Engadget review recap: The Pixel 9a, smart glasses and AMD's latest CPU

This installment of our reviews roundup goes in several different directions. We've got an excellent Android phone, some smart glasses and a powerful CPU. Plus, we revisited our old pal the iPhone 16 Pro and offer up a spoiler-free review of The Last of Us season two. There's plenty to catch up on, so keep scrolling to see what our reviews team has been up to over the last few weeks. 

There's a lot to like about the Pixel 9a. In fact, senior reviews writer Sam Rutherford argues it's the best Android phone you can buy right now in terms of pure value. "I would love to see Google add a true telephoto lens and its charging speeds (both wired and wireless) could be better," he writes. "But for $500, Google's most budget-friendly phone covers all the bases and then some."

If you're looking for a pair of smart glasses that are more practical instead of being a content capture device, Even Realities' G1 might be for you. The device impressed senior editor Daniel Cooper, but the caveats will be dealbreakers for some people. "I really like Even Realities’ G1 for what they can do right now, but I’m also hopeful that it’ll get far more useful in the future," he explains. "It seems to me there are so many things that could be tweaked, primped and plumped to make these far more appealing."

The latest AMD Ryzen CPU is a powerhouse, but it comes with a steep price tag. "After releasing a pair of excellent midrange GPUs, which showed that the company can genuinely go toe-to-toe with NVIDIA, this CPU and its accompanying 3D V-Cache technology is a reminder of how AMD is far ahead of Intel in many ways," senior editor Devindra Hardawar says. "While it’s certainly not the best deal around, if you can afford it, the 9950X3D is the best desktop CPU you can buy today."

We're revisiting big devices about six months after their initial release to see how things are progressing. UK bureau chief Mat Smith recently put the iPhone 16 Pro through its paces again, noting that Apple Intelligence remains a disappointment. Deputy news editor Nathan Ingraham got early access to The Last of Us ahead of the season two premiere this weekend. He explains that the show navigates a rough patch in the source material with relative ease, and his review won't spoil the new episodes. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-the-pixel-9a-smart-glasses-and-amds-latest-cpu-141825552.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-the-pixel-9a-smart-glasses-and-amds-latest-cpu-141825552.html?src=rss
Creato 3d | 12 apr 2025, 15:11:04


Accedi per aggiungere un commento

Altri post in questo gruppo

OpenAI is apparently making a social network

It looks like OpenAI is building its own X-like social media network, according to

15 apr 2025, 19:30:21 | Engadget
Anthropic's Claude can now read your emails

Anthropic announced that its Claude AI can integrate wi

15 apr 2025, 19:30:19 | Engadget
Comcast rolls out a five-year price guarantee for new internet customers

With America's long-term (and even short-term) economic prospects shifting on

15 apr 2025, 19:30:18 | Engadget
Someone hacked Silicon Valley crosswalks to spoof Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Whether in Ancient Greek parodies, Shakespeare's subtle jabs at the haughty upper class or Jon Stewart's takedowns of the latest Washington absurdities, humor can be a razor-edged weapon that shape

15 apr 2025, 19:30:17 | Engadget
Notion Mail is a powerful but lightweight email client for busy people

A few years ago, I gave up on my Gmail inbox. I used to be meticulous. I would assign labels to every new email that came in, starring those that I wanted to find later easily. But between a job in

15 apr 2025, 17:10:55 | Engadget
League of Legends Season 2: Hello Brawls, bye-bye Voracious Atakhan

Riot Games has unveiled details about the next season for League of Legends. This chapter of the MOBA is themed Spirit Blossom Beyond, and it will bring a temporary new look to Summoner's

15 apr 2025, 17:10:54 | Engadget
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake is real, according to developer screenshots

It looks like that long-rumored remake of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is actually real,

15 apr 2025, 17:10:53 | Engadget