Notebookcheck

Review Snippet

     restrict settings
additional restrictions: Review Snippet
The Honor V30 Pro is a hard-to-recommend camera beast

DxOMark | The Honor V30 Pro is a hard-to-recommend camera beast

The Honor V30 phones were released a few months ago. The V30 Pro, in particular, is notable for being the first non-Huawei phone to sport the huge 40 MP IMX600. That move has paid off sweetly, too, as the phone manages to deliver ...
Ricci Rox, Sat, 18 Jan 2020 08:04:00 +0100
Three generations of 14 nm: Core i7-10510U offers just 20 percent faster multi-thread performance than the average Core i7-8550U

Three generations of 14 nm: Core i7-10510U offers just 20 percent faster multi-thread performance than the average Core i7-8550U

If you're in the market for a new laptop, you won't be missing all that much by going with an older Whiskey Lake-U model. The hexa-core Core i7-10710U looks to be the only Comet Lake-U SKU to offer a significant gen-to-gen raw per...
Allen Ngo, Fri, 17 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0100
The Samsung Galaxy A51 has what it takes to succeed.

Samsung Galaxy A51: Another success?

One of the most successful Samsung smartphones last year was the Galaxy A50. We tested its successor and tried to find out whether the good results are likely to continue.
Florian Schmitt, Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:40:00 +0100
Automatic ambient mode: Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab: good looking tablet as smart home hub

Lenovo's Yoga Smart Tab includes a built-in stand, and promises superb voice recognition capabilities thanks to its multi-array microphones. And since this does not require too much performance its major weakness can be found some...
Mike Wobker, Wed, 15 Jan 2020 22:35:00 +0100
The Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15API, an affordable office laptop powered by an Athlon APU. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15API: AMD's Athlon 300U APU offers more performance than Intel's low cost offerings

The Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15API scores with its fast SSD, quiet fan and low temperatures. Its display and battery life are weak points, in our opinion. Its AMD Athlon 300U APU outshines Intel's alternatives too.
Alex Alderson, Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:48:00 +0100
Acer Swift 5 SF514-54T-501U

Acer Swift 5: The 14-inch ultrabook fares a lot better than its predecessor

The new 14-inch Acer Swift 5 continues to weigh less than 1 kg. But the truly impressive thing about this model is that the manufacturer has managed to address almost all aspects that were criticized about the predecessor and crea...
Christian Hintze, Sun, 12 Jan 2020 17:02:00 +0100
Lenovo Yoga C740-15IML disappoints with very dim display

Lenovo Yoga C740-15IML disappoints with very dim display

Nowadays, most people would expect a high-quality convertible for more than $1,000 to be equipped with a decent display. Unfortunately, the Lenovo Yoga C740-15IML disappoints in this regard, since there appears to be both a very b...
Benjamin Herzig, Sat, 11 Jan 2020 23:20:00 +0100
Useful software from the manufacturer: A kid's mode and tablet manager for the Lenovo Tab M8 HD

Lenovo Tab M8 HD: Slim tablet for browsing with useful software additions

The second edition of Lenovo's Tab M8 HD is characterized by good workmanship, a modern design and comparably slim bezels. On top of the standard Android system, the tablet also has a kid's mode and a useful tablet manager.
Mike Wobker, Fri, 10 Jan 2020 11:19:00 +0100
With the 6.2 model, Nokia continues to rely on the Android One platform

Nokia 6.2 Smartphone in Review: Android One was a great choice for Nokia

The Nokia 6.2 is a cheap mid-range smartphone from the Android One program. Thanks to a minimal and well-optimized user interface, even the relatively low-end Nokia phone runs smoothly.
Marcus Herbrich, Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:56:00 +0100
The CAT S52 looks attractive and slim – according to the dimensions of an outdoor smartphone at least...

CAT S52: The outdoor smartphone for design fans?

The CAT S52 wants to be sturdy yet fancy. The camera shouldn't be neglected here, and this is often not particularly great with outdoor smartphones. We have summarized the results of our review for you here.
Florian Schmitt, Tue, 07 Jan 2020 05:53:00 +0100
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) is a compact Android tablet with deficits. (Image source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019): A budget tablet that disappoints in many ways

Our recent review of the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) revealed some weak points about Samsung's latest budget tablet. In particular, the performance of its SoC is not up to scratch and holds back the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) in daily us...
Alex Alderson, Sat, 04 Jan 2020 02:22:00 +0100
Good build quality with poor performance: the Lenovo Tab M7

