The last couple of weeks have been absolutely frantic at Engadget. There have been so many gadgets landing on the desks that one waves. From a dive into fine looking cameras, earbuds that serenade, loud GPUs, to a pop-and-go portable display. But that’s not all-we’re also rereviewing two big-screen titans from the spring and booting up some gaming joy. If you missed it-all caught in two weeks, here is your cheat sheet.
Quick Overview
Panasonic Lumix S1R II
$3,298 at B&H Photo Video
NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
$429 at PNY
One of the best premium portable monitors
Espresso 15 Pro
$699 (with an included Stand+) at Espresso Displays
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2
$149 at Audio-Technica
Panasonic S1R II
Panasonic/Engadget
Panasonic Lumix S1R II
Panasonic S1R II is half cinema and half still photography: visual wonders meeting cinema-quality visuals. Be ready to accept nothing less than spectacular imagery and videos. On the downside, rolling shutter could just be a bit of an annoyance for some video-makers.
Pros
- Fast shooting speeds
- Excellent photo and video quality
- Innovative cropless stabilization
- Lower price than rivals
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Rolling shutter
$3,298 at B&H Photo Video
Rumors of breaking the bank for a top-tier photo and video were quickly dispelled when Steve Dent caught the sweet spot with the S1R II from Panasonic, a hybrid mirrorless wonder that does so much more than it really should. Dent praises it: “Panasonic’s S1R II isn’t just good, it’s theirbesthybrid yet, nailing that perfect balance.” The best part? It is an absolute steal. You get flagship features at a fraction of a price compared to Canon’s R5 II or Nikon’s Z8.
NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
PNY
NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
Break into 1080p and conquer 1440p gaming without asking for much from the wallet. The RTX 5060 Ti lets you push those impressive framerates for less than $500. With NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 technology, performance is just turbo-charged, and the sights will blow your mind. This will be gaming like you have never experienced before.
Pros
- Excellent 1080p performance and solid 1440p frame rates
- DLSS 4 frame gen significantly boosts fps
- 16GB of VRAM
Cons
- Pricing could go up quickly
- Slow Blender performance
$429 at PNY
Devindra goes into the depths of NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 Ti, a graphics card with 16GB of memory but undergoing price movement to the upwards, even before taking into account any possible tariff grips. Is it a champion, or just a contender?
According to Devindra, it would appear that NVIDIA remained true to its claims when marketing the RTX 5060 Ti as a much sought-after force for demanding 1080p and 1440p gaming with ray tracing capabilities. Its dependence on DLSS 4 upscaling speaks against its raw power and longevity. Is this semi-budgeting GPU worth the $429 asking price in this volatile market?
Espresso 15 Pro
Engadget is one with this: when it comes to portable monitors, a cheap price and a premium price have been at opposite ends of a vast spectrum. Enter the Espresso 15 Pro: Pricey, but think.. a greatest hits album of portable monitor features. Engadget’s Sam Rutherford describes it as a “really nice” albeit expensive display, praising its brightness and sturdy build, and setup so effortless. But it to goes beyond, with unique features such as Glide and improved Mac touch support-squeezing more juice from your existing tech. It also comes with a toolbox full of accessories, allowing it to morph into whatever fits your workflow.
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2
Audio-Technica/Engadget
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2
With knockout sound and marathon battery life, Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds will weigh on your wallet way much heavier than you ever thought. Forget flagship prices-these buds do way bigger fighting than the price tag suggests.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Neat magnetic on/off switch
- Warm, pleasing sound
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Bulky, unbalanced design
- No wear detection
- Cumbersome controls
$149 at Audio-Technica
Forget battery anxiety. The earbuds ATH-CKS50TW2 by Audio-Technica are really making a joke out of time constraints, with an incredible 25 hours of player time-lasting twice as long as all the others, with noise cancellation included. But these things are not just endurance king; they also bring to the table that Audio-Technica warmth and charm. Think bass that gets happy, waves working, and sometimes just chills out-Waves are just ear candy.
The Last of Us, Andor and Clair Obscur Expedition 33
From post-apocalyptic fungus monsters to rebellions in a galaxy far, far away–Engadget’s latest entertainment splashing deep. Together, Nathan is forging through the infected with weekly recaps fromThe Last of UsSeason Two, while Devindra maps out a gritty rebellion in hisAndorSeason Two review. Meanwhile, Mat Smith is overseas looking atClair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game he recommends because of its fantastic world-building that absorbs players instantly.
Thanks for reading Engadget review recap: Panasonic S1R II NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti and more
