News
Democratization may be the AI industry's favorite word, and one that, in fairness, it has earned the right to use.
At the beginning of the decade, building anything with machine learning meant a large research team and a significant budget, and that put it out of reach for many.
Today, however, the barrier to using advanced AI has fallen almost entirely, and what used to be a quiet technology in the background has been thrust to the forefront of everyday work and everyday conversation.
But access is just the surface layer. Underneath it sits another layer which, arguably, matters more than access to AI itself, and that layer is training.
Unlike access, model training has not been democratized at all. The industry has made it easy to consume a model and almost impossible to make one.
This needs to change.
A gatekeeper to innovationIf we look closely at what "democratization" has really delivered thus far, we see that what has opened up is only consumption. Anybody can now interact directly with an AI model, even without a technical background, and can build an app in an afternoon with minimal effort. Open-weight releases mean anyone can even run a model on their own hardware, free of an API. These are genuine advances that have helped define the AI-powered world we now live in.
What has not open up is the ability to train a model. Currently, producing a frontier model still requires capital measured in billions, scarce specialist talent that only a handful of labs can attract and retain, vast datasets, and retraining cycles that have to be repeated every six to 12 months just to stay current.
It is a cycle that is stifling progress, and a barrier that no startup, cash strapped healthcare organization, or mid-sized manufacturer can clear. It functions as a gatekeeper to innovation, and it is one that well-funded organizations have every commercial incentive to keep locked, because the scarcity of training capability is precisely what protects their market position.
There is a dichotomy. The cost of using a model has fallen toward zero. The cost of making one has climbed toward the limits of what private capital can sustain.
Can open source help?Some might argue that the answer is to turn to open-weight models. Open weights, the argument goes, solve the ownership problem. You can download the model, run it, fine-tune it, and deploy it without asking anyone's permission. This is not democratized training though. It may be closer, but owning the weights is not the same as owning the model itself.
An open-weight model remains the frozen output of a training process run by the organization that produced it. What users receive is the result of that process. It is true that they can somewhat adjust the model. But doing that effectively demands expertise, compute, and clean data. And as the world moves on, the model ages and retraining is needed.
So despite their advantages on the surface, open weights do not offer users the ability to produce and continuously improve a model. That ability is still held by the labs that produced it.
The change that could revolutionize innovationIn my view, if democratization reaches the training layer and allows users the genuine ability to create, train, and own a model, several important structural changes follow that could meaningfully accelerate innovation across industries.
Ownership survives the vendor. If a model is trained by its user on the data they own, the weights are theirs without licensing restrictions, it will not evaporate if the company that gave them the tools to build it disappears. The relationship stops being a subscription. That single change alone removes the dependency the current market is built upon.
Models must learn continuously. If training is something that can be done continuously rather than a cyclical and centralized event, the model does not have to freeze at deployment. It can keep learning from new data in production without expensive retraining cycles and without a team of specialists being needed to run it. The workarounds become unnecessary because the underlying limitation is gone.
When control of what a model learns and how occurs at user level, the chain of responsibility is legible. That is the kind of traceability regulators are expecting and that black-box frontier models simply cannot provide.
These are the distributed benefits that make "democratization" the right word at last. If the ability to train a model is widely held, then the value, control, and responsibility are widely held too. General Learning Intelligence treats learning as part of the architecture rather than a cost only the largest labs can bear.
Access to models is already cheap and getting cheaper. However, access to training is not and that is where the next phase of competition will be decided.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
AI spending is forecast to reach $40.74 billion by 2030.
While AI adoption is accelerating on both sides of the Atlantic, UK and US retailers are taking differing approaches. US organizations are using AI to unlock new revenue opportunities and reshape the customer experience. UK retailers have largely focused on what AI can do internally.
There are understandable reasons for the differing approaches. But UK retailers risk falling behind if they don't broaden their strategy to focus on embedding AI across the full customer journey.
The Transatlantic AI divide: Operational efficiency vs revenue growthFor UK retailers, early AI adoption has been cautious. The focus has been on internal operational efficiencies, such as creating marketing content, handling surface-level customer service and answering post-purchase queries.
US retailers, on the other hand, are embedding AI directly into the shopping journey itself. A third of US adults now use AI agents when shopping online, such as Amazon’s Rufus, to discover or research products. In-chat checkout experiences are becoming increasingly popular. US retailers are positioning AI more like a digital sales assistant than a back-office tool.
While both approaches have their merits, there is a risk UK retailers get left behind. The gap won’t happen overnight. It will emerge quietly, starting with share of attention and then showing up in revenue.
