Gadgets A significant number of smartwatches are reaching the end of their software support lifecycles in 2025, meaning owners will stop receiving feature updates and security patches. If you own one of these devices, now may be the time to start planning an upgrade before your wearable becomes vulnerable or obsolete.
Source: Engadget 8/23/2026
Gadgets Dedicated digital cameras remain a worthwhile investment heading into 2026, but they demand both financial commitment and a willingness to learn. Smartphone cameras have narrowed the gap significantly, yet standalone cameras still deliver superior image quality, creative control, and versatility for photographers ready to put in the effort.
Source: Engadget 8/22/2026
Gadgets HP's budget OmniBook 3 stands out in a crowded low-cost laptop market by offering 16GB of RAM at around $520 — a meaningful advantage at a time when even premium machines like the $950 Surface Laptop ship with a stingy 8GB as standard.
Source: The Verge 8/22/2026
Gadgets The revived Pebble smartwatch returns with a $225 model called the Time 2, bringing back its signature e-ink screen, physical navigation buttons, and multi-week battery life — positioning itself as a charming, developer-friendly alternative to mainstream smartwatches dominated by Apple and Google.
Source: TechCrunch 8/21/2026
Gadgets Apple has eliminated more than 200 positions across its Siri and Vision Pro divisions, including nearly dismantling a team focused on Vision Pro gaming and shrinking the group responsible for immersive spatial content. The restructuring signals growing uncertainty about Apple's spatial computing ambitions and its AI assistant strategy.
Source: The Verge 8/21/2026
Gadgets A tech writer tested multiple automatic pet feeders after a new baby made it impossible to maintain four daily feeding sessions for two cats that can't stand each other. After trying four different machines and spending several hundred dollars, the results were largely positive, though not without caveats.
Source: The Verge 8/21/2026
Gadgets AR glasses maker RayNeo is simultaneously targeting two very different consumer segments with its newest product lineup — fashion-forward users who want subtle, everyday wearables and tech enthusiasts hungry for feature-packed augmented reality hardware. The dual-track strategy signals growing maturity in the AR wearables market.
Source: Engadget 8/21/2026
Gadgets Best Buy is offering LG's 65-inch B6 OLED TV for $1,399.99 — a record-low price that undercuts Amazon by $300 and shaves $600 off the original retail tag. The deal is valid for one day only and delivers solid 4K OLED performance at an entry-level price point.
Source: The Verge 8/20/2026
Gadgets LG Display has introduced a next-generation OLED manufacturing technique called FLiPP that does away with the fine metal mask traditionally used in panel production. The result is displays that are brighter, more power-efficient, longer-lasting, and potentially manufacturable at virtually any size.
Source: The Verge 8/20/2026
Gadgets Polaroid and Pokémon have teamed up to release three co-branded instant cameras, offering fan-friendly redesigns of the existing Polaroid Now and Polaroid Go models. The collaboration blends nostalgic instant photography with one of the world's most beloved gaming and media franchises, targeting collectors and casual photographers alike.
Source: Engadget 8/19/2026
Gadgets Framework is addressing reports that a BIOS update rendered some Ryzen 7040-powered laptops non-functional, with the company offering mainboard replacements for certain affected customers even outside the standard warranty window. The incident raises questions about firmware safety testing for the modular laptop maker.
Source: Ars Technica 8/19/2026
Gadgets Google's Pixel Watch 5 arrives with minimal hardware changes — slightly improved chips and battery, plus a new finish — while its most compelling health features, including blood pressure monitoring and insulin resistance tracking, remain unavailable at launch, making it a difficult device to fully evaluate right now.
Source: The Verge 8/19/2026
Gadgets Framework has upgraded its most affordable laptop, the Framework Laptop 12, equipping it with Intel's latest Core Series 3 processors alongside other internal hardware improvements. The update makes the budget-friendly, repairable machine more competitive while keeping the company's modular, user-serviceable philosophy intact.
Source: Engadget 8/18/2026
Gadgets Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have dropped to $139.99 at Best Buy — nearly half their original $249.99 price tag. Praised for rich audio, hands-free voice commands, strong call quality, and IP57 water resistance, these are among the better premium earbuds now available at a mid-range price.
Source: The Verge 8/18/2026
Gadgets Apple's rumored camera-integrated AirPods may sidestep the creepshot concerns plaguing rival AI wearables by deliberately omitting photo and video capture capabilities, suggesting the company is prioritizing privacy in its approach to ambient computing hardware.
Source: TechCrunch 8/18/2026
Gadgets Camera manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing mirrorless systems over traditional DSLRs, raising the question of whether photographers should make the switch. While mirrorless tech offers compelling advantages, DSLRs still hold their own in several key areas, making the decision far from straightforward for most shooters.
Source: Engadget 8/18/2026
Gadgets A pre-release version of Apple's upcoming macOS Tahoe appears to contain a hidden video clip hinting at AirPods equipped with a built-in camera, showing a user glancing at a book while interacting with Siri — suggesting Apple may be developing augmented or contextual audio hardware.
Source: TechCrunch 8/18/2026
Gadgets Apple may have accidentally revealed upcoming AirPods featuring built-in cameras through video assets hidden within macOS Tahoe 26.7. The discovery suggests the company is actively developing camera-integrated earbuds, a significant hardware leap that could bring new sensing and augmented reality capabilities to its wireless audio lineup.
Source: Engadget 8/18/2026
Gadgets Flash drive storage capacities have ballooned over the years, and lower-capacity models have all but vanished from store shelves. The economics of NAND flash memory production make manufacturing smaller drives increasingly impractical, pushing retailers and manufacturers alike toward higher-capacity options as the default.
Source: Engadget 8/17/2026
Gadgets Glorious's GMMK 3, a compact 65-percent mechanical keyboard normally priced at $140, is currently available at Woot for just $35 using the coupon code WOOTGAMING. It ships with hot-swap switch support, double-shot PBT keycaps, and a customizable control knob — making it an accessible entry point into the mechanical keyboard hobby.
Source: The Verge 8/17/2026
Gadgets Sonos has updated its iOS app to bring playback controls back to the iPhone lock screen, leveraging Apple's Live Activities feature. This lets users adjust volume, skip tracks, and manage playback without unlocking their phone — a convenience feature that had previously been absent from the Sonos experience.
Source: Engadget 8/17/2026
Gadgets Bluetooth technology actually comes in two distinct flavors, each designed for different purposes. Classic Bluetooth handles continuous data streaming for audio devices, while Bluetooth Low Energy excels at periodic, small data transfers for wearables and sensors. Understanding the difference helps consumers choose compatible accessories and explains why some gadgets drain batteries faster than ot
Source: Engadget 8/17/2026
Gadgets Most Android users don't require dedicated antivirus applications, as Google's built-in security features handle the majority of threats. However, certain user groups — such as those who frequently sideload apps or use older devices — may benefit from additional protection layers.
Source: Engadget 8/16/2026