Magazine

Hades is perhaps one of the best examples of unconventional storytelling in recent gaming memory. (Image source: Steam - edited)

Steam Summer Sale: 4 enthralling story-rich games that prioritise the narrative

Gaming is a source of fun for many reasons, but one of the medium's best strengths is the potential for interesting, alternative storytelling methods that get the audience far more invested than a traditional book, film, or TV ser...

Julian van der Merwe, 06 Jul 2023 16:45

Stellaris is an RTS game that features space exploration, epic battles, and striking visuals. (Image source: Paradox Interactive)

Steam Summer Sale: 3 iconic real-time strategy games with steep discounts

Real-time strategy games provide a unique gameplay experience that combines heart-pounding action with the sort of grand scale and battle tactics that make you feel like a conquering warlord. The 2023 Steam Summer Sale has dealt u...

Julian van der Merwe, 03 Jul 2023 17:43

Horizon Zero Dawn is just one of the excellent titles on sale during the Steam Summer Sale this year. (Image source: Steam)

4 of the best open-world games in the Steam Summer Sale that are an absolute steal

The 2023 Steam Summer Sale is officially in full swing, meaning there are oodles of fun games to be had at excellent prices. Here we've gathered some of the best open-world game deals for everyone from superhero fans to horror lov...

Julian van der Merwe, 03 Jul 2023 17:00

Crash Bandicoot hops, spins, and flips into this year's Steam Summer Sale. (Image source: Steam)

Steam Summer Sale deals churn out 3 crazy platform games that put fun before sanity

With the Steam Summer Sale in full swing, it's time to have a look at what platformers Valve's game store has to offer. Whether you have a taste for the nostalgic or simply want to see what all the fuss is about, there's oodles of...

Julian van der Merwe, 30 Jun 2023 06:18

The 2023 Steam Summer Sale has officially kicked off, with amazing savings for gamers of all persuasions. (Image source: Steam - edited)

3 Steam Summer Sale games to play with oodles of action and stupendous discounts

Enjoy gritty stealth combat, arcade-style monster hunting, or crazy pirate adventures without spending your rent money on gaming — all thanks to the Steam Summer Sale. Gamers who missed out on the initial launch hype are sure to e...

Julian van der Merwe, 29 Jun 2023 23:35

A laptop on the verge of overheating (Source: Acer)

Marketing overshoots the mark: A laptop on the verge of overheating

While working on a recent review, we were somewhat puzzled by the marketing material we found. The product page of one notebook contained a thermal image of a supposed comparison device that, at 84°C, was twice as hot as our test ...

Marc Herter, 26 Jun 2023 02:22

Microsoft is being way too agressive in trying to push its browser to the top (Image source: Microsoft/Unsplash - edited)

Microsoft Edge is getting out of control and this needs to stop

BodyCheck Microsoft just keeps adding new features to Edge, the default browser of Windows. Most of these are not only useless, they also hamper productive workflow by throwing the user into a bottomless pit filled with unwanted pop-ups, re...

Sergey Tarasov, 25 Jun 2023 18:40

PinOut, a game by Mediocre, is a treat for those into energetic games. (Image source: Mediocre)

3 top Android games that offer great visuals and sharp tunes even years after their release date

CheckList Hundreds, if not thousands of new games get released every year, only to be forgotten soon afterwards. Select few stay in our hearts for longer. In this article, we will revisit three top Android games that were amazingly good bac...

Sergey Tarasov, 22 Jun 2023 01:07

The HTC Evo View 4G was one of several tablets blessed with WiMAX support (Image source: Notebookcheck - edited)

Paying tribute to WiMAX, the lovely cross between Wi-Fi and 3G

TimeCheck The 802.16 WiMAX network technology was conceived about 20 years ago. It was meant to combine decent coverage of several square kilometres with great data transfer rates (for the time) of several dozen megabits per second, and it ...

Sergey Tarasov, 21 Jun 2023 19:59

There are cases where the cheaper material is the right material. (Image source: Asus)

Ditch the glass: It's time to bring back less-fragile plastic smartphones

There was once a time when smartphone design featured a healthy amount of diversity, but those days are long gone. Smartphone manufacturers have somehow convinced the average consumer that glass — one of the most fragile materials...

