Floor Professional, Rivian, Canon, Gentle Telephone and extra

I can not blame you for those who’ve been spending extra time exterior recently as a substitute of studying gadget evaluations. Spring has sprung, not less than for us at Engadget HQ within the US, and there is lots of touching grass happening amongst our employees. Nonetheless, for those who’ve missed any of our reviews over the past two weeks, this condensed checklist has all the pieces that you must catch up shortly.

Floor Professional (12-inch)

For primary computing in a extremely moveable system, the 12-inch Floor Professional does simply superb. Senior evaluations reporter Devindra Hardawar argued that you just will not need this system for it is energy anyway, and you may most likely have the ability to overlook its lower-spec show too. “You are not shopping for a tiny laptop computer for velocity, you are shopping for it as a result of it is cute and tremendous moveable,” he said. “And in that respect, the 12-inch Floor Professional succeeds.”

Rivian R1S Gen 2

Engadget

For these on the lookout for an outdoorsy EV with three rows and room on your whole household, Rivian’s R1S Gen 2 is certainly a prime contender. 

Professionals

• Severe top-end vary and efficiency
• Slick inside
• Modern rugged design
• Frequent OTA updates
• New hands-free freeway help

Cons

• Costly, significantly for tri- or upcoming quad-motor fashions
• At present no approach to mirror texts on infotainment
• Bodily key fob prices additional

Starts at $75,900, $105,900 as tested at Rivian

Rivian has grow to be a well-liked possibility for EV consumers on the lookout for both a truck or a three-row SUV. Senior evaluations reporter Sam Rutherford just lately spent a while behind the wheel of the corporate’s second-generation R1S and got here away impressed. “Its dimension could also be imposing, nevertheless it actually delivers on the feel and appear of a automobile that is simply as completely satisfied on asphalt as it’s on unpaved trails,” he wrote. “The one factor which may give me pause is that for individuals who aren’t excited about off-roading, alternate options just like the Kia EV9 supply related passenger capability for a a lot decrease beginning value.”

Canon Powershot V1

Canon

Canon’s PowerShot V1 is a flexible hybrid digicam with wonderful video and picture high quality due to the unusually giant sensor.

Professionals

• Quick taking pictures speeds
• Nice picture high quality even in low gentle
• 10-bit log 4K video
• Optical stabilization
• Constructed-in fan to cease overheating

Cons

• Rolling shutter
• Show is a bit dim
• Plain seems
• No built-in flash

$899 at Amazon

Compact cameras are making a comeback. Canon’s Powershot V1 could also be designed for vlogging, however reporter Steve Dent found its additionally nice for stills. “The issue is that it’s nonetheless primarily a vlogging digicam and lots of content material creators have deserted one of these compact mannequin in favor of the Osmo Pocket 3,” he explained. “On the finish of the day, the PowerShot V1 is sure to be successful as a result of it delivers relating to video and picture high quality.”

Alienware AW2725Q

Alienware / Engadget

At $900, the Alienware AW2725Q is among the greatest OLED gaming screens you should buy proper now. It gives great picture high quality and movement readability, alongside wonderful HDR efficiency.

Professionals

• Distinctive picture high quality
• Understated design
• Shiny coating

Cons

• No DisplayPort 2.1 connection
• Restricted to 15W USB-C charging
• Coating vulnerable to harsh reflections

$830 at Amazon

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a brand new gaming show that may pull double responsibility as an on a regular basis monitor, Alienware’s AW2725Q could also be value a glance. Senior reporter Igor Bonifacic significantly famous the show’s total picture high quality and movement readability, however there’s rather a lot to love right here. “The very best factor I can say concerning the Alienware AW2725Q is that I am not trying ahead to sending it again,” he said. “It’s a tremendous show that has made one among my favourite hobbies extra gratifying.”

Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Roku/Engadget

Roku’s new Streaming Stick Plus requires no wall outlet, making it superb for unpredictable lodge TV conditions and houses the place plugs are scarce.

Professionals

• Makes use of your TV’s USB port for energy as a substitute of a wall adapter
• Respectable velocity for a $40 system

Cons

• No prolonged Wi-Fi vary
• Not as quick as most sensible TVs or pricier streaming gadgets

$40 at Amazon

Low cost TV streaming gadgets are sometimes simple to suggest, and the truth that Roku’s new Streaming Stick Plus attracts energy from the TV is icing on the cake. “That is additionally the stick I need to take with me on my subsequent journey,” senior shopping for recommendation reporter Amy Skorheim wrote. “I can plug it in on the Airbnb and, as a substitute of logging in to no matter random apps the TV occurs to have, I can watch extra Physician Who. I gained’t have to fret about the place the closest outlet is and I’ll be spared the trouble of typing in my stupidly lengthy Disney+ password.”

Framework Laptop computer 13 (2025)

Framework/Engadget

The upgraded AMD mainboard is quicker than its predecessor however not sufficient to be earth-shattering.

Professionals

• Shopping for one element is cheaper than an entire laptop computer
• Simple to put in

Cons

• Fan continues to be fairly noisy
• Worth is beginning to climb

$899 at Framework

Framework gives a means so that you can simply improve your laptop computer as wanted, which implies you may swap out the mainboard for a brand new one when the corporate makes them obtainable. Nonetheless, the improve may not all the time be value it, even whether it is simple, however Framework’s total premise nonetheless exhibits promise. “However whereas it could not have the razzle or dazzle, it does have the endurance, and that’s going to be a much bigger asset within the subsequent few years,” senior editor Daniel Cooper argued. “If you happen to’re the form of one who would purchase a Lenovo Thinkpad and run it till it falls aside, then this can be a higher possibility.”

Gentle Telephone III

Gentle

The Gentle Telephone III is a well-designed system that may allow you to break your smartphone habit, nevertheless it makes some main compromises.

Professionals

• A very distraction-free expertise
• Nice name high quality
• Touchscreen is evident and responsive
• Features a helpful set of built-in instruments

Cons

• No autocorrect makes texting a chore
• Music participant is extraordinarily restricted
• There’s lots of friction switching to a minimalist cellphone
• Costly

$599 at Light

The Gentle Telephone III seeks to supply a distraction-free smartphone existence, however as deputy information editor Nathan Ingraham discovered, the shortage of polish within the firm’s bare-bones UI is a hindrance. “I can blame the music participant or lack of autocorrect, however in the end I used to be not prepared for a way radically totally different the Gentle Telephone III expertise is,” he admitted. “However, for a number of weeks, I left my iPhone at house after I left the home as a lot as doable and there was one thing releasing concerning the full lack of notifications and normal siren-call for consideration that I often cope with.”

Doom: The Darkish Ages, Despelote and Suborbital Salvage

For all of the avid gamers, we have revealed evaluations of a number of titles over the past two weeks. Most just lately, senior editor Jessica Conditt spent a while with Doom: The Dark Ages, the place she famous the “blood-soaked and delightful” sport supplied “a well-rounded romp by way of the bowels of hell.” She additionally opined on Despelote, a sport that explores recollections, magic moments and being a child. And for the Playdate followers, weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald came upon what it is prefer to have a cat function your very opinionated supervisor in Suborbital Salvage.