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Notebookcheck opinion articles

Occasionally, our writers can share their personal opinion concerning current events with Notebookcheck readers in the form of opinion articles to encourage debate.

Notebookcheck strives to be an unbiased and independent technology publication with a main focus on objective data oriented reviews, along with comprehensive CPU and GPU benchmark score aggregation and delivering trustworthy, transparently sourced news articles on a daily basis.

Notebookcheck has around 80 experienced contributors from all over the world producing written content, as of 2025. We offer our writers an opportunity to share their views with the readers in the form of opinion articles with the goal of encouraging and shaping public debates, in which all parties are welcome to partake. This is why we have a comments section at the end of each article. Readers are not required to sign up to participate.

Opinion articles only express the individual opinion of the author, and not of that of the entire editorial team. To avoid any possible confusion, these articles are clearly labeled as „comment“ and have a distinct visual style as compared to news articles and reviews.

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additional restrictions: Opinion
An image of Invincible from Season 4 Episode 4 "Hurm".

🎙️ Opinion PieceInvincible's newest episode doesn't deserve the hate it's getting

Mark Grayson is travelling into the Underrealm with Damien Darkblood in "Hurm," the fourth episode of Invincible Season 4. Released March 25 on Prime Video, this chapter gets rid of battles and the core comic-book storyline, and trades it for some much-needed reflection before a crazy reunion.
Anubhav Sharma, 25 Mar 2026 19:48
Sony could focus more heavily on exclusive titles again in the future.

🎙️ Opinion PieceSony’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.

🎙️ Opinion PieceWhy 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

🎙️ Opinion PiecePixel 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

🎙️ Opinion PieceHow 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
Best smartphones to buy in spring 2026

The best smartphones, spring 2026 - 26 phones compared

The really big brands are keeping a low profile at the turn of the year, but that doesn't mean that there hasn't been anything new in the last three months. Eye-catchers from smaller manufacturers, new battery capacity records, exciting mid-range phones, and more are what kept us intrigued in the last months.
Florian Schmitt, 22 Mar 2026 17:47
Nothing Phone 4a Pro hands-on

🎙️ Opinion PieceNothing 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
Caira19 camera intelligence

Apple is looking to buy a new "camera app" for the new iPhone - targets Halide's creators

Apple is playing "dirty" to fix the iPhone camera. From failed secret talks with Halide's team to a $2 billion AI shopping spree, Cupertino is buying the competition to stay on top in 2026. Is your favorite app next?
Martin Filipov, 21 Mar 2026 23:09
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
Frame Generation is great when it's needed, but only as a bonus feature that inflates numbers, not as a cure-all.

🎙️ Opinion PieceFrame 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
Nvidia DLSS 5 changes the look of games dramatically.

🎙️ Opinion PieceNvidia 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
Superheroes Invincible and Rex Splode playing their corresponding characters in the upcoming Invincible VS fighting game.

🎙️ Opinion PieceInvincible 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 2026 Steam Controller (or Steam Controller 2), playing Hollow Knight: Silksong.

🎙️ Opinion PieceWhy 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.

🎙️ Opinion PieceMarathon 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.

🎙️ Opinion PieceTwo 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 Apple iPhone 17e makes many compromises for a $200 price reduction.

🎙️ Opinion PieceApple'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
Samsung phone fingerprint scanner

🎙️ Opinion PieceIt’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 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.

🎙️ Opinion PieceSamsung 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
Promotional game art for for Highguard

“Blame the gamers” backfires: Highguard dev’s tirade over reviews and memes draws heavy criticism

In a now-deleted, lengthy post on X, the dev publicly called out gamers and content creators for the game's failure.
Rahim Amir Noorali, 17 Feb 2026 02:42
Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3. (Image Source: Larian Studios)

No Rest for the Wicked dev claims he never liked Baldur’s Gate 3’s $60 Early Access price, saying early supporters should get “some extra love”

No Rest for the Wicked’s developer recently explained why the game launched at a lower Early Access price. According to him, players who support a game early should get something extra in return.
Abdul Haddi, 30 Jan 2026 00:00
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)

