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Engadget
23-07-2025
- Engadget
Anker Nebula X1 projector review: The king of outdoor movies, if you can afford it
My dream projector delivers the brightest and sharpest image. But it also has to be easy to move around and set up anywhere — especially outdoors. Anker's Nebula X1 long-throw projector promises all of that with a three-laser engine that beams out a category-leading 3,500 ANSI lumens at 4K resolution. It also has features never seen before on a home projector, like liquid cooling to reduce fan noise and a motorized lens gimbal that automates setup. Plus, it offers good sound that can be upgraded with optional satellite speakers. The rub is the price. At $3,000 ($3,298 with the satellite speakers for a limited time) it's one of the more expensive consumer projectors, right up there with models like Epson's LS11000 or the Valerion VisionMaster Pro2. After testing it, I can say that it offers the clearest, most vivid image quality I've seen and has the simplest setup to boot. However, the high price puts it far out of reach for most portable projector buyers. Anker's Nebula X1 is marketed as a portable projector but it's good enough to be used indoors too. However, it's very expensive. $2,549 at Amazon The Nebula X1 follows in the footsteps of other Anker projectors, like the original Nebula and Cosmos, with a tall rectangular design and handle that neatly retracts with a press. While that makes it easy to carry, it also means the Nebula X1 hangs down more than most indoor projectors when ceiling-mounted. To eliminate the tedious setup that typically plagues projectors, Anker did a clever thing: it placed the lens mechanism on a gimbal that can tilt up to 25 degrees. When combined with a 1.67x zoom, autofocus, keystone correction and ambient light detection, the projector fully automates setup. First, you have to choose a screen or wall location and position the projector at a prescribed distance between 8 and 35 feet, depending on the screen or wall size. You should center the projector as well as you can to avoid any digital (keystone) correction that can adversely affect image quality. Then the magic happens at the press of a button. The Nebula X1 uses a function it calls Spatial Adaptation to scan the area in front of it. The lens tilts up and down, before displaying a checkerboard pattern and then beaming the final image pretty much precisely where it should be. It's not perfect, as some obstacles like small plants or fine wires can throw it off, but it worked nicely for me on both a wall and dedicated screen. The projector can adapt to ambient light and even the wall color, and another function called Spatial Recall lets you save those settings for frequently used locations. The Nebula X1's Spatial Adaptation feature in action. (Steve Dent for Engadget) Laser engines get hot and are normally cooled with fans that can generate distracting noise. However, the Nebula X1 is the first consumer model with liquid cooling which reduces fan noise to a barely audible 26dB whisper. Thanks to this cooling system, the projector can also have a smaller footprint. That's a big quality-of-life improvement compared to much of the competition. As for inputs, the X1 comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, including one with Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) functionality. That standard supports fast refresh rates of up to 240Hz at 4K, though the X1 tops out at 4K 60Hz so it's not ideal as a gaming projector. It also offers USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports, along with a S/PDIF optical audio port. Google TV is built in for streaming and projector control. It provides a large library of apps via Google Play along with a familiar interface. You also get Netflix's official application with support for 4K Dolby Vision without the need to plug in a streaming device, plus Chromecast support and Google Assistant for voice control. The downside is that it can occasionally be sluggish, particularly with menu settings like projector image control. Anker uses what it calls 'cinema-grade glass' in the Nebula's 14-element lens to increase brightness, color accuracy and lens durability. The 4K triple laser engine is rated at up to 3,500 ANSI lumens with a 5,000:1 contrast ratio. At the same time, it offers color accuracy with a Delta E value of less than 0.8 and an impressive 110 percent of the Rec.2020 color spectrum, matching high-end ultra short throw (UST) models from Samsung, LG and Formovie. That 4K Dolby Vision support I mentioned is also rare among the competition. The result is the sharpest and brightest image I've seen on any projector in this price range. It was bright enough for me to comfortably watch a soccer match on a sunny day without the shades