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

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

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

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

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Brazilians in the crosshairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Via BleepingComputer

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Value score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Specification

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Dimensions (folded):

85.5 x 75.2 x 13.7mm

Dimensions (unfolded):

166.7 x 75.2 x 6.5mm

Weight:

188g

Main display:

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

Cover display::

4.1-inch Super AMOLED
948 x 1048 pixels

Chipset:

Samsung Exynos 2500 (3nm)

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB / 512GB

OS:

Android 16 / One UI 8

Primary camera:

50MP f1.8

Ultrawide camera:

12MP f2.2

Selfie Camera:

10MP f2.2

Battery:

4,300mAh

Charging:

25W wired; 15W wireless

Colors:

Blue Shadow, Jetblack, Coralred, Mint

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Design

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

Image 1 of 3

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Displays

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

• Displays score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Software

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

• Software score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

• Cameras: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Performance

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Performance: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Battery

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

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

• Battery: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7?

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

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

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

4 / 5

Design

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

4 / 5

Display

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

5 / 5

Performance

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

3 / 5

Software

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

4 / 5

Cameras

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

3 / 5

Battery

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

3 / 5

Buy it if...

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

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

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

Don't buy it if...

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

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

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

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Also consider

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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

Read our in-depth Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 review

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

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 / Razr 60 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

Price

$1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799

$1,299 / £1,099

$999 / £999 / AU$1,699

Processor

Samsung Exynos 2500

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

Cameras

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

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

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

Future Labs Battery Test (HH:MM:SS)

12:24:30

18:57:12

18:46:04

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First reviewed July 2025

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

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

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

A post shared by Wednesday Netflix (@wednesdaynetflix)

A photo posted by on

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

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

What's coming up on Netflix's Wednesday?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Shipping to Ghana

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Only Murders in the Building season 5: key information

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

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

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

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

Only Murders in the Building season 5 release date

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Only Murders in the Building season 5 confirmed cast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Only Murders in the Building season 5 synopsis and story rumors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Only Murders in the Building: future seasons?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Customers will be able to access it on the web or Xfinity devices.

A place in Sunday's showpiece final against England awaits today's winners.

President Trump says he wants to make sure the United States wins the artificial intelligence race. The White House says fewer regulations will help.

(Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

• Russian Parliament passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content
• The law also adds new penalties for VPN users, making its usage to access extremist content a crime as an aggravating factor
• WhatsApp is the latest app set to be banned in Russia

People in Russia are set to face new fines for "searching for or accessing knowingly extremist materials," including through VPN services.

Russian Parliament, the State Duma, passed the new law on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, with 306 votes in favor, 67 against, and 22 abstaining – as reported by Russian Independent news outlet Meduza.

The law has so far attracted strong criticism, even among pro-government figures, according to Reuters. Digital rights experts are also raising the alarm.

Russia VPN – what's changing with the new law?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a crucial tool for people in Russia, thanks to its IP-spoofing capabilities that allow bypassing of government-imposed geo-restrictions, as well as strong encryption to help fight back against online surveillance. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Kremlin's fight against VPN usage certainly isn't new. As more people in Russia have turned to the best VPN apps to bypass ever-stricter internet censorship, authorities have been doing their best to prevent this.

From deploying sophisticated VPN blocking techniques in March 2024, the government introduced for the first time a law to criminalize the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions.

That's likely the basis that led the Kremlin's infamous censorship body regulator Roskomnadzor, to issue VPN removal demands against the Big Tech giant. Apple was the most complainant of the lot, killing at least 60 VPN apps, including the popular Russian service Amnezia VPN, from July 2024 onwards alone.

Now, the new law introduces additional penalties for violating rules on VPN usage. This means that advertising VPN services can now cost individuals between 50,000–80,000 rubles ($640–$1,020). This rises to 80,000–150,000 rubles ($1,020–$1,900) for officials, and 200,000–500,000 rubles ($2,550–$6,380) for legal entities.

As Meduza reported, lawmakers also adopted a provision that makes using a VPN to access extremist content "a crime as an aggravating factor."

How Russia's new law affect VPN users?

According to the Kremlin, banning the online search of so-called extremist content comes as an alternative to completely blocking foreign platforms.

"In our understanding, this [the adoption of the bill] allows us to strike a balance: on the one hand, to prevent the further dissemination of extremist materials, [and] on the other hand, to refrain from blocking major Western platforms for now," said Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev – Interfax reported.

Crucially, Shadayev also assures that "ordinary users will not be affected," despite failing to explain how.

This assurance isn't, however, convincing digital rights experts who now fear stronger repercussions against dissidents.

Talking to The Moscow Times, co-founder of Russian digital advocacy group Roskomsvoboda, Sarkis Darbinyan said: "If you have a VPN on your phone, that alone might be enough to trigger a deeper check. Eventually, we could see criminal charges for VPN use after just one or two warnings – like with the law on foreign agents."

