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An unboxed Pico 4 headset in all its glory. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Pico 4's wasted potential - Good hardware alone doesn’t cut it against Meta’s VR offerings

CheckMag Through the years, Meta's Quest VR headsets set themselves as the premiere choice for inexpensive standalone VR gaming. A competitor from the East rose up to challenge their reign, but it made the mistake of forgoing one crucial a...
Alfrancis Villapando, 05 Sep 2024 07:40
The foldable and lightweight Ossby Geo e-bike offers stylish looks and and useful features around the city, unfortunately its composite frame broke after just a few hours of actual use. (Image source: Alexander Fagot, Notebookcheck)

Ossby Geo: Broken frame after just a few days of using this lightweight, foldable e-bike made from recycled materials

CheckMag The European made Geo was originally supposed to weigh just 11 kilograms (24 pounds) in total, but came in at around 16 kg (35 pounds) when it was finally delivered to early Kickstarter backers in August of 2024. It's not just the award-winning folding design of this new e-bike from Spanish manufacturer Ossby that stands out amongst its peers of electric folding bikes but also the unusual features and the proposed sustainability of this lightweight city bike in 2024. Unfortunately, the promised aluminum-equivalent strength of the "composite frame" made from recycled materials disappoints - at least in my case. A way too short report of my personal experience with the Ossby Geo. Update: Manufacturer statement included
Alexander Fagot, 03 Sep 2024 14:19
Gem Manager (Image Source: Google)

Last week in Gemini Updates: OpenStax partnership, Gems, and more

CheckMag Google's Gemini AI received many improvements over the past week, including some premium features available to users of Gemini Advanced and Google Workspaces. With features focused on education and business, it is clear that Googl...
Stephen Pereyra, 02 Sep 2024 03:36
iPhone 16 is set arrive next month with a plethora of improvements, both internally as well as externally. (Image source: Unbox Therapy via YouTube)

Upcoming iPhone 16 and 16 Pro - New design, better cameras, unprecedented AI prowess, and more?

Leak Lounge Apple's upcoming flagships - iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro - are expected to make their debut at Apple's upcoming September 9 'Glowtime' event with a plethora of upgrades and refinements. Here is all that our readers can expect from the Cupertino giant's next-generation of high-end smartphones. Last updated: September 1
Sambit Saha, 01 Sep 2024 18:57
Power Bank Cabinet (Image Source: Alibaba)

$128 8 slot Power Bank may entice small shop owners

CheckMag Gone are the days of providing free power to patrons. This power bank rents power packs to customers on demand. With small business owners looking for ways to maximize their shops' revenue, this new Alibaba gadget may garner some ...
Stephen Pereyra, 30 Aug 2024 03:42
Chrome OS Flex (Image Source: Google)

Chrome OS Flex as a Windows replacement

CheckMag Windows is becoming less favorable as an OS daily driver for many users. Windows has recently faced various issues, ranging from complete system crashes to invasive privacy leaks. As users look for alternatives, many wonder if Chr...
Stephen Pereyra, 28 Aug 2024 23:34
Lenovo's ThinkBook 13x G4 is a great example of a laptop sporting a reverse notch (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Lenovo - check, HP and Dell - cross: How many laptop makers joined Apple in embracing the notch?

CheckMag Of the last 80 laptops tested by Notebookcheck, 27 have a notch; 21 out of those 27 come from Lenovo. Most of the established notebook makers such as HP and Dell seemingly have little enthusiasm for this visual design feature that Apple brought to the market in 2021. Update: Headline edited in response to comments on X.
Sergey Tarasov, 27 Aug 2024 22:03
Image source: Steam - edited

5 complete operating systems that work perfectly in a docker container, including macOS and Steam Headless

CheckMag The idea of running an entire operating system (especially one as bloated as Windows) in a container defeats the entire purpose of Docker. However, you can, and there are at least some valid reasons why you might want to. Whether ...
David Devey, 24 Aug 2024 18:37
An Ada Lovelace chip laid bare before the camera. (Image source: Nvidia)

Are top-end graphics cards ever coming to laptops?

