Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations

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 past-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

5 affordable, sleek mechanical keyboards to buy instead of that generic gaming keyboard from Razer or Logitech

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 | Steam deal: Highly rated whimsical co-op survival 3D platformer gets 50% discount just weeks after launch

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

Deal | Epic Games announces new free game giveaways for PC and Mac gamers

The Epic Games Store has revealed its final Mystery Game giveaways that are available for PC and Mac gamers. Available until June 12, Deathloop and Ogu and the Secret Forest round off the storefront's latest Mega Sale in a free ga...

Alex Alderson, 05 Jun 2025 19:02

A leaker has beat Epic Games to the punch this week. (Image source: Epic Games Store - edited)

Epic Games Store: New free game giveaways revealed ahead of schedule in last-minute leak

A leaker has got their hands on what games should be available to download for free this week on the Epic Games Store. Bucking the trend of recent weeks, the two proposed titles would be worth almost $85 when redeemed at once.

Alex Alderson, 05 Jun 2025 15:31

ChatGPT competes with Google by accessing your Google Drive files and becoming a personalized assistant. (Image source: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

ChatGPT aims to outdo Google with this new feature

ChatGPT competes with Google by now having access to your Google Drive files to provide clear and precise answers. And this development puts OpenAI in direct competition with AI assistants such as Google Gemini.

Alexis Stegmann, 05 Jun 2025 12:03

James Bond makes his return to the video game world with IO Interactive's 2026 release of 007 First Light. (Image source: IO Interactive)

IO Interactive's James Bond game, 007 First Light, arriving 2026

IO Interactive has announced 007 First Light, a James Bond origin story launching in 2026, featuring action-adventure gameplay, iconic characters, and Q's gadgets on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

David Chien, 05 Jun 2025 03:45

Popucom screenshot with characters on platforms in clouds solving puzzles

Cheerful new family-friendly Steam co-op platformer with challenging puzzles launches with discount and "Very Positive" Steam rating

Popucom is a newly released puzzle-platformer adventure game with an emphasis on co-op problem solving and a charming, colourful art style. Popucom recently launched on Steam with a moderate discount until June 15.

Julian van der Merwe, 05 Jun 2025 00:54

Microsoft's Xbox PC branding could foreshadow marketing plans for new Windows-based console

At the expense of the Series X|S, Windows PCs have become a hub for Xbox gaming. Appearing in blogs and trailers, Xbox PC could be how the company brands consoles and games going forward. Microsoft may use the term to promote a ne...

Adam Corsetti, 05 Jun 2025 00:49

18-inch laptops: This category should be more than just for gaming and devices like the MSI Raider A18, pictured (image source: Benjamin Herzig/Notebookcheck)

18-inch laptops: This category should be more than just for gaming laptops like the MSI Raider A18

We recently reviewed a lot of 18-inch laptops, including the MSI Raider A18. This young category is still dominated by gaming models like the Raider, but we think it should be more - manufacturers should also release more lightwei...

Benjamin Herzig, 04 Jun 2025 22:17

Jump Ship screenshot showing space battle

New sci-fi co-op FPS game with epic space battles and sleek graphics is free to try for Steam Next Fest ahead of imminent launch

Jump Ship is an upcoming PVE co-op sci-fi game that combines Halo-like FPS combat with the space exploration of Starfield and the orbital battles of Star Wars Battlefront. The developer has just announced a Steam Next Fest open de...

Julian van der Merwe, 04 Jun 2025 20:29

Cubic Odyssey screenshot with space cruiser against a gas cloud

Ambitious new open-world survivalcraft game with free Steam demo is like space Minecraft with intergalactic pirates

Cubic Odyssey launched on Steam in mid-May as a new co-op 3D survivalcraft game that blends Minecraft with a space colony sim, FPS gunplay, and a Star Wars-like land speeders. There is currently a free Steam demo to try Cubic Odys...

Julian van der Merwe, 04 Jun 2025 01:34

The version 0.9.0 is now available to download. Pictured: ROG Ally X running the PS4 emulator. (Image source: Sony, Asus, and ShadPS4 - edited)

ShadPS4: PS4 emulator receives a major update

The PlayStation 4 emulator for Windows and other desktop OS, ShadPS4, has been updated to the version 0.9.0. While the PS4 emulation tool is still not stable, the new update brings a major improvement in terms of game compatibilit...

Abid Ahsan Shanto, 03 Jun 2025 20:20

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22.06	Der Preis-Leistungs-Tipp für unter 300 Euro
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22.06	Fantastische Leistung für pralle Geldbeutel