🎙️ Opinion PieceSega-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
Is this Nothing's new logo? (Image source: Nothing)

Nothing teases a rebrand as it unveils a new logo

Nothing seems to be planning a rebrand as it enters into its sixth year. The London-based manufacturer has shared what is believed to be its new logo.
Habeeb Onawole, 20 Jan 2026 23:18
"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
Official Nvidia G-Sync Pulsar comparison (Image Source: Nvidia)

🎙️ Opinion PieceG-Sync Pulsar crowned biggest leap in gaming monitors since CRT by 3rd party benchmarks

Digital Foundry, Hardware Unboxed, and other reputable sources are singing the praises of Nvidia's latest & greatest gaming monitor advancement and its elimination of sample-and-hold blur. It's not perfect, but motion has reportedly never been clearer on a flat panel.
Christopher Harper, 12 Jan 2026 14:40
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 opening sequence featuring Yuji Itadori flanked by key characters, shown in a stylised purple-tinted visual. (Image source: Mappa, Crunchyroll)

JJK Season 3 is out, and Mappa is all about art in the new opening song

Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 has arrived with a striking opening sequence that is already drawing attention online. Beyond its music and animation, fans have noticed visual references to historical artworks that appear to mirror key characters and themes from the Culling Game arc.
Praneeta, 11 Jan 2026 17:18
While a foldable seemed like it would have a number of great use cases, the reality turned out to be full of compromise (Image Source: Notebookcheck)

🎙️ Opinion PieceBuyer's remorse: Jack of all trades, master of none, 3 months with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

CheckMag After years of owning Google's latest flagships and getting bored with the minor iterations, I decided to make the jump to my first foldable. While on paper, the extra screen real estate was its biggest selling point, the reality of owning a foldable is to compromise in almost every way.
David Devey, 11 Jan 2026 13:54
An image of the Fallout co-creator, Tim Cain (image source: IMDB)

Fallout co-creator: endless online arguments are pushing people out of gaming, not saving it

Fallout co-creator Tim Cain warns that toxic, taste-based arguments in gaming are driving both players and developers away from the medium, as online debates increasingly dismiss the legitimacy of differing priorities like frame rate, visuals, or narrative features. In response, Cain urges fans to shift focus from fighting to funding, arguing that “buy the games you want to see more of” is the most effective way to shape the industry’s future.
Rahim Amir Noorali, 10 Jan 2026 20:14
Fable (2026) footage. (Image Source: Microsoft Xbox)

Fable 4 & other upcoming multi-plat hits to be shown at Xbox Direct in 2 weeks

Xbox, now the largest third-party game publisher and not simply a console manufacturer, is showcasing at least three major upcoming releases on January 22nd.
Christopher Harper, 09 Jan 2026 09:12
A swollen battery in a Galaxy Ring can be painful. (Image source: Zone of Tech)

🎙️ Opinion PieceFirst ear infections, now potential loss of fingers: Samsung ignores health risks of Galaxy Ring

After Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro caused serious ear infections in numerous customers, a Galaxy Ring with a swollen battery has crushed a user's finger. Samsung's response is the same as it was back then: the health and safety of customers is clearly not a priority.
Hannes Brecher, 08 Jan 2026 17:57
Windows logo in a dumpster. (Image source: ChatGPT Image 1.5; Anastase Maragos on Unsplash; edited)

I dumped Windows 11 for Linux, and you should too

CheckMag With the growing number of users jumping from Windows to Linux, I decided to fully take the plunge and dive deep into the Open Source ocean. A few months and several headaches later, it has proved to be the best computer-related decision I've made in over a decade (and perhaps in my entire life).
Sam Medley, 05 Jan 2026 14:28
A collage showing the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Pixel 10, and OnePlus 13. (Image source: Samsung, Google, & OnePlus)

🎙️ Opinion Piece2025 was the year of blue smartphones: Here are 10 of the more stunning ones