lowered. And if you switch it to Conference mode, you can ramp the brightness up further for a viewable image even with lights on, but there's the downside of a slight blue color cast. When used in a darkened room or outside at night, the Nebula's image quality is the best of any projector I've tested. Even though it uses the same Texas Instruments 0.47-inch DMD (digital mirror device) as many other 4K models, the image is clearer and sharper thanks to the glass element lens. Contrast and black levels are also tops in this price range and not far off high-end projectors from JVC and Sony that cost twice as much. Once again, that's due to the optics along with Anker's 6-blade dynamic iris — another feature usually only found on high-end projectors — and the company's 'NebulaMaster 2.0' picture quality algorithm. Color accuracy is outstanding out of the box in both HDR and non-HDR modes thanks to the ISF (Image Science Foundation) certification normally reserved for more expensive projectors. In fact, I found the color calibration nearly perfect on my unit in 'ISF Night' mode. That meant images were close to how they were calibrated by the filmmakers for TV series and movies like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , Andor , Dune 2 and Spider-Man: No Way Home . If the colors aren't quite to your liking, you can make fine adjustments manually. Like many other 4K projectors of this type, the X1 has a slight amount of light spill around the edge of the image. However, it's well-controlled and only noticeable when the projected image is particularly dark. Anker put some extra work into the sound as well. Audio quality is solid thanks to the four built-in speakers with 40 watts total output. The lack of fan noise is a big help here. By itself, the X1 offers decent high-end and bass, but more importantly, dialog is easy to hear and understand. For a big sonic upgrade, you can add a pair of Anker's optional Nebula-branded satellite speakers that connect to the projector automatically via Wi-Fi. Each one has a pair of 40-watt front drivers, a 20-watt upward-firing driver and a 20-watt side-firing driver that combine to create a surround effect. Together with the projector, they deliver an impressive 200 watts of sound with Dolby Audio support (though not Dolby Atmos unfortunately). They're also battery-powered with up to eight hours of use, which is especially handy for outdoor viewing. However, that also means you need to keep them charged. To test these speakers, I selected several music-oriented movies including A Complete Unknown , Maestro and Rocketman , along with an action movie that has an impressive score and sound effects, Dune 2 . In spite of their small size, the satellite speakers kept elements like music, dialog and sound effects crisp, clear and evenly balanced with powerful dynamic bass. You could certainly do better with a dedicated 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, but these speakers offer very respectable audio quality, are easy to set up and automatically sync with the picture. The X1 also supports other external Bluetooth speakers, but you may have to adjust the timing in the menus to ensure perfect sync for picture and sound. Anker also offers a $4,000 package that includes a pair of its Soundcore microphones along with the speakers. Those also connect to the X1 automatically and let you use it as a very expensive karaoke machine. They provide clear sound but you don't get the usual benefits of a karaoke setup like AI vocal removal and vocal enhancement. The Nebula X1 offers a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports along with USB-C, USB-A and S/PIDF (Steve Dent for Engadget) The Nebula X1 is an odd proposition. It's marketed as a portable outdoor projector, but it also happens to be the best indoor projector I've ever tested. With an impeccably sharp, high-contrast and color-accurate image, the video quality is irreproachable. The ease of setup and overall size also makes it an outstanding choice if you want to move the X1 around. With the optional satellite speakers, it's the best portable projector you can get, hands down. The Nebula X1 doesn't have a lot of competition in the portable category, apart from Valerion's $3,000 VisionMaster Pro 2, which also has a 4K triple laser engine. However, the X1 beats that model on image quality, portability and ease of setup. The thing is, most people looking for a portable projector won't spend more than $500, let alone $3,000. So who is this for? I think it's ideal for buyers looking at a UST or high-end long-throw projector who want a bit more versatility. Some may even use it as a standalone indoor projector as it can be mounted on the ceiling or on a stand. In other words, if you have the means, use it any way you want — it's that versatile.
