Hardware season is in full swing. Apple launched the iPhone 16, AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10 on Monday this week. On the same day, at that very moment, the ban on Pixel Watch 3 reviews was lifted, and we were able to get a large portion of ours at that time. That’s not all, we also saw Sony announce the PlayStation 5 Pro this week, and two weeks ago there was a lot of news at the IFA conference in Berlin. There were things like Huawei’s triple phone, ReMarkable’s Paper Pro tablet, DJI’s $200 Neo drone, the new GoPro and Lenovo laptops.
As you can imagine, it’s been a busy few weeks for us in consumer technology, and the events are far from over. Reviews of all the big products that have just been announced will also be coming soon, if they haven’t already, and I’m back again to help you catch up on all the updates we’ve published in the last two weeks. I’ll also explain why there are some products we haven’t covered yet, like the OnePlus Pad 2.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Two reviewers, one complete analysis
by Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford
Google’s second foldable has come of age, with refined hardware, superior cameras and a long-lasting battery. It just needs to iron out a few software quirks to complete the upgrade.
- Smooth design
- The cameras are better than the competition
- It is thinner and lighter than the previous model
- It runs cooler than ever
- It’s still expensive
- Other features of the software
$1,799 at Google
With our fold expert Sam Rutherford on parental leave, the task of reviewing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold fell to me. But Sam, as a reliable and helpful reviewer, took the time to share his thoughts and opinions with me. He even took photos to review our piece, and I really appreciate his use of mahjong tiles as an interesting background for his photos. While I focused my review on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold as a functional smartphone alternative and its use as a multimedia tool, Sam offered his insight by comparing Google’s folding to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Our review combines those two ideas, making for a comprehensive analysis, if I do say so myself. We have a camera comparison between Google and Samsung’s offerings, and evaluate both their software, battery performance, design, build and more.
I was also able to shoot a video covering all of our reviews of the Pixel 9 family of phones, which includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The images go into more detail about things like the Add Me and Made You Look camera updates, and what Emergency SOS via Satellite looks like on a Pixel phone. Check it out at the top of this article!
Pixel Watch 3 review: Fighting Apple
by Cherlynn Low
Google / Engadget
Thanks to its strong battery life and comprehensive and intuitive system of health tracking features, the Pixel Watch 3 is a smart watch that is ready for the competition.
- Fast automatic workout detection
- The battery lasts a day and a half
- Attractive design
- Large screen brightness range
- A little bulky
- Other features of the software
$350 from Google
Google did not make our lives very easy with its closure on Monday September 9, especially with Apple’s 16th Apple launch event taking place on the same day. But the good news is, our review units arrived almost two weeks ago, so we’ve had enough time with the Pixel Watch 3 to better understand it in the real world. I spent my time with the smaller 41mm model while Sam was able to share some test details of the new larger 45mm variant.
Within days, Sam and I were trading notes about how impressed we were with the Pixel Watch 3’s battery life. Since I hate wearing watches to sleep, Sam kindly filled me in on the watch’s sleep tracking and automatic sleep features. Again, teamwork made the dream work here (certainly for me, as I wouldn’t have been able to sleep otherwise).
In the end, I focused on exercise and tracking work, duplicating my Pixel Watch 3 with my Apple Watch Series 9 everywhere I went for two weeks. I was surprised that the Google smartwatch was better at automatically tracking all of my walks, runs and bike rides, but I found it too slow compared to the competition. I also enjoyed the new customizable workout that allows me to set sprint and rest segments during my treadmill session.
I know a day and a half sounds about average in terms of battery life for modern smartwatches, but when you consider older models that won’t last 24 hours, the improvement in runtime sounds huge. Along with other Google and Pixel combinations, the Pixel Watch 3 finally feels like it’s ready to take on the likes of Samsung and Apple’s wearables.
Ultimate Ears Everboom: A floating speaker that’s more loud than good
by Billy Steele
Last Ears
Small enough to carry around easily, but loud enough to power a party, the Everboom checks many of the boxes for a UE speaker.
- It is rugged and waterproof
- 20 hour battery life
- Good features
- True 360-degree sound
- The sound profile has no mid range
- Pricey for a speaker of this size
- There is no aux port
- The playlist feature is limited to two services
$250 at Amazon
In this review, Billy also shows us what to look for when getting outdoor party gear. If we look at the beautiful photos that accompany his review, it is clear that when he is not checking out headphones or barbecuing in his backyard, Mr. Grilly Steele spends enough time at sea to conduct (work-approved) speaker testing. I support you.
With the UE Everboom, Billy makes it clear that the sound quality is not very good, and the music is not in the middle of the range. But if it’s volume you’re looking for, the Everboom delivers, with crystal clear 360-degree sound. And, it does this in a rugged, waterproof body that can survive being dropped in a pool, since, like the company’s other speakers, it floats!
However, with just 75 points, the Everboom did not make it into one of the products we award with the Recommended title. You’ll likely find a better device for your needs from competing brands like Marshall and Beats.
We haven’t reviewed: OnePlus Pad 2
With everything that’s been going on in the industry and in our lives lately, we’re yet to review the OnePlus Pad 2. Or the 2024 Moto Razrs or the Galaxy Watch Ultra, either, for that matter. We continue to test our review units so that information can inform our reviews of other products we write. But time is a resource we never have enough of, and with companies launching new products all the time, it’s hard to keep up with them.
Our lead tablet reviewer (and deputy editor) Nathan Ingraham has been spending some time with the OnePlus Pad 2, and he has some thoughts to share. He’s a fan of its design and display, finding it light and well-balanced despite its relatively large 12.1-inch screen. Speaking of which, he also likes the display, appreciating the 301ppi pixel density. In fact, he called this “one of the best tablet screens I’ve seen outside of the iPad.”
I’ll have to get Nate to look at a Samsung Galaxy Tab with a nice AMOLED panel before we make that official, but there are other things that set the OnePlus Pad 2 apart. If you own a OnePlus phone, Nate noted that there are “smart software features” that make this tablet a better option than the iPad or Galaxy Tab. But, as Nate points out, “the state of Android software is, as always, an unpleasant mixed bag.” He cited multitasking and the lack of apps that make good use of large screens as two areas that need improvement.
Still, at $550 (and currently priced at $499 direct from OnePlus), Nate thinks the Pad 2 is a fair price. “I still can’t recommend it for the iPad, but at least it doesn’t break the bank.”
Future/on the horizon
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are many gadgets lurking in our homes, ready to be explored. There’s more to come, including new Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel chips, as well as cameras, earbuds and more. If anyone has been watching this week’s news so inclined, they may have guessed that they are very educated about what we are preparing to publish, especially given the deadlines of previous years. That’s all I have to say for now.
I just wanted to say how much we appreciate your patience as we go through this very busy time of year, and you may see updates go up this month after we publish more details. This can be done in an effort to create timely articles while still being able to provide a thorough understanding of our experiences over time. For example, my Pixel Watch 3 review went up on Monday, but I was able to update it on Wednesday morning with the entire Wear OS and Fitbit app section.
It’s nothing new or affected my score, but it was more information that I didn’t have time to write while preparing for an iPhone event at the same time. With a full calendar of technology launches coming up, you may see us using the same approach for updates that may have tight deadlines.
As always, we appreciate all your time reading and viewing our work. Have a nice weekend.
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