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• Leaked images appear to show a Crossbody Strap product
• The lanyard-like device is rumored to release alongside the iPhone 17
• It may contradict earlier iPhone 17 leaks, raising some awkward questions

Last week, an iPhone 17 packaging leak dropped a hint about an unreleased “Crossbody Strap,” which sparked questions over what exactly this mysterious product could be. Now, a leaker has revealed images depicting what they claim is the Crossbody Strap, but the fresh pictures have raised a whole new set of questions in their wake.

The images have been included in a new blog post by prolific leaker Majin Bu. They depict a lanyard-type strap that is designed to clip onto an iPhone and hold it across your body. They suggest that the strap will be made from a nylon-type material that looks similar to that found on the Sport Loop band of the Apple Watch, and Bu says a silicone version might also become available.

The Crossbody Strap is apparently magnetic along its entire length, and these magnets are used to securely close the ends of the strap, which Bu says “[eliminates] the need for traditional hooks or loops.” It should be compatible with iPhone 17 cases, according to Bu, and potentially also the AirPods Pro 3.

However, it’s the ends of the strap that are causing a little confusion. The images posted on Bu’s website show a strap that has a uniform thickness all the way along its length. Yet that thickness looks to be significantly wider than the lanyard cutouts shown in leaked iPhone 17 case photos provided by – you guessed it – Majin Bu. It therefore appears that Bu’s latest Crossbody Strap post actually contradicts their previous leaks, which is never a good look.

More questions than answersImage 1 of 4

(Image credit: Majin Bu)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Majin Bu)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Majin Bu)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Majin Bu)

So, what could be going on here? Well, there are a few possibilities. The most straightforward is that one or more of Bu’s leaks are inaccurate, as it’s hard to square the different images at the moment.

Alternatively, the Crossbody Strap images might be missing a key component. The pictures show two holes at the end of each strap – perhaps this is where a thinner thread can be attached, which then loops through the iPhone case’s lanyard holes. Yet that itself raises questions: if this thread exists, why did Bu not show it? And will such a thin thread be strong enough to support an iPhone’s weight, particularly if it is tugged?

Those unanswered questions, combined with Bu’s hit-and-miss record when it comes to Apple leaks, mean we should take the claims with a dose of skepticism. Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 at an event on September 9, and we're expecting an answer to this mystery then. That could finally reveal how – or if – Bu’s seemingly conflicting leaks can be reconciled.

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• Salesloft suffered a third-party attack earlier this week
• New information suggests all authentication tokens were compromised
• Google disabled integrations and warned victims, in response

The Salesloft cyberattack that happened earlier this week may have also compromised certain Google Workspace accounts, as well as Salesforce instances. This is according to Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), who published an updated report to warn about the worrying discovery.

On Wednesday, news broke that revenue platform Salesloft fell victim to a third-party cyberattack in which sensitive information was stolen. The company is using Drift, a conversational marketing and sales platform that uses live chat, chatbots, and AI, to engage visitors in real time.

Alongside it is SalesDrift, a third-party platform which links Drift’s AI chat functionality to Salesforce, syncing conversations, leads, and cases, into the CRM via the Salesloft ecosystem.

Salesloft under attack

Starting around August 8, and lasting for about ten days, adversaries managed to steal OAuth and refresh tokens from SalesDrift, pivoting to customer environments, and successfully exfiltrating sensitive data.

Now, Google’s update says the scope of the compromise impacted more than the Salesforce integration: “We now advise all Salesloft Drift customers to treat any and all authentication tokens stored in or connected to the Drift platform as potentially compromised,” the update reads.

TGIG said that the attackers compromised OAuth tokens for the “Drift Email” integration, and used them to access a “very small number” of Google Workspace accounts. Apparently, only the accounts that were configured to integrate with Salesloft were compromised.

In response, Google revoked the tokens, disabled the integration functionality, and notified potentially impacted users. “We are notifying all impacted Google Workspace administrators. To be clear, there has been no compromise of Google Workspace or Alphabet itself.”

Google also recommended organizations immediately review all third-party integrations connected to their Drift instance, revoke and rotate all credentials, and monitor all connected systems for signs of unauthorized access.

The researchers believe the attack was done by a group tracked as UNC6395, although ShinyHunters claimed it was their doing.

Via BleepingComputer

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• More details of the Galaxy tri-fold have leaked
• Expect NFC payments, wireless charging, and reverse charging
• It's likely to use an infolding form factor

Samsung gave us a brief glimpse of its tri-fold smartphone all the way back in January at the Galaxy S25 launch, but we're still waiting for it to see the light of day – and in the meantime, a fresh leak has given us some idea of what's coming.

Tipster @TechHighest (via SamMobile) has uncovered three animations relating to the tri-fold, which we're assuming are buried somewhere in the One UI software, though there's no clear indication of where these are sourced from.

The animations seem to confirm that – as previously rumored – this will use the infolding form factor, which means the main display is going to fold in from the sides, with a separate display on the other side that can be used when the phone is closed.

