Engadget Unveils Best of 2026 Awards After 130-Plus Reviews

Q: Why did Engadget crown a camera and drone as 2026's best when they are legally banned from being sold in the US?

Engadget appears to have judged the camera and drone on product quality, not U.S. retail availability. Its “Best of 2026” list was built from its highest-scoring reviews, with editors narrowing candidates to devices that scored 90 or above and then comparing performance, price and category fit. Nothing in that methodology required a winner to be legally sold in the United States. That is why DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 and Lito X1 could still win. Engadget had already reviewed them and evidently considered them the strongest products in their categories based on image quality, stabilization, features and overall performance. In other words, the awards answer “what reviewed device was best,” not “what is easiest for U.S. consumers to buy.” The legal issue is separate. DJI was added to the FCC’s Covered List in December 2025, which blocked new FCC authorizations for its hardware and effectively prevents official import and sale of those newer products in the U.S. That restriction is why the Osmo Pocket 4 and Lito X1 are not officially available through normal U.S. retail channels, even though older previously cleared DJI products can still be sold. So Engadget’s choice is editorially consistent, but it creates a practical mismatch for American readers: the publication is recognizing the best-reviewed gear of the year, including globally available products, even when U.S. law keeps some of those winners off store shelves.

Q: Apple's cheapest laptop just won a top award, but what hidden compromises make it a risky buy for college students?

The MacBook Neo is a strong budget pick for basic schoolwork, but it is a risky buy for many college students because Apple hit that low price with limits that are hard to work around later. The biggest compromise is memory. The Neo has just 8GB of fixed RAM, with no upgrade option. That is enough for web browsing, writing, and light productivity, but it becomes a constraint for heavier multitasking, large research workflows, STEM software, coding, creative apps, or running many browser tabs alongside Office, Zoom, and media apps. Multiple reviews and buyer guides say this is the key reason it suits younger students better than undergraduates with demanding workloads. There are other cuts that matter in day-to-day campus use. The keyboard is not backlit, which can be frustrating in dim lecture halls, libraries, or dorm rooms. Port selection is also weak: only two USB-C ports, with just one offering the faster 10Gbps connection and display output, while the other is limited to USB 2.0 speeds. That means more dongles, slower transfers, and less flexibility with monitors and accessories. Storage can also be tight. The base model starts at 256GB, which several reviewers found easy to fill. Battery life is good, but real-world reports suggest it may fall short of Apple’s headline figures under sustained work. So while Engadget named it the best affordable laptop, the Neo is best seen as a value machine for light use—not the safest long-term choice for many college students.

Q: Can a $300 toaster with optical sensors really revolutionize your kitchen, or is it just an overpriced luxury gimmick?

It is not a kitchen revolution for most people, but it is more than a gimmick. The Breville Eye Q earned Engadget’s best kitchen tech award because it solves a real toaster problem: inconsistent browning. Instead of relying only on time, it uses optical sensors to monitor toast color up to 10 times per second and stops when the bread reaches the chosen shade. Reviews broadly found that it delivers unusually consistent results on standard bread, works well with sourdough, includes useful modes for bagels and pastries, and adds premium touches like a motorized lift, removable crumb tray and “A Bit More” browning. That said, the technology is not flawless. Testing cited in the supporting coverage found darker breads could confuse the system, and some reviewers saw uneven progression between shade settings. Very thick or oddly shaped bread can still be tricky, and pastries often work better in timer mode than in the sensor-driven auto mode. In other words, the sensor improves toast-making, but it does not eliminate every toaster limitation. The bigger issue is value. At about $300, it costs several times more than many highly rated toasters that already produce good toast for $50 to $150. For a household that makes toast daily and cares about repeatable results, the Eye Q may justify its premium as a luxury appliance with genuinely smart engineering. For everyone else, it is best understood as a well-executed indulgence, not an essential upgrade.

3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Oct 1

Engadget published its “Best of 2026” awards, selecting top devices across phones, laptops, cameras, wearables and home tech from more than 130 products reviewed so far this year.
90 points was the baseline for Editors’ Choice consideration, though some category winners scored in the high 80s; reviewed products this year have ranged from 67 to 94 points.
Google’s Pixel 11 won best Android phone, Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro best iPhone, and Apple devices also took best affordable laptop, best macOS laptop, best desktop and best wearable.
Other winners included ASUS’ $4,500 ROG Zephyrus Duo for gaming laptops, Sony’s A7R VI camera, Valve’s $99 Steam Controller and Sonos’ $699 Beam Ultra soundbar.
Eight categories—including earbuds, headphones, Windows laptop and foldable phone—were withheld pending late-year launches, and Engadget said the list will be updated after more reviews.