Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations

An Alta X drone carrying a custom built simulated Unmanned Aircraft Systems environment payload (Image source: NASA/Brandon Torres Navarette; edited)

NASA develops blockchain technology to keep flights safe

NASA tested a cybersecurity system built using blockchain technology. The technology was tested using an Alta-X drone. This blockchain system is aimed at providing improved protection for flight data.

Chibuike Okpara, 25 Jan 2026 03:37

PS5 and Xbox consoles shown with Fable background (Image source: Xbox Gaming, Sony PlayStation with edits)

Microsoft executive addresses whether all Xbox games will launch day one on PS5 like Fable

Some first-party Xbox games like Forza Horizon 6 still have periods of exclusivity before coming to the PS5. In a new interview, the Xbox head discusses when and if that will change. Microsoft may decide day-one availability on a ...

Adam Corsetti, 25 Jan 2026 02:49

A screengrab of Halo's primary protagonist Master Chief (image source r/halo)

Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes says AI voice cloning crosses a line and wants it to stop

Halo’s Master Chief voice actor, Steve Downes, has publicly condemned AI-generated clones of his performance, arguing that unauthorized imitations deceive fans and threaten actors’ livelihoods. While acknowledging AI’s broader ben...

Rahim Amir Noorali, 25 Jan 2026 02:19

The RTX 5070 Laptop-powered Legion 5i 15 gaming laptop is now 36% off on Lenovo's official e-store. (Image source: Andreas Osthoff of Notebookcheck)

Deal | Lenovo Legion 5i 15 OLED gamer with 20-core CPU and RTX 5070 Laptop GPU scores $736 price cut

The Lenovo Legion 5i 15 gaming laptop sports the powerful 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. Thanks to an exciting coupon code, the well-reviewed OLED gaming laptop can now be purchased wi...

Sambit Saha, 25 Jan 2026 01:07

A screengrab showing the PS3's RSX GPU and CELL CPU overclocked to 850 MHz and 4.1 GHz respectively (image source: Modyfikator89 on X)

An 'updated' PS3 hardware mod unlocks CELL and RSX overclocking on the Super Slim using a Raspberry Pi Pico

A new Raspberry Pi Pico-based hardware mod for later-model PlayStation 3 consoles unlocks quasi-custom firmware, enabling unprecedented CELL and RSX overclocking, native PS2 ISO support, and Linux compatibility through direct XDR ...

Rahim Amir Noorali, 25 Jan 2026 00:59

Chrome will stop getting updates on macOS Monterey in mid-2026. (Image source: Google)

A number of Macs will no longer get Google Chrome updates starting this July

Google has revealed that Chrome 150 will be the last version of the browser to support Macs running macOS 12 Monterey. Most Intel Macs launched prior to 2018 will be affected by this update, forcing users to either purchase a new ...

Sambit Saha, 25 Jan 2026 00:12

A screengrab from Yakuza Kiwami 3 (image source: Sega YT)

Yakuza Kiwami 3 director says “Life at Morning Glory” is now the emotional core of the game

Yakuza Kiwami 3’s expanded “Life at Morning Glory” chapters turn Kiryu into a full-time father, replacing early-game brawls with everyday childcare, chores, and WarioWare-style mini-games that flesh out his role as guardian. Direc...

Rahim Amir Noorali, 25 Jan 2026 00:04

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade Switch 2 shown with WiFi symbol (Image source: Nintendo of America, Square Enix with edits)

Changing a Switch 2 setting could dramatically boost Final Fantasy 7 Remake download speeds

The 90GB+ Final Fantasy 7 Remake is exposing slow internet connections on the Switch 2. A straightforward change in the console’s settings can make a noticeable difference. The modification may also accelerate installations of all...

Adam Corsetti, 24 Jan 2026 23:15

An image of Hubble in Earth's orbit (Image source: NASA; cropped)

NASA shares image of a ghostly scene captured by Hubble

NASA’s Hubble looked observed an eerie scene. In the image, a ghostly cloud appears to obscure the light from stars. But looks can be deceiving. Behind this ghostly appearance lies one of the most active processes in the universe ...

Chibuike Okpara, 24 Jan 2026 23:10

The Lenovo ThinkPad L134 Gen 6 AMD (image source: Benjamin Herzig)

The AMD version is finally up to date: Why this Lenovo laptop is better than the ThinkPad E14

In the last few years, Lenovo always kept the ThinkPad L series confined to older AMD CPUs. With the Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 6 AMD, this is no longer the case! Thanks to newer Krackan Point CPUs, the newest model is more attractiv...

