the competition.

• Wix introduced AI Visibility Overview
• The tool is designed to help with Generative Engine Optimization
• Sites can monitor and manage how AI mentions them in responses

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has flipped the script on virtually all informational and affiliate websites. With AI overviews displayed directly in search engine results, fewer people are clicking links and are just getting their answers directly from AI.

It’s a seismic shift that’s causing headaches throughout the industry, but Wix seems to have a solution.

One of the best website builder platforms around just launched AI Visibility Overview, a new AI optimization solution designed to help websites reposition themselves in this new normal. The tool allows users to “understand, monitor, and actively improve” on how their websites and brands appear in AI responses.

With AI Visibility Overview, users will be able to track how often their website is cited by AI platforms, and add/remove questions to better reflect their businesses. They will also be able to monitor brand sentiment in LLMs, and benchmark visibility and competitive context. By comparing AI visibility performance to competitors, users can better understand how their visibility stacks up against industry peers, identifying growth opportunities and discovering other sources being cited in similar contexts.

"Generative Engine Optimization"

Finally, AI Visibility Overview allows users to measure AI-driven traffic and query volume, gaining critical insight into how much traffic is being driven from AI platforms and how frequently people ask AI about certain brands and services.

Wix calls it “Generative Engine Optimization” initiative - or GEO.

“GEO is SEO for the AI era, providing users an all‑new level of search visibility,” said Doreen Weissfelner, Head of Analytics at Wix. “We are empowering users to bring AI search into focus by giving them information on how their sites are being cited, perceived and surfaced by leading AI-platforms. Just as we’ve supported our users in optimizing for traditional search engines, we’re now equipping them to navigate and succeed in an AI-driven landscape. With the AI Visibility Overview, businesses can finally see how they’re being represented - and take steps to increase visibility, influence perception, and drive real outcomes”

Wix claims to be the first CMS to offer this kind of AI visibility natively, hoping to set a new benchmark for AI search optimization tools within website platforms.

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• Google Cloud will provide OpenAI's infrastructure in a number of countries
• Google also has a cloud deal with OpenAI rival Anthropic
• Then, there are Google's own in-house AI efforts

OpenAI has now added Google Cloud Platform as a cloud provider for ChatGPT and its APIs in a number of countries, according to CNBC reporting.

This comes as the AI giant diversifies its infrastructure to meet growing demand – the company also famously uses Microsoft, as well as Oracle and CoreWeave.

Once the company's exclusive cloud provider, Microsoft has lost exclusivity as the relationship between the two companies evolved. Today, Redmond still has first right of refusal, but it's no longer the sole vendor.

OpenAI adds Google to its list of cloud providers

OpenAI's use of Google Cloud Platform is a significant win for the company, whose cloud business is much smaller than AWS and Microsoft Azure even though it's the third-largest cloud provider globally. Its infrastructure will be used in the US, the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway.

On the other side of the deal, OpenAI isn't Google's only AI customer. The tech giant already has a partnership with Anthropic – a rival AI company founded by former OpenAI execs.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously cited a shortage of GPUs as a motivation to not only increase, but broaden the range of cloud services.

According to Reuters, the deal with Google could have been on the cards for a number of months, but it wasn't until the exclusive partnerships with Microsoft ended that discussions could progress.

For OpenAI, diversifying suppliers reduces single-vendor lock-in, ultimately giving the company more leverage to negotiate on pricing and to access the latest chips.

However, the deal raises questions about how Google and its rivals will allocate resources, each offering their own alternative to ChatGPT. Looking ahead, OpenAI is on track to finalize accelerator designs soon, which could further reduce its reliance on third parties.

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I want it, you want it, we all want it, but as it stands, there’s no news confirming Ballard season 2. The Bosch: Legacy spinoff has had astonishing success on Prime Video during its first week of release, scoring the elusive 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. These days, though, even that doesn’t guarantee a future.

Ballard, which follows LAPD detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q) as she oversees a cold case in a new department, remains the most streamed new TV show on the platform at the time of writing, with positive critical reviews flying in thick and fast. Even to someone who knows very little about how the industry works, there’s clearly more than enough evidence to commission new episodes.

But according to Maggie Q, there’s just as much chance that we could never see Ballard again if a second season isn’t green lit. The biggest shame if the new series quits while it’s ahead? We’ll never get to see the “very exciting” season 2 arc that’s been teased by Q herself.

Ballard season 2 isn’t guaranteed to be renewed by Prime Video, but a ‘very exciting’ arc would make a cancelation devastating

Spoilers for Ballard season 1 finale ahead.

“I have no sense,” Q told The Hollywood Reporter about a potential Ballard season 2. “This industry is not what it was before. It’s barely recognizable to me, and shows are so expendable. They can throw out a show in two seconds, and it doesn’t make a ton of difference that whole worlds and livelihoods are at stake. Studios always have options. But we have a writers room, and they’ve been writing away.

“The arc for the second season is very exciting,” she confirms. “But I’ve had writers room hired before and then gotten cancelled. So everyone’s like, ‘Maggie, of course!’ I’m like, ‘No, no, no.’ There is no ‘of course.’ I am not a negative person at all. I’m a very positive person, but I’m a realist.”

Let’s recap what we know. Season 1 left off with the unexpected reveal that Councilman Jake Pearlman’s (Noah Bean) own father, Gary Pearlman (Kevin Dunn) murdered his own daughter over an alleged confrontation about his marital affair. Robert Olivas (Ricardo Chavira) was also exposed as being a dirty cop alongside being a generally terrible human (bear in mind the earlier assault accusations), but when he’s also killed off, Ballard is arrested for it.

