September was officially Apple Month. Among several other updates from Apple, four models of the long-awaited iPhone 16 have been released. We also checked out some weird and cool gadgets at IFA 2024 in Berlin. Kyle spent a day jet skiing with the GoPro Hero 13 Black and found it to be a bit pricey, but packed with features. Google also updated its Pixel Buds lineup with the near-perfect Pixel Buds Pro 2.
XGIMI has revamped its MoGo Pro lineup with the $500 MoGo 3 Pro, and the third version looks nothing like its predecessor. It has been significantly reduced to the size of a soda can and weighs about the same as a milk carton. It integrates with Google TV instead of Android TV and provides native access to streaming apps.
Google TV integration eliminates the need for a dedicated smart TV, set-top box, or smart TV dongle. It provides native access to all the services Google TV has to offer, making it suitable for running your chosen apps out of the box. The package includes a remote control with dedicated shortcut buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, as well as customizable buttons for your chosen service. — Dua Rashid
Check out Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro on Amazon
It may sound strange and a little worrying, but EcoFlow has released the Power Hat, which has eight solar panels and dual charging ports to charge up to two devices while hiking. However, you’ll need to shell out $80 for this one, which seems like a lot for a casual beach hat, but considering it’s a dual-output power bank, it’s not.
Decorated with a 360-degree solar panel brim, this hat fits over your nose and features dual charging outputs, Type-A and Type-C, to charge your devices on the go. The eight panels of the cap ensure enough juice to last at least a few hours. Capacity is ultimately determined by the amount of sunlight the solar panel receives, but this hat is suitable for fully charging a 4,000mAh battery (the average smartphone battery size) in 3-4 hours. — Dua Rashid
If you don’t mind the cost, the new Hero 13 Black is even better than the previous generation. The new GoPro has a 1900mAh battery, which is 10% larger than the Hero 12. The company promises over 2.5 hours of shooting at 1080p or over 90 minutes of 4K at 30FPS. It should also be better suited for more extreme temperatures, but GoPro also says the most dramatic improvements are seen when shooting in higher 10-bit mode than the standard 8-bit mode.
The new GoPro has new sensor features, but they’re not as flashy as additional accessories. It can capture 5.3K at 60 FPS and 4K at 120 FPS. It retains the vertical shooting of the Hero 12, but now supports burst slow motion up to 5.3K at 120 FPS and 900P at 360 FPS. The big new addition to visual quality is support for HLG HDR with 10-bit recording and a wider color gamut. GPS tracking is back for longtime GoPro users who have been complaining about the loss of it. — Kyle Barr
See GoPro Hero 13 on Amazon
If you’re looking to upgrade this year, are stuck with a tired old iPhone, and are considering going Pro, then yes, you should consider the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max. As Apple said, this phone was developed for Apple Intelligence, and should let you know what’s going to happen to your carefully curated walled garden over the next year. It’s also great to be able to choose a smaller, less bulky phone that has all the camera glass of a larger device.
The new Pro phones aren’t just vessels for artificial intelligence, but for those who want to be early adopters, they have all the hardware features to enable them to do just that. Everything about the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max is solid, from the seven-lens camera system to the battery life. This year’s new colors are also brighter and brighter. You’ve only been using your iPhone Pro/Pro Max for a week, but if this is your year for an upgrade, get ready for what’s coming next. — Florence Ion
Check out the iPhone 16 Pro at Best Buy
The iPhone 16 sets a positive precedent for future base model iPhone users. There are no more remnants of last year’s Pro model in the refreshed, friendly colors of the smartphone body. Instead, you’ll be buying a stripped-down version of the iPhone Pro model and a bit of future-proofing for what comes next. This is the case as Apple slowly reveals its AI story.
This year’s iPhone 16 has even more of the premium features of the iPhone 16 Pro, making it feel like a slightly better deal. Like the Pro, the iPhone 16’s primary camera is a Fusion camera with Apple Intelligence features and an action button in addition to the new camera control buttons that just debuted on the iPhone 16 Pro. — Florence Ion
Check out the iPhone 16 at Best Buy
Judging by the W95A 4K Mini LED TV alone, Panasonic has managed to keep up with the times by selling TVs in European and Asian markets, but don’t expect a shining example of pure viewing bliss. It’s solid, and if it falls into your price range, I don’t think you need to look elsewhere for a bright, colorful, easy-to-use TV.
Our review unit, the 55-inch W95A, is comparable to other mid-range mini-LED offerings this year, although it’s not as expensive as quantum dot LED TVs like Samsung’s 4K NEO QLED, LG’s QNED, and Sony’s Bravia 7. It’s not expensive either. Unlike its competitors, I didn’t have to play much with the settings to get photos that were true to the intended movie experience. The W95A has the widest range of screen sizes of any of the company’s U.S. slates, from 55 inches to 85 inches. — Kyle Barr
View Panasonic W95A on Amazon
The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a great laptop due to its lightweight design over its hardware, large number of ports, and reliance on newer chips. There’s something to be said for the unique feel and look of the cover material. There’s also a new Lunar Lake Intel Core Ultra chip inside. Both of these features are solid, although the hype should be ignored.
The Zenbook S 14 is easy to recommend because it has so many I/O ports and a unique design compared to other 14-inch laptops. Even if there’s enough power to justify the price, it feels a little diluted by its mediocre performance. The design exudes a cool vibe, but you’ll need some power to match. If I had one piece of advice for anyone considering the Asus Zenbook S 14, it would be to go for the slightly more expensive model with the Intel Core Ultra 258V and 32GB of RAM. — Kyle Barr
Check out Asus Zenbook S 14 at Best Buy
Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are overall great earbuds that have everything you need. Significantly reduced size and weight make them comfortable to wear in your ears all day long. Twist-adjustable stabilizers are more than just a gimmick. It gives the buds a snug fit that wraps around the ears. Navigation is so intuitive that it makes you wonder why other earphone companies don’t take a similarly simple approach, especially when it comes to volume. The sound profile is impressive, with deep, punchy bass taking center stage. The noise canceling is so strong that it feels like you’ve been transported into a private space. — Dua Rashid
See Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 on Amazon
Freyja (formerly known as Project Esther), a $300 haptic integrated gaming cushion, was announced during CES earlier this year. Nine months later, the concept of Freyja, named after the Norse goddess of war, was realized.
This cushion is equipped with six tactile actuators that send tactile sensations to various optimally placed areas of the back and upper legs. Razer works with a select group of game developers (currently 20) to accurately sync haptics to games, and is committed to continually expanding that list. Of course, this feature works with all titles, but you’ll enjoy perfect syncing with titles from Razer’s ever-growing list of collaborations.
In the short hands-on demo I experienced, I was blown away by the direction, power, and precision of haptics in Mortal Kombat. There wasn’t a single random or unnecessary vibration. All are perfectly in sync with in-game events and match even the most subtle attributes. In some cases, they were multidirectional, transmitting sensations to multiple areas of my body. They brought every explosion, gunshot, and footstep to life. — Dua Rashid
Check out the Razer Freyja on Amazon