It's also worth mentioning that the highly popular WhatsApp app is now likely to be restricted in Russia.

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People in Russia may soon need to find a replacement for WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app across the country.

Talking to Reuters on Friday, July 18, 2025, the Deputy Head of the Russian parliament's Information Technology Committee, Anton Gorelkin, said that "it's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market," adding that Meta has been designated as an extremist organization in Russia.

On Tuesday, July 22, Russia passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.

How likely is WhatsApp to leave Russia?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Russian authorities haven't shared any details on how or when the WhatsApp ban will be enforced.

That said, Meta, the provider behind WhatsApp, has already been designated as an extremist organization, with two of its other services (Facebook and Instagram) being banned since 2022.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, also reiterated the fact that WhatsApp "has certain duties under laws of the Russian Federation" that must be fulfilled – Interfax reported.

Two more government sources have then confirmed to Meduza, a Russian Independent media outlet, that "there’s a 99-percent chance" the WhatsApp block will happen.

The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin is developing its own messaging app with government services integrated. From September 2025, Max is set to be installed on every device sold in Russia, the Independent reported.

Can a VPN help?

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts users' internet connections while spoofing their real IP address. The latter skill is generally used to bypass this type of internet geo-blocking – something Russian authorities have been trying to prevent for a long time.

From ever-sophisticated VPN blocking tactics, which make many VPN services stop working, the Kremlin even criminalized the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions in March 2024, forcing the likes of Apple to remove some of the best VPN apps from its official App Store.

Now, a new law further complicates things for VPN users. Starting from July 22, there are new penalties for people searching for and accessing "knowingly extremist materials," including when they do that while connected to a VPN.

Furthermore, lawmakers have reportedly also adopted a provision that makes using a VPN to access extremist content – something that WhatsApp may be set to become – "a crime as an aggravating factor."

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• OpenAI figures claim ChatGPT now has 500 million users globally
• Younger workers use it more, but the youngest aren't the biggest users
• OpenAI wants to democratize artificial intelligence and support workers

OpenAI has released new research claiming its AI tools technology is providing major productivity benefits - whilst also recognizing it could majorly disrupt some areas negatively.

This year, ChatGPT has been used by 28% of US adults for work purposes, up from 8% in 2023, suggesting more and more are getting to grips with its productivity and efficiency benefits.

Among its most popular use cases are learning and upskilling (20%), writing and communication (18%), programming, data science and maths (7%), creative ideation, business analytics and even translation.

ChatGPT looks to boost productivity

Interestingly, while we usually see younger generations adopting emerging technologies more quickly, OpenAI revealed that more 25-34-year-old use ChatGPT (32%) compared with 18-24-year-olds (24%), suggesting that generative AI could be more beneficial to slightly more senior positions than entry-level roles.

Lawyers, customer support agents, consultants, government workers and teachers have all reported considerable time savings when using AI.

OpenAI's 'Unlocking Economic Opportunity' paper also claimed AI helps to lower the barrier to entry for entrepreneurship and small businesses, with Y Combinator's 2025 cohort growing at around 10% weekly due to the growing number of AI-first startups.

However, even OpenAI acknowledges AI can bring disruption despite its significant productivity promises.

Claiming it now supports more than 2.5 billion messages per day from 500 million users globally, the company noted it has a responsibility to guide the change – not halt it – by democratizing access, supporting workers and building inclusive systems.

"We’re off to a strong start, creating freely available intelligence being used by more than 500 million people around the world, including 3 million developers," the company wrote.

"OpenAI looks forward to working with policymakers, workers, educators and the public to better understand how AI is changing the economy and ensure that the economic gains that AI brings result in widespread growth and expanded opportunity."

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T-Mobile's Starlink-based texting removes communication friction from the wireless future.

From infrastructure to "ideological bias," the plan details the president's priorities on artificial intelligence.

The ride-sharing service will start offering "Women Preferences" in the coming weeks.

Proton VPN Free is undoubtedly among the best free VPNs available. Offering a broad spectrum of compatibility across devices, impressive speeds, and unlimited bandwidth, it would be easy for anyone looking for a free VPN to get started using Proton VPN Free.

That said, its apps aren't the simplest, you're limited to only one connected device at a time, and you can't choose which of its five available locations you connect to. Plus, our testing found some concerning throttling indicators which could make Proton VPN Free one to avoid should you be looking for a free streaming VPN or torrenting VPN.

Features

Proton VPN Free does exactly what a VPN needs to do and little else. Included in the free plan is your VPN connection, a kill switch, all of Proton VPN's protocols, and the ability to customise your app icon, in case you find yourself in a region with VPN restrictions.

In our testing, we found no reason to be concerned about the kill switch. It was easy enough to set up, though it does require the VPN to be set as an 'always-on VPN' on Android devices.

Upgrading to a paid Proton VPN plan unlocks a plethora of further capabilities for the VPN.

