OUR evaluation team is rested after CES and we are back in business. This week we looked at the latest devices from Valerion, Canon, Samsung and Sony, covering a wide range of product categories. Grab a drink and relax with any reviews you may have missed.
Valérion VisionMaster Max
Valérion
Valerion’s VisionMaster Max offers exceptional image quality thanks to its triple laser system and dynamic iris. However, for most people, it’s not worth the extra money over competing projectors.
- Cutting-edge image quality
- Simple auto setup
- Beautiful design
- Dolby Atmos and DTX support
- Dear
- Built-in sound is poor
The weeks leading up to the Super Bowl are a prime time to upgrade home theater setups before the big game. One way to do this is Valérion VisionMaster Max – if you’re willing to splurge. “The Valerion VisionMaster Max is a high-performance indoor projector that delivers the best picture quality I’ve ever seen thanks to dynamic iris and Enhanced Black Level features,” discovered journalist Steve Dent. “However, it’s also significantly more expensive than competing models at $5,000. It’s pretty hard to justify that extra money unless you’re really picky about image accuracy and gaming performance, or need other features like the 1Gbps Ethernet port.”
Canon EOS R6 III
If you mainly shoot video these days, journalist Steve Dent just finished testing with the Canon EOS R6 III. Although he said it was great for video, the photo quality isn’t the best you can get right now. “If it’s primarily photography you’re interested in, Sony’s A7 V at $2,900 is a better choice,” he said. “It matches the resolution, price and autofocus of the R6 III, but offers greater dynamic range and lower rolling shutter distortion.”
Samsung Custom Refrigerator with AI
Samsung / Engadget
Samsung’s high-end refrigerator is almost unbeatable for tech-savvy homeowners looking for something that can be both a digital hub and a powerful smart home appliance.
- Large 32-inch screen
- Beverage center with built-in water pitcher
- AI-powered ingredient tracking
- Sleek design
- Dear
- Food recognition limited by AI
- Touch typing could be more responsive
We don’t often review devices here at Engadget, but Samsung’s AI-infused refrigerator caught the attention of senior reporter Sam Rutherford. You might not think you need a 32-inch screen in your kitchen or cameras in your fridge, but Sam says once you try them, you’ll never go back. “You may not agree yet or want to pay so much for features like this, but Samsung’s Bespoke AI 4 French Door Fridge has convinced me that there is a happy home for smarter coolers,” he concluded.
Clip for Sony LinkBuds
Sony
Sony dabbled with a clip-on, open-fit design, but didn’t do enough to set the LinkBuds Clip apart from the competition.
- Open, comfortable fit
- One day battery life
- Responsive controls
- Basic features
- No wireless charging
- Below-average bass performance
- Battery life
Clip-on headphones have appeared in recent years. Many key players in the headphone industry have tried their hand at the open form factor, with Sony being the latest to join in. Even though the company enjoys the advantages inherent in these designs, the Clip LinkBuds doesn’t do enough to outpace the competition. “Subpar bass performance and the omission of some of Sony’s most appealing features (and even some basic features) mean the company hasn’t done enough to distinguish the Clip from the competition in any obvious way,” I wrote.