Julian van der Merwe, 21 Jun 2023 19:41

Elon Musk's Twitter is making rapid strides of evolving into an "everything X app". (Image generated by Midjourney AI)

From Twitter to "X": Elon Musk's overpaid acquisition has more to it than meets the eye

One app to rule them all. Increasing proliferation of AI-generated content into large social platforms like Twitter is fast blurring the lines between fake news and credible information. Musk's US$44 billion Twitter acquisition ma...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 21 Jun 2023 10:55

This time, Asus nailed it as far as the laptop screen is concerned. (Pictured: ROG Zephyrus M16 GU604VY, image source: Notebookcheck)

8 important display specifications and what they mean for the consumer

CheckList 3D Ready, DisplayHDR 400, Flicker-Free, 10000:1. Reading the specification sheet of a monitor can quickly get confusing because of cryptical abbreviations and numbers just like these. Here, we set out to clarify some of them and d...

Sergey Tarasov, 17 Jun 2023 21:00

The 15-inch model is like a 13-inch model but larger. It runs macOS Sonoma out of the box. (Image source: Notebookcheck/Apple - edited)

3 obvious falsehoods Apple sneaked into its MacBook Air 15 launch video

CheckList A bit of fact-checking never hurts. We went fishing for false claims in an official Apple launch video for the new MacBook Air 15, expecting to leave empty-handed. But the 145-second video for this latest MacBook laptop proved to ...

Sergey Tarasov, 12 Jun 2023 05:00

Comparing two Blades, one from 2017 and one from 2022. Some things remained the same. Most saw an improvement (Image source: Notebookcheck - edited)

Razer Blade 17 2022 (RTX 3080 Ti) vs Blade Pro 17 2017 (GTX 1080): 6 massive improvements made over the years

CrossCheck In this article, we'll be comparing two great Razer Blade gaming laptops to explore how small gen-to-gen leaps band together to become unbelievable gains in a matter of just a few years. While this is predictably a numbers game, s...

Sergey Tarasov, 11 Jun 2023 20:56

Fujifilm's X-S20 has left a lasting impression on a number of reviewers thanks to its compact performance. (Image source: Fujifilm)

Top 4 Fujifilm X-S20 review highlights that reveal a compact APS-C mirrorless camera with performance to blow the competition away

Fujifilm released the X-S20 APS-C camera as an update to its X-S hybrid camera line-up. While the spec sheet improvements made for a convincing package, the first batch of proper reviews reveal a camera that delivers on its promis...

Julian van der Merwe, 07 Jun 2023 20:54

Portable, relatively fast and with the Lamborghini branding, all for 599 Euros. This truly was a one-of-a-kind product (Image source: Notebookcheck - edited)

Once upon a time, Asus sold Lamborghini-branded laptops: Revisiting the VX6 review

CheckBack The Asus Eee PC VX6 Lamborghini edition was a highly portable and highly affordable, yet premium-looking laptop with a 12.1-inch screen. It had a lot of strengths and few weak points; much like it often is with entry-level and mid...

Sergey Tarasov, 31 May 2023 21:15

The Moon is an ideal subject for a great device wallpaper image. (Image source: Wael Omar WO on AstroBin)

AstroBin's Image of the Day page will help any space lover find just the right wallpaper

CheckUp Bing isn't the only place where great-looking images get showcased every day. AstroBin is even better, in a sense that it is entirely dedicated to astrophotography.

Sergey Tarasov, 31 May 2023 17:32

In certain respects, Firefox is the most user-friendly browser around (Image source: Fuu J on Unsplash)

Hop into the time machine by installing a Mozilla Firefox build released in 2014 (or even 2004!)

CheckUp Mozilla puts the user into the driver's seat by letting them download literally any Firefox release that was ever made. The organization keeps a freely accessible archive of its products at ftp.mozilla.org to be unlike most other ...

Sergey Tarasov, 31 May 2023 17:22

The Nikon Z8 and Sony A7R V are both high-resolution full-frame mirrorless cameras aiming for the same subset of the market. (Image source: Nikon / Sony - edited)

Nikon Z8 vs Sony A7R V - comparing premium full-frame cameras in 4 key areas

Despite their similar price tags and use cases, the US$3,899.99 Sony A7R V and the US$3,999.95 Nikon Z8 are more different than they might seem at first glance. Some of the most important differences put the Nikon ahead of the Son...

