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  • Engadget

    Tell us: How good are Grado Labs’ first wireless headphones?

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    07.11.2019

    Senior Editor Billy Steele knew it was only a matter of time before Grado Labs released a pair of wireless headphones showcasing the company's distinct open backed design and stellar sound quality. When the GW100 was released in March, he approved of how light and comfortable the set was, as well as its better-than-expected battery life. However, he was less thrilled by the build quality and reliance on micro-USB charging. He also saw very little need for headphones that were both wireless and open-backed. Despite delivering solid audio quality across musical genres and a great fit, the GW100 was unable to earn a score higher than 80.

  • Is the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Microsoft's biggest Surface Pro rival?

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    07.04.2019

    When reviews editor Cherlynn Low spent some time with Samsung's Galaxy Book 2 back in October, she determined that the brilliant display, long-lasting battery and LTE connectivity made a compelling argument for owning the tablet. While it would make an ideal device for people who value a hearty battery and do most of their work in a browser, the performance of the Snapdragon 850 processor was sometimes frustratingly sluggish. A sturdy magnesium body with a built-in kickstand, included S Pen and a keyboard helped compensate for the performance issues, with the Galaxy Book 2 earning a decent score of 83.

  • Future Publishing via Getty Images

    How much did you love your Sega Dreamcast?

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    06.27.2019

    It's been over 20 years since Sega released its final console. Loved by many for its stellar lineup of games like Shenmue and Sonic Adventure, the Dreamcast was the first system to include a built-in modem for online play. And then there were its distinct, spaceship-shaped controller and unique Visual Memory Unit for saving your games. Though Engadget wasn't around to review the Dreamcast when it was released, dozens of users have left scores and reviews for the console on its product page over the years. From calling it "highly innovative for its time" and being "awed by its graphics and performance," users largely seem to feel nostalgic and affectionate towards the obsolete game system, which currently has an average score of 80.

  • Engadget

    What do you think of the Radeon VII graphics card?

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    06.20.2019

    A cousin of AMD's Instinct M150 gaming card, the Radeon VII was released in February with an eyebrow-raising asking price of $699. In his review, Christopher Schodt commended the card's speed, 16GB of HBM2 memory and performance during graphics testing. The first card built on a 7nm manufacturing process, the Radeon VII was clearly intended to compete with NVIDIA's RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti. However, it wasn't always faster than those NVIDIA cards.

  • Geek out over the NVIDIA RTX 2080 or 2080 Ti

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    06.13.2019

    It's been almost a year since editor Devindra Hardawar reviewed NVIDIA's RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti, and they've since become staples for 4K gaming or consumers dipping their toes into real time ray tracing. Though the RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti were much more expensive than the previous generation of NVIDIA GPUs, they claimed excellent gaming performance (beyond 60 fps in the case of the RTX 2080 Ti) and excelled at keeping the system cool (with both cards warming to 81 degrees Celsius). The GPUs earned Engadget Scores of 85 and 86 respectively, but haven't yet received any user reviews on their product pages.

  • Chris Velazco/Engadget

    Is the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 powerful enough to replace a laptop?

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    05.30.2019

    Back in October when we reviewed it, Samsung's Galaxy Book 2 was the first device available featuring a Snapdragon 850 CPU. The 2-in-1 performed admirably for editor Cherlynn Low, completing tasks faster than the ASUS NovaGo's Snapdragon 835 could, while also delivering over 15 hours of battery life. The package includes a keyboard and S Pen which, combined with a vibrant display and gigabit LTE connection, earned the Galaxy Book 2 a respectable score of 83.

  • iRobot Roomba i7+/Engadget

    Clean freaks: Share your thoughts about the iRobot Roomba i7+

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    05.23.2019

    People have been arguing about the utility of robot vacuums for as long as there have been robot vacuums. Some feel they're just expensive gadgets with extensive limitations, while others see them as important steps toward a real-life Rosey from The Jetsons. While reviewing the Roomba i7+, Engadget's Devindra Hardawar thoughtfully weighed the pros and cons of iRobot's latest model, the i7+. It's quieter and offers a much-requested self-emptying feature, but it's also quite expensive and requires proprietary bags. Despite these trade-offs, it still earned a solid score of 87.

