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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
Nothing Phone 4a Pro hands-on

🎙️ OpinionNothing can make me buy a Nothing Phone in 2026

CheckMag There are too many $500 phones that make the Nothing Phone 4a Pro look like a bad deal, despite its solid cameras, distinctive design and aluminum build. Examples include bargains from Xiaomi, Samsung, and more.
Martin Filipov, 22 Mar 2026 11:34
An AI-edited image of Kliff holding the Sony dualsense controller.

Crimson Desert's downfall will be caused by its controls if they're not fixed pronto

Crimson Desert’s shining launch is getting overshadowed by player complaints about its controls. Reports show that players are plagued by confusing inputs, limited remapping, and a whole lot of input lag. While Pearl Abyss may address it later, for now, frustration is dominating early impressions for the most part.
Anubhav Sharma, 21 Mar 2026 10:04
An image of the iOS keyboard with the emoji symbol replaced by the iOS angry emoji.

Apple took months to fix a basic iPhone keyboard issue

Apple’s iOS 26.4 update finally fixes a frustrating keyboard bug that caused missed keystrokes for months. The issue hit fast typists the hardest, and no acknowledgement was provided by Apple. This raises an important question: why did such a basic, yet principal problem take so long to fix?
Anubhav Sharma, 19 Mar 2026 18:22
After 30 years, the truth is finally revealed - Pidgey is a cat in a pigeon costume.

🎙️ OpinionDLSS 5 Anything is already turning Pokémon and Phoenix Wright into hyperrealistic AI slop

DLSS 5 is probably one of the most controversial technologies in the history of gaming, as Nvidia's artificial intelligence can seriously change the look of a game. A free website now shows what the result would be if any game were made more realistic by AI - with some bizarre consequences.
Hannes Brecher, 18 Mar 2026 21:22
Frame Generation is great when it's needed, but only as a bonus feature that inflates numbers, not as a cure-all.

🎙️ OpinionFrame generation does boost FPS, but at what cost?

Frame generation can boost FPS by up to 3-4×, but does it improve real responsiveness? Higher frame rates may mask latency and uneven frame pacing, which makes performance harder to judge. It helps on low-power hardware, but native performance still matters most.
Anubhav Sharma, 18 Mar 2026 10:17
Razer shows what the Sneki Snek mascot could look like with DLSS 5.

🎙️ OpinionThe Internet reacts to Nvidia DLSS 5, imagines world with wide jawlines and hyper-realistic 2D

Nvidia DLSS 5 was probably the most controversial announcement at this year's Game Developers Conference, as Nvidia's latest AI feature uses an AI filter to make games more realistic, regardless of artistic intent. The Internet reacted partly with amusement, partly with criticism, but in any case DLSS 5 divides opinions.
Hannes Brecher, 17 Mar 2026 20:33
Nvidia DLSS 5 changes the look of games dramatically.

🎙️ OpinionNvidia DLSS 5 turns every game into AI slop

Nvidia DLSS has so far mainly been used to improve the performance of games by scaling them to a higher resolution and even generating entire frames using artificial intelligence. DLSS 5 now goes a huge step further, giving games an AI-slop look that is said to be "groundbreaking".
Hannes Brecher, 16 Mar 2026 20:44
Bungie’s Marathon combines excellent extraction tension, striking atmosphere, and intense combat with brutal onboarding and a steep, often frustrating learning curve.

Marathon review: Brilliant extraction tension, brutal onboarding, with a bit of frustration

Bungie’s extraction shooter delivers brilliant tension, strong combat, and striking atmosphere, but brutal onboarding and constant friction make it frustrating.
Darryl Linington, 15 Mar 2026 17:44
Superheroes Invincible and Rex Splode playing their corresponding characters in the upcoming Invincible VS fighting game.

