Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

Command & Conquer gets a new coat of paint on June 5. (Image via EA)

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection coming to Steam and Origin June 5

EA will officially release the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection on June 5 via Origin and Steam. The collection features versions of the original Command & Conquer and Red Alert titles (and some expansions) upscaled to 4K. Additionally, the games' UI, multiplayer system, and soundtracks have been overhauled for a modern experience.

Sam Medley, 12 Mar 2020 04:35

Facebook and Google ban ads selling medical face masks

Google and Facebook are responding to price gouging surrounding the sales of medical face masks by banning ads for face masks. The bans are efforts to fight against the exploitative sale of medical supplies amidst growing fears surrounding the spread of the coronavirus.

Sam Medley, 12 Mar 2020 04:07

Last year's flagship Lenovo Yoga C930 convertible with Core i7 CPU, 12 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD is now just $900 USD (Image source: eBay)

Deal | Last year's Lenovo Yoga C930 convertible flagship with Core i7 CPU, 12 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD is now just $900 USD

It looks like Lenovo is clearing stock of its last generation Yoga C930 2-in-1. If you have no use for the improved GPU potential of the Intel 10th gen Ice Lake series, then the 8th gen Kaby Lake-R series will be just fine.

Allen Ngo, 11 Mar 2020 23:44

Linutop: Manufacturer presents new mini PCs based on a Raspberry Pi and an Intel Atom processor. (Image source: Linutop)

Linutop: Manufacturer presents new Raspberry Pi and Intel Atom-based mini PCs

The French manufacturer Linutop has presented several new PC systems. Based on a Raspberry Pi 4 or an Intel Atom x5-Z8350, the Linutop XS3 and Linutop 6 should suit those looking for a new all-in-one mini PC. All run Linutop OS, a Xubuntu or Raspbian-based OS.

Alex Alderson, 11 Mar 2020 23:29

Android 10 is probably the last OS upgrade that the Mi A2 Lite will receive. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Mi A2 Lite: Xiaomi halts Android 10 rollout for another of its Android One handsets amid claims that rolling back to Android 9.0 Pie causes system instabilities

Xiaomi is having a torrid time with Android One updates lately. The company has now pulled the second Android One OS upgrade in as many weeks, with the Mi A2 Lite the latest handset to receive a bug-ridden Android 10 build. The news should come as no surprise to Mi A2 Lite owners, as the initial update has reportedly bricked multiple handsets. We would advise against rolling back to Android 9.0 Pie, too.

Alex Alderson, 11 Mar 2020 23:20

A new Firefox Preview is now available. (Source: Mozilla)

The latest Firefox preview for Android introduces extension support

Mozilla's GitHub now offers a version of Firefox for Android that is updated compared to the app available on the Google Play Store. Its most interesting attribute is an ability to add extensions to this mobile browser for the first time. There is only 1 add-on available at present, but the developer is confident there will be more soon.

Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Mar 2020 23:10

Will five rear-facing cameras deliver "visionary photography" later this month? (Image source: @RODENT950)

Rumour | Huawei P40 Pro: Two optical zoom cameras and two large sensors to deliver visionary photography for Huawei's new flagship series?

Huawei will likely redefine smartphone camera standards with the P40 series on March 26 while continuing to push its mobile services (HMS) as a viable alternative to Google's. Current rumours point towards the Galaxy S20 Ultra challenger featuring two optical zoom cameras, along with two other new large sensors. We are on the verge of a "visionary photography" revolution too, apparently.

Alex Alderson, 11 Mar 2020 23:04

Concept Creator and LetsGoDigital have offered an idea of what the Note 20 series could look like. (Image source: Concept Creator)

Galaxy Note 20 renders show Samsung giving the Note 10 a twist of the Note 8 and Galaxy S10 series

There is no escaping that the Galaxy S20 Ultra has a huge rear-facing camera housing. Stretching across a large portion of its rear glass, there has been talk of Samsung doing the same with the next Galaxy Note series. Others have imagined what the Galaxy Note 20 series could look like if Samsung returned to the cleaner camera design of the Note 8 or Galaxy S10 series.

Alex Alderson, 11 Mar 2020 22:53

The Apple Watch 6 might look like this. (Source: YouTube)

Apple Watch 6: a new leak may reveal some upcoming features

Some code allegedly derived from an as-yet unreleased version of iOS also reportedly offers insight into watchOS 7, software that may debut with the next Apple Watch. It hints at additions such as sleep tracking and a new mode for its Infograph watch-face. On that note, new custom faces may be possible in this version.

Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Mar 2020 22:37

Redmi Note 9: Not a performance upgrade over the Redmi Note 8?

Xiaomi is set to unveil the Redmi Note 9 and Redmi Note 9 Pro sometime this month. The Redmi Note 9 is expected to be powered by the new Helio G70, but there appears to be a slight issue with that: that SoC doesn't appear to be an upgrade over the already underwhelming Snapdragon 665 on last year's Redmi Note 8.

Ricci Rox, 11 Mar 2020 21:40

The OnePlus 7T Pro is declared the best smartphone by the GSMA

The GSMA has announced that OnePlus has been awarded one of the 25th annual Global Mobile Awards in the Best Smartphone category. It has been conferred on the OEM's most recent flagship, the 7T Pro. It combines a 90Hz QHD+ display with a pop-up selfie camera and the Snapdragon 855+ processor.

Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Mar 2020 19:51

There may be a new Galaxy A phone soon. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung gets the Galaxy A31 through FCC testing

The Galaxy A31 may be one of Samsung's next budget smartphones. A device with its probable model number has been certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This leak does not confirm any specs, but does at least indicate it may be launched in the US soon.

Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Mar 2020 19:14

Ampere is to be followed by Hopper, which will most likely be Nvidia's first 7 nm GPU. (Image Source: PCGamesN)

Rumor | No 7 nm for Nvidia's upcoming Ampere gaming GPUs

Instead of making the jump to 7 nm, Nvidia will apparently be using Samsung's 10 nm process for the next gen Ampere gaming GPUs. If this is indeed the case, AMD's second gen 7 nm RDNA2 architecture could allow the red team to almost match Nvidia's high-end Ampere models.

Bogdan Solca, 11 Mar 2020 17:43

One of three billboard ads leaked by Evan Blass. Images via Evan Blass

Leaked Google Pixel 4a billboard ads confirm design, price

Noted leaker Evan Blass posted possible billboard ads for the Google Pixel 4a, which is expected to launch later this year. The ads, if true, confirm many of the rumors surrounding the phone's design, including its hole-punch selfie camera and square housing for the rear-facing cameras. Perhaps most importantly, the ads also confirm a killer price tag; the Pixel 4a will launch at $399.

Sam Medley, 11 Mar 2020 17:06

E3 2020 | E3 2020 officially cancelled due to coronavirus fears

E3 2020 has been canceled over concerns of the coronavirus. This marks the first time that the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has been canceled since its inception in 1995. E3 is the largest gaming event every year.

Sam Medley, 11 Mar 2020 16:26

Hands-on images and Twilight Orange version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro appear online

We have already seen the Redmi Note 9 Pro appear on Geekbench resplendent with a Snapdragon 720G and 6 GB of RAM, with leakers seeking to confirm the specifications of the Redmi Note 8 Pro successor. In the meantime, a popular Vietnamese YouTuber has published photos of what appears to be the real deal. A photo of a Twilight Orange version is circulating online too, but we have our doubts.

Alex Alderson, 11 Mar 2020 14:39

The entire OnePlus 8 lineup will feature 5G support. (Image Source: OnLeaks/91 Mobiles)

OnePlus will do a Samsung and unveil a full 5G lineup for its upcoming launch

OnePlus co-founder and CEO Pete Lau said that the company's upcoming launch will see the complete lineup supporting 5G. While the top-tier OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8 variants are confirmed and will have 5G support, it is not yet clear whether the purported OnePlus 8 Lite variant would feature 5G given the higher costs of implementing the standard.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 11 Mar 2020 14:13

Firefox Browser 74 for Windows - About window (Source: Own)

Firefox 74 rolls out: Facebook Container, DNS-over-HTTPS, and more

Released yesterday, Firefox 74.0 can block Facebook from tracking its users and no longer allows third-party apps to install add-ons, but it also features DNS-over-HTTPS provided by Cloudflare (with NextDNS as an option). This update is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux/Unix users.

Codrut Nistor, 11 Mar 2020 13:50

The Mi 10 series will be released globally on March 27. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro impresses with 108 MP camera samples

The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro may already be selling well in China, but the two devices are yet to receive a global release. Due to be launched on March 27, Xiaomi has now demonstrated the capabilities of the device's 108 MP camera, and the results are impressive.

