Techtober will have come to an finish, however our evaluations crew remains to be onerous at paintings with this autumn’s haul of recent units. During the last two weeks, we’ve examined two new Apple merchandise, an impressive gaming hand-held, some severely spectacular headphones and Meta’s sporty good glasses — and that’s only the start. Learn directly to atone for all chances are you’ll’ve ignored, together with our selections for the absolute best of 2025.
Apple MacBook Professional M5 (14-inch)
Apple
The M5 14-inch MacBook Professional keeps the whole lot we like about Apple’s pro-grade laptops, whilst additionally including in a a lot more robust GPU.
- Sooner GPU than M4
- Very good design
- Glorious keyboard and trackpad
- Helpful port variety
- Lengthy battery lifestyles
- No OLED display screen choice
- Upgrades can get pricy
Relating to the brand new M5-powered MacBook Professional, the query isn’t whether or not it’s a succesful gadget or no longer. The actual quandary is whether or not to shop for now or stay up for much more muscle from the impending M5 Professional and M5 Max chips. “For those who completely want a workhorse MacBook Professional these days, you will have to accept the M4 Professional and M4 Max (that are nonetheless a ways quicker than the bottom M5 chip),” senior evaluations reporter Devindra Hardawar defined. “However for many creatives, the M5 MacBook Professional gives an excellent steadiness of energy and portability.”
Sennheiser HDB 630
Sennheiser/Engadget
Sennheiser strikes nearer to open-back efficiency in a collection of closed wi-fi headphones with the HDB 630, however they give the impression of being extra midrange than high-end.
- Remarkable sound high quality
- Top-res streaming dongle integrated
- Lossless audio over USB-C
- Extraordinarily lengthy battery lifestyles
- Dear
- Fundamental design with loads of plastic
- Easiest audio efficiency calls for further steps
Sennheiser makes use of a USB-C dongle to bridge the distance between wi-fi comfort and audiophile-grade sound high quality with the HDB 630. The issue is that they don’t in point of fact seem like a collection of top-end headphones and the $500 asking value is steep. “As excellent because the HDB 630 is sound-wise, I will be able to additionally admire that those aren’t the most productive headphones for everybody,” I wrote. “For those who crave the most productive sound high quality that also gives the ease of wi-fi headphones — and also you’re ok with a couple of further steps — the HDB 630 is a worthy funding. Simply don’t go away house with out that dongle.”
Lenovo Legion Pass 2
Lenovo / Engadget
Whilst it is not tremendous inexpensive beginning at $1,100, the Lenovo Legion Pass 2 is just like the SUV of gaming handhelds because of its aggregate of robust efficiency and unrivaled adaptability.
- Just right efficiency
- large 8.8-inch OLED show
- Removable controllers and integrated touchpad
- Comes with a case
- Dear, particularly the Z2 Excessive style
- Large and ponderous
- Finicky fingerprint sensor
From time to time it’s higher to have a software participant as a substitute of a expert. Consistent with senior evaluations reporter Sam Rutherford, that’s precisely what you get with Lenovo’s Legion Pass 2. You come across nice efficiency from a tool with an enormous 8.8-inch OLED show, however the hand-held is pricey and ponderous. “Identical to an SUV that may move off-road a few times a 12 months, chances are you’ll no longer use the Legion Pass 2’s complete functions at all times, however while you do and the whole lot comes in combination, all that software is not only for display,” he mentioned. “Whilst the ROG Xbox Best friend X is the easier price, I admire how Lenovo’s hand-held was once made to take care of a number of combat stipulations.”
Apple iPad Professional M5 (13-inch)
Apple / Engadget
The iPad Professional stays in all probability essentially the most spectacular piece of {hardware} Apple sells, and it’s extra robust and succesful than ever. Too unhealthy it’s so extremely dear.
- M5 chip is a vital replace for some GPU-powered duties
- Perhaps the most productive display screen I’ve ever noticed
- Extraordinarily skinny and lightweight
- First iPad with speedy charging
- iPadOS 26 is a significant development
- Prohibitively dear
- Equipment just like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Professional make it value much more
The M5 iPad Professional is spectacular, but it surely’s additionally totally too dear. Whilst the brand new chip gives a large improve, the display screen is very good and speedy charging has in any case hit the iPad, this style additionally calls for you to spend extra on equipment. “Except you’re going to use it as your major pc — all day, each day — and know precisely what advantages you’ll get from the iPad over a extra conventional computer, you’re most probably purchasing an iPad Air and saving your self some huge cash,” deputy information editor Nathan Ingraham wrote.
Oakley Meta Leading edge
Engadget
Wraparound frames are not for everybody, however the brand new glance allows some distinctive functions that may enchantment to even informal athletes.
- Higher battery lifestyles, audio system and sturdiness than Meta’s different glasses
- Redesigned digital camera makes footage and movies extra usable
- Motion button manner you’ll be able to do extra with out pronouncing “Whats up Meta”
- Hyperlapse clips are roughly jittery
- Extra third-party app integrations, please
Meta’s sportier collab with Oakley has arrived, with a slew of options that may persuade you to interchange your motion cam with a collection of good glasses. “If you are a devoted bicycle owner, runner, hiker or [insert outdoor activity of your choice], there is a lot to love,” senior reporter Karissa Bell mentioned. “The digital camera makes much more sense for motion cam-like POV photos, and higher video stabilization manner you might be much more likely to get pictures you in reality wish to proportion.”
Different fresh evaluations
In different evaluations, deputy purchasing recommendation editor Valentina Palladino put the relatively up to date Powerbeats Have compatibility 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 check drove Amazon’s utterly rebuilt Echo Studio. Senior author Sam Chapman compiled an inventory of the absolute best loose VPNs and revealed an in-depth overview of Personal Web Get entry to VPN.
Engadget’s absolute best of 2025
When you ignored it, we introduced our absolute best of 2025 previous this week. We made our selections primarily based only at the easiest overview rankings in a number of classes, so there’s a variety of units that made the reduce. Our editors additionally defined why each and every one was once the most productive in its class, so this can be a excellent alternative to get reacquainted with this 12 months’s crop of units and products and services.
