Engadget review recap: An Apple duo, Sennheiser HDB 630, Lenovo Legion Go 2 and more
Techtober may have come to an end, but our reviews team is still hard at work with this fall’s haul of new devices. Over the last two weeks, we’ve tested two new Apple products, a powerful gaming handheld, some seriously impressive headphones and Meta’s sporty smart glasses — and that’s just the start. Read on to catch up on all you might’ve missed, including our picks for the best of 2025.
Apple MacBook Pro M5 (14-inch)
The M5 14-inch MacBook Pro retains everything we love about Apple’s pro-grade laptops, while also adding in a much more powerful GPU.
Pros
- Faster GPU than M4
- Excellent design
- Wonderful keyboard and trackpad
- Useful port selection
- Long battery life
Cons
- No OLED screen option
- Upgrades can get pricy
When it comes to the new M5-powered MacBook Pro, the question isn’t whether it’s a capable machine or not. The real dilemma is whether to buy now or wait for even more muscle from the upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. “If you absolutely need a workhorse MacBook Pro today, you’ll have to settle for the M4 Pro and M4 Max (which are still far faster than the base M5 chip),” senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar explained. “But for most creatives, the M5 MacBook Pro offers an impressive balance of power and portability.”
Sennheiser HDB 630
Sennheiser moves closer to open-back performance in a set of closed wireless headphones with the HDB 630, but they look more midrange than high-end.
Pros
- Outstanding sound quality
- High-res streaming dongle included
- Lossless audio over USB-C
- Extremely long battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- Basic design with lots of plastic
- Best audio performance requires extra steps
Sennheiser uses a USB-C dongle to bridge the gap between wireless convenience and audiophile-grade sound quality with the HDB 630. The problem is they don’t really look like a set of high-end headphones and the $500 asking price is steep. “As good as the HDB 630 is sound-wise, I can also appreciate that these aren’t the best headphones for everyone,” I wrote. “If you crave the best sound quality that still offers the convenience of wireless headphones — and you’re okay with a few extra steps — the HDB 630 is a worthy investment. Just don’t leave home without that dongle.”
Lenovo Legion Go 2
While it isn’t super affordable starting at $1,100, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is like the SUV of gaming handhelds thanks to its combination of strong performance and unmatched adaptability.
Pros
- Good performance
- massive 8.8-inch OLED display
- Detachable controllers and built-in touchpad
- Comes with a case
Cons
- Expensive, especially the Z2 Extreme model
- Big and bulky
- Finicky fingerprint sensor
Sometimes it’s better to have a utility player instead of a specialist. According to senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford, that’s exactly what you get with Lenovo’s Legion Go 2. You encounter great performance from a device with a huge 8.8-inch OLED display, but the handheld is expensive and bulky. “Just like an SUV that might go off-road once or twice a year, you might not use the Legion Go 2’s full capabilities all the time, but when you do and everything comes together, you realize all that utility isn’t just for show,” he said. “While the ROG Xbox Ally X is the better value, I appreciate how Lenovo’s handheld was made to handle a variety of battle conditions.”
Apple iPad Pro M5 (13-inch)
The iPad Pro remains perhaps the most impressive piece of hardware Apple sells, and it’s more powerful and capable than ever. Too bad it’s so incredibly expensive.
Pros
- M5 chip is a significant update for some GPU-powered tasks
- Possibly the best screen I’ve ever seen
- Extremely thin and light
- First iPad with fast charging
- iPadOS 26 is a major improvement
Cons
- Prohibitively expensive
- Accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro make it cost even more
The M5 iPad Pro is impressive, but it’s also entirely too expensive. While the new chip offers a sizable upgrade, the screen is excellent and fast charging has finally hit the iPad, this model also requires you to spend more on accessories. “Unless you are going to use it as your main computer — all day, every day — and know exactly what benefits you’ll get from the iPad over a more traditional laptop, you’re probably better off buying an iPad Air and saving yourself a lot of money,” deputy news editor Nathan Ingraham wrote.
Oakley Meta Vanguard
Wraparound frames aren’t for everyone, but the new look enables some unique capabilities that will appeal to even casual athletes.
Pros
- Better battery life, speakers and durability than Meta’s other glasses
- Redesigned camera makes photos and videos more usable
- Action button means you can do more without saying “Hey Meta”
Cons
- Hyperlapse clips are kind of jittery
- More third-party app integrations, please
Meta’s sportier collab with Oakley has arrived, with a slew of features that might convince you to replace your action cam with a set of smart glasses. “If you’re a dedicated cyclist, runner, hiker or [insert outdoor activity of your choice], there’s a lot to like,” senior reporter Karissa Bell said. “The camera makes a lot more sense for action cam-like POV footage, and better video stabilization means you’re more likely to get shots you actually want to share.”
Other recent reviews
In other reviews, deputy buying advice editor Valentina Palladino put the slightly updated Powerbeats Fit through their paces and senior reporter Igor Bonifacic went on a gaming spree with the Fractal Design Scape. Igor also spent some time with the Galaxy S25 FE and I test drove Amazon’s completely rebuilt Echo Studio. Senior writer Sam Chapman compiled a list of the best free VPNs and published an in-depth review of Private Internet Access VPN.
Engadget’s best of 2025
In case you missed it, we announced our best of 2025 earlier this week. We made our picks based solely on the highest review scores in a variety of categories, so there’s a range of devices that made the cut. Our editors also explained why each one was the best in its category, so this is a good opportunity to get reacquainted with this year’s crop of gadgets and services.