For starters, NetShield, Proton VPN's ad, tracker, and malware blocking software. You can also access Proton VPN's Secure Core server network, which is its equivalent of multi-hop, use Proton for P2P downloading and file sharing, gain one-click access to Tor, split-tunnel your VPN traffic, and unlock Proton VPN's full suite of customization options.

These customisation options range from custom DNS to LAN connections, and even specific NAT types, plus you can set up specific profiles with tailored settings. Something to note is that while Proton VPN Free does allow you to create these fully customized profiles, you can only use them once you upgrade to a paid plan.

Features score: 4/10

Server Network

Proton VPN Free highlights one of the often overlooked benefits of paid VPNs, the ability to choose the server location you need, rather than simply being provided with one.

Proton VPN Free offers five server locations: the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. However, you do not get to choose which of these servers you connect to; instead, you are auto-connected to the fastest server available to you, which, more often than not, is the closest.

While not a big concern, should your intention be to use Proton VPN Free merely to secure your online traffic, it does limit Proton VPN Free's capabilities as a streaming VPN. Plus, you're almost guaranteed to have speed limitations unless you're close to any of these locations.

Choosing Proton VPN's paid version drastically increases the offering. Upping the countries available to a whopping 117, and, more importantly, you gain the ability to choose the exact location you want to connect to.

Server network score: 5/10

Apps

Despite being free, Proton VPN Free offers a good selection of apps. Free plan users can access Proton VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, and Chromebook.

The biggest omissions from this list that you'd be able to access should you choose Proton VPN's paid plan are its smart TV apps. This includes compatibility on Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV Stick.

Proton VPN recently underwent a refresh of many of its apps, leading to a new, sleek design across platforms such as Windows, iOS, and Android. (Image credit: Future)

Generally, however, the spread of compatibility available is impressive. What's more, each of Proton VPN Free's apps closely resembles each other, and features that might be hidden on smaller screen devices, such as mobiles, are easily accessible should you be looking to use Proton VPN free on your tablet or computer.

You can also rest assured that you're not missing out on any features, depending on the device you choose, as, unlike some free VPNs, Proton VPN Free has the same features and protocols available to use across all of its apps.

Apps score: 8/10

Ease of use

Proton VPN across both its paid and free plans is not the simplest VPN to look at, though this doesn't make it trouble to use, even if beginners might need a touch more time.

What must be said, though, is that while Proton VPN Free isn't the simplest to look at, it is arguably the best free VPN to look at for sheer aesthetics. Its dark purple theme, partnered with a simple enough map interface, makes for extremely pleasant viewing, even if all you can do with the free plan is click the connect button before you set about your browsing elsewhere.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

Proton VPN Free on Android is now a sleek VPN to look at, even if not as simple as the likes of ExpressVPN, thanks to a recent UI revamp.

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(Image credit: Future)

Using Proton VPN Free limits some features, anything you cannot access is indicated by either being greyed out, or by having the Proton logo with a plus symbol next to it.

Setting up Proton VPN Free is appreciably simple. Most notably, you're not instantly pushed to make a paid plan account from the outset, unlike many free VPNs. Instead, should you need to sign up, you simply create your account by clicking the button on the login menu, and after going through the steps and signing in, you're greeted with the usual home screen, and a bar telling you what you're missing out on by not having the paid plan. No hidden free plan signup, no trial you need to navigate, just quick access to the free service, and easy ways to upgrade should you choose to.

Once in, there are only two buttons you need to worry about: connect, which you're greeted with on the main screen, and your kill switch. As mentioned already, given the lack of server choice, the connect button does everything for you once clicked, connecting you to the fastest server in a matter of seconds. Your kill switch can be found quickly via the settings tab on mobile phones and tablets, or via the kill switch icon on computers.

Ease of use score: 8/10

Speed and performance

Proton VPN Free is, without doubt, one of the quickest free VPNs available. However, our latest testing revealed a couple of unfortunate issues you may wish to consider before jumping to your own conclusions.

Firstly, in terms of speeds, Proton VPN free achieved a maximum of 335 Mbps, which is by no means slow. These kinds of speeds would comfortably allow you to stream, game, or browse without any major issues. Our concern with this comes from the fact that our previous round of testing saw the free service achieve around 900 Mbps, which is a concerning drop-off.

What's more, testing on an Android device saw our speeds when connected to the VPN halve when compared to what we saw without a VPN connection using either WiFi or a mobile data connection. While this still saw us achieve speeds well over 100 Mbps, it's a notable amount of speed to lose, depending on the tasks you're aiming to achieve.

A final concern we found was that there was evidence of substantial throttling of speeds after a certain amount of data was used. In testing, after using 3-4GB of data, we saw our speeds drop to only around 5 Mbps, which, while fine for browsing or emails, would leave you struggling should you wish to stream or download on your VPN connection.