Engadget
23-07-2025
- Engadget
Anker Nebular X1 projector review: The king of outdoor movies, if you can afford it
My dream projector delivers the brightest and sharpest image. But it also has to be easy to move around and set up anywhere — especially outdoors. Anker's Nebular X1 long-throw projector promises all of that with a three-laser engine that beams out a category-leading 3,500 ANSI lumens at 4K resolution. It also has features never seen before on a home projector, like liquid cooling to reduce fan noise and a motorized lens gimbal that automates setup. Plus, it offers good sound that can be upgraded with optional satellite speakers. The rub is the price. At $3,000 ($3,298 with the satellite speakers for a limited time) it's one of the more expensive consumer projectors, right up there with models like Epson's LS11000 or the Valerion VisionMaster Pro2. After testing it, I can say that it offers the clearest, most vivid image quality I've seen and has the simplest setup to boot. However, the high price puts it far out of reach for most portable projector buyers. Anker's Nebula X1 is marketed as a portable projector but it's good enough to be used indoors too. However, it's very expensive. $2,549 at Amazon The Nebula X1 follows in the footsteps of other Anker projectors, like the original Nebula and Cosmos, with a tall rectangular design and handle that neatly retracts with a press. While that makes it easy to carry, it also means the Nebula X1 hangs down more than most indoor projectors when ceiling-mounted. To eliminate the tedious setup that typically plagues projectors, Anker did a clever thing: it placed the lens mechanism on a gimbal that can tilt up to 25 degrees. When combined with a 1.67x zoom, autofocus, keystone correction and ambient light detection, the projector fully automates setup. First, you have to choose a screen or wall location and position the projector at a prescribed distance between 8 and 35 feet, depending on the screen or wall size. You should center the projector as well as you can to avoid any digital (keystone) correction that can adversely affect image quality. Then the magic happens at the press of a button. The Nebula X1 uses a function it calls Spatial Adaptation to scan the area in front of it. The lens tilts up and down, before displaying a checkerboard pattern and then beaming the final image pretty much precisely where it should be. It's not perfect, as some obstacles like small plants or fine wires can throw it off, but it worked nicely for me on both a wall and dedicated screen. The projector can adapt to ambient light and even the wall color, and another function called Spatial Recall lets you save those settings for frequently used locations. The Nebula X1's Spatial Adaptation feature in action. (Steve Dent for Engadget) Laser engines get hot and are normally cooled with fans that can generate distracting noise. However, the Nebula X1 is the first consumer model with liquid cooling which reduces fan noise to a barely audible 26dB whisper. Thanks to this cooling system, the projector can also have a smaller footprint. That's a big quality-of-life improvement compared to much of the competition. As for inputs, the X1 comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, including one with Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) functionality. That standard supports fast refresh rates of up to 240Hz at 4K, though the X1 tops out at 4K 60Hz so it's not ideal as a gaming projector. It also offers USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports, along with a S/PDIF optical audio port. Google TV is built in for streaming and projector control. It provides a large library of apps via Google Play along with a familiar interface. You also get Netflix's official application with support for 4K Dolby Vision without the need to plug in a streaming device, plus Chromecast support and Google Assistant for voice control. The downside is that it can occasionally be sluggish, particularly with menu settings like projector image control. Anker uses what it calls 'cinema-grade glass' in the Nebula's 14-element lens to increase brightness, color accuracy and lens durability. The 4K triple laser engine is rated at up to 3,500 ANSI lumens with a 5,000:1 contrast ratio. At the same time, it offers color accuracy with a Delta E value of less than 0.8 and an impressive 110 percent of the Rec.2020 color spectrum, matching high-end ultra short throw (UST) models from Samsung, LG and Formovie. That 4K Dolby Vision support I mentioned is also rare among the competition. The result is the sharpest and brightest image I've seen on any projector in this price range. It was bright enough for me to comfortably watch a soccer match on a sunny day without the shades lowered. And if you