Julian van der Merwe, 30 May 2023 05:19

The PlayStation Showcase showcased some seriously disappointing hardware (image via Sony)

The PlayStation Showcase's hardware announcements were bad and Sony should feel bad

Sony's PlayStation Showcase was host to quite a few surprises. Metal Gear Solid being resurrected was nice, as was Alan Wake 2 and Dragon's Dogma 2. Unfortunately, Project Q and the PlayStation Earbuds weren't one of them.

Anil Ganti, 26 May 2023 17:17

Nikon positions the Z8 as the ultimate compact hybrid camera with a full-frame sensor. (Image source: Nikon - edited)

3 Nikon Z8 review takeaways that reveal who should buy the full-frame mirrorless camera and why

As the reviews roll in, we're starting to get a clearer idea of who the Nikon Z8 full-frame mirrorless camera is for and what it is all about. As it turns out, the camera behaves a lot like it seems on paper — as a smaller Nikon Z...

Julian van der Merwe, 18 May 2023 22:15

Stray is an atmospheric narrative adventure game about a kitten trying to find his way home. (Image source: Steam)

3 of the best action adventure games in the May Steam sales with knockout discounts

Sometimes you don't want to play a battle royale or MOBA game and instead want to feel like you're part of an expansive world brimming with colour and adventure. Well, action adventure games tend to deliver that in spades. This Ma...

Julian van der Merwe, 12 May 2023 23:57

Opinion: It’s 2023, so shouldn’t mobile computing be better than this?

Having spent the past few weeks trying to find a new laptop, I have made a few observations about the landscape of mobile computing in 2023. Am I just a crazy old man yelling at clouds? You be the judge.

Douglas Black, 11 May 2023 01:13

Sony makes some of the best small cameras for photographers on the go. (Image source: Sony)

3 of the best compact cameras for travel that have large sensors for improved image quality

It's becoming increasingly difficult to justify buying a small point-and-shoot camera, given the performance that manufacturers are packing into compact Micro Four Thirds and APS-C bodies. Here are 3 underrated compact cameras wit...

Julian van der Merwe, 10 May 2023 22:07

Not all laptops can boast of a great screen. Things do not have to be this way (Image source: Notebookcheck - edited)

How to replace a laptop screen: Getting a better display panel for your laptop

CheckUp To all those stuck with a poor display panel - there is a solution to your woes that does not involve buying a brand-new laptop. Replacing the screen will save you quite a bit of cash while giving your current system another lease...

Sergey Tarasov, 08 May 2023 23:31

Steam Deck users may want to consider using an external controller to avoid eventual joystick drift. (Image source: 8BitDo)

3 of the best game controllers for PC and console that eliminate joystick drift with hall-effect sensors

Joystick drift has become an increasingly common discussion point for many gamers as a result of the return of controller gaming. It's an understandable concern given the popularity of the likes of the Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch,...

Julian van der Merwe, 07 May 2023 19:53

Depending on your personal preferrences, you may think the Cybertruck itself is a bit of a failure. (Image source: Tesla)

4 Tesla fails that are so big they make the Cybertruck's delays and smashed windows look like a blip

Whenever the topic of electric vehicles comes up, fledgling automotive brand Tesla is bound to make an appearance. The company has made a name for itself in the last decade or so by delivering practical electric vehicles that many...

Julian van der Merwe, 05 May 2023 21:59

Chevrolet's Bolt EV represents some of the best value in the EV space in 2023. (Image source: Chevrolet)

3 cheap electric vehicles that qualify for the new US$7,500 federal tax credit after April 2023

April 2023 saw changes to US federal tax incentives for EV buyers. Although it still offers up to US$7,500 in tax credits, there are limitations on weight, MSRP, and country of assembly that dramatically reduced the number of qual...

Julian van der Merwe, 04 May 2023 22:37

Green Reaper is one of April's best free Steam games. (Image source: Steam)

4 new free Steam games from April 2023 including a rare MOBA game that isn't pay-to-win

Steam's free games roster is constantly growing, with new additions coming almost daily. April 2023 saw a number of particularly good new releases come to Steam. Here are four fun free games you might want to check out if you're i...

Julian van der Merwe, 04 May 2023 22:05

The Nikon Z fc is just one of many versatile stills APS-C cameras. (Image source: Nikon)

3 of the best APS-C cameras for photography that won't break the bank

Mirrorless cameras are all the rage these days, but it can be a tad expensive to get into the new tech. Fortunately, there is a handful of capable, cheap, APS-C, mirrorless cameras out there that are perfect for anyone, from begin...