Lenovo Tab M7: Fire 7 alternative with modern design

With the Tab M7, Lenovo shows that “low-priced” does not always mean “cheap”. The build quality of the Tab M7 is very good and the modern design makes all other low-priced tablets look obsolete. Unfortunately, the system performan...
Mike Wobker, Tue, 31 Dec 2019 22:43:00 +0100
These are the best and worst Intel Core i7 Ice Lake laptops of 2019

These are the best and worst Intel Core i7 Ice Lake laptops of 2019

Dell and Microsoft have the best implementation of the Core i7-1065G7 thus far with HP being near the bottom. When looking at the extremes, the fastest i7-1065G7 laptop is able to outperform the slowest by 50 percent in multi-thre...
Allen Ngo, Sun, 29 Dec 2019 03:01:00 +0100
Lenovo's Privacy Guard ePrivacy Filter is not very effective

Lenovo's Privacy Guard ePrivacy Filter is not very effective

Lenovo's first attempt of an integrated privacy filter is not very convincing. The picture quality is not affected, but the privacy filter only works at low bri...
Intel Core i5-8265U | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | 14" | 1.2 kg
Andreas Osthoff, Fri, 27 Dec 2019 20:00:00 +0100
Long-term performance: The Lenovo IdeaPad S540-13API

Lenovo IdeaPad S540: AMD is now the obvious choice

With AMD's Ryzen 5 3550H, ultra-thin and mobile laptops can now maintain their performance level over a longer period of time. As our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad S540-13API shows, users do not need to worry about any drawbacks ca...
Mike Wobker, Thu, 26 Dec 2019 05:18:00 +0100
The MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio: An expensive, but factory overclocked, GPU. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio - An expensive take on the RTX 2080 Ti

The MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X Trio is more than just a mouthful. The TU102-powered card comes factory overclocked, with three axial fans and takes up three PCIe slots. MSI may have a hard time selling it though, as its US$1...
Alex Alderson, Sun, 22 Dec 2019 14:21:00 +0100
With 5 cameras to the photo throne? The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is, by all means, well equipped.

Is the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 the new camera reference?

With 5 cameras and 108 megapixels on the main lens, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 wants to push much more expensive devices off the photo throne. We tested the device and saw if this could work.
Florian Schmitt, Sun, 22 Dec 2019 01:27:00 +0100
Gaming convertible: Asus ROG Mothership GZ700

Asus ROG Mothership GZ700: Exciting 2-in-1 concept

Asus is a manufacturer that has often shown risk affinity and a willingness to experiment in the past. The latest trial, the ROG Mothership, is a 17-inch gaming laptop with a detachable keyboard.
Florian Glaser, Fri, 20 Dec 2019 03:05:00 +0100
A smartphone is more than just its cameras, even if they are exceptionally large ones. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Huawei Mate 30 Pro: The forgotten and imperfect flagship

One of Huawei's primary aims with the Mate 30 Pro is to revolutionise videography among smartphones. While the largest camera sensor in any smartphone may help the Mate 30 Pro achieve this, Huawei's latest flagship may not be the ...
Alex Alderson, Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:10:00 +0100
Improved Honor Clone: The Huawei Nova 5T has less weaknesses than the Honor 20

Improved Honor Clone: The Huawei Nova 5T has less weaknesses than the Honor 20

A first glance at the two smartphones and another at the specs shows that the Huawei Nova 5T is based on the Honor 20. However, as we found out in our test, there are also some important differences!
Inge Schwabe, Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:28:00 +0100
Lenovo Yoga C940-15 display is brighter than every HP Spectre laptop thus far

Lenovo Yoga C940-15 display is brighter than every HP Spectre laptop thus far

The HP Spectre series consists of ultra-thin flagship laptops and convertibles to represent the best that the manufacturer has to offer for consumers. Nonetheless, all models thus far have been lacking in one particular area.
Allen Ngo, Thu, 19 Dec 2019 03:45:00 +0100
The Huawei Mate 30 Pro. (Source: Expert Reviews)

Huawei reclaims top spot on DxOMark's rankings with the Mate 30 Pro 5G

It was about time we saw a Huawei device at the unrivaled top of DxOMark's leaderboards again. Sadly, it's not a new device this time around, but the 5G model of the Mate 30 Pro. The Mate 30 Pro 5G offers a few minor improvements ...
Ricci Rox, Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:04:00 +0100
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 reference device.

