CheckMag As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to explore Christmas-themed video games. Below are 4 top family video game recommendations, each catering to a variety of tastes and ensuring enjoyment for everyone. Whether playing solo or with family, these games are sure to add an extra layer of fun to your holiday celebrations.

According to a new report, HP is preparing to release a new premium gaming monitor. Billed as the Omen Transcend 32, the gaming monitor will utilise a QD-OLED panel from Samsung, which will provide a 4K resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate.

BenQ has started selling the Zowie XL2546X, a 24.5-inch gaming monitor based around a Fast TN panel. Available for $499, the BenQ Zowie XL2546X outputs at 240 Hz with a 1080p resolution and 320 nits peak brightness.

Producing microLED displays in larger diagonals still poses a major challenge. There is still a lot of research work to be done, especially for the mass market. Nevertheless, laptops and monitors may well be utilizing self-illuminating technology in a decade's time.

Valve has rolled out a new update for the Steam Deck, which introduces several improvements and also includes new firmware. The improvements are for both the standard and OLED variants of the gaming handheld.

The Hisense HS2100 2.1 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer is now available in North America and Europe, with a 45% discount currently offered to US customers. The new model has a maximum output of 240W, with features including DTS Virtual:X, an HDMI ARC port and Bluetooth connectivity.

An earlier One UI 6.1 leak provided details about a number of interesting AI functions in Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S24 generation and some earlier Samsung phones. Now, further One UI 6.1 features have been leaked, which supposedly aim to improve video recordings and are somewhat reminiscent of Google's Video Boost feature.

The Kospetfit iHeal 5 is another new smartwatch currently on sale. According to the manufacturer, it is equipped with ECG, blood sugar and blood pressure measurement as well as many other functions relating to health, sport and the like, but only costs the equivalent of less than $50.

Evidence has emerged that HP will soon refresh its Spectre x360 14 and Spectre x360 16 laptops. Allegedly, the pair will be available with 120 Hz OLED displays and Intel Meteor Lake-H processors, although only the larger 16-inch model will ship with NVIDIA RTX 40 series graphics.

Windows Report has leaked various details about HP's next Omen Transcend gaming laptop. Arriving soon as the HP Omen Transcend 14, the gaming laptop will be available with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 as the 'world's lightest' 14-inch gaming laptop.

Dangbei has finally announced a pre-order date for its "thinnest laser projector to date". The Atom is also the brand's first Google TV device, and is also touted to be among the brightest of its emerging home theater category. It is also touted to pack many features of bigger projectors, ALPD, auto-focus and color quality included.

Philips has showcased the 27M1N5500P, a new Evnia-branded gaming monitor that combines a 2.5K resolution with a 240 Hz refresh rate. While the Evnia 27M1N5500P is launching in China first, it should be available globally too before long.

AI models like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion require large amounts of energy and CO₂. This is a worrying trend, and recent studies provide important insights into the climate impact of artificial intelligence.

While governments are slashing electric vehicle subsidies left and right due either to fiscal constraints, or simply because they already did their part, Tesla says that it will keep the low prices. In Germany, for instance, it will not only compensate for the federal, but also leave its own share of the EV subsidy intact.

OPPO's Find X7 series has yet to launch, yet is the subject of rumors hinting that things will be very different in this generation compared to its predecessors. The latest twist in this tale is that its Pro variant has been discontinued, and that only its Ultra and vanilla counterparts remain. The former will allegedly still encompass all of the OEM's top-of-the-line upgrades, however - OPPO's latest premium display included.

Instead of plugging in at home with the $495 Magic Dock wall charger, Tesla owners may be able to simply park over an inductive wireless charging pad on their floor. Tesla's design chief confirmed that this may be an option coming to home garages.

AOKZOE has finally confirmed launch pricing and a release date for the AOKZOE A2, a 7-inch gaming handheld that it showcased at the start of the year. While the AOKZOE A2 starts at $699 with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, there will also be a cheaper Ryzen 7 6800U-powered SKU for $599.

Schindelhauer has unveiled two new e-bikes named Heinrich and Hannah. The models feature a mid-mounted motor from Bosch, offering varying levels of assistance, with a 500Wh battery and Enviolo TR stepless shifting. Other tools include a Bosch Kiox display with smartphone connectivity and GPS tracking.

Nubia has brought the Z60 Ultra to global audiences, a few hours after presenting the handset globally. As a result, the Nubia Z60 Ultra becomes the first smartphone available globally with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset. The Nubia Z60 Ultra is comparatively cheap too, with a $569, £599, and €599 launch price, including pre-order discounts.

The Nubia Z60 Ultra has now arrived, following a lengthy teaser campaign. Not only does the smartphone sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, but it also offers new UDC technology and a 35 mm primary camera, among other features.

The Thok MIG e-S e-bike has arrived in the EU. The hybrid model is suited to both roads and gravel paths, with a low centre of gravity, high grip tires and a full RockShox suspension system. Other features of the new 12-speed bicycle include a motor, battery and bike computer from Shimano.

The Cybertruck's river crossing depth is higher than a Land Cruiser's but lower than a Rivian R1T and about the same as the Ford F-150 Raptor. Tesla has equipped the Cybertruck with a special Wade mode for river crossings that pressurizes the battery pack as an extra precaution.

Xiaomi is preparing a third Redmi Note 13 Pro handset after the Redmi Note 13 Pro and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. Soon, there will be the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G, a slightly cheaper alternative to the Redmi Note 13 Pro based around a new MediaTek Helio chipset.

Early details about a successor to the Redmi Note 12 4G have emerged online. Billed as the Redmi Note 13 4G, the handset will retain its predecessor's Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset will adopt most of the hardware from the Redmi Note 13 5G.

