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The Linksys EA9500 pierced my apartment's WiFi-proof walls
I live in a two-bedroom San Francisco apartment built in 1916. It has a view of the bay and the top of the Golden Gate bridge. There's crown molding, high ceilings and some pretty dope neighbors. It should be perfect. And it is -- if you're cool with plaster walls blocking 90 percent of all WiFi signals.
iOS 10 review: Apple evolves
With iOS 10, Apple is basically polishing a pearl. iOS 7 introduced a vibrant and "flat" new aesthetic. iOS 8 and 9 were focused on refinement. So by this point, we should get something completely fresh and new, right? Well, not quite. Just like the iPhone 7, Apple's latest mobile OS doesn't look that much different on the surface. Instead, the company once again chose to focus on improving the overall experience. In particular, this year's refinements collectively make the OS a lot more convenient (and help Apple play a little catch-up). If you've longed for some of the features you've seen on your friends' Android phones, iOS 10 is more than enough to keep you under Apple's spell for another year.
The RetroUSB AVS just replaced my childhood Nintendo
When I was a child, I fought with my brothers. A lot. It was part of being the youngest, and part of being a family. Most of our sibling rivalry died with our youth, but one single, never-ending quarrel outlived our childhood: the Nintendo Entertainment System. My oldest brother and I have been bickering over our original NES for decades. Who really owns it? Me, the guy who scoured garage sales to build our collection of classic games, or him, the firstborn who -- by sibling law -- is right by default? To this day, we still argue about whose house our childhood console should live in. Today, that war finally ends. I don't need our old Nintendo anymore. I have the RetroUSB AVS.
The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Note: On September 2nd, 2016, Samsung issued a global recall for the Galaxy Note 7 following several dozen reports of exploding batteries. Then, on October 10th, the company permanently discontinued the device after reports that replacement units were also exploding. Though this review is still live on Engadget's site for posterity's sake, we have elected to remove the original score. Needless to say too, even if the Note 7 were still being sold we would no longer be able to recommend it.
Motorola's latest wireless earbuds don't live up to expectations
In June, Motorola unveiled its VerveLife line of "lifestyle" products, with the VerveOnes+ wireless earbuds being the first to go on sale. These are truly wireless, existing as two independent pods that you wedge into your ear holes, with no wires or headband to be found. Needless to say, I was excited at the prospect of ultracompact Bluetooth earbuds -- especially after reading about the Bragi Dash, a similar device. Sure, these headphones will be easy to lose (something the company addresses), but having a semi-smart audio system without tangles that's easy to stow in your pocket ... that seemed like the future. Sadly, while there are some useful features and the sound quality is indeed respectable, the form factor itself still has some lingering issues -- most notably, drops in earpiece-to-earpiece syncing. That's a problem, given the $250/£230 price tag.
The Wii U revisited: Looking back on a forward-thinking console
Engadget is re-reviewing the current generation of game consoles, each of which has benefited from firmware updates, price drops and an improved selection of games. We've already revisited the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Now, at last, it's Nintendo's turn. Though we've raised our Wii U score to 74 from 70, you can still find our original review here, if you're curious to read what we said at launch. It's hard to believe that the Wii U is only 4 years old. In the time since Nintendo released its last flagship console, we've seen four iPhones, as many Galaxy S handsets from Samsung, two models of the Xbox One and, of course, the PlayStation 4. All of which is to say, it feels like it's been much longer since the quirky console came out. Compared with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the Wii U has changed the least. Nintendo didn't release a slimmed-down version, nor has it offered additional storage options beyond the launch model's 32GB. Firmware updates have slightly changed the UI as well as delivered performance improvements, but there otherwise hasn't been a massive overhaul.
The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the HP Chromebook 13
Until recently, if you wanted a Chromebook, you had two distinct choices: splurge on a Pixel, or settle for something cheap and pokey. Lately, though, we've seen a few entries that aim to do something different: offer better design and performance for just a modest premium. The latest is the HP Chromebook 13 ($499 and up), which brings a high-res 3,200 x 1,800 screen, comfortable keyboard and trackpad, up to a Core m7 processor and as much as 16GB of memory. Obviously, though, the tricked-out version will cost you a little more than $499 ($1,029, to be precise). Indeed, we don't recommend most people spend that much on a machine running Chrome OS. For most people, the base level model, which has a Pentium chip, will be enough. Even then, you can expect decent speeds for everyday use, along with the same sharp screen and comfy typing experience you'd get otherwise. That caveat aside, we'd also warn you about the battery life: It's not as long as on competing Chromebooks, precisely because of that pixel-dense screen. That doesn't mean we don't recommend it -- just that it's not the all-around winner it appears to be on paper.
