It's getting close to pinch time, when gifts bought online will probably arrive in time for the holidays, but then again, might not. If you're willing to assume the odds are in your favor or don't really care when something arrives on your doorstep you'll be happy to know this turned out to be a pretty good week to save on tech.
Many of the sale prices from Black Friday expired after Cyber Week ended, but some deals have miraculously popped back up. The Apple Watch 10 is still down to $330 (with an on-page coupon), and the brand new Kindle Paperwhite is $25 off. Anker's 3-in-1 power bank/wall charger combo is just $20, also with a coupon. We also found discounts on gaming gear, Bluetooth speakers, robo vacs and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Anker 3-in-1 5,000mAh USB-C portable charger for $20 ($20 off with coupon): Click the on-page coupon to get this all-time low price on an battery bank. It's similar to one of the models we chose for our best power bank list, but has a few more mAh of juice. It has a built-in and foldable AC plug that allows it to act as a 30W wall charger as well as a portable battery and there's also a built-in USB-C cable.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $29 ($21 off): Woot currently has a three-month digital code for the game subscription for $34, but if it's your first time shoppng at Woot, you can use the code GAMEPASS at checkout to get an additional $5 off, bringing the price down to $29. The deal runs through the end of the day today, December 13. Game Pass Ultimate is one of our favorite Xbox accessories and gives you the opportunity to try out titles you may have never played.
Elgato Stream Deck Neo for $80 ($20 off): The Neo is Elgato's smaller (and much more affordable) take on one of our favorite game streaming items, the Stream Deck +. They both have eight customizable keys you can program with shortcuts for streaming or just knocking out your daily computing tasks.
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $135 ($25 off): This is $5 more than the all-time low of $130 the new Kindle Paperwhite hit for Black Friday, but it's still $25 less than the list price. We gave the Signature Edition an 85 in our review. This standard model lacks wireless charging, auto-adjusting lights and has a smaller capacity, but we noted those features really weren't essential the standard Paperwhite is still plenty premium.
Cosori 6-quart 9-in-1 air fryer for $88 ($32 off): Our runner up for best air fryer of 2024 is just $3 more than its all-time low as a Prime Exclusive a few months ago. It has nine present modes, including preheat, broil, bake, roast, proof and frozen settings. The air fryer also includes a touchscreen, basket-release button and spacious cooking basket.
Backbone One mobile gaming controller for $70 ($30 off): A dedicated physical controller will let you more easily play the widening number of games that are available on your phone. One of our picks for the best mobile game controllers is the Backbone One, which is back on sale. The second-gen USB-C PlayStation Edition has dropped down to $70, though if you're not a Prime member you may not see the discount until you add the item to your cart.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Google Pixel Tablet (128GB) for $279 ($120 off): This is the lowest price we've tracked since its release. The Google Pixel Tablet with its 11-inch screen is one of the best Android tablets according to our tests. Though we think it works best when paired with its optional speaker dock.
Amazon Echo Show 8 for $85 ($65 off): This is $5 more than the smart display went for over Black Friday, but it's still over 40 percent off. It'll handle all the things Alexa can do such as making shopping lists, predicting the weather and controlling your connected smart home devices just by asking. Plus it has an eight-inch screen so you can see your doorbell feed, make video calls, watch a Netflix show and watch recipe videos.
Breville the Bambino Plus Espresso Machine for $400 ($100 off): This quality machine has two things going for it for the home barista: Its not gigantic and not crazy expensive (when compared to the $1,000-plus options out there). The controls are simple enough for newbies, but the results are cafe-quality, which is why we recommend it in our guide to gifts for coffee lovers. Also at Williams Sonoma and direct from Breville.
JBL Go 4 for $40 ($10 off): This is a return to the Cyber Monday pricing for JBLs smallest portable speaker. It gives up to seven hours of battery life on a charge, has an IP67 waterproof rating and a tiny built-in carry strap so you can bring it wherever you go. Also at Amazon and Best Buy.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Sonos Move 2 for $359 ($90 off): Sonos speakers dipped down for Black Friday then shot back up. Since then, a few of the brand's speakers have returned to their shopping holiday lows, including the Move 2 which we gave it an 80 in our review, praising the battery life, loud output, improved sound and handy line-in jack. Also at Amazon.
Sonos Era 100 for $199 ($50 off): The Sonos Era 100 has also returned to it's Cyber Week pricing. It's our pick for the best midrange smart speaker. We like the excellent sound quality plus it pairs well with other Sonos devices. It has Alexa built-in, so it can handle regular smart home duties, but itll also make your music sound far better than any spherical Echo can.
Sonos Ray soundbar for $169 ($110 off): The Ray soundbar is our pick for a runner-up mid-range soundbar in our guide. It's compact, easy to set up and is relatively affordable, especially now.
Anker Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Max for $129 ($120 off): This is our pick for the best ultra budget robot vacuum. We like the slim design, good suction power and relatively long battery life (up to 100 minutes). Just note that it does have some smarts, but no Wi-Fi connectivity you'll control it with a remote instead of an app.
Billy Steele/Engadget
Sonys WH-1000XM5 headphones for $298 ($101 off): All four colorways are on sale and this matches the all-time low we've seen a few times before. The WH-1000XM5 earned a stellar 95 from us in our review. The noise-cancelling cans offer a near-perfect balance between features, performance and price; in fact, theyre the Bluetooth headphones Billy Steele, Engadgets resident audio guru, recommends for most people. Also at Amazon.
LEVOIT Core300S Air Purifier for $120 ($30 off): This is the model we recommend for smaller rooms in our https://www.engadget.com/best-air-purifier-120040002.htmlguide to air purifiers. It relatively quiet, has affordable replacement filters and did a good job of clearing the air in our tests.
