Category: Tech

The Government Digital Service (GDS) has yet to achieve conformance with key national cyber security standards for its Gov.uk One Login digital identity system, nearly three years since security concerns were first raised.

The One Login team is still working to fully meet National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidelines. Computer Weekly has learned that the team only complies with 21 of the 39 outcomes detailed in the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) – an improvement on the five outcomes it successfully followed a year ago.

CAF is designed for “making critical national services resilient to [cyber] attack”, according to the government. It was developed by the NCSC to provide a “comprehensive approach to assessing the extent to which cyber risks to essential functions are being managed by the organisation responsible”. CAF is part of GovAssure, a cyber resilience review process run by the Government Security Group (GSG), which was launched in April 2023.

One Login is intended to become the primary way for citizens to access online public services. In 2022, the business case for One Login, which was used to justify over £330m of spending on the project, said the system was “underpinned” by CAF – a claim that must be called into question if only five measures were in place as recently as 2024.

Recently assessed

CAF includes 39 “contributing outcomes”, each with a number of lower-level “indicators of good practice” (IGPs). Systems are rated on a binary basis, whereby failing to meet one IGP results in not meeting the overall outcome, even if all other related IGPs have been met. 

One Login was recently assessed as part of a GovAssure review, which found that in the space of a year, the GDS digital identity team had moved from meeting only five of the 39 CAF outcomes to 21.

GDS says CAF assessors noted One Login’s “understanding of cyber security” and that plans are in place to achieve the “exceedingly high standards” of CAF conformance by the end of the year.

Nonetheless, One Login has been live since June 2022, and with more than three million users, it is precisely the sort of critical system for which the “very robust levels of cyber security and resilience” required by the NCSC in establishing CAF should apply.

Furthermore, the Government Cyber Security Standard mandates that all digital services should comply with Secure by Design (SBD) Principles. Computer Weekly has learned that the GDS digital identity team is also yet to fully implement SBD, although GDS says the system “meets these principles”.

GDS was due to go live with SBD by January this year, but has delayed its full implementation until at least October.

This led to the Ministry of Defence asking questions of the One Login team about SBD conformance as part of plans to store an electronic version of its Armed Forces Veterans Card in the Gov.uk digital wallet.

GDS says formal accreditation against the Secure by Design framework does not yet apply to One Login and that while such accreditation cannot currently be formally secured, it is “inaccurate to report” that GDS or One Login does not meet Secure by Design Principles.

Historic problems

However, the concerns over One Login’s overall conformance with NCSC and GSG guidelines come soon after the disclosure of historic security problems in One Login.

Computer Weekly revealed earlier this month that One Login had received warnings about “serious data protection failings” and “significant shortcomings” in cyber security from the Cabinet Office and the National Cyber Security Centre – including a recommendation in November 2022 that the live system should be suspended.

Following those warnings – and earlier issues flagged by a security expert who has since turned whistleblower in an attempt to raise the concerns more widely – a team led by GDS chief information security officer (CISO) Breandan Knowlton conducted an internal risk audit in October 2023 to assess the severity of the issues.

Given that One Login is intended to be the key way of accessing public services online, this is deeply concerning. Are we about to see another Verify fiasco? Ministers need to take a direct grip of this Tim Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrats

GDS has now responded to those claims with a detailed breakdown of how the problems identified in 2022 and 2023 have been addressed (see table below), but questions remain over why the service was allowed to go live with known security risks.

A government spokesperson said: “The concerns captured are outdated and summarise an initial view from when the technology was in its infancy in 2023. We have worked to address all these concerns as evidenced by multiple external independent assessments. Any suggestion otherwise is unfounded.

“Gov.uk One Login follows the highest security standards for government and private sector services – including dedicated 24/7 eyes-on monitoring and incident response. As the public rightly expects, protecting the security of government services and the data and privacy of users to keep pace with the changing cyber threat landscape is paramount.”

