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Notebookcheck, Published 04/20/2022

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The Casio GW-5000HS-1 (left), the Seiko Prospex SRPL53K1 (top right), and the Citizen Promaster Mechanical GMT watch (bottom right). (Image source: Casio, Seiko, Citizen)

Casio vs Seiko vs Citizen: Which Japanese timepiece is right for you, and why?

CheckMag Casio, Seiko, and Citizen define Japan’s watch scene. Casio gives you rugged value, Seiko blends heritage with mechanical craft, and Citizen delivers solar-powered precision. Learn what sets each apart and which brand fits your ne...

Anubhav Sharma, 02 Jul 2025 17:03

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

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

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

Christian Hintze, 02 Jul 2025 01:31

Praise the Fool. One of the anime's key characters pictured. (Image Source: Crunchyroll)

Polarising 'Lord of Mysteries' anime debut raises questions over popularity potential

Lord of Mysteries, a Chinese web novel, is widely regarded as one of the best of its kind. An animated adaptation finally premiered yesterday after months of hype by an overly excited fanbase, but how much of a success is it going...

Ricci Rox, 29 Jun 2025 16:19

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

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

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

Sergey Tarasov, 29 Jun 2025 09:18

Samsung is only expected to offer the Galaxy Z Flip FE in two launch colours. (Image source: via Evan Blass - edited)

Rumoured Galaxy Z Flip FE pricing calls into question Samsung's foldable strategy days before release

The launch of the Galaxy Z Flip FE is expected to occur in a few days. In the meantime, a well-regarded leaker has revealed that Samsung's cheaper Galaxy Z Flip option may retail for just 10% less than the Galaxy Z Flip7 despite a...

Alex Alderson, 29 Jun 2025 02:14

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

Top 5 wireless mechanical keyboards that deliver a premium typing and gaming experience for reasonable prices

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

You can't buy or sell one of these on Ebay, despite a range of other potentially damaging products being available for purchase (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

eBay won't let you buy or sell a Flipper Zero, but they are more than happy sell you a range of equally nefarious products

CheckMag The Flipper Zero is 5 years old this month, but despite failing to cause nuclear armageddon, Ebay still refuses to let you sell one. A policy that totally contradicts itself when they are more than happy to sell you these equally ...

David Devey, 27 Jun 2025 11:40

Funcom has heard players loud and clear. Massive changes and improvements coming to Dune: Awakening. Game screenshot. (Image Source: Steam - Edited)

Dune: Awakening update adding PvE zones and PvP rebalance

Dune: Awakening's Creative Director has delivered an in-depth message addressing concerns about the game's endgame, particularly the PvE vs PvP divide. In response to feedback about PvE players feeling excluded, Funcom is promisin...

Santiago Nino, 23 Jun 2025 23:00

A new collector's item from the world of The Last of Us has been unveiled. (Image source: Official teaser for The Last of Us - PlayStation)

The Last of Us: A new collector's edition has been announced, and you're going to love it

A new collector's statue from The Last of Us has been unveiled. But be warned, as the number of items available for sale is limited.

Alexis Stegmann, 23 Jun 2025 11:19

Phone launches this summer (Image Source: Various - edited - Antony Muchiri)

This summer's smartphone lineup is one you don't want to miss

CheckMag The once-quiet summer is now a packed season for smartphone releases from brands like Google, Samsung, and Nothing.

Antony Muchiri, 21 Jun 2025 21:48

Arc has already defied rumours of its death once before, but there's only so long it can burn a hole in Intel's pocket until it has to show some returns. (Image source: Intel)

Big dies, small margins: A postmortem on Intel Arc Battlemage (so far)

CheckMag Intel's latest graphics cards are closer than ever to being ready for prime time - but with precious little margin, can Intel's balance sheet carry the hopes of budget gamers forever?