Julian van der Merwe, 04 May 2023 21:54

The value king, that is. (Image source: Chevrolet)

3 cheap electric vehicles under US$35,000 show just how good the discontinued Chevrolet Bolt is

Depending on where you live, the Chevrolet Bolt is either the cheapest or one of the cheapest electric vehicles available. Unfortunately, Chevrolet is discontinuing the Bolt and Bolt EUV at the end of 2023, meaning buyers will hav...

Julian van der Merwe, 02 May 2023 23:35

Nikon's Z5 serves as a handy option for both videographers and stills photographers alike. (Image source: Nikon)

3 of the best mirrorless cameras for under US$1,500 with a full-frame sensor

Breaking into the full-frame camera world can seem daunting, with many camera bodies starting deep into the US$2,000 territory. That doesn't mean that there aren't cheap full-frame options around though. Here are three of the best...

Julian van der Merwe, 02 May 2023 21:11

Avidemux 2.8.2 is a reliable, easy-to-use video editing app (Image source: Avidemux/Unsplash - edited)

Avidemux free video editor will happily cut, resize, or convert almost any video without costing a penny

CheckSum The free video editor Avidemux supports plenty of video and audio formats and there is virtually no learning curve to speak of. This lovely, open-source video editor is available for Windows, Linux, macOS and BSD.

Sergey Tarasov, 30 Apr 2023 22:51

Kia's EV6 delivers soccer-mom practicality in a mid-life-crisis-dad package. (Image source: Kia)

4 Kia EV6 features that set the sporty elecric SUV apart

The 2023 Kia EV6 is an ode to excess and something of a hit in the electric car community. There are a number of things that make the performance EV stand out in the growing electric SUV segment and make it a surprisingly well-rou...

Julian van der Merwe, 29 Apr 2023 07:33

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 is but one of a wide variety of powerful Micro Four Thirds cameras available. (Image source: Panasonic/Unsplash - edited)

4 Micro Four Thirds camera advantages that make the system unique

Micro Four Thirds is an interesting concept in a world where every camera manufacturer has its own lens mount that works with a limited lens selection. The collaborative effort between the likes of Panasonic, OM Systems, Blackmagi...

Julian van der Merwe, 28 Apr 2023 21:22

The gap between the ideal Cybertruck and the F-150 Lightning isn't as big as you might imagine. (Image source: Ford)

Tesla Cybertruck vs Ford F-150 Lightning - Tesla's apocalyptic pickup faces stiff competition from Ford's EV workhorse

CrossCheck When Tesla announced the CyberTruck all those years ago, it set off an electric pickup revolution. Unfortunately, the US EV maker lost its early-mover advantage by postponing the actual production launch by almost five years. The ...

Julian van der Merwe, 28 Apr 2023 20:08

One of the top features of the Fujifilm X-T10 is its magnesium body. (Image source: Math on Unsplash)

3 cheap mirrorless cameras that are good for beginners and veterans alike

As a photography beginner, you might immediately look to buy an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless camera, while the correct move may actually be buying a used or open-box high-end or mid-ranger from a few years ago instead. From full...

Julian van der Merwe, 27 Apr 2023 20:26

The insides of cars are changing, mostly for the worse. (Image source: Tesla/Unsplash)

3 terrible EV trends that range from comically annoying to downright dangerous

There's a lot to love about electric vehicles, but some manufacturers seem to have taken the EV revolution as an opportunity to turn up the dial on some of the automotive industry's worst ideas. From misleading marketing and propr...

Julian van der Merwe, 26 Apr 2023 21:07

Tesla has thusfar led the EV charge, but wider adoption by legacy manufacturers is the key to mass adoption. (Image source: Tesla)

Electric vehicles for everyone: 3 reasons why EVs make sense more than ever in 2023

Electric vehicles have clearly boomed in popularity in the past few years, with many new companies and most established marques fighting to get a slice of the pie. With the market maturing, it seems more and more like EVs are the ...

Julian van der Merwe, 25 Apr 2023 18:34

Halo: The Masterchief Collection is a collection of classics from Microsoft. (Image source: Steam)

3 AAA action games with over 60% discount in the Steam sale from Xbox Game Studios

Sometimes Steam offers games at particularly impressive discounts thanks to seasonal sales. This is not one of those times. Instead, a two-week-long Xbox Game Studios publisher sale has resulted in some pretty impressive game disc...