🎙️ OpinionInvincible VS skips PC open beta and other fighting games may follow

Invincible VS is getting a console-exclusive Open Beta from April 9th to April 11th ahead of its April 30th release date. While the developers reassure PC players that the game will also launch on PC, the effort to avoid data mining reveals is obvious—and justified.
Christopher Harper, 13 Mar 2026 23:04
The Gamesir x5 Lite belies its budget nature, offering an experience that can easily compete with more expensive offerings

🎙️ OpinionThis budget USB-C game controller is essential for mobile gamers and is now even cheaper

CheckMag Touchscreen controls suck for games that aren't specifically built with touch in mind. However, the GameSir X5 Lite is a cheap way to get physical controls on your mobile, and it's now even cheaper.
David Devey, 13 Mar 2026 12:14
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Exclusive insights from the MWC 2026 roundtable at Samsung

We had the pleasure of participating in an exclusive Samsung roundtable at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, which was dedicated exclusively to the hardware of the newly unveiled Galaxy S26 Ultra. This provided interesting insights into various areas.
Daniel Schmidt, 12 Mar 2026 14:45
Camera system of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera review: LOFIC sensor and mechanical zoom explained

Xiaomi invited us to China to get a close-up look at the new flagship camera phone, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, ahead of its global market launch. Not only were we able to see the final design, but we also got to try out the exciting combination of the 1-inch LOFIC sensor and the innovative mechanical periscope zoom in our first photo sessions and ask the engineers questions directly.
Daniel Schmidt, 09 Mar 2026 15:16
With a 7.5-inch diagonal, the Nubia Neo 5 Max is undoubtedly a handful.

🎙️ OpinionA blast from the past: The Nubia Neo 5 Max is a throwback to phablets like the Huawei Mate 20X

Huawei's Mate 20X from 2018 was well-loved. Nubia's latest device, the Neo 5 Max, is a throwback of sorts, with its massive 7.5-inch display ensuring it launches as the largest globally available smartphone—it could appeal to the crowd that loved the Mate 20X all those years ago.
Ricci Rox, 08 Mar 2026 19:43
The 2026 Steam Controller (or Steam Controller 2), playing Hollow Knight: Silksong.

🎙️ OpinionWhy Steam Controller may be the best gamepad yet

The Steam Controller's stacked feature set make it ideal not only for PC games, but also console and emulation play.
Christopher Harper, 07 Mar 2026 18:15
Early hands-on time spanning roughly 12 hours points to a distinctive extraction shooter with strong shell-based class design, layered faction progression, surreal presentation, and a dense UI that still needs smoothing out.

🎙️ OpinionMarathon hands-on preview

Early hands-on time with Marathon, spanning roughly 10 hours, points to a distinctive extraction shooter with strong shell-based class design, layered faction progression, surreal presentation, and a dense UI that still needs smoothing out.
Darryl Linington, 07 Mar 2026 14:33
Ninja Gaiden 4's deuteragonist Yakumo, wielding his new weapon granted by the Two Masters DLC—a transforming, dual-edged scythe seamlessly accessible mid-combo alongside the other five melee weapons in his arsenal.

🎙️ OpinionTwo Masters DLC makes Ninja Gaiden 4 a contender for best modern hack n slash

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the latest AAA foray into the sparse hack'n slash/stylish action genre popularized by Devil May Cry, and the Two Masters DLC released on March 4th greatly polishes the jank while adding even more content and combat options.
Christopher Harper, 04 Mar 2026 22:36
The first mainstream commercial laptop with LPCAMM2: The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7.

Hands on with the only Intel Core Ultra X7 laptops with upgradable RAM: Lenovo's singular new ThinkPad T14 G7 and T16 G5

Lenovo's ThinkPad T series is known to be the dependable workhorse series, but with the new T14 G7 and T16 G5, Lenovo takes a bold swing: Thanks to LPCAMM2 memory, the T14 Gen 7 and T16 Gen 5 are the only laptops thus far that combine the powerful Panther Lake X7 CPUs with Intel ARC B300 graphics and upgradeable RAM.
Benjamin Herzig, 04 Mar 2026 14:08
Zimaboard router and Zyxel AP on the desk

Unbloated Network – Activating Vodafone bridge mode: Using your router as a pure modem (part 4)

If you want to replace your Vodafone router with your own OpenWRT or x86-based router, the first step is enabling bridge mode. Only then does the Vodafone Station act as a pure modem, passing the internet connection directly to your new router without interference. In part 4 of my “Unbloated Network” series, I walk through how to enable bridge mode in the Vodafone account portal—and why the Homespot feature often prevents it.
Christian Hintze, 04 Mar 2026 12:30
The Apple iPhone 17e makes many compromises for a $200 price reduction.