CheckMag Laptops have always had to make do with leftovers, never getting a taste of the largest and most powerful chips reserved for desktop graphics cards. There are, the way I see it, several reasons as to why things are like this.
Alfrancis Villapando, 22 Aug 2024 19:04
GIMP 3.0 is nearing release, and it is set to introduce a number of game-changing features to the free Photoshop alternative. (Image source: Julian van der Merwe / Notebookcheck)

GIMP 3: 5 game-changing new features coming to the free Photoshop alternative

CheckMag It looks as though the long-awaited GIMP 3.0 release may be soon upon us, with the GNU Project announcing a string freeze for the latest developer preview build. Between overhauled colour management tools, a refined UI, and, final...
Julian van der Merwe, 22 Aug 2024 02:33
Exploring the wonderful world of paid apps on Android (Image source: Unsplash)

8 paid Android apps worth the one-time purchase (August 2024 edition)

CheckMag Android power users love splurging those hard-earned salaries on apps to make their lives not only more efficient, but full of fun as well. Let's take a look at some of the best paid Android apps for August 2024.
Jonathan Bester, 17 Aug 2024 08:48
The Legion Go is Lenovo's only gaming handheld release to date. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Lenovo's clarification about rumoured new gaming handheld releases still leaves room for Legion Go Lite

CheckMag A Lenovo representative recently clarified rumours about the possibility of the company releasing new Legion Go gaming handhelds. While the company has sought to dampen rumours, its statement still leaves space for the arrival of ...
Alex Alderson, 14 Aug 2024 13:01
The Sony Vaio UX was a tiny fully fledged PC that could fit in the palm of your hand. The closest form factor now seems to come with joypads. (Image Source: Sony)

The Ultra Mobile PC sadly seems to have been relegated to history, but here are 3 alternatives you can still buy today

CheckMag UMPCs or Ultra Mobile PCs were an entire category not so long ago. Offering unheard of performance in a package that could literally fit in the palm of your hand. Having dropped off people's radar there are still many that miss th...
David Devey, 11 Aug 2024 10:24
Image source: Own

Intel totally mishandled the 13/14th Gen desktop CPU crisis

CheckMag Instead of admitting the issue early on and being open about it, Intel chose to keep mum. Perhaps rather unsurprisingly, disaster followed.
Stanislav Kokhanyuk, 10 Aug 2024 21:10
Valve isn't know for keeping its Steam Deck Windows drivers up-to-date, but there are other options (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

Windows on Steam Deck - R.ID drivers promise better long term APU support than Valve

CheckMag While Windows on Steam Deck might seem counter intuitive, having a dual boot or purely Windows system can offer the ability to play games that aren't compatible with Steam OS. While Valve isn’t known for providing regular driver u...
David Devey, 10 Aug 2024 13:16
These classic PC games still hold up, especially with modern engine rebuilds. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons and Bethesda)

Old is new: 3 free remakes that revive classic PC games

CheckMag Looking for something to do this weekend? These three modern remakes slap much-needed coats of paint on older PC games. These are essentially engine rebuilds that add modern features to the classic titles while staying true to the...
Sam Medley, 08 Aug 2024 22:02
The RX 7900 XTX may be a great GPU for gaming, but 3D rendering benchmarks tell a completely different story. (Image source: AMD)

Radeon cards and 3D rendering jobs do not mix. Hobbyists and artists aren't amused about it

CheckMag AMD Radeon products have been fending Nvidia off rather well in recent years, providing better rasterization performance and more VRAM at a lower cost. That’s great for gamers, but what about everyone else? Update: Clarification o...
Alfrancis Villapando, 05 Aug 2024 20:09
Intel's Robert Hallock on all things Lunar Lake. (Image via LinkedIn)

"Conversations around ARM vs. x86 power are false" Intel's Robert Hallock on Lunar Lake's strategy and how it is well-poised to challenge ARM's efficiency narrative

Interview With Lunar Lake all set to officially launch ahead of IFA 2024 next month, NotebookCheck had an email chat with Intel's Robert Hallock, VP Technical Marketing on the rationale behind some of the architecture decisions, what can be...
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 05 Aug 2024 19:25
Toyota switched to Linux in 2011 (Image source: AI generated)

Toyota Motors and its Linux journey

CheckMag I spoke with Brian R Lyons of TMNA Toyota Motor Corp North America about the implementation of Linux in Toyota and Lexus infotainment systems. Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) is a version of Linux being used by several automotive man...
Malcolm Dean, 01 Aug 2024 15:27
The Asus ROG Ally X (Image source: Notebookcheck)

How fast would the ROG Ally X be with AMD Zen 5 Strix Point? We tested it out.

