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

Apple rolled out four new products in quick succession: the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, AirPods 5, and updated Mac mini and Mac Studio models. The iPhone’s headline upgrade is a revamped camera system, positioning it as the most capable photo tool in the current generation and a stopgap before the rumored iPhone Duo. The Series 12 adds advanced health sensors and experimental audio features that are not yet user‑available, while the AirPods 5 finally bring active‑noise‑cancellation to both the standard and Pro‑styled earbuds, though reviewers question the need for two separate models. The Mac mini and Mac Studio now ship with Apple‑designed silicon that promises higher performance, but their price tags have climbed, signaling Apple’s strategy to monetize its silicon advantage.

Sonos, meanwhile, introduced the Ace Ultra headphones and Beam Ultra soundbar alongside a revamped Sonos 27 software platform. The Ace Ultra is the first Sonos headset that can operate independently of a speaker hub, delivering true Wi‑Fi streaming without a base station—a capability the original Ace lacked. Early access testing shows the integration works smoothly, hinting at a future where Sonos headphones become a first‑class entry point to the brand’s multi‑room ecosystem. The Beam Ultra upgrades its speaker array with up‑firing drivers, enabling genuine Dolby Atmos playback rather than simulated surround, a move that directly challenges higher‑priced soundbars from competitors like Samsung and LG.

The combined releases illustrate a broader industry trend of layering premium features onto existing form factors to extract more value from loyal users. Apple’s incremental hardware upgrades, especially the addition of ANC to the base AirPods line, suggest a push to capture the mid‑tier market that previously gravitated toward competitors such as Sony or Bose. Sonos’s decision to make its headphones standalone and to finally deliver real Atmos could broaden its appeal beyond existing Sonos owners, but it also raises questions about pricing and whether the ecosystem lock‑in will offset the cost of a premium soundbar. Watch how consumer adoption of the Ace Ultra influences Sonos’s future hardware roadmap, and monitor whether Apple’s higher‑priced Macs will sustain demand in a market where many professionals are shifting to Windows‑based workstations.