Whew, it’s been a crazy few weeks for us at Engadget. School may still be out, but there’s no summer break for the steady stream of new gadgets coming across our desks. I’ll forgive you if you missed a review or two over the last few weeks — we’ve been busy. Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve been up to, just in time for you to catch up over the weekend.
Samsung Z Flip 7
Samsung / Engadget
The Z Flip 7 has decent battery life, bigger screens and more AI smarts. However, the cameras are dated and Samsung isn’t offering enough utility on this foldable’s second screen.
- Bigger front screen
- Better battery life
- Slimmer design
- Cameras are dated
- Front screen utility is still limited
- Sluggish charge speed
Alongside the Z Fold 7, Samsung debuted an updated version of its more compact foldable, the Z Flip 7. UK bureau chief Mat Smith noted that the company managed to provide a substantial overhaul, but there are some areas that were left untouched. “Certain aspects of the Flip 7 are lacking, most notably the cameras, which haven’t been changed since last year,” he said. “Samsung also needs to put more work into its Flex Window.”
Oakley/Meta
There are some solid upgrades that will appeal to serious athletes and power users, but they don’t quite justify the higher price.
- Five hours of continuous music playback
- 3K video recording
- Meta AI is finally getting useful
- Awkwardly thick frames
- Bulky charging case
- (At least) $100 more than Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses
Meta’s first non-Ray-Ban smart glasses have arrived. While we wait for a more affordable version to get here, senior editor Karissa Bell put the white and gold option through its paces. “While I don’t love the style of the Oakley Meta HSTN frames, Meta has shown that it’s been consistently able to improve its glasses,” she wrote. “The upgrades that come with the new Oakley frames aren’t major leaps, but they deliver improvements to core features.”
DJI Osmo 360
DJI/Engadget
DJI’s Osmo 360 is a worthy rival to Insta360’s X5, thanks to the innovative sensor and 8K 50 fps video. However, the editing app still needs some work.
- Sharp 8K 10-bit log video
- Seamless 360 stitching
- Works with DJI’s mics and accessories
- Good design and handling
- DJI Studio app needs work
- Stabilization breaks down in low light
Reporter Steve Dent argued that DJI is finally giving Insta360 some competition in the 360-degree action cam space. The design and performance of the Osmo 360 are great, but the problem comes when it’s time to edit. “The all-new DJI Studio app also needs some work,” he explained. “For a first effort, though, the Osmo 360 is a surprisingly solid rival to Insta360’s X5.”
Nothing Phone 3
Nothing / Engadget
The Nothing Phone 3 might be the company’s first “true flagship,” but several specs don’t match that flagship moniker. The bigger screen, battery and new Glyph Matrix make it a major step up from Phone 2, but camera performance is erratic and you’d expect a more powerful processor at this price.
- Big, bright display
- Unique hardware and software design
- Big silicon-carbon battery
- Camera performance is erratic
- Middling processor
Nothing’s first “true flagship” phone has arrived, ready to take on the likes of the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25. Despite the company’s lofty chatter, Mat argued the Nothing Phone 3 is hampered by a lower-power chip and disappointing cameras. “While I want Nothing to continue experimenting with its phones, it should probably prioritize shoring up the camera performance first,” he said.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Samsung/Engadget
The redesigned Galaxy Watch 8 has a longer battery life and much more comfortable fit. The Gemini integration is actually helpful and the new health metrics and fitness guidance are useful.
- Remarkably comfortable fit
- Tiles interface is snappy
- New antioxidant level and vascular load health metrics may help users keep an eye on their health
- The running coach can be inspiring for beginners
- Good Gemini integration
- Improved battery makes the AOD more viable
- The raised glass screen can be easily damaged
- AI-running coach could be more personalized
- Notifications are easy to miss
Samsung debuted a big update to its Galaxy Watch line when it unveiled the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. Senior buying advice reporter Amy Skorheim spent two weeks testing the new wearable, which impressed her so much she declared it was “Samsung’s best smartwatch in years.” You can read her in-depth review here.
Everything else we tested
Here are the rest of the reviews you might have missed:
