Engadget review recap: DJI Mavic 4 Pro, Sony WH-1000XM6, ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and more
DJI's Mavic 4 Pro is the most technologically advanced consumer drone I've seen, with improvements in video quality, obstacle detection, tracking, battery life and range. However, it's not yet on sale in the US. $2,360 at DJI
Reporter Steve Dent reviews a lot of drones at Engadget. So when he uses descriptors like "a new standard," "the most technologically advanced drone I've seen" and "the best video quality," everyone needs to take note. After his tests, Steve argued that the Mavic 4 Pro is further proof of how DJI continues to outpace its rivals. "It's an improvement over the Mavic 3 Pro in nearly every area, and as mentioned, it doesn't really have any competition in the consumer space," he said. "The closest alternative in price and capability is Autel's Evo II Pro 6K, but that drone has a single-camera system with a smaller sensor, less endurance and shorter range."
The crown is safe once again. Sony has managed to overhaul its flagship headphones in all the right ways that keep the 1000X line atop our best headphones list. $448 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $450 at Best Buy$450 at Sony Electronics
Sony's latest flagship headphones were hardly a secret by the time they officially arrived last week, but thankfully, the three-year wait for the upgrade was well worth it. The company managed to improve its already great over-ear headphones yet again, with updates to sound quality, noise cancellation and overall comfort. "The only real downside is the price continues to go up: the M6 is $50 more than the M5 was at launch," I wrote. "When you combine their performance with Sony's ever-growing list of features, the 1000XM6 are the best headphones you can buy right now."
The ROG Flow Z13 fills the gap between traditional gaming laptops and portable workstations, but its keyboard and price are hard to love. $2,300 at Best Buy
If you're looking for a gaming tablet to replace your laptop, there are some perks to the ROG Flow Z13. However, there are also some drawbacks, mainly the flimsy keyboard that makes typing on anything other than a table or desk quite cumbersome. "It's got a funky build and unapologetically aggressive styling," senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford explained. "But unless you have a very particular set of requirements, it doesn't fit neatly into most people's lives as an equivalent laptop."
The 27 UltraGear is a phenomenal OLED gaming monitor, and it proves that 480Hz screens aren't all just hype. $800 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $870 at Macy's$800 at Best Buy
It may have taken writing a review to get senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardwar to understand the hype around 480Hz gaming displays, but I'd argue the sacrifice was well worth it. The LG 27 UltraGear is a powerhouse, right down to the future-proof DisplayPort 2.1 connection. It's expensive though, and besides the OLED panel, it's not much of a looker. But that performance, it'll make you forget where you are. "The real world melted away — I was fully inside Rocket League's absurd soccer arena," he described. "When the match ended, it took me a few minutes to reacclimatize to reality."
Contributor Tim Stevens spent some time behind the wheel of Hyundai's three-row Ioniq 9 EV SUV. Pricing for the more premium trims ventures into Rivian territory, but Tim argues the Ioniq 9 is the more practical choice for the rigors of daily life over the R1S. "The Ioniq 9 has a stance more like a Volvo station wagon than a gigantic family hauler, but make no mistake, it's the latter," he said. "That's immediately evident as soon as you climb into the third row."
Senior gaming editor Jessica Conditt took Remedy's co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak for a spin. While the game enticed her to keep playing after almost three hours with two strangers, it could still use some polish before next month's launch. "All of the issues I have with Firebreak can be fine-tuned before the game launches this summer, and I have faith in Remedy to do so," she observed. " Firebreak is poised to be a thoughtful and focused entry in the co-op shooter genre, and it's already an inviting extension of Remedy's darkest and silliest sensibilities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
Early July 4th TV Deals: Get Up to $1,200 Off on Models From LG, Samsung and More
The Fourth of July is just days away, and a few days later, Amazon will be kicking off its annual Prime Day sale. So, there will be plenty of chances to take advantage of some serious savings on everything from home goods to top tech -- like TVs. Luckily, many retailers like Best Buy have already kicked off their July 4th sales. The deals are starting to really heat up, which includes some great bargains on a variety of top-rated TVs. To help you make the most of these initial offers, we've rounded up the best TV deals for all budgets you can shop right now below. We'll continue to update this page as deals come and go in the next few weeks, so be sure to check back often for all the best prices. Best early July 4th TV deals More July 4th TV deals: Should you shop July 4th TV deals or wait until Prime Day? With two major shopping events just around the corner, many potential buyers are wondering whether it's better to take advantage of the initial Fourth of July deals, or wait until Prime Day a few days later. Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing which sale will offer the absolute best prices, but it's likely that both will blur into a single massive shopping event that spans multiple days and retailers. With that in mind, we'd lean toward getting your order in sooner rather than later. While there's a slight chance we'll see prices dip a little lower later in the sale, there's a much greater chance that the best bargains will sell out fast. If you see a TV that fits your needs and budget at a good price, we'd recommend grabbing it before it goes out of stock. Which retailers offer the best July 4th TV deals? As you might expect, major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon will be offering some excellent deals for the Fourth of July and Prime Day. You'll also want to check out smaller online-only retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama, as they may be offering some under-the-radar bargains that aren't being matched elsewhere. What else will be on sale for July 4th? There will be a huge variety of deals that you can shop across retailers for the Fourth of July. These include tons of top tech like TVs and laptops, as well as home goods and big-ticket items like mattresses and major appliances. There will also be plenty of seasonal deals on grills, outdoor gear and other summer essentials. To give you a good idea of what's out there, you can check out our full roundup of all the best early Fourth of July deals already available. How we choose the best July 4th TV deals At CNET, we've covered shopping events for over five years, including Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We've become good at weeding out scams and superficial deals, so you only get the best offers. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing television deals. We have a team of devoted experts who have tested hundreds of TVs to make sure we're bringing you the best of the best. Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to make sure no brands are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is. Quality reviews and testing are important for any product, but especially for TVs. If you're unhappy the first time you turn it on, the discount wasn't worthwhile. Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we'll let you know upfront, so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
CNET
4 hours ago
- CNET
Early July 4th Deals: Red, White and Bargain-Friendly Deals Under $25 in Tech, Home, Outdoors and More
The Fourth of July is only a few days away and retailers have been dropping some of their sales. Retailers like Best Buy have officially kicked off their Fourth of July sales. For the true bargain hunters, there are some amazing finds for under $25. With the cost of living going up and tariffs on the rise, it's great to find something that's not only useful and essential but affordable as well. Plenty of sales from top retailers and brands like Amazon, Apple and Walmart are going on, making now the perfect time to score items you need while keeping your cash in your pocket. There are huge savings on tons of things from small kitchen appliances to tech gadgets and more without breaking the bank. We're continually updating this page to add deals as they appear leading up to and throughout the Fourth of July weekend. Early July 4th tech deals Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: $25 Take half off the newest Amazon Fire Stick right now at Amazon. It gives you a crystal clear 4K picture, plus it's AI powered and uses Wi-Fi 6 so it's pretty quick, too. Details Save $25 $25 at Amazon Close INIU 10,000-mAh power bank: $18 This slim portable charger is easy to take anywhere. It has a 10,000-mAh capacity, which is enough power to charge your AirPods Pro more than 13 times. Plus, it uses a USB-C port. Details Save $15 $18 at Walmart Close SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro SD card: $22 If you're constantly running out of storage like I do, this 128GB SD card can be a huge help. It even has fast data transfer and up to 130MB/s read speed for quick access to what you need. Details Save $4 $22 at Amazon Close More early July 4th tech deals: Early July 4th home and kitchen discounts Dash Deluxe rapid egg cooker: $25 Eggs are expensive, but cooking them doesn't have to be. This deluxe egg cooker can make hard boiled, poached and scrambled eggs, as well as omelets and even steamed veggies. Perfect for making breakfast on busy mornings. Details Save $5 $25 at Amazon Close Roku Smart Home smart light strip SE: $15 This light strip from Roku is over 16 feet long and can add some ambiance to any room in your home. Plus, they're smart lights so you can use your phone to change colors, turn them on or off and more. Details Save $8 $15 at Walmart Close Chefman electric kettle, 1.8L: $22 This BPA-free water boiler is great for making tea, pasta, rice and more. It can boil almost two liters of water at once. Plus, it has an auto-shut off for added safety. This deal is for Prime members only. Details Save $6 $22 at Amazon Close More early July 4th home and kitchen deals: Early July 4th outdoor deals Thermacell rechargeable mosquito repellent: $25 With summer and outdoor activities, comes mosquitos. This rechargeable repellent doesn't have a scent or a spray and can repel mosquitos up to 20 feet away. Plus, it comes with a 12-hour refill. Details Save $5 $25 at Best Buy Close Soft-Sided 6-quart portable barrel bag cooler: $15 Perfect for beach days or camp nights. This cooler can hold up to 10 cans. It has an adjustable strap and a zipper closure for easy transport. Details Save $10 $15 at Target Close Cuisinart 13-piece wooden handle tool set: $24 This set comes with four stainless steel skewers, one grill cleaning brush, spatula, a fork, tongs and four corn on the cob holders. It has just about anything you'd need for all your barbecues. Details Save $16 $24 at Best Buy Close More early July 4th outdoor deals: Early July 4th health and wellness offers Cyrico resistance bands, three-pack: $13 These resistance bands come in a pack of three, all different resistance levels. These bands work for tons of different exercises. Details Save $8 $13 at Walmart Close Amazon Basics extra thick exercise yoga mat: $17 This yoga mat is half an inch thick, offering lots of support. It also offers shock absorption, in case of a yoga pose gone wrong. It's made of NBR foam and wipes clean easily. Details Save $5 $17 at Amazon Close More early July 4th health and wellness deals: When do July 4th sales start this year? While Independence Day falls on July 4 every year, holiday sales often tend to hang around for a few days before and after. Amazon also announced that its next Prime Day will take place from July 8 to 11, so the two sales may blend into one massive shopping event. Where are the best pre-July 4th sales? Fourth of July sales offer some of the best prices on tech, appliances, mattresses and fashion, making it a great time to snag stellar prices on must-have items, and there are a ton of retailers participating in the holiday savings. Unsurprisingly, Amazon is usually one of the best places to buy because it sells products from almost all major brands across these popular categories, making it a tremendous one-stop shop for all of your Fourth of July buys. Outside of Amazon, we recommend checking out appliance and tech sales at Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowe's, as well as holiday sales on a large variety of categories at Target, Nordstrom and Walmart, among others. Should I shop July 4th sales or wait for Prime Day deals? There's no definitive way to say whether Fourth of July sales or Prime Day deals are best. Both sales offer plenty of deals, including some of the best prices we'll see all year. Plus, it's likely the two sales will blur into one big discount extravaganza, given their proximity. Fourth of July sales offer more variety in retailers, although much of your shopping may take place on Amazon anyway. There are also plenty of non-Amazon retailers that will keep their sales rolling through mid-July, often directly competing with Amazon Prime prices. Because you'll be able to shop so many Fourth of July sales, grab what you need and then keep tabs on Prime Day deals later for anything you miss out on. It's worth noting that outdoor or home improvement deals may be more readily available for Fourth of July, while electronics savings, especially on Amazon's own devices, will see lots of discounts during the Prime Day event. How to keep up with the best July 4th sales There are a lot of ways to ensure you're getting the latest scoop on Fourth of July offers. The CNET Deals team covers all the best price drops, discounts and deals every day from across the web, highlighting the best offers. We'll be tracking all the major retailer sales following the Fourth of July holiday and sharing the promotions you need to hear about, and there are plenty of ways to hear from us. One option is to bookmark to check out our latest coverage. You can also follow @CNETDeals on X to see everything we publish or sign up for our CNET Deals newsletter for a daily digest of deals delivered to your inbox. Another great option is to sign up for CNET Deals text alerts for curated deals during major shopping events. Remember to install our CNET Shopping browser extension to help ensure that purchases you make all year round will be at the lowest price available.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Best Buy taps Walgreens CIO to lead its tech organization
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. Best Buy recruited Walgreens EVP and CIO Neal Sample to serve as its chief digital, analytics and technology officer, the company confirmed in a Monday email to CIO Dive. Sample joined Walgreens as a technology consultant in October 2023 and was appointed as CIO the following month. Prior to his stint with the retail pharmacy chain, Sample served as Northwestern Mutual's CIO for nearly three years, guiding the insurer's IT team through the hybrid workforce challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Departing tech chief Brian Tilzer led Best Buy's technology organization for seven years, preceded by a five-year run as chief digital officer at CVS Health. He laid the groundwork for AI adoption at Best Buy, the executive said in a Saturday LinkedIn post. 'We now incorporate data, AI, and other technology into the business at levels of scale, sophistication, and impact that was unimaginable back when I joined the company in 2018,' he said. The C-suite change comes as retailers lean on technology to overcome mounting economic challenges stemming from a global tariff regime floated by President Donald Trump in April. To cushion the blow of supply chain disruptions, flagging consumer spending and rising import costs, the industry is betting on generative AI productivity tools and chatbots to boost operational efficiency and spruce up customer-facing apps. 'It is imperative that we continue to focus on executing well what is within our control, which includes identifying cost reductions and driving efficiencies to help offset pressures in our business and fund investment capacity for new and existing initiatives,' Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said during the company's Q1 2026 earnings call in May. 'International trade is critically important for our business and industry,' Barry said. Best Buy's domestic segment saw revenue decline nearly 1% year over year for the three months ending May 3. The company lowered fiscal year 2026 comparable sales range guidance to at most 1% due to the impact of tariffs. IT leaders are refining budgets to trim discretionary spend while protecting AI investments, according to a Boston Consulting Group survey published in May. Retailers Ralph Lauren Corporation, Revolve Group and Williams-Sonoma each signaled their intentions to move ahead with AI adoption plans during recent earnings calls. Under Tilzer's stewardship, Best Buy partnered with Google Cloud and Accenture to develop generative AI customer and employee assistant capabilities last year. Barry credited conversational AI technologies with customer experience improvements, operational efficiency gains and cost savings, pointing to 'record low levels of cost-per-customer contact and customer call transfer rates as well as record high levels of customer satisfaction.' Recommended Reading Wendy's promotes CTO to CIO role Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
