As Engadget celebrates its twenty first birthday this weekend, we’re rounding up the entire not too long ago revealed critiques from the previous few weeks. It is already a busy time for the critiques workforce, despite the fact that spring continues to be formally a couple of weeks away. The most recent entries embody a brand new iPhone, the newest from NVIDIA and people Beats exercise earbuds the corporate teased months in the past. Pour a pair bevvies for the weekend and make one a double, as a result of we’re sufficiently old to drink now.
iPhone 16e
Apple / Engadget
The iPhone 16e is essentially the most reasonably priced entry into Apple Intelligence and the remainder of the corporate’s ecosystem, and is a strong possibility for anybody who doesn’t care very a lot about smartphone pictures.
- Strong efficiency
- Lengthy battery life
- Clear, sturdy design
- Brilliant, vibrant display
- Just one rear digital camera, resulting in many limitations
- Costly in comparison with earlier iPhone SE
- No MagSafe
$599 at Apple
Apple’s new “funds” telephone has arrived, offering essentially the most reasonably priced gateway to Apple Intelligence. Whereas the iPhone 16e presents strong efficiency, anticipated lengthy battery life and an ideal show, there are some caveats that you just may not be capable to stay with. “In my week or so with the iPhone 16e, I felt the drawbacks of the digital camera essentially the most — I can stay with out MagSafe and the Dynamic Island,” Cherlynn writes. “However what the iPhone 16e does supply is quick efficiency, a clear design, lengthy battery life and, most crucially, cheaper entry to Apple’s ecosystem.”
NVIDIA GeForce 5070 Ti
ASUS
NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti is a succesful GPU for 4K gaming, principally due to DLSS 4. It is a strong improve for players on the lookout for a bit extra energy and reminiscence than the 5070.
- Strong 4K efficiency
- DLSS 4 multi-frame gen makes an enormous distinction
- Cool underneath load
- Costs fluctuate wildly
- Inventory is a significant drawback
- $750 continues to be so much for a mid-range GPU
$900 at Greatest Purchase
For those who’re available in the market for a brand new 4K gaming GPU, the RTX 5070 Ti is a a pleasant improve over the common 5070. Nonetheless, discovering one, and doing so for a good value, is one other factor completely. “I knew it might be a tad sooner than the 4070 Ti Tremendous, however with the addition of multi-frame technology, it is also a much more succesful 4K card,” Devindra says. “And it is positively extra future-proof than the 5070, because it has 16GB of VRAM just like the 5080.”
Sony A1 II
Sony
Sony’s A1 II is the corporate’s finest mirrorless digital camera but, with improved dealing with, stabilization and autofocus in comparison with the unique A1.
- Extremely quick
- Sony’s finest autofocus but
- Sharp and color-accurate pictures
- Excellent in-body stabilization
- Lacks the RAW video assist its rivals supply
- Costly
- Not an enormous improve from the A1
$6,498 at B&H Picture
With A1 II, Sony needed to stay as much as its personal excessive requirements. And whereas the digital camera could be the firm’s finest mirrorless possibility but, it isn’t an enormous leap over the A1. “The innovation that Sony is understood for is missing right here, and on prime of that, the A1 II may be very costly,” Steve explains. “The A1 II is simply a light improve over the A1 and relating to video, it’s lagging behind the Nikon Z8 and Z9 in addition to the Sony R5 II.”
Steve additionally took the DJI Flip for a spin. He provides the creator-friendly drone excessive marks for 4K video high quality, battery life and a people-safe design. The drone’s impediment detection is not one of the best although, and it struggles in windy circumstances.
Lenovo Legion Go S
Lenovo
The Legion Go S takes a variety of the good things from its predecessor and distills it right into a barely extra compact and transportable package deal. Nonetheless, the launch mannequin at the moment prices greater than the unique Legion Go, whereas providing worse efficiency, a smaller display and no removable controllers, which makes this a tough handheld to like.
- Massive 120Hz 8-inch display
- Useful little built-in touchpad
- Strong design with adjustable triggers
- Corridor impact joysticks
- Twin USB ports
- No fingerprint reader
- Lackluster vibration motor
- Too dear for the efficiency
- Legion Area app continues to be form of finicky
$730 at Greatest Purchase
Whereas Lenovo has already teased a brand new model of the Legion Go gaming handheld for later this 12 months, the corporate launched the extra streamlined Legion Go S within the meantime. There are some issues to love right here, together with a extra transportable design, an 8-inch 120Hz show and helpful controls. For now, the worth is the primary drawback.
“The difficulty is that Lenovo hasn’t totally rolled out all of its variations,” Sam writes. “So even for those who aren’t holding out for the SteamOS variant, you’d be foolish to not look forward to cheaper variations to come back out with beginning costs nearer to $600 (and even $500 for the one with Valve’s platform).”
Beats Powerbeats Professional 2
Beats
Apple’s first earbuds with heart-rate monitoring aren’t AirPods, however they provide a variety of the identical smarts through a significant design overhaul from Beats.
- Improved, cozy design
- Highly effective, balanced bass efficiency
- H2 chip provides smarts
- Coronary heart-rate sensors onboard
- Coronary heart-rate assist is proscribed at launch on iOS
- Hook design isn’t for everybody
- ANC is common at finest
$249 at Amazon
After an preliminary tease months in the past, Beats lastly debuted its up to date Powerbeats Professional exercise earbuds. The hook design stays, however there are vital upgrades each inside and outside, together with Apple’s first dance with heart-rate monitoring in an audio product. “On the entire, the Powerbeats Professional 2 are a considerable improve over the unique,” I clarify. “They’re extra snug and have a number of recent options that assist it match as we speak’s earbuds.”
I additionally reviewed the Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 earbuds within the final month. This set presents one of the best sound high quality I’ve skilled on wi-fi earbuds, thanks partly to the corporate’s use of 5 drivers in every one. Nonetheless, the Rex5 is pricey at $449 and it’s miles from a whole package deal when it comes to options and noise-canceling efficiency.
Different notable critiques and a glance forward
Managing editor Cherylnn Low spent extra time residing with the Kindle Scribe 2 and up to date the assessment with some long-term observations in regards to the pill. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 was wrapped across the wrist of shopping for recommendation senior report Amy Skorheim as she put one more incremental replace from the corporate by means of its paces.
My assessment of the Technics AZ100 earbuds that one a Better of CES award from Engadget is coming quickly. As I suspected throughout my temporary hands-on in Las Vegas, the improved sound is the star of the present right here, however I will not spoil the remainder of the assessment with extra observations. MWC 2025 is occurring subsequent week, so no matter is introduced in the course of the present will definitely be on the upcoming assessment agenda. For now, you may take a look at our preview right here.
