Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

The S10e is receiving the Android 10 update. (Source: ZDNet)

The Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e are now receiving the stable Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update

A series of official Samsung Android 10 rollout roadmaps all cite the Galaxy S10 phones as billed to receive the stable Android 10 update in January. That isn't the case for all regions, though, as some owners of the S10, S10+, and S10e are already confirming receipt of the OTA.

Ricci Rox, 29 Nov 2019 13:02

The first generation Asus ROG Phone is finally receiving the Android Pie update

Over a year after going on sale, the first-gen Asus ROG Phone is now receiving the Android Pie update. Yes, you read that correctly; Pie, not Android 10. The rollout is a staged one and the OTA will get to all users of the device over the next few days.

Ricci Rox, 29 Nov 2019 13:01

Nubia Red Magic 3S gaming smartphone will be $50 off for this week only (Image source: Nubia)

Nubia Red Magic 3S gaming smartphone will be $449 for this week only

The Red Magic 3 wants to prove that you don't have to spend $800+ on a high-end gaming smartphone. The latest model with the Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC and UFS 3.0 storage will be only $450 USD until December 3.

Allen Ngo, 29 Nov 2019 09:00

There are discounts on Lenovo ThinkPads, IdeaPads, Legions, and Yogas. (Image source: Lenovo)

Deal | Lenovo's doorbuster deals: US$1,680 off a 1st Gen ThinkPad X1 Extreme or US$2,520 off a ThinkPad P53 with i9-9880H and Quadro RTX 4000

Lenovo has some very impressive doorbuster deals running at the moment that offer consumers savings that reach into the thousands of dollars. Various ThinkPad P53 mobile workstations have been discounted by nearly 50%, and there are hefty savings to be had on ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops, ThinkPad X1 Extreme notebooks, and ThinkPad X1 tablets. The mind-boggling deals are time restricted and stock limited.

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Nov 2019 06:18

Google promises refunds for Stadia Pro subscribers who bought December's free games

Google will issue refunds to Stadia Pro users who bought Tomb Raider and Farming Simulator 2019. Both games will be free starting December 1st as a part of the Stadia Pro subscription.

Anil Satyanarayana, 29 Nov 2019 04:08

Intel announces 665p SSD: faster and higher endurance than the 660p

Intel’s new 665p NVMe SSDs just arrived on the market. Leveraging the company’s second-gen QLC technology, the new model brings faster performance and 50 percent higher endurance than the old 660p. 96-layer 3D NAND stacking allows Intel to price the 1 TB variant competitively with far slower SATA SSDs.

Arjun Krishna Lal, 29 Nov 2019 03:24

Lego Group states: "The evolution of the truck is here. Guaranteed shatterproof". (Image source: @Lego_Group)

Tesla's Cybertruck trolled by Lego Group's shatterproof vehicle

Lego Group, the company behind the beloved plastic building bricks, has expertly trolled Tesla in regard to the recently revealed Cybertruck. Elon Musk unveiled the futuristic-looking electric vehicle a few days ago in a PR event that was overshadowed by the Cybertruck having its unbreakable windows shattered on stage. Lego has come up with a very attractive alternative for prospective buyers.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Nov 2019 23:45

The Alienware Area 51 desktop. (Source: Dell)

Deal | Dell's Black Friday sale offers up to US$1020 off Alienware gaming PCs

Dell.com's Black Friday event has kicked off with about 20% off many XPS and Inspiron models. In terms of less productivity-focused hardware, however, its banner listing may be the Alienware Area-51 desktop with a Threadripper 2950X SoC, which has been discounted by US$1020. There are also other gaming PCs from this OEM on sale.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Nov 2019 23:25

The Redmi Note 7S was released in 2019. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Update | Xiaomi Redmi Note 7S goes up in flames but manufacturer attributes it to "customer induced damage"

A Redmi Note 7S owner has reported a fault with his device that he believes caused it to explode. The user claimed that the smartphone was treated in a normal manner and wasn’t even charging when it caught on fire. However, after a thorough examination of the melted handset, Xiaomi has concluded it was caused by “customer induced damage”.
Xiaomi has provided Notebookcheck with an updated statement in regard to this incident.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Nov 2019 22:48

The new Amazfit GTS' titanium edition. (Source: MyDrivers)

The Apple Watch-esque Amazfit GTS now has a titanium variant

Huami is a smartwatch OEM that has developed a habit of releasing titanium-cased variants of its products. Now, it has given one of its latest releases, the GTS, the same treatment. Its new edition costs about US$185, or about $58 more than the original.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Nov 2019 22:17

Twitter may not delete inactive accounts after all. (Source: Twitter)