The iPhone 16 lineup in 2024 will once again be more of an iterative upgrade, with Apple likely to focus its resources on the Vision Pro launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple apparently has a long-term strategy with the Vision Pro, which it expects to become a compelling wearable similar to the Apple Watch. The Cupertino-giant will also introduce two new base AirPods, including one with active noise cancelation, and bring hearing aid features via a software update.

Xiaomi will offer the Redmi Note 13 5G outside China. Like the Redmi Note 12 5G before it, the Redmi Note 13 5G appears set to receive an upgraded camera set-up for its global release, with Xiaomi adding a third rear-facing camera for its MediaTek Dimensity 6080-powered handset.

Based on a dozen Amazon listings, Xiaomi is preparing to release the Redmi Note 13 Pro soon in Europe, likely following the device's Indian launch. While the handset was rumoured to start at €449, Amazon's listings tell a different story.

One of Garmin’s latest smartwatches is now available in the US, Australia and some EU countries. Plus, customers in other areas can place a pre-order with deliveries expected in a matter of weeks. The powerful smartwatch has a large 1.4-in (~36 mm) AMOLED display, a durable titanium bracelet and a wide range of features.

A new leak says Samsung has a Galaxy S24 version with 12 GB of RAM, instead of the previously rumoured 8 GB. However, it will only be available in some unspecified regions.

It seems that Sony’s strategy of releasing PS-exclusive games on PC is proving quite beneficial with the company reportedly selling millions of Horizon Zero Dawn and God War copies on Steam. The information comes to us courtesy of a leaked internal slide posted on Reddit. The Steam sales chart shows total copies sold on Steam for games such as Spider-Man Remastered, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and more.

The Komoot Garmin app for various smartwatches and bike computers can now display the brand’s maps. Until the latest software, users had to use their phones to access Komoot apps or layer Komoot navigation onto Garmin’s maps. However, early users have flagged several issues with the new tool, which will have limited access in the future.

Xiaomi's flagship Redmi Note 13 series model has appeared online in four retailer leaks. Based on the four product listings, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus will be available for cheaper than a previous leak suggested, albeit not in all Eurozone countries. The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus will also start 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, matching its predecessor.

Fuell has launched its first folding e-bike, the Folld-1. The new model is suitable for city rides or off-roading, with a full suspension system and 4-inch fat tires. The e-bike is powered by a Bafang motor, with the top speed limited in the EU, and the US variant is equipped with a thumb throttle.

Since its acquisition by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Insomniac Games has released three titles including two new Spiderman games. If the latest round of leaks is accurate, the studio is far from slowing down and is reportedly set to release a total of 6 new games by 2035. Among the new games, four titles are allegedly based on Marvel superhero properties

Nvidia plans to launch the GeForce RTX 3050 6 GB sometime in February 2024. It will permanently replace the 8 GB version and come with a sub-$ $200 price tag.

The Eluktronics RP-15 G2 gaming laptop price is currently at a record low at the company’s official store. Equipped with an RTX 4060 laptop GPU with 8 GB of VRAM and an 8-core Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU, the notebook is powerful enough to handle almost all the latest games at FHD with elevated graphics. Additionally, with an abundant 64 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage, the Eluktronics RP-15 G2 should serve well for years to come

BMW enthusiasts can register for the BMW M Drift + M Mixed Reality driving experience. Drivers race and drift inside virtual reality race circuits while driving BMW M4 Competition Coupés in the real-world.

The cancellation comes after the European Commission and the UK's competition and markets authority raised concerns that the merger would stifle competition in the online design software market.

Known for its embedded and industrial electronics, EDATEC has announced a new mini PC, the EDATEC ED-IPC3020. It’s powered by the Raspberry Pi 5 and features an industrial, fanless design. The system is available on AliExpress with a starting price of $165.

The Tesla Cybertruck made some waves with a frunk that doubles as a bench for two people, despite the electric pickup's disappointing storage volume. Not to be outdone, a recent Ford patent takes the concept of a multi-functional frunk to the next level by converting it into a work surface alongside the ample storage space.

Montage Technology has released a fresh new generation of processors. Called the 5th Gen Jintide CPUs, the new chipsets are basically Intel’s 5th Gen Xeon processors that Montage has rebadged and started selling as its own.

Apple engineers are now reportedly working on an algorithm to change the way the oxygen blood sensor works. This comes after the impending ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 due to a patent dispute.

The latest Apple iMac assumes the ultra-thin design of its predecessor, but makes replacing the CMOS battery a little easier. RAM or SSD upgrades are still not possible, but at least the connections and the stand can be replaced.

Google is further simplifying repairs for Pixel smartphones, as Pixel users will now be able to run system diagnostics directly on their smartphone in order to identify defects and protect their data with repair mode, while the range of tools has been further expanded.

Seinxon is offering a new AirTag alternative that is particularly thin and can be easily hidden or stored in a wallet. Another advantage is that the device can be recharged, which also helps avoid waste.

The 10-inch Lenovo tablet is powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 SoC, which might not set any speed records, but is certainly suitable for media consumption and many other tablet applications that budget-conscious buyers of the Tab M10 Plus are probably using.

GOG's Winter Sale is giving away Lost Ruins for free for a limited time. Lost Ruins is a 2D survival action side scroller about a young girl that gets lost in a dungeon without her memories. She must find a way out and uncover the secrets of the dungeon and her mysterious companion.

The NucBox K6 is a new mini PC from GMKTec with a high-performance APU from AMD. It can be ordered as a barebone or fully equipped. A special cooling system promises good temperature control of all components.