switch it to Conference mode, you can ramp the brightness up further for a viewable image even with lights on, but there's the downside of a slight blue color cast. When used in a darkened room or outside at night, the Nebula's image quality is the best of any projector I've tested. Even though it uses the same Texas Instruments 0.47-inch DMD (digital mirror device) as many other 4K models, the image is clearer and sharper thanks to the glass element lens. Contrast and black levels are also tops in this price range and not far off high-end projectors from JVC and Sony that cost twice as much. Once again, that's due to the optics along with Anker's 6-blade dynamic iris — another feature usually only found on high-end projectors — and the company's 'NebulaMaster 2.0' picture quality algorithm. Color accuracy is outstanding out of the box in both HDR and non-HDR modes thanks to the ISF (Image Science Foundation) certification normally reserved for more expensive projectors. In fact, I found the color calibration nearly perfect on my unit in 'ISF Night' mode. That meant images were close to how they were calibrated by the filmmakers for TV series and movies like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , Andor , Dune 2 and Spider-Man: No Way Home . If the colors aren't quite to your liking, you can make fine adjustments manually. Like many other 4K projectors of this type, the X1 has a slight amount of light spill around the edge of the image. However, it's well-controlled and only noticeable when the projected image is particularly dark. Anker put some extra work into the sound as well. Audio quality is solid thanks to the four built-in speakers with 40 watts total output. The lack of fan noise is a big help here. By itself, the X1 offers decent high-end and bass, but more importantly, dialog is easy to hear and understand. For a big sonic upgrade, you can add a pair of Anker's optional Nebula-branded satellite speakers that connect to the projector automatically via Wi-Fi. Each one has a pair of 40-watt front drivers, a 20-watt upward-firing driver and a 20-watt side-firing driver that combine to create a surround effect. Together with the projector, they deliver an impressive 200 watts of sound with Dolby Audio support (though not Dolby Atmos unfortunately). They're also battery-powered with up to eight hours of use, which is especially handy for outdoor viewing. However, that also means you need to keep them charged. To test these speakers, I selected several music-oriented movies including A Complete Unknown , Maestro and Rocketman , along with an action movie that has an impressive score and sound effects, Dune 2 . In spite of their small size, the satellite speakers kept elements like music, dialog and sound effects crisp, clear and evenly balanced with powerful dynamic bass. You could certainly do better with a dedicated 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, but these speakers offer very respectable audio quality, are easy to set up and automatically sync with the picture. The X1 also supports other external Bluetooth speakers, but you may have to adjust the timing in the menus to ensure perfect sync for picture and sound. Anker also offers a $4,000 package that includes a pair of its Soundcore microphones along with the speakers. Those also connect to the X1 automatically and let you use it as a very expensive karaoke machine. They provide clear sound but you don't get the usual benefits of a karaoke setup like AI vocal removal and vocal enhancement. The Nebula X1 offers a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports along with USB-C, USB-A and S/PIDF (Steve Dent for Engadget) The Nebula X1 is an odd proposition. It's marketed as a portable outdoor projector, but it also happens to be the best indoor projector I've ever tested. With an impeccably sharp, high-contrast and color-accurate image, the video quality is irreproachable. The ease of setup and overall size also makes it an outstanding choice if you want to move the X1 around. With the optional satellite speakers, it's the best portable projector you can get, hands down. The Nebula X1 doesn't have a lot of competition in the portable category, apart from Valerion's $3,000 VisionMaster Pro 2, which also has a 4K triple laser engine. However, the X1 beats that model on image quality, portability and ease of setup. The thing is, most people looking for a portable projector won't spend more than $500, let alone $3,000. So who is this for? I think it's ideal for buyers looking at a UST or high-end long-throw projector who want a bit more versatility. Some may even use it as a standalone indoor projector as it can be mounted on the ceiling or on a stand. In other words, if you have the means, use it any way you want — it's that versatile.
