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DOGE recently gained high-level access to a database that controls government payments and loans to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.

(Image credit: Christian Blaza for NPR)

One of the most innovative, if least understood updates in Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 8 is the new antioxidant index metric, which uses Samsung's latest BioActive sensor. Unlike sensors that look under the skin for, say, blood oxygenation or heartbeats, these new yellow, blue, and violet sensors focus on the surface and measure your level of antioxidants.

According to Samsung executives who walked us through Galaxy Watch 8's latest health capabilities shortly after unveiling the new wearables at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 9, measuring antioxidant levels on the skin relates directly, though not immediately, to your eating and drinking habits. Certain foods, for instance, like fruits and vegetables, might raise the antioxidant levels in your skin. Having higher antioxidant levels might help stave off illness.

We were shown what looked like a direct correlation between, for instance, drinking alcohol during the holidays and how that might lower antioxidant levels. These levels, by the way, are represented in a chart you can read on your Samsung Health app.

Even if you put the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 on when it's available on July 25, and have a healthy salad instead of a burger and fries, the watch may not immediately read any differences. Antioxidant readings appear somewhat cumulative on the skin and might take a week to show up.

There's also the matter of how you use the new Galaxy Watch 8 sensors.

Now, ironically, it seems, Samsung worked hard to reengineer the Galaxy Watch 8 and its band attachment system to bring the watch closer to your skin. My sense is that these watch backs sit on your wrists, so I'm not sure how much closer they can get, and the executives didn't entirely explain that.

Even so, for this newest sensor, it doesn't matter. The only way to read your antioxidant levels with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is to take it off your wrist and press your thumb against the BioActive sensor on the back of it.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

We asked why the sensors couldn't read the antioxidant levels on the wrist, and it turned out to be a fairly obvious answer.

"We tried a lot with the measurement on the wrist, but there is – we really want to measure from skin, not the blood. Here [indicates wrist], there are many capillaries."

Essentially, a wrist measurement would be looking at (or confused by) the blood in those capillaries and not reading the skin. When you press with your thumb, you actually push away all the blood, so the sensors read the antioxidant levels in the skin more easily.

When I asked why the thumb and not other fingers, it turns out it could be done with your other fingers, but doing the reading with a thumb is just more comfortable.

While this makes perfect sense, this sensor might get used less than others because it's not a passive reading. Instead, it's more like ECG, in which you have to sit still and put a finger on the top button for 20 seconds or so. You actively choose to take this reading, plus you must take off the watch to do so.

Samsung acknowledged there's no notification telling you to occasionally take an antioxidant reading, which means this could end up being a little-used health metric.

Having those antioxidant readings could be useful for understanding your overall wellness as it relates to eating habits, but the other hurdle is remembering what you ingested and when, and few enjoy keeping a diary of their food intake.

I suggested that the upcoming Project Moohan Glasses (a joint XR project between Samsung and Google) might assist here, actively seeing and tracking everything you eat. The Samsung Exec said it's a good idea.

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• Microsoft will donate $4 billion in cash over five years to upskill today's youth
• AI and cloud skills are lacking, and much of the global workforce needs to adapt
• Teachers are also getting support to help them integrate AI into the classroom

Microsoft has announced a pledge to donate $4 billion in cash over the course of five years to help K-12 schools, community and technical colleges, and nonprofits expand the use of, and training initiative to support, AI and cloud technology.

In a blog post, Microsoft outlined how it wants to support 20 million people by upskilling them with AI tools to support future working environments, starting at a young age.

"This represents our next chapter for corporate philanthropy and our non-commercial business model," President Brad Smith explained in the post.

Microsoft grant scheme to support future workers

As part of the scheme, Microsoft will be collaborating with governments to help launch its Elevate Academy to provide AI training right from foundation levels to more advanced skillsets.

The company will also work with OpenAI, Anthropic and the American Federation of Teachers to create the National Academy for AI Instruction, investing $23 million over five years to train 400,000 teachers in AI skills to help them integrate the tech into classrooms.

"We believe some of the most important work ahead isn’t just building smarter machines – it’s ensuring those machines help people thrive," Smith added.

The company cited WEF research stating that two-fifths (59%) of the global workforce will need new digital skills by the end of the decade. A separate study highlighted by Microsoft also revealed that three-quarters of the global youth lack the right skills for the AI economy.