Twelve South AirFly Pro for $44 ($11 off): This handy transmitter lets you connect your wireless earbuds to a 3.5mm jack ideal for airplanes. This Pro model can receive audio so you can also make phone calls through your headphones, but if you don't need that feature, you can save some money by going with the AirFly SE model, currently $5 off and down to $30.
Aaron Souppouris/Engadget
PlayStation 5 (slim) for $424 ($76 off MSRP): While this 15 percent price drop isn't the biggest we've seen, larger discounts for Sonys console have been uncommon over the past year. This bundle throws in a few Fortnite skins and V-Bucks, while the console alone is available for the same price. Alternatively, you can pair the machine with the recent RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard or an EA sports game for $450 at Walmart. Also at Target, GameStop and PlayStation Direct. Sony says its holiday PS5 sale will run through December 24.
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (slim) + NBA 2K25 for $374 at GameStop ($76 off): If you don't care about owning physical discs, you can save another $50 upfront by getting the all-digital PS5. This bundle includes the latest NBA 2K game as a freebie, though the Fortnite bundle noted above and the standalone console are each available for $375 too. Also at Amazon, Target, Best Buy and PlayStation Direct.
Xbox Wireless Controller for $39 at Walmart ($21 off): This is another deal weve seen a few times before, but its a decent $5 to $15 off the Xbox pads typical street price, depending on which color you pick. A few different color options are still on sale, with some models priced $5 higher. Just remember that this gamepad requires a pair of AA batteries or a separate pack for power. Also at Amazon and Target.
PlayStation VR2 + Horizon Call of the Mountain for $349 at Amazon ($251 off): Sony's middling software support has made the PSVR2 difficult to widely recommend, but if you have cash to burn and want to dive into games like Gran Turismo 7, Tetris Effect or the Horizon spin-off bundled here, this is the headset's lowest price to date. Also at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, GameStop and PlayStation Direct. Sony says this deal will go through January 3.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) for $330 at Amazon ($69 off): The latest Apple Watch is our top pick for the best smartwatch. It's slightly thinner and lighter than previous models, with a rich wide-angle OLED display, (mildly) improved battery life and the usual array of fitness tracking features. We gave it a score of 90 in our review. This ties the best price to date for the 42mm model, though you'll need to clip the on-page coupon to see the full discount at checkout. The larger 46mm version is also on sale for $360.
Apple AirTags (4-pack) for $73 at Amazon ($26 off): Apple's Bluetooth tracker is our top pick for iPhone users, unsurprisingly, as it can accurately locate your belongings right from the Find My app. A waterproof design and replaceable battery help as well. Just make sure to grab a holder or case if you want to attach one to your keys. This deal is $5 more than the lowest price we've seen but still $7 off the four-pack's typical street price on Amazon. Also at Walmart.
Samsung Pro Plus (1TB) for $90 at Amazon ($30 off): The Pro Plus is the top pick in our microSD card buying guide. It's not the cheapest card you can buy, but it tested faster than most of its peers in our benchmark tests, with a particular edge in random performance. That lets it play a bit nicer in a portable gaming PC or a device like the Raspberry Pi, where itd more frequently have to access smaller bits of data in random locations. This is a new low for the 1TB model, which Samsung released earlier this year. Also at Samsung and B&H.
Marshall Emberton II for $99 ($70 off): This is the smallest Marshall speaker in our guide. Its dual 10-watt drivers and passive radiators create an impressive, 360-degree sound. While its not super loud, we think the output is nicely balanced. Youll get up to 30 hours of play on a charge. Also at Best Buy and directly from Marshall.
Razer Basilisk V3 for $40 at Amazon ($30 off): The Basilisk V3 is the top wired pick in our gaming mouse buying guide for those who prefer a more ergonomic shape. This discount ties the device's all-time low. Razer released an revised version with an improved sensor a few months back, but that one costs $80 and isn't an essential upgrade while the old model is still in stock. Also at Best Buy.
Astro Bot for $50 at Walmart ($10 off): The inventive 3D platformer Astro Bot is the closest thing the PS5 has to a modern Super Mario game, even if it is a bit too reverential to the PlayStation brand. Engadget's Jessica Conditt called it one of the best games Sony has ever made in her review. The game briefly fell to $43 at Amazon on Black Friday, but this is its best price otherwise. Also at Best Buy, Target and GameStop.
Metaphor: ReFantazio for $50 at Amazon ($20 off): Its about as subtle as youd expect a game named Metaphor to be, but the latest from the minds behind Persona 5 is a fantasy JRPG through and through: bombastic, stylish and deeply earnest. (And long.) This leftover Black Friday deal marks its lowest price to date. Also at Walmart.
Hisense U7N 4K TV (55) for $479 at Amazon ($319 off): Several reviews around the web call the U7N one of the year's best TV values. It pumps out better brightness and contrast than most alternatives in its price range, plus it supports a fast 144Hz refresh rate at 4K, which helps PS5 and Xbox games look more fluid in motion. Its picture will look washed out if you don't view it straight-on, however, and its limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. This is the 55-inch model's all-time low. Other sizes are similarly discounted.
Amazon Echo Buds for $25 at Amazon ($25 off): We highlight the Echo Buds in our guide to the best budget earbuds for those who prefer an unsealed design that doesn't totally mute the outside world. They sound decent for the price and can connect to multiple devices at once, though they aren't fully water-resistant. This deal matches their all-time low.
Amazon Echo smart speaker for $55 at Amazon ($45 off): The latest Echo is the "best under $100" pick in our smart speaker buying guide thanks to its strong-for-its-size audio quality, stereo pairing support and (mostly) handy range of Alexa skills and smart home integrations. This discount comes in $5 above the lowest price we've seen. Other Echo devices are still on sale as well, including the smaller Echo Dot for $23 and the Echo Spot smart alarm clock for an all-time low of $45.