  • Sound off on the OnePlus 6T!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    05.15.2019

    It's been six months since OnePlus released the 6T with an unusual dewdrop notch and in-display fingerprint reader. As the first OnePlus phone to get a US carrier deal (through T-Mobile), the 6T was met with mostly positive reviews. Engadget senior editor Richard Lai even called it a "no brainer for those seeking a stylish flagship Android phone." Despite lacking a headphone jack and being saddled with a slow fingerprint reader, the smartphone's exceptional camera, long-lasting battery and AMOLED screen performed well enough for Richard to award it a solid score of 89.

  • Brett Putman / Engadget

    Photographers, tell us your thoughts about the Nikon Z6

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    05.02.2019

    When photographer and Engadget editor Steve Dent spent some time with Nikon's full-frame mirrorless Z6 model last December, he found it was a serious competitor to Sony's exceptional A7 III. The 24.5-megapixel sensor, 1080p shooting capability and 5-axis in-body stabilization all earned the Z6 points. However, the single card slot, limited lens selection and slow autofocus tracking were drawbacks. The Z6 still wrangled a solid score of 89, with Steve saying it was "bested only by the A7 III."

  • Engadget

    Apple users: Review your iPad Pro 12.9!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    04.25.2019

    According to senior mobile editor Chris Velazco, Apple's iPad Pro 12.9 is a lot of things: specifically, sleeker, faster, and more flexible than previous iterations. However, he also noted in his review that the upgraded device is expensive, that its OS is still limited and that the overall experience remains somewhat disappointing. Ultimately, the iPad Pro 12.9 garnered a good, but not great, score of 84. There's certainly plenty to love about this version of the tablet like its A12X Bionic chipset and precise Pencil input, but it doesn't quite match Apple's vision of replacing a laptop for day-to-day work.

  • Engadget

    PlayStation Classic owners: Write your own review!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    04.05.2019

    If you missed our PlayStation Classic review back in December, here is the impression it left with editor Devindra Hardawar: He found the controllers cheap and the emulation inconsistent, concluding that overall it "feels like a mistake." Ouch. In the end we did not find PlayStation Classic to be a fun throwback or even a worthwhile purchase at all. Therefore, it was awarded a shin-kicking score of 67. And, given the reaction from the commenters on that review, a lot of you were disinclined to let the $100 system anywhere near your TV.

  • Engadget

    Share your opinions about the Nintendo Switch!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    03.08.2019

    When we first reviewed the Nintendo Switch back in 2017, reviewer Devindra Hardawar declared it was "unlike any system we've seen before." Indeed, the hybrid console sought to improve the Wii U's offerings with streamlined hardware, unique Joy-Con controllers, a custom NVIDIA Tegra X1 chip and a 6.2-inch 720p screen. In re-examining the Switch two years after its initial release, Devindra bumped up the console's score to 88 (from the previous score of 84) due to a much improved selection of games, durable hardware and a competitive price for the online service.

  • Google fans: Tell us what you think about the Pixel Slate

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    02.22.2019

    A few months ago, we reviewed Google's Pixel Slate, a Chrome OS tablet poised to take on the 'Pro' versions of the iPad and Microsoft Surface. It... did not go very well. While our reviewer Nate Ingraham was taken with the bright display, comfortable keyboard folio and healthy battery life, the Slate failed to impress on the software side. Chrome OS tried too hard to do too many things for too many users in tablet mode. In particular, multitasking slowed down the user experience and the majority of Android apps were unable to take advantage of the 12.3-inch screen, making the device frustrating to work on. In the end, despite the gorgeous hardware, solid speakers and a reliable fingerprint sensor, the Slate earned a humbling score of 69.

  • Did you buy the most recent MacBook Air? Tell us what you think.

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    02.12.2019

    When Apple unveiled a new Macbook Air last October, we wasted no time in putting the long-awaited refresh through its paces. While the new machine includes an upgraded "butterfly" keyboard, a Touch ID sensor and a Retina display with thinner bezels, it has markedly less inputs than the previous generation: just two USB-C and a headphone jack (no SD card reader in sight, sigh). Although the dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD were more than enough for most day-to-day tasks, we were careful not to make a one-size-fits-all recommendation. After all, the new Air is about the same price as the entry-level MacBook Pro, which packs more power, albeit no fingerprint sensor.

  • Cherlynn Low/Engadget

    Share your thoughts about Microsoft's Surface Laptop 2!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    01.24.2019

    Microsoft's sequel to the Surface Laptop didn't just impress our reviewer last year -- the Surface Laptop 2 earned a strong score of 90, largely owing to its stunning design and fast performance. The keyboard and trackpad are a pleasure to use, the display is bright and crisp, and we also dig the new matte black color option. Also counted in the laptop's favor were upgrades to Windows 10 Home and 15-hour-plus battery life. However, we were less thrilled by the company's decision to continue using a proprietary charging port (which falls out easily) instead of switching to USB-C.

