News

Companies spending too much on SaaS could cost them more than just money - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 07:00

Walk into most organizations today and ask what they're spending on SaaS. Odds are, no one can give you a confident answer. Not because they don't want to, it's because no one actually knows.

Ask a different question: who owns SaaS spend in your company? You'll likely hear three things: "Finance handles it," "That's IT's job," or "Honestly, it depends.”

And therein lies the real problem. While companies are dropping anywhere from $9,000 to $17,000 per employee annually on software, most organizations have zero clue what they're actually buying.

The explosion of software tools across every function, only exacerbated by AI, has quietly created a gap between what companies think they're managing and what they're actually managing. And that gap is getting more expensive by the month.

SaaS sprawl is worse than you think

Here's how it happens: your marketing team signs up for Canva Pro, your sales team gets Calendly, design jumps on Figma, and engineering grabs another GitHub license. Meanwhile, IT is already paying for Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft has calendar functionality, you've got design tools in your existing stack, and there's a company-wide GitHub Enterprise account sitting unused.

This isn't just wasteful spending. It's what we call SaaS sprawl, and it's quietly bleeding companies dry. Recent data shows organizations use an average of 112 SaaS applications, with large enterprises using up to 447 different tools. And I think this is actually underrepresented. When every department acts like its own startup, you end up with a technology Frankenstein that nobody can control or understand.

When you factor in that companies waste 30-50% of their SaaS budgets on unused licenses, and missed renewal dates can cost upwards of $200,000 per instance, it’s hard to understand why so many are not addressing this problem head on. When there's no centralized intake or contract visibility, things slip through. You renew tools no one's using. You pay above market rates because you don't benchmark. You get hit with surprise auto-renewals.

The AI acceleration problem

And, just when some companies thought they had SaaS sprawl under control, AI came along and hit the gas pedal. We're seeing the late 2010s SaaS explosion all over again, but this time it's powered by artificial intelligence.

We’re in the middle of a perfect storm. Leadership wants teams to be AI-enabled, to experiment, to learn. They're actively encouraging employees to test new tools and find ways to work more efficiently. Meanwhile, IT teams are desperately trying to control the sprawl that's already spiraling out of control.

Guess who wins? The credit card.

Employees are swiping corporate cards to try the latest AI writing tool, testing out OpenAI subscriptions, or spinning up Zapier automations without any security review or budget coordination. Each purchase seems small and reasonable. A $20 monthly subscription here, a $50 annual plan there. But multiply that across every department, every team, every curious employee, and you've got a massive problem.

The conflicting stories are everywhere. Leaders preach innovation and experimentation while finance teams watch budgets explode. IT departments create approval processes while employees find workarounds. Everyone wants to be AI-first, but nobody wants to be the one who says no to the next breakthrough tool.

Shadow IT: The innovation myth

Here's where things get interesting. Some people claim Shadow IT and now Shadow AI drives innovation. They're wrong. Anyone claiming Shadow IT drives innovation isn't actually fostering an innovative environment.

When 40% of IT spending happens outside formal oversight, that's not innovation. That's broken processes. Your procurement workflows are failing to meet company needs quickly enough, so people are going rogue.

Sure, it looks like innovation on the surface. Employees find new tools, solve problems quickly, and move fast. But here's what's really happening: you're diverting time, money, and focus from actual innovation and R&D investments that could drive the company forward.

Real innovation happens when teams can explore new ideas without bypassing controls. If the only way to get work done is to go around IT or procurement, that's not agility, it's dysfunction. And it's expensive.

The security nightmare we’re all ignoring

It’s not just pure budget that is the problem, Shadow IT and AI and SaaS Sprawl are all creating security holes that many are simply not addressing. Every unauthorized app is a potential entry point for bad actors. IBM found that one in three data breaches involved Shadow IT, with the average breach costing around $4.9 million.

When someone in engineering or marketing signs up for a random productivity tool using their work email, they're potentially exposing company data. No security review, no IT approval, no encryption standards. Just click, sign up, and hope for the best.

The compliance risks are equally terrifying. Use a non-GDPR-compliant tool for EU customer data? That's a potential fine. Healthcare company using a random file-sharing app? Hello, HIPAA violations. These types of risks are happening right now at companies that think they have things under control.