Peer Tim Clement-Jones, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for the digital economy in the House of Lords, has submitted a series of Parliamentary questions to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology asking for details of the security surrounding One Login. He expressed further concerns about the current cyber security conformance of the system.

“Given that One Login is intended to be the key way of accessing public services online, this is deeply concerning. Are we about to see another Verify fiasco? Ministers need to take a direct grip of this,” he said.

CISO review

Computer Weekly has seen details of the GDS CISO’s 2023 review findings, which listed a series of risks and rated each of them from “low” to “extremely high”. We asked GDS to provide an update on each of the risks based on their status today, which is detailed in the table below.

Anecdotal evidence from sources close to consultancy 6point6, which was brought in to support the One Login team for security assurance, paints a picture of a team that previously had insufficient security knowledge, weak controls and few standards.

GDS’s claims of progress in resolving One Login’s security problems suggest the situation has improved and that issues are being addressed – but questions remain about how and why One Login was originally allowed to go live with known issues and lacking conformance with key government standards expected of all critical online public services.

The whistleblower – who Computer Weekly has agreed not to name, but who has many years of cyber security experience and worked in a senior information security management role at GDS – said it is “not possible” to confirm whether any historic or current security problems have been resolved without independent verification of GDS’s response.

“The unverified claim to have achieved 21 out of 39 contributing outcomes in CAF cannot be believed and the true score will only be known if operationally independent assurance is allowed full access to the One Login programme,” he said.

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Apple is expected to release an all-new Apple Watch SE 3 this year. As this entry-level smartwatch was originally expected to launch in 2024, we already know several rumored features that might arrive with this watch in the second half of 2025.

Based on the previous leaks and the new ones regarding Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, here’s what you can expect to arrive on this watch.

Larger display

Apple Watch Series 9 on someone’s wrist. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

Before Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, there was already a rumor that the next Apple Watch SE 3 would feature a larger display.

Display analyst Ross Young said in a post on X that Apple is slightly increasing the size of the Apple Watch SE 3 display to 41mm and 45mm. That makes sense, as the current display of the Apple Watch Series 6 is now 42mm and 46mm.

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Better processor

Apple Watch SE 3 will likely feature an S10 processor, as Apple is expected to unveil an all-new S11 chip. With a new processor, Apple could add the ability for Siri to access health info without connecting to the cloud, a function available with the Apple Watch Series 9 or newer devices.

Tweaked design

Apple Watch Series 9 on a table. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

Due to the larger display, the Apple Watch SE 3 could look similar to the Apple Watch Series 9. At this moment, it’s unclear if Apple will add Always-On technology to this device. Also, after rumors revealed that Apple was considering adding a plastic finish to this budget device, the company will stick with an aluminum finish.

5G connectivity

Apple is rumored to add a 5G chip to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3. With that in mind, the company could add it to the Apple Watch SE 3 as well, as it might want to expand this better connectivity to all of its new watch models.

Health features

The Apple Watch Ultra could be a good alternative, but that’s a different story. Image source: José Adorno for BGR

The Apple Watch SE lacks ECG, sleep apnea detection, and a temperature sensor. As the Apple Watch Series 11 is expected to feature blood pressure monitoring, Apple might be willing to add one of these features to its cheapest watch.

Any of those features would be a huge upgrade for the user base, as they could add better workout insights and improved health-related features.

watchOS 12

Finally, the Apple Watch SE 3 will feature watchOS 12. So far, there are rumors that Apple will add visionOS-like design changes in this new software. However, we have yet to see what else the company has in store for this update.

Apple Watch SE 3 features wrap-up

These are some of the features we expect Apple to add to the Apple Watch SE 3. Keep checking BGR for the latest rumors and leaks on Apple devices.

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Scattered Spider – the teenage hacking collective that breached multiple organisations in 2023 in a series of social engineering attacks – has been linked to the ongoing cyber incident unfolding at Marks and Spencer (M&S) according to reports.