Engadget
14-07-2025
- Engadget
Canon R50 V review: An affordable vlogging camera that lags behind its rivals
Canon has released 20 cameras since launching the RF mount in 2018, but it had one gaping hole in a key market: vlogging. Now, the company has patched that with the launch of the $700 R50 V that's aimed at creators on a budget and designed to take on Sony's ZV-E10 II. The R50 V has the same 24-megapixel APS-C sensor as the R50, but adds vlogging-friendly features like 4K 60p video, C-Log3 for extra dynamic range, a livestreaming button and a side tripod socket for vertical video. It's cheaper than the $1,100 ZV-E10 II and even costs a bit less than the older ZV-E10. After some lengthy testing, however, I found that it was missing some key features compared to its Sony rivals, particularly those that make vlogging easier for beginners. Canon's EOS R50 V is a solid budget vlogging camera thanks to the excellent video quality, but it's missing important features compared to its rivals. $699 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $699 at Best Buy Like other vlogging cameras, the R50 V is stripped down both in terms of size and controls. It has a polycarbonate body rather than metal, which reduces toughness and weatherproofing but helps keep it light at just 323 grams. The grip is also smaller than the R50's, so it's not ideal to use with large lenses. One key feature missing from the R50 is an electronic viewfinder. That's also the case with the ZV-E10 II, but the lack of one can make it challenging to shoot in bright sunlight. On top of that, the rear display is low-res and isn't particularly bright. However, it fully articulates and flips around for vloggers. The R50 V is designed to be controlled via the touchscreen, so it has fewer manual controls than other Canon mirrorless models. It does have top, rear and back dials to set primary functions like iris and shutter speed. However, you need to use your thumb to control both of those which makes operation a bit awkward. The front rocker is designed to control zoom on supported Canon lenses like the new 14-30mm f/4-6.4 IS STM PZ, which was released at the same time as this camera. It also has livestream and color buttons dedicated to creators, plus there's a mode dial with six different video settings. Canon's EOS R50 V has decent handling designed for creators but it lacks manual controls for photography (Steve Dent for Engadget) The menu system is typically Canon with color-coded pages for each category (video settings, autofocus and more). However, key settings can also be adjusted from the Quick (Q) menu using the touchscreen when vlogging. Functions in that menu can of course be reprogrammed to your preferences. The R50 V has both microphone and headphone inputs along with microHDMI and USB-C ports. It uses Canon's smaller EP-17 battery that delivers an hour of video shooting or 300 shots to a charge, both far less than the ZV-E10 II (113 minutes and 600 shots). It has just a single SD card slot, but fortunately it's the faster UHS-II type. Finally, there's a very handy feature for content creators: a tripod socket on the side to make it easier for solo vloggers to shoot vertical video. Video and vlogging is the R50 V's primary strength compared to R50. It can shoot both supersampled 4K 30 fps and 4K 60 fps video, with C-Log3 and 10-bit quality. However, the 4K 60 fps setting requires a fat 1.56x crop, which reduces quality as well as bokeh. Sony's ZV-E10 II, by contrast, only requires a 1.1x crop for 4K 60 fps video. The Z50 V also lacks in-body stabilization. That means the R50 V relies strictly on optical lens shake reduction or electronic stabilization. To be fair, that's to be expected in this price range and the ZV-E10 II is also missing in-body stabilization. The electronic system does a good job removing jolts from handheld video and can even smooth out walking if you try to move fluidly, but it can make footage look soft if movements are excessive. The 'Enhanced' electronic mode, which applies a small crop, is designed to make handheld shots look 'locked off' like you're using a tripod. The R50 V offers good image quality and key creator features like a fully articulating screen. (Steve Dent for Engadget) Background blur and product showcase-type buttons are also noticeably missing compared to the ZV E10 II. That's too bad, because creators use those features often to quickly focus on objects or blur the background behind a subject — without them, you're forced to set those things manually. Rolling shutter distortion is fairly noticeable on this camera with a scan rate around 30ms, compared to just 16ms for the ZV-E10 II. This means sudden pans or jolts can result in 'jello effect' video. Meanwhile, video autofocus is rapid and reliable, even if your subject moves around. The AI-powered face and eye detection locks on firmly, and can also reliably track animals and vehicles. Canon took a page from Panasonic and Fujifilm with the addition of a color button on the R50 V. It lets you quickly select shooting modes like standard BT.709, C-Log, HLG and PQ. Another setting offers filmic looks with modes like Portrait, Fine Detail, Faithful and Monochrome. And the last 'color filter' mode allows for tinted video with shades like teal and peach, though the results looked a bit cheesy to me. With a built-in cooling fan, the R50 V is more resistant to overheating than most small cameras. When recording standard 4K at 30 fps, I was able to shoot for 60 straight minutes with no sign of overheating. The issue doesn't, er, crop up