Independent hardware testing · Every unit bought at retail · Since 2021
Lead review · Audio · Sep 2026
8.4/10
Buy them for the sound, tolerate the app
Northwave's third-generation flagship fixes the muddy bass and the plastic hinges. It does not fix the software, and at $379 that is starting to feel like a choice rather than an oversight.
$379Best-in-class ANC and a genuinely neutral tuning, wrapped in software nobody proofread.Read the full review →
Also on the bench
Computing · Aug 2026Driftforge K80The new default recommendation9.2
Computing · Aug 2026Volta Arc 14The best 14-inch laptop you can buy right now9.0
Audio · Jul 2026Kestrel Audio Nomad IIExcellent hardware, neglected software7.1
Mobile · Jul 2026Mirador Flux 9Great camera, short life6.3
Wearables · Jun 2026Halcyon LoopSkip it5.8Every device we have tested is in the table below.
Every device we have tested, best first. Scores are absolute, not adjusted for price. No press loaners, no affiliate rankings, no scores that mysteriously start at 8. GadgetGeek tests consumer hardware for weeks and then commits to a verdict you can act on.
| # | Product | Category | Price | Verdict in one line | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Driftforge K80 | Computing | $189 | The new default recommendation | 9.2 |
| 02 | Volta Arc 14 | Computing | $1,449 | The best 14-inch laptop you can buy right now | 9.0 |
| 03 | Northwave Anthem Pro | Audio | $379 | Buy them for the sound, tolerate the app | 8.4 |
| 04 | Kestrel Audio Nomad II | Audio | $149 | Excellent hardware, neglected software | 7.1 |
| 05 | Mirador Flux 9 | Mobile | $899 | Great camera, short life | 6.3 |
| 06 | Halcyon Loop | Wearables | $249 | Skip it | 5.8 |
Six devices we have lived with recently, scored out of ten and explained in full.
Audio · Sep 2026Northwave Anthem ProBuy them for the sound, tolerate the app8.4Computing · Aug 2026Driftforge K80The new default recommendation9.2Computing · Aug 2026Volta Arc 14The best 14-inch laptop you can buy right now9.0Audio · Jul 2026Kestrel Audio Nomad IIExcellent hardware, neglected software7.1Mobile · Jul 2026Mirador Flux 9Great camera, short life6.3Wearables · Jun 2026Halcyon LoopSkip it5.8Longer pieces for when you need to choose rather than confirm.
Buying guide · Sep 2026The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones in 2026We tested nine pairs against a calibrated cabin-drone loop. Three are worth your money and one of them costs $180.Guide
Buying guide · Aug 2026How to Buy a Laptop Without Getting FleecedIgnore the processor name. Six things actually determine whether you will still like this laptop in three years.Guide
Buying guide · Jul 2026The Best Phones Under $400Cheap phones stopped being bad. Here is where the remaining compromises actually are.GuideEverything we cover, and where to start in each.
Category · Updated Sep 2026AudioHeadphones, earbuds and speakers, measured on a rig and then actually worn.2 tested
Category · Updated Sep 2026MobilePhones judged on the camera you will use and the support window you will live with.1 tested
Category · Updated Sep 2026ComputingLaptops and keyboards, tested for noise and battery as much as for benchmarks.2 tested
Category · Updated Sep 2026WearablesWatches and trackers, checked against reference sensors before we believe a number.1 testedShort posts about things that change what you should buy.
News · 6 Sep 2026Volta Recalls 140,000 Arc 14 ChargersA batch of 65 W USB-C bricks shipped with Arc 14 laptops can overheat. The laptops themselves are unaffected.News
News · 1 Sep 2026New USB-C Power Labelling Rules Take EffectCables and chargers sold in the EU must now state wattage and data speed on the packaging. It is a bigger deal than it sounds.NewsSix full reviews, three buying guides, and no sponsored placements anywhere on this site.