An Apple duo, Sennheiser HDB 630, Lenovo Legion Go 2 and extra

Techtober could have come to an finish, however our reviews group continues to be laborious at work with this fall’s haul of latest units. Over the past two weeks, we’ve examined two new Apple merchandise, a robust gaming handheld, some critically spectacular headphones and Meta’s sporty sensible glasses — and that’s simply the beginning. Learn on to make amends for all you may’ve missed, together with our picks for the best of 2025.

Apple MacBook Professional M5 (14-inch)

In the case of the brand new M5-powered MacBook Professional, the query isn’t whether or not it’s a succesful machine or not. The true dilemma is whether or not to purchase now or watch for much more muscle from the upcoming M5 Professional and M5 Max chips. “For those who completely want a workhorse MacBook Professional right this moment, you may should accept the M4 Professional and M4 Max (that are nonetheless far quicker than the bottom M5 chip),” senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar explained. “However for many creatives, the M5 MacBook Professional affords a formidable stability of energy and portability.”

Sennheiser HDB 630

Sennheiser/Engadget

Sennheiser strikes nearer to open-back efficiency in a set of closed wi-fi headphones with the HDB 630, however they give the impression of being extra midrange than high-end.

Professionals

• Excellent sound high quality
• Excessive-res streaming dongle included
• Lossless audio over USB-C
• Extraordinarily lengthy battery life

Cons

• Costly
• Primary design with numerous plastic
• Greatest audio efficiency requires further steps

$500 at Sennheiser

Sennheiser makes use of a USB-C dongle to bridge the hole between wi-fi comfort and audiophile-grade sound high quality with the HDB 630. The issue is that they don’t actually appear to be a set of high-end headphones and the $500 asking worth is steep. “Nearly as good because the HDB 630 is sound-wise, I may also respect that these aren’t the very best headphones for everybody,” I wrote. “For those who crave the very best sound high quality that also affords the comfort of wi-fi headphones — and also you’re okay with just a few further steps — the HDB 630 is a worthy funding. Simply don’t go away house with out that dongle.”

Lenovo Legion Go 2

Lenovo / Engadget

Whereas it is not tremendous inexpensive beginning at $1,100, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is just like the SUV of gaming handhelds due to its mixture of robust efficiency and unmatched adaptability.

Professionals

• Good efficiency
• large 8.8-inch OLED show
• Removable controllers and built-in touchpad
• Comes with a case

Cons

• Costly, particularly the Z2 Excessive mannequin
• Massive and ponderous
• Finicky fingerprint sensor

$1,100 at Best Buy

Typically it’s higher to have a utility participant as a substitute of a specialist. In response to senior opinions reporter Sam Rutherford, that’s precisely what you get with Lenovo’s Legion Go 2. You encounter nice efficiency from a tool with an enormous 8.8-inch OLED show, however the handheld is pricey and ponderous. “Similar to an SUV that may go off-road a couple of times a 12 months, you may not use the Legion Go 2’s full capabilities on a regular basis, however whenever you do and all the things comes collectively, you understand all that utility is not only for present,” he said. “Whereas the ROG Xbox Ally X is the higher worth, I respect how Lenovo’s handheld was made to deal with a wide range of battle circumstances.”

Apple iPad Professional M5 (13-inch)

Apple / Engadget

The iPad Professional stays maybe essentially the most spectacular piece of {hardware} Apple sells, and it’s extra highly effective and succesful than ever. Too dangerous it’s so extremely costly.

Professionals

• M5 chip is a major replace for some GPU-powered duties
• Presumably the very best display screen I’ve ever seen
• Extraordinarily skinny and lightweight
• First iPad with quick charging
• iPadOS 26 is a significant enchancment

Cons

• Prohibitively costly
• Equipment just like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Professional make it value much more

$1,248 at Amazon

The M5 iPad Professional is spectacular, nevertheless it’s additionally completely too costly. Whereas the brand new chip affords a large improve, the display screen is superb and quick charging has lastly hit the iPad, this mannequin additionally requires you to spend extra on equipment. “Until you will use it as your principal pc — all day, day-after-day — and know precisely what advantages you’ll get from the iPad over a extra conventional laptop computer, you’re most likely higher off shopping for an iPad Air and saving your self some huge cash,” deputy news editor Nathan Ingraham wrote.

Oakley Meta Vanguard

Engadget

Wraparound frames aren’t for everybody, however the brand new look allows some distinctive capabilities that can enchantment to even informal athletes.

Professionals

• Higher battery life, audio system and sturdiness than Meta’s different glasses
• Redesigned digicam makes pictures and movies extra usable
• Motion button means you are able to do extra with out saying “Hey Meta”

Cons

• Hyperlapse clips are type of jittery
• Extra third-party app integrations, please

$499 at Meta

Meta’s sportier collab with Oakley has arrived, with a slew of options that may persuade you to interchange your motion cam with a set of sensible glasses. “For those who’re a devoted bicycle owner, runner, hiker or [insert outdoor activity of your choice], there’s quite a bit to love,” senior reporter Karissa Bell said. “The digicam makes much more sense for motion cam-like POV footage, and higher video stabilization means you are extra prone to get photographs you really need to share.”

Different current opinions

In different opinions, deputy shopping for recommendation editor Valentina Palladino put the marginally up to date Powerbeats Fit via their paces and senior reporter Igor Bonifacic went on a gaming spree with the Fractal Design Scape. Igor additionally spent a while with the Galaxy S25 FE and I take a look at drove Amazon’s utterly rebuilt Echo Studio. Senior author Sam Chapman compiled an inventory of the best free VPNs and printed an in-depth evaluation of Private Internet Access VPN.

Engadget’s better of 2025

In case you missed it, we introduced our best of 2025 earlier this week. We made our picks based mostly solely on the very best evaluation scores in a wide range of classes, so there’s a variety of units that made the lower. Our editors additionally defined why every one was the very best in its class, so it is a good alternative to get reacquainted with this 12 months’s crop of devices and providers.