Benjamin Herzig, 24 Jan 2026 22:26

You'll want to configure with dual-channel memory whenever possible or else you will be significantly impairing the integrated GPU (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Dynabook Tecra A65-M shows the importance of dual-channel RAM for integrated graphics performance

Integrated GPUs like the Radeon 780M or Arc 140V rely heavily on dual-channel memory for performance. Otherwise, expect graphics performance to drop by as much as 40 to 50 percent.

Allen Ngo, 24 Jan 2026 20:49

The Comulytic Pro AI Note Taker is a small but immensely useful gadget

Comulytic Pro AI Note Taker offers one-press recording with unlimited AI transcription

The Comulytic Pro AI Note Taker combines one-press recording with unlimited AI-powered transcription and summarization. Thanks to the high multilingual accuracy, integrated GPT-5 and Gemini analysis, and an ultra-slim design, this...

Adve rtorial, 24 Jan 2026 20:46

The Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni robot vacuum with mop is now $600 off on Amazon. (Image source: Ecovacs)

Deal | Ecovacs X9 Pro robot vacuum with mop sports 16,600 Pa suction power, Matter compatibility, and is currently $600 off on Amazon

The Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is a capable robot home cleaner, featuring excellent vacuuming performance and very decent mopping performance. Courtesy of an exciting $600 discount on Amazon, the X9 Pro is now as affordable as it ...

Sambit Saha, 24 Jan 2026 20:44

A render of the Retroid Pocket 6 (image source: Retroid)

Retroid Pocket 6 shipping delayed as OLED calibration woes slow production but early units are already rolling out

Retroid’s upcoming Pocket 6 handheld is facing shipping delays due to inefficient OLED calibration and demura processes, with only a small initial batch of black, top-stick models currently dispatched. The company is investing in ...

Rahim Amir Noorali, 24 Jan 2026 20:33

A Steam Deck device (Image source: Valve via Unsplash; edited)

Deal | New Humble Bundle offers 5 Steam Deck-compatible games for $2 each

Humble Bundle has added a new bundle to its current collection — Rollercoaster Tycoon Collection 2026. This bundle contains a total of 5 games, all of which are Steam Deck-compatible, except the second game on the list. It will ex...

Chibuike Okpara, 24 Jan 2026 19:44

An image from the game Bleak Faith: Forsaken. (Image source: Steam)

Deal | This soulslike RPG is back at its lowest price on Steam with a 50% discount

Bleak Faith: Forsaken is a souls-like in which you will have to face many terrifying creatures. Each enemy can become a real nightmare, and you will have to choose your class and your own fighting style to defeat them.

Alexis Stegmann, 24 Jan 2026 19:14

According to a Finnish retailer, there will no longer be a 128GB version of the Galaxy S26 base model. (Image source: @SaudiAndroid, edited)

Samsung Galaxy S26 without 128GB model: EU retailer leaks all 30 colors and storage options in Europe

Thanks to several sources, we already know which colors to expect in February for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but now a European retailer has just revealed all configurations and color options for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy ...

Alexander Fagot, 24 Jan 2026 17:30

The TIP3 comes in three colors. (Image source: Nitecore)

Nitecore's small TIP3 flashlight switches between 3,000, 4,500 and 6,000 Kelvin

Nitecore has launched another flashlight featuring the MCT multicolor system. The TIP3 has a range of 92 meters with 720 lumens, offers USB connectivity, and is small enough to fit on a keychain.

Andreas Sebayang, 24 Jan 2026 17:25

The Jabra Evolve3 75 and 85 headsets are priced at a premium, sporting exciting features. (Image source: Jabra, edited)

Jabra Evolve3 headphones lose flexible mic arm, boast up to 120 hours of battery life

Jabra has unveiled the Evolve3 lineup of high-end headsets. Unlike their predecessor, both the on-ear and over-ear variants have dropped the flexible boom mics, opting for integrated mics instead. Priced at a premium, the headset ...