According to Bleeping Computer, which was first to report the new development citing unnamed sources close to the investigation, Scattered Spider is understood to have breached the retailer back in February 2025.

Supposedly, the Scattered Spider hackers were able to get their hands on an NTDS.dit file – an Active Directory Services database file containing password hashes for M&S Windows accounts. The gang was then able these passwords and use them to infiltrate M&S’ Windows domain.

The attackers then allegedly deployed a white-label ransomware called DragonForce on VMware ESXi hosts belonging to M&S on Thursday 24 April, three days after M&S first disclosed an incident.

M&S has declined to comment on the accuracy of these reports, so their veracity cannot be confirmed at this stage.

The incident first came to light after M&S experienced disruption to its contactless payment and click-and-collect service. It was later forced to suspend online shopping entirely and over a week later, its core e-commerce infrastructure remains offline, although its website is still accessible and can be browsed as normal. Its bricks-and-mortar stores are also open. It has also told agency warehouse staff to stay home rather than travel to its clothing and homeware depot.

M&S, which was founded in Leeds as a market stall 141 years ago by a Polish immigrant, the eponymous Michael Marks, has lost hundreds of millions of pounds of value as a result of the cyber attack, with lost sales mounting up across the country.

At the time of writing, M&S maintained that there was no need for its customers to take any action – for how much longer this will be the case remains to be seen.

Not your average gang

A stand-out among threat actors, Scattered Spider is unusual in that largely comprises English-speakers – although it has worked with Russian ransomware gangs before – and functions more as a loosely connected network, rather than an organised crew.

This means that despite some of its members being arrested and charged, including a British national named as Tyler Buchanan, who was indicted by the US Department of Justice (DoJ in November 2024, Scattered Spider has been able to keep operating.

Robert McArdle, director of forward threat research at Trend Micro, said: “[They] assemble together for individual attacks and resemble the structure of Hacktivist groups like past activity of Anonymous. Scattered Spider has routinely targeted retail providers … so targeting M&S would be ‘on-brand’.

“Scattered Spider has been active in various incarnations since 2022 until today but is very hard to categorise as their organisation is so loose. Many attacks coming from English-speaking actors can be tied back to the wider community of which Scattered Spider is just a small, ill-defined subset.”

A larger issue, said McArdle, is the growing threat emanating from Anglophone cyber criminals who, although they lack the businesslike organised crime structures favoured by old school Russian ransomware gangs, they make up for in aggression and brazenness.

In one attack documented by Microsoft, a Scattered Spider hacker threatened one victim’s family. ““If we don’t get your [redacted] login in the next 20 minutes were [sic] sending a shooter to your house,” they said. “Ur wife is gonna get shot if u don’t [sic] fold it [redacted].”

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The government has received more than 200 responses from local authorities across the UK that want their areas to become artificial intelligence (AI) growth zones, it has been revealed.

Local councils were asked in February to express their interest in supporting the development of these zones, which will be used to house the datacentre infrastructure needed to help the UK government deliver on its AI ambitions.

The site of the UK’s first AI growth zone has already been confirmed as Culham in Oxfordshire, the home of the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority.

The government has previously confirmed that the Culham site will be used as a testing ground for research into sustainable energy options that could be used to support power-hungry AI datacentres.  

The AI growth zones initiative was announced in January 2025 as one of a series of measures, detailed in the government’s 50-point AI Opportunities Action Plan policy paper, to make AI technologies and services more pervasive across the UK.

To this end, the policy paper describes AI growth zones as designated areas of the UK that have “enhanced access to power and support for planning approvals” so planning permission for these developments can be fast-tracked.

In terms of the attributes it is looking for in other potential AI growth zone sites, the government said it is specifically looking to develop them in de-industrialised parts of the country that can be readily redeveloped.

Furthermore, the government has specified that sites must have access to power connections of at least 500MW, or local authorities must have a clear plan in place to demonstrate how they would generate that amount of power, to have their AI growth zone bids considered.