First Snapdragon 865 benchmarks reveal appreciable performance boosts and narrowed multi-core performance gap with the Apple A13 Bionic

Coming soon to an Android flagship near you. Qualcomm's latest flagship SoC is now official, and on the sidelines of the recent launch event we had a chance to test out the Snapdragon 865 in action. We compare the Snapdragon 865 in Qualcomm's reference device with the Snapdragon 855, 855+, Apple A13 Bionic, and the Kirin 990 to see the kind of performance improvements one can expect when new Android flagships launch next year.
J. Simon Leitner, Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, Mon, 16 Dec 2019 13:30:00 +0100
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G: One of the cheapest 5G phones

The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G does not manage to set itself apart from other high-end smartphones in terms of camera performance, overall performance or features. However, it does offer 5G at a relatively low price.
Florian Schmitt, Sat, 14 Dec 2019 03:08:00 +0100
The Motorola One Zoom (Source: MySmartPrice)

DxOMark | The Motorola One Zoom's cameras aren't worthy of its price tag

The Motorola One Zoom is a mid-range phone by Motorola that costs US$449. Yes, it does feature a quad-camera system but versatility and numbers don't always compensate for raw quality, if DxOMark's review of the phone is anything ...
Ricci Rox, Fri, 13 Dec 2019 10:30:00 +0100
Apple's latest Core i9 implementation has improved, but it could be better

Apple MacBook Pro 16 Core i9 gets consistently outperformed by the MSI P65 Core i9

After the horrid Core i9-8950HK performance of the 2018 MacBook Pro, Apple's implementation of the Core i9-9880H on its latest 16-inch MacBook Pro is a significant improvement. Nonetheless, the competing MSI P65 and the larger GE7...
Allen Ngo, Thu, 12 Dec 2019 06:19:00 +0100
Heavy weight: Asus ROG Phone II is skirting the limit – of weight amongst other things

Heavy weight: Asus ROG Phone II is skirting the limit – of weight amongst other things

A smartphone with 12 GB of RAM warms the cockles of a gamer’s heart on its own. Add to that, 512 GB of internal memory, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855+ and a 120-Hz screen, and who would not want to get such a device? Anyone who thinks...
Inge Schwabe, Sun, 08 Dec 2019 11:22:00 +0100
With MIUI but without an important detail...

How the Xiaomi Redmi 8A would have almost become a sensation...

Xiaomi brings MIUI 11 to a smartphone just over 100 Euros (~$111) shortly after its release. Why this initially thrilled us and then rather disappointed us in o...
Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 | Qualcomm Adreno 505 | 6.22" | 188 g
Florian Schmitt, Sun, 08 Dec 2019 01:11:00 +0100
Extremely fast, but also extremely loud: The Aorus 17 YA

The Aorus 17 YA is able to use Intel's Core i9-9980HK to the full extent

Due to the enormous size of the Aorus 17 YA, there is sufficient space for a cooling system that is able to skillfully master the built-in hardware. However, this also leads to other disadvantages that you should know before buyin...
Mike Wobker, Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:22:00 +0100
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n Nano: A small but capable mini desktop PC

Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n Nano: A small but capable mini desktop PC

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n Nano is an adequate mini Desktop PC that is powerful enough for general use, office work, and media streaming. However, it's not much better than similarly-specced Ultrabooks. Given the high price point...
Sam Medley, Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0100
The Lenovo ThinkPad P73 runs quiet, but gets too warm in return

The Lenovo ThinkPad P73 runs quiet, but gets too warm in return

IIn our review, the Lenovo ThinkPad P73 ran surprisingly quiet, as the fans were mostly turned off. While the low noise emission is great, this resulted in higher temperatures – which negatively impacted the GPU performance.
Benjamin Herzig, Sat, 07 Dec 2019 09:54:00 +0100
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019): A budget tablet with record battery life. (Image source: Amazon)

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019): A bargain tablet with record battery life

Amazon claims that the Fire HD 10 (2019) should last up to 12 hours between charges, but our tests demonstrated otherwise. Positively, our review unit outperformed Amazon's claims, while it impressed in other areas too. However, t...
Alex Alderson, Fri, 06 Dec 2019 18:59:00 +0100
The Nokia 7.2 features a 20 MP selfie camera. (Source: Nokia)

Same old: The Nokia 7.2 flounders in DxOMark's selfie test

Nokia has developed something of a reputation for middling camera performance. The new Nokia 7.2 doesn't stray too far from the norm, either, as DxOMark's review puts its selfie camera performance on par with two-year-old flagship...
Ricci Rox, Fri, 06 Dec 2019 11:46:00 +0100
Want to add RAM on the MSI GE63? Be prepared to break a 'Factory Seal' sticker