Where sprawl lives

Interestingly, SaaS sprawl doesn't always come from obscure tools. It often comes from the biggest names in tech. At Tropic, we’ve found that some of the most common drivers of tool overlap and Shadow IT include:

  • Zoom, Microsoft, Slack, Google – Multiple collaboration tools per organization
  • Figma, Canva, Adobe – Design tool overlap with no license governance
  • Salesforce, Calendly, DocuSign – Sales tools stacked on top of each other
  • GitHub, JetBrains, Atlassian – Dev tools used inconsistently across teams
  • Dropbox, Apple, Amazon, OpenAI – Personal subscriptions tied to work email

No one sets out to buy the same tool twice. But without visibility, it happens all the time. Every new vendor means more contracts to track, more renewals to manage, more security reviews to conduct, and more relationships to maintain. The administrative overhead alone can eat up significant resources.

When spreadsheets become expensive

A lot of finance and IT teams are still trying to manage all this complexity with spreadsheets. That's like trying to navigate a modern city with a paper map from 1995. Even a 1% error rate on $50 million of spend can waste $500,000 annually.

Dig deeper and this isn’t just a tooling issue, it's an ownership issue. Procurement or finance thinks IT is managing it. IT assumes finance has the numbers. Finance is tracking spend, but not usage. Legal might only get involved post-signature. So, things fall through the cracks.

Let's talk ROI

Here's something most people don't talk about enough: every dollar saved on procurement and purchasing has an immediate impact on the bottom line. Unlike new sales revenue, a dollar saved can be pure profit.

Reducing SaaS spend by just 6% delivers the same profit lift as a 20% increase in top-line revenue. And that's before you factor in the benefits of reduced risk, stronger compliance, and faster purchasing cycles.

We've seen companies recover hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—just by tackling renewals earlier, consolidating tools, and validating usage.

What smart companies are doing instead

The fix isn't shutting down software purchases. Not only is that impossible, but you’d have a disgruntled workforce on your hands. It is, however, about enabling them with structure. The companies that are winning aren't locking down every software request. They're treating software spend like the strategic lever it is.

Here's what best-in-class companies are doing:

  • Centralizing intake. Giving teams one place to request or renew software.
  • Building a software inventory. Not just contracts, but owners, usage, and cost.
  • Reviewing renewals 90–180 days out. Not two weeks before expiration. Get ahead of things to determine if you need other tools and create savings.
  • Using benchmarking data. So, you don't overpay for tools that should cost less.
  • Measuring utilization. If you bought 500 seats and only used 320, ask why.

None of this slows people down. In fact, it makes it easier for teams to get what they need, faster because the path is clear, the data is ready, and approvals don't sit in a black hole.

The time to act

Every month you wait is money walking out the door. Those auto-renewals are happening whether you're paying attention or not. The unused licenses are accumulating. The security risks are multiplying.

But don’t fear. You don't need to solve everything at once. Start with visibility. Figure out what you're actually buying. Identify the obvious waste. Cancel the subscriptions nobody is using.

Software isn't slowing down. And with AI in the mix, things are only getting more complex. This is your moment to get control, not by over-regulating, but by creating the visibility and structure your teams need to move fast, spend wisely, and innovate securely.

Your choice is simple: act now, or pay later. The meter is running either way. You don't need 200 tools to move fast. You need the right 20 and a way to manage them well.

We've featured the best business plan software.

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
A shocking lawsuit against Amazon makes me want to cancel my Prime Video subscription immediately - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 07:00

In a new proposed class action lawsuit against Amazon [via The Hollywood Reporter], the company has been accused of “bait and switch" (a type of fraudulent activity) on Prime Video. This means they are allegedly misleading consumers into thinking they’ve purchased content when they’re only getting a license to watch, which can be revoked at any time if Amazon loses the rights to a title.

The potential lawsuit claims: "violations of California unfair competition, false advertising and consumer legal remedies laws. It seeks unspecified damages, including disgorgement of profits and punitive damages for allegedly intentionally malicious conduct." Filed in Washington federal court on August 22 2025, the proposal claims that Amazon is "misrepresenting the nature of movie and TV transactions during the purchase process".

In case that's not clear, let's take the unwatched digital version of Conclave I 'bought' on Prime Video so my parents didn't miss out on this year's Oscar hype as an example. I have a digital copy, but if Prime Video's licensing agreements were to change, so too could the version of Conclave I have access to. If Amazon were to no longer have the rights to the title, my parents would lose the movie.

As the complaint points out, “you receive a license to the video and you agree to our terms," meaning that what you actually get for parting with your money is written in the small print. But should Prime Video be allowed to tell subscribers that they've "bought" a movie, and what does this mean for us users in the long run?