Global retailers using AI for discovery, conversion, and lifetime value will start owning key decision moments. UK brands focused on operational efficiency may find themselves absent from the journeys that matter most.
Compliance vs experimentationUK retailers didn’t arrive at caution arbitrarily. Regulation and the consumer expectations shaped it. GDPR means shoppers expect clear consent, transparency on data use, and control before engaging with AI-driven experiences.
That’s why many UK retailers started with safer operational use cases, including automating support, enhancing content and streamlining fulfilment, before fully reinventing the ecommerce journey. Explainability and trust came before experimentation.
In the US, fewer regulatory guardrails made it easier for retailers to test AI tools publicly, iterate quickly and showcase value directly to consumers. The UK’s position isn’t a weakness. It’s a different starting point.
By ensuring customer-facing AI functions are both compliant and secure, UK retailers can both unlock new revenue and strengthen consumer confidence, rather than risking the need to roll back features due to compliance concerns.
Turning AI into a commercial growth engineThe faster US adoption has been less about technology and more about how the internal conversation is framed. The boardroom conversation isn’t “How do we save cost?” — it’s “How do we acquire smarter, convert faster and grow lifetime value?”.
US retailers treat AI as a growth lever across the full customer journey, from personalizing discovery and optimizing pricing, to guiding promotions, streamlining checkout and automating lifecycle communications. AI is framed as a revenue driver, not an operational nicety.
UK retailers have strong operational foundations. The shift is about pointing that discipline toward growth, opt-in recommendations and assisted checkouts. Controlled experiments that build insight and customer confidence at the same time.
For these experiments to work, the product data underneath them has to be ready: rich specifications, reviews, imagery and supporting content that gives AI something real to reference during conversational discovery and search.
Predictive personalization can prioritize high-value customers and surface relevant offers. Controlled agentic shopping experiences build familiarity and insight over time. Dynamic pricing and AI-driven lifecycle communications improve both conversion and retention. None of this requires abandoning the trust UK retailers have built.
The risk of falling behind may be gradual, but it is realUK retail has the foundations. Now they need to be built upon.
Customer acquisition costs will rise if competitors are winning the discovery moment first. Conversions will happen earlier – and elsewhere – if the journey isn’t being shaped. Lifetime value will lag as AI-driven retention compounds faster for the brands that moved sooner.
Cumulative gaps are harder to close than visible ones. The retailers that combine strong governance and trusted data practices with genuine customer-facing AI innovation are the ones that will compete well in what comes next.
We've featured the best ecommerce hosting.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
If you've been considering Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, or any of Adobe's other professional creative applications, and haven't signed up before, you can save 50% on the Creative Cloud Pro plan for your first year.
This cuts the monthly cost from $69.99 to $34.99 (or from $91.99 to $45.99 in Canada) on an annual plan billed monthly. And the subscription comes with more than 20 industry-leading creative apps, alongside 4,000 monthly generative AI credits for premium features such as Text to Video.
Subscribers also gain unlimited access to standard AI tools like Generative Fill, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Stock assets, tutorials, collaboration tools through Frame.io, and integrated AI models from Adobe, Google, OpenAI, and others. The promotion for new subscribers ends August 10.
Today's top Adobe Creative Cloud Pro dealSave 50% for the first year
This deal is available to new subscribers signing up for the annual plan billed monthly, reducing the price from $69.99 to just $34.99 per month for the first year. Creative Cloud Pro includes more than 20 Adobe applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Acrobat Pro, and Firefly, alongside 4,000 monthly generative AI credits and unlimited access to standard AI features such as Generative Fill.View Deal
Although there are many other creative tools available, Adobe continues to lead the way for professionals, and Creative Cloud Pro remains the easiest way to access its entire ecosystem.
I personally wouldn't use anything else and there's a good reason why Adobe's apps always come out top in our round ups of the best photo editors, best video editing software and best PDF editors.
The Pro subscription includes more than 20 applications, from industry staples like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat Pro to specialist tools such as After Effects, Audition, Lightroom, and InDesign, all designed to work seamlessly together.
Beyond the apps themselves, Creative Cloud Pro includes Adobe Firefly, 4,000 monthly generative AI credits for premium features such as Text to Video, unlimited access to standard AI tools like Generative Fill, plus Adobe Fonts, Adobe Stock assets, tutorials, and collaboration features through Frame.io.
At 50% off, this is one of Adobe's best ever offers for new subscribers in the US and Canada.
- According to reports, Dave Bautista is in talks to play the lead character, Kratos, in Prime Video's God of War series
- The news comes after actor Ryan Hurst was dropped from the series
- At the time of writing, the plan is for God of War to start filming again in fall 2026
Prime Video's upcoming God of War series may have found a new Kratos, if reports by Variety and Deadline are anything to go by.
