Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations

Call of Duty: WW2 banner (Image source: Xbox Wire)

Call of Duty: WW2 players are being hacked by RCE exploit after shooter debuts on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass can breathe new life into titles with dwindling support. Unfortunately, overlooked security concerns for Call of Duty: WW2 have resurfaced. The RCE exploit allows hackers to assume control of another player's PC.

Adam Corsetti, 04 Jul 2025 01:18

Deal | Epic Games Store's new free game giveaways now available for macOS and Windows but only for a limited time

The Epic Games Store has refreshed its free game program with two new titles for Windows. Also available on macOS, Backpack Hero is a roguelike game that can be picked up for free alongside the Windows-only release of action-adven...

Alex Alderson, 03 Jul 2025 13:15

Lenovo Legion 5 15AHP G10 (image source: Notebookcheck)

Lenovo ships the Legion 5 15 with one of the best OLED panels available

Lenovo really stepped up its OLED game and now offers multiple series with excellent OLED screens. This is also the case for the new mainstream gaming laptop Legion 5 15, where the 165 Hz OLED offers superb image quality while gam...

Andreas Osthoff, 03 Jul 2025 11:00

Palworld screenshot showing characters fighting a floating eyeball with sharp teeth

Steam Summer Sale and a hyper-popular indie game collab boost Pokemon's controversial rival to 6-month high

Palworld's Terraria collaboration, along with a sizeable Steam Sale, has resulted in a massive spike in the game's concurrent player count, bringing it back up to a six-month player high. The new update added a wealth of content, ...

Julian van der Merwe, 03 Jul 2025 06:00

Control centers: Helping users control their laptop or manfuacturers control their customers?

Lenovo and other laptop makers abuse their control centers by placing ads, as seen on the Legion Pro 5

The control center of laptops is a central hub for users. These are developed by manufacturers themselves and increasingly abused in order to place ads or even collect user data. Lenovo is just one example.

Christian Hintze, 02 Jul 2025 01:31

After the release of Windows 11 Update 25H2, support will be reset to 2 and 3 years. (Image source: Microsoft)

Switching to Windows 12 may be delayed by at least a year

Windows has just released the new Windows 11 25H2 update for insiders. The support timeframe will also be reset: Windows 11 will receive two more years of support and security updates for Home and Pro versions, and three years for...

Marc Zander, 01 Jul 2025 21:37

Razer Blade 14 2025 (image source: Notebookcheck)

Is 8 GB VRAM enough for the Blade 14? For 1080p gaming, yes

The big topic with Nvidia's new mainstream mobile GPUs is the amount of VRAM and many users complain about 8 GB. This is also the case for the Razer Blade 14, but is it really that big of a deal? And then there is also the topic o...

Andreas Osthoff, 01 Jul 2025 15:36

Razer's Blade 14 does not rival the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for the performance crown, but is also much more affordable

Razer's Blade 14 2024 was one of the fastest 14-inch gamers and the new 2025 model is an improvement, but the performance crown is left unchallenged for the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which can be equipped with the RTX 5080 Laptop.

Andreas Osthoff, 30 Jun 2025 09:56

Windows 7 Home Premium desktop. A screenshot taken in June 2025. (Image source: Sergey Tarasov / Notebookcheck)

Windows 7 still supported by major anti-virus solution makers as ESU program persists

CheckMag Avast and AVG run smoothly despite the lack of post-2020 patches as Avira and Panda struggle, a brief test shows. Several up-to-date alternative Web browsers are available for Windows users to choose from, too, enabling the 2009 O...

Sergey Tarasov, 29 Jun 2025 09:18

Raycast for Windows is now available in beta by invitation. (Image Source: Raycast)

One of the best productivity tools for macOS now comes to Windows 11

Raycast is now in the public beta preview stage for Windows users. A well-known Spotlight alternative for macOS, Raycast carries forward most of its functionality to Windows 11 with additional features being planned down the lines...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 29 Jun 2025 08:26

Keychron K4 HE, Epomaker Galaxy100, NuPhy Kick75, Wobkey Rainy75 mechanical keyboards from above

Wireless mechanical keyboard bargains: 5 hidden gems to replace your clapped-out Razer or Logitech gaming keyboard

CheckMag Avoid the rattly stabilisers, scratchy switches, and clunky bloatware that come with gaming keyboards from giants like Razer, Logitech, and Corsair with these five excellent wireless mechanical keyboards that pack everything from ...

