Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News

Extensive crypto mining appears to suck the life out of cards like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. (Image source: NVIDIA)

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is a shadow of its former self after 18 months of crypto mining

A new video has demonstrated the effects of prolonged crypto mining on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Seemingly, stressing the Turing card for so long in this way causes noticeable in-game performance drops, including to average ...

Alex Alderson, Sat, 27 Feb 2021 00:39:00 +0100

Cyberpunk 2077 will not receive Patch 1.2 until late March at the earliest. (Image source: CDPR)

CDPR delays Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.2 until late March at the earliest on account of its 'extensive scope' and the company's recent cyber attack

All is not well at CDPR, with the company having announced a delay to the release of Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.2. Originally due before the end of February, the second patch for the maligned game will now arrive in the 'second half o...

Alex Alderson, Sat, 27 Feb 2021 00:21:00 +0100

The P40 makes an unexpected return. (Source: Huawei)

Huawei releases a new, 4G-only version of the P40 in China

The Huawei P40 flagship smartphone launched with the Kirin 990 5G chipset in 2020. This CPU also has a 4G/LTE-only variant, which features in new units of the P40 now on sale on JD.com. Otherwise, the device still has its 6.1-inch...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 23:21:00 +0100

The MSI Stealth 15M is proof that gaming laptops with 15 W to 25 W Core U CPUs can work (Image source: MSI)

The MSI Stealth 15M is proof that gaming laptops with 15 W to 25 W Tiger Lake Core U CPUs can work

ULV Intel CPUs are getting better and better every year even if their performance differences can be marginal. However, those small gains are inching closer to Core H-levels of performance where we think Core U CPUs can have a pla...

Allen Ngo, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:48:00 +0100

The Aorus RTX 3060 Elite. (Source: Gigabyte)

Gigabyte launches the Aorus RTX 3060 Elite desktop card as NVIDIA unlocks Resizable BAR for its GPU

NVIDIA has just announced updates for the RTX 3060 that bring Resizable BAR to the new GPU, as promised earlier. It is compatible with a range of relevant chipsets, processors, motherboards and cards - the new Aorus GeForce RTX 30...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:40:00 +0100

TTGO T-Watch: The customisable smartwatch now comes with a microphone for voice control

A new version of the TTGO T-Watch is here, and it comes with a microphone. The additional component allows Lilygo's smartwatch to be controlled by voice input, improving its versatility. The new version of the TTGO T-Watch retails...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:34:00 +0100

The Mi 11 Ultra will have three rear-facing cameras, including a periscope lens. (Image source: Tech Buff PH)

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is tipped to shoot in up to 100 MP with Samsung's largest ISOCELL sensor

Samsung's ISOCELL GN2 sensor will play a part in the upcoming Mi 11 Ultra, according to a report. The sensor, which has 1.4 μm wide pixels, will be one of four cameras in the Mi 11 Ultra, if past leaks are to be believed. The Mi 1...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:27:00 +0100

Akasa Turing A50: A passive enclosure for the ASUS PN50, an AMD Ryzen-powered mini-PC

A new Akasa case transforms the ASUS PN50 mini-PC into a passively cooled system. The Turing A50 retails for £125.00, or €130.00 in Europe.

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:13:00 +0100

The LG V60 is the company's first device outside of South Korea to receive Android 11. (Image source: PCWorld)

The LG V60 becomes the first device to receive LG UX 10 and Android 11 outside of South Korea

The LG V60 has started receiving its first wave of Android 11 updates. Currently, the update, packaged as LG UX 10.0, has reached devices in the US locked to T-Mobile and Verizon.