Prime Video’s new class action lawsuit proves we need to invest in more physical media

Prime Video has a huge back catalog, but are we really buying it? (Image credit: Amazon)

Before we go any further, let's not forget that this isn't the first lawsuit of this kind Prime Video has had against it. In 2020, a separate lawsuit alleged "unfair competition and false advertising over the practice". While Amazon has not yet publicly commented on the new class action, it claimed in 2020 that using the word "buy" isn't deceptive to subscribers because consumers already understand that their purchases is subjective to license agreements. Five years later, and I'd say that likely isn't the case.

Back in 2023, a Californian legislature brought the problem to the forefront again. Gamers found that their access to The Crew would be stopped after Ubisoft shut down the game's servers, inspiring the 'Stop Killing Games' movement that took aim at publishers destroying previously-bought consumer titles.

However, it's changes to Californian legislature this year work to our new lawsuit's advantage. Essentially, a state law has barred the use of the word 'purchase' in a transaction unless "it offers unrestricted ownership of the product." Obviously, our Prime Video small print doesn't fit into this, and Amazon can hardly afford to lose such a huge profit share as California (if it was its own separate country, California would be the fourth largest economy in the world).

We don't yet know what any of this means for streamers with a Prime Video subscription on a wider level, but to me, it's an incredibly stark reminder that we need to keep investing in physical media as much as possible. Yes, it's more expensive than paying a flat fee every month for all the content you can possibly want. But it's like dating: if you become more intentional in what you invest in, the results are lifelong.

If you have physical copies of movies and TV shows that you love, you can never be parted from them, and it's the only way we can now guarantee the security of what we buy. Maybe it's time for the best streaming services to revert to the good old days of sending us discs in the post to watch and return when we're done with them, just like Netflix did in the late 2000s.

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A critical Docker Desktop security flaw puts Windows hosts at risk of attack, so patch now - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 07:31
  • Researchers find 9.3/10 flaw in Docker Desktop for Windows and macOS
  • The bug allows threat actors to compromise underlying hosts and tamper with data
  • A fix was quickly released, so users should patch now

Docker has patched a critical severity vulnerability in its Desktop app for Windows and macOS which could have allowed threat actors to fully take over vulnerable hosts, exfiltrate sensitive data, and more.

The vulnerability is described as a server-side request forgery (SSRF) and, according to the NVD, it “allows local running Linux containers to access the Docker Engine API via the configured Docker subnet.”

“A malicious container running on Docker Desktop could access the Docker Engine and launch additional containers without requiring the Docker socket to be mounted,” Docker said in a follow-up security advisory. “This could allow unauthorized access to user files on the host system. Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) does not mitigate this vulnerability.”

Not all systems are affected in the same way

The bug was discovered and reported by security researcher Felix Boulet. It is now tracked as CVE-2025-9074 and was given a severity rating of 9.3/10 (critical).

However, a separate researcher, Philippe Dugre, stressed that the risk is not the same on all platforms, noting it’s actually somewhat greater on Windows, compared to macOS.

This is due to the safeguards baked into the macOS operating system. Dugre managed to create a file in the user’s home directory on Windows, but not on macOS:

"On Windows, since the Docker Engine runs via WSL2, the attacker can mount as an administrator the entire filesystem, read any sensitive file, and ultimately overwrite a system DLL to escalate the attacker to administrator of the host system," Dugre explained.

"On MacOS, however, the Docker Desktop application still has a layer of isolation and trying to mount a user directory prompts the user for permission. By default, the docker application does not have access to the rest of the filesystem and does not run with administrative privileges, so the host is a lot safer than in the Windows case," he added.

Docker fixed it in Desktop version 4.44.3, so users are advised to upgrade as soon as possible.

Via BleepingComputer

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Fitbit's new Dark Mode app makes it feel more like Garmin Connect – here's how to turn it on - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 07:50
  • Last week, the Fitbit app got a redesign with Dark Mode
  • The much-requested feature has been a long time coming, as many competitor apps have been using this design for years
  • Here's how to switch Dark Mode on and off using Settings

The Fitbit app is undergoing some big changes. To coincide with the launch of the Google Pixel Watch 4 (you can read our early impressions in our Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on review) it's getting a personal AI health coach in the US and, as far as we're aware, UI changes as well.

However, before those changes come into effect, Google has given the Fitbit app a significant facelift already, with the launch of Dark Mode.

The Fitbit app, since its inception, has always been set against a bright off-white backdrop regardless whether the rest of your phone is in Dark Mode or not.

It's resisted change even though competitors for the crown of best fitness app, such as Apple Health and Garmin Connect, have been on dark backgrounds to make parsing through complex graphs and planning workouts easier on the eyes.