  • Amazon Echo Plus owners: Tell us what you think!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    01.03.2019

    When we reviewed Amazon's updated Echo Plus, we concluded that the $120 device was a solid improvement with "some noticeable thump" and "crisper and more detailed" music tracks. But as a gadget that doubles as a smart home hub, it's less impressive. In particular, we were disappointed by the lack of support for Z-Wave or Lutron Clear Connect protocols, especially since the control over smart devices like the Hue bulbs felt basic and underwhelming for a smart home hub. While the audio and the price caught our attention, we ultimately didn't feel it was a necessary upgrade over the first-gen Echo.

  • Hey, Galaxy Note 9 owners: We want to hear from you

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    12.20.2018

    It's been four months since we reviewed Samsung's Galaxy Note 9, a handset that earned an unusually high score of 92. Since then, the phone has racked up a strong army of fans. When we tested it, we found it "lived up to its lofty expectations" with a large, brilliant AMOLED screen, significantly improved S Pen functionalities and an improved battery life that lasted around two days, on average. We also enjoyed the water resistance, fast Snapdragon 845 chip and the updated camera features. However, we were a little disappointed that the phone shipped with an outdated OS (Android Oreo). We also were less than impressed with Bixby, which reviewer Cherlynn Low said is "still kind of a mess." But that was our experience -- now we want to hear yours. A few of you have already submitted some thoughtful reviews of the Note 9 and have given the handset some outstanding scores, but we'd like to hear from even more real-world users. Are you using DeX mode much? Is the Intelligent Scan unlock feature working flawlessly for you? (Or does it fumble occasionally?) And how bad is Bixby, really? Share all your opinions and impressions on our Galaxy Note 9 database page and give it the score you think it deserves. Note: Comments have been turned off for this post, please submit your thoughts on the Galaxy Note 9 product page!

  • Tell us about your experiences with the Pixel 3 and 3 XL!

    by 
    Amber Bouman
    Amber Bouman
    12.06.2018

    When Google released its latest Pixel phones back in October, we suggested in our review that the company had played it safe with the hardware. Even so, Android Pie (not to mention the Pixel-specific software tweaks Google made) are valuable enough that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL are worth their $799-plus asking price. With features such as transcribing voicemail calls, expanded screen-time controls and dedicated image processing chips, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL earned impressive scores of 90 and 89, respectively. But we'd like to hear from those of you who actually bought either of these two handsets. Write your own review of these flagship smartphones on Engadget's product pages and weigh in on how they're working for you. You had a lot to say in the comments -- now it's your turn to tell us if you really hate that notch and if the photography features are worth upgrading for. Note: comments have been turned off for this post; please go to the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL review pages to leave your thoughts!

  • Tell us how you really feel about the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

    by 
    Kris Naudus
    Kris Naudus
    10.02.2015

    It's been a week since the release of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, and while this is an "s" year -- meaning a lot of subtle changes instead of a big redesign -- there's still a lot to like about this year's models. We appreciated the speedier Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and the optical image stabilization in the 6s Plus proved handy with video recording. But our reviewer Chris Velazco came away most impressed with 3D Touch, a "tremendously useful tool" that he "wanted to use all the time." And now we'd like to know if our readers agree. Plenty of you have upgraded to one of Apple's new phones in the past week, and now we're giving you an opportunity to tell us what your experience has been so far. Write a review in our product database for the 6s or 6s Plus and we'll feature some of the best ones in a future post.

  • Tell us how you really feel about Windows 10

    by 
    Kris Naudus
    Kris Naudus
    08.05.2015

    Windows 10 became available for download last week, and in our review we hailed it as the "most refined desktop experience ever from Microsoft." We were able to recommend it "without any hesitation," and with free upgrades for Windows 7 and 8 users, there are plenty of reasons to give it a shot. Sure, a few other outlets have reported running into some bugs, which might be a good reason to hold back. But that didn't stop over 14 million people from making the leap within the first 24 hours. So, we'd like to know what our intrepid readers think. Write us a user review on Engadget's Windows 10 database page to tell us all about the highs and lows of what Microsoft is calling "the last version of Windows ever," and we'll feature the most interesting or insightful ones in an upcoming post.