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Stills of the Protoclone's second torso, with an actuated abdomen setting it apart from its predecessor, displaying its human-like potential in the kitchen. (Image Source : Clone Robotics)

Protoclone: Humanoid robot that moves like us—for better or worse

CheckMag Humanoid robots have long been the subject of science fiction, but the latest creation from Clone Robotics, the Protoclone, is bringing that fiction into reality. This eerily lifelike machine, recently showcased in a viral video, ...
Santiago Nino, 07 Mar 2025 22:56
The Rolex Submariner - a popular mechanical watch (left), and the Casio GMC-B2100D-1A quartz timepiece (right). (Image source: Merit Trends and Casio - Edited)

Quartz revolution 2.0: How Casio helped kill (and revive) mechanical watches

CheckMag Casio didn’t just shake up the watch industry—it flipped it on its head. By making quartz watches cheap, reliable, and nearly indestructible, it pushed Swiss brands to the brink. But ironically, that same disruption helped mechani...
Anubhav Sharma, 07 Mar 2025 15:27
The Apple C1. (Image source: Apple)

How Apple's C1 modem came to be

CheckMag Apple has launched its first in-house C1 modem with the iPhone 16e, marking a major step toward modem independence. The C1 modem focuses on power efficiency, laying the groundwork for a future where Apple fully controls its modem ...
Antony Muchiri, 06 Mar 2025 22:08
First party support for syncing Linux with major cloud storage providers is none existant. However, there are options (Image Source: Rclone)

Guide: Sync Unraid or your Linux distro of choice with Google Drive

CheckMag Thanks to Valve and Proton, Linux is becoming a much more viable platform for work and play, but first party support for syncing common cloud services like OneDrive and Google Drive is none existent and unlike TruNAS and Synology ...
David Devey, 06 Mar 2025 18:46
A KNX protocol home server (Image source: Cosmin Ianculescu)

5 reasons to consider KNX for your smart home

Matter isn't the only standard for smart home appliances that's widely successful. KNX was conceived in Belgium over 30 years ago and the fact is, every one of us has at some point come in contact with it.
Cosmin Ianculescu, 03 Mar 2025 11:10
An HP EliteBook's cooling solution. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

How to fix a noisy laptop fan

CheckMag Is your Windows laptop fan driving you crazy with its constant whirring or rattling? This guide walks you through simple steps that may help you fix your noisy cooling solution, from cleaning out dust to replacing worn-out parts.
Antony Muchiri, 02 Mar 2025 08:57
A tutorial on making money -  or losing it? (Image source: Web3_ETH on YouTube)

Google taking months to shoot down large-scale crypto scam

CheckMag YouTube has been drowning in ads promising "1-2 ETH per day" for at least two months now. These ads typically take you to videos of people claiming to be AI bot developers who supposedly explain how to start making boatloads of mo...
Sergey Tarasov, 28 Feb 2025 13:27
Pictured: Update image for Friends of Jimbo 4 (Image Source: Playstack)

Balatro includes Fallout, Critical Role, and more in the 4th "Friends of Jimbo" update

CheckMag Balatro continues to have more collabs in the form of more deck customization in the 4th "Friend's of Jimbo" update. There's another 8 new deck customizations added this time, from Indie hits like Dead by Daylight to AAA titles li...
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 26 Feb 2025 23:50
The Pixel 9a should be available in more colours than just the black variant shown here. (Image source: Alexis Garza via Shane Craig)

The Pixel 9a could be Google's perfect foil to the Apple iPhone 16E

CheckMag The Pixel 9a is almost here to freshen up Google's mid-range smartphone offering. While the iPhone 16E rival is not expected to launch until next month, it may well be an ideal alternative to Apple's latest 'budget' smartphone tha...
Alex Alderson, 25 Feb 2025 14:31
Pictured from left to right, CasiMods' Nuclear Royale, the AE-1300 Gradient mod from Reddit, and CasiMods' G-Santos, or Santos De Cartier. (Image source: CasiMods and Reddit)

