Engadget has published its latest review recap, gathering together recent verdicts on a spread of new consumer technology spanning gaming hardware, audio, wearables, laptops and displays. The roundup matters as a quick guide for buyers, with the headline item being Valve's much-anticipated Steam Machine console, which the site judged underpowered and overpriced despite praising the underlying concept.

Alongside the Steam Machine — which reviewer Jessica Conditt said would be a tough sell even at a hypothetical $600 owing to hardware limitations — the recap covers four other products, most of them positively received. Samsung's Music Studio 7 speaker impressed as a soundbar alternative, particularly as a stereo pair costing $1,000, while the smaller, longer-lasting Oura Ring 5 was welcomed as a meaningful refinement rather than a dramatic leap. HP's OmniBook Ultra 14 was hailed as a return to flagship form for the firm, and the Alienware 34 QD-OLED (model AW3426DW), boosted by Samsung's latest panel technology, was described as spectacular for its brightness and colour depth.