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Windows logo in a dumpster. (Image source: ChatGPT Image 1.5; Anastase Maragos on Unsplash; edited)

I dumped Windows 11 for Linux, and you should too

CheckMag With the growing number of users jumping from Windows to Linux, I decided to fully take the plunge and dive deep into the Open Source ocean. A few months and several headaches later, it has proved to be the best computer-related d...
Sam Medley, 05 Jan 2026 14:28
A collage showing the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Pixel 10, and OnePlus 13. (Image source: Samsung, Google, & OnePlus)

2025 was the year of blue smartphones: Here are 10 of the more stunning ones

There's always a color that manufacturers veer towards in a year, launching several of their products in the same or similar hue. For 2025, Blue seems to have been that color as several brands including Google, OnePlus, Motorola, ...
Habeeb Onawole, 01 Jan 2026 15:36
The regular Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Leica Special Edition are already showing what they're capable of in China (Image source: Bad Review, Weibo)

First Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica camera reviews, comparisons and hands-on: Tough times for Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and others

CheckMag 2026 will not only be a challenge for Samsung. The Vivo X300 Ultra and Oppo Find X9 Ultra will also have to face an extremely dynamic 1-inch sensor and the first optical 200MP zoom camera in a phone, a combination that convinces in early camera tests and comparison shots. Initial hands-on reports also illustrate the advantages of the Leica Leitzphone Special Edition for ambitious photographers.
Alexander Fagot, 27 Dec 2025 21:27
Yami Yugi mod in Dragon Ball FighterZ, summoning a legendary monster for a Super Move. (Image Source: Kongmeng on YouTube)

Yu-Gi-Oh! is now playable in Dragon Ball FighterZ

Modder Kongmeng brings Yami Yugi, main character of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, to Dragon Ball FighterZ via PC game modding. But this is no common cosmetic mod—a fully-custom moveset, including monster summons, spell cards, and even the ...
Christopher Harper, 25 Dec 2025 07:34
A registry hack can make SSDs on Windows 11 much faster (Image source: Google Gemini with Nano Banana)

Windows 11 hack: Higher SSD speeds with new Microsoft NVMe driver

CheckMag It only takes three registry entries to get Windows 11 to use the native NVMe driver that was recently introduced with a Windows Server 2025 update, which can significantly increase SSD performance, as we have just tested. Those who do not mind a little risk can hit data transfer rates that are sometimes up to 45% higher for exactly zero dollars.
Alexander Fagot, 22 Dec 2025 04:05
"You were looking for the game, so I MADE IT." - Dan Lespect has created the game of our ads, turning the concept into a satisfying title. (Image Source: Dan Lespect)

Someone actually made one of those fake ad games, and it's pretty good!

YouTuber The Greatest Developer has made a strong debut onto the platform. In his video released on Nov 27, 2025, The Greatest Developer unveils Real War (Not Fake), a take on one of the many fake ad games that's surprisingly fun ...
Santiago Nino, 18 Dec 2025 04:10
Blowing smoke at the Halo C3 (Image Source: DEF CON 33)

Next-gen school smoke detector sparks privacy concerns with embedded microphones

CheckMag When a bored student discovered a mysterious device on the school's Wi-Fi network, questions arose about the hidden IoT infrastructure in public service buildings. Unsurprisingly, the true nature of these devices raises privacy co...
Stephen Pereyra, 17 Dec 2025 01:50
Unless developers support it, there are always several icons that ruin that uniform theme (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

Android adaptive icons are still wildly inconsistent, thankfully this icon pack has nearly every icon covered

CheckMag Android adaptive icons theme every icon on your device for that consistent look. However, unlike iOS, there is always at least one stubborn icon that doesn't support it. This icon pack supports dynamic colours and does a way bette...
David Devey, 15 Dec 2025 13:35
iPhone showing the iOS 26.2 software update screen in Settings (Image source: Yetnesh Dubey)

iOS 26.2 hands-on: Should you install Apple’s latest iPhone software update or wait longer?

CheckMag Apple’s iOS 26.2 is positioned as a refinement update following the uneven rollout of earlier versions. In testing, the update focuses on improving overall system responsiveness and day-to-day stability rather than introducing new...
Yetnesh Dubey, 15 Dec 2025 11:32
Best portable power stations in 2025. A Bluetti Apex shown here. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Best portable power stations in 2025

Not sure which portable power station is right for you? We’ve curated a list of the best portable power stations, which helps you to pick the best power station for any budget.
Abhinav Fating, 13 Dec 2025 09:04
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition touchscreen navigated by, well, touch... (Image source: Darryl Linington - Notebookcheck)

Can the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition touchscreen replace a traditional mouse?