Audible Premium Plus (3-month) for $3 at Amazon ($42 off): Non-subscribers can still get a three-month Audible Premium Plus trial for $1. Normally, the audiobook service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: Apart from giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn't call it essential, but this is a good way to see if it'd work for you if you've been on the fence. Remember that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel.
MasterClass Premium (1-year) for $144 at MasterClass ($96 off): MasterClass is still taking 40 percent off the cost of its annual subscription plans for new or returning users, bringing the "Plus" and "Premium" tiers down to $108 and $144, respectively. As a refresher, both options support offline viewing the cheaper "Standard" tier does not but the Premium plan lets you watch from six devices simultaneously instead of two. Either way, this is a decent chance to save if you've been interested in taking one of the service's many celebrity-led courses.
Ultimate Ears Everboom for $180 at Amazon ($70 off): The Everboom is a mid-sized entry in Ultimate Ears' portable speaker lineup. We gave it a review score of 75 this past September and currently include it in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. Its rugged waterproof design, 20-hour battery life and 360-degree sound make it a solid outdoor companion, though it's somewhat bulky, and it's not the best at reproducing fine details in tracks. This deal price is a new all-time low.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 for $60 ($40 off): We put the Wonderboom 3 on our guide to the best speakers and this next-gen model includes a new podcast mode EQ for crisp vocals and is made from more recycled plastics. Like its predecessor, itll go for 14 hours on a charge and packs a waterproof build into its mini barrel-like shape. Also at Amazon.
Anker Soundcore Motion 300 for $56 ($24 off): Weighing in at less than two pounds, Ankers speaker has a bright, punchy output with a crisp high end and thumpy bass. Plus its waterproof and goes for 13 hours on a charge. No wonder it made our list of the best speakers.
Dyson Airwrap for $490 at Amazon ($110 off): This multipurpose styling tool uses the Coanda effect to create curls without excessive heat, and it comes with a bunch of other attachments that let it work as a hairdryer, heated brush and more. It's certainly not cheap, but this is a good 18 percent off its normal street price. Also at Dyson.
iRobot Roomba Vac Essential (Q0120) for $149 at Amazon ($101 off): This entry-level robot vacuum has decent cleaning power with three cleaning modes and the ability to set cleaning schedules from iRobot's mobile app. It's a fairly basic model with no obstacle avoidance tech, but it should work for first-time or budget-minded robovac buyers. This deal has been live for a few weeks now but comes within a couple bucks of the device's all-time low. Also at Best Buy.
Dyson V15 Detect Absolute for $500 at Dyson ($250 off): The V15 Detect is our pick for the best cordless vacuum thanks to its excellent suction power, impressively portable design and hour-long battery life (which is fairly long for these things). This model comes with a "Fluffy Optic" cleaning head that illuminates the ground in front of you so you can better see where dust and debris is hiding. You get a few other cleaning head attachments in the box alongside that. This discount matches the lowest price we could find.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) for $1,650 at Best Buy ($350 off): The 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 is the top pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops. We gave it a score of 91 in our review, praising its (relatively) elegant aluminum chassis and beautiful 120Hz OLED display. It can get toasty under load, and the memory isn't upgradeable, but this config can still handle more demanding games at high settings and the native 2.8K resolution without much trouble. It includes a Ryzen 9 8945HS chip, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and an RTX 4070 GPU. Outside of one drop to $1,600 back in July, this ties the best price weve seen.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) for $899 at Amazon ($300 off): We gave the latest Surface Laptop a score of 88 in our review, and we currently recommend it as a great ultraportable in our laptop buying guide. The caveat is that it uses an ARM processor, which runs well but may not work with every app or peripheral you use. If you can live with that, however, its bright 120Hz display, upscale aluminum design and long battery life all impress. Besides in-store-only deals, this is an all-time low for the config with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. A 15-inch version with a faster Snapdragon X Elite chip and 256GB of storage is down to a new low of $1,044. Also at Best Buy.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-3-in-1-power-bank-drops-to-just-20-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-173041921.html?src=rss
2024 is unquestionably the year of Balatro. It came out of nowhere to fill our heads with dreams of flush fives and legendary Jimbos. But I think what put it really over the top was when it launched on iOS and Android earlier this fall. Thats because even though I dont have the numbers to prove it, Charlie Brooker as he so often does in his show Black Mirror made a particularly prescient prediction during an interview with Deadline when he said that after Balatro comes out on phones, humankinds activity is going to drop about 25 percent. That said, I dont think people were prepared for the mobile version of Balatro to be an almost flawless example of how to properly translate a game from desktop to small screens and foldables.
To start, on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, the mobile version of Balatro costs $10, which is actually $5 less than the desktop edition on Steam or the console ports on Switch, Xbox and PlayStation. But whats even better is that in a world where seemingly every phone game is crammed full of microtransactions, there are zero intrusive ads or other extra purchases to take away from the game. This includes all the crossover cardbacks (like the ones featuring characters from The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077 and more) and the big forthcoming update due out at the beginning of next year.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
On top of that, theres essentially no difference in features between the mobile and desktop/console versions. Granted, thats due in large part to the game being a relatively simple title (at least in terms of graphics). But even so, youd be surprised how easy that is to mess up. The game boots up nearly instantly and even when youre smashing antes while pushing your score deep into scientific notation, the game doesnt get bogged down.
It gets even better though because developer LocalThunk paid attention to nearly all the little details. Balatro mobile features cloud saves, multiple profiles and tons of languages. The game also supports achievements while making it easy to unlock everything with a single option in case the phone version is more of a secondary platform for you. And I can't forget to shout out the High Contrast Cards option, which is not only a great accessibility feature but a generally useful tool for making it faster and easier to tell hearts and diamonds or spades and clubs apart.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
I also appreciate how Playstack tweaked the games UI and interface to make it easy to drag and drop objects wherever you want. I cant speak for everyone, but theres just something inherently satisfying about using touch controls to move cards around like in Hearthstone and Marvel Snap compared to relying on a keyboard and mouse or a controller, to the point where I prefer the mobile version over the original desktop release.