There's always a color that manufacturers veer towards in a year, launching several of their products in the same or similar hue. For 2025, Blue seems to have been that color as several brands including Google, OnePlus, Motorola, Samsung, and Xiaomi launched at least one blue phone.
Habeeb Onawole, 01 Jan 2026 15:36
Yami Yugi mod in Dragon Ball FighterZ, summoning a legendary monster for a Super Move. (Image Source: Kongmeng on YouTube)

🎙️ Opinion PieceYu-Gi-Oh! is now playable in Dragon Ball FighterZ

Modder Kongmeng brings Yami Yugi, main character of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, to Dragon Ball FighterZ via PC game modding. But this is no common cosmetic mod—a fully-custom moveset, including monster summons, spell cards, and even the ability to lose by running out of cards, are all present.
Christopher Harper, 25 Dec 2025 07:34
"You were looking for the game, so I MADE IT." - Dan Lespect has created the game of our ads, turning the concept into a satisfying title. (Image Source: Dan Lespect)

Someone actually made one of those fake ad games, and it's pretty good!

YouTuber The Greatest Developer has made a strong debut onto the platform. In his video released on Nov 27, 2025, The Greatest Developer unveils Real War (Not Fake), a take on one of the many fake ad games that's surprisingly fun and addictive. The content creator has 2 videos listed as of Dec 18.
Santiago Nino, 18 Dec 2025 04:10
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition touchscreen navigated by, well, touch... (Image source: Darryl Linington - Notebookcheck)

🎙️ Opinion PieceCan the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition touchscreen replace a traditional mouse?

I put my Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition's touchscreen to the ultimate test: using it exclusively for a week. Can it really replace your traditional mouse? Find out the pros, cons, and surprising results.
Darryl Linington, 13 Dec 2025 08:54
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s Stranger Things update brings Hawkins to life with story-driven helicopter missions inspired by the Netflix series. (Image source: Microsoft Flight Simulator)

Microsoft Flight Simulator transforms into a Stranger Things game in this free update

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is known for realism, not supernatural thrills, but a surprise crossover with Netflix’s Stranger Things changes that. A free update lets players explore a faithfully recreated Hawkins, Indiana, blending grounded aviation with missions straight out of the Upside Down.
Santiago Nino, 12 Dec 2025 23:09
Zimaboard 2 as a home server

🎙️ Opinion PieceSelf-hosting: 4 reasons I still haven’t taken the plunge

I find the idea of self-hosting fascinating. I read about it regularly, and as someone who reviews PC hardware, I’m practically surrounded by ideal conditions—and gear—to finally get started. I’ve even tested devices that would be perfect for it. Yet despite thinking about it constantly, I still haven’t fully committed. Why?
Christian Hintze, 12 Dec 2025 12:31
 The Cyberpunk universe is stepping into a new arena with a physical trading card game that brings the world of Night City to your tabletop. (Image Source: YouTube video)

Cyberpunk trading card game brings Night City to the tabletop with exclusive, limited time rewards for early followers

2026 will be a good year for Cyberpunk 2077 and Edgerunner fans. A new kind of Cyberpunk experience is on the horizon, and this one doesn’t require a controller or a screen. Fans of the series will be able to dive into Night City in a whole new way with the officially licensed Cyberpunk Trading Card Game (TCG), developed by WeirdCo in collaboration with CD Project Red, coming to Kickstarter in 2026.
Santiago Nino, 11 Dec 2025 04:03
Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania, a new Dreams level breathing life into a classic, made by fans. (Image source: Mumbomania Dreams page)

There’s a new Banjo-Kazooie game you may be able to play for free…but there’s a catch

It’s been years since Rare’s beloved bear-and-bird duo headlined a new adventure, but a pair of dedicated fans just delivered the closest thing we’ve had to a new Banjo-Kazooie game, and it’s totally free to play. Well…kind of.
Santiago Nino, 09 Dec 2025 07:30
Work-life balance continues going for a toss in Silicon Valley. (Image source: AI generated)

xAI employee works 36 hours without sleep, higher-ups mock work-life balance while Elon chimes in laughing

