Engadget Review Roundup: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and More

Apple's 2026 product wave has kept reviewers busy, and Engadget's bi‑weekly recap lines up the highlights for anyone catching up fast. At the center of this batch are two surprisingly affordable Apple entries: the MacBook Neo and the iPhone 17e, both positioned at a $599 price point.

The MacBook Neo is the big talking point: an inexpensive Mac that manages to feel like a more premium notebook. Engadget's review notes it handles basic workloads well, offers a bright display and outpaces many sub‑$600 Windows laptops on user experience. For readers wanting a simple, no‑nonsense Mac for everyday tasks, this looks like the most credible low‑cost option yet.

Apple's iPhone 17e follows a similar value play. The phone keeps the core iPhone experience while trimming extras that drive cost. It's pitched as an easy entry into the Apple ecosystem for users who want a straightforward handset without flashy extras, and reviewers found it to be a solid choice for budget‑mindediOS fans.

Beyond budget models, Apple updated chips across its lineup. The iPad Air received the M4, and the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro got M5 variants, which reviewers say keep those machines among the best in their categories. Engadget also tested the Studio Display XDR and suggested its high price could be justified for professionals needing top‑tier color and brightness.

On the Android side, the Galaxy S26 remains a dependable, conservative flagship—solid, but not a dramatic leap over last year’s S25. Dell's revived XPS 16 earned praise for returning to form, with some quibbles about keyboard feel and minor display ghosting that software updates might fix.

Rounding out the roundup are niche picks like the Soundcore Nebula P1i projector, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro with its distinctive design, and a refreshed Belkin charging case for the Switch 2. Overall, this batch of reviews leans practical: a mix of wallet‑friendly hardware and incremental upgrades that will matter most to specific users.