But perhaps the thing I like the most about Balatro mobile is how well it plays on pretty much any device, but foldable phones most of all. Id argue that handsets like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 are the perfect joker-hunting devices. Their large screens feel like a perfect match for the titles UI without ever feeling cramped, which happens sometimes on older gadgets with less roomy displays. Text is generally easy to read (though sometimes less so on tiny devices) and theres plenty of open space to push things around without getting in your own way.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
That said, if I had to nitpick, my complaints boil down to two (maybe three) things. The first is that on foldables, Balatro doesnt take full advantage of the extra vertical screen space. But since theres already plenty of room, its not a huge deal. I also wish the Skip button when opening packs was in a different place, because Ive accidentally fat-fingered it more times than Id like to admit, resulting in not picking a joker or Spectral card that I really needed. But perhaps the biggest issue (or not) is that when Im playing the game outside, when people who arent Balatro fans see my screen, they probably think Im a true dirtbag that just cant wait till I get home to make a bet. And in many respects theyre right, but since Im not actually gambling, its still the wrong impression.
Regardless, the mobile version of Balatro has basically everything I could want in a phone port. And in a world where more and more portable titles feel like low-effort cash grabs than projects meant to delight and entertain, Balatro is something Im going to get more than my moneys worth out of for years to come.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-is-an-almost-perfect-mobile-port-163050971.html?src=rss
If you missed out on picking up Sonos soundbars and/or speakers on sale during Black Friday, heres another chance for you to score good deals on them before the holidays. Theyre now up to 39 percent off. The Ray soundbar, for one, is getting the full discount. It has dropped to $169, which is $110 off the list price.
The Ray was already the most budget-friendly Sonos soundbar, and that's even more true after this latest temporary price cut. It has a compact design but still packs a punch in terms of sound quality (including good performance on the low end), though of course larger models will deliver more immersive audio. So you might want a louder model if you have a larger living room. The lack of built-in voice control is a bit of a bummer too. But the Sonos Ray is a great entry-level model and we gave it a score of 82 in our review.
Elsewhere, other Sonos models have dropped back down to their Black Friday prices. That includes a $50 discount on the Era 100, bringing that model down to $199. This is our pick for the best midrange smart speaker and we gave it a score of 88 in our review. The Era 100 sounds great (I have four myself) and you can pair two of them for stereo audio. You can also use a couple as rear surrounds in a home theater setup by pairing them with a Sonos soundbar.
If you have some extra cash to spend and would prefer a model that sounds even better, the Era 300 is worth considering. At $359, it's currently $90 off the list price.
We feel that this speaker delivers excellent audio quality, but the design is a little odd and we found spatial audio performance to be somewhat inconsistent. Still, we gave the Era 300 a score of 80 in our review.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonos-soundbars-and-speakers-are-up-to-39-percent-off-154440813.html?src=rss
Formovies Theater took the projector world by storm when it first arrived, offering a triple laser, 150-inch ultra short throw (UST) image and Dolby Vision for $3,000. That was a relatively unheard of price for such a feature set, especially from a brand that hardly anyone knew about.
That model helped make Formovies name, but $3,000 is still pretty expensive for a projector. To appeal to more buyers, the company recently unveiled the $1,800 Cinema Edge, a far more affordable option that still offers a laser light engine, sharp 4K image, Google TV for streaming and 15-watt stereo speakers.
There are some fairly serious trade offs, though, particularly the absence of a triple laser engine and Dolby Vision, plus mediocre color accuracy and brightness. The new model also has some heavy competition from the likes of Hisense, Epson and Optoma. All of that adds up to a projector thats not quite as exciting as Formovies first attempt.
The Formovie Cinema Edge's main features
As a reminder, Formovie is a joint venture between Xiaomi and Appotronics (the latter makes laser engines for high-end brands like Barco). Formovie now offers three projector models: the Cinema Edge, $2,400 Theater and $3,000 Theater Premium. It also sells the cheap and cheerful $199 Episode One Google TV projector, a 120-inch floor rising screen and a 100-inch wall-mounted ALR screen.
The Cinema Edge is more compact than the Theater in all dimensions and has a square design and subtle, dark grey exterior. You can project to a wall, or preferably a dedicated glare-reducing ALR screen, at a distance of about 13 inches for a 120-inch picture. All of that makes it discreet and lets you install it in relatively tight spaces.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The Cinema Edge comes with a pair of 15W speakers, but projector purists will no doubt want a 5.1 audio system to best use the built-in Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD. The Google TV system includes Netflix (unlike the Theater at launch) but the processor is a bit laggy. That can make navigation and settings adjustments a chore, though its par for the course on other projectors Ive seen, particularly Optoma and HiSense models. As a result, some users may still prefer to use a Google TV or other streaming device.
Similar to the Theater, the Cinema Edge sits on three rubber feet rather than four, which can make it tricky to level when setting up. While it supports digital keystone fine-tuning to square the image, that should be used as little as possible, as it reduces picture resolution slightly and increases latency for gaming. Because of that, along with the configuration for various apps, setup took longer than I expected.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Fortunately, there are plenty of inputs to add accessories like Blu-Ray players, including three HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eArc for a high-quality return to your audio system), 3.5mm and optical audio connectors, two USB-C ports for media/streaming stick power and an ethernet port (plus Wi-FI support, of course).