9 creative Casio mods that make stock Casio watches look boring

CheckMag A $20 Casio might seem like a simple watch, but with the right tweaks, it can turn into something way more exciting. Metal cases, negative displays, custom dials—these nine Casio mods prove that even the most affordable watches ca...
Anubhav Sharma, 23 Feb 2025 17:28
Apple's alleged decision to give the 'iPhone Fold' a compact form factor could help separate the device from the crowd, much like the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini. (Image source: Digital Trends)

iPhone Fold: Apple's first foldable could be the long-awaited iPhone 13 mini Pro and iPad mini Pro in one device

CheckMag Apple may be heading in a different direction for its first 'book-style' foldable than its Android peers. With the foldable market moving towards larger cover displays in recent years, rumours about Apple developing a smaller fold...
Alex Alderson, 21 Feb 2025 23:53
Pictured: Pokemon Presents Logo with Lumiose City in the background. (Image Source: Game Freak w/edits)

Pokémon Presents announced for February 27th: Predictions, rumors, and more

CheckMag As usual, the presentation will be available live on YouTube. Predictions around potential upcoming projects, details surrounding 2024's Game Freak "Teraleak", and more are covered in this article.
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 21 Feb 2025 02:03
Pictured: Tiny Pasture game logo (Image Source: CaveLiquid)

Cozy new game has pets strolling on your desktop

CheckMag A new idle game launched on February 17th, with furry friends to keep you accompanied through work and studies on sale for $5. These adorable things hang around your desktop, taking up minimal space and strolling on top of your ta...
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 20 Feb 2025 03:09
Handheld gaming: A Valve Steam Deck and a Lenovo Legion Go S. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Gaming handhelds: Here's what really matters

CheckMag The market for gaming handhelds is booming. New devices are springing up everywhere and more and more manufacturers are venturing into the segment. Too much choice can be paralyzing, so knowing what makes a good handheld is certai...
Marc Herter, 18 Feb 2025 03:28
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds revs its way onto all major consoles later in 2025. (Image Source: Sega)

Sonic Racing gets some fresh tires in new trailer for CrossWorlds

CheckMag Sega finally showed exciting new details for the new Sonic Racing game, CrossWorlds. This is how those interested can join the Closed Network Test later this month.
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 16 Feb 2025 15:49
The Apple iPhone SE 4 (R) is expected to boast an A18 SoC paired with 8 GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support. (Image source: ZoneOfTech)

iPhone SE 4: All that we know about Apple's upcoming budget iPhone

Leak Lounge The Apple iPhone SE 4 is set to see the light of day on the 19th of February. As tradition, the iPhone SE 4 will combine a modern flagship SoC with an older exterior design and a reduced feature set - making it the cheapest entry to the iPhone lineup. With just days to go, here is a quick roundup of all that we know so far. Last updated: February 15
Sambit Saha, 15 Feb 2025 18:56
The WalkOn F1 is a next-gen exoskeleton that allows users to put it on, and walk, unaided, increasing independence for paraplegic users (Image Source : Exoskeleton lab @KAIST - Edited)

Next-gen exoskeleton walks to its users—suits up automatically

CheckMag For people with complete paralysis, the dream of walking independently has often remained just that—a dream. But researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have turned that dream into reality wit...
Santiago Nino, 15 Feb 2025 18:43
The Galaxy Watch is what many people might use to track workouts and heart rate zones, so one would hope it was accurate (Image Source: David Devey / Notebookcheck)

Samsung smartwatch heart monitors are inaccurate and inflated, our testing confirms

CheckMag The Galaxy Watch has a market share of around 8.3% globally. That's a lot of people with a Galaxy Watch. These aren't for athletes, but for the average person that wants to track their health and their workouts. But the internet i...
David Devey, 13 Feb 2025 22:44
You can easily spend a hundred-odd hours in Avowed (image source: Xbox)

Avowed Review: Immersive world with immense replay value

Avowed is Obsidian Entertainment's newest RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. As the emperor's envoy, we're tasked with finding and eliminating the Dreamscourge in the Living Lands. This takes us down a perilous path that...
Anil Ganti, 13 Feb 2025 15:28
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen magnetic accessories malfunction (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Why Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's S Pen still doesn't work with magnetic accessories

CheckMag Samsung's continued reliance on Wacom's EMR technology for its S Pen means that magnetic accessories still won't work with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Samsung has acknowledged the incompatibility with a warning to users who have mag...
Julian van der Merwe, 11 Feb 2025 22:02
Catbox.moe - logo (Image source: Screenshot)

