On 15 February 1996 at 12 o'clock sharp, the time had come: CHIP.de went online as an offshoot of the oldest German PC magazine on the World Wide Web. Today, CHIP is the market leader in the field of technology portals and the most trusted source for more than 24 million users when it comes to products and services in their everyday lives.
CHIP was very close to the user right from the start and quickly became the most important source when it came to technology, hardware and downloads - even for me as a 15-year-old student at the time. Today, we inform millions of people every month about all the important topics in life. According to the latest Media Diversity Monitor, we are even the most important source of information for young people.“
Thousands of product tests in the CHIP test centre
From the very beginning, CHIP.de has relied on its own expertise in product testing: In its in-house test centre, the market leader puts around 1,000 products and services through their paces each year - from cordless screwdrivers and smartphones to e-scooters, fully automatic coffee machines or online banks.
In the annual network test, the experts at the CHIP test centre examine the quality and network coverage of the mobile phone providers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with an elaborate setup and test drives throughout the country. Millions of users inform themselves at CHIP.de before buying a mobile phone, signing a contract and numerous other investments in their lives. The technical expertise built up over the years and the independence in advice are still convincing today.
Congratulations from the "Who's Who" of the digital world
Just in time for the 25th anniversary, personalities from the tech & digital industry and well-known faces from politics, business and television share their view of the future on CHIP.de. Minister of State Dorothee Bär, Federal Government Commissioner for Digitalisation, has her say on CHIP.de, star investor and TV celebrity Frank Thelen and top managers from major tech companies such as Microsoft and Vodafone share their thoughts with users on Germany's largest tech portal. Day after day, new of these contributions will appear on CHIP.de/25years during the birthday week.
Johanna Schallehn
BurdaForward Communications
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The year 2020 was also a test for the German mobile networks. The introduction of 5G, stricter conditions imposed by the Federal Network Agency and the pandemic did not make things easy for network providers. Together with its partner NET CHECK, CHIP has been investigating the particular dynamics of this year and the effects on mobile networks in Germany. The conclusion of this year's major network test is that all three mobile networks have made a big leap compared to the previous year.
From coffee machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners to washing machines: digitalization has conquered the household. One-fifth of all Germans already attach great importance to smart technology at home - and as demand increases, so does the number of services on offer. Which of the many offerers enjoy the confidence of the German consumers, CHIP in a representative study analyzed. The prominent offerers were distinguished with the CHIP test seal.
To many people the topic of gaming has a deterrent effect. Be it through the many technical terms or an enormous entry hurdle for many a game. With CHIP Level Up we want to take away these fears and make reading fun for beginners and hardcore gamers alike.
Most teenagers and young adults rely on CHIP.de in all questions of everyday life. According to the latest study of the Media Diversity Monitor (2019-II), the consumer portal positions itself before web.de and the streaming platform Netflix. CHIP.de reaches more than 24 million people every month with its expert tips and product tests.
Even in difficult times, the Swiss remain ahead in mobile telephony and have the best mobile phone networks in the DACH region. This is reflected in the results of the extensive test conducted by CHIP and NET CHECK. In 2020 the race was particularly close: Swisscom triumphs ahead of Sunrise and Salt.
On September 7, 1978, the first CHIP was published in magazine stores. The technical and consumer medium is celebrating this anniversary with a comprehensive anniversary edition, which will be available from 7 September, exactly 40 years after its first publication. For four decades, the brand has accompanied and shaped digital development in Germany.