According to the sites, Dave Bautista is in negotiations to play Kratos in the adaptation of the popular PlayStation video game. The role is being recast after original Kratos, Sons of Anarchy's Ryan Hurst, became injured performing a stunt on set in late June.
So whilst Hurst's departure is disappointing news, it does seem like Bautista could be a great choice to take on the iconic brooding, beefy role. He is well known to Marvel fans as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films as well as being a professional wrestler in the WWE, so he's a great choice for Kratos.
We previously predicted that Bautista could be a great fit for Kratos, as well as giving our thoughts about some other God of War theories last year.
We'll have to wait for further updates to see if these reports are accurate and if he will be cast in the highly anticipated God of War adaptation. If so, reports suggest filming could commence in fall 2026.
What else do we know about the God of War adaptation?Dave Bautista is well known for his role as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy. (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney)Currently, we know that the God of War live-action series' showrunner and writer is Ronald D. Moore, who is known for his work on Battlestar Galactica and Outlander.
God of War "adapts the acclaimed Norse mythology era, following Kratos and Atreus on a quest to spread Faye's ashes at the highest peak, balancing Kratos teaching his son to be a god and Atreus teaching his father to be human", according to an official synopsis from Amazon.
Prime Video's series will closely follow the story of the last two God of War video games, and has been given a two-season order. Filming has been put on hold after Hurst's injury, so right now we don't have much more information.
- GTA 6 fans claim to have spotted an easter egg in GTA Online
- A painting seemingly portrays GTA 6's map
- Fans are convinced it was intentionally placed by Rockstar
Grand Theft Auto 6 fans are convinced they've spotted an easter egg for the game's map in GTA Online.
The long-awaited Rockstar game is four months away, and while we may have recently received a ton of new information about GTA 6 following its pre-order release, Trailer 3 is still nowhere in sight, despite comments from Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick suggesting the game's marketing campaign should kick off this summer.
In the meantime, fans are spending their time unpacking every single frame of the first two trailers, trying to find anything new, including a split-second nod to fan-favorite Vice City character Tommy Vercetti.
Now, fans claim that an easter egg has been slipped into the latest GTA Online update, The Kortz Center Heist. Redditor JaneBunnFan posted their find on the GTA 6 subreddit, showing a framed painting, which honestly looks like an abstract green blob to me, but the user is convinced it's the GTA 6 map, Leonida.
This is the GTA 6 map isn't it from r/GTA6Others seem to agree, with one fan suggesting that if you rotate the image at a certain angle, it looks like GTA 6's fan-made mapping project.
"100% has to be. They said their marketing is going to be creative," one fan said.
Others put their Adobe Photoshop skills to use to compare their scales, while others have marked off certain shapes from the painting to show the similarities to the map, claiming that it could be Lake Leonida, not the entire map.
"OKAY SO..." another user began, "If you zoom in, crop, rotate approximately 200 degrees, reverse it by mirroring the image (which makes sense to do because it’s hanging on the wall. Mirrors hang), you DEFINITELY get what looks to be a shape similar to what the GTA VI mapping project has come up with and therefore we must conclude…. I BOTH HATE AND LOVE THIS SUB."
GTA 6 officially launches on November 19, but physical copies don't come with a disc, but a digital download code. Despite the initial controversy surrounding the decision, reports suggest that the physical edition is a top seller at multiple retailers.
Trailer 3 could arrive this month if Rockstar goes ahead and follows its Red Dead Redemption 2 playbook.
- Microsoft reports Russian APT29 (Midnight Blizzard) hijacking captive portals in hotels and conference centers
- Victims redirected to fake Microsoft 365 logins or bogus update pages, spreading CornFlake and CocoShell malware
- CornFlake steals files, credentials, and device data; CocoShell targets browser cookies, passwords, and Microsoft tokens
Threat actors are taking over Wi-Fi networks in hotels and conference centers and using the log-in portals to steal credentials and deploy information-stealing malware, experts have claimed.
Researchers from Microsoft have published a new report outlining how they spotted Russian state-sponsored actors, known as Midnight Blizzard or APT29, attacking captive portal equipment - networking hardware and software that manages the login page users see before accessing public Wi-Fi.
When connecting to a hotel network, users are often redirected to a page where they must enter their room number, accept the terms of service, and click “Connect” - that redirection is handled by the captive portal.
CornFlake and CocoShellMicrosoft did not explain exactly how this gear is attacked. However, when users try to log in on compromised networks, they may be redirected to a fake Microsoft 365 login portal that steals their credentials.