🎙️ OpinionApple's iPhone 17e price driven down by too many downgrades, iPhone 17 offers 8 major advantages

Apple literally advertises the iPhone 17e as a "good deal". However, the brand-new entry-level iPhone makes far more compromises than it initially appears. Since the iPhone 17 costs "only" $200 more, these occasionally serious disadvantages of the iPhone 17e should be weighed up before purchasing.
Hannes Brecher, 03 Mar 2026 11:04
Aramid fiber cases offer significantly less bulk when compared with Google's standard cases

Aramid fiber phone cases are perfect for those looking for the naked feel while retaining decent protection

CheckMag Naked phones for many people are simply not an option, and while skins might protect against scratches, they offer little in the way of drop protection. Aramid fiber cases offer the best compromise of protection, without adding unnecessary bulk.
David Devey, 02 Mar 2026 16:40
Nvidia's GeForce Now service finally arrives in India

NGL, Nvidia's GeForce Now India showcase was genuinely impressive, but it left us with more questions than answers

Nvidia will soon be launching its GeForce Now service in India, and we had a chance to take an early sneak peek at the service. The technology demo felt very promising and has the potential to be a good hit, but many details about the service are still anybody's guess despite a Q1 2026 launch promise.
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 02 Mar 2026 16:11
There is a growing library of older but still amazing Triple-A games available on Android

Three phenomenal Triple-A console and PC games you can also play on Android

CheckMag While an Android device won't ever replace a dedicated handheld, there are a growing number of phenomenal triple-A games available directly from Google Play at very reasonable prices, and they work great on mediocre hardware like the Pixel 10 series.
David Devey, 01 Mar 2026 14:00
Apple's low-cost MacBook is likely set to launch next week.

Apple MacBook: Rumored low-cost laptop arriving next week with several possible downgrades

Leak Lounge Apple's budget MacBook is now closer than ever, expected to arrive sometime next week. We have witnessed plenty of rumors and leaks regarding the same, and here is almost everything we know so far.
Sambit Saha, 28 Feb 2026 19:11
The compact smartphone I actually want: Xiaomi 17 in a Galaxy S26 world

The compact smartphone I actually want: Xiaomi 17 in a Galaxy S26 world

Xiaomi’s new compact phone is its best flagship yet and the latest Galaxy S26 and Vivo X300 rivals. It has everything from a compact design, cutting-edge hardware, and longer software support to stellar cameras and a bigger battery capacity. Here's why I feel the Xiaomi 17 is better compared to the Galaxy S26 and the Vivo X300.
Abhinav Fating, 28 Feb 2026 15:30
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Vs iPhone 16 Pro

I switched to Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera phone for a month – now my iPhone 16 Pro feels outdated

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the latest flagship camera smartphone from Xiaomi that offers impressive camera specs with Leica quirks. The latest iteration carries worthy upgrades that make it the company’s best-ever camera smartphone to date.
Abhinav Fating, 28 Feb 2026 15:30
Connected Zimaboard with a boot stick next to a keyboard

Unbloated Network – Replacing your ISP router: Installing OpenWRT on an x86 PC (part 3)

Many ISP-provided routers are closed black boxes with limited functionality. In part 3 of my “Unbloated Network” project, I show how to install OpenWRT on an x86 PC to replace the Vodafone router with your own hardware. Step by step, we’ll set up the latest stable release, including image selection, Linux-based installation, and partition expansion.
Christian Hintze, 27 Feb 2026 13:34
Samsung phone fingerprint scanner

🎙️ OpinionIt’s time to kill slow fingerprint scanners on all phones over $300

CheckMag If you hate the fingerprinting scanner on your Android phones, you are not alone. Optical in-display fingerprint scanners on many $300+ Android phones remain slow and unreliable in 2026, often failing with wet fingers - even on phones from market leaders.
Martin Filipov, 24 Feb 2026 19:41
The iPhone 17e is likely to arrive early next month with a bunch of new features.