Sambit Saha, 24 Jan 2026 16:04

Garmin’s Fenix 8 (pictured) is one of several smartwatches receiving beta version 21.18. (Image source: Garmin)

Garmin fixes smartwatch HRV issue in new beta update

The Garmin Fenix 8, Fenix E, Enduro 3 and Tactix 8 smartwatches are getting a new beta update. The version 21.18 release tackles an issue linked to the wearable’s HRV feature. Plus, the change log also lists an improvement related...

Polly Allcock, 24 Jan 2026 13:43

The Apple Watch can detect atrial fibrillation. (Image source: Benedikt Winkel, Notebookcheck)

Study: Apple Watch detects atrial fibrillation "better" than standard medical check-up

A new study shows that the Apple Watch can warn of heart problems and thus potentially save lives. Using a wearable device even offers advantages over routine checkups with the doctor.

Silvio Werner, 24 Jan 2026 13:18

Microsoft hands over BitLocker keys in the event of a court order. (Symbolic image created with Nano Banana Pro)

Cloud risk with BitLocker: Microsoft occasionally hands over BitLocker keys to the FBI

While Apple and Google stress that they cannot unlock customer devices, the situation is different with Windows encryption: Microsoft routinely hands over BitLocker keys from the cloud to law enforcement agencies.

Marc Herter, 24 Jan 2026 13:14

The successor to the Samsung Galaxy A56 can now be seen for the first time in real-world images, in a new color option. (Image source: Notebookcheck)

Samsung Galaxy A57: First real-world images reveal design and new color option

Following a recent certification that revealed the most important specs for the successor to the Samsung Galaxy A56, several real-world images have now been released, revealing not only the general design but also a new color opti...

Alexander Fagot, 24 Jan 2026 13:13

Zotac RTX 50-series GPUs. (Image Source: Zotac)

Zotac reportedly canceled RTX 50 series orders before relisting the same cards at higher prices

Zotac is facing criticism after reports of canceled RTX 50 series GPU orders followed by sudden price increases. The orders were canceled due to “system errors,” but the same cards reappeared later with much higher prices.

Abdul Haddi, 24 Jan 2026 12:33

Lenovo LOQ 17 vs. Acer Nitro V 17 (image source: Gemini-created using real laptop pictures)

Acer Nitro V 17 vs. Lenovo LOQ 17: Which RTX 5070 gaming laptop is the better budget choice?

The Acer Nitro V 17 and Lenovo LOQ 17 are currently among the most affordable 17-inch gaming laptops equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics. Both start at around €1,249, yet despite similar pricing and comparable core spec...

Christian Hintze, 24 Jan 2026 12:30

Xbox Game Pass free games for this weekend. (Image Source: Microsoft)

Xbox Game Pass members can play these four games for free this weekend

Xbox Game Pass subscribers can try a small lineup of full games for free this weekend as part of the Free Play Days program. All four games are also currently listed at discounted prices.

Abdul Haddi, 24 Jan 2026 11:36

Pictured - an in-game screenshot from the game Escape from Ever After. (Image source: Steam)

New action-RPG with corporate satire launches on Steam with launch discount in tow

Escape from Ever After officially landed on Steam on Jan 23, 2026. You won't find any mushrooms in this new Paper Mario-style RPG, but there is a lot of corporate satire. Players have to climb the literal corporate ladder of Ever ...

Anubhav Sharma, 24 Jan 2026 10:43

This collection has "Sid Meier's greatest games." Pictured: a picture showing the Steam Deck running Civ VI. (Image source: Valve - edited)

Deal | Humble Bundle offers 10 genre-defining Steam Deck-playable strategy games for $15

The game bundle section on Humble Bundle has seen another new addition, The Sid Meier Collection. It has 10 relatively well-rated strategy games from the legendary designer, all of which can be played on the Steam Deck and purchas...

Abid Ahsan Shanto, 24 Jan 2026 09:21

The Motorola Signature features an IP69/IP68 water resistance rating (Image source: Motorola)

Motorola’s new Signature smartphone now available in India

Motorola has officially launched the Signature smartphone in the Indian market, starting at Rs 59,999 (~$654.47). Motorola’s new flagship smartphone boasts a 5,200 mAh battery, 50 MP triple rear cameras, and a 165 Hz AMOLED panel...

Abhinav Fating, 24 Jan 2026 09:18

Oppo Find N6 heads for global release as multiple certifications emerge

The Oppo Find N6 is expected to succeed the Find N5, which was released in February 2025. Following its recent certification in China, the global model of the upcoming foldable phone has now appeared in multiple regulatory listing...