Despite laying off thousands of workers in the post-pandemic years, driven largely by AI-induced productivity gains, Microsoft's President stressed the importance of human workers in the future.

"This is the work ahead – not just building the next generation of AI but building the next generation of opportunity," Smith concluded.

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• The next State of Play broadcast airs tonight and is dedicated entirely to Ghost of Yōtei
• The livestream will begin at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 11 PM CEST / 10 PM BST and will be 20 minutes long
• Sucker Punch studios has confirmed that it will cover the game's story as well as offer a gameplay deep dive

Sony's next State of Play airs tonight, and this special broadcast will be dedicated entirely to Ghost of Yōtei.

The Ghost of Yōtei State of Play is scheduled to begin on July 10 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 11 PM CEST / 10 PM BST, can be watched on PlayStation’s Twitch and YouTube channels, and is confirmed to be 20 minutes long.

Hosted by Sucker Punch’s creative directors, Jason Connell and Nate Fox, the livestream will offer a first look at the gameplay since the game's announcement.

"Beyond sharing more about Atsu’s quest for vengeance, we’re excited to show off her new weapons, new ways to personalize your journey at the edge of Japan, new special modes, and much more," Sucker Punch said in a PlayStation Blog post.

That's a lot to cover in 20 minutes, but I'm mainly hoping for a deeper look into the game's narrative. Earlier this year, Ubisoft launched Assassin's Creed Shadows, and since the first trailer for Ghost of Yōtei dropped, it's been difficult not to immediately compare the two games.

Admittedly, we don't know much about Ghost of Yōtei's story, only that the game follows protagonist Atsu as she hunts down a band of outlaws that murdered her family when she was younger.

It's very similar to Naoe's quest for revenge in Shadows, and if Sucker Punch studios wants to stand out among the best games of 2025, they'll need to deliver something that will subvert expectations.

Ghost of Yōtei launches on October 2 for PS5. Ghost of Yōtei pre-orders are now live.

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The iPhone 17 Pro probably won’t land until September 2025, but this being a high-profile handset we’re already hearing leaks and rumors about it – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series.

The Pro will likely slot in just below the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and just above the iPhone 17 and perhaps the rumored iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim.

And while we don’t know loads about it yet, early rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new button, new cameras, and a new chipset, making this a potentially major and exciting upgrade. Below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 17 Pro so far.

Latest news

iPhone 17 Pro chipset and RAM details have leaked again.View Deal

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next smaller Pro iPhone
• When is it out? Probably September 2025
• How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

Expect it in September

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Likely to land in September of 2025
• Will probably cost at least $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

We haven’t heard many iPhone 17 Pro release date leaks yet, but based on Apple’s usual patterns we can say that it will probably be announced in the first or second week of September, and indeed the one leak we have heard points to a September launch for the iPhone 17 Pro.

More specifically, it will probably be announced on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of the first or second week of September. Apple more often goes for the second week of September, leaving the most likely announcement dates as September 8, September 9, or September 10.

Pre-orders then typically open on the Friday of the announcement week, which would mean September 12, and the iPhone 17 Pro will most likely ship the following Friday, which would be September 19.

But it’s possible the various stages of the launch will happen a week earlier, or that Apple will break with its usual patterns.

There aren’t yet many iPhone 17 Pro price leaks either, but the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,849, and the one iPhone 17 Pro price leak we've heard so far suggests it might cost more than that. Given that President Trump is currently threatening Apple with tariffs, a price rise looks likely.

Can you trust these rumors?

So far there aren't any release date leaks or many price leaks, but based on past form we're almost certain that the iPhone 17 Pro will be announced in September, and from what we're hearing so far it could well have a price rise.

A new button and a new color

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Might include a new button and a new camera design
• Expect the same screen size but possibly upgrades to the tech
• Could have an aluminum frame

The biggest iPhone 17 Pro design leak we’ve heard so far is that the volume buttons and the Action button might all be replaced by a single new key that can do the job of all those things. Exactly how it would do all those things is uncertain, but it may well have a similar design to the Camera Control button, meaning it can register different strength presses as well as swipes, and respond in different ways to each.

It's worth noting that Apple has previously made iPhone prototypes with unified volume buttons, including an iPhone 14 Pro prototype. The buttons here were solid-state rather than mechanical, and it's not clear whether the iPhone 17 Pro's implementation would be mechanical or not, if it even happens, but it could look something like this anyway.

The iPhone 17 Pro will probably also be available in at least one new shade, with one leak suggesting Apple is considering using one of the three colors pictured below. From left to right these are Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium, and Green Titanium, and the source says Teal Titanium is the most likely to get used.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

However, the same source has more recently said that a Sky Blue shade is the most likely, and has also previously put forward Titanium Blue or Titanium Purple as possibilities.

We’ve also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro might use a “more complex” aluminum design, rather than the titanium of its predecessor.

Another leak has since shed more light on this aluminum design, saying that the iPhone 17 Pro will have an aluminum frame and that the top half of the back will also be aluminum, with the bottom half remaining glass so wireless charging will work. The report adds that it will also have a larger rectangular camera bump than the iPhone 16 Pro.

A leaked image supposedly showing an iPhone 17 series frame lines up with this leak, and points to a Pixel 9-like camera design. You can see this below.

(Image credit: @Jukanlosreve)

However, we've elsewhere heard a counter to this, with another source saying the iPhone 17 Pro will use titanium, not aluminum.

We've also heard the possibility of a different but still new iPhone 17 Pro camera design, as you can see in the image below. But this comes from a source with a mixed track record, so we're not convinced.

(Image credit: Front Page Tech / @asherdipps‬)

This iPhone 17 Pro Max render got given a redo by its creator that paints the odd design in a new light. But it doesn't tell us any more about why Apple would go for such a design; Cupertino tends not to mix up iPhone design unless it facilitates a new feature or hardware.

Still, ever more leaks are showing off this design, including some iPhone 17 dummy units, and some that show an iPhone 17 Pro dummy unit alongside the iPhone 16 Pro, so it's looking likely, which is seemingly a disappointment to many Apple fans.

It's also a design that Google has poked fun at, for being somewhat similar to the Pixel line's appearance.

That said, more recent leaked iPhone 17 Pro dummy unit photos show a much more polished version of this design than those early leaks. So it might not look so bad after all.

In any case, there's also a small chance the iPhone 17 Pro could have a smaller Dynamic Island by hiding Face ID components under the screen. We've heard talk of a smaller Dynamic Island more than once now, but another source claims the Dynamic Island won't be changing.

We've also elsewhere heard that the iPhone 17 Pro won't have a two-tone design, with the camera and back apparently set to be the same color, and that from the front not much will be changing. You can see how this might look in a single-color iPhone 17 Pro render.

One smaller design change we might see is the presence of curvier sides than the iPhone 16 Pro has, though so far only one source has mentioned this.

And while we don't yet know how thick the iPhone 17 Pro will be, it certainly looks a lot thicker than the iPhone 17 Air in a leaked image.

As for the screen, the iPhone 17 Pro might have a 6.3-inch display, just like the iPhone 16 Pro, but it could be more anti-reflective than the current display, as well as being more scratch resistant. That said, a more recent leak suggests Apple has abandoned plans for a scratch resistant and anti-reflective coating.

We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro's screen could use a new technology that makes it more power efficient, durable, and overall better performing.

Can you trust these rumors?

We fully expect the iPhone 17 Pro to have a 6.3-inch screen, since Apple only recently upped the display size with the iPhone 16 Pro. Surprisingly, the new camera design is also looking likely, since lots of sources have said this is happening. The other design and display leaks so far are worth taking with a pinch of salt though, as not many sources have weighed in.

Two upgraded cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• A 48MP telephoto upgrade is likely
• It could also have a new 24MP front-facing camera
• The main sensor could be smaller

The main camera upgrade coming to the iPhone 17 Pro could be a 48MP telephoto camera, up from 12MP on the iPhone 16 Pro. This 48MP telephoto camera has been mentioned in several iPhone 17 Pro camera leaks, including from reputable iPhone leakers, so this may well happen.

Most leaks suggest it will still offer the same level of zoom – namely 5x optical zoom, but one source differs, saying that the iPhone 17 Pro will instead offer 3.5x zoom, but will still be capable of 'lossless' 5x and even 7x by cropping into the image.

The other significant camera upgrade we could see is a 24MP front-facing camera, up from 12MP on the current model.

As for the main and ultra-wide cameras, leaks so far suggest they’ll stick at 48MP like on the current model. However, one source suggests that oddly the main sensor could be smaller on the iPhone 17 Pro, which might make it a downgrade.

We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro might be capable of 8K video recording, which would be up from the 4K of current Pro models.

And while less likely there’s also talk that the iPhone 17 Pro could have a mechanical aperture, meaning you’d be able to change the aperture and therefore also the depth of field.

Finally, we've also heard that Apple might be testing a 200MP camera, but while this could be used on a future iPhone it probably won't be included on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Can you trust these rumors? 

So many sources have talked about a 48MP telephoto camera that this upgrade seems likely. We haven't heard as much about the other cameras though, including the rumored 24MP selfie snapper upgrade, so we're less sure of those specs. We also wouldn't count on the phone having a mechanical aperture, as that seems a bit niche for how much work it might involve.

The most powerful iPhone chipset yet

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• A top-end A19 Pro chipset
• Either 8GB or 12GB of RAM

One thing we can be very confident about is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, one that will most likely be called the A19 Pro.

Not only is an A19 Pro chipset an obvious upgrade, but it has also been mentioned by multiple sources.

Beyond that, there’s a chance that the iPhone 17 Pro will get 12GB of RAM, which is something we've heard more than once, and would be an increase on the 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro.

However while multiple leaks have pointed to 12GB, some others suggest that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get this upgrade.

The iPhone 17 Pro might however get a vapor chamber, which could help it avoid overheating and could also boost performance. We've heard this vapor chamber claim from multiple sources now, so it's looking likely.

And as for the battery, Apple is reportedly considering using a thinner and lighter motherboard, which could free up additional space for a larger battery than in the current model. We've also heard that the iPhone 17 Pro could offer reverse wireless charging.

Finally, for software we expect the iPhone 17 Pro to run iOS 26, and this is now out in beta form, so we know all about it. The headline change is a whole new look to the interface, but many apps have also been streamlined, a new Apple Games app has been added, and there are improvements to Apple Intelligence.

Can you trust these rumors? 

One of the few things we're almost certain of is that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new chipset, since that's a standard yearly upgrade for Apple's phones. We hope it will also get a RAM upgrade, but so far it's unclear whether it will or not.

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Marvel should be worried.

Gain back your storage space with minimal agony over what you need to delete forever.

Commentary: This real-life horror story debuted last week as -- no joke -- the No. 2 movie on the platform.

• IKEA's new NattBadd Bluetooth speaker is available in three color options
• It has Spotify Tap and multi-speaker pairing, and costs $49.99 / £29
• IKEA has also announced a lamp with an integrated speaker

IKEA has launched a cute Bluetooth speaker in three color options: black, pink and yellow. It's designed to match your home decor and it's very small: just 7 inches tall and a little under five inches wide.

The speaker, called Nattbadd (below), is designed to look like an old radio and has two particularly useful features: Spotify Tap for instant listening, and the ability to pair multiples together to fill your home with sound.

(Image credit: IKEA)

Spotify Tap is a handy shortcut (typically found on headphones) that lets you resume a listening session where you left off, just by tapping the device. Thanks to the Nattbadd's very low price price tag – $49.99 in the US and £29 in the UK – buying multiple speakers shouldn't break the bank, either.

This isn't the only new speaker from IKEA either. It's also announced the brilliantly-named Blomprakt (below), a lamp with an integrated speaker and an intriguing design: its top is off-center and tilted to give directional light. That'll be launching in October 2025, but pricing unfortunately hasn't been confirmed just yet.

The two new speakers are just the start of a big smart home push from IKEA, with whole bunch of other Matter-compatible products incoming, too.

IKEA goes all-out on Matter

(Image credit: IKEA)

The new speakers are part of a renewed smart home push that IKEA's making, and in January 2026 the retailer says it will launch over 20 new smart home products.

Significantly, they'll all be compatible with Matter, the smart home standard – and that means you'll be able to use them not just with IKEA's own smart home hubs such as the Matter-compatible Dirigera, but with many other Matter controllers from third parties.

As Range Manager David Granath explains, "our goal is to make the smart home easy to use, easy to understand and within reach for the many." Matter's simplicity and wide compatibility is a key part of that, and IKEA's whole-hearted support of the standard is likely to help make it much more popular.

IKEA will also launch a collaboration with the Swedish designer Tekla Severin, aka Teklan, in January. The homeware giant previously announced the Teklan series in January, but said the full range wouldn't launch until "early 2026". Well, it's now been a bit more specific about that, but it's a shame they won't land in time for Christmas stockings.

Still, the Nattbadd is available from IKEA now, and we're be looking to try it out soon to see how it compares to the surprisingly good Vappeby Bluetooth speaker (which is even cheaper at $15 / £12 / AU$22).

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• Windows 11 24H2 now has better security levels
• This is down to Microsoft improving the scripting engine in the OS
• As a result, hackers will find it more difficult to discover and leverage exploits in Windows 11

Windows 11 just got a move to tighten security, but Microsoft has only applied this to the latest version, 24H2.

So, if you've yet to upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 - perhaps because you've heard about some of the bugs in this version of the desktop OS - now might be a good time to finally pull the trigger (especially given that some nifty new features have just arrived).

Neowin reports that Microsoft announced a switch in the default scripting engine in Windows 11, from the JScript runtime to the newer JScript9Legacy.

If that sounds like gobbledegook, the long and short of it is that this is the engine that runs JScript, Microsoft's own take on JavaScript for use within Windows (and Internet Explorer back in the day).

Any apps or web pages leveraging JScript will be more performant with the new version, and security will get a boost - there will be less chance of holes in JScript popping up in Windows 11 that attackers might capitalize on.

Microsoft explains: "JScript9Legacy is designed to be more compatible with modern web standards, which helps mitigate the risk of cross-site scripting (XSS) and other web-based attacks.

"The new engine incorporates advanced security features such as improved handling of JavaScript objects and stricter execution policies, which make it harder for malicious scripts to exploit the system.

"By replacing JScript.dll with JScript9Legacy.dll, the operating system can better defend against a wider range of security threats, ultimately providing a more secure environment for users."

Analysis: Making life harder for hackers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

All of this happens in the background, so you won't notice any difference to your experience on the desktop. You will, however, be more secure with Windows 11 24H2 now (without having to do anything).

As Neowin points out, Windows has been vulnerable to exploits leveraged by this scripting engine in the past - there was a flaw that allowed for remote code execution (an attacker remotely running code on the host PC to nefarious ends) a year ago. That was patched, naturally, but having JScript with much tighter defenses by default, so fresh attacks are less likely to succeed in the first place, is obviously very worthwhile.

So, Windows 11 24H2 now has tighter security than 23H2 by default, and this is a good enough reason to consider an upgrade if you've been hanging back. And I get why you might be cautious, too, given the prevalence of some quite nasty (and odd) bugs plaguing those who made the leap to 24H2 (particularly gamers). However, those glitches have settled down somewhat - so it's perfectly possible you won't run into any stumbling blocks at this point.

Of course, at some stage, you're going to have to upgrade to version 24H2 anyway - Microsoft recently made the update compulsory. Indeed, Windows 11 25H2 is now on the horizon (packing the same security improvement we see here, naturally).

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• Nvidia briefly became the first company ever to reach a $4 trillion valuation
• Data centre revenue and AI form huge part of Nvidia's success
• Despite brief dip, it remains the world's most valuable company

After months battling it out to become the world's most valuable company, and briefly holding that title on several occasions, Nvidia has become the first company ever to hit a staggering $4 trillion market cap.

Although the company's value has since dipped slightly, to just $3.972 trillion at the time of writing, it remains the world's most valuable company ahead of Microsoft and Apple – the only two other companies to have passed the coveted $3 trillion mark.

Although fluctuations continue to see the three companies change positions, Nvidia continues to see strong growth due to continued demand for AI chips.

Nvidia becomes the world's first $4 trillion company

Much of Nvidia's success can be attributed to the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, as its stock has risen more than 15x in the past five years as a result of the demand for AI.

More recently, Nvidia shares are up 15% month-over-month and 22% year-to-date.

The news comes in the year after Nvidia hit $2 trillion (February 2024) and $3 trillion (June 2024) valuations.

Internally, Nvidia's earnings also continue to grow, with first-quarter revenue up 12% quarter-over-quarter and a health 69% year-over-year. The company also revealed that data centre revenue also up 73% compared with last year, accounting for over 88% of the company's total revenue.

"Global demand for Nvidia's AI infrastructure is incredibly strong. AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate," CEO Jensen Huang explained.

This marks a departure from Nvidia's past, when it was known for its gaming GPUs. With Nvidia stock worth just 1% of what it's worth today eight years ago, it's unclear how much more growth the company could be set to experience.

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• A new update for The Last of Us Part 2 lets you play the game's story in chronological order
• Naughty Dog says Chronogical mode will allow players to "will gain even deeper insight into Part 2’s narrative"
• New trophies and Uncharted 4-themed skins tied to the mode have also been added

Naughty Dog has released a surprise update for The Last of Us Part 2 that lets you play the game's story in chronological order.

The new Chronological mode is now available for free and allows players to experience the game's non-linear story beats in the order that they take place.

Spoiler alert! If you've played The Last of Us Part 2, this means that those Ellie and Joel flashbacks that are scattered throughout the story will now be featured chronologically near the beginning of the game.

This also means that Joel's gut-punch death won't kick-start the emotional journey and will come much later, and we'll learn about Abby's motivations a lot sooner.

"Through the new Chronological mode, we believe players will gain even deeper insight into Part 2’s narrative," Naughty Dog explained in a PlayStation Blog post.

"Those who have already played will know its story is told non-linearly, as Ellie and Abby’s motivations, realizations, and emotional stakes unfold across myriad flashbacks and present-day storylines. While this structure is very intentional and core to how our studio wanted Part II’s themes and narrative beats to impact players, we always wondered what it would be like to experience this story chronologically. And now finally, we can answer that question."

One of the game's strong suits is its narrative structure, and although the Chronogical mode is a neat addition that I'll gladly experiment with, I don't think it will offer the same emotional payoff the original format does.

"It was no small feat to bring The Last of Us Part II’s story chronologically together, given that Part II’s story is so meticulously put together," the studio said. "We’re grateful to the developers both at Naughty Dog and our partners at Nixxes to make the Chronological mode as smooth as possible. And while we of course recommend players still new to the game to play through Part 2's story as was originally developed, the team’s hard work has paid off with a fascinating new way to enjoy this chapter."

In addition to this new mode, new trophies tied to the experience have been added, along with two new Uncharted 4: A Thief's End costumes for Joel and Tommy, inspired by Nathan Drake and Sam Drake.

These skins can be unlocked by completing the narrative in Chronological mode and will be usable in No Return, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's survival mode.

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• The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has appeared on Geekbench
• Its scores are far lower than those of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
• However, it's still an improvement on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's scores

Samsung just unveiled its line of foldable phones for 2025, headlined by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, and next up it’s Google, with the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold expected to land in August – but if you're looking for a foldable and power is your priority, a new benchmark suggests you’re better off buying the Z Fold 7 than waiting for Google's new foldable.

A Geekbench listing for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold (spotted by NotebookCheck) includes a single-core score of 2,276 and a multi-core result of 6,173. In isolation those numbers might not mean much, but they’re well below the results we’ve seen for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

While Geekbench hasn’t yet listed an average score for the Z Fold 7, recent results include the likes of 2,826 and 2,552 for single-core, and 9,053 and 8,639 for multi-core. It’s likely that when an average is reached it will be similar to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s averages, as that phone has the same chipset and amount RAM, and that’s sitting at 2,878 for single-core and 9,510 for multi-core.

(Image credit: Geekbench)Expectedly underpowered

All of those numbers are much higher than the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s results. Now, we’d take the Pixel’s results with a pinch of salt, since these would have been recorded on a pre-release handset, so further optimization could take place. And this is just one result, so it could end up being an outlier.

But there’s nothing overly surprising here, as the Google Tensor G5 chipset the phone will probably use is unlikely to match the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. That’s the case every year, with Google’s chipsets proving less powerful than rival options.

Still, this is an improvement on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which tends to record single-core scores of just under 2,000, and multi-core scores of around 4,500.

So going by this one Pixel 10 Pro Fold result, it should be a significant upgrade on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at least, and while it probably won’t be the speediest phone around, it’s unlikely to feel lacking in power in everyday use.

We should find out for sure in August, with leaks pointing to August 20 as the announcement date for the whole Google Pixel 10 line.

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It’s finally official: The Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has been green lit by HBO Max, following earlier reports from 2023 that it had been in development. We don’t know when it will begin to film or air, but fans can start to get excited.

Or can we? This isn’t the first spinoff we’ve seen for the franchise, with CBS and Paramount+ partnering up to bring us seven seasons of Young Sheldon and new kid on the block Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

Even though there was overlap between the hit comedy series and its initial prequel, The Big Bang Theory (TBBT) hasn’t been on our screens since 2019. But making a comeback with a spinoff like this has me worried, and not in a quirky Sheldon Cooper way.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe isn’t the part of The Big Bang Theory universe we want to see

Stuart (Kevin Sussman), Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) in The Big Bang Theory. (Image credit: CBS)

If you could choose to follow-up with any element of The Big Bang Theory, it definitely wouldn’t be with comic book store owner Stuart (Kevin Sussman). When we last saw him, he’d finally moved in with the love of his life Denise (Lauren Lapkus), who he’d originally hired to help in the store after it became popular.

Here’s what HBO Max tells us to expect from Stuart Fails to Save the Universe: “Tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert ( Brian Posehn), and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie). Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well.”

It’s a clever get-out-of-jail-free card for HBO Max. As the synopsis suggests, fan favourites from TBBT might return, but it isn’t guaranteed. The most obvious follow-up to the main series would have been to catch up with Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Penny (Kayley Cuoco), Leonard (Johnny Galecki) or Howard (Simon Helberg). Choosing to follow a minor character fans might not remember or care about is the very definition of the meme “go girl, give us nothing”.

Can we then assume that a left-field approach like Stuart Fails to Save the Universe could actually damage the legacy of TBBT? We talk a lot about existing IPs being left alone in favour of original storytelling, and this could be a great example. It’s currently unclear what value the new spinoff will add, other than choosing to appease fans with surprise cameos as and when it wants to.

There's proof in the spinoff pudding, too. While Young Sheldon became a surprise smash hit that ruled the Nielsen ratings, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage has been much more mixed. Granted, it’s been renewed for a second season, but after the single-cam format of Young Sheldon, it returned to TBBT’s signature multi-cam approach. Combined with a laugh track, the audience reactions suggest the time for classic sitcom formats has been and gone.

If Stuart Fails to Save the Universe can lean into what came before in TBBT without making it a superficial cameo soup with its sights set on high ratings, then there’s potential for a job well done. If not, well… Stuart might fail to save his own show.

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• Samsung says the tri-fold foldable will be out in 2025
• The Tab S11 tablets are coming too – probably in September
• We already have a host of new devices to test out

We saw plenty of new product announcements at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event yesterday, but we didn't quite get all of the news we were expecting – and Samsung has gone on the record to clarify that more launches are on the way.

First up, as reported by The Korea Times (via Android Authority), Samsung mobile chief TM Roh has said the long-awaited Galaxy tri-fold phone should be coming before the end of 2025, so adjust your savings plans accordingly.

"We are working hard on a tri-fold smartphone with the goal of launching it at the end of this year," Roh told journalists. "We are now focusing on perfecting the product and its usability, but we have not decided its name."

One name in the running is apparently the Samsung Galaxy G Fold, but watch this space. The device will seemingly come with two hinges and three sections to its main display, and is also rumored to cost quite a bit (as you would expect).

Tablets are coming too

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Next up, there's the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 tablet series, following on from the models we saw last year, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. There's an update here as well, again courtesy of Android Authority.

According to a Samsung executive, the Galaxy Tab S11 devices will be "coming through shortly" in line with the "traditional cadence" – which most likely means a September launch this year, to match the 2024 schedule.

Leaks around the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 tablets have been pretty thin on the ground so far, but we are expecting both a standard model and an Ultra edition to match the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra – as Samsung takes on the best iPads once more.

In the meantime, we've got hands-on impressions of all the devices Samsung did announce yesterday: the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

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• OpenAI plans to launch an AI-powered web browser, report claims
• It could arrive “in the coming weeks” and compete with Google Chrome
• This would give OpenAI access to extensive user data, Reuters says

The browser wars could be about to heat up in a big way, with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI apparently set to launch its own web browser in the coming weeks. According to Reuters, that could put significant pressure on Google Chrome and potentially “fundamentally change how consumers browse the web.”

Citing “three people familiar with the matter,” Reuters reports that the browser will have an artificial intelligence (AI) chat interface that would keep many user interactions within the chat window rather than linking out to external websites.

As well as that, the browser might integrate OpenAI’s AI agent – dubbed Operator – that would allow the app to “carry out tasks on behalf of the user.” This could include “booking reservations or filling out forms” on the websites you use.

OpenAI’s browser is apparently built using Google’s open-source Chromium tech, which powers Chrome, Edge, and many of the other best web browsers. OpenAI’s product is due to launch “in the coming weeks,” Reuters’ sources believe.

Analysis: The battle for your data goldmine

(Image credit: OpenAI)

OpenAI faces stiff competition in the browser world. Google Chrome currently enjoys a stranglehold position, with roughly two-thirds of the available market share.

AI firm Perplexity and web firms Brave and The Browser Company have also launched their own AI browsers. Like OpenAI’s rumored effort, Perplexity’s browser can perform tasks on your behalf.

Reuters suggests a clear motive for OpenAI: user data. Running its own browser would allow the company to harvest as much information as possible from users, which could then go back into training its AI models and providing other monetization opportunities.

After all, Chrome “provides user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably, and also gives Google a way to route search traffic to its own engine by default,” Reuters says. An OpenAI browser would give the AI firm a similarly powerful access route to lucrative data.

If you’re concerned about your privacy, then, OpenAI’s browser is likely to be ringing alarm bells in your head. OpenAI has faced criticism for its data collection practices, as has Google Chrome. As someone who's used Firefox for over two decades, that has me worried.

When scooping up users’ private data is an incentive for launching a browser – as Reuters implies it might be – serious caution is advised. We’ll have a clearer idea of all this when OpenAI’s web browser launches later this year, so keep your eyes peeled.

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• The iPhone 17 Air could be sold in black, silver, light gold, and light blue shades
• It may also have an A19 Pro chipset, rather than the base A19
• However, previous leaks disagree with that chipset claim

If you’ve got your sights set on the iPhone 17 Air, you can also now start thinking about what color you'd like your slimline iPhone to be, as a new leak has revealed the four shades that Apple will apparently sell the device in.

According to leaker Majin Bu – citing a previous leak from Fixed Focus Digital which they claim to have now “confirmed” – the iPhone 17 Air will be available in black, silver, light gold, and light blue shades.

The black shade is apparently a “dark and understated tone”, the silver model is said to be “bright and clear”, the light gold is described as being “warm and soft”, and the light blue as “very light” and “evoking a clear sky”.

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

You can see how these colors might look in the image Majin Bu provided above, though it sounds like the shades shown are probably guesses based on how their sources described the colors.

In any case, we’d take this information with a pinch of salt – although the use of mostly quite pale, delicate shades seems fitting for phone that’s likely to be billed as slim and elegant.

Some surprising chipset news

In other iPhone 17 Air news, leaker Fixed Focus Digital (via Phone Arena) has claimed that the handset will have an A19 Pro chipset. That’s at odds with previous leaks, which suggested only the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max would have this chipset, while the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air would have an A19.

However, they added that the iPhone 17 Air will get a version of the A19 Pro with a five-core GPU while the iPhone 17 Pro models will get a six-core version, in which case the Pro models would still have the most powerful chipset.

They also mention RAM, saying that the standard iPhone 17 will have 8GB, while the other three models will have 12GB. So if this is all correct then the upcoming iPhones could have three different power tiers rather than the usual two.

We’re a bit skeptical of this since it would be a change of form for Apple, and since other leaks point to the iPhone 17 Air having the base A19 chipset, but if Apple does boost the power that could help to make up for the Air only having one rear camera lens, which is something that’s widely rumored to be the case.

We should find out exactly how powerful the iPhone 17 Air is – and what colors it’s available in – sometime in September, as that’s when it will likely launch, alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 series.

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