Engadget Review Recap: Dell 14 Premium, Framework Desktop, Sony Theater Bar 6 And More

With a barrage of caller Apple and Google devices astir nan corner, our reviews squad is clearing their desks of caller products earlier nan pre-fall deluge begins. There's a well-rounded operation of in-depth testing this clip around, including a elaborate preview of watchOS 26 and much VPN trials. Kick disconnected nan play by catching up connected each of nan reviews you might've missed complete nan past fewer weeks from Engadget.

Dell 14 Premium

While we're still trying to wrap our heads astir Dell's naming strategy decision, nan institution continues to churn retired caller devices. The latest to transverse elder reviews writer Sam Rutherford's table was nan Dell 14 Premium. You mightiness retrieve this exemplary arsenic nan XPS 14, and according to Sam, Dell retained "the DNA" that made erstwhile versions immoderate of nan champion notebook PCs you could buy. "Even pinch a caller and alternatively uninspired name, it astir apt shouldn't travel arsenic a astonishment that nan Dell 14 Premium remains 1 of nan champion Windows laptops connected nan market," he said. "It has nan aforesaid sleek creation from backmost erstwhile it was still called nan XPS 14 but pinch immoderate refreshed specs and components for 2025."

Framework Desktop (2025)

Framework is known for its modular, repairable laptops, but nan institution has now tried its manus astatine bringing nan aforesaid look to a desktop. Unfortunately, nan first effort isn't astir arsenic modular aliases repairable arsenic a regular PC, according to elder editor Daniel Cooper. "Framework was unfastened astir nan truth this was thing akin to a broadside project, extracurricular its regular remit to build modular laptops, based connected a peculiarly breathtaking chip," he explained. "So while I deliberation nan all-in-one attack is simply a backward measurement compared to regular PCs, I get nan rationale for doing truthful here."

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6

This year's harvest of soundbars yet arrived complete nan summer, truthful I've been spending tons of clip pinch location theatre speakers recently. The latest was nan Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6, a soundbar/subwoofer combo that sits successful nan mediate of nan company's existent lineup. Despite awesome sound and speech performance, nan caveats present are existent dealbreakers. "The deficiency of Wi-Fi connected a $650 soundbar is absurd, mostly because it strips users of nan convenience of AirPlay, Chromecast and different wireless relationship options," I wrote. "I besides can’t get complete nan request to usage a thumb thrust for updates erstwhile OTA downloads for caller firmware person been nan norm connected soundbars for years."

Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition

Lenovo's ThinkPads are celebrated agency laptops, and nan X9-14 is nan latest successful a agelong statement of business machines. Contributing writer Rami Tabari explains that this exemplary offers a batch of nan qualities that make ThinkPads great, but nan price, low-power CPU and subpar keyboard time off thing to beryllium desired. "I can’t warrant nan mean user paying $1,283 for nan ThinkPad X9-14 pinch specs you’d find successful laptops that costs hundreds of dollars little (minus nan RAM, of course)," he noted. "For mini business owners, I urge waiting for a waste aliases see a business laptop marketed much toward you (again, nan ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405) is simply a awesome choice)."

watchOS 26 preview and Norton VPN review

We're quickly approaching nan presence of a caller group of Apple Watches, truthful elder buying proposal newsman Amy Skorheim spent 2 weeks pinch nan upcoming type of watchOS. Her favourite caller features are nan AI workout partner and added gesture, but she explained that it's nan small things that make this yearly overhaul worthwhile.

Meanwhile, elder writer Sam Chapman returned to nan onshore of VPNs to trial Norton's type arsenic a standalone app. While this work isn't needfully bad, it besides doesn't connection capable to emergence supra nan heap that includes ExpressVPN, Surfshark and others. "After a week of moving pinch Norton VPN, I person to reason that nan only measurement it distinguishes itself is nan Norton name," he said. "For everything other it does, a competitor does it better."