Dell 16 Premium, Nikon ZR, Ooni Volt 2 and extra

We’ve slept off our collective turkey coma and returned to the evaluate lab right here at Engadget. Our group might also be in full CES prep mode, however we’ve bought just a few extra units to get off or our desks earlier than 2025 is over. Make amends for all the reviews you might need missed over the previous few weeks — an ideal exercise for a lazy December weekend.

Dell 16 Premium

There’s no denying the design of the Dell 16 Premium makes the laptop computer reside as much as its title. Sadly, all of that polish results in some points: a excessive worth and hampered usability. “The extra I regarded on the Dell 16 Premium’s lovely facade, the extra I wished one thing… extra,” senior reporter Devindra Hardawar wrote. “It wants extra usable ports, like HDMI and a full-sized SD card reader. It wants extra helpful operate keys which might be seen in brilliant mild — and likewise keep in a single place — so I can contact sort extra simply. And for the love of god, simply surrender on the invisible trackpad.”

DJI Osmo Motion 6

DJI

DJI’s Osmo Motion 6 has the first-ever variable aperture and a much bigger sq. sensor. These options make it outperform rivals in low mild and for social media, however the decrease video decision is an obstacle.

Professionals

• Clear video in low mild
• Wonderful battery life
• Constructed-in storage
• Versatile codecs

Cons

• Decrease video decision than rivals
• Handbook aperture management restricted
• Not sufficient movie tone settings

$369 at Amazon

DJI’s drone enterprise within the US faces an unsure future, and the corporate’s motion cams could possibly be swept up within the ordeal as nicely. Fortunately, our contributing reporter Steve Dent resides within the EU the place he noticed first hand the Osmo Motion 6’s superior low mild efficiency and battery life. “With a much bigger sensor and bigger aperture than the competitors, DJI’s Motion 6 is now the perfect motion cam in the marketplace for night time capturing, delivering clear, sharp video with higher stabilization than rivals,” he said. “It’s additionally perfect for customers who output to each YouTube and TikTok.”

Nikon ZR

Nikon

Nikon’s ZR provides the perfect RAW video high quality in any shopper digicam, together with fashions costing rather more. On the similar time, it’s extra sensible than cinema cameras because of the superb autofocus and in-body stabilization. It does lack an EVF, although, and battery life isn’t nice.

Professionals

• RED RAW provides wonderful video high quality
• Quick and dependable autofocus
• Professional video monitoring instruments
• Big and brilliant display screen

Cons

• Mediocre battery life
• No digital viewfinder
• Stabilization much less efficient than rivals

$2,197 at Amazon

In step with the video theme, Steve additionally hung out testing the Nikon ZR. Whereas that is primarily a mannequin for capturing video, it advantages from the addition of RED RAW, wonderful autofocus and extra. “With the ZR, Nikon has proven that it’s lastly catching as much as and even surpassing its rivals for content material creation,” he explained. “Whether or not you’re doing social media, YouTube, documentaries and even movie manufacturing, this digicam is flexible and highly effective with few compromises.”

Ooni Volt 2

Ooni/Engadget

Ooni utterly revamped its idea of an electrical pizza oven for the Volt 2. The result’s a extra refined small equipment with loads of helpful instruments for aspiring pizzaiolos of all talent ranges.

Professionals

• Smaller than the unique
• Good mixture of presets and customization
• Giant viewing window
• Extra reasonably priced than the first-gen Volt

Cons

• Nonetheless heavy
• Solely cooks 12-inch pizzas
• For indoor use solely
• Exterior will get fairly scorching

$699 at Amazon

The Ooni Volt introduced the corporate’s fashionable model of pizza making indoors for the primary time, however that mannequin wasn’t with out it faults. Now Ooni is again with the Volt 2, and the utterly overhauled design is an enormous improve over the unique. “It’s simpler to make use of for all talent ranges because of its clearer controls and enormous show,” I explained. “Presets work nicely, however they’ll additionally function a place to begin for additional recipe refinement for knowledgeable customers. And the pizza — my goodness, the pizza is persistently restaurant high quality (or higher) throughout a variety of types.”

Antigravity A1

Antigravity/Engadget

Antigravity’s debut FPV drone is enjoyable, distinctive and filled with options. There’s no drone prefer it.

Professionals

• Enjoyable to fly
• Intuitive controls
• Distinctive options
• Crisp clear video (in good circumstances)
• Nice enhancing instruments on each cell and PC

Cons

• Setup could be finicky
• Decrease video high quality than conventional video drones
• Value

$1,599 at Antigravity

Insta360’s spin-off Antigravity is now transport its first drone and our UK bureau chief Mat Smith has already flown it. The A1 comes with a controller and FPV headset to help with the piloting, however the mixture of distinctive options and crisp video (in good circumstances) can also be laudable. “The intuitive controls and talent to look throughout you make it not like the rest presently out there,” he said. “It’s a pleasant introduction to drones, FPV or in any other case, however a disgrace that software program points marred my exams.”

Different latest opinions

On the gaming entrance, Mat spent a while with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles whereas deputy editor Nathan Ingraham put Metroid Prime 4 by its paces. Contributor Tim Stevens stepped again in time with the Analogue 3D to revisit some Nintendo 64 classics after getting behind the wheel of the 2025 Porsche Macan Electric.