CheckMag The new ROG Ally X is the best Windows gaming handheld right now, but it still uses the familiar Zen 4-based Ryzen Z1 Extreme from AMD. How much performance gain could users expect if Asus had equipped it with one of the new Zen 5 processors instead? We analysed Zen 5’s performance at various power levels used by the ROG Ally X.
Andreas Osthoff, 01 Aug 2024 14:15
The graphics chip of the RTX 2070 (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Ages like fine wine - How good is the mobile RTX 2070 in 2024?

CheckMag Turing, the GPU generation that delivered upscaling and ray tracing, has now all but fallen into obscurity as compared to its still widely used Pascal and Ampere brethren. The desktop RTX 2070 may have been middling at best even a...
Alfrancis Villapando, 30 Jul 2024 22:12
An entry level laptop chip pushed to 107W and needing a big cooler? The phrase "putting lipstick on a pig" comes to mind. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Alive on Arrival? 3 changes that could've saved the ill-fated RX 6500 XT

CheckMag It's no secret that the littlest GPU out of AMD's RDNA 2 generation wasn't too warmly received. In fact, it was almost universally lambasted for being overpriced and underperforming, even in a time of shortages. But what if it did...
Matthew Lee, 30 Jul 2024 20:24
The Redmi Pad SE 4G shares little in common with the Redmi Pad SE. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi’s Redmi Pad SE 4G is a misnomer

CheckMag With the Redmi Pad SE 4G, Xiaomi breaks the tradition of what a cellular variant of a tablet should be. However, it can still make corrections.
Habeeb Onawole, 30 Jul 2024 16:50
Image source: Techspot

Cheaper ARM laptop chips could be a really big deal

CheckMag Lost in the Snapdragon X Elite hype is the prospect of lower-end Qualcomm laptop chips taking the market by storm as these hold so much more promise for a true revolution than their costlier counterparts do.
Stanislav Kokhanyuk, 29 Jul 2024 22:48
The Windows Start Menu is full of bloat, but this can easily be removed with a fresh install using a Windows Unattended Setup file (Image source: domsch1988 via Reddit)

Better than Tiny11: Here's how to debloat Windows 11 using Microsoft's own tools

CheckMag Windows 11 is packed full of garbage which is one of the reasons people are determined to stick with Windows 10 or look for alternatives. Tiny11 is impressive, especially now it works on all Windows 11 variants. However there is a...
David Devey, 27 Jul 2024 20:21
Is the Galaxy Z Flip 6 the laziest Samsung folding phone ever? (Image Source: Samsung)

Is the Galaxy Z Flip 6 the laziest Samsung folding phone ever? 5 things to consider before buying one

CheckMag The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has arrived, maintaining a similar look to its predecessor but incorporating a faster processor, extended battery life, and advanced AI features. If you're considering this phone in 2024, below are five key det...
Triet Le, 25 Jul 2024 13:32
The Amazfit Active Edge runs a custom operating system called Zepp OS. (Image source: Amazfit)

4 best budget non-WearOS smartwatches

CheckMag The WearOS smartwatch scene already has a handful of great choices for those who are looking for a smartwatch to buy. However, if you don’t want a WearOS watch, here are four other smartwatches that you can buy, and the best part ...
Habeeb Onawole, 24 Jul 2024 08:34
I don't want to learn why, Google. I want to leave me alone and let me use my computer. (Image Source: gHacks, edited.)

When exactly did web browsers turn into helicopter parents?

CheckMag We're sorry, but unfortunately NBC Notebookprotect Safe Browsing filter doesn't recognise this blurb. This article might try to do unpredictable things to your computer.
Matthew Lee, 24 Jul 2024 01:01
5 reasons the iPhone 17 will be worth the wait (Image Source: Apple)

Don’t buy the iPhone 16 yet: 5 reasons the iPhone 17 will be worth the wait

CheckMag While the iPhone 16 lineup is still months from launch, recent leaks indicate that waiting for the iPhone 17 might be the better choice if you’re not opting for the Pro models. Below are five key features of the iPhone 17 series t...
Triet Le, 23 Jul 2024 20:18
Can the Oura ring 4 beat Samsung Galaxy ring in design and contactless payment? (Image source: Oura)