They may also be redirected to device code phishing pages abusing Microsoft Entra ID authentication flows. Finally, the researchers also saw the captive portals being used to display fake browser and OS update pages that trick victims into downloading infostealers.
So far, MIcrosoft found two malware variants being distributed: CornFlake, and CocoShell.
CornFlake acts as an infostealer capable of grabbing keystrokes and clipboard, running remote shell access, grabbing screenshots, using the microphone and the webcam, stealing browser credentials and cookies, exfiltrating files, and more. It presents itself as a “Cloud Sync Service” while using multiple persistence mechanisms.
CocoShell, on the other hand, is an in-memory PowerShell credential stealer targeting browser cookies, saved passwords, Microsoft 365 and Azure AD tokens, and Wi-Fi credentials.
APT29 is one of the most documented state-sponsored threat actors out there. It’s been active for years and is well-known for its links to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service and notable attacks on high-ranking western targets, such as US and German Government officials, as well as SolarWinds and Microsoft.
Every year, Samsung's S-series lineup consists of three models. There's the entry-level option — in this case, the Galaxy S26 — followed by mid- and high-end offerings, which in 2026 are the Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra. While the Ultra steals most of the headlines, the Galaxy S26 is no slouch. It's a great, well-rounded option for those who want a compact phone or don't want to shell out silly money on buying one of the very best Android phones.
The S26 features a slightly tweaked design versus the Galaxy S25, with a new pill-shaped camera array on the back, a 6.3-inch display, and several color options. Tucked underneath its exterior is a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and storage options that now start at 256GB (RIP 128GB). All these specs, along with Android 16 and Samsung's feature-packed One UI 8.5 software, combine for a smooth mobile experience.
In terms of endurance, the Galaxy S26's 4,300mAh battery routinely delivered more than a full day of use in my testing, often leaving me with enough juice to go into the next day. And its trio of rear-facing cameras does the job, as does the selfie cam.
One downside is the $100 / £80 price increase over last year's model (though Australian buyers actually get a AU$50 saving). Yes, this is an industry-wide trend right now — but that doesn't make the numbers feel any better. Thankfully, while the S26 starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,349, it can often be found on sale.
Another blemish is the limited 25W charging speed and lack of internal magnets to fully support Qi2 chargers and accessories without a case.
Overall, then, if you can find the Galaxy S26 on sale and want to stay within the Samsung ecosystem, it's a great pick-up. However, there's stiff competition at this price point — and below it, too.
Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Price and availability(Image credit: Future)- Starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,349 for 256GB + 12GB RAM
Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 line, including the base S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra, on February 25, 2026. Preorders opened the same day, and deliveries started March 11.
You can buy the S26 directly from Samsung with a starting price of $899 / £879 / AU$1,349 (which represents a $100 / £80 increase and AU$50 decrease versus the S25). However, Samsung frequently offers discounts, and at the time of writing, the S26 is going for $799 in the US.
Regardless of where you're buying the phone, you'll get double the starting storage versus previous entry-level S-series models (256GB vs 128GB).
Buying directly from Samsung means you'll have two additional color options in Silver Shadow and Pink Gold. Picking it up from third-party retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, or a wireless carrier such as Google Fi or Verizon, limits you to Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, or Black.
- Value score: 3 / 5
Here's a breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy S26's key specs:
Dimensions:
149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm
Weight:
167g
Display:
6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x
Resolution:
2340 x 1080
Refresh rate:
120 Hz
Peak brightness:
2,600 nits
CPU:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM:
12GB
Storage:
256GB, 512GB
OS:
Android 16 with One UI 8.5
Cameras:
50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom
Selfie Camera:
12MP
Battery:
4,300mAh
Charging:
25W wired, 15W wireless
Colors:
Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Black, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold
Samsung Galaxy S26 review: DesignFutureFuture- Same core design as the S25
- New camera array on the back
At first glance, it'd be easy to mistake the S26 for last year's S25. The design differences are small. The biggest visual change is the triple camera array on the back of the phone. Instead of each lens protruding out of the phone's housing, there's a single pill-shaped camera bump. Otherwise, the display is only slightly bigger at 6.3 inches compared to the S25's 6.2 inches. That increase also means the overall size of the phone grew a bit, too. The S26 measures 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm and weighs 167g.
As previously mentioned, there are a total of six color options available: Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Black, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold — the latter two of which are exclusive to Samsung.
My daily drivers are an iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Pixel 10 Pro XL, both of which are much larger devices than the S26. Yet, I rather enjoyed the smaller form factor of the S26, and I didn't feel like the smaller display was too small at any time during my testing.
