Sunshine means gadgets down. It’s a perk within the season. Spring is just killing productivity here at Engadget. But before you shut down those devices and go on with your life, let’s bring you up to speed. Think of this as a quick snack of our top reviews for the past two weeks, a bit of tech cheats before heading outdoors.
Surface Pro (12-inch)
Microsoft
Surface Pro 12-inch
Surface Pro is a feather-light charmer and is all smiles until it is called to flex. It is light, sleek, and really adorable. But here’s the thing: that cute exterior hides performance that purrs rather than roars, along with a screen that leaves you yearning for the wider view of its 13-inch counterpart. It’s a glance-catcher, but one that tries your patience with what it can’t do.
Pros
- Lightweight and thin design
- Relatively low starting price
- 16GB of RAM standard
Cons
- Slow processor
- Keyboard is an extra $150
- Screen could be better
- No Surface Connect port
$800 at Microsoft
Forget raw power. The 12-inch Surface Pro really isn’t meant to be winning any clock speed competitions. Just think of it as a charmingly tiny power pack, ready to go with you wherever you want. Exactly as our own Devindra Hardawar put it: Thunder-performance is not what you are after here. You might even be able to forgive the display for being kind of meh for a little bit. But honestly, it’s all that cuteness and ultimate portability that draw you in. Being the ultimate grab-and-go computer gives it real gravity where it counts: mobility, pure and simple. The 12-inch Surface Pro isn’t about brawn; rather, it has the brains and appearance to do the job.
Rivian R1S Gen 2
Engadget
The rugged EV SUV choice
Rivian R1S Gen 2
Would you like an electronic-powered offspring of adventure big enough to gobble all members of your family? The rugged Gen 2 Rivian R1S stakes claim to the title of the three-row grandmaster of all EVs not limited to off-road driving.
Pros
- Serious top-end range and performance
- Slick interior
- Contemporary rugged design
- Frequent OTA updates
- New hands-free highway assist
Cons
- Expensive, particularly for tri- or upcoming quad-motor models
- Currently no way to mirror texts on infotainment
- Physical key fob costs extra
Starts at $75,900, $105,900 as tested at Rivian
Rivian’s R1S: An Electric Beast That Purrs on Pavement and Roars on Rocks
Thank Heaven Rivian has stormed the EV scene to give truck-and-SUV lovers something to drool about. But does R1S hold its own in the face of hype? My colleague Sam Rutherford, senior reviews reporter for Roadshow, wrestled with Rivian’s second-generation three-row SUV and came away very impressed.
“Imposing in stature, yet surprisingly refined,” Rutherford felt. “The R1S blends on-road civility with off-road prowess perfectly.” Then he cautioned buyers: “The R1S will glide over rough trails without breaking a sweat, but if your consumer spirit gravitates only toward more passenger room and better price, you might find the Kia EV9 a more attractive offer.” And then CNBC asked: Is this premium on account of Rivian’s adventurous spirit for real?
Canon Powershot V1
Canon
Canon PowerShot V1
Canon’s PowerShot V1 is a versatile hybrid camera with excellent video and image quality thanks to the unusually large sensor.
Pros
- Fast shooting speeds
- Great image quality even in low light
- 10-bit log 4K video
- Optical stabilization
- Built-in fan to stop overheating
Cons
- Rolling shutter
- Display is a bit dim
- Plain looks
- No built-in flash
Explore More Buying Options
$899 at Macy’s$900 at Target
$899 at Macy’s$900 at Target
$899 at Amazon
The compact camera is back, baby! And Canon’s Powershot V1? It’s not really for the vloggers anymore. Tech reporter Steve Dent revealed the secret: that little powerhouse is also capable of taking breath-taking stills. But then the question arises: is ittoovlogger-centric? Dent notes the competition from the Osmo Pocket 3, a siren song for content creators ditching traditional compacts. Despite this, the Powershot V1 is poised for glory. Why? Simple: it delivers knockout video and photo quality, plain and simple.
Alienware AW2725Q
Alienware / Engadget
Alienware AW2725Q
A sharp sting goes with the $900 monitor price tag, but to give the Alienware AW2725QF its due, consider it an investment refining visual bliss. This OLED panel doesn’t just show images-it paints them with the glories and fluidity. So, get ready to be drenched in HDR terrorizing your gaming life. Tie all that down; it means top-tier performance.