Apple iPhone 17e to arrive soon with exciting features bringing the budget smartphone closer to flagships

Leak Lounge With the iPhone 17e just around the corner, industry murmurs have pointed at several new exciting features for Apple's upcoming budget smartphone. However, a high-refresh rate display, which many would have hoped for, is almost definitely not on the table.
Sambit Saha, 22 Feb 2026 18:08
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could have a tough time in the race for the best smartphone camera of 2026

🎙️ OpinionBest smartphone camera of 2026: These Galaxy S26 Ultra alternatives could make Samsung's life difficult

CheckMag Even Samsung’s most loyal fans have likely noticed that the South Korean company may no longer offer the best camera-focused flagship phone due to minor incremental upgrades over the past years. After the Galaxy S26 Ultra launches, three other flagship phones in are already waiting in the wings and could become a serious threat to Samsung in 2026. Alongside new Xiaomi 17 Ultra teasers, a leaker is currently highlighting what to expect from the Vivo X300 Ultra and Oppo Find X9 Ultra.
Alexander Fagot, 22 Feb 2026 17:57
Factory visit at Xiaomi: A look at the highly automated smartphone production in Beijing

Factory visit at Xiaomi: A look at the highly automated smartphone production in Beijing

At Xiaomi's invitation, we were able to take a look at the highly automated smartphone production in Beijing. The Hyper Intelligent Manufacturing System connects machines, data, and quality assurance—with 81 percent automation and completely self-developed manufacturing technology as the key to the next industrial generation.
Daniel Schmidt, 20 Feb 2026 14:55
The Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 (Type 82XW, SKU 82XW0042SA)

Windows 11 KB5077181: Microsoft claims stability, my Lenovo LOQ proves otherwise

Windows 11 KB5077181 (OS Builds 26100.7840/26200.7840) shipped on Feb. 10, 2026. On a Lenovo LOQ test system, KB5077181 installed Feb. 11 (Build 26200.7840) and was followed by Wi-Fi instability, Bluetooth disconnects, stutter, and slow shutdowns.
Darryl Linington, 19 Feb 2026 18:40
Samsung is promoting smart Galaxy AI features in new teaser videos, presumably as a replacement for substantial camera upgrades.

🎙️ OpinionSamsung Galaxy S26: Smart camera features instead of new camera hardware

The word "smartphone" is the central focus of each of the three new teaser videos released by Samsung a week before the Galaxy Unpacked launch event on February 25, 2026. While the videos highlight new camera features and the "brightest Galaxy camera system ever," they cleverly disguise the fact that Samsung's camera hardware itself will likely remain largely unchanged.
Alexander Fagot, 18 Feb 2026 12:11
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will continue to have a quad camera, but the hardware is not expected to change significantly.

🎙️ OpinionSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Latest camera teaser is AI slop

While smartphone manufacturers such as Xiaomi or Apple usually share impressive sample photos and videos recorded with their own smartphones, Samsung is advertising the capabilities of the Galaxy S26 Ultra's camera with AI slop and apparently without any quality control.
Hannes Brecher, 17 Feb 2026 12:31
Network hardware on a desk

Unbloated network – building an OpenWRT router: Which hardware actually makes sense? (part 2)

After deciding against using the ISP router in part one, it’s time to focus on hardware: what actually works best for an OpenWRT router? A mini PC, Raspberry Pi, or a traditional router? And what about the switch and access point? In this part, I’ll walk through my hardware choices, including considerations around power consumption, architecture, and cost.
Christian Hintze, 16 Feb 2026 13:17
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Series Hands-On: All models, prices, and launch date

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Series Hands-On: All models, prices, and launch date

The Galaxy Book 6, Galaxy Book6 Pro, and Galaxy Book6 Ultra are launching with two different display sizes, optional Nvidia RTX GPU, AMOLED or LTPS display, and state-of-the-art Intel Panther Lake processors. We have all the variants and prices, as well as our first impressions of the notebooks.
Update: Connection specifications expanded
Daniel Schmidt, 16 Feb 2026 11:51
Provider router vs. OpenWRT network

Unbloated network – Replacing provider routers with OpenWRT: project overview (part 1)

Provider routers are convenient—but that’s exactly their biggest problem. Poor Wi-Fi coverage, limited control, questionable privacy, and technical limitations are everyday issues for many users. In this new series, I’ll gradually replace my provider’s all-in-one device (the Vodafone Station) with a modular setup using an OpenWRT router, access point, and switch. In part 1, I’ll explain why I’m taking this approach and how the project is structured.
Christian Hintze, 13 Feb 2026 13:00
Browser windows of SpeedFan, Fan Control, and Notebook FanControl alongside the NitroSense app

Unbloated: Alternatives to NitroSense & PredatorSense – Why Acer users are left behind – Part 3

While researching alternatives to Acer’s NitroSense and PredatorSense software, we came across two tools: NotebookFanControl and Fan Control. Both are open-source applications, primarily distributed via GitHub. Unfortunately, neither of them meets our requirements.
Christian Hintze, 10 Feb 2026 12:30
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Hands-On: Better than the Huawei Mate XT?

