Launch

Zenwalk Linux "Santa Claus" edition (current-241227) comes with a few noticeable package updates and new additions, such as Firefox 133, Perl 5.40, Wayland 1.23.1, and more. Overall, it sports the same changes as the latest Slackware refresh. The Xfce 4.20 update also comes with multiple tweaks and fixes.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 is on the way, with a January 2025 release on the cards for the high-end gaming GPU. At first glance, it looks like the RTX 5080 will be some $300 more expensive than its RTX 4080 predecessor, but the leak might be missing important context.

Anycubic touts the latest addition to its Kobra series as the ultimate all-in-one 3D model-maker due to its ability to keep resin at the ideal temperature as well as print it. The Kobra S1 Combo also has a maximum rate of 600 millimeters per second (mm/s) and tool-free hotend dissembly. It will be released soon at a limited-time Founder's Price that comes with extra added "free perks".

The AceBook 12 is a new Windows-based laptop featuring an Intel Core i5 processor. The model is equipped with a relatively large display and a built-in fingerprint scanner.

Lava has introduced the Yuva 2 5G smartphone in India. The Yuva 2 5G comes with a 90 Hz display, a 50 MP primary camera, a Unisoc T760 chipset, and a 5,000 mAh battery. It is now available in India via Lava’s official website.

The Orion O6 is a new mainboard intended to be open source and offer a wide range of possible applications. PCIe expansion cards can be fitted and several high-resolution screens can be connected simultaneously.

The 2024 OnePlus Pad has made its official debut in China, and at the core, it’s basically the rebrand of the Oppo Pad 3, which launched as the first Android tablet with the MediaTek Dimensity 8350.

Jsaux has announced a new way to augment the ROG Ally X with "Dual-Fan Precision Cooling". The new Dynamic RGB fan attachment is compatible with the OEM's latest protective ModCase for the same handheld console, the two of which can be bought together or separately from now.

OnePlus has officially launched the OnePlus Ace 5 series in China. OnePlus introduces two models under the Ace 5 series: the OnePlus Ace 5 and the OnePlus Ace 5 Pro. The Ace 5 Pro comes with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 120 Hz AMOLED display, and a 6,100 mAh battery. Both phones are now available in China via Oppo’s online store.

The OnePlus Ace 5 has launched in China as a more affordable alternative to the OnePlus 13. It has an improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for smooth and fast gameplay and boasts the biggest battery inside a OnePlus smartphone.

Jsaux has equipped its latest Docking Station for devices such as the ROG Ally and Steam Deck series with its own Magnetic RGB Fan Cooling System. The accessory is also rated to support Quick Frame Transport (QFT) as well as auto low latency mode (ALLM), high dynamic range (HDR) and variable refresh rate (VRR) on compatible handheld consoles. It also offers access to an HDMI 2.1 output and up to 100W fast charging via USB-C.

The Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition (PE) has been announced. The device allows you to control connected smart home products with voice commands. Benefits over competitor products include improved privacy, support for a wide range of languages and a series of wake phrases.

The Vivo Y29 5G is a new Android smartphone offering modern cellular connectivity and dynamic lighting. Thanks to its IP certification, the phone should be able to withstand challenging environmental conditions without being damaged immediately.

Preorders have opened for the limited-edition AK HC4 Idolmaster USB DAC starring Nao Kamiya. The AK4493S DAC supports native playback of high-resolution DSD256 and 32-bit, 384 kHz PCM streams. The HC4 can be used as a gaming DAC, and supports headphones with regular 3.5 mm and balanced 4.4 mm jacks.

The Pilot 1 is a new and reasonably priced rugged smartphone that comes with a particularly powerful speakers and a long-range flashlight. The large battery also helps the device to double as a power bank.

MeLE has a new and compact PC system on offer, the Overclock X5, which is a big step up from Overclock C4. Users get a more powerful CPU, more RAM, more storage and a wide range of ports for a reasonable price.

GMKtec is offering a colorful, new mini PC in several model versions. Boasting a powerful AMD APU, the possibility of up to 96 GB of RAM, a wide range of modern connectivity options and loads of storage space, this mini PC is no lightweight.

The Minsiforum MDSA156 has launched as a new portable dual-screen monitor. While the specs are competitive, it has a very affordable tag, with the launch price being $231.

Asus teases a new Zenbook with Copilot+, promising up to 32 hours of battery life while also claiming the title of the world's lightest laptop in its class. Full details will be revealed at CES 2025 during the "Always Incredible" launch event.

The Pimax Dream Air is a new VR headset with a particularly high resolution and compact dimensions. The device looks like the Apple Vision Pro, but is significantly cheaper and relies on a player.

Just eight months after launching the Oppo A3 Pro, Oppo has announced a successor. The Oppo A5 Pro retains the durability features of its predecessor but wears a new design and packs a bigger battery and faster charging.

Samsung has announced new microSD cards that are themed after SEGA's Sonic characters. Available with up to 1TB of storage, the microSD cards are suitable for use in handheld gaming consoles.

The AOC Agon Pro AG276QSD is a new high-end 26.5-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor with QHD resolution, 360Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, HDR400 True Black certification, and ergonomic features, launched in China.

Based on Sid (the unstable Debian version), siduction has been around for over a decade with multiple desktop choices. Sadly, version 2024.1.0 discontinues three flavors, namely GNOME, MATE, and Cinnamon. The main highlight is KDE Plasma 6 and it comes in five flavors: KDE, LXQt, Xfce, Xorg, and no X.

