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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 XLR8 Gaming OC: A compact GPU with 1080p capabilities. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

PNY GeForce GTX 1660 XLR8 Gaming OC: A compact GPU for small form factor PCs with caveats

Are you looking for your next graphics card for your small form factor PC? Well, the PNY GeForce GTX 1660 XLR8 Gaming OC could be the card for you. Setting aside its long-winded name, the XLR8 Gaming OC offers 1080p triple-A gamin...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:58:00 +0100

Moto G8 Plus: Cheaper mid-ranger with rotated camera

We already liked the predecessor of the Motorola Moto G8 Plus due to its good camera performance. With the successor, the camera concept has been revised, but t...
Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 | Qualcomm Adreno 610 | 6.3" | 188 g

Florian Schmitt, Thu, 21 Nov 2019 01:47:00 +0100

Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 2019: insider’s tip for noise-resistant gamers

If you happen to be looking for a simple gaming notebook with great price-performance ratio you may want to take a closer look at the 2019 iteration of Xiaomi’s Mi Gaming Laptop. For less than $1,500 you get a 15-inch gaming lapto...

Florian Glaser, Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:22:00 +0100

Our first Core i5-1035G4 benchmarks are in and results are almost as good as the Ryzen 7 3700U (Image source: Intel)

Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4 performance can throttle by as much as 27 percent to be slower than the Core i7-8565U

CPU performance can be all over the place on the Surface Pro 7 Core i5. When at its best, multi-thread performance will be most similar to the Ryzen 5 3580U on the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3. But if at its worst, performance can be ...

Allen Ngo, Mon, 18 Nov 2019 05:59:00 +0100

The Sony Xperia 5: Good for those who do are not keen photographers. (Image source: Sony)

Sony Xperia 5: Impressive hardware combined with underwhelming cameras

Sony remains an active player in the camera sensor market, which makes the cameras that it has included in the Xperia 5 even more disappointing. Sony's latest flagship handset is not all bad by any means, but it is hard to see pas...

Alex Alderson, Sun, 17 Nov 2019 20:08:00 +0100

Razer Blade Stealth: 4K UHD LCD is the worse choice for this Razer laptop

The Razer Blade Stealth has a premium, compact design and excellent GPU performance. On the other hand, the CPU performance and especially the optional 4K screen disappoint in our review.

Benjamin Herzig, Sun, 17 Nov 2019 16:46:00 +0100

Ice Lake issues: Microsoft is aware that the Surface Pro 7 is currently stuck on broken graphics drivers

Ice Lake issues: Microsoft is aware that the Surface Pro 7 is currently stuck on months-old broken graphics drivers

All those Iris Plus-related bug fixes Intel have been releasing over the past three months have yet to arrive on the Surface Pro 7 despite the fact that this is supposed to be Microsoft's latest flagship Windows tablet. Though we ...

Allen Ngo, Sun, 17 Nov 2019 04:07:00 +0100

Chuwi UBook Pro Surface clone has a brighter display than any Surface Pro (Image source: Chuwi)

Chuwi UBook Pro Surface Pro clone has a brighter display than the actual Surface Pro

At a measured brightness of 868 nits on the center of the screen, the UBook Pro is nearly 90 percent brighter than even the Surface Pro 6. It's not everyday that a cheaper Chinese clone offers something better than the "proper" au...

Allen Ngo, Fri, 15 Nov 2019 23:25:00 +0100

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is a steal at €150 (~US$165). (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: It does not always have to be an OLED panel

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 impressed us during our tests, not least because of its bright display. While the Redmi Note 8 does not have an OLED display, the IPS panel with which Xiaomi has equipped it is bright and contrast-rich. The...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 15 Nov 2019 23:19:00 +0100

Lenovo's ThinkPad P53 offers incredible GPU horsepower

Lenovo now offers better GPU options and for the first time, an OLED display in its 15-inch workstation. Nvidia's Quadro RTX 5000 offers a level of performance ...
Intel Core i7-9850H | NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 (Laptop) | 15.6" | 2.7 kg

Andreas Osthoff, Fri, 15 Nov 2019 08:06:00 +0100

MSI Prestige 15 Core i7 is really fast, but expect high temperatures (Image source: MSI)

MSI Prestige 15 Core i7 is really fast, but expect high Core temperatures

As the first 15.6-inch MSI laptop with an Intel Core i7-10710U CPU, the Prestige 15 has some big shoes to fill. Performance and clock rate sustainability are good at the cost of high core temperatures stabilizing at ~95 C when und...

Allen Ngo, Fri, 15 Nov 2019 02:04:00 +0100

The Acer TravelMate X514-51-511Q: Lightweight, compact and powerful. (Image source: Acer)

Acer TravelMate X514: A small office laptop that weighs less than a kilogram

Carrying around a hefty laptop can prove tiresome if you are often on the move. However, many lightweight laptops are underpowered and struggle in office tasks, which is where the Acer TravelMate X514 steps in. Acer has designed t...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 14 Nov 2019 19:44:00 +0100

Nice to look at but hard to use: The Porsche Design Ultra One

Porsche Design: Ultra One can't justify its price

The concept of expensive laptops with little performance is not new, but buyers have mostly received high-quality components and a special design in return so far. Although the latter is in Porsche Design's name, the manufacturer ...