Twitter walks back its plan to cull inactive accounts

Recently, reports of Twitter's intentions to delete inactive accounts, starting December 2019, came to light. However, the company has come up against resistance to this idea from more vocal users. Their main objection appears to be that the move would result in the removal of the timelines of the dead.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Nov 2019 21:33

The Asus ZenFone 5z officially gets upgraded to Android 10

Recently, Asus released an Android 10 beta for the ZenFone 5z. Now, the phone has a stable build that will be rolled out to users in general. This update adds a dark theme and a more streamlined UI to the 2018 flagship.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Nov 2019 20:58

A new leak hints at a Galaxy Note 10 variant with Note 9 internals. (Source: The Express)

A phone that may be the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite shows up on Geekbench

The Samsung SM-N770F has shown up on the Geekbench 5 database. This phone is thought to become the latest addition to the Galaxy Note 10 family. Its new leak shows that it is a 6GB device with the Exynos 9810 SoC.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Nov 2019 20:20

The Galaxy M30s, a battery monster that comes in three colours. (Image source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy M30s: An affordable handset with unrivalled battery life

The Samsung Galaxy M30s is a triumphant midrange smartphone. The phablet not only has a large, bright and colour accurate AMOLED panel but also class-leading battery, among other positives. If you need a smartphone to last over a day between charges, then the Galaxy M30s could be the device for you.

Alex Alderson, 28 Nov 2019 18:09

The risky procedure involves "transplanting" the faster RTX 2080 Super VRAM chips to the RTX 2080 Ti. (Source: TecLab)

Build your own RTX 2080 Ti Super GPU, destroying 2x RTX 2080 Super cards in the process

The wait for the RTX 2080 Ti Super is killing you? If you already have the RTX 2080 Ti and US$2,000 lying around, why not just take matters into your own hands and build the RTX 2080 Ti Super yourself? It's a risky process that requires you to sacrifices two RTX 2080 Super cards and do some reballing and resoldering work, plus you will have to overclock the VRAM to match the 16 Gbps speeds.

Bogdan Solca, 28 Nov 2019 16:01

The Reno3 Pro 5G looks set to dominate the mid-range 5G segment when it launches next month alongside the regular 4G LTE variant. (Source: Oppo)

The Oppo Reno 3 Pro 5G looks set to give Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A90 5G a headache

Oppo’s VP of Global Marketing Brian Shen has tweeted out the first official teaser for the forthcoming Reno3 Pro 5G handset. According to Shen, the device is 7.7 mm thin putting it on track to be the thinnest dual-mode mid-range 5G handset on the market when it launches next month.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 28 Nov 2019 12:13

Samsung has launched its new PC game streaming service in beta starting with the Galaxy Note 10. (Source: Samsung)

Stream PC games to your Galaxy smartphone with the new PlayGalaxy Link beta from Samsung

Samsung has decided it wants in on the PC game streaming action. The company has just launched its own solution for streaming PC games to its Galaxy smartphones called PlayGalaxy Link that works over both Wi-Fi and Cellular networks.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 28 Nov 2019 11:31

Samsung will likely release Exynos and Snapdragon versions of the Galaxy S11 series next year. (Image source: Gizchina)

Early Geekbench listings give us a look at the Exynos 9830, and it makes for grim reading

Amid the noise of Galaxy S11 series renders and disagreeing leakers, a few listings of the processor expected to power Samsung's next flagships have appeared on Geekbench. While some have reported that they look unusually low, the comparisons with other flagship SoCs do not bode well for Samsung.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2019 20:24

Xiaomi's next 5G phone could have a new charging standard. (Source: T3)

Xiaomi certifies a 5G phone with 66W charging

Xiaomi has secured 3C approval for a new smartphone with dual-band 5G. Furthermore, this device - which comes in 2 variants - has a maximum charging rate of 66 watts. Therefore, it is likely that this product may be a new flagship, or a high-value mid-ranger at least.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Nov 2019 20:13

Two screens but no Galaxy Fold mishaps in sight. (Image source: LG)

LG G8X ThinQ: A foldable that won't break the bank

The LG G8X ThinQ could be a dream come true for some people. The handset comes with a second screen, following on from the V50 Dual Screen accessory that LG launched at the start of this year. The G8X ThinQ is more than just another gimmicky folding smartphone though, as we discovered during our tests.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2019 19:46

Honor has announced an EMUI 10 beta for the 8X. (Source: Twitter)

Update | The Honor 8X gets an EMUI 10 beta program

Honor India has announced a new beta program for the 8X. It allows participants to test a new version of EMUI based on Android 10, on their devices. However, it is only open to the phone's 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage variant at present.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Nov 2019 19:19