AOC Q25G4S debuts as a 24.5-inch QHD gaming monitor with a 300Hz refresh rate, 0.5ms MPRT, 94% DCI-P3 color coverage, Adaptive-Sync, ergonomic adjustments, and TÜV-certified eye care features.

The Cuktech 10 Plus is now official in China, and at the core, it’s an upgraded version of the non-Plus variant. This new power bank has support for up to 120W fast charging, a rated capacity of 15,000mAh, and a Cyberpunk-themed design.

The eufyCam Solo E30, a wireless surveillance camera, has just been launched. The camera supports 360-degree vision, solar charging and does not require a subscription.

Asus has added an official launch date for its previously-revealed RGB-laden ROG gaming laptops coming to CES 2025. The new ROG laptop will apparently feature an RGB strip all around the lower casing, along with large ROG Strix branding on the vents underneath the laptop.

The 13th release of the year, which is also the last one of 2024, speeds up and further enhances the security provided by CachyOS while also improving compatibility thanks to RustiCL, which replaces the default OpenCL driver. Additionally, CachyOS 241221 comes with the Bluetooth service enabled by default.

The Baseus USB-C to USB-C cable with a 90° angle output has arrived in Europe, following its recent launch in North America. This braided model is designed for gamers, with the 90° bent port, 100W charging and a 480 Mbps data transfer rate.

Minisforum has started selling a new version of its only AMD Ryzen-powered 2-in-1. Now sold as the Minisforum V3 SE, the device makes sacrifices in various areas to hit a much lower price point than the standard Minisforum V3.

The Magic7 RSR has become China's latest ~$1,000+ Android smartphone. Its 5,000 nit peak brightness LTPO OLED display is augmented by Giant Rhino Glass for IP68/69-rated durability. The new device also has Honor's most advanced periscope zoom camera on its Porsche Design-inspired rear panel.

Ulefone has launched a new Armor X31 Pro affordable rugged smartphone. The company’s latest Armor X series smartphone comes with a 120 Hz display, a 64 MP primary camera, a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, and a 6,050 mAh battery. It also has a dedicated night vision camera for outdoor use.

The Black Shark Watch X Pro has made its official debut in China. Among its main highlights are a 1.75-inch AMOLED screen, a hidden camera, and multiple app support. Its price in China is CNY 899, which is around $123.

The Dsky Moonwatch is a new smartwatch with a number of features and programming capabilities. It comes with latest GPS tech, the OLED display is both scratchproof and anti-reflective, and is compatible with the Arduino, MakeCode and CircuitPython programing platforms.

The release date for the new Casio CRW-001 Ring Watch has been announced for the US, Australia and Singapore. Other details, including the exact time of the online release and the price, have also been revealed for some markets. Plus, the wearable will go on show at one store in a few days time.

GMKtec has made its new Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 mini PC available to pre-order, the Evo-X1. With the early-bird discount, the Minisforum EliteMini AI370 competitor starts at $920.

It looks like Nvidia is priming for a mid-January launch for its GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GPU, per the latest leaks. The launch will shake up the usual formula, which generally sees the top-tier GPU launch first.

The 8bitdo Ultimate Mini Wired Controller for Xbox is now available worldwide. The accessory is lighter and more compact than other models, tailored to gamers with smaller hands. Features of the officially licensed controller include RGB lighting joysticks and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The Sharge CarbonBlade, a portable power bank, has finally launched. The product, a particularly light and compact accessory, was announced earlier this year. Features include a 10,000mAh battery, dual ports with support for various fast charging protocols and a low current mode.

Xiaomi is offering a particularly compact Bluetooth speaker in a new model variant that promises both decent audio quality and visual appeal. It also comes with protection against extreme weather conditions and is advertised as having a long battery life.

Casio has officially unveiled the ABL-100WEPC-1B Pac-Man edition watch in the US with Bluetooth connectivity, step tracking, dual-time display, and modern features for daily use. The watch will be purchasable in Jan 2025.

Starforge Systems has expanded its gaming- and anime-inspired PC case line-up with a Terraria edition, featuring art from the fan-favourite indie adventure RPG, Terraria, printed on a Lian Li O11D Evo RGB case. There is also a $2,049.99 limited-edition pre-built PC built in the same case.

Grml, an Austrian Linux distribution based on Debian, has returned with version 2024.12. While it drops x86 support, this update is the first to bring this minimal, live Linux distro to 64-bit ARM hardware. In addition to these, Grml 2024.12 also comes with fresh Debian 13 software packages alongside many minor tweaks and fixes.

Ayaneo has started shipping their new external graphics card. Available directly from the company, the AG01 Starship can significantly boost the graphics capability of a compatible laptop or mini-PC.

Alldocube is launching a new and compact tablet that may well be suitable for gaming, as long as users don't expect to be able to play triple-A titles.

System76 has significantly revised its Pangolin laptop. The model comes with aluminum housing and a powerful APU from AMD. The model supports up to 16 TB of storage and 96 GB of RAM.

The Sharge S4 GaN charger has made its official debut in China. It comes with 65W fast charging support, sports a built-in cable, and has a transparent design. The launch price is CNY 249, which is around $34.

One-Netbook has launched the OneXplayer G1 - a compact gaming laptop with AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, Radeon 890M graphics, and a modular design with detachable keyboard and built-in controls.

The latest smart home hub from Homey is much smaller and cheaper than the Homey Pro, but offers most of the functions of the top model. Thanks to Homey Pro OS and numerous wireless technologies, the Homey Pro Mini can control many smart home devices without the need for a subscription.