Mike Wobker, Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:07:00 +0100

The Honor 9X sports a modern design, but it is overpriced. (Image source: Honor)

Honor 9X: The days of Honor's midrange smartphones being good value for money are over

Until now, value for money has been one of the main reasons to buy an Honor smartphone, even at launch. The latest generation changes that, and not for the better. While the Honor 9X is a good device, it pales in comparison with o...

Alex Alderson, Wed, 13 Nov 2019 22:50:00 +0100

Acer ConceptD 7: Premium multimedia laptop with throttling issues in review

With the ConceptD series, Acer has launched a completely new product lineup. The premium white multimedia system tries to appeal to creators of digital multimedia content. However, as our review shows, it comes with a few drawback...

Christian Hintze, Wed, 13 Nov 2019 09:45:00 +0100

Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T Review: Slim and light subnotebook for a thick wallet

The practical use of the Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T turns out to be limited

The slim and light Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T scores with an IPS touchscreen display, 16 GB of working memory (dual-channel mode) and silent operation. This is accompanied by a good battery life and two Thunderbolt-3 ports. For the wh...

Sascha Mölck, Mon, 11 Nov 2019 20:27:00 +0100

Dynabook Portégé X30-F in review: Light, slim, enduring

Dynabook is mainly doing a model update with the Portégé X30-F

The slim and light Portégé X30-F scores points with long battery life, a bright, contrast-rich display and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Our configuration variant lacks an LTE modem.

Sascha Mölck, Mon, 11 Nov 2019 07:15:00 +0100

Do not upgrade to the HP Envy 17 for its Comet Lake-U CPU. (Image source: HP)

HP Envy 17: Comet Lake performs no better than Whiskey Lake does

We often complain about smaller laptops failing to keep their processors cool enough to maintain peak clock speeds, so a 17-inch laptop should have a large enough footprint to do so, right? Well, the HP Envy 17-ce1002ng may be a 1...

Alex Alderson, Sun, 10 Nov 2019 15:08:00 +0100

Lenovo's ThinkPad P53s combines a workstation with a low price

You don't always have to pay 2,000 Euros (~$2,213) or more for laptops with a graphics card specialized in applications. With the ThinkPad P53s and Nvidia's Quadro P520 GPU, Lenovo shows that it can be cheaper.

Mike Wobker, Sat, 09 Nov 2019 23:44:00 +0100

The Acer Aspire 5 and AMD Ryzen 5 3500U: It could have been so good. (Image source: Acer)

Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R07: An affordable 3rd generation Ryzen laptop with throttling problems

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R057 is an affordable AMD Ryzen laptop, which should offer great value for money on paper. However, the performance of its AMD Ryzen 5 3500U leaves a lot to be desired.

Alex Alderson, Sat, 09 Nov 2019 18:07:00 +0100

Dynabook Portégé A30-E in review: Great display, unstable case

A lot of light but also shadow: The Dynabook Portégé A30-E

Dynabook's 13.3-inch business laptop pleases with a bright, contrast-rich IPS display, an NVMe SSD and long battery life.

Sascha Mölck, Fri, 08 Nov 2019 18:35:00 +0100

This year's Acer Predator Helios 300 sports more than just refreshed internals. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Acer Predator Helios 300: A midrange gaming laptop with awful battery life and disappointing speakers

Acer considers the Acer Predator Helios 300 one of its entry-level gaming laptops, except that it starts at US$1,199.99. While its Intel Core i7-9750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU can handle triple-A 1080p gaming, ...

Alex Alderson, Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:59:00 +0100

Dynabook Tecra X50: Killer style, weak battery

Our recent review of the Tecra X50 from Dynabook showed the sleek business Ultrabook to be quite the looker with little substance. Disappointing performance topped off with poor battery life leaves the Dynabook Tecra X50 wanting. ...

Sam Medley, Fri, 08 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0100

The Apple Watch Series 5 has everything but the kitchen sink, and battery life. (Image source: Apple)

Apple Watch Series 5: The best smartwatch around? Only if you do not value battery life

Apple continues to dominate the smartwatch market, but is its latest iteration the best device of its kind? Part fashion accessory, part lifestyle smartwatch, but not a professional fitness tracker. We expected better battery life...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 07 Nov 2019 23:42:00 +0100

AirPods Pro: Professional-grade wireless earbuds? (Image source: Apple)

Apple AirPods Pro: A US$250 charlatan?

Apple heralds its latest AirPods as a "Pro" product that offers amazing audio quality and immersive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but do they live up to the hype? Our time with them would suggest otherwise, although they will l...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 07 Nov 2019 12:46:00 +0100

Acer Swift 3 SF314-41: A stylish and slim subnotebook that deserves a better display. (Image source: Acer)

Acer Swift 3 SF314-41: Acer's latest 14-inch laptop deserves a better display

Acer's stylish 14-inch subnotebook has a slim metal chassis, a Ryzen 5 APU and dual-channel RAM, which should all combine to deliver a decent device. The Swift 3 SF314-41 has an NVMe SSD and great battery life too, but two areas h...

Alex Alderson, Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:41:00 +0100

Emergency off: The OnePlus 7T Pro overheats during our test

While we were impressed with the OnePlus 7T Pro in our extensive review, the heat development under strong load and the resulting app crashes are an issue.

Florian Schmitt, Wed, 06 Nov 2019 19:13:00 +0100

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