I've often debated whether I should stop using the biggest phone every phone maker offers, and after using the S26 for a couple of weeks, that internal debate is stronger than ever.
The only area I struggled with regarding the design of the Galaxy S26 was the orientation of the sleep/wake button and the volume up/down buttons on the right edge. I found myself instinctively reaching for the volume down button while scrolling through Reels on Instagram, only to press the sleep/wake button and lock the phone. My muscle memory just couldn't adjust to the S26's arrangement, which is the exact opposite of the Pixel 10 Pro XL's, which has volume buttons below the sleep/wake on the same side of its housing.
On the bottom, you'll find a nano-SIM card slot (I thought we were done with physical SIMs?!) and a USB-C port. The left side and top edge of the phone are completely clean.
- Design score: 4 / 5
- Easy to use in direct sunlight
- Smooth refresh rate
The Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. All these technical specs mean one simple thing: it looks fantastic.
Everything from standard text messages to high-res YouTube clips appears incredibly sharp. Gaming is equally impressive; the display delivers fluid, stutter-free graphics in fast-paced titles like Asphalt Legends, which can take full advantage of the S26's 120Hz refresh rate.
The AMOLED panel truly shines — literally — when you take it outdoors, thanks to a rated peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Even under direct midday sun, I had absolutely no trouble reading the screen or navigating through apps.
There's really not much more to say about the Galaxy S26's screen other than it looks great. No issues. 10/10, would recommend.
- Display score: 5 / 5
- 7 years of software updates
- Multitasking features are nice-to-haves
The Galaxy S26 runs Android 16 with Samsung's One UI 8.5 adding customizations and features to the overall experience. If you've ever used a Samsung phone or tablet, you'll feel right at home with the S26's interface.
One UI used to feel duplicative of the base Android experience, particularly when it came to the apps preinstalled on a phone. For instance, Samsung Messages and Google Messages were both available. However, Samsung recently retired Messages in favor of Google's offering.
Samsung hasn't fully given up on its own apps. The Samsung Browser and Gallery are still available, for example. It's still confusing and a cluttered user experience, but it is getting better.
Default apps aside, One UI is mostly interface tweaks and customizations you don't see on, say, a Pixel phone. For instance, the new gestures to view your notifications or the quick settings panel in One UI 8.5 have taken me some getting used to.
Swiping down from the left three-quarters of the screen opens your notification panel, while swiping down from the top-right quarter reveals your quick settings.
I've been using a Galaxy Z Fold 7 running One UI 8.5 for a few months and adjusted to the new interaction with little effort, but for some reason, the smaller screen of the Galaxy S26 keeps tripping me up.
But I digress.
The Now brief interface on the Samsung Galaxy S26 (Image credit: Future)Galaxy AI is a big part of Samsung's AI initiative. You can use Galaxy AI to do things like let AI screen an incoming call, use writing and editing tools, photo editing, summarize and prioritize notifications, and even get personalized health insights using your Samsung Health data.
The feature list reads like a standard AI suite on any 2026 phone. That's not a bad thing, by any means.
I used the editing tool (Object Eraser) in the Gallery app to remove objects from photos a few times, and each time it nailed it. I'm not a huge fan of converting photos into pop art or retro anime, but in my brief experimentation with that feature, it mostly worked.
Pre-Object EraserFuturePost-Object EraserFutureHaving said all this, the redundancy of every phone maker and major tech company offering its own version of the same AI features can get overwhelming and confusing for users. Hopefully, after the AI boom goes bust, the mass spamming of AI features for the sake of AI features will stop.
Beyond Galaxy AI, one of my favorite features of the S26's software experience is the ability to touch and drag down on a notification to instantly create a small window for that app. It's super helpful when you want to reply to a message or continue a conversation without switching apps. The first time I triggered it was by accident, but once I figured out how it works, I'd routinely swipe down on the pop-up for an alert, do what I needed to do, and then close out the app — all without leaving whatever app I was in at the time. All phones should offer similar multitasking features.
- Software score: 4 / 5
- 50MP main camera
- 12MP ultra-wide
- 10MP telephoto
The camera housing on the S26 might be new, but the actual hardware is unchanged from the S25. You still get a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
I had fun taking photos with the S26. Samsung phones have historically taken photos that are slightly over-saturated, and sometimes overexposed, but that look pretty darn good at the end of the day, and the S26 is no different.
The phone performed beautifully in brightly lit environments, like when I snapped pics of the new Rivian R2 after a test drive. It also did a solid job of preserving detail and color late in the afternoon as the sun went down during my evening walks.