YI partners with Home Depot for its Black Friday outdoor camera sale

YI is a home security brand with some Black Friday deals that have already been added to its own online store. However, it has announced that its weather-proof outdoor variant will be up to 40% through the chain Home Depot on the day itself. The camera comes with a 6-month subscription to a cloud service for video through this retailer.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Nov 2019 18:37

One-Netbook President Jack Wang and VP Jason Zeng have confirmed that the One-GX will debut next summer. (Image source: One-Netbook)

One-Netbook confirms details of its GPD Win Max and Smach Z challenger ahead of Summer 2020 release

Earlier this year, One-Netbook teased the prospect of releasing a portable gaming PC. Now, in interviews with ITmedia and PCWatch, the Japanese company has detailed that the device will run on an Intel Tiger Lake-Y processor. It will feature detachable controllers too, among other specifications that One-Netbook also confirmed.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2019 18:01

Diablo could replace Lilith as the main antagonist in a later Diablo IV expansion. (Source: Blizzard)

Blizzard shares more info on Diablo IV expansion packs

While the main Diablo IV story will be focusing on Lilith, but each expansion pack may come with a different antagonist. Diablo could make an appearance in later expansion packs, and some expansions will feature never-before-seen antagonists. While this should keep progression fresh for an extended time, it is unclear if Blizzard intends to charge players more money by expansion.

Bogdan Solca, 27 Nov 2019 16:51

LG has some OLED TV offers for US customers. (Source: LG)

Deal | LG unveils its Black Friday sale on 2019 OLED TVs

LG has unveiled what it calls the "best prices of the year" on its OLED TVs sold through its site and authorized dealers in the US. It includes no less than US$2000 off one 77-inch model, and a 55-inch SKU that now goes for just $1199. These deals take effect today (November 27, 2019) and last until December 2.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Nov 2019 15:14

The rectangular periscope lens is not protruding like the cameras in the tri-setup. (Source: Vivo)

Vivo teases X30 handheld with 60X hybrid zoom periscope lens

Xiaomi already announced a 50X zoom lens, but Vivo now wants to push the limits even further with a 60X hybrid periscope lens. The latest teasers show that periscope lens is separated from the other rear cameras and is also not protruding thanks to system that includes light prisms. Vivo also plans to release a Pro version for the X30, which will feature more powerful rear cameras.

Bogdan Solca, 27 Nov 2019 15:00

A render of what a Samsung Galaxy Tab Fold would look like. (Source: Letsgodigital)

Are you ready for the Samsung Galaxy Tab Fold?

Having invested hundreds of millions of dollars in its foldable Infinity Flex Super AMOLED display technology, it makes sense that Samsung is keen to deploy it in the marketplace where it feels it can gain some traction. Enter a patent for a foldable Galaxy Tab that is very similar to the Galaxy Fold smartphone, but larger and without a secondary display.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 27 Nov 2019 12:03

The Honor MagicWatch 2 can last for up to 14 days between charges. (Source: Honor)

Honor MagicWatch 2 promises 14 days of battery life, more

Trailing in the wake of the reveal of the flagship Honor V30 and V30 Pro, the Honor MagicWatch 2 has also been launched in China. The new features a custom Kirin A1 processor that runs efficiently enough that the device is good for up to 14 days of use between charges.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 27 Nov 2019 11:37

The Samsung Galaxy S10 phones will receive the update in January. (Source: Trusted Reviews)

Update Party: Official Samsung Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update roadmap surfaces

Samsung has sent out a ton of One UI 2.0 beta updates to the Galaxy S10 phones, so it makes sense that the phone will be the first to get the stable Android 10 update. The complete, official update roadmap for Samsung's Android 10-based One UI 2.0 rollout is here.

Ricci Rox, 27 Nov 2019 09:17

AMD's Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has a reference boost clock of up to 4.5 GHz. (Image source: AMD)

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X gets clocked at 5.75 GHz and goes on a world record-breaking rampage

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X processor has been setting and breaking a whole handful of records over at HWBot, amply demonstrating the potency of Team Red’s latest threat to Intel at the high-end of the CPU market. Eleven records were set with the 3970X, mostly in combination with an Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme TRX40 board, while an MSI Creator TRX40 motherboard was used for the 5.75 GHz overclock achievement.

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Nov 2019 09:08

The Honor 20 Pro has already received the Android 10-based Magic UI 3.0 update. (Source: Trusted Reviews)

Official Android 10 update roadmap for Honor phones throws up a few surprises

Huawei and Honor began sending out the Android 10-based EMUI 10 and Magic UI 3.0 updates to their current-gen flagships. At the Honor V30 launch yesterday, Honor revealed its release roadmap for the Android 10 update and there are a few surprises in store, with just 13 devices billed to get the update.