The bottom line: Our quick verdict on the BlackBerry DTEK50
With a review headline that reads "cheap, secure and better than expected," you might expect the device in question to have earned a high score. As it turns out, this is a BlackBerry we're talking about, which is to say, "better than expected" doesn't necessary mean you should actually buy one. The good news is that the new DTEK50 offers solid build quality at a reasonable price: just $299. For the money, you also get improved security over typical mid-range Android phones -- a potential selling point for prospective business customers. While this is indeed a decent choice for IT departments, individual users can get more for their money at a similar or slightly higher price (read: faster performance, longer battery life and superior image quality). Basically, then, while the DTEK50 surpassed our admittedly modest expectations, you can still do better.
Joule proves sous vide cooking doesn't have to be intimidating
Despite the recent rise of affordable sous vide machines, the cooking concept has always skewed a little nerdy. Preparing food in vacuum-sealed bags in a temperature-controlled water bath sounds like something only culinary geeks would do, even if it results in perfectly cooked meats. By and large, these devices look and feel like scientific equipment: They're bulky with large dials. They look like they belong in a lab, not a kitchen.
North Face's Access Pack was made for obsessive gadget lovers
A lot of backpacks and messenger bags now come standard with padded laptop sleeves. Whether that's due to most people taking a notebook or tablet with them, I don't know, but laptop bags are a thing, with an increasingly wide range of prices, shapes and styles. The North Face Access Pack caught my attention for a couple of reasons. First, it's an established bag and apparel maker that's made something for people like me. The company already has several backpack designs with laptop sleeves -- and even battery packs -- built-in.) Then there's the fact that it's been sold out for a while (despite the $235 asking price) on the company's retail site. It's in demand. So I demanded to try one.
Samsung's new Gear VR is its most comfortable and immersive yet
Samsung's Gear VR has always been an anomaly among the company's dizzyingly diverse product lineup. Ever since the first edition of the headset debuted alongside the Galaxy Note 4 in 2014, it stood out as something potentially more useful than the company's various wearables, experimental phones and other gadgets. And, thanks to Samsung's partnership with Oculus, the Gear VR's usefulness has only grown over time. The follow-up "innovator edition" headset was a big improvement over the first, and we named last year's model a "no-brainer" purchase for Samsung owners. Now we have yet another Gear VR model, coinciding with the launch of the Galaxy Note 7, and it's an even better introduction to virtual reality than ever.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
Note: On September 2nd, 2016, Samsung issued a global recall for the Galaxy Note 7 following several dozen reports of exploding batteries. Then, on October 10th, the company permanently discontinued the device after reports that replacement units were also exploding. Though this review is still live on Engadget's site for posterity's sake, we have elected to remove the original score. Needless to say too, even if the Note 7 were still being sold we would no longer be able to recommend it.
Sony's hi-res turntable and software make it easy to go digital
Vinyl has seen a resurgence lately, with sales growth for this format outpacing digital. To stay on top of that trend, Sony refreshed its record player lineup to include the not-so-memorably named PS-HX500. Though it cuts a familiar figure, resembling many minimalist-style turntables, it was built with a 21st century purpose: to make quality digital copies of your treasured discs. That's important for long-time collectors, of course, but also newer vinyl enthusiasts, who will likely want to convert their discs into a high-resolution digital format as painlessly as possible.
BlackBerry DTEK50 review: Cheap, secure and better than expected
BlackBerry's first Android phone was a curious, ambitious machine, so it's funny that the company's second turned out to be so ... practical. The $299 DTEK50 is affordable from the get-go, lacks a physical keyboard and was basically tailor-made for corporations to buy in bulk. Seriously: BlackBerry has been pretty candid about the fact that this is a "fleet" device, a supersecure phone it hopes will attract companies trying to trick out their mobile workforce. BlackBerry is trying to pitch this to regular people too, though, and in the process, it's hurling the DTEK into a crowded, crazy-competitive pool of midrange phones. Spoiler alert: It's probably not for you.
