Engadget review recap: Lots of Apple devices, Galaxy S26, Dell XPS 16 and more

Apple already announced a lot of new devices in 2026 and we’ve been busy reviewing them all. In this installment of our bi-weekly roundup, we revisit the MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and more, in addition to the “regular” Galaxy S26 and Dell XPS 16. There’s even more than those gadget to catch up on, so sit back, relax and cozy up to some fresh reviews.

Apple MacBook Neo

The main attraction for Apple’s early device deluge was the $599 MacBook Neo. The company is finally giving us something we’ve been begging for: a low-cost Mac laptop that’s good enough for most people. “It's a $599 computer that can handle basic workloads just fine, all the while looking like one of the company's more expensive notebooks,” senior reporter Devindra Hardawar said. “Most importantly, it delivers more speed, a brighter screen and an overall better user experience than any competing $600 Windows PC.”

Apple iPhone 17e

The MacBook Neo wasn’t the only affordable device Apple announced recently. The company also debuted the iPhone 17e, which is also $599 and offers an economical choice for iOS devotees. “The name “iPhone” carries its own premium, and the iPhone 17e is a solid entry-level handset for those who need a basic, no-frills path into the Apple ecosystem,” managing editor Cherlynn Low said.

The rest of the new Apple gear

The remainder of the new Apple devices were primarily chip upgrades. The company added the M4 to the iPad Air, which deputy editor Nathan Ingraham still argues is the best Apple tablet overall. Apple also put the M5 chip inside the MacBook Air and the M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon in the MacBook Pro,. Our staff maintains that those two laptops are among the best choices in their respective categories.

We also tested Apple’s claims on the Studio Display XDR, where we discovered the high price could be worth it for pros who need supreme color accuracy and high brightness.

Samsung Galaxy S26

The Galaxy S26 Ultra may get the bulk of the attention in Samsung’s 2026 lineup thus far, but the “regular” S26 is capable in its own right. However, it’s time for bigger updates on this model. “There's nothing wrong with this safe, solid Android phone, but you could pick up last year's S25 and get an experience that's 99 percent the same for $99 less,” UK bureau chief Mat Smith said.

Dell XPS 16 (2026)

Dell pulled a 180 after nixing its XPS brand last year. Enter the XPS 16. Thankfully, the first devices after the fiasco show an expected return to form, albeit with one issue. “My one complaint is that I wish Dell would bring back the chiclet-style keyboards we got on models from the early 2020s,” senior reporter Sam Rutherford said. “Though as long as the company can release updated software to fix the ghosting issues I've encountered, what's on there now is more than good enough.”

But wait, there’s more

If portable projectors are more your speed, contributing reporter Steve Dent put the Soundcore Nebula P1i through its paces. Mat also spent some time with the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, which is undoubtedly the most uniquely designed handset we’ve tested this year. Lastly, Sam used an upgraded version of Belkin’s Switch 2 charging case to keep his gaming handheld safe and topped up in transit.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-lots-of-apple-devices-galaxy-s26-dell-xps-16-and-more-120000820.html?src=rss