Dell 14 Premium, Framework Desktop, Sony Theater Bar 6 and extra

With a barrage of recent Apple and Google gadgets across the nook, our reviews workforce is clearing their desks of recent merchandise earlier than the pre-fall deluge begins. There is a well-rounded mixture of in-depth testing this time round, together with an in depth preview of watchOS 26 and extra VPN trials. Kick off the weekend by catching up on all the critiques you may’ve missed over the previous few weeks from Engadget.

Dell 14 Premium

Whereas we’re nonetheless making an attempt to wrap our heads round Dell’s naming scheme choice, the corporate continues to churn out new gadgets. The most recent to cross senior critiques author Sam Rutherford’s desk was the Dell 14 Premium. You may keep in mind this mannequin because the XPS 14, and in accordance with Sam, Dell retained “the DNA” that made earlier variations a number of the finest pocket book PCs you possibly can purchase. “Even with a brand new and fairly uninspired identify, it in all probability should not come as a shock that the Dell 14 Premium stays top-of-the-line Home windows laptops in the marketplace,” he said. “It has the identical smooth design from again when it was nonetheless referred to as the XPS 14 however with some refreshed specs and parts for 2025.”

Framework Desktop (2025)

Engadget

Framework’s first desktop is highly effective and environment friendly. However it’s not as modular, or repairable as a daily PC.

Professionals

• Highly effective APU
• Small and environment friendly
• Simple to arrange and use
• Appropriate with different Mini-ITX instances

Cons

• APU and RAM are soldered to the mainboard
• No repairability

$1,099 at Framework

Framework is thought for its modular, repairable laptops, however the firm has now tried its hand at bringing the identical method to a desktop. Sadly, the primary try is not almost as modular or repairable as a daily PC, in accordance with senior editor Daniel Cooper. “Framework was open in regards to the truth this was one thing akin to a aspect undertaking, outdoors its common remit to construct modular laptops, primarily based on a very thrilling chip,” he explained. “So whereas I believe the all-in-one method is a backward step in comparison with common PCs, I get the rationale for doing so right here.”

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6

Sony

Sony’s midrange soundbar gives spectacular audio that pushes the bounds of its 3.1.2-channel configuration. Nevertheless, the dearth of Wi-Fi leaves main options off the spec sheet.

Professionals

• Clear, low-profile design
• Full sound with nice readability
• Devoted middle speaker for enhanced dialogue

Cons

• Doesn’t assist AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Join
• Subwoofer is a bit hefty
• Updates require inserting a thumb drive

$548 at Macy’s

This yr’s crop of soundbars lastly arrived over the summer season, so I have been spending a lot of time with residence theater audio system lately. The most recent was the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6, a soundbar/subwoofer combo that sits in the course of the corporate’s present lineup. Regardless of nice sound and dialogue efficiency, the caveats listed here are actual dealbreakers. “The dearth of Wi-Fi on a $650 soundbar is absurd, principally as a result of it strips customers of the comfort of AirPlay, Chromecast and different wi-fi connection choices,” I wrote. “I can also’t recover from the necessity to use a thumb drive for updates when OTA downloads for brand spanking new firmware have been the norm on soundbars for years.”

Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Version

Lenovo / Engadget

The ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Version is Lenovo’s latest enterprise laptop computer gunning for the X1 Carbon’s throne with its ultraportable design, gorgeous show, and lengthy battery life. However a mushy keyboard and lack of USB-A port maintain it again.

Professionals

• Modern, ultraportable design
• Attractive OLED display screen
• Properly-rounded audio system
• Strong efficiency for informal use
• Lengthy battery life

Cons

• No USB Sort-A port
• Mushy keyboard
• Expensive for the specs

$1,090 at Lenovo

Lenovo’s ThinkPads are well-liked workplace laptops, and the X9-14 is the newest in an extended line of enterprise machines. Contributing author Rami Tabari explains that this mannequin gives loads of the qualities that make ThinkPads nice, however the worth, low-power CPU and subpar keyboard go away one thing to be desired. “I can’t justify the common client paying $1,283 for the ThinkPad X9-14 with specs you’d discover in laptops that value lots of of {dollars} much less (minus the RAM, in fact),” he noted. “For small enterprise house owners, I like to recommend ready for a sale or think about a enterprise laptop computer marketed extra towards you (once more, the ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405) is a superb alternative).”

watchOS 26 preview and Norton VPN evaluation

We’re shortly approaching the arrival of a brand new set of Apple Watches, so senior shopping for recommendation reporter Amy Skorheim spent two weeks with the upcoming model of watchOS. Her favourite new options are the AI exercise associate and added gesture, however she explained that it is the little issues that make this annual overhaul worthwhile.

In the meantime, senior author Sam Chapman returned to the land of VPNs to check Norton’s model as a standalone app. Whereas this service is not essentially unhealthy, it additionally would not supply sufficient to rise above the heap that features ExpressVPN, Surfshark and others. “After every week of working with Norton VPN, I’ve to conclude that the one approach it distinguishes itself is the Norton identify,” he said. “For all the things else it does, a competitor does it higher.”