Shortlists

Every one sourced, dated and kept current.

updated
3d ago

October 20263 articles

Six gaming laptops, half a point apart. Average of three published review scores each, out of 10, read 12 October 2026. Razer Blade 16 (2026): 8.5, highest average. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2026): 8.3, 14-inch. Razer Blade 14 (2025): 8.3, build quality. Razer Blade 18 (2026): 8.3, 18-inch. Alienware 16X Aurora: 8.0, midrange 16-inch. MSI Katana 15 HX: 8.0, budget. bitcritiq has not tested these laptops.
Computing · Shortlist

Razer Blade 16 Tops Gaming Laptop Reviews, by Half a Point

Eighteen review scores from eight outlets, all read on 12 October. Six laptops land within half a point, so pick by size and price.

Security cameras, by review score: three outlets per camera, read 12 October 2026; we have not tested these. Average out of 10 and US list price: Aqara Camera Hub G350, indoors and for Apple Home, 9.0, $139.99. Arlo Pro 6, outdoor battery camera, 8.7, $124.99. Wyze Cam v4, a small budget, 8.5, $44.98. eufy SoloCam S340, outdoors with no subscription, 8.0, $199.99. Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, if you already run Ring, 7.7, $59.99. Scores converted to 10 and averaged; prices for one camera on each maker’s US store.
Smart Home · Shortlist

The Best Security Cameras, According to the Reviews

Fifteen scores from nine outlets, read 12 October. The top indoor camera suits Apple Home; Ring’s pan-tilt cam splits its reviewers.

September 20266 articles

Averaged review scores against price: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen 9.7 at $299, Technics EAH-AZ100 9.7 at $299.99, Sony WF-C710N 9.7 at $129.99, AirPods Pro 3 9.3 at $249, Sony WF-1000XM6 8.7 at $329.99.
Audio & Home · Shortlist

The Best Wireless Earbuds, According to the Reviews

A $129.99 pair averages exactly what a $299 pair averages. What that says about star ratings is the useful part.

An ereader resting face-up on a textured blanket, its screen showing a book cover.
Mobile · Shortlist

The Best Ereaders, According to the Reviews

Every ereader here with a current price costs more than at launch, unchanged. Amazon has now announced successors to both Kindles.

Averaged review scores against price: Apple iPad Air M3 at 8.7 with its price withdrawn as superseded by the M4, OnePlus Pad Go 2 at 8.3, no longer sold by OnePlus in the US, Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra at 8.0 for $1,299.99.
Mobile · Shortlist

The Best Tablets, According to the Reviews

The iPad Air still leads. The cheap OnePlus that outscored a $1,299.99 Galaxy Tab is no longer sold by OnePlus in the US.

Averaged review scores against price: Apple Watch Ultra 3 at 9.0, since replaced by the Ultra 4, Amazfit Active 3 Premium at 9.0 for $169.99, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 at 8.7, Amazfit Active 2 at 8.7 for $99.99.
Mobile · Shortlist

The Best Smartwatches, According to the Reviews

A $169.99 watch averages exactly what the $799 Apple Watch averages. That is the finding, and it decides more of this than the specs do.

Averaged review scores on a ten-point scale: Roborock Qrevo Curv 8.6 from five outlets, spanning 8 to 9; Roborock Saros 20 8.5 from six, spanning 8 to 10; Roborock Q7 M5 7.7 from three, spanning 7 to 8; Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai 7.0 from seven, spanning 6 to 8.
Smart Home · Shortlist

The Best Robot Vacuums, According to the Reviews

Seven outlets scored Dyson’s first robot mop and it averages lowest here — and the category’s best-known name, Roomba, is not listed at all.

Averaged review scores on a ten-point scale: Sonos Arc Ultra 9.3 from three outlets, best overall; Sony HT-S2000 9.3 from three outlets, same average but unavailable at Sony US; Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 8.7 from three outlets, less than half the Arc Ultra’s price; Bose Smart Soundbar 7.6 from three outlets, compact and the contested one.
Audio & Home · Shortlist

The Best Soundbars, According to the Reviews

A flagship and a budget bar tie on score, and Sony’s store no longer offers the budget one. On music, the scores and verdicts disagree.

August 20266 articles

A portable Bluetooth speaker resting on a tree branch at sunset.
Audio & Home · Shortlist

The Best Portable Speakers, According to the Reviews

Fifteen scores from three outlets, all read in October. Three JBLs drew identical marks, and the Charge 6 now trails the cheaper Flip 7.

A hand holding a remote control in front of a television.
Audio & Home · Shortlist

The Best TVs of 2026, According to the Reviews

Four outlets, five sets: the newer LG and Hisense both average below the models they replace, and the size you buy can change the panel.

Averaged review scores: Mac mini M4 9.0 from three outlets across a two-point spread, Geekom A9 Max 8.8 from four across one point, Geekom A5 8.7 from three across two points, Minisforum AtomMan G1 Pro 8.4 from three across 1.4 points.
Computing · Shortlist

The Best Mini PCs of 2026, According to the Reviews

Four machines the reviewers actually agree are good, sorted by what you want one for — and the one place they fall out.

Averaged review scores: Sony WH-1000XM6 9.0 from three outlets across a two-point spread, Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless 9.0 from three across a two-point spread, AirPods Max 2 8.7 from three, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 8.0 from three with no disagreement.
Audio & Home · Shortlist

The Best Headphones of 2026, According to the Reviews

Four pairs worth buying, sorted by what you care about most — and why the two at the top both owe it to the same reviewer.

Averaged review scores: MacBook Neo 9.0 from four outlets with no disagreement, MacBook Air M5 8.9 from five, ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 8.8 from three, Dell XPS 14 8.3 from three.
Computing · Shortlist

The Best Laptops of 2026, According to the Reviews

Fifteen review scores from six outlets, all re-read in October. The cheapest machine is the one they agree about most.

Averaged review scores out of ten: Steam Deck OLED 8.6 from 12 outlets with a 3-point spread; ROG Xbox Ally X 8.5 from 12 with a 1-point spread; Legion Go S (SteamOS) 7.4 from 5 with a 4-point spread. A footnote reads: averages of published scores, we have not tested these.
Gaming · Shortlist

The Best Gaming Handhelds of 2026, According to the Reviews

Twenty-nine published scores for three machines: two a tenth of a point apart at the top, and one that reviewers split over like no other.