I put my Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition's touchscreen to the ultimate test: using it exclusively for a week. Can it really replace your traditional mouse? Find out the pros, cons, and surprising results.
Darryl Linington, 13 Dec 2025 08:54
Zimaboard 2 as a home server

Self-hosting: 4 reasons I still haven’t taken the plunge

I find the idea of self-hosting fascinating. I read about it regularly, and as someone who reviews PC hardware, I’m practically surrounded by ideal conditions—and gear—to finally get started. I’ve even tested devices that would be...
Christian Hintze, 12 Dec 2025 12:31
Sonic toothbrush in shared use (image source: ChatGPT)

Sonic toothbrush in shared use? Based on personal experience, not a good idea

No, I’m not talking about the social consequences. Our electric sonic toothbrush simply died after about 18 months. The replacement quit even sooner. Both units ended up with the exact same issue, which likely has to do with the f...
Christian Hintze, 11 Dec 2025 14:24
Rear view of the black iPhone 17e showing the single-camera module and matte back panel (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Apple iPhone 17e leaks: Price expectations, 60 Hz display and single-camera rumours — should you upgrade?

CheckMag Early leaks point to notable design and hardware changes for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17e, including a more modern front layout and upgrades borrowed from the latest flagship models. With Apple expected to keep the starting price t...
Yetnesh Dubey, 10 Dec 2025 13:42
USB boot stick with flash tools (image source: ChatGPT)

Rufus, BalenaEtcher? My current USB boot tool beats them all

Need to create a Windows rescue boot stick? Or a USB for Linux Mint, another for Kali Linux, or Tails? Finding the right boot sticks used to be a hassle for me—but now I can handle Windows, Linux, and more with a single USB stick,...
Christian Hintze, 10 Dec 2025 13:11
Is 8 GB VRAM enough for modern games? We tested it

8, 12 or 16 GB VRAM? | Is 8 GB VRAM enough for modern games? We tested it

When you look at modern graphics cards, there is always the question about VRAM. Is 8 GB of mainstream GPUs like the GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 really sufficient, or are you going to have problems? We tested it with a couple of...
Andreas Osthoff, 09 Dec 2025 23:40
Gandalf as a chat bot (image source: ChatGPT)

A beginner’s guide to AI jailbreaks — Using Gandalf to learn safely

Chatbots come with built-in safeguards designed to prevent them from producing harmful, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate content. But researchers and hackers have shown that, even with multiple patches, AIs can still be vulne...
Christian Hintze, 08 Dec 2025 13:08
GrapheneOS may be experimental for the Pixel 10 series, but it is still highly stable and a great choice as a daily driver (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

Hands On: GrapheneOS releases stable and functional "experimental" builds for the Pixel 10 series

CheckMag GrapheneOS, the privacy and security focused aftermarket operating system, has received an experimental build for the Pixel 10 series, marking the first custom ROM available for the range.
David Devey, 06 Dec 2025 10:32
Snipping Tool shoots a picture from our Notebookcheck website

With this open-source tool I take all my screenshots as a tester

As a laptop reviewer, I take countless screenshots during every test—benchmark results, control-center settings, and more. I need a tool that’s lightweight, captures screenshots quickly, and automatically saves them to a predefine...
Christian Hintze, 04 Dec 2025 12:30
Text Grab at work (image source: screenshot Text Grab on Github)

This handy open source tool pulls text from anything for me — even videos and images

Copying text from a Word document is easy. But how many times have I watched a YouTube video and wished for a tool that could extract the text shown on screen? Well, the open source app Text Grab can do exactly that — and more.
Christian Hintze, 03 Dec 2025 14:35
Two satellites docking in space powered by Obruta's RPOD Kit. (Image source: Kevin Stadnyk on Unsplash)

Google wants data centers in space by 2027, and while it may seem smart, the reality is way more complicated

Google’s Project Suncatcher aims to build AI data centers in space. The company's pitch is near-limitless solar energy. But experts say cooling in a vacuum is difficult, and the plan could worsen space debris and light pollution a...
Anubhav Sharma, 02 Dec 2025 16:41
Disks and Tools (image source: ChatGPT)

Faster than any SSD – This open-source tool gives me a blazing-fast virtual drive

What kind of storage is faster than any SSD? Your system memory. With an open-source tool, you can spin up a virtual drive directly in RAM — and it’s ridiculously fast. It’s not just useful for testing, either. With a bit of exper...
Christian Hintze, 02 Dec 2025 12:24
Amazfit Active 2 from a Warehouse deal

Does this €51.70 Amazon Warehouse smartwatch finally meet my needs?