(Image credit: Garmin/Shutterstock)

In my opinion, it's crazy that despite the popularity of the best Fitbits, it's taken so long for the companion app to get a Dark Mode. It's a simple inversion that makes the experience of using the app so much better for most people.

However, if I was being completely cynical, it might have taken so long because Google simply didn't know what to do with Fitbit.

I've written plenty about Google's neglect of the brand while folding the best hardware features into its Pixel Watch series, but it seems as though after last year's app redesign, Dark Mode and this year's heavy investment into the AI health coach, Google's finally seeing a way for Fitbit to exist within Google's complex ecosystem going forward.

When I opened my Fitbit app this morning, Dark Mode was already enabled. However, in case yours hasn't switched over automatically or you're looking for manual adjustment, here's how to toggle Dark Mode on and off.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Ensure your Fitbit app is updated to version 4.50. If not, navigate to Software Updates in your phone's settings
  • In the Fitbit app, tap your profile image and go to Fitbit Settings
  • In Settings, tap the new Theme option
  • You can choose between System Default, Light or Dark options
  • System Default will match Fitbit to your phone's theme, so if you use Dark Mode on your phone's operating system, Fitbit will switch automatically
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Intel is giving PC gamers Battlefield 6 for free with some desktop CPUs to try and stoke sales - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 07:59
  • Intel has a new 'Gamer Days 2025' promotion running until September 7th
  • You get Battlefield 6 for free with certain CPUs or prebuilt PCs
  • There are also some chunky discounts to be had with some CPUs

Intel's latest angle to try and shift more of its desktop processors is a promotion tied in with Battlefield 6.

Wccftech reports that Intel has kicked off its 'Gamer Days 2025' campaign – running through until September 7th – which involves some beefy discounts on some of its CPUs (as well as prebuilt PCs containing those processors). However, the big draw for many will be the free copy of Battlefield 6 that's bundled with this offer.

To pick out some examples from the current generation of Arrow Lake CPUs, the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has been reduced by 12% on Amazon (so in the US it's $530 instead of $600 now), plus that Battlefield 6 freebie. The more mainstream Core Ultra 7 265K processor is the real attraction here, though, with a discount of 36% at Amazon currently (meaning a reduction from an MSRP of $399 down to $259).

This isn't just about Arrow Lake, though, as some previous-generation chips are also reduced. These include the Intel Core i5-14600K which is currently out of stock at Amazon in the US (but is down to $150 at Newegg after a discount code is applied, a seriously tempting proposition at that price level).

In total, there are almost 20 processors involved in this promotion on Amazon, and PC builders such as CyberPowerPC and Origin are in the mix when it comes to the prebuilt rigs included in the offer in the US (or there's the likes of Scan and Overclockers in the UK).

Analysis: heavy hitter of a freebie is needed

(Image credit: EA)

Battlefield 6 represents $70 of value in the US, so if you were intending to buy the game anyway, grabbing one of these CPUs with that outlay knocked off leaves them pretty cheap indeed in some cases.

The price cuts in themselves are nice, but it's the game offer that's doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, as we've already seen these kinds of discounts for Intel chips – even the current-gen models.

Or I should say especially the current-gen Arrow Lake CPUs, as these are rather lackluster in terms of their gaming performance, so Intel needs help getting some sales momentum behind them. That goes for past-gen chips, too, which have the shadow of previous stability issues still hanging over them – consumers aren’t going to forget that episode in a hurry.

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The one Gilded Age season 4 storyline that could change everything is one you’re not paying attention to - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 08:05

Annoyingly, The Gilded Age season 4 isn't going to be on our screens for an age (pun intended) yet. In fact, we don't actually have a release window at all, which isn't too surprising given that season 3 only wrapped a few weeks ago. However, the last few episodes told us a lot about what we can expect going forward, and all eyes are on George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon).

George’s life hung in the balance in the closing scene of season 3 episode 7. He’d previously won out against Clay (Patrick Page) and Mr. Sage (Peter McRobbie), getting the business back on track in spite of their rivalry. However, this came at a price. A courier soon visited George’s office, pulling a gun on his secretary before aiming it straight at George himself. The gun went off, the screen goes black and we had no idea whether he’s alive or died.

In episode 8, we find out that George was indeed shot, but managed to make a miraculous recovery. But once George is well enough, he promptly tells wife Bertha that he’s not even sure if he loves her or trusts her, leaving for New York without so much as an amicable thought between them. We've currently got no idea if George is even going to return for season 4, but we do know Bertha has to rebuild her life on her own, likely vicariously living through Gladys (Taissa Farmiga).

