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After a month testing Bose's new premium headphones, I would recommend them — but I'd recommend waiting more

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Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen): Two-minute review Bose often seems to pay more attention to its Ultra-suffix devices, which absolutely make up some of the best noise-cancelling headphones we've tested. And that is perhaps why the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Headphones — that is to say, those launched in the post- QC 35 II era — took three years to come to market, following the launch of the older QC Headphones in 2023 . These are basically the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 for people who don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for their sound, and given how I only ever see the non-Ultra cans when I’m out and about in the UK (a fact my editor also confirms), I’d wager that this new release is the model people have been waiting for. Meet the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), so named because they’re quiet, thanks to Bose’s sought-after Active Noise Cancellation, and comforta...

The Withings BodyScan 2, complete with cabled handle and premium build, might be the best smart scale of 2026

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Withings BodyScan 2 Body Scale: One minute review Smart scales measure weight, body fat, muscle mass, and a whole host of other metrics through a collection of electrodes at the soles of your feet. The best smart scales are perfect for fitness enthusiasts, family health monitoring, and those who want to track changes to their body over time, but Withings wants to push the boundaries of what is possible in the smart scale category. Not satisfied with simple measurements like the ones listed above, Withings has launched the BodyScan 2, and it represents a significant step in innovation. According to Withings, the BodyScan 2 is “the world's first longevity station. It is the only consumer device that transforms your daily weigh-in into a complete cardiometabolic assessment, revealing whether your lifestyle is adding or taking years off your healthy life.” This scale is all about trends over tim...

Geekom A5 mini PC 2027 Edition review: Good value, well-made, and a decent user experience for those who aren’t excessively ambitious

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Geekom A5 2027 Edition: 30-second review Often, reviewing computer equipment has an odd, unexpected cyclical nature. Because many companies can’t be bothered with new nomenclature and launch new products with old names. This is at least the third version of the Geekom A5 I’ve seen, and thankfully Geekom have decided to call this the 2027 Edition to segment it slightly from prior options. Where the original Geekom A5 went after desktop-class performance on a budget, the 2027 Edition changes tack. Geekom has kept the same compact metal chassis, the same generous port selection and the same easy access to internals, but it has fitted a very different processor under the hood. Out goes the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, a 45-watt mobile chip that pushed hard for performance. In comes the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, a 15-watt part that shares the same Cezanne silicon and Zen 3 cores but is tuned for efficiency rather than...

Control Resonant shows that sometimes bigger really is better

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How do you approach a sequel? Do you refine the predecessor’s mechanics and stick with the main character? Well, Control Resonant chucks those out the window. Review info Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Release date: September 24, 2026 Instead of an open-zone map like the first game, Resonant goes full open-world. You play as Dylan Faden, old protagonist Jesse’s brother, who was (mostly) freed from the Hiss’s evil influence towards the end of the last adventure. Now, Jesse has disappeared somewhere in an otherworldly Manhattan, and it’s his job to find her. Like brother, like sister (Image credit: Remedy) Control Resonant ’s story is markedly improved over its predecessor. The sibling bond between Dylan and Jesse provides an emotional anchor to latch onto. Learning about their childhoods through the main missions was engaging enough and made it much easi...

I spent a week with the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max — and they’re better in all the right places

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Apple iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: Two-Minute Review If the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max were a reinvention of the flagship iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max see Apple carrying the flagship-iPhone baton forward with few, if any, missteps. I’ve spent the last week with a Glacier iPhone 18 Pro Max and a Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro — both colors are striking new additions to Apple’s iPhone color palette — and Apple has mostly stuck to last year's winning formula, while updating key aspects of the experience to push things forward. While the main camera array still carries the same 48-megapixel count across the telephoto, ultra-wide, and main lenses, the arrival of Pro controls in the Camera app breathes new life into the photo-taking experience, letting you get seriously creative whenever you want to. You can also take advantage of the new variable aperture on the main 48-megapixel Fusion cam...