Catbox and Pomf: Free anonymous file hosting services that support hotlinking

CheckMag Google Drive, Mega, The Internet Archive - these are some of the most popular websites that let one store/share files for free. The issue with them is, they do not support hotlinking meaning they don't allow one to access content ...
Sergey Tarasov, 10 Feb 2025 23:42
Image source: Screenshot - Edited

Capcom Spotlight: Every highlight from this latest showcase

CheckMag On February 4, Capcom showed off spectacular details from Onimusha, Street Fighter 6, and more! Read on to find what some of the biggest announcements were from this exciting showcase, in our opinion.
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 05 Feb 2025 21:28
Image source: Screenshot - Edited

Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase debuts new monsters, beta info

CheckMag In February 4's double feature, Capcom showcased juicy (and gory!) new details in the Monster Hunter Showcase, which premiered following the Capcom Spotlight. A brand new spectacular locale was shown alongside details for the upco...
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 05 Feb 2025 21:28
Doing everyday things on Linux (Image source: Sascha Mölck, Notebookcheck)

Windows 10 support ending in 2025: Try out alternative operating systems without installing them

CheckMag The impending end of Windows 10 support (October 2025) means that many users may have to switch to a different OS. Alternative operating systems such as Linux and ChromeOS Flex can be tested on your own PC without affecting the ex...
Sascha Mölck, 03 Feb 2025 06:15
Invoke AI is a painless way of running a range of image generation models on your own hardware (Image Source: Invoke AI)

How to host your own AI image generator with Invoke AI and Stable Diffusion

CheckMag There are a number of tools which allow you to leverage your own AI image generator without relying on cloud services, which are often paid and come with a whole host of limitations. However, Invoke AI lets you run a range of mode...
David Devey, 31 Jan 2025 14:17
Snapdragon X Elite (Image source: Qualcomm)

Windows on ARM report: Why AMD & Intel laptops are often (still) the better choice over Snapdragon laptops

CheckMag Laptops with Snapdragon X ARM processors have been on the market since more than half a year and basically every manufacturer offers a few models. Microsoft also supports the new ARM laptops, but are they real alternatives to x86 devices? After plenty of reviews, the impressions are still mixed.
Andreas Osthoff, 29 Jan 2025 00:38
Graphene (Image source: AI-generated)

Graphene semiconductors inch closer to becoming reality

CheckMag The computing world may have just entered a new era, thanks to the development of the world’s first graphene-based semiconductor. This breakthrough could reshape our technological landscape, setting the stage for a future of quant...
Santiago Nino, 28 Jan 2025 19:52
YouTubers and tech outlets have posted camera comparisons between Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra, S24 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image source: SuperSaf)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes baby steps: Early camera comparison with iPhone 16 Pro Max and S24 Ultra

CheckMag Not much has changed on paper, at least when it comes to the camera. The Galaxy S25 Ultra got arguably one of the most boring camera hardware upgrades in recent years, but it's supposed to perform significantly better than its predecessor thanks to optimized software and loads of AI. We briefly summarize what reviewers think about their first photo and video tests while comparing the S25 Ultra to its predecessor as well as the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Alexander Fagot, 26 Jan 2025 20:11
The RTS fest will end tomorrow, January 27 (Image source: Steam)

Steam's RTS Fest ends in a day but what is Real Time Strategy?

CheckMag For its first sale of the year, Steam has ‘strategically’ started with the Real Time Strategy Fest (January 20 to January 27). This genre is full of constant frenetic action, and while you may find yourself stressed to begin with,...
Sasha (Tristan) Mathews, 26 Jan 2025 11:55
AMD's Ben Conrad delves into several key aspects of the new Ryzen AI 300 Series APUs. (Image via LinkedIn)

"Our big Middle cores are better than their army of little cores" AMD's Ben Conrad chats about some of the design decisions behind Ryzen AI APUs and what makes Strix Halo tick

Interview AMD announced several new Ryzen AI APUs across Strix Point, Kraken Point, Fire Range HX3D, and Strix Halo product lines at CES 2025. We sat down with AMD's Ben Conrad to discuss these APUs, what went into their design, and what th...
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 25 Jan 2025 19:03
Ventiva solid-state coolers (Image source: Dave2D / YouTube - edited)

