Digital UK Driving Licenses Revolutionize Road Safety
The Winners and Losers of the Week
This week, Samsung dominated the tech news scene with the unveiling of its latest flagship S Series phones, while TikTok’s ban and a major UK outage made headlines. Meanwhile, the government announced a new GOV.UK Wallet app, which will allow Brits to keep a digital version of their driver’s licenses on their phones. Let’s dive into the winners and losers of the week.
Winner: UK Drivers
Not only did Brits avoid the Netflix price hike (for now), but they also got a Snapdragon-powered version of the S25 this week. Moreover, the new GOV.UK Wallet app will soon enable users to store a digital version of their driver’s licenses on their phones. This means no more carrying a physical ID, making it easier to go cashless and cardless.
How it works: The digital driver’s license and Veteran Card will be the first documents to be available in the GOV.UK Wallet, starting later this year. More government-issued documents, including DBS checks and proof of benefits, will follow by the end of 2027. The app will also include access to government information, the ability to complete essential tasks, a place to make payments, reminders, and an AI-powered chatbot.
Loser: Samsung
Samsung’s new line-up has some exciting features, such as a larger, more durable display, an upgraded ultra-wide camera, and a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. However, there’s one major drawback that was easy to overlook on the launch night: the loss of Bluetooth connectivity on the S Pen.
The S Pen dilemma: The new S Pen weighs less and requires no charging, but it’s lost its ability to use Air Actions, which allowed users to control the phone with gestures. This feature was reportedly removed due to infrequent use and cost savings. While the removal of Bluetooth connectivity might be forgivable, the fact that the S25 Ultra carries the same RRP as its predecessor might be a tough pill to swallow for some customers.
Stay tuned for more updates on the GOV.UK Wallet app and Samsung’s new S Series phones!