Matthew Lee, 18 Jun 2025 00:44

First review, lots of photos and first camera tests of the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, including comparisons with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Vivo X200 Ultra, and Oppo Find X8 Ultra. (Image source: Weibo)

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra: First camera photos and comparisons with iPhone 16 Pro, Vivo X200 Ultra and Oppo Find X8 Ultra

Huawei's new flagship camera was launched just a few days ago and is already drawing some criticism both in China and globally. Nevertheless, early camera testers are quite enthusiastic about the photos from the latest XImage camera. We examine a number of photos provided by early Pura 80 Ultra testers and draw comparisons with photos from competing flagship cameras.

Alexander Fagot, 15 Jun 2025 17:34

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro and Razer Kishi Ultra are similar in several ways but there are a handful of key differences. (Image source: Razer)

Razer Kishi V3 Pro vs Razer Kishi Ultra: Here's how Razer's $150 controllers differ

The new Razer Kishi V3 Pro costs $149.99 which is the same price as the Razer Kishi Ultra. Both mobile controllers are alike in many ways but also have differences that will determine the experience you will get from them.

Habeeb Onawole, 15 Jun 2025 15:08

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro (Image Source: Amanz - Unsplash)

5 Bluetooth 6.0 features I think will improve your earbuds experience

CheckMag Bluetooth 6.0 is finally here, and in this article I break down five key features I think will noticeably improve your earbuds experience.

Antony Muchiri, 15 Jun 2025 14:46

Dune Awakening (Image Source: In-game screenshot - Rahim Noorali)

Dune Awakening: Early impressions from a risk-averse survivalist

Dune: Awakening is a challenging, but highly polished offering that should shape its core survival genre while bringing new players in contact with the harsh weather that Arrakis has to offer

Rahim Amir Noorali, 11 Jun 2025 15:46

PC games coming out in June 2025 that are worth checking out (Image source: Steam and respective games studios - edited)

PC games coming out in June 2025 that are worth checking out

CheckMag June 2025 brings a surprisingly strong lineup of PC games, from ambitious survival MMOs like Dune: Awakening to inventive indies and classic remasters. This roundup covers the standout titles, what they offer, and why they’re wort...

Antony Muchiri, 08 Jun 2025 13:08

Travel necessity: a modern eSIM in your smartphone. We tested a special solution from Yesim. (Image source: Alexander Fagot, Notebookcheck)

Affordable and flexible without data packages: This international eSIM impresses in our travel test

At this point countless eSIMs are available. While comparison portals are supposed to facilitate choosing a suitable data package for your next trip, the devil is in the details, for example in regional packages. Fortunately, there is also an easier solution. Particularly travelers who often cross countries or only need Internet access for a few days abroad are best served with a pay-as-you-go solution. I tested one of the most attractive options for several weeks myself.

Alexander Fagot, 07 Jun 2025 23:50

Atomic Heart 2 unveiled at Summer Game Fest. (Image source: Mundfish via Game Rant)

Atomic Heart 2 unveiled at Summer Game Fest, and fans will love it

Atomic Heart 2 was officially announced yesterday at Summer Game Fest, and players will be able to immerse themselves in a wacky retro-futuristic universe.

Alexis Stegmann, 07 Jun 2025 10:58

An eighth grand prix is available on Mario Kart World. (Image source: Nintendo)

How to unlock the eighth grand prix in Mario Kart World

An eighth cup is available in Mario Kart World, and if you don't know how to unlock it, here are all the details.

Alexis Stegmann, 06 Jun 2025 14:27

The NEXX is quite a beast, but freedom comes with a significant cost (Image Source: Liberux)

This flagship priced smartphone free from Android or iOS seems destined for failure despite noble intentions

CheckMag Full-fledged Linux on smartphones is far from mainstream, but there are plenty of options from Volla, Fairphone, or installing it on an older device. Asking customers to throw down on an Indiegogo campaign at a price that exceeds ...

David Devey, 04 Jun 2025 16:29

PlayStation Stars shutting down: Here is how you can turn your points into games

Sony's PlayStation Stars bonus program is closing its doors, one move at a time, and you need to know how to put your points to use before they are gone for good.

