Eliana Willis

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNETThe 12th-Gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Eufy Clean E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum and handheld vacuum combination costs $550. The Eufy E20 performed very well in suction testing; it offers up to 8,000Pa of suction power and thorough edge cleaning; the robot vacuum’s dustbin doubles as a handheld vacuum that includes a floor attachment and a crevice […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Highly portable power bank that’s perfect for top-ups on the go Comes with a selection of magnetic tips, so no cables are needed The power bank uses legacy micro USB to recharge, which is a shame since most things have now shifted to USB-C. –> I have to admit that I […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETAs a tech reporter, I attend events and conferences with other gadget aficionados. A telltale sign that a product is good is when reporters and attendees rave about it and even use their money to buy it. And no matter where I went, I couldn’t escape the glowing Meta Ray-Ban More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Dreo Smart Wall Heater is now on sale for $117 on Amazon. This little 1,500W heater pumps out warmth and has just the right amount of features to set it above the competition. The vertical oscillation fin can be paused, but only in three positions – pointing upward, straight out, […] More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETApple has been sprinkling AI features into its devices via Apple Intelligence and iOS updates. These features have mainly been fun, nice-to-have additive tools, such as Genmoji, Clean Up in Photos, and Natural Language Search in Photos. However, Apple’s latest feature, which is still under wraps, targets a major pain point for users — their phone battery.New Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 19Earlier this week, Bloomberg correspondent and Apple watcher Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on a new Apple Intelligence feature to help users’ device batteries last longer. According to sources close to the matter, the feature is expected to be released with Apple’s iOS 19 update, slated for September. NEW: Apple prepares a new Apple Intelligence feature for iOS 19 coming this fall — an AI-powered battery optimization mode to extend battery life. This will be particularly aimed at the iPhone 17 Air, which will use the feature to offset a smaller battery. https://t.co/tWDZlUClbd— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) May 12, 2025

The AI-powered optimization feature will reportedly learn a person’s device-usage habits through their battery data and make adjustments to conserve energy, such as predicting when to lower power draw for specific use cases. The feature will also predict how long it will take to charge a device and display that estimate on the lock screen. Apple has not responded to a request for comment. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWelcome back to another busy week of health tech news. I’m rounding up some of the most notable news to come out of the health wearables space every week. There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s dive in.  Two years of Apple Watch shipment declineAmid growing global smartwatch shipments from competitors, Apple is seeing two years of smartwatch shipment declines, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. In 2024, shipments declined by 19%. Counterpoint says that a lack of a new SE model option, that is, Apple’s most budget-friendly smartwatch, drives part of this decline. Also: I switched to the Apple Watch after a four-year hiatus – here’s why it’s near perfect nowCould the release of an updated SE model alongside feature improvements across the Apple Watch lineup turn things around? We’ll have to wait for Apple’s September event, where it debuts the latest wearable hardware to see. That said, I’m interested in what our ZDNET readers would like to see in an Apple Watch update, so leave a comment below if you have some ideas on your Apple Watch wishlist. Speaking of Apple Watch, Apple released watchOS 11.5 this week, and while there aren’t many groundbreaking features hitting this update, you should still get around to updating your Apple Watch when you can. Software updates like watchOS 11.5 keep everything running smoothly and ensure that features and bugs are optimized or fixed for long-term use. Acer’s FreeSense Ring takes on Oura More

Let’s talk tunes: This speaker from Sony is my favorite one to listen to at the beach, in the park, or at home in my bedroom. I’ve used the speaker to play music during dinner parties, and even amid a group of 15 friends all sat around the table, the sound was clear and strong. It gets plenty loud and offers crystal-clear sound. It’s also waterproof, dustproof, and rustproof, so you can splash water on it or kick sand onto it without a problem. The speaker comes with a handy little carrying strap for maximum portability and a 12-hour battery life that should last you an entire day of tomfoolery by the water. More: Finally, a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds great but won’t break the bankWhat I also love about this speaker is how much quality Sony packs into a fairly affordable Bluetooth speaker with great sound. You’re getting a high-quality speaker that punches well above its price point. For summer beach days, I can’t recommend the Ult Field 1 enough and am looking forward to blasting my favorite songs on it as I hang in the sand this season. Right now, select colorways of the speaker are discounted by $40, bringing the price of this speaker down to $88.  More