Amber Bouman
Community Content Editor- Engadget
Ask Engadget: Which charities give gifts to those in need?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. This week's question asks which are the best gift-giving charities. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! What charities donate gifts to people in need?
- Engadget
Readers weigh in on what makes the OnePlus 7 Pro a worthy contender
With the release of the 7 Pro, OnePlus showed it learned from the mistakes on the 6T: The company kept everything that users loved about the previous model while addressing its most glaring issues. Senior Editor Richard Lai was pleased to see that the dewdrop notch of the 6T had been replaced by a pop-up front camera; that the fussy fingerprint reader had become faster and more responsive; and that the 7 Pro maintained a sleek design with ambitious features. But was it enough to satisfy those who actually bought it? Here's what our user reviewers had to say about their experiences with the $549 device.
- Engadget
Are the Radeon RX 5700 and 5700 XT ideal GPUs for your gaming PC?
In the battle of graphics cards, AMD and NVIDIA have been duking it out for space in your custom-built gaming tower. With the release of the Radeon RX 5700 and 5700 XT, AMD threw down two solid mid-range offerings showcasing its Navi architecture (now known as Radeon DNA or RDNA). Both 7-nanometer cards feature a minimalist design, a blower-style cooler (using a single fan to pull in air) and 8GB of GDDR6 RAM. Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar gave them scores of 85 and 86 respectively, dinging both slightly for their high temperatures and lack of real-time ray tracing.
- Engadget
Ask Engadget: How can I make a gift card feel more personal?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. This week's question asks how to make a nondescript present like a gift card feel special for the receiver. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! How can I make a gift like a digital code feel more personal?
- Engadget
Is the Valve Index the best high-end VR headset?
As VR becomes more and more mainstream, a key to its success will be the choice of headsets available. On the entry-level end is the Oculus Go, at $199. On the upper end is Valve's Index, which features two RGB LCDs running at 1,440 x 1,600 pixels, capable of a 120Hz (or 144Hz) refresh rate and selling for a stunning $999. Senior editor Devindra Hardawar reviewed the Index and found that it had nearly every feature one would expect to find on a high-end VR headset, including finger-sensing controllers, excellent image quality and plush cushioning around the eye pieces and rear head strap.
- Engadget
Ask Engadget: What are the best tech stocking stuffers?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question concerns small, but useful, tech gift items. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! What are the best tech stocking stuffers?
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Our readers on the Powerbeats Pro's best features
Though Beats was a little late to market with its first true wireless earbuds, this year the company debuted a set designed for a comfortable and secure fit: the Powerbeats Pro. With its over-the-ear hook construction, chunky charging case and speedy H1 chip the Pro impressed senior news editor Billy Steele, largely thanks to its solid battery life, sound quality and ambidextrous onboard controls. However, imperfections like its Lightning charger, unwieldy case, and overbearing treble kept the Pro's score to an honorable 86. Users scored the Pro more sternly and gave the Powerbeats Pro a much lower rating of 71.
- Engadget
Twelve years later, how do you feel about the first Kindle?
This past Tuesday marked the 12-year anniversary of the first Amazon Kindle, which was praised at the time as an evolutionary step forward for e-readers thanks to its high-contrast screen, SD slot and built-in 3G or WiFi. However, now it just seems clunky and cluttered in comparison to this year's minimalist, streamlined version.
- Engadget
Ask Engadget: What browser plug-ins will help with holiday shopping?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question is a useful query concerning how to make holiday shopping easier -- and cheaper. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! What browser plug-ins are best for saving money and checking prices while holiday shopping?
- Engadget
Share your memories of the first Xbox console!
Tomorrow marks the eighteenth anniversary of the original Xbox, the first console from Microsoft that kicked off a rivalry with PlayStation that still burns today. Stockier and arguably more stylish than the first PlayStation, the first generation Xbox featured a 733MHz Intel Pentium III processor and a built-in hard disk. The initial sales of the Xbox broke records, with 1.5 million units sold before the end of the year and a total of 24 million units moved over its four-year lifespan.