Alex Alderson, 11 Mar 2020 12:32

The Montblanc Summit 2+ smartwatch. (Source: Montblanc)

Montblanc launches Summit 2+ smartwatch and its first wireless Smart Headphones

Luxury goods maker Montblanc has launched its latest smartwatch alongside its first pair of premium wireless headphones. The new Summit 2+ builds on the same platform as its predecessor but is now larger while its new luxury Smart Headphones will appeal to well-heeled travelers.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 11 Mar 2020 11:34

New Xbox Series X information incoming as PlayStation 5 GPU gets yet another speculated set of TFLOPS

Microsoft is planning to livestream information that had previously been planned for GDC 2020, which is currently postponed until summer. The Xbox Series X console is on the agenda, so there could be some fresh details offered up about this device soon. Meanwhile, another speculated set of GPU performance data for the PlayStation 5 has been revealed, with the all-important TFLOPS figure settling at 13.06.

Daniel R Deakin, 11 Mar 2020 10:22

The Vivo NEX 3S 5G. (Image source: Vivo)

Vivo NEX 3S 5G goes official with Snapdragon 865 led system overhaul

The Vivo NEX 3S 5G is official with the Chinese smartphone maker launching its latest flagship via its website. As had been expected, Vivo has kept the updates to the device relatively minor although its internals have been upgraded to support the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 powering it.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 11 Mar 2020 10:07

This Asus ROG GA502IU-XS74 laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS. (Image source: Newegg Canada/@momomo_us).

AMD Ryzen 4000 laptop prices and release dates accidentally leaked by Canadian retailers

A number of Asus TUF Gaming laptops and Asus ROG devices powered by Renoir chips from AMD's Ryzen 4000 series have been spotted on Newegg Canada and the Canadian retailer Memory Express. Although the listings have all been removed now, it seems these Ryzen 4000 laptops will be released within a few days and are priced from CAD$899 up to CAD$2,499.

Daniel R Deakin, 11 Mar 2020 09:12

The Black Shark 3 Pro's first release event gets delayed

Xiaomi's Black Shark 3 series is the latest lines of gaming phones to be launched in 2020. Its base model is already on sale in China. It also has a Pro variant that was to be released to the market on March 17, 2020; however, the OEM has announced that this event has been postponed.

Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Mar 2020 23:41

A fixed public build may arrive by the end of the month. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Rumour | Xiaomi Mi A3 to receive new stable Android 10 update by the end of the month

Xiaomi may have moved onto rolling out a buggy upgrade to the Mi A2 Lite, but it has not forgotten about the Mi A3 just yet. While V11.0.7.1.QGQMIXM is yet to receive a public rollout, Xiaomi has offered a comforting salve for Mi A3 owners. Apparently, a new Android 10 public build is only a few weeks out.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 23:15

Vecnos teases an upcoming novel, ultra-compact 360-degree camera

Vecnos, a spin-off from Ricoh, has announced that it will release its first product soon. It will be a 360-degree camera that may compete with similar devices from GoPro or Insta360. However, this one may come in a much more portable form-factor.

Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Mar 2020 23:07

Is this the Google Pixel 4a? (Source: YouTube)

The Pixel 4a will have a 60Hz refresh rate, according to its new near-full specs leak

A Spanish-language vlogger claims to have access to video showing a working unit of the upcoming Pixel 4a. This leak alleges that the phone has a 5.81-inch FHD+ display with a distinctly standard refresh rate. Its SoC, internal memory and main camera specs are also supposedly detailed here.

Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Mar 2020 22:27

Subnotebook mit voller Leistungsentfaltung: Das Huawei MateBook D 14

Huawei MateBook D 14: Just as good as the D 15

In our review, Huawei's MateBook D 15 surprised is with an unthrottled CPU and low noise emissions. The smaller MateBook D 14 managed to repeat that trick and proves that decent cooling is not rocket science.

Mike Wobker, 10 Mar 2020 21:15

The iPhone SE 2 may arrive before the end of the month. (Image source: @OnLeaks & iGeeksBlog)

Rumour | iPhone SE 2: iOS 14 code confirms impending arrival of Apple's next "budget" smartphone

The iPhone SE 2 may almost be upon us, if past rumours are to be believed. The device, which may be sold as the iPhone 9 or simply the iPhone, is said to combine the hardware of the current iPhone 11 series with the design of the iPhone 8. Now, the upcoming "budget" handset has been spotted in leaked iOS 14 code, all but confirming that the device exists.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 20:50

The Samsung Galaxy M40. (Source: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy M40 updates to Android 10

Samsung launched the Galaxy M40 in June 2019. Now, it is reportedly receiving a major software upgrade in its first market (India), bringing Android 10 and all of its main features to the mid-ranger. This OTA also contains an up-to-date security patch level.

Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Mar 2020 19:15

The Redmi Note 9, a MediaTek-powered smartphone? (Image source: Xiaomi via @ishanagarwal24)

Rumour | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 appears on Geekbench with a MediaTek Helio P65 and 6 GB of RAM

The Redmi Note 9 is set to join the Redmi Note 9 Pro in being unveiled later this week, and the two may differ greatly. Spotted on Geekbench with 6 GB of RAM like its Pro sibling, the Redmi Note 9 will seemingly note feature a Snapdragon SoC. Instead, a MediaTek chipset is on the cards, with the Helio P65 being a possibility.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 19:09

Huawei will reveal the P40 series soon. (Soruce: Weibo)

The Huawei P40 series' launch is set for later in March 2020

Huawei has announced that the P40 and P40 Pro will be unveiled online on March 26, 2020. According to some recent leaks, they may be joined by at least 1 more premium variant. Meanwhile, a new tip suggests the Pro's main camera will be a 52MP Sony sensor.

Deirdre O Donnell, 10 Mar 2020 18:40

Maintains a great level of performance without any throttling: The Huawei MateBook D 15

Huawei MateBook D 15: Other manufacturers have something to learn from Huawei

Those who have to deal with great numbers of notebooks on a regular basis quickly discover that manufacturers ofttimes allow the built-in CPUs to throttle down under load, in some cases, severely so. With the MateBook D 15, Huawei proves that this does not always have to be the case.

Mike Wobker, 10 Mar 2020 18:36

The Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro remain on Android 9.0 Pie for the time being. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro owners awake to another frustrating round of MIUI 11 updates

The Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro are oddities. Essentially rip-offs of the P30 Pro, the Mi Note 10 series are neither flagships nor mid-range handsets. Xiaomi's software support for the two devices reinforces that they are more the latter than the former though, and the latest round of updates do nothing to dissuade that impression.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 18:17

At least ten devices will receive the call to Android 10. (Image source: Honor)

Updates galore: Honor updates ten devices to Android 10 courtesy of EMUI 10 and Magic UI 3.0 update

The Honor V30 and V30 Pro are set to be joined on Magic UI 3.0 by ten other Honor smartphones, the company has confirmed. Honor's version of EMUI 10 and Android 10 will hit three devices this week too.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 18:07

The high-end CPUs in intel's 10th gen portfolio are considerably more expensive compared to AMD's Ryzen 3000 models. (Image Source: Intel)

Full Intel 10th gen desktop CPU price list leaked online by Belgium retailer

Thanks to Belgium online retailer 2Compute we now have a complete price list for the 10th gen desktop CPU lineup from Intel. As with the previous price leaks, the F-series variants that come without an iGPU seem to offer better value, yet prices are still considerably higher than AMD's competition.

Bogdan Solca, 10 Mar 2020 16:36

The i5-10400 CPU may launch in April after all. (Image Source: Unikoshardware)

Intel's 10th gen CPU shipments could be pushed back to June due to coronavirus

A leaked slide detailing press news embargo times set between April and June may be hinting at more delays for the 10th gen desktop CPU lineup. Intel might also be considering releasing the lower-end of the lineup this April, pushing back the rest for May and June.

Bogdan Solca, 10 Mar 2020 16:34

A concept render of what the Redmi Note 9 Pro could look like. (Image source: @BenGeskin)

Rumour | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: Five cameras, a 5,020 mAh battery and a 60 Hz LCD panel to join a Snapdragon 720G and up to 6 GB of RAM?

The arrival of the Redmi Note 9 series is just a few days away, but that has not stopped several high-profile leakers from announcing the full spec sheet for the Redmi Note 9 Pro. As expected, the Redmi Note 9 Pro will feature a Snapdragon 720G processor and up to 6 GB of RAM. While the promise of a 5,020 mAh battery and five cameras may appeal, a maximum of 128 GB of storage and a 1080p LCD panel will not.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 16:09

AMD is yet to announce the Ryzen 9 4900H. (Image source: AMD)

Rumour | Evidence of AMD Ryzen 9 4900H appears on 3DMark with a 4.4 GHz boost clock and an RX Vega 8 GPU

While AMD is yet to announce the Ryzen 9 4900H, more evidence of its existence has appeared online. Sporting a 45 W TDP, 8 cores and a 4.4 GHz boost clock, the Ryzen 9 4900H should have enough reserves to challenge whatever Intel and its Comet Lake-H series has to offer. Its Radeon RX Vega 8 integrated GPU may even challenge dedicated GPUs, too, thanks to its 8 compute units (CU) and its 1,750 MHz boost clock.

Alex Alderson, 10 Mar 2020 15:49

Oppo Find X2 Pro's next record, overtakes Nubia Red Magic 5G and Black Shark 3 in the AnTuTu benchmark

The newly launched Oppo Find X2 Pro is still chasing records. After the new flagship smartphone has taken the top position in the DXOMARK camera test, it now seems to dethrone the previous AnTuTu leader.

Christian Hintze, 10 Mar 2020 12:33

The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 features a generous 5,500-mAh battery. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 users will soon be enjoying MIUI 11 based on Android 10

The Android 10-based MIUI 11 update for the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 smartphone/phablet has apparently started rolling out to users in China. It’s expected a rollout for owners of the 6.9-inch device will soon follow in other parts of the globe. The Mi Max 3 was released in 2018 and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC and a dual-camera setup. The large handset originally came with MIUI 9.5 (based on Android 8.1).

Daniel R Deakin, 10 Mar 2020 11:55

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401IU comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS processor. (Image source: Amazon China)

AMD Ryzen 4000 laptops in the forms of the Asus TUF Gaming and ROG Zephyrus G14 appear on Amazon China

At least three Asus laptops have been listed on the Amazon China website revealing that AMD Ryzen 4000 laptops are finally arriving. The 17.3-inch Asus TUF FA706IU Gaming laptop features the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H APU while both the 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401II and 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401IU laptops come with AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800HS.

Daniel R Deakin, 10 Mar 2020 09:24

AMD claims that the Ryzen 4000 mobile chips are "the world's most advanced laptop processors". (Image source: AMD)

AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS revealed to have 3.0 GHz base clock and 4.4 GHz boost clock; trails behind Ryzen 7 4800H in first 3DMark 11 tests

An AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS processor has been spotted being tested on the 3DMark 11 benchmark. The APU, which was recently leaked by a retailer listing for an Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 laptop, manages reasonably healthy physics scores ranging from 13,735 points to 14,590 points. However, this puts the Ryzen 9 4900HS behind its fellow Renoir chip, the Ryzen 7 4800H.

Daniel R Deakin, 10 Mar 2020 08:01

AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U will feature business-centric security features along with SMT support. (Image Source: AMD)

AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U offers a good performance incentive over the Ryzen 5 4500U, the latter being leaps and bounds ahead of Intel Ice Lake-U in Cinebench R15

Leaked benchmarks indicate the business-focused AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U as having an edge over the Ryzen 5 4500U SKU in 3DMark Time Spy. AMD has been comparing the Ryzen 4000 U-series to Intel Ice Lake-U and a leaked Cinebench R15 score shows the Ryzen 5 4500U as having a significant lead in the test.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 10 Mar 2020 07:59

The Mi A2 Lite Android 10 update is bricking phones

After months of delays, Xiaomi finally sent out the Android 10 update to its Android One Mi A2 Lite smartphone. As has become typical of Xiaomi's Android One updates, however, the build appears to be a poisoned chalice and is bricking devices.

Ricci Rox, 10 Mar 2020 07:40

Yet another concept render reimagines the PS5 as a distant relative of the GameCube. (Image source: Reddit - u/Zaagfluit)

More alleged PlayStation 5 specs leaked: Supposedly 13.3 teraflops of GPU power and a 1 TB SSD this time around for the PS5

More alleged technical specifications for the PlayStation 5 have been shared online, and if they are anywhere close to factual then there will be plenty of happy PS5 fans out there. According to the supposed leaked details, the next-gen console will feature a custom RDNA 2-based GPU that will offer 13.3 teraflops of compute performance.

Daniel R Deakin, 10 Mar 2020 06:51

Xiaomi has closed its UK Mi Store down. (Source: Wikipedia)

Xiaomi closes its only UK physical store

Xiaomi showed quite some ambition when it opened its own Apple Store-esque outlet in Shepherd's Bush, London. However, reports that this brick-and-mortar establishment has shut down have recently emerged. UK customers can still buy products from this OEM online, though.

Deirdre O Donnell, 09 Mar 2020 23:33

Buffalo's new SSD is not much larger than a conventional USB stick. (Image: Buffalo Technology)

Buffalo presents a tiny and 15 g USB Type-C SSD

The latest SSD from Buffalo is tiny, with dimensions akin to a USB stick and a weight of just 15 g. The fast USB Type-C SSD is robust too and is the perfect choice for those who prefer to travel light.

Alex Alderson, 09 Mar 2020 21:29

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