Given the lack of server choice, it's unlikely you'd choose Proton VPN Free for streaming anyway, but this should definitely come into consideration. Should you be looking for a fast and simple solution to day-to-day internet needs, Proton VPN Free is a seriously strong option.

Speed and performance score: 7/10

Unblocking

Testing Proton VPN's ability to unblock content isn't a simple feat because, as we've mentioned, you don't get to choose the location you connect to.

This means seeing the full scope of Proton VPN Free's capabilities isn't possible from one testing location, like we have. What we can say is we were flawlessly able to access Dutch streaming services, including Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video.

Although we cannot guarantee the same levels of success in other regions, our testing of Proton VPN's paid plan suggests you should have equal levels of success. This is because the paid plan was able to comfortably unblock all the streaming services we tested in all 117 regions, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, 10Play, 9Now, and more.

Unblocking score: 5/10

Privacy and security

Despite not being able to access Proton's full suite of security features with Proton VPN Free, you have no reason to feel as though your data is at any risk, thanks to how the service has been set up.

First and foremost, Proton VPN is constantly proving that it not only doesn't store your data, but also that it has no vulnerabilities that may put your online privacy at risk. An independent audit by Securitum in July 2024 marked the third consecutive year of Proton annually proving its claims, and, while at the time of writing, we're yet to see an audit in 2025, we expect this to continue.

When using Proton VPN Free, you can use any of its various secure VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and its proprietary Stealth protocol. Both WireGuard and OpenVPN have long been common in the VPN industry, and both have been proven countless times to be secure and reliable protocols. WireGuard uses its traditional ChaCha20 encryption with Proton VPN, while Proton VPN's OpenVPN deployment uses AES-256, another impressively secure encryption method.

Stealth, Proton VPN's proprietary protocol, is an obfuscated version of WireGuard that runs over TLS. This makes your browsing data look like normal encrypted browsing data to anyone who might analyze your traffic to spot VPN usage. For most, this is a bonus that won't be entirely necessary, but should you be tackling enterprise rule-based firewalls or DPI-based firewalls, this protocol may prove to have better luck.

Key things missing from Proton VPN Free include Proton VPN's equivalent of multihop, called Secure Core, as well as its NetShield ad, malware, and tracking blocker, and any kind of split tunneling. While missing out on split-tunelling and multihop is unfortunate, we'd usually recommend running an external ad and malware blocker alongside a VPN anyway, so NetShield doesn't prove as big a loss.

Privacy and security score: 8/10

Track record

Given Proton's wide suite of security tools and claims to be a privacy-first company, it gets great attention when put under scrutiny. Luckily, for the most part, it has proven to be flawless. An instance in 2019 where Proton Mail was forced to log a climate activist's IP after a law enforcement request proves to be the only mark on an otherwise problem-free record across its product range.

It should, however, be remembered that Swiss law works differently for VPN providers. VPN providers cannot be compelled to carry out bulk surveillance by either Swiss or foreign law enforcement. This makes Proton VPN much less vulnerable to requests that might put privacy at risk. At an individual account level, Proton VPN does need to comply with legally valid cases brought by the Swiss court, even if made by foreign entities. However, Switzerland has no ties to the EU, US, or NATO intelligence sharing pacts, and often doesn't recognize requests from countries with a poor judicial reputation.

Track record score: 9/10

Customer Support

Proton VPN's customer support options are more limited than most, especially on its free plan.

Should you encounter any issues while using the free plan, you can either use its support site to browse articles that may help you fix your issue, or you can use a contact email address to get some form of support from a human, depending on your issue.

In practice, Proton VPN's support articles are impressively helpful, and there's more than enough of them to cover most issues you face, and while it can be slow to contact a human via email, it's at least a viable alternative should you run into any issues not covered.

The biggest omission for Proton VPN Free customers is no live support functionalities. Even paid Proton VPN customers aren't quite able to access 24/7 support, but the lack of any kind of live chat does mean beginners could be left in the cold if struggling to find the support they need early on in their time using a VPN.

Customer support score: 7/10

Pricing and plans

Proton VPN Free does lack a fair amount compared to what a paid Proton VPN plan can offer, but that doesn't mean it isn't a supremely capable free VPN, depending on your needs.

By choosing to upgrade to Proton VPN's paid option, you can access:

• 12,000 servers across 117 countries – plus the ability to choose which server you connect to!
• Servers capable of speeds up to 10 Gbps with VPN Accelerator
• Netshield ad, malware, and tracker blocking
• Secure Core (multihop) connections
• P2P downloading and file sharing
• 10 simultaneous connections
• The Tor network within your regular browser
• Split tunneling
• VPN Profiles
• Advanced VPN customisation settings

Given Proton VPN starts from $3.59 per month, that is a lot to include in that cost. While it's not as cheap as Surfshark or NordVPN, its paid plan also proved to be capable of speeds which matched the very fastest VPNs throughout, and it also proved flawless at unblocking streaming services.

