Engadget review recap: Apple devices, Sonos' return and more

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

September has been relentless in terms of new gadgets, and October is showing no signs of slowing down. We've reviewed 15 devices over the last two weeks, running the gamut from Apple to Sonos and Beats to DJI. Catch up on anything you might've missed below, and prepare for another batch of in-depth tech reviews just around the corner. 

iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, AirPods 5 and two Macs

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Apple got the month started just after Labor Day, and all of those new devices have now made their way to stores. The iPhone 18 Pro's camera upgrades are the biggest item on the spec sheets for those phones, two devices to tempt you until the iPhone Duo arrives. The Apple Watch Series 12 also has a host of updates, including more robust health tracking and some controversial audio tools (the latter of which aren't available yet). Apple put active noise cancellation (ANC) on both versions of the AirPods 5, and while the earbuds are improved, only one model needs to exist. Lastly, the Mac mini and Mac Studio benefit from new chips, but they're both more expensive. 

Sonos Ace Ultra and Beam Ultra

Billy Steele for Engadget

Sonos announced new headphones and a new soundbar earlier this month, along with an overhauled audio platform called Sonos 27. The Ace Ultra headphones are what the original Ace should've been: a set of headphones that functions as a standalone member of a Sonos system. Thankfully, that feature works well, even in its early access state. The big upgrade for the Beam Ultra soundbar is up-firing drivers, which means it can muster real Dolby Atmos sound instead of just virtualizing the overhead noise.