Overview of laptop cooling solutions in 2025: Traditional meets cutting-edge

CheckMag Laptop cooling solutions are slowly but surely becoming quieter, more compact and more effective. We may soon see cutting-edge solid-state technologies challenge traditional solutions in both think-and-light and high-performance s...
Daniel Miron, 24 Jan 2025 23:16
Anyone who visits Apple and Google in California has something to say. Even if you don't get too far beyond the visitor center at either company. (Image source: Alexander Fagot, Notebookcheck)

A personal visit to Apple and Google in California: The differences could hardly be greater

CheckMag Want to drop by and say hello to Tim Cook at Apple or Sundar Pichai at Google? Of course, visitors to the two tech giants in Cupertino and Mountain View are rather limited in their choice of activities. Nevertheless, the stark differences in public access to the two headquarters are very revealing, even if you know nothing about the "open" Android or "closed" Apple ecosystems.
Alexander Fagot, 23 Jan 2025 07:12
The future of GPUs: Redefining innovation beyond silicon limits (Image source: AI-generated)

The great GPU slowdown

CheckMag As GPUs hit silicon limits, raw performance gains are slowing, shifting focus to architectural innovation and real-world metrics like frame latency. Technologies like AI-driven rendering and 3D stacking promise a new era, where ef...
Sebastian Jankowski, 21 Jan 2025 12:59
fujifilm 2025 cameras leak lounge

Fujifilm leaks point to 4 new launches for 2025 - here's what to expect from the new camera line-up

Leak Lounge Fujifilm looks to be preparing to introduce four new cameras in 2025. Here's everything the rumour mill has to say about the upcoming affordable X-E4, the fixed-lens, medium-format GFX100RF, the medium-format GFX Eterna cinema camera, and the ultra-compact half-frame camera with a 1-inch sensor. Last updated: January 20
Julian van der Merwe, 20 Jan 2025 20:11
Samsung Galaxy Book2 Go (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Tried and tested: Does Windows 11 24H2 provide a performance boost for older Windows on ARM laptops?

CheckMag The combination of the Snapdragon X processor and Windows 11 24H2 has given the Windows on ARM platform a significant performance boost. But do older ARM laptops also benefit from the improved version of Windows 11?
Sascha Mölck, 20 Jan 2025 00:58
Nintendo Switch 2 was officially announced on January 16 as leakers promised (Image source: Nintendo / YouTube)

Nintendo Switch 2: Top 5 features the trailer confirmed

CheckMag Nintendo has given fans a glimpse of the highly anticipated Switch 2 in the official announcement video, released January 16. These are the 5 changes the new console will bring that we consider most important.
Angel Capra, 16 Jan 2025 21:51
Big Helmet Heroes (Image source: Steam)

Exciting news for co-op fans: Big Helmet Heroes launching early February

CheckMag Big Helmet Heroes invites players into an epic 3D beat-'em-up adventure filled with adorable knights and surprising worlds. Launching February 6, 2025, this action-packed game is set to shine in 2-player co-op mode, offering a que...
Mohamed Elshawa, 16 Jan 2025 21:01
Split Fiction (Image source: Steam)

Split Fiction: A new local co-op adventure from the creators of It Takes Two

CheckMag Split Fiction, the upcoming local co-op game from Hazelight Studios, promises an innovative mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Launching on March 6, 2025, it features imaginative gameplay, unique mechanics, and a strong focus on teamwork,...
Mohamed Elshawa, 16 Jan 2025 12:57
Hidrate Spark (Image source: hidratespark.com)

Hidrate Spark smart water bottle long-term review

CheckMag While the weight and counterintuitive lock may be minor drawbacks, the benefits of increased water intake and the bottle’s overall functionality outweigh them. If you’re looking for a smart water bottle that will actually help you...
TJ Shiner, 16 Jan 2025 11:22
When manufacturers drop support for otherwise functional hardware, projects like OpenWRT are there to help keep you secure (Image Source: Amazon)

This Tailscale, Docker and Wireguard equipped router is OpenWRT compatible and blows away the competition on features and price

CheckMag When I got the notification that my Nighthawk R7000 reached "end of life" I started down the rabbit hole of looking to install custom firmware to keep what is otherwise perfectly functioning hardware secure. While I didn't manage ...
David Devey, 15 Jan 2025 12:29
Jordan VS Bird One on One (Image source: Eighties Baby)