Alexis Stegmann, 03 Jun 2025 21:50

Gemini results appear with every click of the search button and turning it off is different on every device assuming it's even possible (Image Source: Notebookcheck / Google)

The planet is on the brink of a climate crisis, while Google gives us unwanted AI search results with every click

CheckMag Google seems intent on delivering an AI response every time we click "search" whether it's wanted or not, and makes it almost impossible to opt out, highlighting how tech companies are more concerned with telling us what we want, ...

David Devey, 02 Jun 2025 22:23

Follow our step-by-step redemption guide and claim your freebies. (Image Source: Roblox)

Roblox Basketball: Zero codes June 2025

Basketball: Zero’s June 2025 codes unlock free currency and spins to boost your play. Learn how to redeem active codes, where to find additional drops, and more to get that perfect slam dunk.

Nitisha Upadhye, 02 Jun 2025 18:47

Stay tuned here for Grow a Garden codes to get the freebies as soon as they drop. (Image Source: Roblox)

Roblox Grow a Garden codes June 2025

Grow a Garden, currently one of the most popular games in Roblox, has received a Bizzy Bees update. Check out if there are any new codes that can be redeemed for seed packs, eggs, or cosmetics.

Nitisha Upadhye, 02 Jun 2025 18:06

Use the Blox Fruits codes in-game to redeem associated rewards. (Image Source: Roblox)

Roblox Blox Fruit codes June 2025 - Free Beli, XP, and more

In this guide, you will find active Blox Fruits codes that you can use to get extra XP, Beli, weapons, and more.

Nitisha Upadhye, 02 Jun 2025 14:56

There are rumors of future ports, including Halo and Starfield, hinting at deeper third-party integration. (Image Source: Nintendo)

All Nintendo Switch 2 Games - Confirmed, announced, and rumored

Nintendo Switch 2 is all set to launch on June 5, 2025. Several first-party exclusives (Mario Kart World, Zelda’s Switch 2 Editions), third-party hits (Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite), and classic remasters have been unveiled for the up...

Nitisha Upadhye, 02 Jun 2025 08:22

These are my favorite ways to download YouTube videos for free

CheckMag You can download YouTube videos for free, no Premium subscription required. In this article, I’m breaking down the best tools that actually work in 2025, including one that even works on Android. This can be perfectly legal depend...

Antony Muchiri, 01 Jun 2025 21:49

No more loot boxes. Just lightsabers, blasters, and the entire galaxy at war. With every hero, every map, and a revived community — this might be the best Star Wars multiplayer experience yet. (Image Source : Star Wars Battlefront II Steam Page, edited)

8 years later, this Star Wars game is finally what fans hoped for at launch

CheckMag Originally released in 2017 to massive backlash over its loot box-heavy progression system, the game is now being rediscovered by players — and this time, for all the right reasons.

Santiago Nino, 31 May 2025 20:33

Pictured: Steam Deck running Oblivion via GeForce Now (Image Source: Alex Wätzel from Notebookcheck)

Nvidia's GeForce Now plays near flawlessly with crisp visuals on Steam Deck

Nvidia's native Steam Deck app boasts great performance and low input lag for any tier on GeForce Now. We take a deep dive in a review of the app in addition to an installation guide; from Balatro to Monster Hunter to all the way ...

Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 29 May 2025 15:00

Casio’s May 2025 roundup includes premium titanium Oceanus, carbon G-Shocks, and budget-friendly Edifice watches

CheckMag Casio launched over 20 new watches in May 2025 across G-Shock, Oceanus, Edifice, and Classic lines. Highlights include new titanium Oceanus Mantas, modular G-Shocks, budget-friendly AQS820 solar hybrids, and retro Edifice chronogr...

Anubhav Sharma, 28 May 2025 17:45

F1 25 launches across all platforms on May 30 (image source: EA)

My F1 25 experience as a racing game newbie

F1 25 is the first racing game I've played in a while, and while it initially seemed overwhelming, there are some parts that could stick with players new to the franchise.