In my hunt for an affordable but reliable smartwatch (around €50) with basic features and long battery life, I came across the Amazfit Active 2—listed as “Like New” for €51.70 through Amazon Warehouse Deals. Is this finally the on...
Christian Hintze, 02 Dec 2025 12:24
The iconic Japanese trio - Casio, Citizen, and Seiko - had a host of limited-edition watches in its release list this month. Pictured - a collage of some of the most popular watches launched this month. (Image source: Casio, Seiko, Citizen, @plus9time)

Full list of Casio, Seiko, and Citizen watch releases from November 2025

CheckMag November saw a heavy wave of watch releases from Casio, Seiko and Citizen, including new full-metal models, compact automatics, collaborative drops and several limited editions. Many pieces launched in regional batches and are alr...
Anubhav Sharma, 30 Nov 2025 14:18
The Lige Smartwatch from Aliexpress on the desk

I bought a €20 smartwatch on Aliexpress — here’s how that turned out

I wanted a round smartwatch with long battery life and a vibration alarm that I can set directly on the watch — without annoying smartphone pairing. It basically didn’t need to do much at all, but it should be inexpensive. So I or...
Christian Hintze, 25 Nov 2025 12:20
The Timex Marlin Moon Phase 40mm (left), and the MTP-M305L watches (right), pictured. (Image source: Timex/Casio)

The best (affordable) moon phase watches under $200

CheckMag Moon phase watches are gaining ground for their charm and appeal. Given this is the 100th anniversary of the first moonphase complication, this list rounds up 5 of the best moonphase watches under $200, including picks from Casio,...
Anubhav Sharma, 25 Nov 2025 10:37
3 smartwatches on 1 arm: too expensive, too bloated, too invasive (image source: AI-generated, ChatGPT)

Big-brand smartwatches are overpriced, bloated, and invasive

My old Amazfit Bip didn’t exactly die, but over the years it started looking pretty rough. So I went looking for a simple smartwatch with minimal features at a similar price — turns out that hardly exists anymore. Most smartwatche...
Christian Hintze, 24 Nov 2025 13:22
Microsoft Surface Pro keyboards become worn out quickly due to the poor choice of cover materials. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Ugly, dirty Microsoft Surface keyboards: Why high-tech computers and low-tech fabrics don’t mix

Microsoft Surface keyboards covered with Alcantara and polymers are an example of a poor design choice due to their durability and cleaning issues, which result in thousands upon thousands of non-recyclable, worn-out keyboards ent...
David Chien, 23 Nov 2025 01:29
Long before the Honor Magic8 Pro launches in Europe, we took a factory tour with a hands-on session in China (Image source: Alex Wätzel, Notebookcheck)

Honor Magic 8 Pro: Fresh from the factory to our camera hands-on

It’s a rare opportunity to take a closer look inside the usually very secretive production facilities of smartphone manufacturers and then take a new flagship phone home. Honor invited us to do exactly that on a factory tour that ...
Alexander Fagot, 22 Nov 2025 21:23
Thomas M. and Darryl Linington celebrating the recovery of the stolen Samsung S21 FE. (Image source: Notebookcheck - Darryl Linington)

Stolen, found, retrieved: How a Samsung S21 FE was recovered using online tracking tech

Inside the high-tech world of smartphone tracking: A real-world demonstration of how Google and Samsung’s location systems can help mobile users to claw back their stolen devices... and the essential features every phone owner sho...
Darryl Linington, 21 Nov 2025 11:21
The Neo Geo AES was like unobtanium for most when it released in 1990, but offered the exact experience that could be had in the local arcade, for a price (Image Source: Amazon)

The '90s console everyone wanted, but no-one could afford: The best game from every genre

CheckMag The Neo Geo offered a home experience that most could only find at the local diner, eatery or arcade, and few could afford. Here are the best games for it you may have missed in every genre.
David Devey, 20 Nov 2025 10:48
Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Series: Overview and benchmarks for the new top SoC for ARM notebooks

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Series: Overview and benchmarks for the new top SoC for ARM notebooks