at 4K 60p either since that mode uses a reduced portion of the sensor. Canon R50 V review: An affordable vlogging camera that doesn't measure up to its rivals Overall, video quality is a strong point, with sharp detail when using the 4K 30 fps oversampled mode. Colors are rich and accurate, and skin tones pleasing with a hint of warmness that Canon is known for. The 10-bit C-Log3 footage retains extra detail in shadow and highlight areas, providing outstanding dynamic range for such an inexpensive camera. However, 4K 60p video is considerably softer, and the 1080p 120 fps ultra slo-mo setting lacks sharpness even by HD standards. Low-light capability is average for an APS-C camera, with noise clearly visible starting at ISO 3,200 or 6,400. Beyond that, it becomes intrusive and harder to get rid of using noise reduction tools. Though photography isn't this camera's raison d'etre , the R50 V performs decently in that regard. It can shoot fairly quickly for a small camera, with burst speeds of 15 fps with the electronic shutter or 12 fps with mechanical shutter. However, it can't sustain those speeds for very long due to the small buffer that holds just 36 RAW images. Autofocus is again a strong point, tracking subjects with ease and keeping photos sharp. As with video, AI-powered face and eye detection is quick and reliable for people, animals and vehicles. Rolling shutter is an issue with photos as it is with video, but since the R50 V has a mechanical first-curtain shutter, you only need the electronic mode for photos when silence is required. The lack of in-body stabilization means you'll need to have a steady hand to take sharp shots at low shutter speeds, or you'll want to shop for lenses with optical stabilization if that's an issue. Photo quality is identical to the R50 since it shares the same sensor. For normal shooting, I saw color-accurate photos with skin tones leaning on the warm side, as is typical with Canon's color science. JPEGs strike a good balance between sharpening and noise reduction, while RAW files allow a decent amount of room to tweak images. As with video, low-light performance isn't amazing, so I wouldn't go past ISO 6,400 unless it's too dark to film otherwise. With a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, the R50 V squares off against Sony's ZV-E10 II (Steve Dent for Engadget) Canon's R50 V is a pretty good first try for a vlogging camera, hitting the mark in key areas like video quality and usability. However, its rival, Sony's ZV-E10 II, beats it in nearly every area, offering even better video quality, higher photo resolution, faster autofocus, smoother electronic stabilization and neat features missing on the R50 V — like the product showcase. That said, Canon is targeting a more budget-minded buyer as the R50 V costs just $700 (body only) compared to $1,100 for the ZV-E10 II. Vloggers constrained to that budget will still get a great camera that easily beats a smartphone when it comes to the final product. If you do have an extra $400 to spend, though, I'd recommend the ZV-E10 II instead.
Engadget
27-06-2025
- Engadget
The Morning After: Did Panasonic make the best camera for creators?
Panasonic's S1 II is arguably the company's best creator camera, if not the best creator camera, period. That's according to our review from Steve Dent, who really liked a lot of things but especially the 6K RAW video and excellent stabilization. However, at $3,200, it's expensive compared to the competition. Nikon's Z6 III has nearly the same video capabilities, is a better camera for photography and costs at least $600 less. Then there's Panasonic's own $2,500 S1 IIe, which was announced at the same time as the S1 II. It has mostly the same features but uses a non-stacked sensor more prone to rolling. Make sure to check out the full review. — Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! Meta's already got its low-key Ray-Ban-designed smart glasses. Now it's coming for our dads. Or me. Or people somewhere between our ages. These are the Oakley Meta HSTN, apparently pronounced: HOW-stuh. They're made for athletes but will probably be worn by that guy in Costco. (I love Costco, by the way.) Oakleys might seem a jump away from Ray-Ban, but Oakley is owned by EssilorLuxottica, which also owns Ray-Bans. Despite rumors that the Oakley glasses would have a camera embedded in the frame's bridge, these first models keep the lens on the side, with an ultra-wide 12MP camera that can capture footage in 3K, compared to the 1080p resolution of the Ray-Ban iterations. Also, the battery is rated for eight hours on a single charge (double that of the Meta Ray-Bans). Several variants are incoming in lens colorways a little more vivid than typical sunglasses, with red, black, deep-water (blue?) and even some transition lenses. However, the first limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN has gold accents and black lenses. They cost $499 and go on pre-order July 11. Continue reading. Microsoft has been teasing this for years, but now it's happening. There needs to be some sort of error screen, so later this summer, Microsoft is transitioning to a Black Screen of Death instead. Slimming, but just as frustrating. Continue reading. Prime Day returns July 8 to July 11 this year, marking the first time the shopping event has been more than 48-hours long. Amazon typically has early Prime Day deals in the lead up to the event, and this year we're already seeing some solid discounts on gadgets we like, including AirPods Pro 2 and an array of Amazon hardware. Continue reading.