The telephoto lens works well up to its 3x optical limit, but its digital zoom past that point is hit or miss, especially once you get near the 30x limit. I had hoped I'd be able to read a 'no trespassing' sign posted down the street from me at 30x zoom, and while some of the text is legible, it's difficult to read.
The phone's 12MP front-facing hole-punch camera is centered along the top of its display. It takes good selfies, although it makes me look old. Or maybe I'm getting old. It's probably the latter. Sigh.
- Camera score: 4 / 5
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
- 12GB memory
- 256GB starting storage
The Galaxy S26 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage.
All of that combines to provide a smooth overall experience, with no obvious slowdowns in daily use. I spent my time testing the S26 using it as I would my daily phone.
I made random calls, talked in group chats and with my wife and kids, took pics of random stuff, played a game once in a while, streamed music, and watched some videos. The phone handled everything I put it through without any hiccups. Apps launched fast, and multitasking didn't trigger any lag or unresponsiveness.
One thing I noticed while gaming and running benchmarks is that the S26 gets hot. While it never becomes too hot to hold, it can become uncomfortable during extended gaming sessions. After noticing the temperature rise during a benchmark test, I grabbed my infrared thermometer and measured it at 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although I didn't have a case to test with, I imagine a case will likely cause the phone to heat up faster and potentially throttle its performance. This isn't a dealbreaker, but it's something to keep in mind.
Samsung Galaxy S26 benchmark scoresGeekbench 6 single-core
3,616
Geekbench 6 multi-core
10,827
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test best
6,933
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test low
2,962
3DMark Solar Bay
12,007
- Performance score: 4 / 5
- 4,300mAh battery
- 25W wired charging
- 15W wireless charging
Inside the Galaxy S26 is a 4,300mAh battery that's big enough to power through 30 hours of continuous video playback, according to Samsung's claims. In practice, that claim held up. I was easily able to get through a full day of heavy use — starting at 6am and ending around 10pm — and still have enough juice left to make it into the lunch hour the following day.
I felt spoiled while testing the S26, especially since my aging iPhone 15 Pro Max now needs to be recharged multiple times a day.
I normally don't leave my phone overnight without plugging it in, letting it drain precious battery in the process. But I wanted to see just how far I could push the S26's battery, and it delivered. I routinely saw a drop in charge of 4-5% overnight.
When it came time to charge the S26, using a 25W power adapter nets you an 18% charge from empty in 15 minutes. A full charge with the same adapter took 1 hour and 35 minutes. That's slightly slower than the Motorola Razr Plus 2026 I recently tested, but to be expected considering the Razr charges at up to 45W.
Wireless charging is an option at 15W with support for the Qi2 standard. However, there are no magnets in the phone to hold any compatible wireless charger or accessory in place. Instead, you'll need to buy a Qi2-compatible case that includes a ring of magnets to take full advantage of the feature.
I'm sure this is a design and cost-saving decision, but it's an odd one. As someone who uses a MagSafe wallet and has MagSafe chargers all over my home, office, and even in my truck, I've noticed the lack of magnets in the Galaxy S26 daily. At least fixing the problem is just a simple case purchase away.
The S26 also supports reverse wireless charging at up to 4.5W, which isn't a whole lot of power, but it's perfect for those situations when you need to recharge your smartwatch or wireless earbuds while on the go.
- Battery score: 4 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
An unwelcome price increase over last year's model.
3 / 5
Design
A tried-and-true design that looks great.
4 / 5
Display
A display that hits all the marks of what you'd want in a flagship phone.
5 / 5
Software
Android 16 and One UI 8.5 team up to provide a reliable experience.
4 / 5
Cameras
All three cameras take solid pics, but don't rely on the telephoto past 3x.
4 / 5
Performance
Quick and powerful, but the phone does get hot during intense tasks.
4 / 5
Battery
All-day battery life is welcome, but slow charging speeds are not.
4 / 5
Buy it if...You want a Samsung phone
The base S26 doesn't totally break the bank, but you are paying more for a Samsung phone than you would with, say, a Google Pixel. But if you're in the Samsung ecosystem, then that extra expense may be worth it.
You want a workhorse
The Galaxy S26's performance doesn't know when to quit. Gaming, multitasking, and doom-scrolling aren't an issue — just don't play graphically intensive titles for too long!
You want all-day battery life
The S26's 4,300mAh battery powered through a full day and then some in our testing.
You want faster charging
Being limited to 25W wired charging means topping off your battery in a hurry just isn't going to happen.
You want full magnetic Qi2 support
The S26 supports the Qi2 wireless charging standard, but you won't find a single magnet on the back of the phone. You'll have to buy a magnet-equipped case for that.