Julian van der Merwe, 28 Jun 2025 22:15

Microsoft claims Windows 11 is up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10, but benchmark uses different gen CPUs

A new Microsoft blog post suggests a massive performance boost after a Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11. Sadly, the Geekbench 6 test used to support the claim includes older and newer Intel CPUs. With other benchmarks yielding les...

Adam Corsetti, 28 Jun 2025 21:04

Revenge of the Savage Planet steam screenshot with explorer jumping off a mushroom between purple trees

Deal | Highly rated upbeat, satirical action adventure platformer drops to $14.99 in Steam Summer Sale despite launching mere weeks ago

Revenge of the Savage Planet, a wacky co-op 3D platformer game with split-screen co-op and very positive Steam reviews has received its first ever Steam Sale discount a mere two months after launch, and the discount has slashed a ...

Julian van der Merwe, 28 Jun 2025 20:55

Valve and Steam logos (Image source: Valve Corporation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, DemonDays64, modification of Valve Corporation file, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Series of Steam games stolen from indie developers highlights Valve's moderation struggles

Not all Steam games appear on the platform with the original author's permission. Gamepressure discovered that a developer had stolen numerous indie games from the itch.io website. Gamers have criticized Valve for accepting shovel...

Adam Corsetti, 28 Jun 2025 01:26

Lenovo Legion Go S can run both SteamOS and Windows. (Image source: Lenovo, Steam, Windows, edited)

Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS vs Windows comparison highlights latter's background resource usage issue

Ars Technica has compared the performance of the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld gaming console running Windows and SteamOS. The difference in performance between Windows and SteamOS in titles like Returnal is reportedly quite big....

Fawad Murtaza, 27 Jun 2025 12:13

Deal | Epic Games Store: Final free game giveaway of June 2025 now available but only for a short time

The Epic Games Store revealed the contents of this week's giveaway last Thursday. While it will switch things up next week by adding a second title to a future giveaway, it will focus on a new game for this week. Available from to...

Alex Alderson, 26 Jun 2025 17:11

Ryzen 9 CPU makes this Lenovo ThinkPad stand out: Compact mobile workstation offers the most CPU performance of any 14-inch ThinkPad laptop

Lenovo has many, many laptops with AMD Ryzen AI CPUs. But there is only a single 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad with the twelve core variant of Strix Point: The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 AMD offers the most CPU performance out of any 14...

Benjamin Herzig, 25 Jun 2025 17:38

The Pad 3 gets a software upgrade already. (Image source: OnePlus)

OnePlus introduces PC Remote Control feature to OxygenOS smartphones

OnePlus has dropped its latest software feature, which might be one for fans of mobile devices that can integrate better with their Windows laptops or desktops. It also allows the user to access files on their PCs right from their...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 25 Jun 2025 16:15

Windows 10 is going away, and Microsoft is offering you three options to extend your experience

Many Microsoft 10 will go out of software support on October 14, 2025 with three options available to extend your experience, but they do not come free of charge.

Alexis Stegmann, 25 Jun 2025 10:34

Cloud storage services are practical, but users probably shouldn’t rely on them entirely (Image source: Microsoft)

Microsoft locks out OneDrive user: 30 years of data unaccessible

Losing or being unable to access important data is certainly frustrating, but it’s even more frustrating when it happens intentionally. This recently happened to a user who uploaded his most important files and photos to Microsoft...

Andreas Jakobi, 23 Jun 2025 19:44

Star Wars Battlefront II screenshot showing Yoda and Darth Maul

Deal | 90% off Steam deal: Iconic Star Wars FPS with chaotic multiplayer and 92% positive reviews drops to record-low price

Star Wars Battlefront II has something for every Star Wars fan, from lightsabre battles and ground assaults to space skirmishes in X-Wing fighters and tactical multiplayer gameplay. Take command of the Sith lord Vader, fight as Lu...

Julian van der Merwe, 20 Jun 2025 21:15

Asus ROG Ally banner (Image source: Asus ROG gaming with edits)

Deal | The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme handheld gaming PC falls to $450, matching its all-time low sale price

As the new Xbox handheld approaches, the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme offers many of the same advantages. The handheld gaming PC is compact and handles most Windows-compatible titles. Its current discount makes competitors like the St...

Adam Corsetti, 20 Jun 2025 00:22

Keychron M3 Mini 8K and M2 8K gaming mouses

Keychron launches two new lightweight wireless gaming mouses with 8 kHz polling and 30,000 DPI

Keychron has officially launched the M2 8K and the M3 Mini 8K, both featuring the venerable PixArt 3950 sensor, 8 kHz wireless polling, and lightweight designs. Both new gaming mice are available online for just $69.99.