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:06:00 +0100

The Neo5's new launch trailer. (Source: Weibo)

iQOO Neo5: March 2021 launch confirmed; new leak points to a Snapdragon 870 SoC for the phone

The smartphone brand iQOO has finally acknowledged the successor to its Neo3 flagship, following a slew of leaks hinting at its high-end specs. It will now launch on March 16, 2021 in China. There is now more evidence the allegedl...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 21:18:00 +0100

Samsung released the Galaxy Watch in 2018 and the Watch Active in 2019. (Image source: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Active receive new features with their latest updates

Newer smartwatches may have superseded the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Active, but that does not mean that Samsung has forgotten about them. On the contrary, the two smartwatches have received features that were previously found...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 19:51:00 +0100

Intel is expected to launch its Rocket Lake-S processors on March 16. (Image source: Intel)

Rocket Lake-S US pricing leaked with Intel's 11th Gen processors more expensive than AMD's Ryzen 5000 Vermeer competitors across the board

A retailer has published US pricing for the Rocket Lake-S series, Intel's upcoming 11th Gen desktop processors. Not only are Rocket Lake-S processors more expensive than their Comet Lake-S predecessors, but they are also more expe...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:53:00 +0100

The PS5's onboard SSD can be rapidly filled by popular PS5 titles like Call of Duty and Demon's Souls. (Image source: Sony - edited)

PS5 pay to play: Summer-scheduled firmware update should ramp up fan speeds and activate the SSD expansion slot for pricey additional drives

Sony is reportedly going to activate the PS5’s SSD expansion slot at some point this summer, allowing owners to store more games onto an additional drive. At the same time, the firmware update for the PlayStation 5 will also enabl...

Daniel R Deakin, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:09:00 +0100

Framework's goal is to expand the life of a laptop through modularity and increased customization. (Image Source: Framework)

Framework presents the world's most customizable laptops with swappable motherboards, ports and displays

With the new Framework Laptop models, you do not have to buy a new laptop every few years. Just replace the motherboard and CPU with a newer version, add more RAM or storage, maybe even swap the display with a 4K OLED, and you hav...

Bogdan Solca, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:07:00 +0100

Budget business notebooks for remote workers and students (Image Source: Dynabook)

Dynabook launches Satellite Pro C50 budget-oriented business laptops with Intel Ice Lake CPUs

The new Satellite C50 models come with Intel Ice Lake CPU options including the Core i3-1005G1, i5-1035G1, and i7-1065G7, up to 16 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, up to 512 GB of SATA SSD storage and 15.6-inch HD or FHD displays. Prices star...

Bogdan Solca, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:35:00 +0100

The new Redmi K40 may arrive globally as a POCO-branded smartphone. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi registers the Redmi K40 globally under its POCO brand, indicating a possible successor to the POCO F2 Pro or POCO X2

A new regulatory body certification has seemingly confirmed the fate of the Redmi K40 for global audiences. It appears that Xiaomi plans to release its new handset under the POCO brand, and possibly as a successor to last year's P...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:13:00 +0100

EMUI 11 has now reached the Mate 20 and P30 series in some regions. (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei updates its EMUI 11 rollout in six regions with OS upgrades for the Mate 20 and P30 series

Huawei has begun pushing EMUI 11 to more devices globally, including the Mate 20 and P30 series. The Nova 7 and Nova 5T are now eligible for EMUI 11 in some regions too.

Alex Alderson, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:54:00 +0100

The new HaloLock Kickstand Wireless Charger. (Source: ESR)

ESR presents its HaloLock Kickstand Wireless Charger as a potentially improved version of Apple MagSafe

Apple has re-worked the MagSafe brand as a new type of ultra-thin and (theoretically) extra-strong wireless charger that enables a user to hold up and use an iPhone 12 as normal while juicing it back up. Now, ESR has "re-imagined"...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:51:00 +0100

New Redmi Max 86" smart TV offers 4K 120 Hz display, HDMI 2.1 port, and a delivery-friendly 99.9% elevator pass rate for 7,999 yuan (US$1,237)

Xiaomi has officially launched the Redmi Max 86” smart TV. The new television joins the massive 98-inch Redmi Max as part of the affordable range of giant TVs from the Xiaomi subsidiary. For 7,999 yuan (US$1,237) buyers get a 4K T...