Google Pixel 10
Google's Pixel 10 checks all of the same boxes as the Galaxy S26, with a starting price of $799. It often goes on sale for much less than that, too.
Read our full Google Pixel 10 review
Apple iPhone 17
It doesn't run Android, but Apple's iPhone 17 matches the S26's size, performance, battery life, and camera quality, with a starting price of $799.
Read our full iPhone 17 review
How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S26Why you can trust TechRadar☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
I spent two weeks testing the Galaxy S26, using it as I would my everyday smartphone. I sent countless BlueBubble messages, played games, streamed music, and watched far more TheBurntPeanut streams and clips than I care to admit. I took pics of my food, my pets, and other daily randomness, as one does.
First tested July 2026
- AdGuard VPN arrives in the Meta Horizon Store as a standalone app
- The new app encrypts all VR activity rather than just browser traffic
- It joins NordVPN, ExpressVPN in offering dedicated Meta Quest apps
Diving into virtual reality has often felt like stepping into a privacy blind spot, but the tools to protect yourself are finally catching up. Following the release of its VR browser extension in March, AdGuard VPN has now officially launched a standalone app for Meta Quest headsets.
Available directly from the Meta Horizon Store, the new dedicated app brings system-wide privacy and security to Horizon OS.
This marks a significant upgrade for users who previously relied on AdGuard's browser-only extension. Now, whether you're battling friends in multiplayer games, streaming Netflix, or simply exploring virtual worlds, your traffic is encrypted across the entire headset.
"AdGuard VPN for Meta Quest works just like our mobile apps: it encrypts your traffic, hides your IP address, and secures your personal data, giving you a safer, unrestricted, and completely private virtual reality experience," the company explained in its official blog post announcement.
AdGuard joins a growing — albeit still small — number of providers offering dedicated Meta Quest apps. So, if you are looking for the best VPN to secure your headset, your options just expanded.
AdGuard — Free and Paid options
AdGuard VPN is a secure and capable VPN that uses an open-source proprietary stealth protocol to evade blocks and advanced security features like post-quantum encryption. It offers a free VPN service capped at 3 GB per month. For unlimited access, plans start from the equivalent of a $2.99 monthly fee and are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal
Until recently, securing a VR headset required frustrating workarounds. Users had to configure a virtual private network (VPN) on their router, share a connection from a PC, or sideload an Android app using developer tools. The arrival of native apps eliminates these technical hurdles.
While the AdGuard browser extensions for its VPN and ad-blocker tools launched earlier this year were a welcome addition, it was limited in scope.
As Vladimir Ozersky, Lead Product Manager at AdGuard, notes: "This isn't just another platform for us, it's a leap forward in bringing distraction-free, secure browsing into immersive environments."
The new standalone VPN app takes that leap further by encrypting your IP address in gaming lobbies and dedicated streaming apps, where browser-level protections simply don't reach.
(Image credit: AdGuard)Installing the new app is just as simple as downloading any other Quest title.
Users can navigate to the Meta Horizon Store on their headset, search for AdGuard VPN, and install the app directly.
Once installed, you can simply sign in to your account to connect to one of its 80+ server locations. The app is compatible with the Meta Quest 2, Quest Pro, Quest 3, and Quest 3S.
The growing list of VPNs on Meta HorizonAdGuard isn't the first provider to recognize the need for better VR security. The Meta Quest ecosystem has rapidly transformed from a privacy desert into a highly competitive space for cybersecurity firms.
ExpressVPN paved the way in February, launching an "industry-first hybrid" browser extension alongside a dedicated Meta Quest app. This launch made ExpressVPN the first major provider to offer full-device encryption directly on the platform, specifically pitching it as a way to combat ISP throttling during bandwidth-heavy VR gaming.
NordVPN then landed on Meta Horizon in June with its own native application. Much like ExpressVPN and AdGuard, the NordVPN app allows users to encrypt all data leaving the headset without resorting to complex router configurations.
For privacy-conscious users, this growing trend is excellent news. With three major players now offering frictionless, native applications, securing your digital footprint in the metaverse is finally as straightforward as protecting your smartphone.
In a monoculture, a single species or type dominates a system, to the exclusion of all others.
The term comes from agriculture, when a field is planted entirely with one crop. It may be efficient and easy to manage, but a single disease, pest, or environmental change can wipe out the entire yield.
Different varieties have different vulnerabilities, so a field of diverse crops can contain the damage naturally. A monoculture has no such defense.
That same monoculture condition is now occurring in software development.
Many organizations using AI tools for coding rely on a single AI model to both generate code and review it. On paper, this is efficient. But in reality, it creates a closed loop where the reviewer can't catch things that the generator is blind to.