- Engadget
Readers explain why they like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds more than we did
Though he's reviewed more than a dozen audio products for Engadget this year alone, senior news editor Billy Steele hasn't found any he disliked more than Samsung's Galaxy Buds. They earned a pitiful 69 from Billy, who was endlessly frustrated by their tap controls and lack of features. They took too long to pair and he wasn't impressed by the audio quality either. However, our users actually rated the earbuds higher than we did, awarding the Galaxy Buds an average score of 74. Here's what they had to say about their experiences with the buds as long-term users.
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Is Master & Dynamic’s MW65 worth its asking price?
Senior news editor Billy Steele has some serious experience reviewing headphones and earbuds. So when it came to Master & Dynamic's latest luxury headphones, he was pleased to see the same refined design, premium materials and trademark aesthetic details that mark the company's earlier offerings. As the first noise-cancelling headphone set from Master & Dynamic, the MW65 boasts great audio quality and intuitive controls in addition to a lightweight, comfortable fit. But it also comes with a sobering price tag of $499, which kept Billy from scoring it higher than a respectable 88.
- Engadget
Is the iPad Air the 'just right' tablet for most people?
Deputy managing editor Nathan Ingraham found a lot to like about this year's iPad Air: a bigger screen, snappier performance and longer battery life. However, a starting price of $499 means some trade-offs; it only supports the first-gen Apple pencil, has two speakers instead of four and lacks Apple's ProMotion technology. That wasn't enough to dissuade Nathan from recommending it as "probably the best all-around iPad you can get right now" and giving it an impressive score of 90.
- Engadget
Users share what makes the Google Nest Hub great
It took senior editor Nicole Lee a bit of time to figure out where the Google Nest Hub (originally the Google Home Hub) fit into her life because it seemed too small to be used like a typical home assistant device. At a mere 7 inches, the smart display is meant to be a personal assistant for any room of the house. Because the Nest Hub lacks a camera, it's even good for the bedroom. Once Nicole started using the Nest Hub like a digital photo frame, albeit one with the smarts to control home automated devices that can also use Google apps, she began to see the strengths of this discreet commected display. In the end, she granted the Nest Hub a commendable score of 87. User reviewers, who always tend to score more harshly, gave the Nest Hub a passable score of 72. Here's where they differed, or agreed with Nicole, on the product's successes and shortcomings.
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Can DJI compete against GoPro in the action camera arena?
Drone maker DJI has been manufacturing drones with cameras for quite some time. However, the Osmo Action was its first attempt at making a stand-alone action camera, á la GoPro. Though the Osmo Action has similar specs to GoPro's Hero 7 Black, it also features a front facing display and HDR video recording. Managing Editor James Trew appreciated the excellent image stabilization and the ability to frame shots of yourself using the front display, but was let down by the absence of GPS and basic editing features. The Osmo Action earned a solid score of 84, while its competitor the GoPro Hero 7 Black had earned an 89.
- Engadget
Holiday shopping can be a chore. Let us help!
There's a scant 68 days until Christmas is once again upon us, and 65 until Hanukkah begins. There are likely plenty of people left on your shopping list, including those few who are always impossible to buy for (looking at you, Dad) so we want to lend you a helping hand: If you find yourself stymied by gadget- or tech-related questions as you start shopping, give us a shout! Email ask@engadget.com to get answers on everything from "What is the easiest home assistant to set up for my parents?" to "What will the teenager on my list actually appreciate?" Just don't ask us to wrap anything for you.
- Engadget
Is the OnePlus 7 Pro worth the upgrade from its predecessor?
OnePlus had already earned plenty of fans with affordable high-end phones like the 6T; our reviewer Richard Lai praised that handset's solid hardware and slick software performance while our user reviews echoed his praise for the camera, battery life and Oxygen OS. With the release of the 7 Pro, the company built upon its strengths with features like a more responsive in-display fingerprint reader, a pop-up 16-megapixel camera and a 90Hz AMOLED screen.
- Engadget
Readers have spoken, and apparently people really like the Galaxy S10+
Samsung released its most recent flagship, the Galaxy S10+, after a decade of refining and perfecting the Galaxy lineup. With improvements to the screen, battery life and software, the $1,000 S10+ once again showed the company knows how to build a hit Android smartphone. Engadget reviews editor Cherlynn Low was impressed with the smooth UI, fast performance and useful features like Wireless Powershare which enables the phone to charge other devices. With all that in mind, she ultimately awarded the S10+ a score of 91. Our readers, who always tend to score a bit more harshly, gave it a more muted (but still good) rating of 84.