The included remote is required to change most settings, control playback and more, plus it uses standard batteries with no charging port. Like most ultra short throw projectors, the Cinema Edge has a sensor that detects if someone gets too close and automatically dims the output so you dont get a laser blast in your eyeballs.
Picture quality
Steve Dent for Engadget
Like most modern projectors (Epson aside), the Formovie Cinema Edge uses Texas Instruments DLP tech that projects a 1080p image twice to create a sharp 4K image using so-called fast-switch pixel shifting. It combines that with an RGB+ single color laser to keep the price down compared to triple laser setups like the Formovie Theater or Hisenses $3,500 PX3-Pro.
The Cinema Edge delivers sharp 4K video at up to 2,100 lumens, which is decent, but falls short of rivals like the 2,400-lumen Hisense PX2-Pro or Epsons EpiQVision Ultra LS650. That latter model pumps out 3,600 lumens. Still, the Cinema Edges level of brightness was just enough to watch some content in daylight, like Netflixs Drive to Survive or live sports on Amazon Prime.
The 4K detail is excellent, and something I appreciated when watching sci-fi series like Silo, The Expanse and 3 Body Problem. Contrast is also strong, allowing for better viewing of films with dimly lit scenes like those in Joker and The Batman.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Where the Formovie Cinema Edge struggles compared to the Theater model is in color rendering. With its single laser light source, it lacks the incredible 100-percent-plus BT.2020 color gamut found on the Formovie Theater or Hisense PX2-Pro. Its also limited to HDR10 support, rather than superior modes like Dolby Vision found on the slightly more expensive Hisense PX2-Pro.
As a result, visuals are a bit more drab in films like Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Air, with primary colors failing to pop off the screen as Ive seen on those other models. That said, colors are accurate by default, and there are extensive picture quality settings if you want to fine-tune everything. I noticed other issues related to the lack of good HDR performance, namely blown out highlights and some artifacts in the shadows or dark parts of images, particularly n The Batman.
Motion smoothing (called MJC on the Cinema Edge) is enabled by default, unfortunately, but its relatively easy to disable. Without it, though, the projector occasionally suffers from some motion artifacts during fast action sequences, something thats common on DLP projectors. For those types of films, I found the low motion smoothing setting to be a good compromise, limiting the soap opera effect while removing any choppiness from energetic action scenes.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The Cinema Edge isnt bad for light gaming, but with a refresh rate limited to 60Hz and input latency around 40 milliseconds, you cant play anything too demanding like fast-moving FPS shooters. For instance, I played Resident Evil Village from my Mac through the projector, and the lag, tearing and artifacting made gameplay a challenge.
The speakers offer decent audio quality, with clear voices, music and sound effects. However, the bass is a bit thin and theres little to no soundstage to add realism. Given the projectors Dolby Atmos and HDMI 2.1 eArc support, anyone serious about audio would want to add external speakers or at least a soundbar.
Wrap-up
Steve Dent for Engadget
Considering how good Formovies Theater is, the Cinema Edge is a disappointment. Performance is only so-so for the price, with relatively low brightness and mediocre color rendering. The built-in Google TV is a bit laggy, and setup is more difficult than it needs to be due to the lack of a fourth foot. The speaker setup is also just okay, with better sound quality available on some Optoma and LG projectors.
The Cinema Edge is still a decent mid-range UST projector, but the problem for Formovie is that theres a lot of competition in this price range. For just $200 more, you can get the Hisense PX2-Pro triple laser UST projector, which offers higher brightness (2,400 lumens), along with Dolby Vision and over 100 percent BT.2020 coverage. Another option for the same $1,800 price is the Epson LS650, which offers similar specs but nearly double the brightness at 3600 lumens. The Cinema Edge is a good choice if you want a versatile projector with a small and subtle design, but if brightness and picture quality are paramount, look elsewhere.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/formovie-cinema-edge-review-a-midrange-ust-projector-that-lags-behind-its-rivals-150025407.html?src=rss
Capcom has announced Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the first new Onimusha game since the original 2001 PS2 version was remastered in 2019. Revealed at The Game Awards 2024, it reveals a modern take on the classic dark action game, minus the fixed perspectives as before.
The trailer for the single player, Wordplay action game shows an unnamed Samanosuke-like hero as he takes on samurai zombies in bloody combat, collecting golden orbs as before. "A lone samurai steps forth his blade sharpened, soul anew. The Onimusha series by Capcom reawakens with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a brand new title coming in 2026," states the official description.
Onimusha fans hoping against hope for a new game will be thrilled, but they'll need to wait a bit longer, as Way of the Sword isn't due to arrive until 2026 a full quarter century after the original. It'll be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. See the new trailer (age restricted) right here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/onimushas-back-143004810.html?src=rss
Its been a few years since Samsung took a crack at making a premium Chromebook. In 2020, the company released the first Galaxy Chromebook, a $999 laptop with a gorgeous 4K OLED screen that barely lasted five hours away from a charger. The company fixed some issues with its 2021 model, which had a more pedestrian screen and a thicker design while costing $300 less a fair compromise given that battery life was significantly better.
Since then, Google has also launched the Chromebook Plus initiative, which aims to standardize Chromebook specs to give people a more consistent experience. And now, Samsung has released its first entry to that lineup: the Galaxy Chromebook Plus. Its a bit different than most of the other laptops in that space, though, with a large 15.6-inch OLED screen and a design thats extremely thin and light for its size. It reminds me a little bit of the 15-inch MacBook Air, though its appearance is unmistakably Samsung. The Galaxy Chromebook Plus also has more of Googles AI capabilities baked into it than any Chromebook thus far, thanks to a new Quick Insert key that grants fast access to Gemini.