Anil Ganti, 28 May 2025 03:58

The HTC HD2 - first launched in 2009 - earned the title of "the phone that refuses to die". Pictured - HTC HD2 in differently shaded filters. (Image source: Jon Rettinger on YouTube)

The phone that ran everything: Inside the legendary HTC HD2’s "OS odyssey"

CheckMag The HTC HD2 wasn’t just another 2009 smartphone - over the years, it became a legendary canvas for modders. From Android to Windows RT, this one device ran nearly every OS thrown at it (minus one), earning a legacy like no other....

Anubhav Sharma, 28 May 2025 00:54

Windows laptop sitting on top of a wooden table (Image Source: Andrey Matveev - Unsplash)

When to sleep, hibernate, or shut down your Windows laptop

CheckMag Not sure if you should put to sleep, engage hibernation, or shut down your Windows laptop? This guide breaks down what each option does, when to use it, and how to enable hidden features like hibernation in Windows 11.

Antony Muchiri, 25 May 2025 10:03

The Samsung Galaxy A26, Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 (Image source: Daniel Schmidt)

Samsung Galaxy A smartphones in 2025: Galaxy A56, A36, A26 and A16 in comparison

CheckMag While Samsung has streamlined its mid-range smartphone lineup in recent years, the company still offers many different devices in that price range. Therefore, we take a closer look at the differences by comparing the Galaxy A06, A...

Daniel Schmidt, 23 May 2025 21:37

The Flex G is anticipated to contain the panel that Samsung will use inside the Galaxy G Fold. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Rumours of a limited tri-fold release indicate Samsung has little confidence in the foldable smartphone market

There has been plenty of talk lately about Samsung releasing a challenger to the Huawei Mate XT this year. Recent suggestions that Samsung's first tri-fold will only be available in China and South Korea are the latest in a line o...

Alex Alderson, 23 May 2025 17:59

12 GB should be the new norm for 1080p graphics cards. Pictured - RX 9060 XT presentation slide (image source: AMD)

8 GB GPUs still have a place in the market but they are no longer enough for 1080p gaming in 2025

In a recent X post, AMD's Frank Azor argued that gamers who play at 1080p don't need more than 8 GB VRAM. However, that statement is not entirely correct, and while there is a market for 8 GB GPUs, they should be far cheaper than ...

Anil Ganti, 23 May 2025 09:07

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 and Razer Blade 16 with the RTX 5090 Laptop (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Nvidia's launch of the new RTX 5000 Laptop GPUs was and still is a big mess

Hardware launches are often a bit chaotic, but the recent launch of Nvidia's RTX 5000 Laptop GPUs was and still is just a big mess. We are dealing with delays, extremely limited sample availability, and ongoing driver issues. And ...

Andreas Osthoff, 20 May 2025 10:19

Google Chrome alternatives on Android (Image Source: Antony Muchiri)

Here are some of the best Chrome alternatives for Android

CheckMag Chrome on Android can feel heavy and limited, especially if you're after speed, privacy, or customization. This article breaks down some of the best alternative browsers worth trying in 2025.

Antony Muchiri, 18 May 2025 16:51

Storing and sharing files online with proper hotlinking supported: PixelDrain hands-on review

PixelDrain stands out from myriads of websites letting one store files such as videos online and easily share them with friends and strangers alike via a direct, permanent link. It has multiple advanced features such as rclone sup...

Sergey Tarasov, 18 May 2025 11:38

Suit up and have some breakfast before taking off to save the day in the upcoming Superhero Simulator (Image Source: Superhero Simulator Steam)

Superhero Simulator offers you a chance to save the city and save your sanity

CheckMag Superhero Simulator, developed and published by Mightyraccoon! Studios, is an upcoming open-world game that will finally offer players the chance to experience the dual life of a superhero. Set in the city of Goldpine, the game ch...