Julian van der Merwe, 25 Apr 2023 17:53

When it comes to keyboard input, Linux is streets ahead of Windows. (Image source: System76)

Linux vs Windows 11: 3 underrated and common features that make the open-source software superior

There are a number of benefits to using Linux-based operating systems, including improved customisation, a more stable system, and a more responsive system, but there are also a number of Linux features that often go under the rad...

Julian van der Merwe, 25 Apr 2023 06:02

Depending on your tastes, you're likely to love or hate the looks of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Image source: Hyundai)

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Ioniq 6 - 3 key differences in two otherwise very similar vehicles

CrossCheck Not everyone will be cross-shopping the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 6, but the similarity in names makes it easy to think they're similar vehicles. The Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are both built on the same platform, but there are three...

Julian van der Merwe, 24 Apr 2023 22:33

The Kuberg Freerider is a powerful, lightweight trail attack machine. (Image source: Kuberg)

3 speedy electric off-road motorcycles that are ready to conquer all terrains

Off-road motorcycles are almost a perfect application for electric bikes — precise throttle control, simplicity, and buckets of torque are boons on the trail, and the range demands aren't as high as road bikes. Yet, electric motor...

Julian van der Merwe, 22 Apr 2023 19:00

The Model 3's design is stale and the company's tech advantage is slipping fast. (Image source: Tesla)

3 compelling Tesla Model 3 alternatives from brands that value the driving experience

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the company's most popular cars, but there are still plenty of issues with the vehicle. Common owner complaints include build quality issues and ridiculously long repair wait times. Not to mention the c...

Julian van der Merwe, 21 Apr 2023 21:09

Nine Parchments is a four-player magical adventure to enjoy with friends. (Image Source: Steam)

April Steam sales slash prices on 3 fun multiplayer action games to under US$10

Whether you're spending a weekend gaming with your friends, relieving some stress after work, or trying to keep the kids entertained on a rainy afternoon, multiplayer games are a sure bet for anyone looking to share their hobby. A...

Julian van der Merwe, 20 Apr 2023 23:11

Don't let Eldest Souls's pixel graphics fool you. This is no kid's game. (Image source: Steam)

Steam sales deliver 4 heavily discounted action games offering endless replayable fun

While Steam seasonal sales often offer the best discounts on games, publisher sales and regular old promotions often bring equally spectacular bargains on some heavy-hitting titles. For the middle of April, Steam's discounts inclu...

Julian van der Merwe, 19 Apr 2023 17:56

The Pixel 7a will feature similar design language to the Pixel 7 pictured. (Image source: Google)

Google Pixel 7a vs Samsung Galaxy A54 leaks - Google pitched to demolish Samsung's midrange offering

CrossCheck Samsung's Galaxy A54 launched in March 2023 as Samsung's main assault on the midrange, offering incredible all-round performance and bang for the buck. Google's upcoming Pixel 7a is expected to land in June of 2023 and bring Googl...

Julian van der Merwe, 18 Apr 2023 18:37

Intel hoped so much to entice creators and gamers with its Arc graphics cards. We analyze why this did not work so well. (Image source: Intel - edited)

2022's Intel Arc graphics cards still look like a massive misfire against Nvidia and AMD's powerhouses

TimeCheck On March 30, 2022, Intel finally did what it had long been rumored to by releasing several Arc dedicated graphics cards. The GPUs were to be unleashed on laptops first, with desktops left to wait for a couple of months. One year l...

Sergey Tarasov, 15 Apr 2023 20:43

Everspace 2 is one of April's big releases. (Image source: Steam)

3 irresistible Steam new releases that will help you forget April's changeable weather

Depending on where you live, April could mean cooler weather ahead, or the beginning of the warmer part of the year. Either way, here are a few games that released on Steam in early April that might pique your interest if you're l...

Julian van der Merwe, 11 Apr 2023 19:43

(Image source: Notebookcheck/various - edited)

Apple's MacBook Pro 17 was discontinued in 2012 but revisiting our 2011 model review will help soothe the pain

CheckBack The Apple MacBook Pro 17 was one of the first Thunderbolt-enabled laptops on the market. It featured a large 95 Wh battery and a mighty 45 W Intel CPU. As with many Apple products, it was the high price that took a lot of shine ou...

Sergey Tarasov, 09 Apr 2023 17:36