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Notebookcheck opinion articles

Occasionally, our writers can share their personal opinion concerning current events with Notebookcheck readers in the form of opinion articles to encourage debate.

Notebookcheck strives to be an unbiased and independent technology publication with a main focus on objective data oriented reviews, along with comprehensive CPU and GPU benchmark score aggregation and delivering trustworthy, transparently sourced news articles on a daily basis.

Notebookcheck has around 80 experienced contributors from all over the world producing written content, as of 2025. We offer our writers an opportunity to share their views with the readers in the form of opinion articles with the goal of encouraging and shaping public debates, in which all parties are welcome to partake. This is why we have a comments section at the end of each article. Readers are not required to sign up to participate.

Opinion articles only express the individual opinion of the author, and not of that of the entire editorial team. To avoid any possible confusion, these articles are clearly labeled as „comment“ and have a distinct visual style as compared to news articles and reviews.

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additional restrictions: Opinion
The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 (FIFA World Cup 26™ Edition) is now available in the US.

Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 FIFA World Cup 26 now available in the US, but it isn't worth buying

Lenovo has begun selling the FIFA World Cup 26 Edition of the Legion Tab Gen 3 in the US. However, with the standard version available for significantly less, there's no compelling reason to buy the FIFA edition.
Habeeb Onawole, 13 Jun 2026 21:16
The Apple Watch only receives two major operating system updates.

🎙️ OpinionApple Watch becomes smartwatch with ultra-short update support for no good reason

Two major updates. What sounds like the sad footnote of a cheap Android smartphone from the last decade is now a harsh reality for all users of an Apple Watch. Software support is obviously being artificially curtailed without technical necessity.
Hannes Brecher, 08 Jun 2026 21:51
A promo image for the new Seiko x PADI Prospex watch

🎙️ OpinionSeiko's new Prospex collab is beautiful, but why is a $750 limited-edition watch running a budget movement?

Seiko's PADI 60th anniversary Prospex HBB002 is a new beautiful limited-edition diver with a ceramic bezel, sapphire crystal, and a globe-patterned dial. But at $750, it runs the same 4R36 movement found in Seiko's entry-level watches. That's a little...not okay.
Anubhav Sharma, 05 Jun 2026 13:02
1,400 "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews in 6 days: New free-to-play Steam game with unique mechanic tops charts

1,400 "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews in 6 days: New free-to-play Steam game with unique mechanic tops charts

Control, I'm Not Coming Back is a free-to-play Steam walking sim that won't let you press S. A 45-minute drift through space with Voyager 1, it's 98% positive across nearly 1.4k reviews days after launch. Here's why this little hopecore game lands so hard.
Anubhav Sharma, 03 Jun 2026 12:17
A clip showing a bot in Old School RuneScape

Old School RuneScape finally feels fair again as Jagex bans 6.2 Million bots

Jagex’s intensified anti-bot measures have reshaped Old School RuneScape in 2026, with over 6.2 million accounts banned and once-crowded farming areas now largely empty. Player reports and creator analyses suggest the crackdown has stabilized key parts of the in-game economy, though remaining bot activity indicates the fight is not over.
Rahim Amir Noorali, 02 Jun 2026 05:13
Nintendo Switch 2 not only offers a roster of compelling exclusives (DK Bananza pictured), but far better performance in third-party titles than Steam Deck or its contemporaries.

🎙️ OpinionPC price hikes make Switch 2 the best value handheld

Price hikes on the Steam Deck and handheld PCs at large make the Nintendo Switch 2's $449.99 MSRP genuinely appetizing in comparison, at least if you want to play games.
Christopher Harper, 01 Jun 2026 21:24
Is Diablo 4 finally good?

🎙️ OpinionDiablo 4 Lord of Hatred isn’t all that it is hyped to be and I will not be convinced otherwise

The newest Diablo 4 expansion has been praised to the high heavens by fans and critics alike. While Lord of Hatred has its upsides, it still doesn't address some fundamental issues with Diablo 4. If anything, some parts make Blizzard look even worse.
Anil Ganti, 27 May 2026 16:47
Battlefield 6 is getting another quality-of-life update with patch 1.3.1.5.

🎙️ OpinionRant incoming: Battlefield 6 needs more than minor QoL fixes

Patch 1.3.1.5 for Battlefield 6 is due to be released on May 26 and is meant to fix several key issues with the shooter. The focus is mainly on fixes for respawns, deployment, maps, Battle Royale, Portal and matchmaking. Here is why that probably will not be enough to shift the mood in the community.
Marius Müller, 25 May 2026 14:37
Devil May Cry 3 Crimson's new title screen added with the 0.5 Update.