So, while Proton VPN Free is a great free VPN choice to secure your day-to-day online activities, upgrading to a paid plan could prove to be extremely beneficial depending on what you want to achieve with your VPN.

Pricing and plans score: 9/10

Should you use Proton VPN Free?

If you are looking for a free VPN to protect you while you’re out and about, working overseas, or on holiday, and you’re worried about privacy when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi or someone else’s network, Proton VPN Free is without doubt a good choice for you.

While it doesn’t have much in the way of extra features, you can install it on your device, connect to the VPN, and then pretty much forget all about it. With speeds that will comfortably handle most tasks, an easy-enough interface, and a simple setup process, it's a breeze to get connected in a matter of minutes without being pressed into upgrading to its paid option.

Overall score: 70/100

Alternatives

NordVPN – from $3.39 per month
The best VPN overall
NordVPN ranks as our best VPN overall, making it a superb alternative to any VPN, especially a free one such as Proton VPN Free. Comparing NordVPN to Proton VPN's paid plan, you get more countries, even if only one, equally impressive speeds, clocking in over 950 Mbps, and a whole host of features, including Threat Protection Pro and Meshnet, all for a price cheaper than Proton VPN. View Deal

Surfshark – from $2.19 per month
The best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)
Surfshark is not only the best cheap VPN out there, at only $1.99 per month for two years, but it's also the fastest VPN we tested. Add to that impressive features such as Alternative ID, Surfshark Search, and Antivirus, and you can find yourself a complete security package for a matter of dollars with little difficulty.View Deal

ExpressVPN - from $4.99 per month
A beginner-friendly VPN package
ExpressVPN is without doubt one of the most secure VPN providers. It’s a more expensive VPN than almost any other VPN provider, but in return, you access a high-speed server network that spans 148 locations in 105 countries. Plus, it offers one of the easiest interfaces we've tested, across almost any device you can think of, even if you only get 8 simultaneous connections to use at once.View Deal

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

NordVPN is currently the best VPN we’ve tested. It has long been known for its features, high speeds, and extensive server network, and our tests not only proved that this is true, but arguably truer than ever.

Despite this, NordVPN isn't perfect. It’s not the best cheap VPN we test, its apps could use some TLC on platforms like Fire Stick, and, although it's not NordVPN's main purpose, its antivirus and antimalware tools could be improved significantly. So, let’s dive into why all that still doesn’t stop NordVPN from ranking as the top VPN provider currently available.

Features

While NordVPN’s vast feature array isn’t instantly apparent when loading it up on any device, it doesn't mean the tools aren't there. Clicking through the left-hand panel on computers, both MacOS and Windows, or tapping along the bottom of your Android or iOS phone reveals the breadth of offerings NordVPN provides.

For a start, if you want to add an extra layer of protection to your standard VPN connection, NordVPN offers both Double VPN, which acts as NordVPN’s multihop solution, and Onion over VPN, which combines your NordVPN connection with the Tor network for improved online anonymity.

Onion over VPN proved to be the more temperamental of the two in testing. Still, given its immense security, this is understandable. We found the Netherlands-based entry point was a more effective way to access the network without massively impacting speeds than the alternative in Switzerland. In fact, the route was only slightly slower than a standard NordVPN connection.

Double VPN was more reliable with only minimal load time delays, regardless of which server we connected to.

One of NordVPN’s biggest selling points outside the core VPN product is Threat Protection Pro, an additional security suite available on Plus plans and above. Included in this is malicious and phishing domain blocking, ad and tracker blocking, malware and vulnerability scanning, scam and fraud alerts, and URL cleaning – and there are even more tools listed in the fine print.

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NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro is one of the VPN's key features, adding to its value. With a wide array of tools to keep you secure while searching, downloading, and streaming online. (Image credit: Future)

In daily use, we found it to be reasonably effective, though it did, somewhat humerously, try and block certain assets and links from loading on competitor VPN sites.

Outside of this, while it thankfully didn’t find any risks on our test machines, it did a good job of tracking any files we downloaded and scanning links to ensure safety, though the tool as a whole did seem to use a tad more processing capacity on our Windows 11 desktop machine than we’d have liked.

Meshnet is the final unique tool in NordVPN’s arsenal. By creating a secure local area network (LAN), Meshnet enables easy, secure access to other devices added to the network from wherever you are. This means you can retrieve and share files or images, and even play games with friends, with up to 60 devices able to connect at a time.

In testing, Meshnet proved simple to set up, especially since it can be downloaded for free on any compatible device, and we were able to use it quickly to transfer images and files between our Windows testing desktop, an iPad, and an Android phone.

Features score: 10/10

Server network

NordVPN’s server network is broad, but not massively superior to its closest competition. It currently boasts over 7,000 servers across 118 countries, which puts it comfortably among the best VPNs in terms of country coverage.

