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Twelve years later, how do you feel about the first Kindle?
This past Tuesday marked the 12-year anniversary of the first Amazon Kindle, which was praised at the time as an evolutionary step forward for e-readers thanks to its high-contrast screen, SD slot and built-in 3G or WiFi. However, now it just seems clunky and cluttered in comparison to this year's minimalist, streamlined version.
Share your memories of the first Xbox console!
Tomorrow marks the eighteenth anniversary of the original Xbox, the first console from Microsoft that kicked off a rivalry with PlayStation that still burns today. Stockier and arguably more stylish than the first PlayStation, the first generation Xbox featured a 733MHz Intel Pentium III processor and a built-in hard disk. The initial sales of the Xbox broke records, with 1.5 million units sold before the end of the year and a total of 24 million units moved over its four-year lifespan.
Is Master & Dynamic’s MW65 worth its asking price?
Senior news editor Billy Steele has some serious experience reviewing headphones and earbuds. So when it came to Master & Dynamic's latest luxury headphones, he was pleased to see the same refined design, premium materials and trademark aesthetic details that mark the company's earlier offerings. As the first noise-cancelling headphone set from Master & Dynamic, the MW65 boasts great audio quality and intuitive controls in addition to a lightweight, comfortable fit. But it also comes with a sobering price tag of $499, which kept Billy from scoring it higher than a respectable 88.
Is the iPad Air the 'just right' tablet for most people?
Deputy managing editor Nathan Ingraham found a lot to like about this year's iPad Air: a bigger screen, snappier performance and longer battery life. However, a starting price of $499 means some trade-offs; it only supports the first-gen Apple pencil, has two speakers instead of four and lacks Apple's ProMotion technology. That wasn't enough to dissuade Nathan from recommending it as "probably the best all-around iPad you can get right now" and giving it an impressive score of 90.
Can DJI compete against GoPro in the action camera arena?
Drone maker DJI has been manufacturing drones with cameras for quite some time. However, the Osmo Action was its first attempt at making a stand-alone action camera, á la GoPro. Though the Osmo Action has similar specs to GoPro's Hero 7 Black, it also features a front facing display and HDR video recording. Managing Editor James Trew appreciated the excellent image stabilization and the ability to frame shots of yourself using the front display, but was let down by the absence of GPS and basic editing features. The Osmo Action earned a solid score of 84, while its competitor the GoPro Hero 7 Black had earned an 89.
Is the OnePlus 7 Pro worth the upgrade from its predecessor?
OnePlus had already earned plenty of fans with affordable high-end phones like the 6T; our reviewer Richard Lai praised that handset's solid hardware and slick software performance while our user reviews echoed his praise for the camera, battery life and Oxygen OS. With the release of the 7 Pro, the company built upon its strengths with features like a more responsive in-display fingerprint reader, a pop-up 16-megapixel camera and a 90Hz AMOLED screen.
What do you like about the Oculus Rift S?
When senior editor Devindra Hardawar tested the Oculus Rift S, he kept asking himself: Who really needs this VR headset? With built-in tracking, sharp resolution and a comfortable headstrap, the $399 Rift S makes a convincing argument for an entry-level VR purchase. However, it still needs to be tethered to a computer, its design and build quality aren't better than the original Rift and the identically priced Oculus Quest has higher resolution displays. That all adds up to a tough recommendation. In the end, the newest Oculus system earned a fair score of 80.
Audio experts: Share your expertise on the Powerbeats Pro headphones
When senior editor Billy Steele reviewed the Powerbeats Pro back in May, he was impressed by the sound quality and many of the set's features. Though Beats took its time releasing a pair of true wireless headphones, Billy found it well worth the wait for solid battery life, significantly improved sound and ambidextrous controls. However, he was less thrilled by the huge charging case and Lightning port, the iffy treble and the hook shape which might not be a good fit for all users.
Fitness buffs: Tell us how you like your Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
In the search for a truly great fitness smartwatch, reviews editor Cherlynn Low tested the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, the lower-cost version of last year's Galaxy Watch. At $200 the Galaxy Watch Active eschews the rotating bezel found on the higher-priced model. It's also 20 percent smaller and 60 percent lighter. This makes for a comfortable fit, but it means shorter battery life and more time spent swiping through Tizen to interact with notifications and apps. Overall, though, the Active scored a point higher than the standard Galaxy Watch, with a rating of decent 83.
How do kids (and adults) like Nintendo’s Labo VR kit?
Nintendo's Labo VR kit is certainly a step up from the historic gaming company's earlier Labo kits. With five cardboard projects for kids to construct (including the headset itself), senior editor Kris Naudus found it to be a unique, endearing and playful experience, mostly because of its clear building instructions and fun mini games. However, while the VR headset displays decent 720p, it still lacks a killer app and the VR updates to existing games leave a lot to be desired.
Is the iPad Mini a great choice for a small tablet?
