Gone are the days of It's A Wonderful Life! and Miracle on 34th Street – it's a given that modern Christmas movies are unironically bad, and the new Netflix film A Merry Little Ex-mas is no exception.
This sounds like a dig, but I don't really mean it as one. Sure, I'd prefer to spend my time watching the best movies creators have to offer, but Christmas films in the 2000s play by their own rules. We're almost willing them to be awful, totally zoning out and thinking about absolutely nothing while we binge them in the cold winter months.
Starring Oliver Hudson and Alicia Silverstone as a couple who are trying to "consciously uncouple" (aka divorce) during the festive period, A Merry Little Ex-mas delivers the no-thoughts goods. It's the same way you have to occasionally read a rubbish book just to feel something again... there are no stakes and nothing important to note. Just you, a cosy blanket, and vibes.
Given I actually get paid to talk about film and TV for a living, and have to earn that responsibility, I need to dig a little deeper into A Merry Little Ex-mas via the standard industry criteria (e.g. saying "it's vibes" doesn't quite cut it). As you might expect, it doesn't score very highly in those areas.
A Merry Little Ex-mas has nuggets of gold amid its seasonal rubbishFirst, let's set the scene. Kate (Silverstone) and Everett (Hudson) are getting divorced simply because they seem fatigued by each other. While the entire town knows about it, each is keeping a secret: Everett is dating someone new (Jameela Jamil), while Kate plans to move away to Boston after their youngest goes off to college.
Kate wants the family to have one last Christmas as a unit, adhering to all the traditions they've made over the years. As their secrets spill out, however, a normal Christmas is the last thing that Kate and Everett have, and it's incredibly clear that their feelings for each other haven't gone away either.
From my brief synopsis, you can probably work out exactly how A Merry Little Ex-mas ends, and I can basically guarantee that you are correct. This is one of the many problems the new movie has, if we're really scrutinizing it.
Not only can we see the conclusion coming with our eyes closed, but the overarching storyline and B-plots are all too ridiculous to believe. As an act of rebellion to try and make Everett jealous, Kate immediately dates a young guy called Chet (Pierson Fodé), who is the most stereotypical American muscle man you've ever seen.
The fact this chiseled dude just happens to be working at every business in town and on board with Kate's jealousy plan is as unbelievable as the fact Tess (Jamil) moved her luxurious life to suburban American for a man she's only know for just four weeks.
Every decision everybody makes is a questionable one, including the team's collective decision to make Harry Potter great again (you'll see what I mean, but really? In 2025?) There's nothing believable enough to sink your teeth into, you just have to go off of pure whimsy.
Our cast are putting in solid performances, but there's nothing remarkable. You'd think putting grown-up Cher Horowitz from Clueless and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Melissa Joan Hart) in a film together as BFFs would be a slam dunk, but Joan Hart isn't included as much as she could be.
It's quite literally all smiles and rainbows. (Image credit: Netflix)But that doesn't mean everything in A Merry Little Ex-mas should be written off. If you're a Hallmark fan, or live to consume rubbish, the new Netflix movie is literally made for you.
Every frame looks like the quintessential American holiday you want to immerse yourself in, both picture-perfect and wholesome at every turn. Add a level of 'hamming' to proceedings (by which I mean everything that happens borders on being camp) and you've the perfect cocktail of Sunday viewing.
There's also an incredible amount of representation that isn't made into an unnecessarily big deal. Kate has two dads, who own the local hardware store and are responsible for the biggest amount of laughs in this otherwise humorless film.
They shower her in nothing but love, and it's clear they've been an integral part of the grandchildren's childhoods too. It's a beautiful relationship to watch, and a timely reminder of how the 2020s blended family can be easily included onscreen.
My star of the show? Jameela Jamil. She's been so busy being brilliantly herself (her Substack is must-subscribe reading), that I think we've forgotten just how brilliant of an actress she is. Tess is the antithesis of who she really is, but you'd never be able to tell if you didn't know her. I'm aware that's how acting works, but you get my point.