Daniel R Deakin, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:43:00 +0100

Realme has 108MP phones in the works. (Source: Realme)

Realme will unveil its first 108MP camera at its upcoming Innovation Event in March 2021

Realme has confirmed that it will make a leap to phones with 108MP sensors in 2021. The phone most likely to be the first with this top-end spec is currently rumored to be one of the upcoming 8 series. Therefore, it might be unvei...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:20:00 +0100

Alleged Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. (Image source: XiaomiAdictos/Samsung - edited)

Mi Pad 5 vs Galaxy Tab S7: Huge leak revealing concept design, alleged specs, and purported prices pits Xiaomi's tablet against Samsung's premium market leader

A massive Xiaomi Mi Pad 5-related leak has revealed the alleged specs and prices for the upcoming tablet. In addition, concept renders of the slate show it following the Mi 11 design language. With a Snapdragon 870 SoC and startin...

Daniel R Deakin, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:39:00 +0100

A foldable Pixel concept design. (Image: Macrumors)

Prosser: Google Pixel "Fold" is real and in development

Google is working on a foldable Pixel according to tipster Jon Prosser. Prosser’s remarks align with rumors of a foldable Pixel which surfaced in the middle of last year. While exciting news, it does raise questions about Google’s...

Sanjiv Sathiah, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:08:00 +0100

NVIDIA's CMP crypto mining cards may take supply pressure off gaming GPU supply (Image source: NVIDIA)

Some of NVIDIA's CMP mining chips will leverage the 12nm Turing architecture: however, specs indicate that CMP 50HX and CMP 90HX could put supply pressure on Ampere gaming cards

A Videocardz report indicates that NVIDIA's upcoming CMP (cryptocurrency mining processors) will be variants on last-gen Turing parts. The CMP 40HX will be based on TU106, while the CMP 30HX will use the same TU116 GPU found in th...

Arjun Krishna Lal, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 08:12:00 +0100

35 W Core i7-11375H vs. 28 W Core i7-1165G7: 10 to 30 percent faster in multi-thread performance (Image source: Intel)

35 W Core i7-11375H vs. 25 W Core i7-1165G7: 10 to 30 percent faster multi-thread performance

Our first in-house benchmarks of the Core i7-11375H are in and they are just marginally better than the 25 W Core i7-1185G7. OEMs will have to exploit its Turbo Boost potential as much as possible or else performance won't be all ...

Allen Ngo, Fri, 26 Feb 2021 02:06:00 +0100

The Cherry Pi is compatible with the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. (Image source: Shenzhen LC Technology)

Cherry Pi: A single-board computer that is compatible with the Raspberry Pi but is also an Orange Pi clone

With the Cherry Pi PC, Shenzhen LC Technology has created a single-board computer that is compatible with the Raspberry Pi. However, the Allwinner H3-based board also looks an awful lot like the Orange Pi, another SBC based on the...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:58:00 +0100

A retailer has leaked the ASUS PN41 in two configurations; PN40 pictured. (Image source: ASUS)

ASUS PN41: Retailer leaks a new mini-PC with Intel Jasper Lake processors

According to a new report, ASUS plans to release a new series of mini-PCs based on Intel's Jasper Lake platform. ASUS is yet to officially unveil the PN41 series, but a retailer has listed the PN41 on its website, much like the PN...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:48:00 +0100

MaaXBoard Nano: A single-board computer with an NXP i.MX 8M Nano processor that is compatible with the Raspberry Pi

A new single-board computer is available from Avnet. Called the MaaXBoard Nano, the SBC relies on an i.MX processor and 1 GB of DDR4 RAM. The device also has a 40-pin GPIO, making it compatible with the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, and...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:37:00 +0100

Microsoft will allow business customers to swap the SSD in the Surface Pro 7+ themselves, in the future. (Image source: Microsoft)