Yesterday's Apple event didn't cover any updates to its iPad Mini -- which makes sense given that the 2019 iPad Mini was just released back in March. When senior editor Chris Velazco reviewed the most recent model, it had been three years since the last iteration of the tablet. The improvements that Chris most appreciated about the new iPad Mini were the improved display, solid battery life and Apple Pencil support; the parts he was less thrilled about were the recycled design, slow 12W charger and "unexciting" cameras.
Tell us who the Fitbit Versa Lite is good for
When reviews editor Cherlynn Low spent some time with the pared down Versa Lite smartwatch back in April, she was pleased by its comfortable fit, four-day battery life and capable tracking. But she still couldn't recommend it, as the regular Versa offers WiFi, an altimeter and a gyroscope for only $40 more. This disparity earned the Versa Lite a fair but unimpressive score of 72, compared to the Versa's much better 83.
Can this year's new Kindle compete with the Paperwhite?
This year's Kindle refresh gave Managing Editor James Trew a lot to like, including an illuminated display and a smaller design with smoother edges. Although the 2019 Kindle has only a single storage option and its recessed display tends to attract dirt, the improved contrast and touchscreen, as well as added Audible support, impressed James enough to earn it a solid score of 91. However, he noted that going ad-free bumped the price up to within $20 of the Paperwhite, which has more storage and waterproofing.
Are Samsung’s Galaxy Buds the wireless headphones you’ve dreamed of?
While Samsung has dabbled in true wireless headphones before, this year it finally released a set designed specifically for its Galaxy lineup: the Galaxy Buds. The $130 headphones include many standard features like a charging case, on-board controls and access to virtual assistants. But they also distinguish themselves from the competition with their small size, light weight and EQ presets. While our reviewer Billy Steele enjoyed the reliable connection and decent battery life, he was disappointed by the touch controls and audio quality. Despite calling the wireless headphones a solid options for Galaxy owners, Billy handed the Galaxy Buds a cutting score of 69.
Is the Dell XPS 13 the best Windows laptop around?
Very little sums up Devindra Hardawar's feelings about the Dell XPS 13 better than the first sentence of his review: It's "pretty much the best Windows ultraportable around, and you should buy it." That's a bold statement. However, the combination of thin bezels, a compact design and speedy performance helped to earn the laptop a phenomenal score of 93. The only drawbacks were the lack of a full-size SD slot and a reliance on integrated (instead of dedicated) graphics.
How would you rate Apple's newest AirPods?
The original Airpods from 2016 had issues with sound quality and fit, but the second generation packed in a few upgrades, including a H1 chipset that bolstered Bluetooth connection speeds and a wireless charging case. In his review Senior Editor Chris Velazco also approved of the new Airbuds' consistent wireless performance and extended battery life. However, the upgrades were not enough to wow Chris entirely; he still thought the earbuds lacked audio quality and a truly comfortable fit.
Is Samsung's Galaxy S10+ a superb flagship?
Reviews Editor Cherlynn Low had a lot of good things to say about Samsung's flagship Galaxy S10+ when it hit the market back in March. There was its big, beautiful HDR10+ display, a cleaner UI, impressive battery life, an upgraded camera software and the ability to wirelessly charge compatible devices. But it also included an inconsistent fingerprint sensor, lousy AR emoji and one of the less popular digital assistants, Bixby. Overall, Cherlynn favored the hardware over the software and gave the Galaxy S10+ a top-notch score of 91.
Is Google’s Nest Hub worth your $129?
Last October's release of the Nest Hub (neé Home Hub) wasn't Google's first foray into smart displays -- the company had already released the Home, Home Max and the Home Mini. They were all solid, if not outstanding, hits with reviewers. The Nest Hub earned praise from Senior Editor Nicole Lee for the premium feel of the fabric finish, the substitution of an ambient EQ light sensor for a camera, and for how it worked (fairly) seamlessly with other Google products, including the Nest Hello doorbell.
Tell us your best memories of the NES
This week, Nintendo announced an updated version of the Switch. Meanwhile, one of its oldest consoles celebrated its thirty-sixth birthday. The Nintendo Entertainment System was released on July 15th, 1983 and went on to sell over 61 million units worldwide in its lifespan, thrilling multiple generations of kids and adults with 8-bit graphics in titles like Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda.
What did the Nintendo 3DS mean to you?
With this week's announcement of Nintendo's new Switch Lite console, we've been thinking about the handheld that preceded it: The Nintendo 3DS, a successor to the wildly popular DS that took the dual screen and added the ability to display games in 3D -- without glasses. When Engadget reviewed the first model of the 3DS, it hit big with its satisfying clamshell design, circle pad thumb slider and 320 x 240 touchscreen. Reviewer Tim Stevens found the 3D gameplay a bit finicky but a nice enhancement to the graphics quality in titles like Ridge Racer 3 and Face Raiders.