Will I be rushing to press play on A Merry Little Ex-mas again? No, and I doubt I ever will. Was it a nice, mind-numbing way to spend a Sunday evening curled up in bed? You bet.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
The sun has burped out bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that could reach Earth Tuesday night. Forecasters said the vibrant displays could be visible across much of the northern U.S.
(Image credit: Charlie Riedel)
I rely on a power bank daily, and only the most powerful options can keep up with the demands of laptop charging or topping up portable gaming devices.
While there are plenty of great options in our guide to the best power banks, most don’t have built-in cables, so you need to carry some extras when on the go.
And that’s where the Lenovo Go slots in, with up to 65W output and a built-in cable that hides away in the power bank itself, so it's ready to go whenever needed.
Aside from the cable, it also has both a USB-C and a USB-A port and can charge three devices at once.
The Lenovo Go features a typical 20,000mAh, 74Wh (though the unit itself says 77Wh) capacity, which makes it ready to take on flights without permission, and capable of topping up a laptop at least once or keeping your phone charged for days. It’s also enough to give the 50Wh battery in the Steam Deck a full charge.
The Lenovo Go power bank includes a built-in 44 cm USB-C cable. (Image credit: Future)At 170 × 72 × 23 mm (6.69 × 2.83 × 0.91 inches), it’s reasonably compact, and the 390 grams (0.86 lb) weight is fairly typical considering the capacity. The design is slim enough to slip into a bag (including briefcase-style laptop bags) without adding bulk.
The built-in USB-C cable is 44 cm (17.3 in) long and wraps around a recess in the power bank for storage. While secure and easy to deploy, it’s very slightly fiddly to put back into place neatly once you are finished charging.
The USB-C end is slightly bulky, so it may not fit in some USB-C ports with tight access, such as phones with thicker cases.
Image 1 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 7The power bank shows the remaining capacity with LEDs – each representing a 25% increment. (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 7The power bank includes USB-A and USB-C ports on the end. (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 7The built-in USB-C cable has a handy pull tab to help release it. (Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 7The USB-C connector on the end of the cable has a slightly bulky protective cover, so may not fit in tight ports. (Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 7The built-in USB-C cable is tough, but does not sit neatly unless firmly pushed back in. (Image credit: Future)The power bank uses a simple four-LED system to display remaining capacity in 25% steps, which works fine but isn’t quite as nice as a digital readout. The plastic shell feels solid in hand and is quite tough, and despite rattling around in my bag for a few weeks, it shows no signs of undue wear.
The Lenovo power bank does face stiff competition from similar-spec power banks, such as the often slightly cheaper Anker 20,000mAh 87W power bank. The Lenovo is slightly slimmer (but longer) and lighter, but to give comparative value for money, it needs to be picked up when on sale.
Image 1 of 4The power bank is about the same horizontal dimensions as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but of course much thicker. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4The power bank looks chunky compared to the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i laptop, but it's slim enough to slip into a bag without adding bulk. (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Future)The Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank outputs USB PD3.0 spec voltages on the USB-C cable and USB-C port – 5V 3A, 9V 3A, 15V 3A and 20V 3.25A. This means it will happily fast charge most phones, laptops and other devices like handheld gaming machines at up to 65W. The USB-A port supports the QC3.0 protocol, with 5V, 9V, 12V or variable from 3.6V to 12V, at up to 18W.
Notably, it doesn’t support PPS (Programmable Power Supply), so it won’t do 45W Samsung Super Fast charging like the Iniu P50 can.
The Lenovo power bank also doesn’t output 12V on the USB-C ports, which isn’t a problem for most users, but it’s still worth mentioning. There aren’t many devices that exclusively need 12V USB-C charging, but, for example, a 12V option is needed to get the fastest charging on DJI Mini drone batteries.
So while the Lenovo doesn’t have the latest protocol support, for normal use it’s still more than capable of fast charging any of your devices.
Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank: Price & specsYou can buy the Lenovo power bank directly from Lenovo or various other marketplaces and retailers.
List price is $140.99 / £84 / AU$138, but it's often sold for much less during sale events, so it's well worth waiting for a discount if you don't need it right away.
The power bank has a standard 1-year warranty, and we are a little disappointed that Lenovo didn’t offer at least 2 years.
