Hamish Hector

Hamish Hector

Senior Staff Writer, News

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

He’s been writing about tech and gaming for over five years now, getting his start at the University of Warwick’s student newspaper The Boar as a writer and later Games Editor while studying for his BSc in Maths and Physics (and later an MSc in Biotechnology, Bioprocessing, and Business Management). After graduating from university in 2020 he wrote all about battle royale games for Gfinity Esports before joining the TechRadar team in February 2021.

In his free time, you’ll likely find Hamish lost in one of the latest VR games on his Meta Quest 3, watching a West End musical with his fiancee, playing Magic: The Gathering at his local game store, or planning the D&D campaign he runs for his mates.

Want to get in touch? You can contact Hamish via his email.

Articles by: Hamish Hector

Gemini

Is Google Gemini trained on Google docs? One indie developer thinks so, after it told players about his unreleased game plans

By Hamish Hector Last updated

One indie game dev is convinced Gemini just leaked information from his private Google Docs.

Meta Essilor Luxottica AI Glasses

Could Meta Ray-Bans be banned in Europe? EU regulators dial up the pressure on smart glasses — and the rest of the world is watching

By Hamish Hector Published

As EU regulators consider smart glasses restrictions, here are the countries with intelligent eyewear bans.

Magic Leap Android XR smart glasses

Budget Meta Ray-Ban alternatives are selling out in stores — but please don’t buy them

By Hamish Hector Published

There are too many reasons you shouldn’t buy cheap Meta Ray-Ban alternatives.

Christopher Mitchell's build next to trains rushing past, including an LNER that'll use the real version.

Someone just made the world's most elaborate Train Simulator controller — and it even includes real dashboard components from 'Class 80x' UK trains

By Hamish Hector Published

Think your train simulator is impressive? This custom-made UK Class 80x cabin recreation uses real train parts for next-level accuracy.

Elda, Conjurer of Spectacle welcoming forth a Unicorn.

Mystery Booster Commander Edition is everything I could want from a Magic: The Gathering set — please, Wizards of the Coast, print as much as possible

By Hamish Hector Published

Mystery Booster Commander Edition is everything I could want from a Magic: The Gathering set.

Hamish wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

I love the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic so much I didn’t even take it off for my wedding — so where’s my Watch 9 Classic Samsung?

By Hamish Hector Published

I wanted to buy a sophisticated analogue watch for my wedding — I wore a Galaxy Watch 8 Classic instead.

2 Comments
The Xreal xbx a01+ glasses

Xreal has made the most stylish budget smart glasses I’ve seen — and they give my RayNeo Air 4 Pros a real run for their money

By Hamish Hector Published

I spent dozens of hours relaxing in my Xreal xbx smart glasses on my honeymoon.

Hamish wearing Meta Ray-Ban Scriber Optics

After three weeks wearing the Meta Ray-Ban Scriber Optics I couldn't be more in love — I just wish smart glasses weren’t so controversial

By Hamish Hector Published

Smart glasses need to get their act together — the Meta Ray-Ban Scriber Optics are my favorite tech of 2026 so far but I’m scared to wear them.

6 Comments
A raid facing down a dragon boss

Magic: The Gathering’s most controversial change is coming to Dungeons & Dragons — starting with its first official World of Warcraft expansion

By Hamish Hector Published

Universes Beyond is perfect for Dungeons & Dragons, and it's starting with World of Warcraft.

Izzy wearing Oakley meta HSTN glasses in Tenerife while walking with Hamish in his Meta Optics

Meta smart glasses were the best tech I took on my honeymoon, but privacy concerns kept them from being as frictionless as I wished they could be

By Hamish Hector Published

Despite rising hate for Meta’s AI glasses, my wife wouldn’t take her smart Oakley HSTNs off during our honeymoon.

3 Comments
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra next to the Fold 7

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs Galaxy Z Fold 7 — the 5 biggest changes you need to know about

By Hamish Hector Published

Looking to upgrade your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra? Here are 5 major changes you need to know about.

Hamish holding the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra next to the Fold 7

I’ve spent an hour with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — and I need to upgrade my Z Fold 7 ASAP

By Hamish Hector Published

I’ve been in love with my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a year — but I’d give it up for another hour with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

5 Comments
The Samsung Galaxy XR headset

I wore the Samsung Galaxy XR headset for a whole work week, and it’s so close to greatness — but the head strap lets it down

By Hamish Hector Published

One extreme week with the Samsung Galaxy XR — it’s so close to greatness, but I need a better head strap.

The GoPro Mission 1 being held

The Mission 1 Pro isn’t just GoPro's flagship action cam, it’s a fantastic all-round vacation camera with the point-and-shoot grip — I just wish it was cheaper

By Hamish Hector Published

Recommended

After spending a month with the Mission 1 Pro I think it could be the ultimate holiday camera, if you pick up the point-and-shoot grip.

Tim with a camera, a Galaxy Unpacked invite and a pair of modern Nokia phones.

ICYMI: the week's biggest tech news from Samsung's Unpacked teaser to a five-star fitness tracker wowing us

By Hamish Hector Published

The week's biggest tech news from Nokia, Samsung, Sony, and more for July 11, 2026.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies official keyart

My favorite game of 2026 so far just got a major free expansion — and you don’t even need to own the actual game to play it

By Hamish Hector Published

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies now has a TTRPG and one shot — and it’s free-to-play.

Meta Essilor Luxottica AI Glasses

Meta’s super-sensing AI glasses are still in the works, and I don’t know if I should be excited or terrified

By Hamish Hector Published

Is never forgetting anything ever again worth the cost of an always-watching AI? Meta certainly hopes so, as its super-sensing AI glasses edge one step closer to reality according to new report.

RayBan Meta Smart Glasses

Meta just fixed a privacy vulnerability with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, but could cameraless designs be the better future?

By Hamish Hector Published

I hate cameraless smart glasses, so I’m glad Meta just solved a big vulnerability with its specs.

Cover art from the former Disney Channel on YouTube TV

Disney just agreed to pay out $50 million to some YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers — here’s how to make a claim for your share and find out if you’re owed it

By Hamish Hector Published

YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers, listen up — you could be owed a share of $50 million thanks to a Disney lawsuit settlement.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 in blue closed from the back with graffiti on the wall behind

I’ve used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a year — these are the 4 upgrades I’m hoping to see from the Z Fold 8, and one change I hope doesn’t happen

By Hamish Hector Published

Samsung's Z Fold 7 is almost a year old. As someone who uses it every day, here are the changes I hope to see.

The top of a Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fan next to a hand holding the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, next to two hands holding a Sony A7R VI

The best tech of 2026 so far — the 21 finest gadgets we've tested this year

By Mark Wilson Published

TechRadar has spent days testing 639 products across phones, TVs, laptops, cameras, smartwatches and more in 2026. These are the best ones we've reviewed so far this year.

2 Comments
The Steam Machine, a PS5, and a Garmin Forerunner 70 watch.

ICYMI: The week's 7 biggest tech news stories from PlayStation killing physical games to Anthropic finally re-releasing Fable 5

By Hamish Hector Published

As the USA turns 250, here's the week's biggest tech news stories from PlayStation, Valve, Garmin, WhatsApp and more.

LEGO go karts at Silverstone F1

I saw Miami's ‘lap of chaos’ in 2025, and after seeing this year's new Lego go-karts at Silverstone I know which event I'm most excited for this Sunday

By Hamish Hector Published

Lego is back at the F1 with 22 new cars, and I couldn’t be more excited

Meta Orion AR glasses

Meta just paywalled a super-useful Ray-Ban smart glasses accessibility feature — and I have 3 reasons why this decision makes zero sense

By Hamish Hector Published

Meta’s AI smart glasses users with access to Meta One Premium will now need to pay to get higher conversation focus limit rates.

Inside the physical PS5 copy of Balatro.

Looking back at some of our favorite physical PlayStation games for one final, tearful send-off

By Dashiell Wood Published

We look back on more than three decades of physical PlayStation releases.

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