🎙️ OpinionYou Should Be Modding: Devil May Cry 3 Crimson 0.5 Update

After a small break, You Should Be Modding returns with a showcase of the best Devil May Cry 3 mod of them all: DMC3 Crimson, a complete transformation that gives the game depth akin to 4 and modded 5 by adding Inertia, new moves, a modernized HUD, and more.
Christopher Harper, 23 May 2026 02:40
Final Fantasy VI original 1994 key art by Yoshitaka Amano.

Final Fantasy VI creator stands by AI remake praise after backlash

Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has reiterated his support after backlash over his praise of an AI-generated FF remake video, posting his own AI-generated Lost Odyssey art to prove the point.
Darryl Linington, 20 May 2026 08:50
Lossless Scaling's vendor-neutral Frame Generation is a godsend, and not just for games or devices that can't reach high FPS on their own.

🎙️ OpinionYou Should Be Modding: Lossless Scaling Optimization Guide

Update Edited on Monday, May 18th with more detailed optimization info and a few corrections. The first installment of [Tuesday Tweaks] covers Lossless Scaling, its vendor-neutral Frame Generation, and how it can be used to achieve higher framerates in games locked to 30 or 60 FPS, including emulators, fighting games, and etc. The actual Scaling functionality will also be briefly discussed.
Christopher Harper, 18 May 2026 21:51
Steam Controller (2026) close-up

Steam Controller now works without Steam

A patch to Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL), a universal library for input devices, now allows Steam Controller mappings to be recognized on Windows and Linux without Steam Client being active.
Christopher Harper, 16 May 2026 20:38
Among other features, Devil May Cry 4 modding can grant Dante a proper Judgement Cut, allow you to remove HUD elements, and even add a combo tracker akin to the Tony Hawk series' own.

🎙️ OpinionYou Should Be Modding: Devil May Cry 4

Devil May Cry 4 and the follow-up Special Edition are both very moddable releases, and remain long-time favorites within the Devil May Cry community. In this installment of [Throwback Thursdays], I'll be highlighting the best Devil May Cry 4 mods, for both versions of the game.
Christopher Harper, 15 May 2026 01:36
Apple goes Cherry with the iPhone 18 Pro, say the rumors.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max new colors, camera design show up in another leak - Apple playing it safe?

A fresh iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max leak reiterates previous "Dark Cherry" hero color leaks and the triple-lens camera design. Apple’s new Pro and Pro Max models are expected to balance familiar aesthetics with major internal upgrades like a 48MP variable aperture camera, a new camera app and the 2nm A20 Pro chip.
Martin Filipov, 13 May 2026 22:17
Garmin sticks to its high-price strategy

🎙️ OpinionGarmin Forerunner 70: Lack of ideas or robust confidence?

The cat is out of the bag, the Forerunner 70 is official. With it, Garmin is not only offering additional technologies, but also staying fairly true to its pricing strategy. From a business perspective, Garmin basically has little to complain about, though the question of future viability certainly arises.
Silvio Werner, 12 May 2026 17:36
For the first time in official animation, half-demon brothers Dante and Vergil clash outside of the games.

Deal | Devil May Cry Season 2 goes live with whole series on sale

Devil May Cry Season 2 continues its alternate continuity while the original series, as well as the reboot, gets massively discounted on Steam.
Christopher Harper, 12 May 2026 09:15
Devil May Cry 5 modding isn't only cosmetic—it also allows you to play missions and bosses normally locked to other characters.

🎙️ OpinionYou Should Be Modding: Devil May Cry 5

[Modern Mondays] begins with an overview of the best Devil May Cry 5 mods ahead of Season 2 of the Netflix series premiering tomorrow. PC players missing out on Special Edition features need not worry—thanks to mods, the best way to play DMC is on PC.
Christopher Harper, 12 May 2026 02:13
The Sony Xperia 1 VII offers a true zoom camera.

🎙️ OpinionSony Xperia 1 VIII's tele camera said to be better, but is still disappointing

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is said to get rid of one of the most unique features of the Xperia 1 VII - the telephoto camera with true optical zoom. Thanks to a drastic sensor upgrade, this is (almost) always an upgrade for users, but this change in strategy is a loss for the smartphone market.
Hannes Brecher, 05 May 2026 21:10
The Blade 18. Some elements stick out but it's all for a reason.