Price
$140.99 / £84 / AU$138
Capacity
20,000mAh / 74Wh
Single Port Output
65W
Number of Ports
3
USB-C
2x in/out
USB-A
1x
Dimensions
170 × 72 × 23 mm (6.69 × 2.83 × 0.91 inches)
Weight (measured)
391 g (0.86 lb)
Phone charges
3 to 4 times
Laptop charges
0.5 to 1 times
Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank: Test resultsMany power banks make bold claims, but in real-world testing they don't live up to the hype. So to weed out the duds, I do comprehensive testing to verify charge voltages, confirm protocol support and log capacity tests.
Overall, the Lenovo power bank gives solid results considering it is slimmer and lighter than many similar-spec options and has a built-in cable.
Test
Usable Capacity
Efficiency
Score
65W laptop charging
61.5 Wh
83.1%
3.5 / 5
30W laptop charging
62.5 Wh
84.4%
3.5 / 5
20W phone charging
65.3 Wh
88.2%
4 / 5
10W charging
68.1 Wh
92%
4.5 / 5
For 65W laptop charging, the Lenovo Go outputs 61.5Wh of the rated 74Wh available, giving a typical 83.1% efficiency rating. Lenovo also rates the power bank at just 48Wh when outputting 65W (20V 3.25A), so the real-world test results of 61.5Wh are much better.
I will note, though, that after it hits about 45% capacity remaining, it does renegotiate to a slower charge rate to protect the battery cells. This is fairly typical, and when testing it on a laptop that is being used the lower average power draw does not trigger this mode.
At an average 30W output when running a laptop, efficiency is slightly better, at 84.4%.
For phone charging at 20W, the Lenovo power bank hit an excellent 88.2% efficiency, and if charging slowly at 10W, it can output 92% of the rated capacity.
The power bank is rated for 74Wh by Lenovo online, but the actual power bank notes 77Wh. This is a slight over-provisioning of capacity by Lenovo, which is a good thing, and for the efficiency calculations above I used the 74Wh rating.
The Lenovo power bank includes detailed specs on the sticker underneath. (Image credit: Future)When pushed hard with a sustained maximum output until empty (such as when charging a laptop), the Lenovo power bank reached a warm but not problematic 42°C (108°F), while phone charging only saw it reach 28°C (82°F). While it’s generally best to charge a laptop on a desk, the Lenovo power bank stays cool enough that I would have no problem using it in a bag.
The power bank can charge at up to 100W via the built-in cable or USB-C port and takes about 1.5 hours to top back up.
Rated Output Capacity
2400 mAh / 48Wh at 20V 3.25A
PPS support
No
Included cable
Built-in, 5A
IN1 (USB-C port)
5V⎓3A; 9V⎓3A; 15V⎓3A; 20V⎓5A
IN2 (USB-C cable)
5V⎓3A; 9V⎓3A; 15V⎓3A; 20V⎓5A
OUT1 (USB-C port)
5V⎓3A; 9V⎓3A; 15V⎓3A; 20V⎓3.25A
OUT2 (USB-C cable)
5V⎓3A; 9V⎓3A; 15V⎓3A; 20V⎓3.25A
OUT3 (USB-A port)
5V⎓3A; 9V⎓2A; 12V⎓1.5A
Should I buy the Lenovo Go power bank?Buy it if…You need laptop charging
The 65W output is ideal for quick top-ups.
You want a power bank with a built-in cable
The 44 cm cable helps cut down clutter in your bag.
You need PPS charging
The Lenovo power bank does not support PPS so it can’t hit the full Samsung Super Fast charge speeds.
You are after a more affordable option
While not too bad when on sale, the Lenovo power bank is expensive at list price.
The Lenovo Go laptop power bank is a great option for everyday laptop and phone charging, but below are a few other options if you are looking for something different. For even more recommendations, check out our guide to the best power banks. Or, if you are planning a holiday soon, get a full rundown on the airline rules when traveling with power banks.
Iniu P50 power bank
Need something smaller for charging a phone? With 45W fast-charge capability and a 10,000mAh (37Wh) capacity, the Iniu P50 is a great power bank to slip into your bag when on the go.