Julian van der Merwe, 19 Jun 2025 20:51

GameNative can run Steam games with DRM natively on Android (Image source: GameSir and Steam - edited)

GameNative promises hassle-free Windows game emulation on Android

While Winlator has captured quite an amount of attention with its ability to emulate Windows games on Android, it often requires some tinkering. GameNative promises to make things easier by offering an almost setup-free emulation ...

Abid Ahsan Shanto, 19 Jun 2025 14:41

Deal | Epic Games Store: New free game giveaway now available for macOS and Windows but only for a limited time

The Epic Games Store has started giving away a new free game on Windows. Also available on macOS, The Operator is a narrative-based puzzle game that takes various twists and turns on a 'mind-bending story' as you investigate and s...

Alex Alderson, 19 Jun 2025 12:31

Keychron C1 Pro 8K and C3 Pro 8K mechanical keyboards

Keychron launches two $55 mechanical gaming keyboards with classic retro or gaming looks and Snap Tap

Keychron has officially announced twin affordable mechanical gaming keyboards, offering 8 kHz polling, Snap Tap, and a choice between a charming retro aesthetic and an RGB-laden gamer-fest. Both keyboards also support QMK and Keyc...

Julian van der Merwe, 18 Jun 2025 19:21

Aska screenshot with mystical enemies in a dark forest

Deal | Steam deal: Open-world Viking co-op colony sim that blends Age of Empires and Valheim drops to record-low price

Aska is a highly rated Viking colony sim that leans harder on its base-building, colony simulation, and automation mechanics than the ever-popular Valheim. Instead of building being an optional activity as in Valheim, Aska demands...

Julian van der Merwe, 18 Jun 2025 00:09

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2025. (Image source: Andreas Osthoff/Notebookcheck)

Verdict on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Powerful, but still slower than its smaller G14 sibling

We've now reviewed both the ROG Zephyrus G16 and the smaller G14 with the new GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU. Despite a slightly higher TGP, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H lags behind the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in gaming performance.

Andreas Osthoff, 17 Jun 2025 12:52

Nioh 2 screenshot with flaming magical bird and female fighter in the foreground

Deal | Award-winning co-op ARPG Steam deal: Brutal Souls-like combat in feudal Japan gets lowest-ever price

Nioh 2, an action RPG that won the "Best Game You Sucked At" Steam award in its launch year, has hit it's lowest-ever price on Steam. Fight through hordes of yokai by harnessing their power as your own. Nioh 2 gets a lot of high p...

Julian van der Merwe, 16 Jun 2025 23:40

Microsoft Copilot Vision on Windows with Highlights allows the Copilot AI to see and interact with visible information and apps. (Image source: Microsoft)

Microsoft launches Copilot Vision on Windows with Highlights

Microsoft has introduced Copilot Vision on Windows with Highlights, enabling the Copilot AI to see on-screen content while assisting with tasks like image editing, improving the appearance of documents, and using visual informatio...

David Chien, 15 Jun 2025 23:10

The latest mobile HarmonyOS flagship. (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei hits 100 million HarmonyOS smartphone sales in latest analysis

Huawei's alternative to iOS or Android has only been around for about four years, yet has now reportedly hit nine figures in terms of its device base. The number of smartphones and tablets sold with the software exceeded 100 milli...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 15 Jun 2025 18:48

Dont Starve Together characters fighting monsters with a pillar of light in the centre of the scene

Deal | $5.09 Steam deal: Eerie indie co-op survival hit with 300,000+ positive reviews heavily discounted

Don't Starve Together is discounted to just $5.09 on Steam, after a sizeable discount slashed the price. The co-op survival game pits players against the wilderness, themselves, and each other and tasks them with exploring, crafti...

Julian van der Merwe, 13 Jun 2025 20:15

Lofree Flow 2: New wireless low-profile mechanical keyboard packs touch bar, new keycaps, and improved customisation with VIA

The Lofree Flow 2 packs a host of upgrades, from redesigned keycaps with a "more ergonomic profile," to improved customisation with VIA, and now a more compact 65% version for those who value desk space. It features the same all-a...

Julian van der Merwe, 13 Jun 2025 00:05

Deal | Epic Games Store reveals new free game giveaway ahead of schedule

The Epic Games Store has confirmed its game giveaway plans for next week. Returning again with a single free game, the popular storefront will focus in on a detective game called The Operator that has been popular with critics and...