🎙️ Opinion5 notebooks with nicer-looking bottoms from the last 365 days

CheckMag Notebookcheck reviews hundreds of laptops every year. Some review units earn extra points for features not found elsewhere, or delivering higher-than-average performance, or being easier on the user's eyes. It's the last category that gets some spotlight today.
Sergey Tarasov, 04 May 2026 00:09
Counter-Strike 2 banner with M249s overlaid on it.

🎙️ OpinionCounter-Strike doesn't deserve this weapon, and for good reason

The M249 is CS2's most expensive weapon at $5,200 - and its most useless. With worse stats than guns half its price, zero pro pick rate, and a kill reward identical to budget rifles, Valve's forgotten LMG is less a weapon, more a $5,200 mistake.
Anubhav Sharma, 01 May 2026 23:08
An ingame screenshot with the Steam "Mixed" review rating overlaid on top.

Invincible VS is off to a rough start on Steam - users are asking for refunds

Invincible VS launched on Steam April 30 to decent critic scores, but user reviews tell a whole different story - pre-order bonus failures, a 90-minute story mode, and aggressive skin pricing have already put Skybound's new fighter on somewhat shaky footing.
Anubhav Sharma, 01 May 2026 10:37
Windrose entered Early Access on April 14.

🎙️ OpinionWhy Windrose borrows from the competition – and still stands out

After the failure of Skull and Bones, Windrose is emerging as a new hope for pirate fans. Here’s what sets the game apart from its competitors – and why abandoning the MMO model was probably the right decision.
Marius Müller, 20 Apr 2026 16:38
The Casio F-91W on a wrist.

🎙️ OpinionThe $20 Casio F-91W might finally be obsolete and overpriced in 2026

Is $20 Casio F-91W a steal or just a "Heritage Tax"? Outclassed by MRW-100H and AE-1200, the legend’s value is under fire nowadays. We explore why this icon might be overpriced - and why enthusiasts still keep giving it a nod of approval.
Anubhav Sharma, 19 Apr 2026 13:27
The Nintendo Switch 2 could be cheaper and more powerful as a pure home console.

🎙️ OpinionNintendo Switch 2 Home could defy DRAM crisis with more power at lower price

With a list price of $449, the Nintendo Switch 2 is more expensive than the Steam Deck, and could soon become even more expensive due to the DRAM crisis. With a version of the Nintendo Switch 2 that only functions as a home console, Nintendo could offer more performance at a lower price.
Hannes Brecher, 15 Apr 2026 21:04
The Leica M12 could also be offered as a Heritage Edition with retro features of the Leica M4-P pictured here.

🎙️ OpinionLeica M12 Heritage Edition should offer these 7 retro features

Leica has already hinted that the Leica M12 could be offered as a "Heritage Edition". The compact full-frame camera could take up the legacy of the Leica M series with a range of retro features, clearly setting it apart from all digital cameras on the market.
Hannes Brecher, 15 Apr 2026 20:32
The Xbox Wireless Controller Starfield Edition is no longer available to buy.

🎙️ OpinionXbox's best limited edition controller deserves a DualSense version

Starfield is now available for the PS5/PS5 Pro, but unlike when it launched on the Xbox, there isn't a limited edition controller based on the video game. However, it isn't too late to make one.
Habeeb Onawole, 10 Apr 2026 10:46
Side by side images of Thragg from the comics vs Thragg from the TV show.

🎙️ OpinionInvincible should stop paying for names and start paying for frames

Why does a $4M-per-episode show look like a PowerPoint? From single-frame animation sequences to the 'fat baby' Thragg character design, Amazon’s celebrity tax is killing the series. This is a look inside the Hollywood-first strategy that’s trading actual frames for marquee names. This article contains spoilers.
Anubhav Sharma, 10 Apr 2026 10:38
Invincible VS's open beta runs from April 9th to April 11th, exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X consoles.

🎙️ OpinionInvincible VS headed by Killer Instinct producer, and Open Beta has started

Mike Willette, voice actor and producer, discusses his work on Killer Instinct 2013 as part of Invincible VS' background during its simultaneous Game Informer cover story and Open Beta start earlier today.
Christopher Harper, 10 Apr 2026 04:33
A magnifying glass hovering over the Google logo.

🎙️ OpinionAI slop is winning the battle for the internet front page

As of April 2026, a huge chunk of new web pages are AI-generated, which is making finding authentic hardware benchmarks harder than ever. This flood of automated slop warrants a return to whitelist browsing and verified sources.
Anubhav Sharma, 08 Apr 2026 17:27
Counter-Strike 2's new animation overhaul promises a far more seamless, realistic handling of animations on sloped surfaces and in general.