Read our full Iniu P50 power bank review
ZMI No.20
This power bank uses premium components, has a large 25,000mAh (90Wh) capacity and is able to fast-charge anything from a phone to a laptop at up to 100W.
Read our full ZMI No.20 review
What's your favorite power bank for everyday carry? Or is there a specific model you think I should test?
Let me know in the comments below.
I get hands-on with every power bank I test and conduct extensive evaluations in both lab and real-world scenarios. Using tools like the ChargerLab POWER-Z KM003C, I measure charge voltage, check protocol support, and log capacity tests.
Each power bank is also tested with everyday devices, including phones, tablets and laptops, and is connected to a programmable load tester for multiple charge cycles. I carry a selection daily in both pockets and bags to assess their durability and ability to withstand everyday use.
All measurements and weights are personally verified, ensuring accuracy beyond the manufacturer’s listings. It’s worth noting that many power bank reviews don’t do this sort of testing, so they should be taken with a grain of salt.
Want to know more? Read about how we test.
It's been a long time coming, but Football Manager 26 is finally here. With 2025 being the first year we haven't seen a new Football Manager game — or Championship Manager before it — since 1992, it was clear that when Sports Interactive decided to cancel last year's planned entry to the highly regarded football management simulation game, it must've been in a bad way.
Review infoPlatform reviewed: PC
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S
Release date: November 4, 2025
It was always an ambitious sequel, with the developers being transparent about the switch to the Unity engine, with plans to use it for a huge graphical leap. For a modern-day football game, the matchday experience should be the flagship feature, but until now, it wouldn't have looked out of place on an original PlayStation. On Unity, it now looks at least like a PlayStation 2 game.
What's funny is that I'm not exaggerating in the slightest, but it isn't a criticism by any means. It isn't quite the dramatic jump forward we long-term virtual managers were hoping for, but it's still an improvement. Match intros have league-specific cutscenes, player animations are much more fluid, and the way the ball travels looks way more realistic. Football Manager is more than just the match engine, but this is hopefully a solid start to consistent graphical improvements over the course of the next few entries.
(Image credit: SI/Sega)A couple of highlightsThat will, unfortunately, be a running theme because Football Manager 26 is, for all intents and purposes, still very much a beta. There are improvements, and the important thing to keep in mind amongst all of the drawbacks is that this is still Football Manager at its core.
You're still going to be hooked, playing for hours on end, sacrificing sleep to try and take your beloved local club to glory… It's just that, despite all the hype and excitement around 26 being a full revamp for the series, it has significantly missed the mark.
Alongside the visually improved match engine, though, there is one other area where Football Manager 26 has genuinely improved on: tactics. For the first time in series history, you can now use two tactics simultaneously: one when you're in possession of the ball, and another when you're out of possession. The available player roles for any given position change, you can use an entirely different formation, the whole works. It adds an extra dynamic to tactics that we didn't have prior, and is one of the only genuine selling points for the new game.
I'd also be remiss not to mention the inclusion of women's football for the first time ever, and done to an impressive degree, too. There are 14 women's leagues across 11 countries, from the world-famous Women's Super League in England to the not-so-well-known Adran Premier next door in Wales.
Sports Interactive has 40 researchers dedicated to just the women's game, and even though there's no denying the mode won't be as popular as managing in the men's leagues, it's a great step for representation and is crucial in helping the sport become as recognised as it deserves to be.
(Image credit: SI/Sega)Delivered a year late yet still undercookedUnfortunately, even with the post-launch 26.0.4 update, Football Manager 26 is still a buggy, feature-barren, poor excuse for a full-priced video game launch, especially one that has 20+ years of history and consistency to fall back on.
There are so many missing features in this year's instalment that were available in previous iterations of the game, including but not limited to: International management, touchline shouts, squad depth tab, live cup draws, the data hub, create-a-club mode, versus mode, challenge mode, transfer deadline day, end of season summaries/fanfare, advanced match stats, the ability to save preset line-ups, and so many more slightly less significant removals that I could be here all day.
Best bit(Image credit: SI/Sega)Even though it still pales in comparison to other modern football games, the match engine is a huge visual upgrade, and one that's long overdue.