Microsoft announces SSD upgrade modules for the Surface Pro 7 Plus

One of Microsoft's most exciting changes with the Surface Pro 7+ compared to its predecessor was the switch to replaceable SSDs. The company has finally gotten around to offering official upgrade modules too, albeit only for busin...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:33:00 +0100

Xiaomi has announced three devices under the Redmi K40 series. All have Samsung's E4 OLED display. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi surprises by launching the Redmi K40 Pro Plus; Redmi K40 and Redmi K40 Pro announced too with flagship specifications

Xiaomi has unveiled its latest flagship killers, and there are three of them. Billed as the Redmi K40, Redmi K40 Pro and Redmi K40 Pro Plus, the trio all offer 120 Hz AMOLED displays, flagship SoCs and large batteries, among other...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:24:00 +0100

The next MacBook Pro 16 may only feature an M1 processor and some minor design changes. (Image source: Apple - edited)

The 2021 MacBook Pro 16 may not be the performance upgrade we expect from Apple

According to a new report, the next MacBook Pro 16 will feature an Apple M1 chip, not a more powerful next-generation model. Any design changes will be on the minor side too, resulting in the 2021 edition looking basically the sam...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:58:00 +0100

The Intel Core i7-11700K has been put up for sale on a German e-commerce website

The Intel Core i7-11700K is up for sale on German retailer's website for an eye-watering price

German e-commerce website Mindfactory.de appears to have jumped the gun a little and listed the upcoming Intel Core i7-11700K processor for sale. Its price tag of €469 puts it on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Intel will ...

Anil Satyanarayana, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:56:00 +0100

Rumor | The Sony IMX 800 will be the world's largest mobile image sensor on its April 2021 launch

The leaker RODENT950 has made some heavy allusions to an image sensor which, despite being intended for mobile devices, is exactly 1 inch in size. This would make the alleged Sony IMX 800 unprecedentedly large for its category. It...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:55:00 +0100

The latest shot of RedMagic hype. (Source: Weibo)

Nubia teases a 165Hz refresh rate for the RedMagic 6 display; first-gen Watch launch is also confirmed

The RedMagic 6 series of Snapdragon 888-powered gaming devices is slated to launch on March 4, 2021. Now, its maker Nubia has strongly hinted at an upgrade to 165Hz displays for these phones. They are also now slated to get 400Hz ...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:03:00 +0100

OPPO introduces another member of the Reno5 smartphone family with a newer chipset

OPPO has unexpectedly launched the Reno5 K 5G in China. This phone might sound familiar, as it is effectively a pre-existing device with a new SoC: the Snapdragon 750G. Therefore, it might be a more affordable variant, although it...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 21:23:00 +0100

The Samsung Galaxy A12 proves to be a solid smartphone in the low-priced mid-range in our test.

Samsung Galaxy A12 in review: Does Samsung fall back into old patterns due to the success of the Galaxy A smartphones?

Our review of the Samsung Galaxy A12 reveals once again: Samsung's affordable mid-range is very broad with its various models. Within half a year, five affordable Samsung mid-range phones made it through our test course. However, ...

Marcus Herbrich, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 20:50:00 +0100

Realme introduces the Narzo 30 Pro. (Source: Twitter)

Realme launches the Narzo 30A, 30 Pro and Buds Air 2 to the Indian market

The next generation of Realme's affordable Narzo line is now official, along with its newest TWS earbuds. The 30 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U SoC and has a 5,000mAh battery, whereas the 30A gets one of 6,000mAh, e...

Deirdre O'Donnell, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 20:09:00 +0100

The new Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition laptops appear to be replacing the m15 R3 lineup. (Image Source: Dell)

Dell rumored to launch Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition gaming laptops with up to an AMD R9 5900HX APU and RTX 3070 mobile GPU

AMD seems to be convincing more and more laptop OEMs to include Ryzen options across all price points, especially with the launch of the new Ryzen 5000 APUs. Even Dell is now rumored to include Ryzen APU options with the launch of...