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Hands-On: Better than the Huawei Mate XT?

We had the opportunity to try out the Galaxy Z TriFold at Samsung and would like to share our first impressions of Samsung's double-folding smartphone with you here. We also compare it with the Huawei Mate XT, which has a different folding concept, and take a look at the availability of the TriFold.
Daniel Schmidt, 05 Feb 2026 15:20
Ready to plow

An ode to practical robotics: The unsung workforce of the future

CheckMag Robotic lawnmowers and pool cleaners may not be the flashiest of gadgets, but they are hallmarks of the world of practical robotics. With their advancements, these devices are gradually strengthening the backbone of an industry poised to save users from even the most menial of tasks.
Stephen Pereyra, 02 Feb 2026 08:27
Catbox.moe logo screenshot

Catbox and Pomf.lain.la: Great free anonymous file hosting services that support hotlinking

CheckMag (Update: Pomf.lain.la now offline; try pone.rs, soliatix.site or leopard.hosting.pecon.us instead.) Google Drive and Mega might just be the most popular websites letting one store and share files for free. The issue with them is, they do not support hotlinking meaning they don't allow access to content via direct, static links. Catbox.moe and Pomf.lain.la are thankfully free of that specific issue.
Sergey Tarasov, 01 Feb 2026 10:20
Unbloated: Asus TUF Gaming A18 shows G-Helper on its desktop (Image source: Notebookcheck, edited)

Unbloated: G-Helper – The best open-source alternative to Asus Armoury Crate – Part 2

In this second part of the series, we take a closer look at Asus gaming laptops. The open-source alternative this time is called G-Helper. While Asus Armoury Crate weighs in at a staggering 4 GB, G-Helper comes in at a ridiculous 5 MB — yet remains extremely powerful.
Christian Hintze, 28 Jan 2026 12:30
Our new Unbloated article series (Image source: AI, ChatGPT)

Unbloated: Open-source alternatives to Armoury Crate, Vantage, and other control centers – part 1

Control center apps from major laptop manufacturers such as Asus Armoury Crate or Lenovo Vantage have grown into bloated, resource-hungry packages packed with ads and tracking. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Slim open-source tools, often just a few megabytes in size, can offer a very similar feature set—without the bloatware. In this new article series, we take a close look at the best open-source alternatives for gaming laptops and explain who actually benefits from switching.
Christian Hintze, 27 Jan 2026 12:50
Angry Reddit mascot. (Image source: Gemini - edited)

🎙️ OpinionThe saga of getting Notebookcheck's subreddit up and running: Bans, bans, followed by more bans

What might be the world's most popular forum appears to have rather hostile policies towards new users, with support basically unreachable and rules on what exactly newly created accounts can or can't do unclear at best.
Sergey Tarasov, 21 Jan 2026 11:34
A set of six massive levels with great production value and attention to player expression is coming to Shadow Generations, and one of them is already playable for the public. (Image Source: Shindash on YouTub)

🎙️ OpinionSega-quality Sonic X Shadow Generations mod pack is on the way, and you can play some now

Shindash's upcoming Shadow Generations level pack has been showcased in full, featuring "Skyward Castle", "Ark Rush", "White Citadel", "Steampunk Canyon", "Digital Circuit", and "Fog Forest". These levels feature new assets, high difficulty, and epic length with several branching paths.
Christopher Harper, 20 Jan 2026 23:34
"Play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt multiplayer with friends, complete quests, and explore the world." - rejuvenate7 (image source : Nexus mods page)

The Witcher 3 gets multiplayer with Witcher Online

Two things can be true: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a largely solitary masterpiece, and you’ve always wanted to bump into your friends in Novigrad. The new Witcher Online mod aims to do exactly that, adding multiplayer to CDPR’s RPG while still letting you run your own saves and story progress.
Santiago Nino, 20 Jan 2026 20:46
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Notebookcheck, 2022-04-20 (Update: 2025-11-17)