Not to mention the heaps upon heaps of not-quite game-breaking, but still infuriating bugs. Being able to select bench players to take penalties in a shootout, in-match text commentary that doesn't make sense, long text wrapping and obscuring other text… again, these are just a few examples of a considerably long list.
Even though Sports Interactive revealed touchline shouts were effectively useless, providing only the most minimal of morale boosts when performed correctly, I still find my muscle memory looking for them in almost every match.
That placebo effect was very real in Football Manager 2024, and while I understand the need to revamp them before bringing it back as a feature, it's perhaps the one I miss the most. That and transfer deadline day, specifically, thanks to missing out on a signing because the paperwork wasn't filed until 15 minutes after the deadline, which was something the dedicated deadline day mode in FM24 would've prevented. Damn fax machine.
(Image credit: SI/Sega)Teaching an old dog new tricksFinally, there are the many, many UI changes. As more and more players pick up Football Manager on console — despite for the longest time, it being a PC exclusive — development caters more towards them, leading to a complete UI overhaul.
As a diehard, decade-plus player, it was hard to get used to. Even though I know how the game works at its core, I had to learn where everything was again, and it was beyond frustrating when I'd go somewhere I expected something to be, and it inexplicably wasn't, so I had to resort to the search function.
I hesitate to call it bad UI design, though, because there's every chance I only dislike it because it's such a drastic change from what I'm familiar with. If you present a brand new player with both Football Manager 24 and 26 side by side, task them with learning each one, then ask which they prefer? I suspect their answer may be 26, even if we veterans are finding it tough.
As mentioned before, though, this is still Football Manager. It may be one of the worst launches the series has had, receptively from both critics and fans alike, but if you love the series despite all of its flaws, you're going to enjoy Football Manager 26.
Especially the improved tactics and match engine, because playing tiki taka with Manchester United, in a way I know for a fact we could never do in real life, is so worth it when compared to the match engine we put up with in the series prior to now. This game is essentially a beta for Football Manager 27, and it should be treated as such.
(Image credit: SI/Sega)Should you play Football Manager 26?Play it if...You're a Football Manager diehard
Those committed to the series will truly appreciate the in-possession/out-of-possession tactical changes, and if you've exhausted your time with FM24 then this is the logical next game for you to pick up and get stuck into.
You were looking to continue enjoying some staple features of the series
If you take great delight in some of the features that have been removed for this latest iteration, such as international management, create-a-club mode, saving lineups, and more, then you'll likely be disappointed here.
You're not happy essentially being a beta tester for Football Manager 27
Football Manager 26 is a half-baked product, and you’ll have a more complete experience playing FM24. It may not look quite as pretty during matches, and you’re forgoing slightly more in-depth tactical options, but 24 has far more features, and you’d be hard-pressed to find many bugs, if any, while FM26 has the distinct air of being a step onto something bigger in the future.
As Football Manager has always been mostly spreadsheets, accessibility options come in the form of larger text, a color blind mode, the option to toggle flashing commentary when a goal is scored, and plain colours for commentary text to help distinguish them from a background.
The game also supports 19 different languages, has a number of camera settings when mid-match, but there are no difficulty modes or anything of that ilk, as they aren't required.
How I reviewed Football Manager 26As with every Football Manager game, I began a one-season save with my beloved Manchester United, with an aim to place as high as possible in the league, but also not worry about long-term finances or transfers. At the time of writing, I have played around 17 hours of playtime according to Steam.
I've toyed around with the new tactics considerably, spent lots of time scouting and signing players that can make an immediate impact, and also sold a few (it really helps when Saudi Arabian clubs come in with ridiculous offers for your squad players).
I tested managing in the women's game for a short while, too, and experienced plenty of bugs. All of this was played on a Windows 11 PC via Steam. Football Manager 26 isn't particularly intensive, as the series has famously been able to run on basically any hardware, but my gaming PC sports an RTX 3080 and 32GB of memory.
First reviewed November 2025
Airlines and aviation regulators warned that flight disruptions are likely to continue even after the government reopens. Thousands of flights have been cancelled as air traffic restrictions ramp up.
(Image credit: Chris O'Meara)