Bogdan Solca, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 17:06:00 +0100

Wistron presents 17-inch foldable tablet concept that can transform into a laptop and all-in-one desktop

Foldable devices nowadays come with relatively small displays, but, in a few years, we may be able to work with devices that integrate larger foldable screens like the Foldbook concept proposed by Wistron. By default, Foldbook off...

Bogdan Solca, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 16:30:00 +0100

Xiaomi has launched the RedmiBook Pro 15 (L) and RedmiBook Pro 14 (R) laptops in China. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi launches the RedmiBook Pro 14 and RedmiBook Pro 15: Intel-based MacBook Pro imitators with up to 3.2K display and dGPU option for 4,699-6,299 yuan (US$728-US$976)

Xiaomi has launched the 2021 variants of the RedmiBook Pro 14 and RedmiBook Pro 15. Shoppers in China can choose from among six SKUs, with Intel Core i5 and i7 Tiger Lake processors and the Nvidia GeForce MX450 dGPU as central com...

Daniel R Deakin, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 16:24:00 +0100

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Lite could be 5G-ready

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Lite spotted on Geekbench running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab S7 Lite has made an appearance on Geekbench. Its single and multi-core scores of 650 and 1,694 and Adreno 619 GPU suggest that it is running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset. It could be launched s...

Anil Satyanarayana, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 15:10:00 +0100

The Apple iPhone 11 was launched in 2019 featuring the A13 Bionic SoC. (Image source: Apple - edited)

Apple iPhone 11 shipment value in 2020 passes US$48 billion as Samsung and Xiaomi struggle to keep up

Apple has dominated a list of the most-shipped smartphones in 2020, with the iPhone 11 alone shipping 64.8 million units with an estimated value of around US$48.9 billion. Five iPhone models are in the top 10 list, joined by four ...

Daniel R Deakin, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 14:22:00 +0100

The Intel Core i9-11900K was pitted against the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. (Image source: @ryanshrout - edited)

Intel teases i9-11900K's +11% lead over AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in PCMark 10 benchmark and a new CPU-Z run confirms the Rocket Lake chip's position as a single-core sovereign

Intel has shared a PCMark 10 storage performance benchmark result for the i9-11900K that shows the upcoming Rocket Lake-S chip ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X by +11%. Additionally, a new CPU-Z result for the Intel Core i9-11900K h...

Daniel R Deakin, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 12:58:00 +0100

The Redmi Note 10 is up for sale in the Indian grey market

Some Redmi Note 10 handsets are already up for sale in India for Rs 17,000 (US$234)

A seller in India has the yet-to-be-released Redmi Note 10 up for sale. It appears to be the 128GB storage variant of the vanilla Redmi Note 10 and it costs Rs 17,000 (US$234). However, you get only the handset, with the retail bo...

Anil Satyanarayana, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 12:23:00 +0100

PUBG: New State is coming to iOS and Android later this year. (Image: Krafton)

PUBG: New State is coming to iOS and Android, puts a futuristic and dystopian spin on the franchise

The rumored new PUBG title is real and it is called PUBG: New State. The game features everything gamers have loved about the original title, but is set in 2051 with more advanced weapons and technology necessitating new tactics t...

Sanjiv Sathiah, Thu, 25 Feb 2021 11:14:00 +0100

27.02	Vivo Y70 (Smartphone Italia)
27.02	Motorola Moto G 5G (Batista70Phone)
27.02	OnePlus Nord (Arena IT)
27.02	Motorola Moto E7 (Tabletowo)
27.02	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Tek.no)
27.02	Samsung Galaxy S21 (AndroidWorld.it)
27.02	Vivo Y70 (Tuexperto)
27.02	ZTE Axon 20 5G (AndroidWorld.it)
27.02	Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Tutto Android)
27.02	Huawei Mate 40 Pro (PC Guia)

Affordable Zotac ZBOX edge mini PC in review