However, I don't think it's George or Bertha who deserve all the attention in The Gilded Age season 4, or should be the storyline that's going to change 19th century New York from the way that we know it. For me, a new era lies in Gladys herself, and it's her recent marriage and impending pregnancy that will have a lot to answer for.

Gladys' marriage and pregnancy will change The Gilded Age season 4 for good, mark my words

Taissa Farmiga as Gladys in The Gilded Age. (Image credit: HBO)

Gladys announces she is pregnant right in the episode's final moments, with George seemingly out of the picture. At its most basic level, the final moments of season 3 mean Bertha got everything she'd been working towards, but now has been left without a stable family unit of her own. Watching Gladys wed the Duke of Buckingham, and essentially become part of British aristocracy by proxy, was what she always wanted, but it's the consequences we need to be paying attention to.

Firstly, Glady's story is actually based on real life. She's loosely based on Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American socialite and member of the Vanderbilt family who married the 9th Duke of Marlborough during the real Gilded Age. However, theirs became known as a loveless marriage that was 'forced' on her by her mother, with their union thought of as being advantageous to everyone expect for Consuelo herself. Sound familiar?

On top of this, Gladys is who will bring us closest to creator Julian Fellowes' biggest global hit, Downton Abbey. We're still a way off time wise, with The Gilded Age still being the latter stage of the 1800s while Downton Abbey originally began in 1912, but if Gladys stayed with her Duke, had his baby and moved to England, the timelines cross over enough for her to have be middle aged when season 1 of Downton Abbey rolls around. If that doesn't smell like a spinoff, I don't know what does.

Regardless of which direction Gladys' story actually takes, it'll no doubt change the trajectory of The Gilded Age's future – and that's before we even considering how all of this affects Bertha. But who knows whether Gladys will realise she's living Bertha's dream and quit while she's ahead?

"I hope I don't have to play pregnant too long," Taissa Farmiga told Marie Claire. I don't want to have to wear a corset with a pregnancy belt. Let's just throw this out there – maybe Julian reads this. But also I'll do what I have to do!"

All three seasons of The Gilded Age are streaming on HBO Max in the US, NOW TV in the UK and Paramount+ in Australia.

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Microsoft warns OneNote for Windows 10 support is ending soon - so plan your upgrade now - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 08:16
  • OneNote for Windows 10 loses support at the same time as the OS
  • New OneNote on Windows app replaces it with new features
  • Users can update by using the in-app migration ribbon

Microsoft has warned users its OneNote note-taking app is set to lose support for Windows 10 machines from October 14, 2025, and with this landmark comes an important software update.

From that deadline, Microsoft OneNote will be a read-only app, meaning notes can be viewed but not edited or synced.

No further updates, bug fixes or security patches will be provided in line with Windows 10 also losing support on October 14.

OneNote won’t be supported in Windows 10 from October 2025

“As we continue to invest in a more secure, modern, and capable note-taking experience, we’re consolidating our efforts into a single, more powerful OneNote on Windows app,” OneNote Product Manager Bola Soneye wrote in a blog post announcing the news.

By streamlining OneNote, Microsoft is promising faster delivery of new features, long-term support and a “foundation for future innovation in OneNote.”

To move from the classic Windows 10 version of OneNote to the new OneNote on Windows app, users must sync their notes and then use the in-app migration ribbon to ‘Move to the newest version of OneNote’.

The new app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store for free, but users must sign in with work, school or personal accounts to unlock it.

The blog post also details specific processes for Enterprise and Education customers.

Looking ahead, Microsoft’s roadmap has plenty of entries for OneNote, including a whole host of Copilot-based improvements like summarization, Q&A, voice tools, image and video support and audio overviews.

The OneNote change is just part of a broader shift happening as Windows 10 makes room for Windows 11. Earlier in June 2025, Windows 11 adoption finally caught up with Windows 10 (via Statcounter), before surpassing it one month later.

Soneye concluded by urging OneNote users to migrate now rather than leaving it until the last minute to avoid disruptions.

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Gorillaz is coming to Fortnite today, and I think that's a reason to Feel Good - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 08:49
  • A new Fortnite Festival season starts today
  • Its themed around the virtual band Gorillaz
  • It introduces a new Music Pass, plus a new bundle, and more

A new Fortnite Festival season drops today and it introduces a collab with the popular virtual band Gorillaz.

The update brings a fresh main stage that features an atmospheric backdrop of city buildings and graffiti.