The Rapidfire K70 is a gaming keyboard that typists will love
Mechanical keyboards are favored by gamers and programmers for how precise and springy the buttons feel under their fingers. The latter is important not just for improving a player's reaction time in a heated match, but a shorter key depression is also way kinder to a typist's hands. So it seems that Corsair's new Rapidfire K70 RGB would be the ultimate step up thanks to its new "Cherry MX Speed" keys, which only need to be pushed down 1.2mm: the shortest actuation point on the market. I've been using it as my work keyboard for the past two months and it's been a sweet experience, though not without a few bumps.
Intel's Skull Canyon NUC is the future of tiny desktops
What if you could have a desktop that easily slips into a messenger bag or purse? That's what Intel has been aiming for with its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) devices. Yes, it's a terrible name, but Intel's goal is admirable: to deliver powerful machines that are significantly smaller than the desktops of yore. Our first look at a NUC back in 2013 showed plenty of promise. And with the new Skull Canyon edition (starting at $609), Intel has come closer than ever to delivering a truly portable desktop replacement that can even play some games. Just be prepared to pay through the nose to actually use it.
Mini review video: Our quick verdict on the new Moto Z phones
For years, Motorola put out a flagship phone called the X, and for years it won positive reviews, thanks to its customizable design, clean software build and generally good value. This year, there's no X. Instead, we have two new Moto phones, the Z and Z Force. And it makes sense that Motorola chose a different naming scheme, because these are indeed very different devices from what the company has put out in years past. The design is no longer customizable, and with prices reaching $624 for the Z and $720 for the Z Force, they're not exactly what we'd call affordably priced either. Instead of being colorful and cheap, they have a modular design that allows you to snap in optional "Moto Mods" accessories, including a speaker, projector and battery pack. Another risk? Neither phone has a headphone jack. Oh, and they're exclusive to Verizon. While we're not too pleased about those last two caveats, the Moto Mods make the Z line the best modular phones we've seen yet. The Z in particular is exceptionally thin and charges quickly, while the slightly chunkier Z Force adds longer battery life, a shatter-proof screen and a more robust 21-megapixel camera. For that reason, we gave the Z Force the higher score. But hey, if a thin phone floats your boat, you'll be happy with the Z too.
Mini review video: Our quick verdict on the Alcatel Idol 4S
Alcatel isn't a tier-one company. And the Idol 4S, its latest creation, isn't a tier-one phone. So why did we even bother reviewing it, then? It's all about the value -- specifically, what comes in the box. For $399 (or $350, if you pre-order), you get both the mid-range phone and a simple virtual reality headset to go with it. It's true, this VR viewer isn't at the same level as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or even the Samsung Gear VR, but it's good enough for people who haven't yet experienced this whole virtual reality thing and are keen to give it a try. As for the phone itself, we enjoyed its loud, two-way speakers and bright 5.5-inch AMOLED display. Just know that because this is a mid-range phone, after all, the performance and camera won't match any of the high-end devices we typically review. If you weren't going to spend high-end money anyway, and are also looking to get into VR, this could be the ticket.
Moto Z and Z Force Droid review: The risks are mostly worth it
Ever since the original Moto X came out, I've been fascinated by Motorola. We saw one of the biggest, oldest brands in communications take a long, hard look at where it's been and chart a thoughtful path forward. Flash forward a few years (and a few Moto Xs) and wouldn't you know it? Motorola started to lose some of its voltage when it came to its flagship phones. Don't get me wrong, the Moto X Pure Edition was a fantastic device, but in hindsight it's not hard to see that it was more of the same. While we might still see a new Moto X this year, Motorola decided to try something different. We now have two different modular flagship smartphones, the superthin Moto Z Droid ($624) and the sturdier Moto Z Force Droid ($720). Some might bristle that both are exclusive to Verizon and aren't yet slated for an international launch (I sure did), but there's no two ways about it: These are still the most exciting Motorola phones in a long time.
Gaming headset review roundup: Five options, one favorite
As much as we'd all love surround sound in every room where we have a TV, it isn't always feasible. Be it budgetary reasons or living in an apartment with roommates who don't share your enthusiasm for late-night explosions, sometimes 5.1- or 7.1-channel audio is out of reach. Luckily, there are plenty of headphones to pick from. But that too comes with its own set of conundrums: Where does one even begin in that sea of choices? We've rounded up five options at a variety of price points to help make your decision a little clearer. With this edition, we're looking at the PlayStation Gold wireless headset, the Xbox Wireless Stereo Headset, the Astro A30 and A40 and, finally, the Blue Lola as a wildcard.