🎙️ OpinionCounter-Strike 2 movement update is transformative

Not every Counter-Strike update is good, and not every video essay is worthy of an essay—but Counter-Strike 2's new animgraph overhaul ported and overhauled from Half-Life: Alyx may be worth revisiting the game.
Christopher Harper, 07 Apr 2026 02:29
The looming shadows of the sci-fi conflicts to define the rest of the series stop being shadows here.

🎙️ OpinionInvincible may never have a better episode

The latest episode of Invincible, Season 4 Episode 5: Give Us A Moment, may be the most-balanced episode of television the show can ever give us. This is thanks to a 50-50 split between some of the best slow character work and most savage action the series has to offer. Warning for minor spoilers ahead.
Christopher Harper, 03 Apr 2026 07:43
The Lumix S5D is currently one of the least expensive full-frame cameras on the market

🎙️ OpinionFull-frame cameras with OLED viewfinders and lenses from €799 make switching from smartphones more appealing than ever

CheckMag A full-frame sensor, an OLED viewfinder, and a flip-out display for €799, including a zoom lens. With this aggressive price, the Panasonic Lumix S5D makes entry into the world of full-frame cameras more affordable than ever.
Hannes Brecher, 03 Apr 2026 04:05
The Steam Deck is surprisingly well suited for strategy games.

🎙️ Opinion600 hours of RTS on Steam Deck reveal Valve's greatest handheld triumph

Gaming handhelds are mainly used for action games and relaxed indie adventures. However, the Steam Deck is surprisingly well suited to real-time strategy games such as Stronghold - so well, in fact, that I have already played over 600 hours of RTS games on the Steam Deck.
Hannes Brecher, 02 Apr 2026 21:13
RPCS3's new handheld UI, demo'd on a Steam Deck LCD.

PS3 emulator RPCS3 showcases its Big Picture Mode

PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 has completed the first wave of updates to its brand new controller UI, which resembles Steam Big Picture and is considered "the Handheld Experience."
Christopher Harper, 02 Apr 2026 20:05
The Steam Machine and PS5 Pro are becoming too expensive because of the DRAM crisis

🎙️ OpinionThese €899 gaming PCs outperform PS5 Pro and Steam Machine

CheckMag The DRAM crunch is hitting console and PC gamers alike. Starting today, the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro officially costs €899, while Valve has so far declined to confirm the price of the Steam Machine. Anyone looking to spend about €899 on a gaming PC currently has two main options.
Hannes Brecher, 02 Apr 2026 18:36
The Leica D-Lux 8 is an exciting compact camera with outdated hardware.

🎙️ OpinionLeica D-Lux 9 could become the perfect smartphone upgrade

The Leica D-Lux 8 is cheaper than some flagship smartphones, but still offers a much larger sensor, an OLED viewfinder, a fast 24 - 75 mm zoom lens and better ergonomics. With a few simple upgrades, the Leica D-Lux 9 could become the perfect smartphone upgrade.
Hannes Brecher, 02 Apr 2026 16:02
The Vivo X300 Ultra is larger and more expensive than the Lumix S9 full-frame camera.

🎙️ OpinionThese full-frame camera setups may cost less than the Vivo X300 Ultra

With two 200 MP cameras and two teleconverters at its disposal, the Vivo X300 Ultra is set to be one of the most impressive camera smartphones of the year. However, anyone who prioritizes image quality and versatility can already purchase a full-frame camera for roughly the same price.
Hannes Brecher, 31 Mar 2026 15:00
Apple Music logo, a greater-than symbol, and the Spotify logo.

🎙️ OpinionApple Music has never been this far ahead of Spotify

With the new iOS update, Apple Music has pulled ahead with stronger discovery tools, neat new UI elements, and steadier pricing, while Spotify is struggling with late lossless rollout and rising costs. For users in Apple’s ecosystem, the transition is now easier to justify than before.
Anubhav Sharma, 28 Mar 2026 13:05
Valve's Steam Machine is already known to have PlayStation 5-class hardware—now, we're waiting to see if it will compete on price.

🎙️ OpinionSteam Machine should undercut PlayStation 5 price hike

The PlayStation 5 and 5 Pro price hikes make this the best time for Valve to secure truly competitive Steam Machine pricing, which matters greatly even if the product does end up trailing PlayStation 5 Pro in graphics performance. The beefier CPU of Steam Machine and superior PC upscalers versus base PS5 turn the coming showdown into an interesting battle, indeed.
Christopher Harper, 28 Mar 2026 03:44
HBO’s Harry Potter series is set to premiere as early as Christmas 2026.