Opinion | MSI should really remove the 'Factory Seal' sticker from some of its laptops

MSI G series laptops are generally easy to service and yet most of them have Factory Seal stickers on the bottom to discourage end-user upgrades. We think putting the sticker directly on parts of the motherboard instead would be a...
Allen Ngo, Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:32:00 +0100
The MacBook Pro 16: A triumphant return for Apple? (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch: A refined MacBook Pro 15 with some small but essential changes

Apple returns with a new MacBook Pro that addresses many of the concerns that we had about the fourth-generation models. While the MacBook Pro 16 may look an awful lot like its 15-inch predecessor, Apple has made several tweaks th...
Alex Alderson, Thu, 05 Dec 2019 15:14:00 +0100
Want to add RAM on the MSI GE63? Be prepared to break a 'Factory Seal' sticker

MSI should really remove the 'Factory Seal' sticker from some of its laptops

MSI G series laptops are generally easy to service and yet most of them have Factory Seal stickers on the bottom to discourage end-user upgrades. We think putting the sticker directly on parts of the motherboard instead would be a...
Allen Ngo, Thu, 05 Dec 2019 07:18:00 +0100
Where are all these Walmart laptops coming from? Tongfang is the source

Where are all these Walmart laptops coming from? Tongfang is the source

You can shop smarter by knowing where resellers like Walmart are getting their laptops. ODMs often sell the same white label laptop to multiple resellers who will then reskin and rebrand the laptop as their own. By shopping around...
Allen Ngo, Tue, 03 Dec 2019 06:34:00 +0100
The KFA2 GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER: Worthy of your time and money. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

KFA2 GeForce GTX 1660 Super: A midrange GPU that punches above its weight

If you have set yourself a limit of around €250 (~US$275) for a new desktop GPU this Christmas, then you will run into the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER sooner or later. The GTX 1660 SUPER improves upon the regular GTX 1660 in sev...
Alex Alderson, Tue, 03 Dec 2019 01:39:00 +0100
The Mi Note 10 features ridiculously good camera hardware. (Source: Mi)

DxOMark picks its best smartphone cameras of 2019 sorted by categories, and the Mi Note 10 Pro dominates

DxOMark has shared its thoughts on what it considers to be the best smartphone cameras of 2019, grouped into specific sub-categories. There are a few iffy choices, but one major takeaway from the list is just how impressive the Xi...
Ricci Rox, Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:19:00 +0100
The Samsung Galaxy A30s, a good smartphone but one that is out of its depth. (Image source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy A30s: A playful but inferior smartphone

The Galaxy A30s impressed in many areas during our recent review of Samsung's latest entry-level handset. However, while the A30s is well-built and looks the part, it cannot match its competitors on performance and battery life.
Alex Alderson, Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:11:00 +0100
Core i9-9900KS for laptops runs slower than the Core i9-9900K

Intel Core i9-9900KS for laptops runs slower than the Core i9-9900K

CineBench R20 results are about 10 percent slower than the Core i9-9900K despite costing $100 more. While our Eurocom Clevo sample shows good performance, the processor is ultimately held back by its high running temperatures of ~...
Allen Ngo, Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:00:00 +0100
XMG Neo 17: Slim-bezel laptop with mechanical keyboard

Schenker XMG Neo 17: Moderate system noise while gaming

The XMG Neo 17 from Schenker Technologies is a 17-inch gaming notebook that can be configured individually and has an enticing mechanical keyboard.
Florian Glaser, Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:33:00 +0100
The Galaxy M30s, a battery monster that comes in three colours. (Image source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy M30s: An affordable handset with unrivalled battery life

The Samsung Galaxy M30s is a triumphant midrange smartphone. The phablet not only has a large, bright and colour accurate AMOLED panel but also class-leading battery, among other positives. If you need a smartphone to last over a ...
Alex Alderson, Thu, 28 Nov 2019 18:09:00 +0100
Two screens but no Galaxy Fold mishaps in sight. (Image source: LG)

LG G8X ThinQ: A foldable that won't break the bank

The LG G8X ThinQ could be a dream come true for some people. The handset comes with a second screen, following on from the V50 Dual Screen accessory that LG launched at the start of this year. The G8X ThinQ is more than just anoth...
Alex Alderson, Wed, 27 Nov 2019 19:46:00 +0100
Strangely, the MSI WE75 has no Quadro RTX 4000 or 5000 options (Image source: MSI)