Finally, its one of the most expensive Chromebook Plus options out there at $699. That puts it directly in competition with Acers Chromebook Spin Plus 714, my current favorite in the premium Chromebook space. And while its refreshingly different from the Acer and Lenovo models I usually use, there are a few quirks here you should know about.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Hardware and design: Not your typical Chromebook
First, though, the good stuff. The Galaxy Chromebook Plus 1080p, 15.6-inch screen is crisp and bright, with excellent viewing angles. Somewhat surprisingly, though, it doesnt have a touchscreen. Lots of Chromebooks do, as it makes interacting with some Android apps easier. But once I got used to the fact that poking the screen did nothing, I didnt really miss it. Samsung says its the only Chromebook Plus with an AMOLED display, and while I wouldnt mind a higher resolution, I know that would lead to worse battery life. All told, I think Samsung made the right choice not to go for 4K, especially considering that a computer this thin doesnt have as much room for a bigger battery.
Speaking of: this laptop is seriously thin. Its less than half an inch thick (0.46 inches to be precise) and weighs only 2.58 pounds. Thats essentially the same thickness as the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air, and the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is lighter than both. Its well-suited to going anywhere without being too much of a burden, not something you get often on a laptop with a large screen. Despite its thin-and-light design, Samsung didnt skimp on ports here: it has HDMI, two USB-C ports (one of which youll need for charging), a microSDXC slot (that I wish was standard microSD), a headphone jack and an old-school USB-A port.
As part of the Chromebook Plus line, this laptop exceeds the minimum spec requirements. It pairs an Intel Core 3 100U processor released earlier this year with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Thats more than enough power for a Chromebook in this day and age, and I had no qualms with its performance across the board.
While the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is quite svelte, its 15.6-inch screen makes transporting it a little awkward. Thanks to its 16:9 aspect ratio, the laptop has serious surfboard vibes its just very wide, and its a tight fit in my bag. Furthermore, the 16:9 aspect ratio makes the screen feel smaller than it really is. The 1080p panel defaults to a scaled resolution that works out to 1,600 x 900, almost 100 fewer vertical pixels than my 14-inch MacBook Pro. Ive been yelling into the void for years now that the 16:9 aspect ratio is just not ideal for modern computing, given the verticality of basically every web site. Id be much happier with a smaller panel that offered more vertical pixels, but thats just me.
I have mixed feelings about the keyboard and trackpad. Since the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is so thin, the keys dont feel quite as comfortable as those on most other Chromebooks I use, to say nothing of my MacBook Pro. But, theyre not bad at all; nothing like the terrible butterfly keyboards on the MacBooks of the prior decade. They have less travel and are a little clickier than Id like but still easy enough to acclimate to.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
My real issue is that Samsung chose to include a number pad on the keyboard. This might be my own personal quirk, but I generally cant stand number pads because Id much rather have my hands centered below the display. I always feel slightly off-kilter and unbalanced using a laptop with a number pad, and it led to me making far more typos than I usually do. Im sure if it was my only computer, Id adjust and get used to it but I dont think Id ever really like it. For me, the tradeoff just isnt worth the number pad. I also found myself activating the trackpad by grazing it with the side of my palms while typing more often than Id like. I eventually acclimated to how to type comfortably and avoid the touchpad, but between that and the number pad I found the Galaxy Chromebook Pluss typing experience isnt as good as some other Chromebooks Ive used.
Perhaps the most notable thing about the keyboard, though, is the new Quick Insert key that goes where the traditional search key is. (Chromebooks have always had this instead of a caps lock key.) Quick Insert pulls up a small menu similar in size to what you see if you right-click something. But it gives contextual suggestions based on what youre doing rather than showing the same options every time. In the very Google Doc where I wrote this review, it suggested various emoji (which would definitely be useful when using a chat app), links to a few Google Drive files it thought were relevant and a help me write prompt using Google Gemini. The menu also shows quick links to your Files folder, Google Drive, browsing history and a few other potentially helpful options.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Samsung moved the taditional launcher key to the bottom row, nestled between Fn and Alt. That key still brings up the app launcher and a traditional search field for things on your computer; you can also easily search Google from here. The trickiest thing about this placement is that some shortcuts I was used to now require me to use the launcher in a new spot instead of Quick Insert. Its a bit of a learning curve, and the benefit of Quick Insert doesnt quite outweigh having to retrain my brain on new shortcuts. Hopefully the Quick Insert gets smarter and more useful over time, but right now its mostly a shortcut to grabbing emoji quickly. I have zero interest in having Googles AI help me write anything, so for now its utility is limited.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
ChromeOS and Gemini
Thats the good and bad of the hardware, but thats only part of the equation. By now, the usual caveats of ChromeOS are well-known: its still a primarily web-based system, but Android applications can extend its features. There are also plenty of web apps that are well optimized for ChromeOS, and Google Docs has a comprehensive offline mode at this point. And if you have a recent Android phone, ChromeOS has a pretty robust feature set when you pair it to your Chromebook, including shared notifications and streaming of some apps directly to your laptop.
Google has also added a lot of smart and useful features to ChromeOS over the last year or so that make it more useful. For example, clicking the date in the taskbar brings up your full Google calendar and anything in the Tasks app, making it a quick place to see what you have planned for the day without having to dive into the full Calendar or Tasks experience. Theres also a new focus mode for when you want to sit down and concentrate. It turns on Do Not Disturb, sets a timer and lets you pick a YouTube Music playlist or some focus sounds like ambient or classical music, or even the sounds of nature. Its a small thing, but there are a lot of thoughtful tools like that now in ChromeOS that make it feel like much more than just a browser.
The new Quick Insert menu in ChromeOS.