Can the Oura ring 4 beat Samsung Galaxy ring in design and contactless payment? Top 4 features to expect

CheckMag The recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy ring has captured attention, but it's important to acknowledge Oura's role in popularizing smart rings. The Oura ring 3, while still the flagship, is becoming outdated. Although Oura hasn't ...
Triet Le, 22 Jul 2024 19:46
CrowdStrike Falcon Platform (Image source: CrowdStrike)

How and why CrowdStrike has a massive market share

Magazine CrowdStrike’s recent failure has been reported as the “Largest IT outage in history,” which leaves many to wonder why so many critical points of the global infrastructure rely on their platform. CrowdStrike’s cyber security servic...
Stephen Pereyra, 20 Jul 2024 09:41
A caricature of AMD crushing Intel's failing CPUs. (Image source: Own)

Intel's own blunders have it backed into a corner as AMD Zen 5 chips near

CheckMag Intel Raptor Lake i9 chip owners are plagued by system crashes that can be traced back to the chips' excessive voltage and wattage. AMD might seize the opportunity with the release of Zen 5 and while Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake are ...
Alfrancis Villapando, 19 Jul 2024 19:21
A Lunar Lake chip (Image source: Intel)

Intel is far from being out and has all it takes to make a comeback

CheckMag The deck is not fully stacked against Intel yet. The company still has tricks up its sleeve. Some of those are coming onboard Lunar Lake family chips which might prove enough for Intel to triumph in the laptop segment of the marke...
Stanislav Kokhanyuk, 19 Jul 2024 13:10
The Raspberry Pi has a massive selection of add on boards that make it a diverse and capable system (Image source: Pimoroni)

5 of the best accessories for turning the Raspberry Pi 5 into a powerhouse

CheckMag The addition of a PCIe connector on the Raspberry Pi 5 opens the door for a range of cheap add-ons that can significantly increase its potency and capability, including NVME drives, 2.5 gigabit ethernet and support for running pre...
David Devey, 19 Jul 2024 11:34
Don't count older laptops out; these old dogs can learn some new tricks. (Image source: generated by DALL-E 3)

Age before beauty: Why a decade-old laptop is more than enough

CheckMag While buying the latest tech is tempting, older desktop and laptop computers are often more than enough to meet the demands of modern computing work. An older machine may require some time and tinkering to get up to par, but the p...
Sam Medley, 17 Jul 2024 20:58
Socketed laptop CPUs: The gravestone of a bygone era (Image source: Own)

Socketed mobile CPUs – the modular laptop potential that lived in the worst time possible

CheckMag Nvidia’s MXM modules may have let the users upgrade their laptop’s graphics cards up until Ampere days, but only mating those upgraded graphics cards to an upgraded socketed mobile CPU would truly make such a laptop a force to be ...
Alfrancis Villapando, 16 Jul 2024 19:24
Social engineering: Perpetrators employ devious methods to gain access to your personal data. (Image source: Bermix Studio on Unsplash)

Port-out hijacking: A how-to for keeping you safe from SIM card swap attacks

CheckMag So many people rely on mobile devices of all stripes to keep their data secure. Let’s look at why this is not such a good idea - and the options available to fight back.
Jonathan Bester, 15 Jul 2024 22:51
Illumination has come a long way since the days gas lighting was the order of the day. (Image source: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash)

A history of technology for the uninitiated

CheckMag Imagine yourself transported back to the 1800s, a time when gas lamps were the primary source of illumination in cities and horse-drawn carriages were at the pinnacle of transportation. Now imagine yourself in the shoes of someone...
Jonathan Bester, 15 Jul 2024 09:40
Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees with the money made on people's searches (Image source: Ecosia)

I gave the search engine that plants trees a shot and so should you

CheckMag Ecosia is a search engine that turns the Web searches people make daily into trees. Does it stand a chance against Google in terms of features and search result relevance? Time to find out.
Ion Bin Noor, 13 Jul 2024 22:32
The CMF Phone 1 may be getting new cases and accessories from third-party manufacturers. (Image source: CMF by Nothing)

4 CMF Phone 1 accessories and cases I’d love to see

CheckMag The CMF Phone 1 only has a handful of official cases and accessories, but more are expected to be released in the future. Here are a couple of case and accessories that would be nice to see get made.
Habeeb Onawole, 10 Jul 2024 22:03
The Raspberry Pi 5 is quite capable of handling multiple Docker containers (Image source: Raspberry Pi)