Blast from the Past: Tiger Game.com

CheckMag If you were to ask most tech journalists what they consider the most innovative handheld console, they would say the Nintendo Switch. With its touch screen, portability, internet connectivity and AAA titles, it’s a definite win. I...
Andrew Cloud, 06 Jan 2025 23:58
The upcoming Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs are set to be the talk of the town in early 2025. (Image source: Nvidia, edited)

Blackwell goes mainstream: What to expect from the upcoming Nvidia RTX 50-series gaming GPUs

Leak Lounge It's a tacitly known fact that Nvidia's widely anticipated RTX 50-series gaming GPUs are poised to be unveiled at CES 2025. From the power-hungry RTX 5090 with 33% more CUDA cores than its predecessor, to the memory-starved RTX 50...
Sambit Saha, 05 Jan 2025 11:18
Advanced packaging, discrete-level graphics performance, AI-ready neural processing - they're all cool, but they're all increasingly expensive to make. (Image source: Intel, AMD)

The death of cheap laptop CPUs

CheckMag Budget laptops are dying, because budget laptop chips - real budget chips, not just last generation's leftovers - are already dead.
Matthew Lee, 05 Jan 2025 00:59
A price leak from Japan suggests a maximum of $500 for the iPhone SE 2025. (Image source: Technizo Concept)

Apple iPhone SE 4: First iPhone of 2025 may well be a bargain despite slight price increase

CheckMag 2024 is coming to a close and the launch of first 2025 iPhone is just around the corner, which will likely be in the crosshairs of bargain hunters. According to the latest price leak, the price tag will rise slightly, but the iPho...
Alexander Fagot, 31 Dec 2024 01:51
Path of Exile 2 is now available in early access, but I wouldn't recommend playing it now (image source: Grinding Gear Games)

I played Path of Exile 2 for 161 hours and now I regret every minute of it

CheckMag Path of Exile 2 early access kicked off on December 6. In my experience, some classes, specifically the ranged ones, are objectively better than others. Even then, the game is in desperate need of some tuning, especially for late-...
Anil Ganti, 23 Dec 2024 21:47
Chrome Flex user interface. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Windows 10 support to end in 2025 - longer lifespan for older laptops and PCs still possible thanks to Google ChromeOS Flex

CheckMag The impending end of Windows 10 support (October 2025) from Microsoft means that many owners of older computers will have to switch to a different operating system. One alternative could be Google's free ChromeOS Flex, which runs ...
Sascha Mölck, 23 Dec 2024 04:52
Xbox is expected to adopt an all platform-embracing strategy in the coming years. (Image Source: AI generated on Grok 2)

Microsoft on the verge of giving up on exclusives as upcoming Xbox console could run Windows and Epic, GOG, Steam game stores

CheckMag Microsoft may see itself adopting a radically new approach with Xbox in the coming months and years. Xbox is likely to become more and more platform agnostic as more first-party titles are expected to grace competing platforms lik...
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 22 Dec 2024 19:03
Image source: Kinguin.net, Microsoft with edits

Buying "used" Windows keys on Kinguin: Yes, it works (with a caveat)

CheckMag Buying Windows keys directly from Microsoft is expensive but more importantly, it's just not an option for older operating systems such as Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. This is where platforms like G2A and Kinguin come in as they allo...
Sergey Tarasov, 21 Dec 2024 15:46
It is highly unlikely that Xiaomi will release the Poco X7 Neo with the model number 2409FPCC4I. (Image source: Xiaomi)

New suggestions of a Xiaomi Poco X7 Neo release are a red-herring

CheckMag Various sources have latched onto the idea that Xiaomi will soon be replacing the Poco X6 Neo with the Poco X7 Neo. More reliable evidence suggests this will not be the case, though.
Alex Alderson, 12 Dec 2024 16:50
Winning is always fun (Image Source: Stephen Pereyra)

Fortnite Ballistic first-impressions: Fast, fun, and frustrating

Fortnite just dropped Ballistic into early access, a new tactical 5v5 game mode aimed at the Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant crowd. While the gameplay is solid, the team experience leaves much to be desired.
Stephen Pereyra, 12 Dec 2024 02:15
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Notebookcheck, 2022-04-20 (Update: 2025-11-17)