Engadget
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Engadget
Engadget review recap: VW ID.Buzz, Weber Smoque, Fujifilm GFX100RF and more
We're really covering all the bases with our latest slate of reviews. We've got everything from an EV family hauler to a smart pellet grill. Wireless earbuds, a unique camera and a GPU that's actually affordable are also on the list. Plus, there are new Playdate games and a VPN review if you're into those things. Whatever your preferred flavor, read on for a recap of our reviews from the last two weeks. The VW does a great job of evoking the nostalgia of the classic VW microbus, but it's held back by its high price and driving range. $59,995 at Volkswagen There really isn't an electric minivan available in the US, although the VW certainly comes close. The EV is definitely a head turner, and it offers loads of cargo space for both passengers and packages. "It's just a shame that it's held back by some obvious issues," senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar said. "The is still undeniably useful though, especially if you don't plan on taking many road trips, so there's a chance it'll become more compelling as its price falls." The most affordable smart pellet grill from Weber is a reliable barbeque machine with just enough smart features to appeal to both beginners and experienced backyard cooks alike. $799 at Weber Wi-Fi-equipped pellet grills can get very expensive very quickly. Thankfully, two of the biggest names in grilling chose to offer affordable models as part of their 2025 lineups. One of those is Weber, and the company's new Smoque pellet grill provides reliable performance alongside all of the features most backyard pit masters will ever need — for $799. "Weber really hit its stride with pellet grills last year with the Searwood, and the Smoque is proof the company has more compelling ideas in the hopper," I wrote. "Thankfully, this one saves you some money without sacrificing any of the culinary results." The GFX100RF is the world's first 100MP medium format compact camera. It offers incredible image quality and flexibility but isn't great in low light, and the high price makes it a niche product. $4,899 at B&H Photo Video The GFX100RF may be a world's first, according to Fujifilm, but the camera isn't without a few substantial flaws. Despite a great design, sharp image quality and new controls, this model isn't good for low-light situations, has subpar autofocus and doesn't offer any image stabilization. As senior reporter Steve Dent noted, maybe the GFX100RF has a higher calling. "The GFX100RF is fun to use, though, and introduces several innovations like the aspect ratio dial," he said. "Though it may never have a huge market, I think products like this push the industry in new directions and create conversations that draw new people into photography." The Radeon RX 9060 XT delivers a solid amount of 1080p and 1440p gaming power for just $350. It's not the fastest card around, but it's a great option for most people. $350 at AMD Upgrading your GPU these days isn't typically an affordable task, but AMD has a $350 option that's a solid bet for most users. "The Radeon RX 9060 XT is a reminder of a world where we didn't have to pay more than $400 to get a capable GPU," Devindra explained. "So for the vast majority of players out there — the ones who aren't using monitors with crazy high refresh rates or 4K+ resolutions — it's all the GPU you really need." If you're looking for a set of wireless earbuds for under $150, we recently reviewed two options in that price range. First, Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC borrows heavily from Bose's QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, although officially it only features "sound by Bose." However, Senior buying advice reporter Jeff Dunn warns against the expectation of flagship quality performance. "This is still a tier above most budget pairs we've tested," he said. "It has nearly all the features we're looking for (unlike, say, the Beats Solo Buds), it's comfortable and the sound signature will hit right if you're hungry for bass." Sony is best known for its 1000X line of earbuds and headphones, but the company has struck gold a few times with midrange devices. Its latest, the WF-C710N, has a comfy design and a lot of features for $120. However, sound quality is where you'll notice the biggest difference between it and more expensive options. "If I had been able to hit (or even surpass) Sony's stated battery life, these earbuds would be easy to recommend," I wrote. "Despite that, they're still a solid option, especially at $120, since the company once again outpaces its midrange rivals with more convenient tools than you'll find anywhere else." Playdate Season 2 will deliver two new games per week for the handheld through July 3. Weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald has already played the first two entries, Fulcrum Defender and Dig! Dig! Dino!, and a third title that Panic also released called Blippo+. Meanwhile, senior writer Sam Chapman tested ExpressVPN, observing how the service outpaces much of the competition despite its lack of customization options and its higher price.