Despite this, it falls short in certain regions like the Middle East and Africa. Here, Proton VPN's coverage is more extensive despite spanning fewer countries overall – even if only by one at the time of writing.

As with most VPNs, NordVPN doesn’t have servers in high-censorship regions such as Russia and China, so we can’t dock points for that.

Server network score: 9/10

Apps

NordVPN’s apps are among the best available, though that doesn’t mean they’re flawless. In terms of coverage, NordVPN is available across everything from major platforms such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android to smaller platforms such as Fire TV Stick and Apple TV.

You can also access NordVPN directly in your browser with extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Across the majority of platforms, NordVPN's apps are well-designed and intuitive. We found that layout to be simple enough for any beginner to understand without feeling overwhelmed, although they're not as straightforward as ExpressVPN's apps.

Plus, as we will detail later, many apps share similar user experiences, allowing for easy transitions between devices.

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The NordVPN home screen on Windows presents everything you need in a layout simple enough for most people to use without issue. Image 2 of 3

Threat Protection Pro can be accessed via the main menu or the side panel, and gives you instant access to the various tools at your disposal. Image 3 of 3

NordVPN's settings menu is both clear and informative, giving you the information you need to quickly find the setting you want to adjust.

The biggest letdown for NordVPN is its Linux client. NordVPN for Linux still lacks a GUI, meaning you’re left using command lines to use the VPN rather than experiencing the much simpler systems accessible elsewhere.

Alongside this, depending on your generation of Fire Stick, you may encounter a more rudimentary version of NordVPN, which, while entirely functional and effective, looks nowhere near as clean.

NordVPN’s latest improvement to its apps came to its Firefox extension. We were pleased to see the update give the extension a complete overhaul, adding extra features, such as location spoofing, to its functionality, as well as improving overall security.

Despite this, you’ll likely find, as we did, that the experience is still a tad slower than you’d get across mobile or desktop devices.

Apps score: 8/10

Ease of use

As mentioned, NordVPN’s apps are simple enough, though they're not our top choice for VPN newbies.

On our Windows 11 test desktop, we found the setup process impressively simple, thanks to NordVPN’s setup wizard. This was, usefully, replicated on macOS.

Once loaded, NordVPN greets you with several key features: the VPN, Threat Protection, and Meshnet. Navigating to other features is done via the icons on the left-hand side of the app, and we had no difficulty checking out the kill switch, split tunneling, and VPN protocols.

Mobile presents a similarly balanced experience; setup is as simple as downloading NordVPN from the respective app store and either signing in or signing up. The majority of what you see will directly correlate with the experience on a computer, be that Windows or Mac, with a quick connect option and the option to scroll through specific servers.

However, Meshnet is presented in a much smaller fashion among the server list, and Threat Protection doesn’t appear at all on your initial menu.

Accessing NordVPN features on mobile is as simple as clicking through the buttons at the bottom of the screen. (Image credit: NordVPN)

NordVPN's browser extension experience mirrored the experience we had when testing its mobile apps: quick to connect, reactive, and clutter-free.

Plus, despite missing out on some features, as we’ve already mentioned, it works similarly enough to mobile that we had no issues switching between platforms without feeling confused.

Using NordVPN on your TV, be that via the TV app store or a Fire Stick, Apple TV, or similar device, presents a slightly different layout. Opting for something simpler and closer to that of ExpressVPN, which is a definite win, and we found it to be impressively effective and easy to navigate, even when finding features outside the basic VPN.

We encountered some stumbling blocks when using the older Fire Stick interface, which, perhaps understandably, presents a more convoluted interface than its more modern counterparts.

Ease of use score: 8/10

Speed and performance

NordVPN has long been among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, and our latest round proved no different. Using NordLynx, NordVPN’s WireGuard-based VPN protocol, we comfortably achieved speeds over 950 Mbps throughout our testing.

These speeds remained consistent even when we connected to servers across Europe and the US on our test machine. It’s a big win, especially since other top providers struggled to maintain their speed over longer distances.

OpenVPN speeds were much slower across the board during our most recent round of testing. NordVPN achieved just 173 Mbps, which is less than half the OpenVPN speeds that Surfshark recorded. Still, NordVPN's performance puts it at the upper end of the 100-200 Mbps range we saw from most providers.

How we perform speed tests

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

We test from two different virtual PCs, one in the UK and one in the US. We’re expecting big things out of NordVPN, as both of these servers have a 1 Gbs connection. You can find out more in our VPN testing methodology.

What’s more, during our afternoon OpenVPN testing session, we saw some interesting increases in latency, which at times crept up to around 100 ms.

This isn't hugely impactful to day-to-day browsing, but you'll want to stick with the WireGuard protocol for any online gaming or torrenting. Still, despite the latency concerns, we had no issue with buffering or low-quality pictures when conducting our streaming tests.

Our main concerns stemmed from NordVPN's consistency. While the provider frequently tops our speed rankings, we saw drops in performance between 200-500 Mbps when trialing the service in the morning.