We’ve not seen how Olivas died, but we did see Ballard draw her gun on him in the final moments of their confrontation. If season 2 never gets off the ground, Ballard is essentially stuck in jail, for possibly no good reason, for the rest of her fictional life. Not only this, but Ballard has already defied the typical crime drama stereotype by blending the personal and professional in an entirely new way, so it would be an extra shame to lose something that’s bringing us something fresh.

As far as I’m concerned, Prime Video owes it to the franchise, fans and the undoubtedly the strongest Bosch spinoff so far to give over some answers. In the meantime, you can check out everything else new on Prime Video in July 2025 to get yourself out of a post-Ballard slump.

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• The foldable iPhone could be 4.8mm thick when unfolded
• That would make it thicker than the 4.2mm thick Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
• However, being thicker can come with some advantages

One of the more impressive things about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just how slim it is, at a mere 4.2mm thick when unfolded. It’s so slim in fact that the much-rumored foldable iPhone might not be able to match it, despite this device probably not launching until 2026 at the earliest – by which point Samsung might have an even thinner foldable.

According to leaker Setsuna Digital (via Apple Insider), the foldable iPhone will be 4.8mm thick when unfolded, which while certainly quite slim, is a full 0.6mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Still, this would have the iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) beat, as that’s 5.1mm thick. It would also beat the 7.8mm iPhone 16, so this could still be one of Apple’s slimmest devices – at least when unfolded.

When folded, we’d assume it will be at least twice as thick as when unfolded, but it’s unlikely to be exactly twice as thick, as the folded dimensions of phones are usually more than double the unfolded ones, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for example being 8.9mm thick.

Still, this rumor may well be inaccurate – the source has a mixed track record, and we’ve heard other thicknesses put forward previously, with one earlier leak pointing to a 4.6mm thickness.

Thinner isn't always better

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is extremely slim (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Either way though, it’s sounding like Apple's upcoming phone will probably be thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, it means that when folded shut this device might be a bit chunky, but it could also allow space for a larger battery or better cameras than the phone might otherwise have.

We’d think that’s a trade-off a lot of people would probably take, so for now we’re not too concerned that Apple might not win this particular battle.

But with the foldable iPhone probably not landing before late 2026, we’d take any and all rumors about it with a pinch of salt for now anyway.

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The tired looking smiley is easily one of my favorite emoji of all time.

• We may be three months away from the Samsung tri-fold launch
• The name Galaxy Z Trifold has been trademarked by Samsung
• Samsung has been teasing the phone's launch since January 2025

We've known for a while that a Samsung tri-fold phone is on the way – it was teased all the way back at the January Unpacked event – and fresh leaks point to an actual launch later in the year, as well as an official name for the device.

As per veteran tipster Ice Universe (via Android Authority), we can expect to see the tri-fold break cover sometime in October. That would put it three months after the unveiling of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, and three months before the expected introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S26.

At the most recent July Unpacked event, Samsung briefly mentioned the tri-fold after announcing its new foldables and the Galaxy Watch 8 – but only to say that the Huawei Mate XT rival hadn't been forgotten, and was still on the way.

Rumors from earlier in the year had suggested the tri-fold would be showing up later in 2025, so it's not a huge surprise that we're still waiting for it to be unveiled. Whether we'll get a full launch event for the occasion remains to be seen.

And this could be the name

The Huawei Mate XT tri-fold (Image credit: Huawei)

We've already seen hints that the tri-fold would be called the Galaxy G Fold, but appears that won't be the case: as spotted by GalaxyClub (via SamMobile), the name Galaxy Z Trifold has been trademarked in Samsung's home country of South Korea.

It's the obvious name to go for: it fits in with the existing Z naming system, while also plainly indicating that there's an extra fold (and an extra display panel) here. Nothing is certain until the full announcement, but it's a name that makes sense – and the official paperwork is available online.

However, the GalaxyClub team isn't sure that's the end of the story. The trademark may just be a placeholder of sorts, they suggest, or Samsung may opt to give the phone a different name when it rolls out internationally.

Something we can be fairly sure about is the price. The existing Huawei Mate XT tri-fold costs a lot of money, and current estimates for the Samsung tri-fold suggest it might set you back $3,000-$3,500 (roughly £2,240-£2,610 / AU$4,635-AU$5,410).

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• The Analogue 3D has been delayed again
• The reimagining of the Nintendo 64 will now ship in late August instead of this month
• Analogue has blamed "last week’s sudden tariff changes" on the delay

The Analogue 3D, a reimagining of the Nintendo 64, has been delayed once again, this time due to tariffs.

The hardware's creator, Analogue, announced the delay on its support page, confirming that the console will no longer be released this month and will instead ship in late August 2025.

"Analogue 3D shipping is delayed (as of July 15th, 2025) and is now shipping in late August 2025. We are working hard to get your 3D order in hands asap and appreciate your patience. If you have an open preorder no action is needed.

"As always, if you’d like to cancel your pre-order at any time, Analogue has always had a no questions asked, 100% refund policy for pre-orders.

"Before shipping your order, we will email you one week in advance to ensure we have an up-to-date shipping address. You may cancel your order at any time for a full refund before shipment."

Analogue expanded on the reason for the delay, blaming it on "last week’s sudden tariff changes" in an X / Twitter post.

"We’re absorbing the costs—your preorder price stays the same. No additional charges," the company explained. "Late August, the wait ends: reviews go live with everything we’ve been saving for this moment."

Pre-orders for the $250 / £204.99 console went live last year and quickly sold out. It was originally supposed to launch in Q1 2025, but was delayed in March.

If you're unfamiliar, the Analogue 3D is a retro-style console that lets users play N64 cartridges with 4K output on a TV or monitor, without the need for an original N64 system or emulation.

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These are the high and low cortisol symptoms to look out for, according to experts.

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