While a decent work-life balance might be a legal right in many parts of the world, it is less so in Silicon Valley. Recently, an xAI employee revealed working 36 hours straight without any rest, and the reaction of his colleague is now doing the rounds on the internet.
Sambit Saha, 03 Dec 2025 18:55
Two satellites docking in space powered by Obruta's RPOD Kit. (Image source: Kevin Stadnyk on Unsplash)

Google wants data centers in space by 2027, and while it may seem smart, the reality is way more complicated

Google’s Project Suncatcher aims to build AI data centers in space. The company's pitch is near-limitless solar energy. But experts say cooling in a vacuum is difficult, and the plan could worsen space debris and light pollution already troubling scientists.
Anubhav Sharma, 02 Dec 2025 16:41
The Timex Marlin Moon Phase 40mm (left), and the MTP-M305L watches (right), pictured. (Image source: Timex/Casio)

The best (affordable) moon phase watches under $200

CheckMag Moon phase watches are gaining ground for their charm and appeal. Given this is the 100th anniversary of the first moonphase complication, this list rounds up 5 of the best moonphase watches under $200, including picks from Casio, Timex, Fossil, and Citizen.
Anubhav Sharma, 25 Nov 2025 10:37
3 smartwatches on 1 arm: too expensive, too bloated, too invasive (image source: AI-generated, ChatGPT)

🎙️ Opinion PieceBig-brand smartwatches are overpriced, bloated, and invasive

My old Amazfit Bip didn’t exactly die, but over the years it started looking pretty rough. So I went looking for a simple smartwatch with minimal features at a similar price — turns out that hardly exists anymore. Most smartwatches are stuffed with functions I don’t need. That not only costs more money than I’m willing to spend but usually eats into the battery life I actually care about.
Christian Hintze, 24 Nov 2025 13:22
Microsoft Surface Pro keyboards become worn out quickly due to the poor choice of cover materials. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

🎙️ Opinion PieceUgly, dirty Microsoft Surface keyboards: Why high-tech computers and low-tech fabrics don’t mix

Microsoft Surface keyboards covered with Alcantara and polymers are an example of a poor design choice due to their durability and cleaning issues, which result in thousands upon thousands of non-recyclable, worn-out keyboards entering landfills each year.
David Chien, 23 Nov 2025 01:29
Thomas M. and Darryl Linington celebrating the recovery of the stolen Samsung S21 FE. (Image source: Notebookcheck - Darryl Linington)

Stolen, found, retrieved: How a Samsung S21 FE was recovered using online tracking tech

Inside the high-tech world of smartphone tracking: A real-world demonstration of how Google and Samsung’s location systems can help mobile users to claw back their stolen devices... and the essential features every phone owner should activate to protect their device and data.
Darryl Linington, 21 Nov 2025 11:21
The Neo Geo AES was like unobtanium for most when it released in 1990, but offered the exact experience that could be had in the local arcade, for a price (Image Source: Amazon)

🎙️ Opinion PieceThe '90s console everyone wanted, but no-one could afford: The best game from every genre

CheckMag The Neo Geo offered a home experience that most could only find at the local diner, eatery or arcade, and few could afford. Here are the best games for it you may have missed in every genre.
David Devey, 20 Nov 2025 10:48
The Logitech MX Master 4 in Graphite colorway (Image source: Abhinav Fating/Notebookcheck)

I used the Logitech MX Master 4 for gaming so you don't have to

The MX Master 4 is the latest mouse in Logitech’s long-running MX Master range. A direct successor to the MX Master 3S brings some notable upgrades, which surely keep it in the race for the best mouse on the market. The highly customizable mouse now comes with exceptional battery life and a comfortable ergonomic shape.
Abhinav Fating, 17 Nov 2025 18:43
An assortment of various community-designed Steam Machine skins from the r/Steam subreddit. (Image source: r/Steam)

Steam Machine: Top community-made concept designs (so far)

CheckMag Fans are already reimagining Valve’s new Steam Machine with creative, funny and throwback concept skins. From dynamic displays to meme cubes, these community-made designs are an indicator of how anticipation for the Steam Machine is high and live.
Anubhav Sharma, 17 Nov 2025 17:44
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Notebookcheck, 2020-06- 2 (Update: 2025-07-30)