Strangely, the MSI WE75 has no Quadro RTX 4000 or RTX 5000 options

Why is it that the GE75 can be configured with up the GeForce RTX 2080 while the WE75 is limited to the Quadro RTX 3000? MSI may be pushing ultra enthusiasts into purchasing the higher-end WT75 instead where users can find the RTX...
Allen Ngo, Wed, 27 Nov 2019 06:44:00 +0100
Google Pixel 4

Google Pixel 4: bells and whistles instead of battery power

Google's Pixel 4 exhibited various flaws in our test while at the same time neglecting important smartphone core competences. What good is innovation if the phone cannot even last until the end of the day?
Daniel Schmidt, Tue, 26 Nov 2019 21:42:00 +0100
Camera review: Redmi Note 8 vs Redmi Note 8 Pro

Redmi Note 8 Smartphone Camera Review: With the Pro, the Note 8 finds its master ...

... or doesn't it? We analyze and compare the camera quality of the two Redmi smartphones. Find out in our camera comparison of the Xiaomi smartphones, whether the more expensive Redmi Note 8 Pro is always able to shoot the better photos, or whether perhaps the Note 8 can surprise us. To give you a teaser: it can!
Marcus Herbrich, Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:30:00 +0100
Just Arrived: Apple MacBook Pro 16 with Core i9 & Radeon Pro 5500M

Just Arrived: Apple MacBook Pro 16 with Core i9 & Radeon Pro 5500M

The new Apple MacBook Pro 16 has finally arrived in our editorial office. With a slightly bigger chassis, new (old) keyboard and improved speakers, it wants to be the best multimedia laptop on the market. We review the SKU for $2699 with a Core i9 CPU, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M GPU, and 16 GB RAM.
Intel Core i9-9880H | AMD Radeon Pro 5500M | 16" | 2 kg
Andreas Osthoff, Klaus Hinum, Sat, 23 Nov 2019 00:49:00 +0100
Walmart Motile laptop with Ryzen 5 3500U, 256 GB SSD, and 1080p display is only $380 right now

Deal | Walmart Motile M142 laptop with Ryzen 5 3500U, 256 GB SSD, and 1080p display is only $380 right now

Meanwhile, the lesser-equipped Motile M141 with the Ryzen 3 3300U is only $280. These are some of the better laptop deals you can find if you can accept the weak hinges.
Allen Ngo, Sat, 23 Nov 2019 00:31:00 +0100
The Redmi Note 8 Pro is a great mid-range phone, but not a gaming smartphone. Test device courtesy of Trading Shenzhen

The Redmi Note 8 Pro is not a good choice for smartphone gamers

In our review of the Note 8 Pro, the mid-range phone achieves convincing results in many areas, although despite or perhaps due to the MediaTek Helio G90T, it is not a gaming smartphone.
Marcus Herbrich, Fri, 22 Nov 2019 20:47:00 +0100

Working For Notebookcheck

Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! Especially English native speakers welcome!

Currently wanted: 
News and Editorial Editor - Details here

Tags

5G (137) Accessory (1778) AMD (1668) Android (10231) Apple (1969) ARM (4137) Audio (214) Bay Trail (162) Business (5789) Cannon Lake (34) Charts (333) Chinese Tech (2440) Chromebook (292) Coffee Lake (588) Comet Lake (85) Console (488) Convertible / 2-in-1 (1158) Cryptocurrency (64) Cyberlaw (297) Deal (568) Desktop (1884) Fail (824) Gadget (358) Galaxy Note (376) Galaxy S (677) Gamecheck (277) Gaming (3931) Geforce (1628) Google Nexus / Pixel (315) How To (29) Ice Lake (117) Internet of Things (IoT) (270) iOS (421) iPad Pro (271) iPhone (828) Kaby Lake (970) Lakefield (14) Laptop (4996) Linux / Unix (244) MacBook (286) Mini PC (38) Monitor (268) MSI (169) OnePlus (108) Phablet (2015) Project Athena (27) Renoir (11) Review Snippet (139) Rumor (3411) Ryzen (Zen) (515) Security (671) Smart Home (259) Smartphone (9551) Smartwatch (719) Software (2951) Storage (886) Tablet (2486) ThinkPad (1039) Thunderbolt (190) Tiger Lake (8) Touchscreen (3727) Ultrabook (1500) Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) (328) Wearable (450) Whiskey Lake (267) Windows (4850) Workstation (678) XPS (262)
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > News > Topics
Redaktion, 2013-05- 8 (Update: 2013-09-27)