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Mahnoor Faisal-Reporter

Mahnoor Faisal

Reporter

Contributor Since January, 2025
Qualifications Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Expertise
Apple, Artificial Intelligence, PC
  • 566
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  • 334
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About Mahnoor Faisal

Mahnoor Faisal is a tech journalist covering AI and productivity tools with bylines at XDA, SlashGear, MakeUseOf, Laptop Mag, and Android Police.

She's been writing professionally since she was sixteen, and has since penned hundreds of articles. This includes in-depth coverage of AI tools like NotebookLM to breaking news across the AI space. Her passion for technology started when she received her first iPod Touch (4th generation) on her 8th birthday, and she's been deep in the tech world ever since.

Currently pursuing a degree in computer science, Mahnoor brings both a journalist's eye and a technical foundation to her coverage of how AI is reshaping the way we work and learn.

What was your first computer?

My first computer was a clunky hand-me-down Dell laptop from my father. The laptop had been through everything—it refused to work unless plugged in, took hours to boot up, and even stopped connecting to WiFi at one point.

Despite all that, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t spark my curiosity about technology and set me on the path I’m on today. In fact, I started my tech writing journey on that very laptop. Now, I’ve come a long way and upgraded to an M2 MacBook Air!

How long have you been interested in technology?

I've been passionate about technology for as long as I can remember. I started programming at nine, and even at seven, if someone asked what career path I wanted to pursue, the answer was always computer science — which I'm now studying!

These days, I'm especially drawn to AI and how it's reshaping the way people work, learn, and get things done. I've always been the go-to for tech questions from friends and family, and I'm grateful I get to do the same for an online audience.

What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?

I'm most passionate about AI and the tools that are changing how people work and learn. I've written over 180 articles on NotebookLM alone, and exploring how AI fits into everyday workflows is what I enjoy writing about most. 

claude mac

I cancelled my ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini subscriptions for Claude — and I should have sooner

chatgpt-gemini-perplexity-claude

I use ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini daily — here's the only one worth paying for

Latest

Angled view of an iPad displaying a Cerebral Arteries diagram beside a pink Apple Pencil-1
I replaced OneNote, Goodnotes, and Notability with a note-taking app that fits me better
Productivity & Creativity Tools

Turns out, I didn’t need the biggest name

2
By 
iPad showing the Gemini Notebook website playing an Audio Overview sample
NotebookLM's new study features cost $0 and outperform apps people pay $15 a month for
NotebookLM

Paid study apps should be nervous

By 
iPad running macOS-style Zen browser on the XDA Developers homepage, Spotify on the screen behind
Your browser has its own task manager, and it exposed my most memory-hungry tabs
Browser

I finally caught my worst tabs in the act

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claude code, codex, and antigravity on ipad
I used Claude Code, Codex, and Google Antigravity to build my dream note-taking app, and one is in a different league
Claude

Apparently “build me a notes app” means three very different things

7
By 
Vane in action
I replaced ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity with free open-source alternatives
Open Source

My bank can finally breathe

13
By 
grammarly on macbook
I replaced Grammarly with a local LLM, and none of my writing leaves my laptop anymore
AI tools

My proofreader lives on my laptop now

1
By 
screenshot of claude ai website showing built for creators section with code editor window displaying technical documentation in terminal style interface
I compared my Claude Code workflow to a beginner's, and some of my habits were making things worse
Claude

Oops. Accidentally optimized my Claude Code setup backwards.

By 
Gemini Notebook on MacBook and monitor
I’m using these 4 NotebookLM alternatives for studying in 2026, and they beat the OG in some ways
NotebookLM

I still love NotebookLM, just not for everything

1
By 
MacBook laptop showing Gemini Notebook create report dialog with rainbow light streaks
I tested NotebookLM’s new Interactive Learning Overviews, and they fixed my biggest problem with it
NotebookLM

This is what NotebookLM was missing

By 
ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude on screen
I stopped paying for multiple AI coding tools and built one setup that can use Claude, GPT, Gemini, and local models
coding

I kept the subscription count on a diet

4
By 
Google Keep on MacBook
I replaced Google Keep with an open-source notes app, and I wish I'd done it sooner
Google Keep

An extremely convincing Keep replacement

8
By 
claude design website displayed on computer monitor with purple lighting in background
I set up Claude Design the way its creator does, and I was missing out on so much
Claude

I was using the right tool in all the wrong ways

By 
gemma, whsiper, and deepseek on macbook page
I stopped paying for these AI features once I realized my laptop could run them locally
AI

Why pay for what my laptop already does?

By 
proton pass on macbook
I ditched Chrome's password manager for this open-source app and I'm never going back
Software and Services

Chrome was doing the bare minimum

2
By 
Hand holding phone browsing Music and Audio category in Google Play Store
These open-source Android apps are so good I ditched their mainstream rivals
Open Source

Who needs the mainstream stuff?

1
By 
Google Keep on MacBook Air
These overlooked features turned Google Keep into my productivity powerhouse
Google Keep

I owe Keep an apology

1
By 
Claude code in VS Code
Claude Code wastes tokens on tasks that don't need them, but this one setting fixes it
Claude

Some jobs really aren't that deep

By 
claude code on desktop and macbook
Claude Code's output got dramatically better when I stopped letting it decide when it was done
Claude

Claude needed a much shorter leash

By 
Claude Code and Wispr Flow open side by side on MacBook
I paired Claude Code with Wispr Flow, and my 5-minute prompts now take 60 seconds
Claude

My prompts got better without taking longer

By 
multiple windows of chrome displayed on macbook with blue light in the background
I turned my browser into my entire productivity workspace, and I'm using fewer desktop apps than ever
Browser

Who needs desktop apps anyway?

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