With hundreds of expressions of interest at its disposal, the government is now seeking to progress some of these bids by holding an event today, 30 April 2025, at TechUK in London.

The event will see local authorities invited to discuss their proposals in more detail with AI minister Feryal Clark and the prime minister Keir Starmer’s AI adviser Matt Clifford.

Investors and MPs will also be invited to attend, with the government expected to provide more information about bid timelines and qualifying criteria. Areas that successfully make the cut to become AI growth zones will be announced in the summer.

Just like coal and steam powered our past, AI is powering the future. Our AI growth zones will transform areas across the UK into engines of growth and opportunity Feryal Clark, AI minister

“Just like coal and steam powered our past, AI is powering the future. Our AI growth zones will transform areas across the UK into engines of growth and opportunity – unlocking new jobs and revitalising communities across the UK,” said Clark.

“This is our Plan for Change in action, ensuring the benefits of AI are felt in every region and securing the UK’s place as a world leader in this vital technology.”

Clifford said the UK has an “extraordinary opportunity” in AI, but time is of the essence when it comes to ensuring this potential is not squandered.

“Speed is everything,” he said. “Today’s launch sends a clear signal to investors and local communities that we’ve already moved into high gear.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to discussing these proposals in more detail today as we continue to work alongside investors and local authorities to deliver a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

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A study published to coincide with the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security 2025 event has highlighted some of the concerns the public has with automated data processing for national security.

The UK public attitudes to national security data processing: Assessing human and machine intrusion research reports that the UK public’s awareness of national security agencies’ work is low.

During a panel discussion presenting the research, investigatory powers commissioner Brian Leveson, who chaired the panel, discussed the challenges posed by new technology. “We are facing new and growing challenges,” he said. “Rapid technological developments, especially in AI [artificial intelligence], are transforming our public authorities.”

Leveson noted that these technological developments are changing how information is gathered and processed in the intelligence world. “AI could soon underpin the investigatory cycle,” he said.

However, for Leveson, this shift carries risks. “AI could enable investigations to cover far more individuals than was ever previously possible, which raises concerns about privacy, proportionality and collateral intrusion,” he said.

The CETaS research, which was based on a Savanta poll of 3,554 adults together with a 33-person citizens’ panel commissioned through Hopkins Van Mil, found there is more support than opposition for a national security agency processing data, even for sensitive datasets such as identifiable medical data. The study reported that there is also generally high support for police uses of data, although support is slightly lower for regional police forces than for national security agencies.

However, while the public supports national security agencies’ processing of personal data for operational purposes, people are opposed to national security agencies sharing personal data with political parties or commercial organisations.

Marion Oswald, a co-author of the report and senior visiting fellow at CETaS, noted that data collection without consent will always be intrusive, even if the subsequent analysis is automated and no one sees the data.

She said the study shows the public is hesitant about national security agencies collecting data for predictive tools, with only one in 10 supporting the use of such tools. People also raised concerns over accuracy and fairness.

“Panel members, in particular, had concerns around accuracy and fairness, and wanted to see safeguards,” said Oswald, adding that there are expectations around technology oversight and regulation.

The study also found that despite national security agencies’ efforts to engage more directly with the public in recent years, there is still a significant gap in public understanding. The majority of people polled (61%) report that they understand the work of the agencies “slightly” or “not at all”, with just 7% feeling that they understand the national security agencies’ work “a lot”.

Fellow co-author Rosamund Powell, research associate at CETaS, said: “Previous studies have suggested that the public’s conceptions of national security are really influenced by some James Bond-style fictions.”

However, people are more concerned when made aware of what national security does, such as the collection of facial recognition data. “There’s more support for agencies analysing data in the public sphere like posts on social media compared to private data like messages or medical data,” she added.

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For the past few weeks, we’ve heard rumors about the 20th-anniversary iPhone, expected to be released in 2027. So far, the reports have only mentioned a breakthrough device, as Apple aims for another iPhone X moment.

But what could “an iPhone X moment” mean for the iPhone 20? The Information‘s Wayne Ma reveals one of the first major features expected to arrive with the iPhone 20.

According to the journalist, Apple is finally expected to deliver an all-screen design for the device. With the iPhone 18 Pro rumored to include under-display Face ID technology, the company may be able to move all front-facing camera components under the screen just a year later.

These technologies have been rumored for years. If Apple can perfect them in the next couple of years, it would mark a major advancement. Other companies have tried under-display fingerprint scanners and cameras, but the cameras still don’t match the clarity of current visible ones.

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Even with an all-screen design, it’s unclear what other features Apple is planning for the iPhone 20. It’s likely that Cupertino will add its own connectivity modem, a successor to the C1 chip, along with its first Wi-Fi modem. That modem is expected to debut later this year with the iPhone 17.

As always, Apple will continue enhancing the camera system, although it’s unclear what those updates will include. Still, the company regularly refines iPhone lenses, battery performance, and related features.

Meanwhile, Apple is also expected to introduce the iPhone Fold by the end of next year. With so many new models expected in the coming years, the iPhone lineup is likely to look very different. Apple is also set to continue updating the “iPhone e” line, the new iPhone Air, and eventually, the iPhone Fold.

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In what is being described as a landmark intervention facilitated by Horizon Europe, and following the UK re-joining the Horizon Europe Programme in 2024, UK innovation organisation Digital Catapult is to participate in a European Union (EU)-funded initiative aiming to advance the development and deployment of 6G technologies and deliver smarter, faster and more sustainable connectivity.

Digital Catapult describes itself as a deep tech company driving business value by accelerating the practical application of advanced technologies. Partnering with government, industry and academia, it takes on what it calls “significant” challenges and opportunities facing the UK’s economy and society, where technology can play a major role in providing solutions.

Its mission is to encourage UK businesses to make use of innovation in 5G technology, and among its key focus areas include the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and wireless communications, and the development of sustainable network technologies that could support the decarbonisation of telecommunications and accelerate the real-world application of deep tech innovations.

Digital Catapult regards its participation with the Horizon Europe Programme as testament to its commitment to driving the adoption of data-driven, open and interoperable future networks, having championed advanced connectivity innovation through accelerator programmes and eight interconnected, 5G-enabled testbeds across the UK.

The company will join a consortium of 18 industry and academic partners, including Samsung Electronics UK, Telefonica, Nokia UK and Accelleran.

The work includes European Commission-backed 6G project 6G Leader, designed to bring together innovators from across Europe, fostering knowledge-sharing, cross-border collaboration and the co-creation of next-generation services.

The European Commission’s investment in the programme, under the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU), is designed to highlight the project’s strategic significance for Europe’s digital sovereignty and its influence in shaping future telecommunications standards.

Founded in 2021, the SNS JU is a public-private partnership that aims to facilitate and develop industrial leadership in Europe in 5G and 6G networks and services. The initiative has two main missions: fostering Europe’s technology sovereignty in 6G by implementing the related R&I programme, leading to the conception and standardisation around 2025; and boosting 5G deployment in Europe in view of developing digital lead markets, and enabling the digital and green transition of the economy and society.

The programme will last for 36 months, and is committed to achieving breakthroughs in future network innovation and wireless communication technology. 

In addition, Digital Catapult has committed to developing proof-of-concept demonstrations for open radio access networks (O-RANs); exploring AI-driven methods for network performance enhancements; and sharing insights on 6G RAN technologies and O-RAN architecture. This will build on work undertaken to date in advanced connectivity, including its participation in a cross-UK 6G research platform.

“We’re excited to be a key player in this 6G initiative,” said Digital Catapult chief technology officer Joe Butler. “Having participated in 17 Horizon projects to date, we’re now expanding our work in advanced connectivity with cutting-edge, AI-driven and sustainable solutions. Through our collaboration with global industry leaders, we’re advancing 6G technology, paving the way for smarter, more efficient networks that will fuel the next wave of digital innovation.”

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For years, Apple has been rumored to be working on foldable devices, including iPhones and iPad/MacBook models. Those rumors often contradicted each other, with some reports saying Apple was only “testing” foldable displays and others claiming development had been put on hold.

But something has changed in recent months. Now, all rumors are aligned. The first foldable iPhone, routinely dubbed the iPhone Fold, is expected to launch in 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 series. After that, Apple will reportedly release a foldable iPad/Mac device.

The major design updates rumored for iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 further support the idea that Apple is preparing for a lineup that includes foldable computers.

It turns out those aren’t the only changes Apple is planning for the upcoming foldable era. Two reports from trusted sources suggest the iPhone release schedule will undergo its biggest shift since Apple moved iPhone launches to September.

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The earliest iPhone models were announced at the start of the year. The original iPhone launched in early 2007, and Apple later moved the event to June, during WWDC.

Starting with the iPhone 4s, Apple began holding a separate iPhone-focused launch event in mid-September. While the size of the iPhone lineup has grown in recent years, the September launch timeframe has remained consistent.

The iPhone 12 was an exception, delayed by the pandemic. Technically, the iPhone 4s launched in early October, making it the first model released in the second half of the year as Apple was still adjusting its schedule.

Separately, the iPhone SE models have typically launched in March. I’d group the upcoming iPhone 16e with these more affordable iPhones. The SE models have appeared every few years, but the arrival of the iPhone 16e might signal the start of an annual release schedule for the E series.

This brings us to The Information’s recent report, which claims the iPhone 18 series will introduce a major change to release timing.

According to the report, the premium iPhone 18 series models will arrive in September 2026. These include the iPhone 18 Air, 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Fold. The base iPhone 18 model and the iPhone 18e will launch in spring 2027.

This would mean Apple’s most affordable new iPhones will debut in March, starting with the iPhone 18 series, while the more expensive models will arrive in late September.

Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo seemingly confirmed The Information’s story on Monday, sharing the following release timeline for the iPhone 18 and iPhone 19 series:

• 2H25: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Slim, iPhone 17
• 1H26: iPhone 17e
• 2H26: iPhone Foldable, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Slim
• 1H27: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e
• 2H27: iPhone Foldable 2 (already in development), iPhone 19 Pro Max, iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 19 Slim (featuring a larger display than the 18 Slim)

Kuo says Apple is changing the iPhone release cycle to better compete, especially in China. Android makers often release new phones in the first half of the year, and Apple wants a stronger presence during that timeframe. That’s why the cheaper models are moving to spring.

Kuo also noted that launching five or six iPhones in September would make marketing efforts less effective, as the Pro models would likely steal the spotlight from the lower-cost versions.

It’s worth remembering that earlier iPhone SE generations were popular with consumers due to their lower prices. The iPhone 16e also performed well during the March quarter, giving Apple a meaningful boost.

Meanwhile, Apple has consistently sold more iPhone Pro models than non-Pro ones. This helped raise the average selling price (ASP) even as competitors struggled with declining sales. Pairing the iPhone Fold with the Pro lineup for a September launch could further lift ASP during the holiday quarter, which is usually Apple’s strongest.

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To tie in with funding for the UK’s semiconductor sector, Southampton has become home to an E-beam lithography facility, one of only two such sites capable of manufacturing semiconductors using this new fabrication technology.

In chip manufacturing, a process known as photolithography projects a beam of light onto photosensitive material to create the intricate components that make up an integrated circuit. Rather than light, E-beam lithography uses a focused beam of electrons to create patterns in materials.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the Southampton facility is the first cutting-edge semiconductor facility of its kind in Europe.

Technology such as E-beam lithography is regarded as an area the UK can build on to differentiate its chip sector from other countries. But as in other countries, there is a dire lack of skills to support a semiconductor sector.

A government report, the UK semiconductor workforce study, notes that the UK is not developing sufficient skills to enable the continued growth of its semiconductor sector. The report warns that nearly half of the semiconductor employers surveyed feel that current university courses – particularly undergraduate programmes – do not fully align with industry requirements. The report also highlights underutilised degree apprenticeships and vocational pathways, hindered by the lack of semiconductor-specific frameworks. 

Anecdotal evidence discussed in the report suggests UK semiconductor companies are struggling with recruitment and retention as they face intense competition for talent. The report authors said some strategically important companies have been running at approximately 10% below their required headcount.

The DSIT research shows the majority of semiconductor companies perceive a moderate or acute shortage of people to fill key technical roles, including research and development, manufacturing and process engineers, and integrated circuit design engineers.

By investing in infrastructure and talent, we’re giving our researchers and innovators the support they need to develop next-generation chips in the UK Patrick VallanceMinister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

Discussing the latest funding and the Southampton facility, science minister Patrick Vallance said: “Britain is home to some of the most exciting semiconductor research anywhere in the world – and Southampton’s new E-beam facility is a major boost to our national capabilities.

“By investing in both infrastructure and talent, we’re giving our researchers and innovators the support they need to develop next-generation chips right here in the UK.”

As part of its drive to bolster high-tech sectors, the government has announced £4.75m in funding to support Labour’s Plan for Change. Vallance said the funding would help more young people develop skills in high-value semiconductor careers.

The funding includes £3m for undergraduate bursaries, offering £5,000 each to 300 students starting electronics and electrical engineering degrees this year, alongside specialist semiconductor content to raise awareness of the field, with a focus on courses that include semiconductor design and manufacturing.

In addition to the bursaries, the government has committed £1.2m of funding for chip design training, with new courses to teach practical chip design skills to undergraduates, postgraduates and lecturers, as well as a feasibility study for new postgraduate conversion courses.

The funding also includes a £550,000 school outreach programme, which DSIT said provides 7,000 students aged 15 to 18 and 450 teachers with hands-on semiconductor experience in partnership with local employers.

The programme will be focused on existing UK semiconductor clusters, such as Newport, Cambridge and Glasgow.

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Right after Apple released the iPhone 16e, a report by CIRP revealed Cupertino already had plans to release an iPhone 17e in early 2026. Other reports have made similar claims. However, in a detailed article, The Information shared the expected release schedule for several iPhone models over the next few years. There was no mention of the iPhone 17e:

The iPhone 18 series will include updated versions of Apple’s thin iPhone, Pro, and Pro Max, along with the new foldable device. In spring 2027, Apple plans to release the standard iPhone 18 and a successor to the more budget-friendly iPhone 16e, the people said.

While it seemed like Apple might change the release schedule of its “e” lineup, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo still expects an early 2026 launch for the iPhone 17e. Here’s his newest prediction:

• 2H25: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Slim, iPhone 17
• 1H26: iPhone 17e
• 2H26: iPhone Foldable, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Slim
• 1H27: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e
• 2H27: iPhone Foldable 2 (already in development), iPhone 19 Pro Max, iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 19 Slim (with a larger display compared to the 18 Slim)

We’ll need to wait a bit longer to see whether Apple plans to release an “iPhone e” model every year or shift to a longer cycle. Although the company has historically taken more time to update the iPhone SE lineup, it could be shifting strategies for two key reasons. According to Kuo, the main driver behind a bi-annual iPhone release schedule is increased competition, especially in the Chinese market.

The analyst writes, “Competitors typically release new models in 1H. By launching new iPhones in 1H, Apple could close the marketing gap.” He adds, “Apple needs to offer more iPhone models due to intense competition. Launching them all in 2H risks diluting marketing efforts. For instance, the growing shipment ratio of the Pro series is overshadowing budget models.”

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