Wearing the "Ultra" Name Isn't Enough: The Common Complaint in Engadget's Latest Reviews
From the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra to the Dell XPS 13, Engadget's reviews over the past two weeks keep pointing to the same issue — specs that don't live up to the name. Meanwhile, a soundbar and an action cam turned in more honest report cards.
Reading through this batch of Engadget reviews, the interesting part isn't which product scored low — it's that several of them arrive at the same conclusion: calling something "Ultra" doesn't make it actually top-tier.
Samsung rolled out two flagship foldables this time, but senior reviewer Sam Rutherford isn't sold on the pricier Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. His issue isn't that the build quality is bad — it's that Samsung clearly had the ability to pair the new Z Fold 8's chassis design with the performance an "Ultra" should deliver, and just didn't. In other words, the phone's biggest flaw is what it could have been, not what it actually is.
The Dell XPS 13 (2026) stumbled into a similar trap. After Apple's earlier launch of the MacBook Neo, Dell quickly fired back with its own response — but senior writer Devindra Hardawar found that the base 8GB memory configuration of the XPS 13 just doesn't cut it performance-wise. His advice is blunt: don't put yourself through the pain of the 8GB model to save a little cash — paying up for the 16GB version is the smarter move. He also notes that the Neo has raised the bar for what counts as an "affordable but premium" laptop, and it remains to be seen how Dell repositions the XPS 13 going forward.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition falls short in a different way. Most people's first thought when they hear "Lenovo laptop" is the ThinkPad, but Devindra argues this Yoga proves Lenovo has genuinely leveled up over the past decade. The problem is the price, which pushes it out of reach for most consumers who just want a lightweight, good-looking laptop — a great product built for people who, in the end, can't afford to buy it.
Meanwhile, a Soundbar and an Action Cam Delivered the Real Surprises
Compared to these "almost there" flagships, two accessory-category products turned in honest report cards. Samsung's QS90H soundbar sells itself on delivering solid low-end without needing a separate subwoofer — a claim plenty of brands make but few actually pull off. Writer Billy Steele's testing found that the QS90H's built-in bass driver holds up solidly across a range of content types, no external subwoofer required. It's not cheap, but the added Convertible Fit tech gives it more placement flexibility, making the price feel well spent.
After spending the summer busy launching a lineup to go head-to-head with DJI's gimbal cameras, Insta360 has shifted focus back to its home turf, releasing the next-gen 360-degree action camera, the X6. Contributing writer James Trew calls it Insta360 "getting back to what it does best" — for longtime users upgrading from the X4 or earlier models, it's a solid, worthwhile update that continues the good reputation built by the previous X5.
This article is a roundup of Engadget's reviews from the past two weeks, compiled by Billy Steele. Originally published August 15, 2026. For pricing and availability not mentioned here, please refer to each brand's official announcements.
