Magazine

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

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 perfect for it. Yet despite thinking about it constantly, I still haven’t fully committed. Why?

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 fact that my partner and I share one toothbrush body—though of course not the brush heads.

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 the same, the 17e is positioned as a more ambitious entry in the company’s budget line. A launch is rumoured for early 2026.

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, thanks to Ventoy.

Christian Hintze, 10 Dec 2025 13:11

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 modern games.

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 vulnerable to certain inputs that bypass those guardrails. One way to explore the basics is through an online game called Gandalf.

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 predefined folder in the format I want so I don’t have to convert anything afterward. This tool checks all those boxes and runs on every PC I use.

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 already troubling scientists.

Anubhav Sharma, 02 Dec 2025 16:41

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 experimentation, it can be handy in everyday work, too.

Christian Hintze, 02 Dec 2025 12:24

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 one?

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 already seeing fast sell-through.

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 ordered one of those €20 models from Aliexpress. Here’s what I got.

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, Timex, Fossil, and Citizen.

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 smartwatches are stuffed with functions I don’t need. That not only costs more money than I’m willing to spend but usually eats into the battery life I actually care about.

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 entering landfills each year.

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 truly had something to show. Afterward, we tested the camera of the Honor Magic8 Pro in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

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 should activate to protect their device and data.

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

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 customizable mouse now comes with exceptional battery life and a comfortable ergonomic shape.

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 is high and live.

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 and display improvements, with a launch window reportedly set for spring 2026.

Anmol Dubey, 14 Nov 2025 08:44

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 same physical space.

Darryl Linington, 12 Nov 2025 18:01

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

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 Wooting 80HE to see if the new Lekker Tikken switch is a worthwhile upgrade.

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 Pro, in some cases with significant price differences thanks to numerous pre-order promotions. We have discovered significant savings potential in two countries in particular.

Alexander Fagot, 02 Nov 2025 14:13

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 tech and style.

Anubhav Sharma, 30 Oct 2025 10:56

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 biggest weakness.

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 keeping data under your control. Here are the best containers for managing almost every type of media.

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 no subscription models involved.

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

The Casio G-Shock DW-6935-4 on the right, and the DW-5635-9 on the left, pictured. (Image source: G-Central)

The $11,000 Casio G-Shock mystery: Inside the fake limited-edition scandal

CheckMag Ultra-rare Casio G-Shock watches from NIGO's 2018 collaboration are now commanding $11,000+ on secondary markets, but authentication is nearly impossible. With only 35 pieces made and no official verification system, collectors are facing a counterfeit minefield.

Anubhav Sharma, 20 Oct 2025 00:29

The EVT-01 (pictured) has been designed in multiple colors, including the Bronze and Grey edition. (Image source: Kickstarter)

Casio F-91W reimagined: New Italy-made EVT-01 has a CNC-machined aluminum build with sapphire glass

CheckMag Independent makers in Italy are reimagining the Casio F-91W as EVT-01 - a CNC-machined, small-batch digital watch. The Kickstarter showcases multiple limited editions, interesting upgrades, and a collector focus rarely seen in digital watches.

Anubhav Sharma, 17 Oct 2025 15:34

Ghost of Yotei is the second big-budget PS5 exclusive to launch this year (image source: Notebookcheck)

Ghost of Yotei review: Great game held back by lukewarm story

Ghost of Yotei picks up where Ghost of Tsushima left off and takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5's hardware with stunning visuals. While it is a decent game overall, some aspects of it feel underwhelming.

Anil Ganti, 16 Oct 2025 17:30

Altstore Classic grants access to some fairly shady sources. The benefits of free Spotify, might not outweigh a compromised device (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

These are your options for circumventing the Apple App store without a jailbreak, but the risk may not be worth it

CheckMag Despite what Apple wants you to believe, circumventing the App Store is possible without jailbreaking, regardless of whether you live in the EU. But the landscape is dominated by pirated software, cracked premium services, and untrustworthy developers. These are the exceptions you might trust, and other third-party stores that could sacrifice your security.

David Devey, 15 Oct 2025 18:38

European model variants of smartphones often have a smaller battery than their Chinese counterparts (Image source: Tyler Lastovich)

Small smartphone batteries in Europe could be bigger if manufacturers wanted

CheckMag An increasing number of Chinese smartphones are shipping with advanced silicon-carbon batteries boasting capacities beyond 7,000mAh, but the same devices often launch in Europe with significantly smaller batteries. The reason is a transportation regulation, though manufacturers may be able to work around it.

Hannes Brecher, 06 Oct 2025 19:23

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Stick 4K Select make up Amazon's streaming sticks that can stream in 4K. (Image source: Amazon)

Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Stick 4K Select: Here's how Amazon's 4K streaming sticks compare

Amazon now has three streaming sticks that can stream in 4K. However, there's more to them than just this feature, and knowing how they differ can help you make the right choice.

Habeeb Onawole, 05 Oct 2025 18:48

The Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8. (Image source: Darryl Linington - Notebookcheck)

Moving from console to keyboard: The Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 advantage

After decades on PlayStation and Xbox, I tested the Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 in Fortnite, Warzone, Gears, and Hogwarts Legacy... here’s why I’m not going back.

Darryl Linington, 03 Oct 2025 17:39

For new PC/laptop owners, major sales events like the Steam Autumn Sale are the perfect opportunity to build a library of games (Image source - Steam)

Moving from console to keyboard: Steam's Autumn Sale 2025 brings these PC deals

The Steam Autumn Sale 2025, running from September 29 to October 6, offers the perfect chance for console gamers transitioning to PC to build their first library.

Darryl Linington, 29 Sep 2025 19:14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best (affordable) moon phase watches under $200

Big-brand smartwatches are overpriced, bloated, and invasive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sora 2 is OpenAI’s consistently inconsistent AI video creator

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

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

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

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

Grok Imagine app: Where AI brilliance meets mild trauma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The $11,000 Casio G-Shock mystery: Inside the fake limited-edition scandal

Casio F-91W reimagined: New Italy-made EVT-01 has a CNC-machined aluminum build with sapphire glass

Ghost of Yotei review: Great game held back by lukewarm story

These are your options for circumventing the Apple App store without a jailbreak, but the risk may not be worth it

Xiaomi 17 Ultra to come much sooner, in two variants and with Leica camera surprise: An analysis of the wild rumors

Small smartphone batteries in Europe could be bigger if manufacturers wanted

Fire TV Stick 4K Max vs Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Stick 4K Select: Here's how Amazon's 4K streaming sticks compare

Moving from console to keyboard: The Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 advantage

Moving from console to keyboard: Steam's Autumn Sale 2025 brings these PC deals

Xiaomi 17 Pro (Max): First Leica camera reviews and comparison with iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Pro