Security flaws go undetected in reviews and suboptimal architectural decisions go unchallenged because the reviewing system shares the same assumptions as the system that produced the code.
When issues arise, engineers look at recent commits, failed deployments, and configuration changes. The assumption that a single AI platform can objectively review its own output is rarely questioned.
The solution to an agricultural monoculture is to introduce different crop varieties with different vulnerabilities, so that no single threat can devastate the entire field. The same is true in AI coding monocultures. Organizations need to introduce AI tools that are genuinely independent of the systems they're reviewing.
Separation of dutiesSo, why can't the same AI just review its own work?
Asking a coding assistant to review itself is like asking a human to proofread their own writing. The human may catch typos and grammatical errors, but they often won't catch logical inconsistencies or arguments that don't hold up.
This is because the human writer often subconsciously reads what they meant to write rather than what is actually on the page. A model reviewing its own output does the same thing; it evaluates the output against the same patterns and objectives that produced it in the first place.
Similarly, an AI model trained on the same data and optimized for the same signals as the model that wrote the code will carry the same blind spots. It will catch what it's capable of catching, and miss the things that the generating model missed.
Finance figured out this separation-of-duties principle long ago. If the same person who initiates a transaction can also approve it, that opens the door to fraudulent or erroneous transactions. The approval step only works if the approver is independent of the person who initiated the transaction.
Likewise, organizations must introduce a dedicated review tool that operates independently of the system that generated the code. Choosing a different vendor won't automatically solve the problem if the underlying models share the same training data or architectural assumptions.
Genuine independence requires different training data and different signals, and the tool must specifically be built for scrutiny, not completion.
Defense-in-depthA dedicated review tool is a strong starting point, but separation of duties alone isn't enough. The same principle that argues against a single AI doing everything also applies within the review function itself.
Code review is not a single task. Finding bugs, enforcing standards, assessing risk, and understanding how a change fits into the broader system are separate forms of reasoning, even when they appear in the same pull request.
Asking one agent to handle all of them at once forces tradeoffs between depth, speed, and coverage. In other words, some things will get less attention than they require.
Just as a mature security architecture layers independent controls so that what one misses another catches, a mature review architecture assigns distinct responsibilities to systems optimized for each one.
In practice that might mean one agent focused specifically on security vulnerabilities, another enforcing architectural standards and coding conventions, a third assessing the blast radius of a change, and a human reviewer making the final judgment call on anything flagged as high risk.
Each layer asks different questions and operates on different signals. The goal is ensuring that no single blind spot, including those shared across an AI monoculture, can let a problem through unchallenged.
The shifting role of platform engineeringAs AI generates a larger share of production code, organizations will need to designate clear ownership over which AI does what, and ensure the review function doesn't get quietly collapsed into the generation function in the name of efficiency. That responsibility will increasingly fall on platform engineering teams.
The role has traditionally been about making developers more productive by simplifying tooling, maintaining infrastructure, and reducing friction. That work hasn't disappeared, but as developers move from writing code themselves to directing agents that write it for them, platform engineers will need to govern the systems that generate code, not just maintain them.
That means owning the standards those agents follow and ensuring visibility into what’s actually happening across the codebase. Most importantly, it means treating code generation and code review as distinct functions that require distinct capabilities, and resisting the organizational pressure to consolidate them into a single platform because it's simpler to manage.
Organizational memoryAs AI handles more of the writing and reviewing, accumulated institutional knowledge gets lost. Why was that architectural decision made two years ago? Which parts of the codebase affect each other in ways that aren't obvious? What broke before and why? AI coding tools don't carry any of that context. They look at the task in front of them, complete it, and move on.
This kind of institutional knowledge used to live in the heads of the engineers who wrote and reviewed the code. As AI takes over more of that work, it needs to be captured in places such as documented standards and recorded review decisions or it simply vanishes. When organizations build that kind of memory into their development process, their systems get smarter about their codebase over time.
That means a review function that doesn't just flag problems in isolation, but learns the organization's standards, remembers past decisions, and understands how different parts of the codebase connect and depend on each other.
Getting ahead of monoculture riskThe AI monoculture risk is what happens when no one asks whether the system reviewing the code is genuinely independent of the system that wrote it.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently argued that the real opportunity in AI is not in picking the best model, but in building a learning loop where human knowledge and AI capability compound together, and that a company should be able to swap out a generalist model without losing the expertise built into its own systems.
That's only possible if the governance infrastructure is built at the same pace as the generation capability.
The organizations that do that early will be in a much better position than those that wait until something breaks.
We've reviewed, rated, and ranked the best vibe coding tools.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit