TECH

The 7 smartphones taking photography to the next level in 2026

Carrying a dedicated camera in your backpack is no longer a must to return from a trip with stunning photos. In 2026, the best smartphones combine larger sensors, sophisticated lenses, stabilization, and AI processing to handle situations that once required specialized gear. However, there is a catch: the best device for night photography might not be the best for video, portraits, or zoom.

The megapixel race continues, and some of the most advanced smartphones of 2026 already feature 200 MP sensors. Yet, that number alone does not determine photo quality.

Sensor size, lens quality, stabilization, and light-gathering capabilities are equally important. That is precisely why two phones with the same resolution can deliver vastly different results.

There is another key player, too: computational photography.

When you press the shutter button, the phone can capture multiple images in a fraction of a second and combine them. Software recovers details in shadows, controls overexposed areas, reduces noise, and even enhances faces in challenging lighting conditions.

Taking all this into account, certain models stand out in 2026. This selection shouldn't be viewed as an absolute ranking, as different reviews weigh photography, video, portraits, and zoom capabilities differently.

Even so, seven devices emerge as particularly strong options for those who prioritize camera performance.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max take different approaches...The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the most versatile devices of this generation. Its 200 MP main camera works alongside an ultra-wide lens and two telephoto systems, offering 3x and 5x optical zoom.

This combination is particularly appealing for travel, concerts, and situations where you cannot physically get close to your subject. Expert reviews highlight its zoom performance and low-light improvements, though some focus inconsistencies and lackluster performance from the 3x telephoto lens in certain situations have been noted.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max, meanwhile, follows a different philosophy.

Its three rear cameras all feature 48-megapixel resolution, but video is where the device truly shines. Efficient stabilization, natural color reproduction, and 4K recording at 120 frames per second make the model particularly appealing to content creators.

Whether shooting while walking, conducting interviews, or producing videos with minimal setup, the Apple device remains one of the most consistent options available.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra aim to rival professional cameras...The Xiaomi 17 Ultra bets on ambitious photography hardware. Its main camera employs a one-inch sensor—an exceptionally large size for a smartphone.

The model also features a 200-megapixel telephoto lens with continuous optical zoom across various focal lengths. In practice, this allows you to get closer to the subject without relying heavily on digital cropping.

Portraits, architecture, night scenes, and distant objects are among the scenarios where this setup demonstrates its advantages.

Manual controls and RAW format support also bring the experience closer to that of high-end cameras, although video performance isn't quite as consistent as its still-photography capabilities.

The vivo X300 Ultra is also a heavy hitter.

It combines a 200-megapixel main camera, an equally impressive 200-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens. ZEISS optics, stabilization, and advanced video features create a package that is particularly compelling for portraits, street photography, and users who enjoy post-processing their images.

The OPPO Find X9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL demonstrate the power of contrasting strategies...The OPPO Find X9 Pro places its 200-megapixel sensor specifically in the telephoto lens. The strategy aims to preserve more detail when the photographer zooms in on the scene.

Both the main and ultra-wide cameras feature 50 MP resolution, while video recording supports 4K at 120 fps with Dolby Vision.

The device also offers optical image stabilization and excels at capturing light. However, as with any smartphone, massive digital zoom figures should be viewed with caution: zooming in digitally does not preserve the same quality as optical zoom.

At the other end of the spectrum lies the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Its main selling point isn't simply packing in impressive hardware specs; Google is betting heavily on computational photography and artificial intelligence.

The phone automatically handles exposure, colors, highlights, and shadows, while also offering tools to assist with framing and editing.

It is a particularly attractive alternative for those who don't want to master complex settings. You simply point, shoot, and let the software do most of the heavy lifting.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra proves that the newest model isn't always a must-have...There is still a device from the previous generation that remains competitive: the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Even after the arrival of its successor, it retains a sophisticated camera setup, featuring a one-inch main sensor, an ultrawide lens, two telephoto lenses, and a 200 MP sensor dedicated to long-range shots.

Its low-light performance continues to draw praise, as do its advanced controls and the option to use a physical grip that makes the device feel even more like a traditional camera.

This could make it especially appealing if the price drops following the arrival of newer generations.

Ultimately, choosing the best camera phone depends far more on how you use it than on any absolute ranking.

For zoom and versatility, the Galaxy S26 Ultra stands out as a strong contender. Those who prioritize video will find the iPhone 17 Pro Max to be a particularly consistent choice. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra appeal to users who want greater control over their photography, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL focuses on software-driven simplicity.

None of them completely eliminate the need for interchangeable-lens cameras in extreme scenarios, such as sports or photographing fast-moving wildlife.

But one thing became clear in 2026: for the vast majority of everyday photos, the camera that fits in your pocket has never been closer to doing it all on its own.

mundophone

 

TECH

How artificial intelligence exceeded Samsung’s expectations

For Samsung, designing new processors for its upcoming smartphone just got a lot faster. The South Korean manufacturer's System LSI division decided to take a hands-on approach and integrate Anthropic’s Claude Code platform into its semiconductor design and verification processes.

The result of this technological bet is impressive, to say the least, and demonstrates that these new tools have changed the game. Extremely complex tasks that used to drag on for over a month are now being completed in a matter of days, proving that automation is the way forward in hardware development.

Despite the breakneck speed and incredible progress, oversight by human engineers remains a vital piece of the puzzle. The machine still makes some serious technical blunders that, without human intervention and supervision, could derail the manufacturing of thousands of devices.

Designing an integrated system is usually a painful, lengthy, and highly meticulous process. However, in a recent project focused on a chip featuring 64 extremely complex data paths, the platform managed to create a virtual test environment and perform all necessary validations in just two days. Under normal working conditions, the same team would have taken over a month to complete this heavy development phase.

What is most intriguing about all this is that the artificial intelligence performed incredibly well even when crucial components were missing. Faced with delays in the delivery of documentation and the codebase for a memory controller, it used available specifications to insert temporary virtual blocks and analyze the structure, saving the technical team a significant amount of time.

To get a clear picture of this technology's impact within the tech giant's labs, here are some of the major milestones recently achieved:

-Completion of complex hardware verifications about 15 times faster than traditional engineering methods. Junior engineers can now create virtual emulator models for external devices in a single day—a process that previously required weeks of study.

-Autonomous implementation of structural replacement blocks to test incomplete or delayed data circuits.

-A drastic and immediate reduction in the learning curve for new developers joining the company.

Samsung’s urgency to implement these advanced technologies in its daily operations is no coincidence. Currently, the division responsible for developing Exynos processors has around 6,000 employees—a figure that seems impressive until you look at its biggest rival. Qualcomm employs nearly 52,000 people, creating a massive gap in capacity for developing new components.

After seeing profits slip and launching heavyweights like the recent Galaxy Z Fold 8 exclusively with Snapdragon processors, the manufacturer had to step up its game. Adopting this new tool, alongside well-known platforms like Google Gemini and ChatGPT, is part of a transformation plan designed to finally streamline production.

Regarding Samsung's adoption of AI in chip design...In the two cases cited in the report, the company reportedly found that AI "significantly" reduced development time and assisted the engineering team.

One task involved verification services for a custom System-on-a-Chip (SoC)—such as reviewing internal data connections based on simulation stages and test environments—a process that would normally take over a month but was completed in just two days.

In the second example, an employee used AI to develop USB device models for a scenario emulator. This activity typically requires weeks of manual work but was finished in a single day.

On the other hand, the report also notes that Claude Code made some procedural errors that put the team on alert. Cited instances include "hiding" the resolution of errors the AI ​​was supposed to fix, reverting tasks that had already been completed, and attempting to modify code that was meant to remain intact.

For this reason, the team views the tool as an assistive aid rather than a replacement or a system capable of autonomous operation. The report further states that engineers review all platform outputs to prevent errors or "hallucinations"—a practice that is particularly critical in an environment with little margin for error, such as the chip industry.

The human touch remains essential in these processes...In the specialized world of hardware, things work very differently than in conventional software applications. If a processor enters mass production with a physical defect, no over-the-air system update can save it. That is precisely why professionals treat generative platforms strictly as assistants, required to meticulously review every line of generated output.

Some of the errors made autonomously serve as prime examples that the technology does not yet fully grasp the context of modern hardware. In one particularly absurd instance, instead of fixing the root cause of a structural problem, the system merely masked the failure by changing the label from "error" to a simple "information" notification. On other test occasions, it even attempted to modify critical circuit designs it wasn't authorized to access, forcing the humans to keep a very tight rein on it at all times.

mundophone

TECH

How cement plants can remove CO₂ from the atmosphere

Cement is one of the most in-demand building materials of our time. Every year, around four billion tonnes are produced. Cement production is energy-intensive, and greenhouse gases are emitted during the process – particularly during the thermal decomposition of limestone, the most important natural raw material for cement. 

Cement production could be integrated with Direct Air Capture technology...Their study suggests that cement production could be integrated with Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, allowing cement plants not only to reduce their own emissions but also to remove CO₂ that is already present in the atmosphere.

The research, published in Chem Circularity, explores a system based on calcium looping, a process that uses the same basic material—limestone—that is already central to cement manufacturing.

Cement production generates CO₂ in two major ways. First, producing cement requires enormous amounts of heat. Traditionally, cement kilns have relied heavily on fossil fuels, creating emissions from combustion.

Second, and more fundamentally, limestone itself releases CO₂ when it is heated. Limestone, or calcium carbonate, is broken down during a process known as calcination, producing quicklime and CO₂.

This means that simply replacing coal or gas with cleaner energy does not eliminate all emissions from cement manufacturing. This is why cement is considered one of the world’s difficult-to-decarbonise industries.

“From a climate perspective, the combination of DAC and cement production is very promising,” stated Vittoria Bolongaro, a PhD student working with Bardow and lead author of the external pagepublication. 

The ETH Zurich research takes a different approach: instead of viewing the CO₂ released during cement production only as a waste stream, it proposes combining cement manufacturing with a technology that captures additional CO₂ directly from the atmosphere.

In a new study, ETH researchers show that these emissions could be significantly reduced if cement production were combined with a technology for the direct removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere, known as Direct Air Capture (DAC).

According to calculations by researchers in the group led by André Bardow, Professor of Energy and Process Systems Engineering, the climate impact of cement production could be significantly reduced by the year 2050. At present, it is responsible for five to eight per cent of global CO₂ emissions. “From a climate perspective, the combination of DAC and cement production is very promising,” as Vittoria Bolongaro stated, a PhD student working with Bardow and lead author of the external pagepublication. 

Exploiting synergies...For the study, the researchers collaborated with the US company Heirloom Carbon Technologies. The company is one of the world’s leading developers of DAC based on calcium looping – a process that utilises a chemical cycle involving various calcium compounds. Calcium carbonate is the starting point, i.e. limestone, which is quarried worldwide. DAC plants using calcium looping and cement works operate with the same calcium compounds and employ the same process: limestone is heated until it decomposes into quicklime and CO₂ – a process known as calcination.

In integrated cement production using calcium looping DAC, a kiln powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels, such as coal or gas, is harnessed for calcination. This avoids greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion kiln. At the same time, the CO₂ produced during the calcination process can be captured directly, as it is not contaminated by combustion exhaust gases. According to the study's calculations, electrifying the kiln and using direct CO₂ capture alone could reduce the climate impact of cement production by 78 per cent by 2050.

Once water has been added to quicklime, the slaked lime absorbs further CO₂ from the atmosphere and is converted back into limestone, which can then be reused as a raw material for cement production. The more often the calcium undergoes this cycle of contact with the air before being processed into cement, the more CO₂ the plant removes from the atmosphere. The CO₂ captured from the atmosphere is not bound in the cement. Instead, it is compressed and transported to underground storage sites.

Real-world figures...“Heirloom was an ideal partner for us because the company is already operating the first calcium looping DAC systems on a commercial scale,” as Bolongaro underlined. In California, the company has been operating a plant since 2023 with an annual nominal capacity of 1000 tonnes CO2.

Another, significantly larger plant is due to be built in Louisiana in the upcoming years. “The collaboration was beneficial for both sides: our partner wanted to learn more about the technology’s environmental footprint – and we were able to base our calculations and scenarios on primary industrial data from real-world operations,” explains Bolongaro.

The current study is the first prospective life-cycle analysis for DAC using calcium looping on an industrial scale. In conducting the analysis, the researchers not only considered the operation of the plant, but also all environmental impacts along the process chain; from raw material extraction through the construction and operation of the plant to the storage of the captured CO₂.

Initially, Bolongaro and her team wanted to find out whether larger, commercial plants remove more CO₂ over their entire life cycle than they produce. In a second step, the researchers examined whether the reduction in CO₂ emissions comes at the expense of other environmental factors, such as water or land use.

Their findings showed that by far the largest share of the environmental footprint is attributable to the energy required for the process, as the capture of CO₂ from the air is very energy-intensive. This also applies to other DAC processes. As part of the study, various energy scenarios were therefore tested: operating the plant using the current US electricity mix, drawing on a heavily decarbonised electricity mix comprising wind and solar energy, and employing a fully autonomous system with photovoltaics and battery storage.

“We were able to show that the technology has a net-negative carbon footprint; in other words, commercial calcium looping DAC plants with CO₂ storage remove more CO₂ than they generate over their entire lifecycle,” says Bolongaro. “Depending on the energy mix used in our projections, the efficiency of CO2 removal by 2050 ranges between 85 and 96 per cent.” In other words: for every tonne of CO2 that is captured and stored, 40 to 150 kg of CO2 are generated in the process chain. This is comparable to figures from other DAC systems. Powering the plant by renewable energy achieves the highest efficiency.

What the field trial still has to show...“The major advantage of DAC plants using calcium looping is that this technology can be integrated into a well-established cement production process,” explains Bolongaro. The adjustments required to integrate DAC into cement production are relatively straightforward.

First and foremost, additional air contactors are needed to capture CO₂ from the atmosphere. Furthermore, the kiln in which limestone is calcined at high temperatures must be powered by low-carbon or carbon-free energy to ensure the highest possible net removal.

“From a climate perspective, this approach is very promising as a scalable solution that integrates into existing industrial supply chains, while simultaneously driving the decarbonisation of the cement sector forward,” as Bolognaro underlines. A more detailed investigation of the physical and economic limits of this integration is now required.

The key calculations for the study are based on future scenarios up to the year 2050 and assume significant progress in the decarbonisation of the electricity supply. Furthermore, some of the plant components, in particular indirectly heated electric calcining kilns, are not yet in large-scale industrial use. It therefore remains to be seen whether the system can be operated economically; a detailed cost analysis was not part of the study to date.

Consequently, for Bolongaro, the results represent an important starting point that highlights the climate potential of the approach. 

ETH Zurich

TECH

Could this simple robot outmaneuver a human hand?

A robot inspired by the function of the human hand rather than its anatomy has demonstrated an unusual combination of dexterity, reach, and mechanical simplicity. Called the BioflexBot, the experimental system can pinch, rotate, hook, and grasp objects using only two pneumatic inputs, according to a study published in Advanced Science. Its developers say the design could offer a lower-cost alternative to conventional robotic hands, which often rely on numerous joints, motors, sensors, and complex control algorithms to reproduce the movements of biological fingers.

The human hand is difficult to replicate because its capabilities arise from an intricate interaction between bones, muscles, tendons, joints, skin, and neural control. Each finger can move through several degrees of freedom, while the hand continuously adjusts force and shape in response to an object’s size, texture, and position. Traditional robotic hands attempt to reproduce much of this architecture, but the result can be expensive, heavy, mechanically fragile, and difficult to program. The BioflexBot takes a different approach. Rather than copying the hand’s visible structure, the researchers designed a compliant mechanical system that reproduces several essential functions through the coordinated deformation of a coiled spring and a constraining shell.

At the center of the device is a flexible, spring-like structure that changes shape when pressure is applied through a basic pneumatic system. Compressed air provides the actuation force, while the surrounding shell limits and directs the spring’s movement. This combination creates what the researchers describe as structural and physical intelligence: some of the robot’s behavior is built into its material arrangement instead of being generated entirely by software or a network of independent motors. By controlling only two pneumatic inputs, the BioflexBot can produce multiple forms of motion. The system’s compliance allows it to conform to objects of different shapes, while its elastic structure enables extension, contraction, bending, and rotation.

The human hand is a dexterous and versatile machine. Scientists have conventionally tried to replicate these traits in robots by copying the biological mechanics of the hand, resulting in complex and difficult-to-control structures. An alternative solution to these challenges was proposed in a new study, published by Wiley in Advanced Science: The BioflexBot, a novel robot that mimics and even exceeds core motions of the hand with a simple design.

Instead of creating a robotic hand with the intricate anatomy of a human hand, the researchers aimed to capture fundamental hand motions with a coiled spring, constraining shell, and basic pneumatic system, using compressed air to control mechanical action. Optimized for precision and range of mobility, the BioflexBot can pinch, rotate, hook, and grasp with just two pneumatic inputs.

The researchers validated that the BioflexBot could replicate these foundational hand motions. To simulate pinching, the BioflexBot successfully manipulated an acupuncture needle and reliably transported liquid using a pipette, completing delicate tasks common in healthcare or laboratory settings. The BioflexBot rotated a bottle cap, rotating almost four times more than a human hand’s capability. The researchers showed that the BioflexBot could hook objects such as a toolbox and goggles. Finally, they found that the BioflexBot could securely grasp objects of varying sizes, up to almost 13 times bigger than similar systems.

Beyond reliably mimicking traditional hand motions, the BioflexBot exceeds human hand performance, extending and contracting 3.5 times more than the human hand. Therefore, the BioflexBot can grasp complex objects, reach long distances, deliver objects in confined spaces, and transport multiple objects sequentially. The researchers demonstrated three potential applications for the BioflexBot: inspecting aeroengine blades, completing daily tasks integrated with a humanoid robot, and conducting a chemistry experiment.

These findings suggest that the simple design of the BioflexBot can result in high dexterity at extremely low costs with applications across industries. Future work will translate the prototype to a fully automated platform.

“By harnessing structural and physical intelligence, we pursued a simple design capable of both cross-scale grasping and complex human-like manipulation,” said senior author Yingtian Li, PhD, currently of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. “Unlike most robotic hands that replicate the human form, at high hardware and control costs, our approach focuses solely on mimicking the functions, not the shape,” said senior author Yang Yang, PhD, of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology.

References: Xin Tong, Tianle Zhang, Fei Mo, Qian Zhao, Zhongqing Sun, Yongkang Jiang, Yang Yang, and Yingtian Li. “A Bio-Functional Mimetic Robot for Versatile Tasks from Cross-Scale Manipulation to Limb-Tool Integration.”

DIGITAL LIFE

Study shows adolescents recognize the need for internet improvements

A survey of over 500 adolescents and young people aged 13 to 18 revealed the ambivalent nature of this demographic's relationship with the internet. While half of the respondents acknowledged spending too much time online, 63% reported feeling happy when connecting.

Released this Wednesday (12)—National Youth Day—the "Adolescence Without Filters" (*Adolescência Sem Filtro*) survey found that 71% of respondents believe the internet should continue to exist but requires changes, while 9% think it should cease to exist.

Commissioned by the Alana Institute, the survey was conducted by Agência Koga, which recruited and trained adolescents to carry out the qualitative phase of the interviews.

According to Gabriela Barbosa, a Strategic Communication Planning specialist at the Alana Institute, the results demonstrate that adolescents are aware of the internet's potential downsides and possess a keen critical sense regarding the need to improve this virtual space.

The survey indicates that although this demographic's online experience is largely positive—with 71% using it for fun, and 63% and 55% feeling happiness and curiosity, respectively, in this environment—they are also aware of the internet's potential negative aspects.

Nearly half of the respondents (49%) believe platforms bear responsibility for creating a better internet, and 43% call for greater platform oversight.

Those behind the study note that the adolescents and young people themselves realize the environment is designed to capture their attention for longer than intended and recognize the need to actively protect themselves from negative content.

The survey reports that 44% block harmful accounts or content, and 32% take breaks throughout the day. Nevertheless, in addition to the 50% who say they spend more time online than they would like, 41% feel increasingly dependent on their mobile phones, and 39% believe the internet has caused them to lose time on their studies. “Time spent on the internet is a major concern for them. Beyond the awareness that not everything is positive or negative, they are also conscious of the need to protect themselves and to control—as much as possible—how they spend that time online,” Gabriela commented.

Social media... For the adolescents interviewed, social media is the most frequent online activity: 46% use the internet daily to access social networks, 37% to chat with friends and family, 30% to play games, 23% to study, and 21% to watch videos.

“Social media is the primary mechanism through which they experience the internet. For them, the internet plays out most intensely on apps like Instagram and TikTok—the latter being cited in the interviews as a place to numb boredom.”

At the same time, these apps create environments that provide them with many important things, such as a sense of belonging, information, curiosity, and learning. Therefore, the institute argues that social media should not be viewed solely in a negative light.

Boys are the primary users of the virtual space, accessing the internet more frequently for gaming (66%, compared to 44% of girls).

Girls, conversely, use the internet more often to chat with family and friends (64%, versus 50% of boys) and for studying (60%, compared to 46% of boys).

Adolescent interviewers...The eight adolescent researchers—aged 13 to 18—who collaborated on the qualitative phase conducted between eight and ten interviews each. The study’s aim was to listen to the interviewees without the filters that might exist in a conversation with adults.

Gabriela explains that choosing interviewers from the same age group was intended to avoid an overly adult-centric view of adolescents' relationship with the internet and to foster a sense of connection. “This allowed the interviewees to feel comfortable participating and sharing their perspectives,” she notes. The research highlights that, although adults are not in the habit of listening to young people or acknowledging their critical thinking skills, 19% of adolescents believe they can help change the internet.

“It is a small figure, but it shows that an opportunity exists. And if we open up space for them to be heard and to participate in discussion and development processes, we can gain a great deal of value,” stated Gabriela Barbosa.

Adolescents and young people also show a willingness to receive support in better managing internet dependency. “They are aware of this loss of control, and 69% are open to receiving help.”

Criativos Award 2026...Given that 19% of respondents believe they can help change the internet, the Alana Institute is launching the ninth edition of the Criativos Award, with the 2026 theme: “The internet is ours.”

The awards program invites children and adolescents from across the country to transform their digital experiences into projects that make the internet safer, more inclusive, fun, and welcoming. Students in middle and high school (ages 10 to 18) are eligible to participate.

Registration closes on September 2, and the results will be announced in December (https://form.jotform.com/261413765458059?source=imprensa).

This edition introduces a new audiovisual category, accepting submissions such as videos and podcasts. Three other awards are designated for the general category, which focuses on diverse formats ranging from campaigns, games, and apps to discussion circles, social media pages, and artistic interventions. Regardless of the chosen format, adolescents have the opportunity to create solutions for issues relevant to their daily lives.

Topics that can be addressed include screen time, cyberbullying, mental health, the use of artificial intelligence, online learning opportunities, unequal internet access, influencer culture, combating misinformation, and the digital environment as a space to amplify the voices and active participation of young people. The total prize money for the nine winning projects amounts to R$ 12,000

 

TECH

Oracle bets on a new cloud frontier and prepares integration that could transform AI workloads

Artificial intelligence has turned data centers into massive processing hubs, but some companies are already looking toward what comes next. Oracle and Quantinuum have announced a strategic partnership aiming to bring quantum computing, traditional supercomputing, and AI together within a single infrastructure. This initiative could allow developers to tackle extremely complex problems without needing to install a quantum machine on their own premises.

Oracle and Quantinuum have announced a multi-year strategic partnership to integrate quantum computing capabilities into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

The initiative centers on Helios, Quantinuum’s commercial quantum computer, which is set to become available via a new OCI quantum service. This will enable customers to combine the hardware with traditional high-performance computing (HPC) resources and GPU-based infrastructure.

The goal is not to immediately replace conventional computers with quantum machines; rather, the strategy relies on combining different architectures.

The two companies intend to explore how quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and classical supercomputing can work together to address problems requiring extraordinary processing power.

Potential applications include new material discovery, drug development, logistics, energy, and financial modeling.

Universities and research institutions are also among the groups that could benefit from the platform, primarily because accessing a quantum machine via the cloud eliminates one of the technology's major barriers: the need to own highly specialized equipment.

Helios features 98 physical qubits and prioritizes precision... Commercially launched in November 2025, Helios represents the third generation of quantum computers developed by Quantinuum.

The machine utilizes trapped-ion technology and features 98 physical qubits. The system has already been used in demonstrations involving 48 logical qubits and, according to the company, achieves an average fidelity of 99.921% for two-qubit gates. Precision is especially important because errors represent one of the biggest obstacles in current quantum computing. The more reliable the operations performed by qubits, the greater the potential for executing complex algorithms in a useful way.

Another aspect highlighted by the companies is energy consumption.

According to estimates presented by Quantinuum, a Helios system would consume less than 1% of the energy used by today's leading supercomputers. This does not mean quantum machines will automatically replace supercomputers, but it could make them valuable complementary resources for specific workloads.

The aim is precisely to route each part of a problem to the most suitable hardware.

An application could, for example, use CPUs for certain operations, GPUs for artificial intelligence-related tasks, and a quantum processing unit (QPU) for stages where quantum algorithms offer advantages.

Developers will be able to experiment with quantum hardware without purchasing a machine... Installing a quantum computer is far removed from the conventional experience of adding servers to a data center. These systems require highly specialized infrastructure, technical expertise, and specific operating conditions.

The cloud can mask much of this complexity.

With Helios running on OCI infrastructure, the expectation is that customers will have secure, managed access to the quantum computer without needing to purchase or directly manage the equipment.

The system is set to be integrated with Oracle’s compute, storage, networking, identity, and data services, utilizing access controls and governance mechanisms already familiar to the platform's customers.

Oracle plans to unveil a preview version of the OCI quantum service in the coming months.

One of the goals is to simplify the transition between simulation and execution. Developers will be able to initially test applications in simulated environments and subsequently run them on actual quantum hardware.

The service is also expected to combine Quantinuum’s development tools with support for open frameworks designed for hybrid programming.

This could be particularly important because, at least initially, many commercial quantum computing applications will likely rely on this close collaboration between classical and quantum machines.

The real bet lies in the combination of AI and quantum computing... The partnership also reveals how major tech companies are beginning to envision the next stage of computing infrastructure.

AI has dramatically increased the demand for GPUs, energy, and processing power. Quantum computing offers a radically different architecture and, for certain categories of problems, could complement these systems.

For Mahesh Thiagarajan, Executive Vice President of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, the integration aims to provide developers with a practical way to explore how quantum resources can complement AI and HPC workloads.

Researchers also see advantages in this approach. Having GPUs and QPUs available within the same environment can reduce operational complexity and allow scientific teams to focus their efforts on experiments rather than managing disparate infrastructures.

However, there is still a considerable gap between making quantum computers available and demonstrating broad commercial advantages in real-world scenarios.

That is precisely why cloud integration can be strategic. Instead of requiring companies to make massive investments in experimental hardware, they can begin testing algorithms, identifying applications, and discovering where the technology truly delivers benefits.

The partnership between Oracle and Quantinuum, therefore, represents more than just the arrival of another cloud service. It points toward a future where CPUs, GPUs, and quantum processors can share the same workload, each executing the part of the problem it was designed to handle.

If this hybrid architecture works as expected, the next transformation in enterprise computing may not come from replacing current machines, but from the arrival of a new type of processor working quietly alongside them.

mundophone

TECH

The new race for batteries could completely change how the power grid operates

Europe’s energy transition is creating a power grid increasingly dependent on a technology that, until recently, seemed to be merely part of the solution. Thousands of batteries already store electricity generated from renewable sources, helping to balance periods of surplus and shortage. However, as these systems multiply, a counterintuitive situation arises: under certain circumstances, they could all act simultaneously, placing additional strain on the grid precisely when it needs stability most.

The growth of solar and wind power has raised an issue that cannot be resolved simply by installing more panels and turbines. The sun does not generate electricity throughout the night, while the wind can die down just as demand rises.

This is where battery energy storage systems—known as BESS—come into play.

During periods of high output, these batteries can absorb and store surplus electricity. When consumption rises or renewable generation drops, they can feed some of that energy back into the grid.

This expansion is already proceeding at a rapid pace. In 2025, Europe added approximately 36 GWh of new capacity—a 48% increase over the previous year. With this, the continent surpassed the 100 GWh mark for operational storage capacity for the first time.

More than half of the new installations that year consisted of large-scale projects connected directly to the power grid.

The advantage is clear. Storing surplus energy allows for greater utilization of power generated from renewable sources and reduces instances where electricity availability is so high that prices turn negative.

According to estimates by Ember, by 2030, European solar and wind generation could exceed domestic demand during certain periods, accumulating a surplus of up to 183 TWh over the course of a year.

This scenario could lead to significant savings, including a reduced need to purchase gas to meet demand. However, an issue arises precisely when these batteries move from being few in number to existing by the thousands.

The most critical moment may be precisely when the grid calls for help... The warning came from the United Kingdom, where the Panel of Technical Experts—a body that reviews analyses regarding electricity supply security—examined a specific situation involving batteries participating in the capacity market.

Imagine grid operators realizing that electricity supplies might run tight. Before that happens, a warning known as a "Capacity Market Notice" may be issued.

For certain batteries, this notice serves as a crucial signal.

These units need to be sufficiently charged to supply electricity if called upon during a period of grid stress. Consequently, some operators might want to charge their batteries before the situation worsens.

Individually, this does not appear to be a major problem.

The difficulty arises when thousands of systems make a similar decision at virtually the same time.

Instead of easing the strain on the grid, the batteries could temporarily increase electricity consumption by drawing power to replenish their own reserves.

It is a paradox: equipment installed to provide system flexibility could, under certain conditions, drive up demand right before a critical moment.

The British report does not claim that this behavior is currently causing blackouts, nor does it recommend halting the expansion of battery storage.

The warning is more specific: the models used by operators need to account for this additional demand and the collective behavior of these devices.

The challenge now is to get thousands of batteries to act as one... The issue becomes even more intriguing when considering who controls these batteries.

Some belong to large, grid-connected projects, but many others may be distributed across homes, businesses, and small facilities. Each unit may respond to different incentives and make decisions independently.

For grid operators, however, what matters is the combined effect.

One possible solution lies in so-called aggregators and virtual power plants. Instead of allowing thousands of batteries to operate in isolation, these systems can coordinate their charge and discharge cycles as if they were a single large storage unit.

Thus, when there is a surplus of electricity, they will be able to absorb energy. When demand rises, they can feed some of it back into the grid. And, crucially, they can prevent thousands of units from simultaneously making a decision that disrupts the system's balance.

The expansion in Europe is far from over. SolarPower Europe projects that new annual installations could exceed 50 GWh by 2026 and reach 138 GWh by 2030.

This means the challenge will not simply be installing enough batteries.

The real issue will be coordinating them.

The greater the number of connected systems, the more important it becomes to predict when they will charge, when they will discharge, and how their individual decisions will affect the grid as a whole.

Ultimately, Europe may discover that the future of storage depends not just on having millions of batteries available, but on getting them to act—at the right moment—like a single, massive power plant.

 

mundophone