It will be a while before the first notebooks with the new Snapdragon X2 chipsets are available. However, Qualcomm has invited us to learn more about the new SoCs for Windows on ARM, including further benchmarks.
Daniel Schmidt, 19 Nov 2025 15:03
The Logitech MX Master 4 in Graphite colorway (Image source: Abhinav Fating/Notebookcheck)

I used the Logitech MX Master 4 for gaming so you don't have to

The MX Master 4 is the latest mouse in Logitech’s long-running MX Master range. A direct successor to the MX Master 3S brings some notable upgrades, which surely keep it in the race for the best mouse on the market. The highly cus...
Abhinav Fating, 17 Nov 2025 18:43
An assortment of various community-designed Steam Machine skins from the r/Steam subreddit. (Image source: r/Steam)

Steam Machine: Top community-made concept designs (so far)

CheckMag Fans are already reimagining Valve’s new Steam Machine with creative, funny and throwback concept skins. From dynamic displays to meme cubes, these community-made designs are an indicator of how anticipation for the Steam Machine ...
Anubhav Sharma, 17 Nov 2025 17:44
A three-image collage showing a silver iPad with its box, a blue iPad mini on a wooden surface, and a pink iPad outdoors. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Apple iPad leak: OLED iPad mini 8 and two more iPads coming; current-gen model purchases not a good idea

CheckMag Leaks indicate that Apple is preparing three iPad updates for release in the coming months, including a major refresh for the iPad mini, a new budget model, and an updated iPad Air. The changes are expected to focus on performance...
Anmol Dubey, 14 Nov 2025 08:44
Across these tests, one truth stood out: Sora 2 is consistently inconsistent. A man dancing arond the Sora 2 logo pictured. (Image source: Notebookcheck - Darryl Linington, generated with Sora 2)

Sora 2 is OpenAI’s consistently inconsistent AI video creator

Sora 2 builds on OpenAI’s text-to-video foundation but adds sharper motion tracking, more coherent lighting, and stronger “world simulation.” In simpler terms: it’s much better at making objects behave as if they belong in the sam...
Darryl Linington, 12 Nov 2025 18:01
A screenshot of Fallout 4 gameplay. (Image source: Steam)

Fallout 4 takes place outside of the United States thanks to this mod

CheckMag Although Fallout 4 takes place in the United States, you can play on another continent thanks to this unique mod. But be careful, because you will need to carefully follow the installation steps. Update: A factual mistake pertaining to when the mod became available fixed.
Alexis Stegmann, 11 Nov 2025 13:20
We played Anno 117 before the official release and enjoyed it (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Anno 117 review: City builder pairs proven concept with new mechanics

Anno 117 is a new, challenging and quite diverse city-building strategy game that introduces some notable changes but feels more like an evolution than a revolution overall. It’s certainly a worthy entry in the series.
Silvio Werner, 11 Nov 2025 03:43
Octopi Launcher lets you choose different layouts for inside, outside, vertical and horizontal screens (Image Source: OctopiAppFactory via Google Play)

Octopi Launcher is a perfect replacement for Nova, especially for fold users

CheckMag Octopi Launcher is essential for those looking to set different home screen layouts between the inside and outside screens on foldable phones. However, this could also be the go-to launcher for anyone looking to replace Nova.
David Devey, 09 Nov 2025 11:17
Parked Caltrain EMUs (Stadler Kiss) waiting for service during Display Week in May 2024 (Image source: Andreas Sebayang)

Caltrain: Silicon Valley's brand-new electric rail line threatened by drastic cuts

CheckMag The electric Caltrain is not even two years old, and budget cuts are already looming on the important connection between San Francisco and San José in the heart of Silicon Valley. Unless sufficient funding is secured, the recently modernized and expensive system will face significant cutbacks. Even stations could be closed. Here’s a look at the current situation.
Andreas Sebayang, 09 Nov 2025 04:41
Laptops flying out of a building on their own. Generated with Grok (Image source: Notebookcheck - Darryl Linington)

Grok Imagine app: Where AI brilliance meets mild trauma

CheckMag Grok’s Imagine app turns static photos into six-second AI videos that range from mind-blowing to mildly disturbing—and it’s free to try. Notebookcheck did just that. Update: Edits made in response to readers' comments....
Darryl Linington, 06 Nov 2025 16:52
Wooting Lekker Tikken switches on Wooting 80HE keyboard

Near-perfect Hall effect switch with clean thocky sounds — Wooting Lekker Tikken vs Lekker V2 keyboard switch review