- Engadget
What do you like about the Oculus Rift S?
When senior editor Devindra Hardawar tested the Oculus Rift S, he kept asking himself: Who really needs this VR headset? With built-in tracking, sharp resolution and a comfortable headstrap, the $399 Rift S makes a convincing argument for an entry-level VR purchase. However, it still needs to be tethered to a computer, its design and build quality aren't better than the original Rift and the identically priced Oculus Quest has higher resolution displays. That all adds up to a tough recommendation. In the end, the newest Oculus system earned a fair score of 80.
- Engadget
Audio experts: Share your expertise on the Powerbeats Pro headphones
<p>When senior editor Billy Steele reviewed the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/16/beats-powerbeats-pro-review/">Powerbeats Pro</a> back in May, he was impressed by the sound quality and many of the set's features. Though Beats took its time releasing a pair of true wireless headphones, Billy found it well worth the wait for solid battery life, significantly improved sound and ambidextrous controls. However, he was less thrilled by the huge charging case and Lightning port, the iffy treble and the hook shape which might not be a good fit for all users.</p>
- Engadget
Fitness buffs: Tell us how you like your Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
<p>In the search for a truly great fitness smartwatch, reviews editor Cherlynn Low tested the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/03/samsung-galaxy-watch-active-review/#/">Samsung Galaxy Watch Active</a>, the lower-cost version of last year's Galaxy Watch. At $200 the Galaxy Watch Active eschews the rotating bezel found on the higher-priced model. It's also 20 percent smaller and 60 percent lighter. This makes for a comfortable fit, but it means shorter battery life and more time spent swiping through Tizen to interact with notifications and apps. Overall, though, the Active scored a point higher than the standard Galaxy Watch, with a rating of decent 83.</p>
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Readers relive their experiences with the original NES
<p>This week as Nintendo celebrates its 130th (!) anniversary, we've taken a look back at the original <a href="https://www.engadget.com/products/nintendo/nes-classic-edition/">Nintendo Entertainment System</a> -- a gaming console that started many life-long love affairs with gaming. Although it's been thirty-six years since the release of the NES, this iconic system still holds a place in the hearts of many. It was many people's first experience with a home console, allowing players to dedicate hours and hours trying to crack a <em>Super Mario Bros.</em> level or getting laughed at by the dog in <em>Duck Hunt</em>. We asked Engadget readers to review the iconic gray box and share their memories of Nintendo's first big hardware hit.</p>
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Ask Engadget: How can I improve my rural internet?
<p><em>The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community</em><em>. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything</em><em> from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments.</em></p> <p>We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2017/09/30/ask-engadget/">bring back</a> our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question comes to you from yours truly! Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com!</p> <p></p>
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How do kids (and adults) like Nintendo’s Labo VR kit?
<p>Nintendo's Labo VR kit is certainly a step up from the historic gaming company's earlier <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2018/09/13/nintendo-labo-vehicle-kit-switch-review/">Labo kits</a>. With five cardboard projects for kids to construct (including the headset itself), senior editor Kris Naudus found it to be a unique, endearing and <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2019/05/02/nintendo-labo-vr-review-cardboard/">playful experience</a>, mostly because of its clear building instructions and fun mini games. However, while the VR headset displays decent 720p, it still lacks a killer app and the VR updates to existing games leave a lot to be desired.</p>
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Is the iPad Mini a great choice for a small tablet?
<p>Yesterday's <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/10/apple-iphone-11-pro-event-most-important-news/">Apple event</a> didn't cover any updates to its iPad Mini -- which makes sense given that the 2019 iPad Mini was just released back in March. When senior editor Chris Velazco <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2019/03/29/apple-ipad-mini-review-2019/">reviewed</a> the most recent model, it had been three years since the last iteration of the tablet. The improvements that Chris most appreciated about the new iPad Mini were the improved display, solid battery life and Apple Pencil support; the parts he was less thrilled about were the recycled design, slow 12W charger and "unexciting" cameras.</p>