During the evening, we noticed jitter spikes, which, while mostly harmless, may cause concern to gamers. If that's the case, ExpressVPN may be a better option, as we recorded much less jitter when testing its performance.

Speed and performance score: 9/10

Unblocking

Putting NordVPN to the test in unblocking scenarios was, as ever, successful. We used NordVPN with Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, 10Play, 9Now, iPlayer, and Channel 4. We even stretched our testing across Netflix libraries in the US, Japan, Canada, the UK, and Australia.

NordVPN performed flawlessly across all our tests. Regardless of the device we used, including our Windows 11 test desktop, Fire Stick, iOS, and Android, we had no issues accessing any streaming services, nor did we encounter any sudden VPN detection warnings. Full marks there, then.

Plus, as we’ve already mentioned, NordVPN’s speeds were superb. This meant we never encountered slow loading times or buffering, even when connecting across different countries.

Unfortunately, NordVPN only offers a handful of server locations that are P2P-friendly. Plus, while speeds are impressive, the lack of port forwarding capability means you can't make the most of any torrents you're seeding. If that's a problem, it's worth checking out Proton VPN.

Unblocking score: 10/10

Privacy and Security

NordVPN’s security capabilities are built from the ground up. It supports two protocols, OpenVPN and NordLynx, NordVPN’s proprietary protocol built on WireGuard.

OpenVPN is the industry standard for a high-security connection, while WireGuard, and specifically NordLynx, is built for speed and usability with mobile devices, but is also impressively secure.

The encryption methods partnered with these protocols are AES-256 on OpenVPN and ChaCha20 on NordLynx. Against current technologies, these methods are some of the most trustworthy and secure available.

If you're worried about quantum computing, NordVPN is already on the case. Post-quantum encryption was introduced to the NordLynx protocol in September 2024, and NordVPN continues to secure itself further in preparation.

Alongside its secure protocols and encryption methods, NordVPN employs a strict no-logs policy, meaning no browsing data is logged by its servers.

This policy was most recently audited by Deloitte at the end of 2024, and the results, as always, were positive. Deloitte did not find any issues or concerns. As NordVPN's fifth overall no-logs audit, the provider is clearly committed to transparency, proving that you can trust it not to keep logs.

What’s more, being headquartered in Panama means NordVPN isn't subject to data retention laws, meaning it wouldn’t have any data to hand over should it face an unavoidable warrant.

Threat Protection Pro offers one of the best VPN antivirus soltutions currently, despite some issues. (Image credit: Future)

Within NordVPN itself are several additional security features. Firstly, the provider offers a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Thankfully, finding the killswitch takes a matter of seconds within the apps, and should you have any concerns surrounding DNS leaks, you can use NordVPN’s free DNS Leak Checker to settle doubts.

We’ve mentioned NordVPN’s Onion Over and Double VPN capabilities already, and, while our testing environment isn’t exactly the environment they’re intended for, we were successful in using both connections to access data in a timely manner.

Threat Protection and Threat Protection Pro are the final security functions NordVPN has up its sleeve. Both aim to provide the same added layer of protection; however, standard Threat Protection works via DNS blocking and requires a VPN connection, while Threat Protection Pro is a standalone system with more advanced capabilities.

This differentiation manifested in testing, as Threat Protection only managed to block 24% of malware links and 34% of phishing links, whereas Pro blocked 79% of malware links and 87% of phishing links.

In practice, we’d always recommend you use a dedicated antivirus software alongside anything a VPN provides, but either way, Threat Protection Pro’s results are a solid foundation to build upon.

As mentioned already, when we put it to the test, we were pleasantly surprised with how it performed, despite a couple of interesting site block attempts and an unusually high demand on our processing power. It was simple to set up and forget about.

Privacy and security score: 10/10

Track record

NordVPN’s track record is nearly flawless. Its most recent misstep came in 2018 when it was discovered that one of its Finnish servers was compromised through an undisclosed remote access management system.

Despite being left by the data centre providers rather than NordVPN, it prompted a complete overhaul of how NordVPN approached security.

Since this overhaul, no further issues have occurred, with NordVPN continuing to invest in improving the core service, server network, and security. As already mentioned, NordVPN has undergone numerous security and no-logs audits, both before and since the incident.

This, therefore, serves as strong evidence of the work NordVPN has put in and provides reassurance that no such issue might recur.

Track record score: 8/10

Customer support

NordVPN offers a whole host of ways to get in touch if you run into roadblocks. The first port of call is typically the 24/7 live chat manned by an AI chatbot.

This live chat was useful to a degree, but is only really capable of directing you to relevant support articles or escalating your case to a human support agent.

The limitations of the chatbot were apparent during testing while trying to troubleshoot issues we encountered with our connection, but thankfully, human support agents were quick to identify and resolve the problem.