Naturally, AI is a bigger part of ChromeOS than ever. In addition to the help me write tools and suggestions that show up when you tap the Quick Insert key, Gemini is a click away with an app shortcut in the toolbar by default. There are also a few frivolous AI features thrown in, like a wallpaper generator with eight different categories to choose from (landscape, surreal, dreamscape, classic art and so on). Once you pick one, youll get a few more fields you can edit to get a handful of AI creations you can set as your wallpaper. You dont get full creative control here; generally there are two things you can edit in each prompt. Theyre hit or miss, but I did like the classic art avant-garde beach scene I created.
Theres also a beta test of the help me read feature thatll summarize documents, PDFs and web pages. I made a PDF of this review from Google Docs and had the AI summarize it, which it did with no errors but also with very little detail. I asked it questions about the content of the document and it answered them accurately, as well. And the Magic Editor built into Google Photos on Pixel phones is also available on Chromebook Plus models, letting you alter the reality of your snapshots to your heart's content. None of this stuff is essential to me, but its clearly the way were headed, like it or not. One good thing is that Google includes a full year of its $20/month Google One with AI plan to Chromebook Plus buyers, this Samsung model included. That gets you 2TB of Drive storage and access to Gemini Advanced, Gemini in Google Docs and Gmail, as well as a few other AI perks. I dont think its necessary at this point, but getting to try it for a full year is a pretty nice offer.
Finally, theres the ever-present question of battery life. Im getting between six and a half and eight hours off the charger, depending on what Im doing; as usual, video calls really put a hurt on things. Thats not bad, but its still pretty far from the 13 hours Samsung claims. I dont know what Id have to do to come close to that mark. One day, with concentrated use, I burned through two-thirds of the battery in less than four hours. Thats pretty common for basically all Chromebooks Ive tested in recent years, and my guess is that with Intel silicon were not going to see things improve in any meaningful way.
Wrap-up
Despite some misgivings, I actually enjoyed my time with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus. I probably wouldnt pick it as my own personal computer, because the number pad I wont use simply makes things too awkward. But theres also a lot to like here its so much lighter and thinner than other Chromebooks I usually use that it is a delight to travel with, despite the fact that its width is a bit cumbersome. And while I wish there was more vertical screen resolution, I did enjoy having such a large display combined in a very portable device.
For the right kind of buyer, the Galaxy Chromebook Plus might be just what youre looking for (especially if the idea of a number pad on the keyboard excites you). For me, though, the slightly more boring but reliable Acer Chromebook Spin 714 Plus remains my favorite premium Chromebook. But Samsung has put forward a solid effort here, and I hope they continue on this path with future Chromebooks Acer and Lenovo could use the competition.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/samsung-galaxy-chromebook-plus-review-quirky-in-ways-both-good-and-bad-140036965.html?src=rss
One of the highlights from The Game Awards last night was the moment Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul and voice actor Laura Bailey took the stage to reveal Dispatch. Set to arrive in 2025, the narrative game is from AdHoc Studio, founded by former Telltale Games developers, and features a stacked cast including Paul, Bailey, Jeffrey Wright, Erin Yvette, Jacksepticeye and others a mix of A-list Hollywood talent and top-tier game voice actors.
The toon-style Dispatch offers narrative, dialogue-driven gameplay in the same vein as Telltale. According to the Steam page, you play as "Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, whose mech-suit is destroyed in a battle against his nemesis, forcing him to take a job at a superhero dispatch center: not as a hero, but a dispatcher."
There's more in the official synopsis, which explains that Dispatch is "a superhero workplace comedy where choices matter. Manage a dysfunctional team of misfit heroes and strategize who to send to emergencies around the city, all while balancing office politics, personal relationships, and your own quest to become a hero."
AdHoc sprung up in 2019, when former Telltale devs joined forces to continue Telltale's adventure game legacy, after the Walking Dead studio laid off most of its staff in 2018. A rebooted Telltale worked with AdHoc on The Wolf Among Us 2, but last year, the developer announced that it had laid off most of its team. However, it recently said that The Wolf Among Us 2 has not been cancelled. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/dispatch-is-a-new-narrative-game-from-ex-telltale-developers-133031972.html?src=rss
With over 60 million PS5s sold, Sony is so far dominating this generation of game consoles. Four years since the PlayStation 5 debuted, the company has rounded out its gaming lineup with the refined PS5 Slim (both with and without a disc drive) and the more powerful (and expensive) PS5 Pro.
At possibly the consoles midlife, up against the Xbox Series S and X, ever-increasingly powerful gaming PCs, and Nintendos Switch, its a good time to reassess what the PS5, in pole position, is doing to hold gamers attention spans and why the PS5 Slim is probably the right way to dive into Sonys rich gaming selection.
Hardware
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget
The PS5 Slim looks very similar to the original design but its noticeably (thankfully!) smaller. In fact, its 30 percent smaller by volume. Lets be honest, its still big, but the PS5 Slim fits into the shelf in my home entertainment sideboard the original PS5 did not.
Sony has kept the weird finned design of the original here, so theres a shared aesthetic across all the PS5 consoles. In the box, there are also two transparent feet to mount the console horizontally. Its a simpler, more subtle way to lift the console than the originals awkward plinth with plastic hooks. The PS5 Slim can stand vertically on its own, but it might be worth getting a vertical stand for peace of mind, which unfortunately means laying down an extra $30.
Inside, its largely the same technical specs of the launch console: an AMD Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, and both Wi-Fi 6 and gigabit ethernet. (Technically, the Xbox Series X packs more power and if you want more power, please see the PS5 Pro). The PS5 Slim, however, comes with a 1TB SSD, offering 25 percent more usable storage than the 825GB SSD inside the original PS5.
Having said that, at a time when a AAA game install can circle 150GB, wed advise preparing yourself to add further storage, especially if you get the majority of your games through the online store. Fortunately, its easy to install an extra SSD (most of the best options have a preinstalled heatsink) and the prices for bigger storage have tumbled since 2020.