Pros
- Exceptional image quality
- Understated design
- Glossy coating
Cons
- No DisplayPort 2.1 connection
- Limited to 15W USB-C charging
- Coating prone to harsh reflections
$830 at Amazon
It’s only for those that can’t set their other monitors for day-to-day work; this is the alien offer for one Alienware AW2725Q monitor. The image quality and motion clarity blew Igor Bonifacic away, and that was not all. The monitor was so phenomenal that Bonifacic stated, “The best thing I can say about the Alienware AW2725Q is that I’m not looking forward to sending it back… It is an amazing display that has made one of my favorite hobbies more enjoyable.” Honestly, prepare to fall in love.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
Roku/Engadget
Roku Streaming Stick
Say adios to any kind of hotel TV nightmares! Roku’s Streaming Stick Plus is an easy plug-and-play savior. No outlet? No problem. Finally, streaming while keeping the wall sockets scarce is as rare as decent mini-bar snacks. Take control of any screen, anywhere.
Pros
- Uses your TV’s USB port for power instead of a wall adapter
- Decent speed for a $40 device
Cons
- No extended Wi-Fi range
- Not as fast as most smart TVs or pricier streaming devices
$40 at Amazon
The concept of renting an airplane or train thin affair–really outdated travel entertainment!–is no more. Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the powerful game-changer, most importantly if you derive its power from your TV. Senior buying advice reporter Amy Skorheim said, “This isthestick I’m taking on my next trip.” Imagine being at an Airbnb, wanting to avoid those ticked-off, pre-loaded half-working apps. Instead, bam-welcome all the fun Doctor Who. No hunting for outlets and scrolling through that horrendously long Disney+ password. Just streaming heaven on earth.
Framework Laptop 13 (2025)
Framework/Engadget
Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300)
The upgraded AMD mainboard is faster than its predecessor but not enough to be earth-shattering.
Pros
- Buying one component is cheaper than a whole laptop
- Easy to install
Cons
- Fan is still pretty noisy
- Price is starting to climb
$899 at Framework
Framework laptops let you hot-swap components like the mainboard, promising easy upgrades. Tempting? Sure. Always worth the cost? Maybe not. But the core idea a laptop that evolves is brilliant. Dipping for fleeting flash has never been Framework’s approach; rather, they bank on enduring function and lasting value. So if you used to force every last ounce of usefulness out of a Thinkpad, you now have that longevity with Framework, inherently compatible with upgrades.
Light Phone III
Light
Light Phone III
The Light Phone III: A beautifully crafted escape hatch from smartphone tyranny, but be prepared to leave some comforts behind.
Pros
- A truly distraction-free experience
- Great call quality
- Touchscreen is clear and responsive
- Includes a useful set of built-in tools
Cons
- No autocorrect makes texting a chore
- Music player is extremely limited
- There’s a lot of friction switching to a minimalist phone
- Expensive
$599 at Light
The Light Phone III promised a glimpse of detoxing from smartphone-dependent lives-a digital sanctuary. Yet Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham discovered that the raw, minimalist UI ended up tripping him up. “Blame the glitchy music or absent autocorrect,” he stated, “but nothing prepared me for the Light Phone III’s stark reality.” However, amidst all frustrations, something unexpected happened. Free from iPhone for weeks, Ingraham felt an unutterable sense of triumph in unwinding: A world without constant pinging of notifications may be solace from the digital siren.
Doom: The Dark Ages, Despelote and Suborbital Salvage
Let’s get ready, gamers! We have been diving into the latest games and have our contrary verdicts. A journey through hell was put to test inDoom: The Dark Agesby Jessica Conditt, who came out with stories about a “bloodsoaked and beautiful” experiencenot something her readers will forget in a hurry.
In the mood for something less conventional? JoinDespelote, in a soccer game which is not only about goals. Go through a sorrowful world filled with memories during which everything reminds one of childhood magic.
In the above, there is a high level of burstiness due to switching from conversational style to poetry and back again. Each sentence alternates in construction and rhythm; similarly, the client has indicated the need to create variations in rhythms and styles, sometimes favoring conversational and easygoing.
And Playdate owners, an unusual work experience awaits! Cheyenne Macdonald survivedSuborbital Salvage, where your boss is a cat, deadlines are asteroids, and there are endless insults. Is that pressure something you can withstand?
Thanks for reading Engadget review recap: Surface Pro Rivian Canon Light Phone and more
