Engadget Review Recap: Pricey Apple Gear, Rough Googlebook OS

Engadget published 13 reviews in two weeks, covering new Macs, iPads, Googlebooks, Kindles and wearables. For social teams and creators, the updates are mostly incremental and often pricier.

What happened

Engadget published 13 new reviews in a two-week span, with six more already on the docket for next week. The latest batch covers Apple's late 2026 hardware, the first Googlebook laptops, new Kindle Signature Editions and recent wearables.

Apple's refresh included a trio of new Macs and an overhauled iPad mini. The standout is the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, described as the first touchscreen Apple laptop, but senior reporter Devindra Hardawar argued the marquee feature doesn't add enough to the overall experience. The MacBook Pro M6 was the highest-scoring device of the bunch, with only upgraded Apple silicon and a higher price. The new iMac drew criticism for lacking a larger refresh, and associate editor Steve Dent noted the price increase makes the enhanced performance a tough sell. Deputy news editor Nathan Ingraham tested the iPad mini with an A20 Pro chip, but it is more expensive, still has a 60Hz display and lacks Face ID.

Googlebooks, Google-powered laptops, also arrived. The team reviewed the Lenovo Googlebook 15 and the Dell XPS Googlebook, both priced around $1,000. Amazon's new Kindle Colorsoft and Paperwhite Signature Edition models were also reviewed; the Paperwhite remains a favorite, but the pricier Signature option may not justify the extra cost. On wearables, the Fitbit Edge was praised for elegant design and balance of looks and features, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 impressed with its bright display, excellent battery life and health tracking tools.

Key facts

• Engadget published 13 new reviews in two weeks and has six more already planned for next week.
• Apple's new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is the first touchscreen Apple laptop, but its marquee feature was called insufficient for the overall experience.
• The MacBook Pro M6 scored highest among the new Apple devices; the updated iMac and iPad mini with A20 Pro chip were criticized for price increases and limited changes, including a 60Hz display on the iPad mini.
• Lenovo Googlebook 15 and Dell XPS Googlebook both cost around $1,000, but Googlebook OS was described as not fully baked.
• New Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, a Fitbit Edge and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 were also reviewed.

Our analysis

The review pattern points to a hardware generation where price increases are not matched by equally compelling upgrades. Apple's new Macs and iPad mini all carry higher prices, but the main additions are an awkward touchscreen Pro display, a chip upgrade, and an A20 Pro chip on a tablet that still refreshes at 60Hz. For social media managers and creators who rely on video editing or rapid scrubbing, a 60Hz panel on a tablet likely feels dated, even if the chip is new.

"The consensus amongst our team seems to be that despite the presence of great hardware, Googlebook OS isn't fully baked just yet."

Googlebooks enter the market at around $1,000, but the operating system is not fully baked. That suggests operators should avoid equipping teams with these laptops until the software matures, because hardware quality alone won't fix workflow friction. The Kindle Signature Edition reviews also reinforce a familiar decision: the standard Paperwhite remains the practical buy, while the more expensive Signature version does not add enough to warrant the extra cost.

The wearable notes are more positive. The Fitbit Edge may signal that Google has found a better balance between design and utility, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2's bright display, battery life and health tracking tools make it a more useful daily companion for creators who need to monitor energy and recovery.

What it means for operators

• Don't rush to upgrade Apple hardware this cycle unless a specific workflow requires the MacBook Pro M6's performance; the touchscreen MacBook Pro is expensive and its marquee feature may not change day-to-day content output.
• If your team needs a tablet for mobile content capture or client demos, note the iPad mini still uses a 60Hz display and has no Face ID; factor that into approval workflows rather than treating it as a major refresh.
• Hold off on Googlebooks for production use until Googlebook OS matures; the $1,000 hardware may be appealing, but an unfinished OS can create support overhead for social teams.
• For reading and research, choose the standard Kindle Paperwhite unless you have a specific reason for the Signature Edition; the extra cost is not clearly justified.
• Consider the Fitbit Edge or Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as part of creator well-being and health tracking, but verify feature availability before rolling out to a team.