I can’t blame you if you’ve been spending more time outside lately instead of reading gadget reviews. Spring has sprung, at least for us at Engadget HQ in the US, and there’s a lot of touching grass going on amongst our staff. Still, if you’ve missed any of our reviews over the last two weeks, this condensed list has everything you need to catch up quickly.
Surface Pro (12-inch)
The Surface Pro is light, thin and can handle basic work just fine. It’s also as cute as a button, so you probably won’t mind that it has sub-par performance and a lesser screen than the 13-inch model.
- Lightweight and thin design
- Relatively low starting price
- 16GB of RAM standard
- Slow processor
- Keyboard is an extra $150
- Screen could be better
- No Surface Connect port
For basic computing in a highly portable device, the 12-inch Surface Pro does just fine. Senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar argued that you won’t want this device for it’s power anyway, and you’ll probably be able to overlook its lower-spec display too. “You’re not buying a tiny laptop for speed, you’re buying it because it’s cute and super portable,” he said. “And in that respect, the 12-inch Surface Pro succeeds.”
Rivian R1S Gen 2
Engadget
For those looking for an outdoorsy EV with three rows and room for your entire family, Rivian’s R1S Gen 2 is unquestionably a top contender.
- Serious top-end range and performance
- Slick interior
- Contemporary rugged design
- Frequent OTA updates
- New hands-free highway assist
- Expensive, particularly for tri- or upcoming quad-motor models
- Currently no way to mirror texts on infotainment
- Physical key fob costs extra
Rivian has become a popular option for EV shoppers looking for either a truck or a three-row SUV. Senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford recently spent some time behind the wheel of the company’s second-generation R1S and came away impressed. “Its size may be imposing, but it certainly delivers on the look and feel of a car that’s just as happy on asphalt as it is on unpaved trails,” he wrote. “The only thing that might give me pause is that for people who aren’t interested in off-roading, alternatives like the Kia EV9 offer similar passenger capacity for a much lower starting price.”
Canon Powershot V1
Canon
Canon’s PowerShot V1 is a versatile hybrid camera with excellent video and image quality thanks to the unusually large sensor.
- Fast shooting speeds
- Great image quality even in low light
- 10-bit log 4K video
- Optical stabilization
- Built-in fan to stop overheating
- Rolling shutter
- Display is a bit dim
- Plain looks
- No built-in flash
Compact cameras are making a comeback. Canon’s Powershot V1 may be designed for vlogging, but reporter Steve Dent discovered its also great for stills. “The problem is that it’s still primarily a vlogging camera and a lot of content creators have abandoned this type of compact model in favor of the Osmo Pocket 3,” he explained. “At the end of the day, the PowerShot V1 is bound to be a hit because it delivers when it comes to video and photo quality.”
Alienware AW2725Q
Alienware / Engadget
At $900, the Alienware AW2725Q is one of the best OLED gaming monitors you can buy right now. It offers tremendous image quality and motion clarity, alongside excellent HDR performance.
- Exceptional image quality
- Understated design
- Glossy coating
- No DisplayPort 2.1 connection
- Limited to 15W USB-C charging
- Coating prone to harsh reflections
If you’re looking for a new gaming display that can pull double duty as an everyday monitor, Alienware’s AW2725Q may be worth a look. Senior reporter Igor Bonifacic particularly noted the display’s overall image quality and motion clarity, but there’s a lot to like here. “The best thing I can say about the Alienware AW2725Q is that I’m not looking forward to sending it back,” he said. “It is an amazing display that has made one of my favorite hobbies more enjoyable.”
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
Roku/Engadget
Roku’s new Streaming Stick Plus requires no wall outlet, making it ideal for unpredictable hotel TV situations and homes where plugs are scarce.
- Uses your TV’s USB port for power instead of a wall adapter
- Decent speed for a $40 device
- No extended Wi-Fi range
- Not as fast as most smart TVs or pricier streaming devices
Cheap TV streaming devices are typically easy to recommend, and the fact that Roku’s new Streaming Stick Plus draws power from the TV is icing on the cake. “This is also the stick I want to take with me on my next trip,” senior buying advice reporter Amy Skorheim wrote. “I can plug it in at the Airbnb and, instead of logging in to whatever random apps the TV happens to have, I can watch more Doctor Who. I won’t have to worry about where the nearest outlet is and I’ll be spared the effort of typing in my stupidly long Disney+ password.”
Framework Laptop 13 (2025)
Framework/Engadget
The upgraded AMD mainboard is faster than its predecessor but not enough to be earth-shattering.
- Buying one component is cheaper than a whole laptop
- Easy to install
- Fan is still pretty noisy
- Price is starting to climb
Framework offers a way for you to easily upgrade your laptop as needed, which means you can swap out the mainboard for a new one when the company makes them available. However, the upgrade might not always be worth it, even if it is easy, but Framework’s overall premise still shows promise. “But while it may not have the razzle or dazzle, it does have the staying power, and that’s going to be a bigger asset in the next few years,” senior editor Daniel Cooper argued. “If you’re the sort of person who would buy a Lenovo Thinkpad and run it until it falls apart, then this is a better option.”
Light Phone III
Light
The Light Phone III is a well-designed device that can help you break your smartphone addiction, but it makes some major compromises.
- A truly distraction-free experience
- Great call quality
- Touchscreen is clear and responsive
- Includes a useful set of built-in tools
- No autocorrect makes texting a chore
- Music player is extremely limited
- There’s a lot of friction switching to a minimalist phone
- Expensive
The Light Phone III seeks to offer a distraction-free smartphone existence, but as deputy news editor Nathan Ingraham found, the lack of polish in the company’s bare-bones UI is a hindrance. “I can blame the music player or lack of autocorrect, but ultimately I was not ready for how radically different the Light Phone III experience is,” he admitted. “But, for a few weeks, I left my iPhone at home when I left the house as much as possible and there was something freeing about the complete lack of notifications and general siren-call for attention that I usually deal with.”
Doom: The Dark Ages, Despelote and Suborbital Salvage
For all the gamers, we’ve published reviews of several titles over the last two weeks. Most recently, senior editor Jessica Conditt spent some time with Doom: The Dark Ages, where she noted the “blood-soaked and beautiful” game offered “a well-rounded romp through the bowels of hell.” She also opined on Despelote, a game that explores memories, magic moments and being a kid. And for the Playdate fans, weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald found out what it’s like to have a cat serve as your very opinionated supervisor in Suborbital Salvage.