Alex Alderson, 12 Jun 2025 20:57

Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X (Image source: Asustek Computer with edits)

Microsoft reportedly cancels Xbox handheld to focus on portable gaming PCs like ROG Xbox Ally

Microsoft appears less interested in manufacturing hardware for a new Xbox console. The ROG Xbox Ally and similar Windows devices may fill the void left by a canceled handheld. The company hopes to optimize its OS for gaming and e...

Adam Corsetti, 12 Jun 2025 20:16

Deal | Epic Games Store: New free game giveaway now available globally but only for a short time

The Epic Games Store is now giving away a new free game as it winds up another Mega Sale period. Available on PC, Two Point Hospital builds on the casual business simulation genre with a return to the dynamics of the classic Theme...

Alex Alderson, 12 Jun 2025 13:41

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x laptop (Image source: Lenovo)

Deal | The portable Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x laptop with 3K OLED screen and Snapdragon X Elite CPU falls to $749.99

In the latest Lenovo laptop deal, the Yoga Slim 7x is seeing one of its lowest prices. The Snapdragon laptop has a 3K OLED screen that rivals more expensive alternatives. Despite barebones connectivity, the portability and long ba...

Adam Corsetti, 12 Jun 2025 01:41

NuPhy Air75 V3 launches as wireless low-profile mechanical keyboard with long-travel switches, 1,200-hour battery, and gasket mount

The NuPhy Air75 V3 is officially available to pre-order, and the wireless, low-profile mechanical keyboard packs some interesting new features, including redesigned long-travel switches, a proper gasket mount, and immense battery ...

Julian van der Merwe, 10 Jun 2025 23:09

The Flip 1S DS features a CNC housing and what Ayaneo describes as a 'stepless hinge design'. (Image source: Ayaneo)

Ayaneo Flip 1S DS gaming handheld fully revealed with promised redesign

Ayaneo has now fully detailed its Flip 1S DS gaming handheld. A reimagining of the Nintendo DS of sorts, the Ayaneo Flip 1S DS contains upgraded primary and secondary displays, a more powerful AMD Ryzen chipset and a refined CNC d...

Alex Alderson, 10 Jun 2025 14:03

Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 (image source: Notebookcheck)

Who is supposed to buy this? Microsoft's Surface Laptop 13 is worse and just as expensive as the Surface Laptop 13.8

Microsoft launched the new Surface Laptop 13, even though you could also call it Surface Laptop Go 4. The RRP is comparable to the much better Surface Laptop 13.8, only the battery runtime of the new 13-inch model is superior. We ...

Andreas Osthoff, 09 Jun 2025 13:31

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (image source: Notebookcheck)

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is unrivaled since the Razer Blade 14 is limited to the RTX 5070 Laptop

If you want the fastest 14-inch gamer right now, there is no way around the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. While rivals including the Razer Blade 14 only offer the RTX 5070 Laptop, Asus also offers the two significantly faster GPU options...

Andreas Osthoff, 09 Jun 2025 11:13

Sony unveils Project Defiant wireless game controller for fighting games on PCs and PS5 consoles. (Image source: Sony)

Sony announces Project Defiant: PlayStation 5 and PC wireless game controller for fighting games

Sony has unveiled Project Defiant, an arcade fight stick designed for PlayStation 5 consoles and PCs. The controller features low latency wireless connectivity using PS Link technology and customizable joystick restriction gates.

David Chien, 09 Jun 2025 06:29

Sweeping deals and free game giveaway on genre-defining looter shooter lead to 4X player count increase overnight

After more than 13 years have passed since its release, Borderlands 2 has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, thanks to a sweeping Steam sale that saw discounts of as much as 95% and a free game giveaway.

Julian van der Merwe, 07 Jun 2025 01:42

Epic Games Store announces new free game giveaway with time to spare

The Epic Games Store has revealed next week's free game giveaway for PC ahead of schedule. Doing away with Mystery Game promotions this time around, Two Point Hospital will be free to add to your Epic Games library for those who a...

Alex Alderson, 05 Jun 2025 21:27

22.06	Mehr Power und Ausstattung gehen nicht
22.06	Edles ARM-Notebook
22.06	Ein guter Kompakt-Allrounder mit Gaming-Power
22.06	AORUS Master 18 Test-Debüt mit GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop
22.06	Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon der perfekte Allrounder?
22.06	HP Elitebook X G1a Schnell und tragbar, aber nicht sehr ausdauernd
22.06	Dieser Gaming-Laptop kann viel – aber reicht das auch für die Zukunft?
22.06	Der Preis-Leistungs-Tipp für unter 300 Euro
22.06	Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge So dünn und abgespeckt wie selten zuvor
22.06	Fantastische Leistung für pralle Geldbeutel