Santiago Nino, 17 May 2025 17:45

If I wanted to subscribe to Apple TV, I would have bought an Apple TV. At least with Google TV we are still allowed to install alternative launchers (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

The Google TV launcher is a mess of adverts, but this replacement is a clean, beautiful, ad free alternative

CheckMag The Google TV Launcher has become an advertising platform for a bunch of streaming services you probably don't subscribe to. Even on premium hardware, we are forced to endure unwanted ads. Thankfully, there is a great alternative,...

David Devey, 17 May 2025 15:35

Hundreds of millions of pixels are regularly advertised for smartphone cameras, but that doesn't mean your photos will look better. (Image source: Juan Carlos Bagnell)

A friendly reminder that resolution tells you (almost) nothing about camera quality

Millions of dots on a camera sensor might seem impressive, but there are other more important metrics to consider. The issue is, those other specifications are a bit trickier to understand.

Juan Carlos Bagnell, 15 May 2025 22:41

This browser extension made YouTube usable again for me

CheckMag Tired of YouTube feeling like a distraction trap? The Untrap browser extension lets you take control, cut the clutter, and finally use YouTube the way you actually want to.

Antony Muchiri, 12 May 2025 19:17

Samsung is all set to announce the S25 Edge. Rumors indicate a high price tag. (Pictured: concept image, image source: Technizo Concept)

The Galaxy S25 Edge shows Samsung has run out of ideas

What do we really get when the main selling point of a gadget is "thinness"? Samsung will ask consumers to pay a lot for the new Edge smartphone, but consumers aren't getting more for their money.

Juan Carlos Bagnell, 10 May 2025 23:29

What Google Fiber costs and where you can get it in 2025

CheckMag Google Fiber has expanded to Fort Mill and Tega Cay, bringing gigabit internet speeds of up to 8 Gbps to South Carolina for the first time. This article breaks down where Google Fiber is available, what each plan offers, and how y...

Antony Muchiri, 10 May 2025 14:00

Brave browser in split screen showing Notebookcheck.net and Reddit pages

Firefox still sucks on Android tablets despite making progress on the desktop

CheckMag Recent updates to Firefox on desktop added vertical tabs, tab groups, and profile switching, but the Android version of the app still just kind of sucks. Firefox on Android is far behind its competitors, like Brave, Vivaldi, and e...

Julian van der Merwe, 09 May 2025 20:22

Doom: The Dark Ages launches on May 15 on Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5 and PC (image source: Anil Ganti, Notebookcheck)

Doom: The Dark Ages review: Cleave and reave till it be finished

Doom Returnal Doom: The Dark Ages is idSoftware's newest entry in the franchise that made FPS games what they are today. It brings forth many elements never seen before in a Doom game. In this review, we'll take an in-depth look at them and det...

Anil Ganti, 09 May 2025 16:00

Confusing customers with naming: Why you should be very careful when choosing the CPU of any 2025 laptop with Intel CPUs (Pictured: ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Image source: Notebookcheck)

Confusing customers with naming: Why you should be very careful when choosing the CPU of any 2025 laptop with Intel processors

CheckMag In 2025, customers buying a Windows laptop have as much choice as never before when it comes to processors. Snapdragon X, Krackan Point, Strix Point, Arrow Lake, Lunar Lake, it is easy to get confused. Especially confusing this ye...

Benjamin Herzig, 07 May 2025 22:14

Among Us 3D can be played on PC without a VR headset (Image source: Inner Sloth)

Best laptop for Among Us 3D - best, mid-range, and budget picks

Among Us 3D is here! We’ve rounded up top picks across premium, mid-range, and budget categories. Check out the specs, pros, cons, and expert verdicts to find your perfect match!

Nitisha Upadhye, 06 May 2025 19:00

How to reset all network settings in Windows 11 (Image Source: Unsplash)

How to reset your network settings in Windows 11

CheckMag As a last resort, resetting your network settings can help restore your internet connection. This article explains how to do it in Windows 11.

Antony Muchiri, 05 May 2025 13:53

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