Ricci Rox, 27 Nov 2019 09:06

Strangely, the MSI WE75 has no Quadro RTX 4000 or 5000 options (Image source: MSI)

Strangely, the MSI WE75 has no Quadro RTX 4000 or RTX 5000 options

Why is it that the GE75 can be configured with up the GeForce RTX 2080 while the WE75 is limited to the Quadro RTX 3000? MSI may be pushing ultra enthusiasts into purchasing the higher-end WT75 instead where users can find the RTX 4000 and 5000.

Allen Ngo, 27 Nov 2019 06:44

The Samsung Galaxy S11+ is expected to sport a Dynamic AMOLED screen. (Image source: CashKaro/@OnLeaks)

Update | First Samsung Galaxy S11+ renders present a phenomenal flagship with a penta-lens camera and laser-focusing module

The Samsung Galaxy S11+ has appeared in some renders and a video published by CashKaro in conjunction with @OnLeaks. The well-crafted images show the forthcoming flagship smartphone with a central punch-hole front-facing camera and a huge housing on the rear for the penta-lens camera setup, which apparently features a laser-focusing module.
Update: Another noted leaker has claimed that these S11+ renders based on CAD drawings are wrong.

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Nov 2019 05:20

Google Assistant's Ambient Mode is rolling out now. (Source: YouTube)

The Google Assistant Ambient Mode is now official

Google introduced Ambient Mode for the Assistant at I/O 2019. It is a kind of alternative interface for Android devices that makes them take on the functions of a smart display. This can involve a revolving series of screens showing calendar information, photos or other content.

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Nov 2019 22:05

Google Pixel 4: bells and whistles instead of battery power

Google's Pixel 4 exhibited various flaws in our test while at the same time neglecting important smartphone core competences. What good is innovation if the phone cannot even last until the end of the day?

Daniel Schmidt, 26 Nov 2019 21:42

Quad-curve flagship smartphones will divide opinion in 2020. (Image source: Twitter/Ice universe)

Quad-curve flagship smartphones will rule the roost in 2020

Smartphones with curved displays reaching over all four edges of the device will be the prevailing trend in 2020 according to a well-known tipster. While the “waterfall” design has the screen tumbling over the right and left edges of a smartphone, the “quad-curve” design will utilize the top and bottom edges, too. Some have questioned the utility of such a curved smartphone display, though.

Daniel R Deakin, 26 Nov 2019 21:20

The data breach affected 1.2 billion people. (Image Source: Forbes)

Personal information of 1.2 billion people leaked in massive data breach

1.2 billion people have been affected by a data breach that was unveiled by the security research firm Dataviper. Sensitive information such as names, email addresses and phone numbers were reportedly stored on an unsecured server.

Anil Satyanarayana, 26 Nov 2019 20:25

Deal | Get about 30% off Reolink's best-rated, PoE or wireless security cameras

Reolink has announced its Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. It includes 31% off the Argus 2, which has been named the best 2019 home security camera (outdoor) by PCMag. There is also 25% off the 355-degree-panning E1 Pro Wi-Fi camera, and 30% off the 4G-capable Go.

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Nov 2019 18:39

AMD confirms 64-core Threadripper coming in 2020, possibly Threadripper 3990X

AMD has confirmed a 64-core Threadripper chip is coming in 2020. This chip will likely be the Threadripper 3990X, a beastly HEDT processor that will likely clobber the Intel Core i9-10980XE. AMD may be the premium choice for content creators in 2020.

Sam Medley, 26 Nov 2019 18:18

The new heartbeatz Apple Watch heart rate bridge. (Source: North Pole Engineering)

A new gadget can transfer Apple Watch heart-rate tracking to workout machines

North Pole Engineering has launched heartbeatz, a new device that acts as a bridge between an Apple Watch and any exercise bike or treadmill with ANT+. This enables the machine in question to display heart rate information directly from the wearable while in use. No more checking your wrist during a workout!

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Nov 2019 17:56

Nvidia's G-Sync VRR standard is more widespread, yet AMD GPU users cannot currently benefit from it. (Source: Nvidia)

PS5 and Xbox Scarlett to benefit from upcoming Nvidia G-Sync support for AMD's GPUs

Nvidia GPUs already support AMD's FreeSync monitors, but AMD's GPUs are still not compatible with Nvidia's G-Sync screens. However, Nvidia recently unveiled that these issues are to be eliminated, as 2020 G-Sync screens will provide compatibility for all non-Nvidia GPUs. This is especially beneficial for the upcoming AMD-powered PS5 and Xbox Scarlett consoles.

Bogdan Solca, 26 Nov 2019 16:29

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