Huzefa Baloch, 24 Jan 2026 08:28

A screengrab of Razer CEO Min Liang Tan on the podcast (image source: Decoder with Nilay Patel YT)

Razer’s CEO says gamers hate generative AI slop even as the company invests nearly 600 million dollars in AI tools

Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan acknowledges that gamers “are unhappy with generative AI slop” even as the company pours nearly $600 million into AI, insisting the technology should stay behind the scenes as a tool for QA, bug hunting, an...

Rahim Amir Noorali, 24 Jan 2026 07:54

A promotional poster of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (image source: AMD)

AMD’s Ryzen 7 9850X3D: 5.6 GHz Zen 5 gaming chip lands at $499 MSRP

AMD’s new Ryzen 7 9850X3D, a Zen 5-based octa-core CPU with 3D V-Cache, launches at $499 on January 29, 2026, positioning itself as a higher-clocked, better-binned successor to the 9800X3D. While it delivers top-tier gaming perfor...

Rahim Amir Noorali, 24 Jan 2026 07:37

Abxylute E1 Dual-OS retro handheld hands-on

Jack of two trades, master of one. The Abxylute E1 is a retro handheld well-suited for gaming up to the Sega Dreamcast. It's main gimmick allows users to boot into Android 11, opening the possibility of Android gaming and wireless file transfers. However, this feat...

Sam Medley, 24 Jan 2026 05:25

Webb finds the first conclusive evidence to explain a mind-puzzling mystery

Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have found the forging site of crystalline silicates. They also discovered how these particles are possibly distributed. The study provided evidence to explain how cold comets ge...

Chibuike Okpara, 24 Jan 2026 03:39

Auroras over Covesea Lighthouse, Scotland (Image credit: Scott Mellis via Space.com; edited)

Powerful solar storm brings Northern Lights to unexpected places

Earth was hit by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun. This event triggered a dramatic and beautiful phenomenon witnessed by skywatchers on January 19. Auroras (northern lights) lit up the sky in a colorful fashion.

Chibuike Okpara, 24 Jan 2026 03:20

16-inch Lenovo Legion Pro 7 OLED gaming laptop front shown at angle (Image source: Lenovo with edits)

Deal | 16-inch Lenovo Legion Pro 7 OLED gaming laptop with RTX 5070 Ti and 32GB RAM sees $1550 discount

The latest Lenovo laptop deal combines the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX CPU with the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti graphics card. While not the lightest 16-inch candidate, the Legion Pro 7 prioritizes gaming performance. The display on the OLED gaming...

Adam Corsetti, 24 Jan 2026 02:49

Image of region G033.91+0.11. At the center of this image is a protostar (image source: several - see sources; cropped)

Hubble peers through thick dust to capture hidden young stars

Recently released images from NASA’s Hubble showed baby stars and their properties. By studying the properties of the stars, astronomers can try to determine the evolutionary stage of the star. All of these are important in unders...

Chibuike Okpara, 24 Jan 2026 02:34

The iQoo Z11 Turbo's display. (Image source: iQoo)

Global Vivo iQoo 15R surfaces on Geekbench with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5

iQoo's next global release, the iQoo 15R, has appeared on Geekbench, confirming its chipset. The device is expected to be a rebranded version of the iQoo Z11 Turbo, which launched in China in January.

Huzefa Baloch, 24 Jan 2026 01:43

Windows 11 KB5074109 update: Microsoft advises rollback

The Windows 11 KB5074109 update is causing crashes, black screens, and app failures, prompting Microsoft to advise affected users to uninstall it.

Darryl Linington, 24 Jan 2026 00:02

The Tapo C630 Kit (pictured) has been released in Europe. (Image source: Tapo)

New Tapo 3K solar security camera now available in Europe

The Tapo C630 Solar-Powered Pan/Tilt Security Camera Kit from TP-Link is rolling out across Europe. This new model is designed for outdoor use, with a 3K 5MP camera and smart motion tracking functionality. It can also use AI to de...

Polly Allcock, 23 Jan 2026 23:42

Garmin’s Approach R50 (pictured) is receiving software version 4.80. (Image source: Garmin)

Premium Garmin device gets new features in software update

A new update is rolling out to one of Garmin’s premium golfing products. Software version 4.80 brings seven new features to the device, including a new play mode. Plus, users of the Approach R50 also get several improvements linke...