CheckMag Wooting recently released the Lekker Tikken switches, the world's first closed-bottom Hall effect switch with a full 4 mm of travel. In this mini switch review, we compare the Lekker Tikkens to the Lekker V2 switches in the Wootin...
Julian van der Merwe, 06 Nov 2025 01:02
The Oppo Find X9 Pro can already be ordered at a significantly lower price in Spain, at least thanks to a pre-order bonus and a free Oppo Watch X2. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Oppo Find X9 Pro much cheaper thanks to pre-order bonus and free smartwatch: An EU price comparison

Last week, Oppo brought the latest Hasselblad camera flagship to Europe. While it will not be officially available in all countries until the end of November, certain EU states have already listed the Oppo Find X9 and Oppo Find X9...
Alexander Fagot, 02 Nov 2025 14:13
The Vivo X300 Pro, with and without the Zeiss telephoto extender, accompanied us on a photo walk through Vienna. (Image source: Alex Wätzel, Notebookcheck)

Vivo X300 Pro: Photos of Vienna with the new Zeiss camera and 200mm telephoto extender

The Vivo X300 Pro has landed in Vienna, in the heart of Europe, and we took it on a walk through some prominent corners of the Austrian capital. Our kit consisted of the latest Zeiss flagship camera, the Vivo X300 Pro, and the telephoto extender kit, which transforms the 85mm telephoto lens into an optical 200mm telephoto lens.
Alexander Fagot, 30 Oct 2025 20:04
Several high profile launches and collaborations from Casio and Seiko were unveiled this October. Pictured - a collage of some of the major launches from this month. (Image source: Casio, Seiko)

Every Casio and Seiko watch unveiled in October 2025 - the busiest month in recent memory

CheckMag Casio and Seiko’s packed October 2025 roundup features chronographs, vibrant collabs, vintage revivals, luxury and eco models. Key launches span Edifice, G-Shock, Oceanus, Prospex, and affordable lines - each with its own unique t...
Anubhav Sharma, 30 Oct 2025 10:56
The Oppo Find X9, with and without the Hasselblad kit, takes on the Vivo X200 Ultra in our camera comparison test (Image source: Alexander Fagot, Notebookcheck)

Oppo Find X9 Pro with Hasselblad kit: Camera test and photo comparison with Vivo X200 Ultra

CheckMag The Oppo Find X9 Pro has arrived in Europe. We tested how the new Hasselblad camera performs with and without the optional teleconverter and camera kit, especially in comparison to the Vivo X200 Ultra. We also found out if there's still some room for improvement shortly before the official launch.
Alexander Fagot, 29 Oct 2025 00:45
Oppo's marketing surrounding the Find X9 Pro's telephoto converter is misleading at best. (Image source: Oppo)

Oppo Find X9 Pro and the big camera marketing fail: How misleading advertising promises the impossible

The Oppo Find X9 Pro camera flagship will be offered in Europe with an optional telephoto converter that is said to enable tenfold optical zoom. However, misleading marketing is attempting to obscure the telephoto converter's bigg...
Hannes Brecher, 28 Oct 2025 19:37
Regardless of media type, there are docker containers to help you self-host and manage almost every type of media, all accessible from any device through a browser. (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

Data hoarders, here are the best free Docker containers to help you access, store and organise every type of media

CheckMag If you are looking to step away from subscription services, reduce reliance on big tech, or simply have fun while learning, self-hosting is a great way to make your media collections available across all of your devices while keep...
David Devey, 27 Oct 2025 16:36
The Luma camera app has a new imaging pipeline, that lets users preview a fully-developed shot right in camera. (Image source: Apple App Store)

Why Luma Camera and Presets is one of the best "actually free" Halide alternatives for RAW photography on iOS

CheckMag LUMA Camera & Presets offers manual controls, RAW capture, and powerful presets for free, making it a solid alternative to Halide. Developer Rafal Kopiec shares how it cuts Apple’s auto-processing for true creative control, with n...
Anubhav Sharma, 24 Oct 2025 17:16
Welcome to Blue Protocol: Star Resonance. (Image source: playbpsr.com / Notebookcheck)

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance — 5 reasons you should and shouldn't be playing it

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance offers the anime MMORPG experience the genre has desperately needed, but can its beautiful world and dynamic combat save it from itself?
Darryl Linington, 24 Oct 2025 09:59
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Notebookcheck, 2022-04-20 (Update: 2025-11-17)