All eyes on NVIDIA and Samsung

I don’t know if you can believe it, but we’re fast approaching the end of January. And I want to kick off the first review recap of 2025 by acknowledging how busy it’s already been. CES 2025, which to me seemed to go on for a year, now feels like it happened months ago. We’ve witnessed TikTok disappear and return, a new president get sworn in and Samsung launch new phones. Even with all that’s been happening, our reviewers have been hard at work, with Devindra testing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and Billy on a number of headphones and grills. So much for easing into 2025.

Before I give you the full recap, I also wanted to shout out some reviews we published in the later half of December, as well as others we recently updated. This article typically goes out every two weeks, but with the holidays, CES and Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked, we had to skip a few editions. In that time, I didn’t get the chance to tell you all about our re-reviews of gaming consoles that were launched years ago, like the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. We wanted to revisit our evaluations of these systems and their respective game libraries, to see how well they stack up today.

The team also published and updated reviews of colorful Kindles, an Intel processor, a Samsung Chromebook and more. Here’s a quick list, but you can always go to our Reviews page to scroll on your own time, if you prefer:

ICYMI: The 12 best gadgets we reviewed in 2024

In case you missed it, in lieu of a typical review recap, we published a list of the 12 highest-rated products we reviewed last year. Spoiler alert: there were a lot of flagship phones, cameras and drones on the list. I also included the two worst gadgets we ever tested, and you’ll just have to guess what they are. Or read the article, I guess.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 review

by Devindra Hardawar

NVIDIA/Engadget

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 is incredibly fast thanks to DLSS 4, but at $2,000 it’s not for mere mortals.

Pros

• So fast
• DLSS4 frame generation works well
• Excellent cooling

Cons

• So expensive
• Why is it so expensive
• Incredibly power-hungry

$2,000 at Besy Buy

If you’re the sort of person that’s in the market for a $2,000 GPU, then the GeForce RTX 5090 is something you might consider. It’s fast, powerful and NVIDIA’s frame generation was very impressive, according to Devindra. But for the rest of us with actual, reasonably sized budgets, the company’s highest-end offering is probably out of reach. We’re most likely setting our sights on the $550 RTX 5070, and I await our review to see how different a product that costs about $1,500 less will be.

Traeger Woodridge and ThermoWorks RFX reviews

by Billy Steele

Traeger

Traeger’s Woodridge may be its new base model, but the grill is far from basic. The sturdy construction, reliable performance and smart grilling features allow this grill to punch above its weight.

Pros

• Sturdy build quality
• Reliable performance
• Handy Wi-Fi features
• Convenient design touches

Cons

• Base model lacks advanced features
• No Super Smoke mode
• No pellet sensor
• Shelves and storage are add-ons

$862 at Amazon

Grills and cooking accessories continue to get more and more high-tech. And Billy continues to expand his expertise in the space, all while delighting his editors with tantalizing descriptions of smoked and barbecued foods. Believe me, I always have to feed myself before starting an edit, and I remain slightly jealous that I don’t have the space for a dedicated grill like the Traeger Woodridge. But as I read Billy’s pieces, I am quietly making notes on what I’d like to get for myself one day.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review

by Billy Steele

Bowers & Wilkins

The Pi8 is an audio upgrade over last year’s Pi7, but average ANC performance and only basic features hinder the overall experience.

Pros

• Excellent audio clarity
• Enhanced bass
• Reliable multipoint connectivity

Cons

• Expensive
• ANC performance
• No advanced features

$389 at Amazon

Billy’s been busy, that’s for sure. As our resident audio guru, he pretty much spends most of his days with the latest set of headphones in his ears, seeing how they fare not just in daily use but also against the competition. Bowers & Wilkin’s Pi8 may deliver excellent audio, but according to Billy they don’t offer enough special features for the money. In fact, as he says, “$399 should get you a lot more than superb audio.”

On the horizon: Upcoming reviews

Our reviewers already have units of the latest Samsung Galaxy S25 phones and are testing them in the real world as I write this. Devices that were announced at CES 2025, like some headphones, laptops, smart glasses and even LED masks are also making their way to our team members, so stay tuned for our evaluations. We’re also planning on some longer-term reviews of popular products, and welcome your feedback on things you’d like to see us take on! Moving forward, Billy Steele will be taking over this roundup, so I leave you with this extremely appropriate and relevant image to remember me by.

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