Polly Allcock, 23 Jan 2026 23:42

The UnifyDrive UC450 Pro and UC250 are now available for interested customers, packing a healthy array of features. (Image source: UnifyDrive, edited)

UnifyDrive UC250 and UC450 Pro NAS go on sale with up to 128 GB DDR5 memory, 152 TB storage, and 10 Gb Ethernet

UnifyDrive has now made the UC250 and UC450 Pro NAS systems available for purchase. Priced at $399 and $1,499 respectively, the two NAS systems target both the affordable and high-end segments, offering features that match their r...

Sambit Saha, 23 Jan 2026 22:48

A conceptual image of the James Webb Space Telescope (Image source: NASA)

Webb zooms in on the Helix Nebula to see what happens around a dying star

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope provided a detailed image of the Helix Nebula. The high-resolution image revealed the structure of the gas being shed off from the dying star. With this image, astronomers can see how stars recycl...

Chibuike Okpara, 23 Jan 2026 22:35

The JBL BandBox series is made for musicians (Image source: JBL)

JBL BandBox Solo and Trio combine amplifier with Bluetooth speaker and AI

JBL is introducing two new products in the BandBox series that combine an AI-powered amplifier for musicians and bands with a Bluetooth speaker. Thanks to the so-called Stem AI, individual elements of songs can be emphasized, and ...

Marcus Schwarten, 23 Jan 2026 22:28

Garmin’s Approach S44 and S50 (pictured) smartwatches are receiving system software 8.04. (Image source: Garmin)

Garmin releases new stable update with fix for music app

Garmin system software 8.04 is now available for two of the brand’s smartwatches. This new update tackles a range of issues with the wearables, one of which is linked to the music app. Plus, this release also addresses a range of ...

Polly Allcock, 23 Jan 2026 21:53

Ugreen’s new 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger (pictured) has been released in the US. (Image source: Ugreen, edited)

Cheaper Ugreen 2-in-1 wireless charger now available in the US

Ugreen has released its Zapix 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger in the US. This product is designed primarily for Apple devices and could be suited to a desk or a bedside table. The accessory has a Qi2 certified wireless charging p...

Polly Allcock, 23 Jan 2026 21:48

The Casio G-Shock x Hardies NYC DW-6900HH-5 watch (pictured) is coming to Europe. (Image source: Casio)

New Casio G-Shock watch with colorful display coming to more countries soon

Casio has officially confirmed that the new G-Shock x Hardies NYC DW-6900HH-5 watch will be released in Europe in the near future. This model has a brown and purple/pink design, with a purple colored digital display. Other feature...

Polly Allcock, 23 Jan 2026 21:44

Tapo’s C545D Outdoor Security camera (pictured) is now available in Europe. (Image source: Tapo)

Tapo releases new dual-lens security camera with free smart notifications

The TP-Link Tapo C545D Outdoor Dual Lens Pan/Tilt Security Camera is now available in various European countries. The smart outdoor security camera has an upper wide-angle camera fixed in position, and a lower pan/tilt camera to t...

Polly Allcock, 23 Jan 2026 21:33

Ubisoft Mobile HQ studio is shown (Image source: Ubisoft with edits)

Following cancelled Ubisoft games, employees reportedly set to mass quit before layoffs

Ubisoft talent who have so far survived layoffs are openly voicing their displeasure at management. A report suggests that many are already seeking employment elsewhere. Some developers had worked on cancelled Ubisoft games, inclu...

Adam Corsetti, 23 Jan 2026 21:20

16.01	Microsoft Surface Go 3 im Test: Neue Bezeichnung, altes Gerät?
21.12	I expected a bit more from this powerhouse gaming laptop
21.12	Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (AMD) 2025 Review: Worth the Hype?
21.12	Acer Swift Go 14 (2024) Ultra 5 Review: Just one issue…
21.12	I used the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI for a month and I think Acer might have just redefined portability
21.12	Acer Nitro Lite 16 review: A stylish laptop for gamers and creators under Rs 1 lakh
21.12	Is the HP Omnibook X Flip the Laptop of Choice for Creatives?
21.12	HP Omnibook X Flip 14 Review
21.12	Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS Review
21.12	Lenovo Legion 9i (18″, Gen 10) review – RTX 5090 Power & Forged Carbon