🎙️ OpinionThe new Harry Potter series faces a hurdle hardly anyone is talking about

When it comes to HBO’s new Harry Potter series, most people are looking first at the cast, the sets and the script. But one crucial factor in its success is often overlooked: the music. Why the new score by Hans Zimmer and Bleeding Fingers could become the series’ biggest nostalgia hurdle.
Marius Müller, 27 Mar 2026 16:06
The 'N' from Netflix's logo, stylized against a black background.

🎙️ OpinionNetflix's latest price hike turns 4K and privacy into a luxury tax

Netflix’s March 2026 price hike creates an $11 gap between privacy and data-harvesting. For many, the $26.99 Premium tier is a huge hardware tax on the 4K OLED screens they already bought. Ownership is officially over.
Anubhav Sharma, 27 Mar 2026 09:36
Junkrunner 64 is an in-development open-world game that runs on real Nintendo 64 hardware.

Junkrunner 64 has Skyrim-size open world on Nintendo 64

Homebrew developer James Lambert built a custom open-world game engine for Nintendo 64, achieving a Skyrim-scale open world without loading screens on real Nintendo 64 hardware.
Christopher Harper, 26 Mar 2026 21:55
A screenshot from Project Hail Mary's final trailer.

🎙️ OpinionProject Hail Mary makes a strong case for physical buttons in tech

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s adaptation of Project Hail Mary arrived in theaters on March 20, 2026, and I just gave it a watch. Aside from the whole "sci-fi" premise, the film's depiction of tactile, physical ship controls is a neat critique of modern touchscreen-heavy designs. This article contains spoilers.
Anubhav Sharma, 26 Mar 2026 19:11
An image of Invincible from Season 4 Episode 4 "Hurm".

🎙️ OpinionInvincible's newest episode doesn't deserve the hate it's getting

Mark Grayson is travelling into the Underrealm with Damien Darkblood in "Hurm," the fourth episode of Invincible Season 4. Released March 25 on Prime Video, this chapter gets rid of battles and the core comic-book storyline, and trades it for some much-needed reflection before a crazy reunion.
Anubhav Sharma, 25 Mar 2026 19:48
Sony could focus more heavily on exclusive titles again in the future.

🎙️ OpinionSony’s new old strategy: Why exclusives make me feel like collateral damage as a PC gamer

According to reports, PlayStation is rethinking its strategy around exclusives. In the long term, AAA games from PlayStation Studios may no longer come to PC, which is a pretty bleak prospect for me as a die-hard gamer. After all, some of my personal highlights of recent years originally came from Sony’s console.
Marius Müller, 25 Mar 2026 16:17
A close up of a Seiko Presage dial.

🎙️ OpinionWhy does Seiko keep winning?

Seiko keeps asserting its dominance on the watch industry - it has a rich heritage, in-house innovation, and solid pricing on multiple models. From quartz to Spring Drive, its massive portfolio and steady, ongoing evolution has helped it stay relevant across segments while competitors keep chasing trends.
Anubhav Sharma, 24 Mar 2026 15:49
Google Pixel 9a and 10a

🎙️ OpinionPixel 10a is a textbook definition of the “e-waste” we don’t need in the world

CheckMag The Pixel 10a isn't a bad phone, but should it exist in the first place? This minimally updated rehash of the Pixel 9a struggles to show its value as discounted rival options steal the spotlight, and concerns about electronic waste get louder.
Martin Filipov, 23 Mar 2026 20:41
How I discovered my AirPods are killing my creative productivity

🎙️ OpinionHow I discovered my AirPods are killing my creative productivity

CheckMag I left my AirPods at home and I discovered they were killing my productivity. Now, I make an effort to stop listening to useless podcasts to fill up the silence.
Martin Filipov, 22 Mar 2026 20:15
An Apple iPhone 17

This iPhone setting ate up 7GB of my storage - it’s a one-click fix

CheckMag Yes, I saved 7GB of iPhone storage with a single click. Do yourself a favor and change the default iPhone setting that takes up gigabytes of storage - if you record Voice Memos as often as I do, that is.
Martin Filipov, 22 Mar 2026 19:07
Best smartphones to buy in spring 2026

The best smartphones, spring 2026 - 26 phones compared

The really big brands are keeping a low profile at the turn of the year, but that doesn't mean that there hasn't been anything new in the last three months. Eye-catchers from smaller manufacturers, new battery capacity records, exciting mid-range phones, and more are what kept us intrigued in the last months.
Florian Schmitt, 22 Mar 2026 17:47
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Notebookcheck, 2020-06- 2 (Update: 2025-07-30)