If youre a disc-based gamer, the PS5 Slim has both a digital-only ($450) and disc model ($500), but you can upgrade to a disc drive for an $80 premium. (Its the same drive that PS5 Pro users will have to pick up, if youre wondering why its been recently sold out everywhere.)
Even if you decide to add the disc drive, its been designed to keep within the smooth lines of the console, if leaving it a little lop-sided. Curiously, Sony demands you connect the console to activate the drive, something to be aware of if youre planning to gift the console and want less stress.
Sony also swapped around the port options, shifting to a USB-C duo, instead of a single USB-C port and a USB-A port. Given that the latter maxed out at 480Mbps speeds, its another upgrade. (There are still two USB-A ports available on the back for older accessories.)
Beyond any physical changes, since its launch, Sony has fed through some notable technical upgrades to PS5 through software updates. For one, catching up to the Xbox with support for TVs with variable refresh rates, dynamically syncing the (HDMI 2.1) displays refresh rate to the PS5 console's graphical output. This means games should output more smoothly and reduce the chances of screen tearing when your TV and PS5 arent entirely in sync. The PS5 Slim also supports 1440p resolution screens, a middle option between 1080p and 4K.
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget
Sony added more features like personalized 3D audio profiles for gamers using headphones and Party Share, where you can transmit gameplay in real time. Theres also Remote Play, available on iOS and Android, as well as the companys standalone streaming device, the PlayStation Portal. When it comes to Remote Play, there havent been any major changes since the PS4 iteration, but it does seem like the service is more stable in recent years.
There have been changes to how PlayStations separated out its subscription service. Starting with PlayStation Plus Essentials, $10 a month, this opens up access to online multiplayer, at least two free games each month, discounts, cloud storage and Share Play.
PlayStation Plus Extra ($15 per month), adds a bigger library of PS5 and PS4 games for free, while PlayStation Plus Premium ($18 per month) adds cloud streaming functionality, so you can play PS5 games without having to use your PS5. You can also play a collection of PS4 games (and even older games from the OG PlayStation onwards) without having to download the game.
Having said that, Xboxs Game Pass offers a bigger selection of games, and often includes first-party Microsoft games available to play on release day. PlayStation, unfortunately, doesnt do the same, and its biggest exclusive releases often only arrive free on PS Plus years later. Which tier is right for you will depend on how much you play, and whether youre regularly trying to game away from wherever your PS5 is. Its worth getting into PS Plus Essentials just for the dripfeed of free games.
Since launch, the PS5 has picked up plenty of other small improvements too, like dimmable power indicators for the PS5s glow, and adaptive controller charging which should extend the battery life of your DualSense by optimizing charge time. A quick note to say that the DualSense remains the most comfortable, innovative controller that Sony has ever made but the battery life is pretty appalling. Expect to plug it in pretty regularly.
Software
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget
The PS5s interface has also evolved since launch, with increased priority given to the customizable Welcome Hub, where you can choose the background, widgets and prioritze the games and features youre using most. Its also worth noting that the UI itself is far snappier and more responsive than it was at launch.
While you wont get the back catalogue sharpening of the Pro console, the PS5 Slim will happily play most PS4 games, too. Its a double-edgd sword, however, with both PS4 and PS5 versions of games clogging up PlayStations online store.
And the games! It indicates a great problem to have: so many strong titles, both internally and from third-party publishers. God of War Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2, and Astro Bot have all been platform exclusives, while long-running series like Final Fantasy have landed on PS5 first, with other platforms getting the game much later. Then, theres the likes of Elden Ring, Baldurs Gate 3 and anything on PSVR2 not that theres all that much for the headset.
Sony is now drip-feeding its games to PC, but it detracted from the consoles exclusive grasp on its flagship games. So far, there have been lengthy multi-year gaps between a game launching on PlayStation consoles and its arrival on PCs. God of War took four years to move from PS4 to PC, while Horizon: Zero Dawn took three years. That could change in the next few years, however. Earlier this year, Sony launched Helldivers 2 on PS5 and Windows at the same time, and Lego Horizon Adventures was released on PS5, Windows and Switch simultaneously last month.
Wrap-up
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget
The PS5 Slim is the new normal for PlayStation gamers. Its smaller without being small and packs in many small improvements in specs and software-based features. Anyone craving more power (or bragging rights over their Xbox Series X-owning friends) can go for the PS5 Pro, but that demands a $200 premium. For most of us, this is the PlayStation well be playing for however many years it takes for the PlayStation 6 to appear.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation-5-slim-review-131542271.html?src=rss
As has been rumored for a while (and in line with Sony's promise to share exclusive titles in a timely fashion) PlayStation's The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is coming to PC on April 3, 2025, developer Naughty Dog announced. "We're all thrilled to bring The Last of Us Part 2 to the PC audience, including all the great new features we added in the Remastered version for PS5," said game Director Matthew Gallant.
The PC version was made with Naughty Dog's development partners Nixxes Software and Iron Galaxy Studios. It will contain the same Remastered features added for PS5, like the No Return roguelike mode, the Lost Levels featuring developer commentary, a Guitar free Play mode and more. At the same time, it'll be "newly optimized and enhanced for PC," with PC-specific features to be revealed closer to launch.
The PC release will come less than a year after the Remastered version came to PlayStation 5, following the launch of the original on PS4 in 2020. The release has reportedly been finished for awhile, but may have been delayed to coincide with The Last of Us Part 2 on HBO, which is also scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2025.
In reviewing the Remastered version for PS5, Engadget's Nathan Ingraham highlighted the No Return mode and said "there's a lot of bang for your buck here." As before, it offers a thrilling but brutal adventure, with a bond between its broken survivors, Joel and Ellie, at the core. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-last-of-us-part-ii-remastered-comes-to-pc-on-april-3-2025-130036421.html?src=rss