3 useful low resource Docker containers which will also run on a Raspberry Pi 5

CheckMag You don’t have to invest in expensive hardware to run a home server. With Docker you can run containerised applications on almost anything including PCs, Macs, laptops and even a Raspberry Pi. Ideally it needs to be on 24/7 which ...
David Devey, 10 Jul 2024 10:28
Nothing will sell replaceable shells for the CMF Phone 1 and they will be available in four colors. (Image source: CMF by Nothing)

Nothing CMF Phone 1’s replaceable shell brings back what made phones fun

CheckMag With no Glyph Interface like on the Nothing Phone (2a), the CMF Phone 1 manages to still be exciting with its removable rear cover. While not unheard of, removable phone covers have become a rarity in the smartphone industry, so i...
Habeeb Onawole, 04 Jul 2024 12:57
Maybe marketing claims that portray the Cybertruck as some sort of heavyweight sports car are not the best idea. (Image source: Tesla)

First Cybertruck rollover accident highlights flawed Tesla marketing — maybe a truck shouldn't cosplay as a sports car

CheckMag The first recorded Cybertruck rollover has emerged out of Vicksburg, Mississippi. While it looks like simple driver error or circumstance were most likely the cause, Tesla's lofty claims about the Cybertruck's low centre of gravit...
Julian van der Merwe, 04 Jul 2024 03:23
A flagship chip, high-end display, and a pretty large battery are among the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro's top features. (Image source: OnePlus)

OnePlus and the 2MP camera curse

CheckMag OnePlus's line of affordable flagship phones is known for offering mostly high-end features at a more pocket-friendly price than its main flagship series. Unfortunately, OnePlus keeps shooting itself in the foot by employing a pra...
Habeeb Onawole, 01 Jul 2024 18:00
Is it possible to daily drive an Android device without using any of Google's services? (Source: Google / Notebookcheck)

De-Googling a phone, is it possible to live without Google on your Android device?

CheckMag As technology users, we either knowingly or unknowingly hand over our data to large tech companies on a daily basis. In an attempt to get away from the overwatch of Google, I decided to try running a de-Googled phone. This is how ...
David Devey, 01 Jul 2024 10:22
It's been a long time since there's been serious effort put into compact graphics cards above the midrange. (Image: Inno3D)

Give us real SFF, Nvidia, you cowards.

CheckMag 2.5 slots? Twelve inches? You call that small form factor, Jensen Huang? Absolutely not. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!
Matthew Lee, 30 Jun 2024 16:58
4 things we can expect from Apple's next iPhone (Source: Apple)

Will the iPhone 16 be foldable? 4 things we can expect from Apple's next iPhone

CheckMag The iPhone 16 is expected to introduce a variety of upgrades that could enhance Apple's flagship device and reduce the gap between the standard iPhone and the Pro series. However, these details will only be confirmed at Apple's of...
Triet Le, 29 Jun 2024 02:38
What’s happening with Windows 11 (Source: Unsplash)

What’s happening with Windows 11 and 3 key reasons why you should not update

CheckMag While Windows 11 is considered a solid operating system, it has failed to generate much excitement, leading many people to question the necessity of switching from Windows 10. Below are three of the most annoying things about Wind...
Triet Le, 28 Jun 2024 10:58
Samsung Galaxy ring: Health tech innovation or another downfall? (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy ring can last for 9 days on a single charge but will you buy it?

CheckMag Smart rings, with the Oura ring at the forefront, have steadily increased in popularity. Samsung's entry into this market holds promise, but it is not without its challenges. Whether the Galaxy ring will be a health tech innovatio...
Triet Le, 27 Jun 2024 01:39
Featurephones are increasing in popularity as a way of reducing smartphone use, but you do lose a significant number of features (Source: HMD Global)

As schools look to ban smartphones and society realises the impact of doom scrolling, here are 3 phones that can help curb your smartphone addiction

CheckMag Society is waking up to the notion that smartphones may not be the best thing for our mental health, or our time management. Governments are looking to ban phones in schools and a part of the population is beginning to ditch smart...
David Devey, 26 Jun 2024 12:01
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Notebookcheck, 2022-04-20 (Update: 2025-11-17)