Should you require a different avenue of support, NordVPN also offers an email ticketing system, though, as you’d expect, replies tend to be slower.

If you'd rather do your own problem-solving, you can sprawl through a wide array of support articles, video guides, and FAQs, all of which we found pretty helpful throughout testing, to find the answers you need.

Customer support score: 9/10

Pricing and plansNordVPN pricing

- 1-month plans: $12.99/month (Basic) $13.99/month (Plus) $14.99/month (Complete – US-only) £12.09/month (Ultimate – non-US) $17.99/Prime (US-only)

- 12-month plans: $4.99/month (Basic) $5.99/month (Plus) $6.99/month (Complete – US-only) £6.69/month (Ultimate – non-US) $8.99/Prime (US-only)

- 24-month plans: $3.09/month (Basic) $3.99/month (Plus) $4.99/month (Complete – US-only) £5.09/month (Ultimate – non-US) $6.99/Prime (US-only)

NordVPN is one of the best cheap VPNs available, though it doesn’t quite beat Surfshark when it comes to value for money.

Plans start from $3.09/month, but as with most VPNs, the cheapest plans are billed upfront, so you'll pay $83.43 immediately. This does include three months free as a bonus right now, however. If you’re in the UK, this deal is £2.39/month, or £64.53 upfront.

The issue NordVPN's plan have is that they vary by country – an issue shared by ExpressVPN. If you're in the US (or elsewhere in the world), your plan options differ from those available in the UK.

So, in the US, the best subscription you can buy is the NordVPN Prime plan, costing $6.99/month ($188.73 upfront). Whereas in the UK, your best choice is the Ultimate plan, costing £5.09/month (£137.43 upfront).

The difference between these plans is that while the Prime plan in the US gives you everything NordVPN offers, plus the full NordProtect suite, the Ultimate plan gives you Cyber insurance covering scam loss and ID theft.

Luckily, its best-value plan, the Plus plan, is available on any side of the pond. Costing $3.99/month ($107.73 upfront) in the US and £3.19/month (£86.13 upfront) in the UK, which includes all of NordVPN’s VPN features, Threat Protection Pro, and NordPass with data breach scanning. So if you’re looking for the best subscription to start your NordVPN journey with, this is the one we’d recommend.

Pricing and plans score: 8/10

Should you use NordVPN?

Yes, you should use NordVPN. It ranks as our best VPN for a reason - it doesn’t have any major weak points that dent its armour or give us reason to be concerned about its security or capabilities. Its speeds are superb, its unblocking capabilities are flawless, and it’s got a full suite of airtight security measures.

That said, in some specific circumstances, you might look elsewhere. Want the absolute best speeds out there? Check out Surfshark. Want security that no one comes close to matching? Look for ExpressVPN. Want server coverage in underserved locations? Proton VPN is your bet.

What makes NordVPN special, however, is that if we couldn’t recommend these providers, for whatever reason, NordVPN would provide a near-identical experience that, to most, would leave you wondering what the difference truly is.

Overall score 89/100

1. NordVPN – from $3.39 per month
The best VPN overall
Our latest testing proves that NordVPN continues to lead the pack in terms of providing the best VPN experience possible. Offering a superbly quick and secure VPN, alongside privacy tools designed to safeguard your sensitive data, NordVPN offers an impressive package for a surprisingly low cost.View Deal

NordVPN alternatives

1. Surfshark – from $2.19 per month
The best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)
Surfshark is a more budget-friendly option, offering unlimited simultaneous connections and similar speeds to NordVPN. There’s also a security suite called Surfshark One, which offers features you won’t get anywhere else, such as an identity generator and Surfshark’s private search engine. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

2. ExpressVPN – from $4.99 per month
The best VPN for beginners and the most secure
ExpressVPN offers comparable speeds and security features to NordVPN, with a slightly higher price tag. In return, you get access to a worldwide network of VPN servers powered by an in-house VPN protocol designed to obfuscate your connection so ISPs can’t disconnect you from the internet. ExpressVPN’s unblocking capabilities are practically unparalleled, and you can trial them yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

3. Proton VPN – from $2.99 per month
A superb all-round VPN and online security alternative
Proton continues to provide one of the most widely known (and respected) security suites available. Offering features such as secure emailing, a password manager, and, of course, a VPN, Proton offers a solution for almost any online security dilemma you may have. View Deal

NordVPN FAQsIs there a NordVPN free trial?

No, currently NordVPN doesn’t offer a free trial. Instead, you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee should you want to give NordVPN a trial before committing to it long term.

Is NordVPN good for streaming?

Yes, NordVPN is currently the best VPN for streaming. In our testing, it successfully unblocked services, including Netflix (In the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Japan), Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, 9Now, 10Play, and more.

Can I use NordVPN on multiple devices?

You can use NordVPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously. Should you need more devices than this, we’d recommend looking at Surfshark, which offers unlimited simultaneous connections.