There will also be a range of Gorillaz items added to the shop, available separately or as part the new Noodle and 2D Bundle based on members of the virtual group.

This includes:

  • Noodle Outfit
  • Noodle’s Case Back Bling
  • DARE Emote
  • Noodle’s Axe Guitar
  • 2D Outfit
  • 2D’s Megaphone Back Bling
  • Gorillaz Camo Wrap
  • 2D’s Mic
  • “DARE” Jam Track
  • Bonesy Balloons Contrail

In addition to the bundle, you will also be able to purchase the 'Clint Eastwood' Jam Track.

Of course, it wouldn't be a new Fortnite Festival season without a new Music Pass. The Season 10 Music Pass offers two outfits based on Gorillaz members: the Russel Outfit and Murdoc Outfit.

This is on top of a range of themed cosmetics on the 'On Melancholy Hill' Jam Track.

Some general improvements are also coming as part of the update, such as the addition of a 'Good' note when you're timing is just slightly off from 'Perfect'. You will be able to finally sort your music library by duration or intensity too, which is a very practical change.

You can read the full list of tweaks and learn more about this new season on the official Fortnite website.

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Google's New AI Image Model 'Bananas' Is Here: How to Edit Your Photos With Gemini - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 10:00
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Foldable iPhone: latest rumors, news and everything we know so far - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 08:56

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

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

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

Latest news

Specs, camera details, and colors for the foldable iPhone have leaked.

Cut to the chase
  • What is it? Potentially the first folding phone from Apple
  • When is it out? Possibly 2026, or maybe much later
  • How much will it cost? Expect it to be expensive
Foldable iPhone release date and price

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Foldable iPhone leaks and rumors

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

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

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

This design shows how an iPhone could look when folded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Patently Apple)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More recently still (in February of 2025) we heard that the foldable iPhone could have 7.74-inch and 5.49-inch screens. We heard a similar claim in March, with TrendForce claiming the foldable iPhone will have a 7.8-inch foldable screen and a 5.5-inch cover display, which are sizes we've also previously heard from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, so they may well be accurate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beyond the design and display, we've heard that the foldable iPhone might have a dual-lens camera, Touch ID, and an ultra-thin battery. Despite that, the foldable iPhone could offer all-day battery life, with Apple apparently making its battery longevity a priority. We've now specifically heard that the foldable iPhone's battery might be 5,000-5,500mAh.

Another foldable iPhone leak has also pointed to Touch ID, adding that the foldable iPhone will apparently have two cameras on the back and one on each screen, that it will be available in black and white shades, and that it will use Apple's C2 modem.

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

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(Image credit: AST)Image 2 of 4

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(Image credit: AST)

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

iPhone Flip: 5 things we’d like to see

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

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

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

(Image credit: Future)2. Apple Pencil support

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

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

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

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

(Image credit: Apple)4. iPadOS integration

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

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

(Image credit: Future)5. Strong battery life

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

We’d like Apple to use the extra device space to keep its own foldable last longer than the competition.
Google will soon stop you sideloading unverified apps – here’s what that means for you - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 08:58
  • Google has announced plans that will require app developers to verify their identity, even when not listing their apps on the Play Store
  • This will hopefully reduce the number of malicious apps that can be sideloaded
  • However, some Android fans are unhappy with this change

Sideloading refers to the process of downloading apps from sources outside of a phone's official app store, and Google will soon make big changes to the requirements for sideloaded apps on Android phones.

As announced on the Android Developers Blog, Google plans to block unverified apps from being installed on Android devices through sideloading. This means that, if you’re an app developer, then even if you don’t distribute your app through the Google Play Store, you’ll still need to verify your identity with Google.

The company states that it won’t check the content or functionality of apps that aren’t being listed on the Play Store, so it’s just an identity verification that developers will have to go through.

This change will be tested from October and will start rolling out more widely from March 2026, with 2027 targeted as the year in which it will become a global requirement for app developers.

More security, less freedom

The Google Pixel 9 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What this should mean for users is that there’s less risk of downloading malicious apps when bypassing the Play Store. Google claims that this is the reason for the change, since developers will probably be less inclined to try and upload virus-riddled apps if Google has their identity.

But despite this, many Android users seem unhappy with the planned change. In a Reddit thread, responses include the likes of “awful decision”, we’re “close to a very dark place”, and “I guess I will be buying an iPhone as my next upgrade."

The complaints largely seem to stem from the sense that Google is cutting down on freedom and moving closer to the walled garden approach of Apple. Some also speculate that this move might be being made to prevent apps that can block adverts on YouTube – although if, as Google claims, the content of the apps isn’t being looked at, then that might not happen.

So, whether this is a good or bad move is rather subjective, but the vast majority of Android users probably won’t be affected at all, since if you download all your apps from the Google Play Store, then nothing is changing for you.

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Stalker 2 dev details new enhancements for PS5, including making the most of the DualSense's speaker and adaptive triggers - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 09:00
  • Stalker 2 on PS5 will offer new audio and trigger features on the DualSense controller
  • The DualSense's triggers have been used to mimic the game's weapon triggers
  • The controller's speaker function will also playback in-game audio, like the radio, for better immersion

GSC Game World has revealed new details about Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's PS5 version, including the all-new features that the Xbox and PC versions don't offer.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom 2025, technical producer Evgeniy Kulik discussed what makes the PS5 port different ahead of its launch and touched on the many new enhancements the studio has implemented for an "immersive" experience.

"We actually had a lot of fun while we were doing the version of our game for PlayStation, because it's a completely new platform for us and it provides us with a lot of new features," Kulik said. "For example, like the DualSense controller features. So, of course, we utilize that because we can immerse our players in the game more and more using those features."

Some of those include the touch pad and light bar, the controller's adaptive triggers, which have been used to mimic weapon triggers, as well as the controller's speaker function, which Kulik said is his favorite feature of the DualSense.

"I personally like our integration of speaker, because our our game is first person shooter, so [the] speaker provides us with the maximum power of immersion, because basically, like an example, some system notification, some radio chatter, and the radio is basically on your left or right shoulder," the developer said, "and with the radio chatter coming from the DualSense speaker, you immerse more and more in the game, and if you're talking about adaptive triggers, we made each gun feel unique, so the tension and the recoil from the adaptive trigger feels very differently on each of our weapons."

Kulik explained that there are weapon enthusiasts at GSC, and the team recorded real gunfire for Stalker 2, so in-game sounds play back more authentically.

"We are basically acquainted with each gun that is presented to the game, okay, maybe not each, but the Gauss Rifle... we tried to get that realistic trigger experience and provide it within the game," he said. "So we're all about digitalization and some really immersive features that you may actually feel with your fingertips."

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl was released in November 2024 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC. The game will finally arrive on PS5 and PS5 Pro on November 20, 2025.

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Black Ops 7 beta dates: here's when early access and open betas are running - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 09:00

The Black Ops 7 beta dates have now been fully revealed. We know that players will get the chance to play this year's Call of Duty early in October, with early access available for those who pre-order.

From what we've seen so far, Black Ops 7 is going all in on futuristic warfare, with plenty of returning characters leading the campaign. Interestingly, the campaign can be played co-op with up to four players, and Zombies is making a return as well. It remains to be seen how Black Ops 7 will land, especially given it's only been a year since Black Ops 6. If these new tweaks to the co-op modes work, however, then we could be seeing Black Ops 7 ranking highly in our best FPS games list by the end of the year.

Here's everything you need to know about the Black Ops 7 beta dates. This includes start dates, end dates, and how to get early access. As we move closer to launch, it's likely we'll hear more from developer Treyarch. Once we do, this page will be updated.

Black Ops 7 beta dates - cut to the chase
  • Early Access: October 2 - October 5
  • Open Beta: October 5 - October 8
  • Platforms: PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, PC (Steam, Battle.net, Xbox PC)
Black Ops 7 early access beta start date and time

(Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 7 Early Access beta starts at the following times in your timezone:

  • East Coast (US): October 2 at 1PM ET - October 5 at 1PM ET
  • West Coast (US): October 2 at 10AM PT - October 5 at 10AM PT
  • United Kingdom: October 2 at 6PM BST - October 5 at 6PM BST
  • Australia (Sydney): October 3 at 3AM AEST - October 6 at 3AM AEST
  • Japan (Tokyo): October 3 at 2AM JST - October 6 at 2AM JST
Black Ops 7 open beta start date and time

(Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 7 open beta will begin at the following time depending on your timezone:

  • East Coast (US): October 5 at 1PM ET - October 8 at 1PM ET
  • West Coast (US): October 5 at 10AM PT - October 8 at 10AM PT
  • United Kingdom: October 5 at 6PM BST - October 8 at 6PM BST
  • Australia (Sydney): October 6 at 3AM AEST - October 9 at 3AM AEST
  • Japan (Tokyo): October 6 at 2AM JST - October 9 at 2AM JST
How to get Black Ops 7 beta early access

To get into the Early Access Black Ops 7 beta, you'll need to pre-order the game on your platform of choice. You can also subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console.

CAN YOU PRELOAD THE BLACK OPS 7 BETA?

(Image credit: Activision)

Activision has not yet provided any information on when the Black Ops 7 beta will be available. Over on the official FAQ, it's stated that: "More information about pre-loading will be available soon." We'll have to wait and see what the developer reveals, but it's worth noting that preload is usually offered for Call of Duty betas a day or two before they go live.

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AI really is cutting out entry-level jobs for human workers, study claims - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 09:04
  • Researchers have identified a drop in entry level jobs, mainly due to AI
  • The drop affects manic basic roles such as admin and accountancy
  • Some firms are regretting their choice to replace workers with chatbots

Stanford researchers have released a new study which validates many warnings about generative AI’s effects on the workplace, claiming the technology is having a ‘real and measurable’ impact on entry-level workers - and not in a good way.

The market has experienced a 13% drop in available jobs for young people in AI impacted fields since late 2022, making this the ‘fastest, broadest change’ seen in recent years, comparable only to the shift towards remote work during the pandemic.

The report note in positions where AI is poised to have the highest impact like software development and customer service, younger workers are increasingly unable to climb the career ladder, which risks a scenario in 10-20 years where senior leaders retire, but have an increasingly small pool of younger leaders to promote and hand their businesses over to.

Concentrated losses

Whilst the wider job market doesn’t seem to be experiencing the same level of turbulence, those which would traditionally be listed as ‘mundane’ or are easily automated are at serious risk - such as secretaries, administrative assistants, and auditors.

Whilst we are still in the relative infancy of Gen AI in the workplace, there are bound to be teething problems whilst businesses and workers get to grips with how the technology can be deployed - but research shows that in the UK many have jumped the gun - as over half of businesses that replaced workers with AI now regret their decision.

There have been high-profile walk-backs too, with an Australian bank recently forced to issue a public apology and rehire human workers after their AI replacement failed to perform.

In spite of this, OpenAI’s Sam Altman has warned GenAI could wipe out some job industries altogether, but even he argues there are still some jobs he wouldn’t trust entirely with a chatbot, noting “ChatGPT today, by the way, most of the time, can give you better – it’s like, a better diagnostician than most doctors in the world."

“Yet people still go to doctors, and I am not, like, maybe I’m a dinosaur here, but I really do not want to, like, entrust my medical fate to ChatGPT with no human doctor in the loop.”

Via Axios

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Gamescom 2025's record-breaking attendance could mean it's an event that gamers can no longer afford to ignore - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 09:17
  • Gamescom 2025 was the largest it's ever been
  • Over 350,000 visitors came to the event from 128 countries
  • For gamers, Gamescom is fast becoming the go-to event for news, trailers, previews and more

The numbers are in for Gamescom 2025, and it's becoming increasingly clear that it's the most important event on the annual gaming calendar.

Gamescom organizers have put out a press release containing this year's stats, including a total attendance of 357,000 visitors from 128 countries. Additionally, the show hosted 1,568 exhibitors (that's companies showing off their upcoming games and hardware) hailing from 72 different countries.

The Opening Night Live showcase also attracted a total of 72 million views internationally, which Gamescom states is an 80% increase over the previous year.

We can likely chalk this up to the anticipation of games like Hollow Knight: Silksong, Ghost of Yotei, and Resident Evil Requiem, all of which made appearances in some form or another during the show. But regardless, it shows that there is significant interest in the annual gaming showcase.

That's all well and good, then, but I hear you; what does a bunch of stats mean for the average gamer? Well, put simply, Gamescom is an event that's becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Even if you're just taking it all in through new trailers, interviews and previews.

No matter whether you're attending or just keeping up with the latest news online, Gamescom is a giant red circle marked on the calendar of many of your favorite game developers and publishers.

That includes the likes of Capcom, Bandai Namco, Nintendo, Sega, Square Enix, Epic Games, Xbox Game Studios, and more. If a hotly anticipated game is launching within the next six or so months, there's a high chance of it being in attendance at Gamescom, accompanied by new trailers and/or previews.

Much like Summer Game Fest and similarly large events of years' past, Gamescom has continued to expand year on year, and it's now comfortably the largest European gaming expo. This also means that the event is generally easier to access for developers and publishers based in Europe and the UK. That being said, Gamescom has also confirmed that trade visitors hailing from the US, Canada, China, and Japan have increased, making it a solidly global operation.

We'll be bringing you our previews and thoughts on the various games we got to check out at Gamescom 2025, so be sure to keep checking back throughout this week and the next.

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