We also get a look at three features: NFC payments, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging (so you can charge small gadgets like earbuds on the back of the phone). All very much expected, and on all of Samsung's recent flagship phones, but worth noting.

What we think we know

Morning pic.twitter.com/0BIxZG1c0xAugust 28, 2025

Besides that brief glimpse in January, Samsung hasn't said too much about what's coming with this tri-fold. It has, however, gone on record to say that the device is still on the way, and will be available to buy before the end of the year.

According to one tipster, the phone is going to break cover soon, and will be called the Galaxy Z Trifold – which of course would be a nod to the other foldables Samsung makes, most recently the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Other leaks that have emerged from Samsung's One UI software ahead of the tri-fold's launch include one showing an upgraded multitasking interface to make use of the bigger screen, and one showing how the three panels will fit together.

It looks as though the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is going to be on board, unsurprisingly, although charging speeds might be rather unspectacular. And if you're thinking of making a purchase, it's likely that you'll need deep pockets.

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Retail in the UK has embraced digital innovation – from websites and mobile apps to smart kiosks and even augmented‑reality mirrors reshaping the high street. But behind these advances lies a surprising weak spot: payments.

While stores innovate non-stop in customer experience, I’ve seen many continue to rely on outdated, disconnected payment setups – systems that only work via app, terminal, or wallet, and don’t communicate with each other. This fragmentation creates real friction for customers and chaos for finance and operations functions at these businesses.

To understand how far behind this puts retailers, consider this: in 2023, UK consumers made 18.3 billion contactless payments, up from 6.6 billion in 2018. That’s nearly 40% of all payments. And about a third of adults now tap their phone or card monthly.

The way people pay has changed – but many retail systems haven’t caught up.

Where it breaks down: click-and-collect

One of the clearest signs of this disconnect is the click-and-collect phenomenon. Anyone in retail will know it’s a hugely popular service – eMarketer reports that 64% of UK retailers offer it, and 15% of online orders are now picked up in-store, nearly double the pre-pandemic levels.

Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) is known to boost both footfall and basket size. But here’s the thing: when payments aren’t integrated across channels, this convenience starts to crumble. Staff often can’t verify transactions at pickup. Queues build. Trust erodes. The promise of frictionless shopping disappears.

It’s not just customers – back-office teams feel it too

Fragmented payments don’t only hurt the customer experience. They create severe operational strain behind the scenes.

Finance teams scramble to reconcile online and in-store revenue, often manually; risk teams lack a complete view of fraud across channels; marketing teams struggle to connect the dots between campaigns and conversions; and executives are forced to make strategic decisions based on partial, siloed data.

This isn’t just a technical challenge – it’s a barrier to business clarity, performance, and agility.

There’s momentum for change

Fortunately, momentum is building for smarter, more unified payment systems.

The UK’s financial infrastructure is modernizing. The Bank of England, in collaboration with HM Treasury and the FCA, has established the Retail Payments Infrastructure Board to overhaul the Faster Payments system. Their goal is to enable instant account-to-account (A2A) payments at checkout, reducing reliance on card networks like Visa and Mastercard, and lowering transaction fees.

At the same time, Soft-POS system technology is redefining how payments are accepted. Smartphones and tablets can now function as secure NFC terminals. Analysts project that the global value of Soft-POS transactions will rise from $23.9 billion in 2025 to $540 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, digital wallets are gaining ground fast. According to eMarketer, over 50% of UK adults use PayPal, and nearly 30% use Apple Pay, both online and in stores.

That’s not just preference – it’s an imperative. These options must be integrated seamlessly, not embedded as afterthoughts.

Unified payments drive trust and growth

A unified payment system is more than efficient – it’s powerful. In 2022, UK retailers lost approximately £1.2 billion to payment fraud. Global losses are projected to exceed $107 billion by 2029. Fragmented systems make it easier for bad actors to exploit weaknesses – testing stolen cards online, picking them up in-store, and vanishing before systems catch up.

But when payment channels are connected, fraud detection becomes faster, more accurate, and more actionable. Real-time insights enable teams to flag suspicious behavior and prevent fraud before it occurs. That kind of visibility can protect revenue, safeguard customers, and strengthen brand trust.

Tangible results for retailers

The impact of unified payments is already visible among retailers who’ve taken action. Failed pickups are dropping. Dispute volumes are shrinking. Financial close processes are becoming faster and more accurate. In-store teams are reporting smoother workflows, and marketing teams can finally track the ROI of campaigns with clarity.

For example, before we started working with retailer Nemesis Now, they were facing serious challenges. Getaway attacks had become a regular threat – fake orders and fraudulent refunds were causing a real disruption, with teams working overtime to fend off thousands of malicious requests.

With little urgency from their previous payment gateway provider, they had no choice but to work with their web development agency to identify vulnerabilities and block the attacks. It was a costly and stressful ordeal that highlighted just how critical a secure, unified payments setup really is.

In short, this isn’t just a backend win. When systems are connected, store associates can complete transactions without friction. Finance teams can report with confidence. Fraud analysts can respond to threats in real time. Executives gain a clear view of performance, and customers enjoy the kind of seamless, personalized experience that drives loyalty.

The stakes are high – and the moment is now

With contactless transactions now accounting for 38% of UK payments and cash still representing around 12%, retailers need to support a range of preferences securely and responsibly. The regulatory environment is also evolving, with PSD3, APP reimbursement requirements, and emerging technologies such as dark stores and real-time loyalty systems prompting retailers to reassess their payment infrastructure.

According to Gartner, those who treat payments as a strategic capability – rather than just a technical one – gain significant advantages in fraud resilience, agility, and customer retention. In today’s environment, those differences can define who leads and who lags.

From fragmentation to strategy

For retailers ready to move, there’s no need to start from scratch. Playbooks, integration frameworks, and benchmarks already exist – rooted in real-world examples, not vendor hype.

Fragmented payments don’t just slow things down—they erode trust. Unified systems restore confidence, sharpen decision-making, and unlock growth, from the first click to the final till. Giving payments a strategic seat at the table is no longer optional. It’s essential.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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• New Performance version sees the 0-60mph sprint dispatched in 3.3 seconds
• Fresh alloy wheels and sporty design touches feature throughout
• Model Y Performance also boasts an all-new infotainment display

After a not-so subtle spoiler on social media earlier this week, Tesla has revealed a new Model Y Performance trim that will be available in the UK and select European markets, with first deliveries expected in September and October.

Priced at £61,990 UK or €61,990 in Ireland (around $83,500 / AU$128,000), the Model Y Performance delivers potent straight-line, erm, performance, with an official 0-60mph sprint time of just 3.3 seconds.

But rather than simply excelling in the traffic light Olympics, Tesla says the latest addition to the line-up has undergone rigorous validation and tuning, confirming that those spy shots from the Nurburgring were correct.

Thanks to a revised suspension system, including new springs, stabilizer bars, bushings and adaptive dampers, Tesla has been able to introduce a new selection of drive modes, with a dedicated Sport setting stiffening the ride to give the vehicle a more dynamic feel through corners.

Owners will also have more control over stability and traction control settings too, with the option to reduce traction control interventions when hitting the race circuit after the weekly shop.

Alongside the dramatic increase in performance (the powertrain now delivers 460bhp, compared to the 375bhp of the previous dual motor Model Y), Tesla has also introduced 21-inch ‘Arachnid’ forged alloy wheels, performance red brake calipers, a carbon fibre spoiler at the rear and aluminum pedals inside.

This is in addition to the new front and rear fascias that give it a more purposeful overall look — a massive improvement over the Model Y of old, we think you'll agree.

Getting Europe back on track

(Image credit: Tesla)

Seeing as the new Model Y Performance will be assembled at the company’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, the UK and Europe will be among the first markets to receive the quickest accelerating Model Y.

It comes at a time when Tesla sales in those regions have started to slide at a rapid rate, with Chinese rivals making a huge and lightning fast impact on the overall market.

The likes of BYD, Zeekr, XPeng, Jaecoo, Omoda, Leapmotor and more have gained the attention of European buyers with excellent value propositions.

Although Tesla’s asking price isn’t exactly on the budget side of the spectrum, it’s still easier on the wallet than, say, a Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron or BMW i5 M60 xDrive, all of which offer similarly brutal acceleration figures.

What’s more, Tesla still offers the everyday practicality that made the Model Y the best selling car on the planet in the first place.

The front seats might have been replaced by more bolstered sports offerings, but they will still be fantastically comfortable over big distances. The official WLTP range is pegged at an impressive 360-miles, with Tesla’s renowned efficiencies remaining baked into the package.

Finally, Tesla says an all-new 16-inch touchscreen with thinner bezels and higher resolution have been added to the Performance model, packing nearly 80% more pixels and a “smoother more immersive” experience than the one found on the 15.4-inch display on other Model Y variants.

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There’s a silent strain on security in today’s enterprises, and it’s coming from an unexpected source: the technology stack.

Technical debt is a $2.41 trillion problem in the United States. No wonder, then, that 87% of IT leaders rank tech debt reduction as a top five initiative for their organization, according to a new Enterprise Strategy Group survey. Respondents cited security concerns, escalating operating costs, and more.

How did organizations get this deep into application tech debt? What are the implications for security? And, most importantly: How can organizations begin to dig their way out?

A vicious cycle of short-term fixes

Tech debt is, at its core, the pain of applying yesterday's technology decisions to today's business needs.

Organizations frequently face trade-offs when it comes to technology. Most often, they find the best solutions for their complex problems, balancing network, security, and end-user priorities. Other times, they’re under pressure to move fast and constrained by limited resources, leading to quick fixes that complicate their tech stack.

This is how tech debt accrues, one well-intentioned decision at a time. As business demands intensify – whether due to growth, digital transformation, or external disruptions – IT and security teams make pragmatic choices and adopt point solutions to keep up.

But these bolt-on software purchases quietly snowball and mutate into an unmanageable web – eventually emerging loudly in the form of fractured IT infrastructure, inconsistent user experiences, ballooning operational costs, and unpredictable IT environments.

Not to mention, they make for a vastly increased attack surface. In this Swiss cheese effect of overlapping systems, the organization can spend more time patching holes and maintaining legacy scaffolding than innovating.

According to a Gartner survey of 162 large enterprises, conducted between August and October 2024, organizations use an average of 45 cybersecurity tools. It’s a vicious cycle of patch upon patch.

Time isn’t the only cost. Enterprise Strategy Group found that 47% of IT leaders point to escalating operational costs as a direct result of legacy infrastructure support. And 36% flagged increased security vulnerabilities as a growing concern tied to outdated systems.

Regardless of the justification for yesterday’s technology decisions, they all impact today’s enterprise systems—increasing complexity, maintenance burdens, and security vulnerabilities.

Tech debt has a SaaS problem

Most modern applications in use across the enterprise today are delivered in a SaaS model. For more than half of survey respondents, SaaS and legacy web-based applications represented a combined 61% of all application usage – the majority of those being classified as “business critical” apps.

In the enterprise, these critical apps require secure, modern access methods. However, to date, secure access has often come at the cost of convenience. Legacy access solutions like VDI and VPN weren’t designed with the SaaS-first enterprise in mind, creating friction for users, increasing overhead for IT teams, and offering limited visibility, control, or threat detection once users are inside the app.

Monitoring these apps requires bolted-on solutions, further increasing tech debt. Unsurprisingly, the number of respondents that indicated the desire to move off VDI solutions was a staggering 72%.

As SaaS adoption has accelerated, this mismatch between access architecture and application delivery has accelerated along with it—slowing agility, increasing risk, and complicating user experience across the board. Tech debt isn’t just a nuisance; it's an anchor dragging down enterprise security and efficiency.

Addressing tech debt at the point of access

As knowledge workers’ primary interface, the browser is central to accessing SaaS, internal apps, and digital workflows. Therefore, the most direct way to address the application tech debt challenge is to reimagine the browser itself.

Browsers like Chrome and Edge, while highly effective tools for consumers, were never designed for enterprise needs. It presents a huge security gap: 62% of sensitive corporate data is accessed via consumer browsers, and 35% of data leaks stem from those same browsers.

These browsers require a complex ecosystem of tools – data loss prevention (DLP), web gateways, remote browser isolation (RBI), endpoint agents, VPNs, and more – to try to secure browsing activity and protect sensitive data. Over time, these layers have compounded, contributing to tech debt in both security and application access by requiring ongoing management, troubleshooting, and upgrades.

Further complicating the tech debt challenge is the proliferation of AI tools. In these early days of AI adoption, end users and the enterprises in which they operate will undoubtedly choose multiple tools to address niche use cases without understanding the impact on data protection and user experience. And fresh competition will replace many of these tools almost as fast as they arise. Future technology decisions will need to address managing the sprawl of shadow AI and the new tech debt it creates.

The emergence of enterprise browsers

However, a new type of browser has emerged: enterprise browsers, which are designed exclusively for use in the workplace. Gartner recognized this new category of browsers in 2023. In April, Evgeny Mirolyubov, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner, said, “SEBs embed enterprise security controls into the native web browsing experience using a customized browser or extension for existing browsers, instead of adding bolt-on controls at the endpoint or network layer.”

Enterprise browsers are redefining how organizations approach application access. An enterprise browser streamlines the tech stack needed to secure, manage, understand, and enable access to critical apps and data.

With growing regulatory scrutiny and the rising sophistication of threats like phishing, browser-based malware, and insider threats, organizations must rethink access with security at the forefront. Enterprise browsers provide visibility and control down to the session level, enabling proactive enforcement and rapid incident response.

These browsers have the power to reduce reliance on legacy tools like VDI, VPNs, DLP, proxies, and various endpoint agents—eliminating layer upon layer of tech debt and enabling secure, efficient, and scalable access.

Secure access without the debt

For too long, organizations have been trapped in a loop where old decisions constrain new possibilities. Years of layering legacy access tools, fragmented security controls, outdated application architectures, and siloed observability and authentication systems have created a complex web of technical debt—one that undermines performance, cybersecurity, and scalability at a time when seamless, secure, and cloud-optimized access is more critical than ever.

Finally, there’s an off-ramp from this loop. By reconsidering the browser, forward-thinking enterprises are not just reducing debt—they’re building resilience for the next generation of digital transformation.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

MSI Datamag: 30-second review

The MSI Datamag is a rare portable SSD that combines real-world speed with a genuinely useful design twist. The 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface keeps transfers moving fast and in testing the drive very comfortably met and exceeded its rated read and write speeds.

It’s quick to launch projects, back up big shoots and handle transfer tasks without fuss and is a notable step above 10Gbps rivals that top out under 1,000MB/s.

The standout feature is the magnetic mount. Snap it to an iPhone or any MagSafe-compatible case or use the included stick-on rings to park it on laptops, rigs or consoles. Cable management is easy thanks to the included short and long USB-C leads plus a USB-C to USB-A adapter for older gear.

The compact square shell uses aluminum as a heat spreader and the finned edges help the drive stay cool in sustained work. In extended stress runs I saw consistent throughput and no throttling.

Two quick caveats: you need a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port for full speed and there’s no stated IP rating, so treat it as a tough metal portable drive rather than a truly ruggedized model.

The MSI Datamag uses a metal shell and connects via USB-C, though includes an adapter to USB-A (Image credit: Future)

Price and availability vary by region but it generally compares well for the performance on offer – especially considering the five-year warranty that adds some extra peace of mind.

If you want a compact fast drive that mounts neatly on a phone or workstation without extra fuss, the Datamag is an easy pick for everyday use. You can pay more for flagship USB4 drives that are a shade quicker or spend less on 10Gbps options but few match the overall blend of speed, thermals and magnetic attachment convenience.

MSI Datamag: Pricing and availability

• How much does it cost? 2TB: $160 / £160 / AU$269
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in most major markets including the US, UK and Australia

The MSI Datamag 20Gbps isn’t always stocked at all retailers, so start with your local MSI website and its Where to Buy page or check your country’s authorized retail partners for current options.

It’s generally easier to find in Australia and the UK while US availability varies by capacity and retailer.

In the MagSafe-friendly portable SSD niche there are only a few direct rivals and among 20Gbps-class drives the Datamag is competitive, but some almost as fast models do undercut it on price.

• Value: 4 / 5

The MSI Datamag uses a tough aluminum shell (Image credit: Future)MSI Datamag: Specs

Model No.

S78-440Q870-P83

Controller

Phison PS2251-U18

Capacities

1TB / 2TB / 4TB

Capacity tested

2TB

Tested sequential performance (Read/Write)

1642 / 1514 MB/s

Connection

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps) on USB-C

IP Rating

None

Dimensions

66 x 66 x 13 mm (W x H x D)

Weight

81g

Power source

USB-bus power

Warranty

5-year limited warranty

MSI Datamag: Design

• MagSafe compatible
• USB-C with USB-A adapter
• Aluminum heatsink

The Datamag looks and feels purpose-built rather than being just another generic plastic-wrapped portable SSD. MSI uses a compact square footprint with trimmed corners and a radial brushed top that keeps fingerprints in check and gives the logo a low-key finish.

The aluminum enclosure doubles as a heat spreader and the ribbed edge detailing is more than cosmetic, helping the drive shed heat during long writes. It’s a tidy pocketable shape that doesn’t snag cables in a bag and the single USB-C port sits flush so it’s easy to pack.

The headline design trick is the magnetic mounting system. On an iPhone or any MagSafe compatabile phone (and that now includes the Pixel 10 thanks to Pixelsnap) it snaps on securely and for non-magnetic surfaces MSI includes two stick-on metal rings in black and white. That makes the Datamag handy on varied rigs, claptops, consoles and other devices since you can park it exactly where you want it and keep the cable strain-free.

MSI also bundles both long and short USB-C cables plus a USB-C to USB-A adapter, so you can go access it on older devices, or just have a bit of versatility when you run out of ports. The lanyard loop in the corner is a small but smart touch for tethering for extra security.

At 66 x 66 x 13mm (2.60 x 2.60 x 0.51 inches) and 81g (0.179lb), the Datamag carries a reassuring heft without feeling bulky. The square puck format spreads weight across a phone well, so it stays put during handheld shooting and the rounded edges keep it comfortable against a palm.

There’s no stated IP rating, so treat it as a solid metal portable rather than a true rugged drive. Overall the design is simple, durable and very practical.

Image 1 of 2

The MSI Datamag comes with two stick-on magnetic rings for attaching it to any surface. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The MSI Datamag is MagSafe compatible so can be attached to device like iPhones (Image credit: Future)

• Design: 4 / 5

MSI Datamag: Performance

• Great performance
• No throttling

Rated sequential read

1600 MB/s

Rated sequential write

1500 MB/s

ATTO peak read

1660 MB/s

ATTO peak write

1860 MB/s

Sustained read in Windows

1642 MB/s

Sustained write in Windows

1514 MB/s

Thermal throttling in 30-minute read/write test

None

Aside from magnetic wizardry, performance is the Datamag’s calling card and the 20Gbps USB interface and Phison PS2251-U18 controller deliver impressive throughput.

In the ATTO benchmark I saw peaks of 1,660MB/s reads and 1,860MB/s writes, while sustained transfers in Windows managed 1,642MB/s read and 1,514MB/s write. That’s comfortably above the rated 1,600 / 1,500MB/s and well ahead of 10Gbps rivals like the SanDisk Extreme and Samsung T7 that top out near 1,000MB/s. In comparison, higher-tier 20Gbps options such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro can read a touch faster at around 1,900MB/s and of course USB4 drives are even faster.

The aluminum body with finned edges helped keep temps in check and I saw no throttling in a 30-minute mixed read and write run. For large media copies, camera offloads and scratch disk use the Datamag feels snappy and dependable under load.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

MSI Datamag: Final verdict

MSI’s Datamag is a portable SSD that feels ready for real-world workloads. It’s fast in everyday tasks, doesn’t slow down on long transfers and stays cool thanks to the metal shell.

The square pocketable design is easy to carry every day and the magnetic mount and included rings make it quick to attach to a phone or other equipment.

Pricing is decent for the class and the five-year warranty is a great bonus. If you want speed with a smart attachment system, the Datamag delivers dependable 20Gbps performance in a compact easy-to-mount package.

Should I buy the MSI Datamag?

Value

Well priced considering the features

4.5 / 5

Design

Sturdy metal build with magnetic attachment

4 / 5

Performance

Excellent read / write speeds with no throttling

4.5 / 5

Overall

A very unique and handy drive with performance to match

4.5 / 5

The MSI Datamag has chunky fins in the aluminum shell to aid cooling (Image credit: Future)Buy it if...

You’ll use the magnetic mount
There are cheaper options if MagSafe compatibility isn’t a key need in your usage.

Your device has a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port
To get the full speed of the Datamag you need a modern device with a fast 20Gbps USB port.

Don't buy it if...

You need absolute top-end speeds
The MSI Datamag is fast but there are even quicker drives if you need bleeding-edge performance.

You want a soft-touch drive
The Datamag has a tough aluminum shell and can scratch other gear if left loose in the same bag.

Also consider

Corsair EX400U
A faster alternative from Corsair, the EX400U is an excellent choice for those wanting USB4 performance plus MagSafe compatibility.

Read our full Corsair EX400U review

Ugreen 40Gbps M.2 Enclosure
This flexible option means you can drop in your own M.2 NVMe drive (2230, 2242 or 2280) and convert it into a fast USB4 external drive.

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The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake reintroduces a landmark stealth game series in 4K glory, with all the shine and gleam that comes from a modern remake. Now we've had time to play the game, you can read TechRadar Gaming's Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater review.

Over twenty years after the release of the original, the remake recreates a similar experience while boasting more modernized mechanics and visuals. Titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and also being referred to as just 'Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake', this is an exciting new way to play a stone cold classic

Now that the game is out, here’s everything you need to know about Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake - Cut to the chase 

• What is it? A remaster of the esteemed Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
• When did it come out? August 28, 2025
• What can I play it on? PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Who is making it? Konami

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake release date and platforms

(Image credit: Konami)

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake launched August 28, 2025. This was revealed during a State of Play event. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is out on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Unfortunately, the game isn’t going to receive any last-gen ports, so if you’re still rocking older hardware, it might be worth looking to upgrade your setup prior to release if the game is a must-play for you. With how highly praised the original game was, there's a strong chance that it could now fall among not only the best Xbox Series X games, but the best PS5 games too.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake trailers

(Image credit: Konami)

The latest Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer gives an overview of the new online mode. It's called Fox Hunt, and pits players against each other in a deadly game of hide and seek:

A trailer for Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake dropped alongside the full release date:

Konami dropped a dazzling in-engine look at the game as part of the Xbox Showcase event that aired on June 9, 2024. In it, we see plenty of gameplay, including our first look at The Boss. Check it out below:

Before that, there was our first proper look at gameplay. This trailer not only gave us a splendid look at how the game runs and moves, but also showed us some updated shots of iconic parts and areas of the game, from the ruins where Snake finds Sokolov, to the mountaintop trenches, to the swamps with large reptile friends, the rope bridge that houses the climax of the Virtuous mission, and what looks like the location of the boss battle with The Pain. It really does look incredible and looks to be brilliantly brought to life in the Unreal Engine 5.

In these short clips, however, we also get a brief look at gameplay with Snake taking cover behind trees to investigate patrolling guards and also eyeing one up to shoot in first-person view. Check it out in all its 4K glory below.

Before the above video, we only had one Metal Gear Solid 3 remake trailer in the form of the announcement - and it doesn’t give any information away regarding in-game content. Instead, it takes us through an animated rendition of the jungle landscape players of the original Metal Gear Solid 3 may recognize.

After following a colony of ants, followed by a bird in flight, and then a large snake and crocodile, we get our first glimpse at Snake. The end of the trailer announces the name Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, but we don’t receive anything about platforms or a release date.

What we can glean from the trailer though are a bunch of call-backs, nods, and 'easter eggs' which are great fun for existing fans to identify - even if we don't see any in-game action or mechanics. Some specifically good nods are being able to make out the silhouette of the Shagohod in the clouds at the beginning, the parrot almost certainly being The End's companion bird, and the poison dart frog giving a nod to The Fear.

Also, as well as the trailer, the official screenshots that have been released make for great viewing too: and importantly seem to indicate that environments and spaces won't be drastically changed, and will get the beautifying treatment while retaining their original layout, style, and features.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake story and setting

(Image credit: Konami)

The majority of the setting of Metal Gear Solid 3 is in a jungle in Russia, during the Cold War, which is echoed through the brief pan we receive in the announcement trailer.

The story has been confirmed to remain the same as the original game, so if you’ve already played the 2004 version, you’ll probably know what to expect. But, if you’re among the players who are yet to experience what Metal Gear Solid 3 has to offer, and you’d rather now wait for the remake rather than play the original, then the story is still worth brushing up on so you’ll be able to experience the high-stakes action without having to learn too much on the spot.

MGS3 serves as a prequel to the rest of the saga, and because of this, it lays out the origins of Big Boss, a major character within the series, and walks you through the infiltration of Soviet territory to prevent the construction of a weapon of mass destruction. It becomes your job as 'Naked Snake' to carry out missions (as part of the larger mission at hand) translated through radio messages, boss fights, stealthy espionage action, and to avoid blowing your cover to do what's right.

In addition to setting up the series, MGS3 is the first game (despite being a prequel) to stray from the traditional formula of Metal Gear Solid games in terms of its technology, relying more on using the wilderness to your advantage rather than leaning on and defending yourself against high tech. Even though you can use it to your advantage, the wilderness and its ferocious inhabitants are also ready to blow Snake’s cover, so you need to stay alert at all times.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake gameplay

(Image credit: Konami)

As mentioned above, the latest in-engine look at the Metal Gear 3 remake also showed off some glimpses of familiar gameplay. We see Snake taking aim in first-person view from long grass, carefully wading through marshes past reptilian beasts, taking cover behind trees and ruins, and also a clear look at the way Snake moves while crouched, walking, climbing, and leaning. We also see a short clip of Snake taking down a guard from behind - the motions are familiar but much more fluid and seamless when compared to the original.

Away from what we've seen in that trailer, however, and similarly to the story, we expect the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake gameplay to stick pretty closely to the source material. While the general premise of stealth and combat-heavy interactions is expected to continue, we do expect the newest iteration of the game to feel more polished in comparison to its 2004 counterpart.

That said, there could be several mechanics that have been fine-tuned or adapted to make the experience more streamlined and up-to-date. As confirmed in a Tweet posted on the official Metal Gear Solid page, MGS Delta: Snake Eater, is intended to be a ‘faithful recreation of the original story and game design, while evolving the gameplay with stunning visuals and a seamless user experience.’ Perhaps the game will get similar treatment to the Resident Evil remakes of recent years, with a full overhaul of the camera and mechanics to bring the game into the modern day.

The content of the original game was praised for being before its time, so we are keen to see how exactly these are adapted for a more beneficial user experience. Mechanics such as healing were pretty challenging throughout the original and included a lot of in-menu work, but whether or not this will be among the elements being evolved is currently unknown. If there's an aim to make this, in particular, more fluid, then this would be music to the ears of a lot of existing fans, as well as a new audience.

While there’s still a lot to uncover about how exactly the remake will build upon the foundations set by the original, we aren’t going in entirely blind. A new showcase diving into the game's mechanics reveals two ways to play. A legacy mode will allow players to keep classic controls, and a camera view that more closely resembles the original experience. The modern mode offers an over the shoulder third-person shooter feel, matching more modern shooters.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake news

(Image credit: Konami)

Multiplayer mode won't be crossplay
Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater's multiplayer mode, Fox Hunt, won't support cross-play between console and PC.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is getting a new online mode
Revealed during the Konami Press Start livestream on June 12, the publisher describes Fox Hunt as a "completely original online battle mode" that will play differently from 2008's Metal Gear Online.

Fox Hunt, which is being directed by series veteran Yu Sahara, takes place in the same world as the main game and will offer "hide and seek" mechanics, mixed with stealth and survival elements.

Konami provides new deep-dive into the latest trailer
Thanks to a new Metal Gear Production Hotline video, you can get some additional info, and a breakdown of the latest trailer. You'll see some details on the game's legacy mode, as well as some reveals on how the team has approached voice acting.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will feature all the original voices As confirmed in a Tweet, all the original voices from the 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3 will be used in the remake. Rather than inviting voice actors back to re-record lines, the audio will be taken from the original game, which will feed into the honest recreation the remake promises to deliver.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater announced as part of Sony’s State of Play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of the 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3, was announced as part of Sony’s State of Play on May 24, 2023. Although the trailer showcased no in-game content or information regarding the storyline or a release date, it has been confirmed a remake is in the works.

Metal Gear Solid 3 remake Hideo Kojima involvement

When the official announcement of the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake came, one of the major things that fans were wondering was whether or not Hideo Kojima himself would be involved. Even though the famous game creator is no longer at Konami and has his own game development studio, the intrigue was still strong as to whether he may consult with the remake or give advice in some capacity - it is one of his games after all, and one of the best he has made.

However, as IGN reported after speaking to Konami about the remake earlier this summer. IGN asked about whether Kojima or Yoji Shinkawa - another crucial cog in the Metal Gear Solid series - would be involved. A Konami spokesperson responded plainly by saying that: "They are not involved."

So there we have it, clear as day, Hideo Kojima is not involved with the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

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It's been a week of turmoil at the CDC, and now there's a new person tapped to be acting director of the agency.

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Imagine a digital version of yourself that moves faster than your fingers ever could - an AI-powered agent that knows your preferences, anticipates your needs, and acts on your behalf. This isn't just an assistant responding to prompts; it makes decisions. It scans options, compares prices, filters noise, and completes purchases in the digital world, all while you go about your day in the real world. This is the future so many AI companies are building toward: agentic AI.

Brands, platforms, and intermediaries will deploy their own AI tools and agents to prioritize products, target offers, and close deals, creating a new universe-sized digital ecosystem where machines talk to machines, and humans hover just outside the loop. Recent reports that OpenAI will integrate a checkout system into ChatGPT offer a glimpse into this future – purchases could soon be completed seamlessly within the platform with no need for consumers to visit a separate site.

AI agents becoming autonomous

As AI agents become more capable and autonomous, they will redefine how consumers discover products, make decisions and interact with brands daily.

This raises a critical question: when your AI agent is buying for you, who’s responsible for the decision? Who do we hold accountable when something goes wrong? And how do we ensure that human needs, preferences, and feedback from the real world still carry weight in the digital world?

Right now, the operations of most AI agents are opaque. They don’t disclose how a decision was made or whether commercial incentives were involved. If your agent never surfaces a certain product, you may never even know it was an option. If a decision is biased, flawed, or misleading, there’s often no clear path for recourse. Surveys already show that a lack of transparency is eroding trust; a YouGov survey found 54% of Americans don't trust AI to make unbiased decisions.

The issue of reliability

Another consideration is hallucination - an instance when AI systems produce incorrect or entirely fabricated information. In the context of AI-powered customer assistants, these hallucinations can have serious consequences. An agent might give a confidently incorrect answer, recommend a non-existent business, or suggest an option that is inappropriate or misleading.

If an AI assistant makes a critical mistake, such as booking a user into the wrong airport or misrepresenting key features of a product, that user's trust in the system is likely to collapse. Trust once broken is difficult to rebuild. Unfortunately, this risk is very real without ongoing monitoring and access to the latest data. As one analyst put it, the adage still holds: “garbage in, garbage out.” If an AI system is not properly maintained, regularly updated, and carefully guided, hallucinations and inaccuracies will inevitably creep in.

In higher-stakes applications, for example, financial services, healthcare, or travel, additional safeguards are often necessary. These could include human-in-the-loop verification steps, limitations on autonomous actions, or tiered levels of trust depending on task sensitivity. Ultimately, sustaining user trust in AI requires transparency. The system must prove itself to be reliable across repeated interactions. One high-profile or critical failure can set adoption back significantly and damage confidence not just in the tool, but in the brand behind it.

We've seen this before

We’ve seen this pattern before with algorithmic systems like search engines or social media feeds that drifted away from transparency in pursuit of efficiency. Now, we’re repeating that cycle, but the stakes are higher. We’re not just shaping what people see, we’re shaping what they do, what they buy, and what they trust.

There's another layer of complexity: AI systems are increasingly generating the very content that other agents rely on to make decisions. Reviews, summaries, product descriptions - all rewritten, condensed, or created by large language models trained on scraped data. How do we distinguish actual human sentiment from synthetic copycats? If your agent writes a review on your behalf, is that really your voice? Should it be weighted the same as the one you wrote yourself?

These aren’t edge cases; they're fast becoming the new digital reality bleeding into the real world. And they go to the heart of how trust is built and measured online. For years, verified human feedback has helped us understand what's credible. But when AI begins to intermediate that feedback, intentionally or not, the ground starts to shift.

Trust as infrastructure

In a world where agents speak for us, we have to look at trust as infrastructure, not just as a feature. It’s the foundation everything else relies on. The challenge is not just about preventing misinformation or bias, but about aligning AI systems with the messy, nuanced reality of human values and experiences.

Agentic AI, done right, can make ecommerce more efficient, more personalized, even more trustworthy. But that outcome isn’t guaranteed. It depends on the integrity of the data, the transparency of the system, and the willingness of developers, platforms, and regulators to hold these new intermediaries to a higher standard.

Rigorous testing

It’s important for companies to rigorously test their agents, validate outputs, and apply techniques like human feedback loops to reduce hallucinations and improve reliability over time, especially because most consumers won’t scrutinize every AI-generated response.

In many cases, users will take what the agent says at face value, particularly when the interaction feels seamless or authoritative. That makes it even more critical for businesses to anticipate potential errors and build safeguards into the system, ensuring trust is preserved not just by design, but by default.

Review platforms have a vital role to play in supporting this broader trust ecosystem. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that reviews reflect real customer sentiment and are clear, current and credible. Data like this has clear value for AI agents. When systems can draw from verified reviews or know which businesses have established reputations for transparency and responsiveness, they’re better equipped to deliver trustworthy outcomes to users.

In the end, the question isn’t just who we trust, but how we maintain that trust when decisions are increasingly automated. The answer lies in thoughtful design, relentless transparency, and a deep respect for the human experiences that power the algorithms. Because in a world where AI buys from AI, it’s still humans who are accountable.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro