Engadget review recap: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Insta360 Luna Pro and more
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Huawei MatePad Air 2026 Review: The OLED Upgrade Changes Everything
PROS:
- Excellent 12-inch OLED PaperMatte display
- Slim and lightweight design
- Strong speaker performance
CONS:
- No native Google service out of the box
- Software support period is not clearly defined
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
The OLED upgrade does most of the heavy lifting, but the MatePad Air 2026’s real strength is how well its design, ergonomics, and stylus experience come together.
Huawei has been making tablets for long enough to know that raw specs are only half the story. Plenty of slates have big screens, fast refresh rates, and keyboard cases. What separates the memorable ones from the forgettable ones is how they feel when they slip into your day. That is the angle Huawei is chasing with the MatePad Air 2026, a tablet that wants to look stylish, travel light, and still feel capable enough for proper work when the moment calls for it.
On paper, it makes a strong first impression. The MatePad Air 2026 features a 12-inch OLED display, an optional PaperMatte finish, a very slim 5.3mm body, a weight of 509g, a 144Hz refresh rate, a 10,100mAh battery, and a six-speaker setup. The biggest upgrade over the 2025 model is the move from an IPS LCD panel to OLED, and it gives the tablet a much stronger foundation for entertainment, note-taking, and everyday use.
Designer: Huawei
Aesthetics
The MatePad Air 2026 seems designed by people who are tired of serious-looking tablets. That is a compliment. Most premium slates still arrive in some variation of grey metal and call it sophistication, but Huawei has gone in a softer direction here with White, Airy Blue, and Sakura Pink finishes that feel more lifestyle-minded. I received the Sakura Pink version, and it gives the tablet a warmer, more distinctive look than the usual sea of neutral-toned rivals.
The finish itself is a big part of the appeal. The back panel uses a pearlescent e-coating process with natural mica powder, which gives the surface a soft-touch feel and a subtle glow under light. It feels more inviting than the average metal slab, and that extra bit of texture helps the tablet come across as something more personal and less industrial.
There is also a welcome amount of restraint in the design, and even the camera island follows that philosophy. The oval module sits in the upper-right corner with a raised, layered construction, but it avoids the harsh look that camera bumps can sometimes have. Its lower section uses a brushed, color-matched metallic finish, topped by a thin polished metallic strip for a subtle accent. The black camera module is framed by a matching outline, while a polished silver Huawei logo sits at the center.
Huawei also deserves some credit for carrying that design thinking through to the accessories. The MatePad Air supports the M-Pencil Pro, and in the Sakura Pink version, the bundled stylus comes in a matching color. The M-Pencil Pro is not sold separately in that finish, which is a bit of a shame, but it is still nice to see a color-matched stylus included. It makes the whole package feel more cohesive, and it adds a bit of charm to a category that often forgets accessories can be part of the design story too.
Ergonomics
At 509g and 5.3mm thick, the MatePad Air 2026 feels impressively manageable for a 12-inch tablet. This is the kind of device you can carry all day without feeling like you packed a second laptop. It matches the Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 in weight while coming in noticeably thinner, and Huawei also says it is 0.8mm thinner than the iPad Air 7.
That slim profile makes a real difference in daily use. The MatePad Air feels easy to hold for reading, sketching, or watching videos, and it never comes across as bulky or awkward. Thin tablets can sometimes feel fragile, but that is not the case here. Despite how light it is, the body feels solid and well put together.
Just as importantly, slim and light does not mean delicate. The chassis feels sturdy in the hand, and it does not bend easily. Even when I tried flexing it harder than anyone normally would, it did not feel worrying. That gives the tablet a reassuring sense of durability, which matters on a device built to travel.
The back panel also helps. Its texture feels nice in the hand and gives the tablet a softer, less slippery feel than a plain metal finish. The M-Pencil Pro feels good in the hand, too. Its matte finish gives it a comfortable grip, which makes a difference during longer writing or sketching sessions. There is also a squeeze function and a physical button at the top of the pen, and both feel practical without getting in the way.
Performance
The latest Huawei MatePad Air upgrades to a 12-inch OLED PaperMatte display, replacing the IPS LCD panel on its predecessor. It is easily one of the tablet’s biggest selling points. The panel has a 2800 x 1840 resolution, a pixel density of 275ppi, support for 1.07 billion colors, P3 wide color gamut, a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 30Hz to 144Hz, and peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits.
That move to OLED brings the kind of benefits you would expect. Blacks look properly deep, colors have more pop, and contrast feels richer overall. Paired with the 92 percent screen-to-body ratio, the MatePad Air delivers a very enjoyable viewing experience, especially when watching films with darker scenes where the extra contrast really helps.
The PaperMatte finish is what makes the screen feel a little different from the usual premium tablet display. It cuts down glare well enough that I could sit near a window and still enjoy what I was watching without constant reflections getting in the way. That alone makes the tablet more comfortable to use in bright environments, and it adds a practical edge to what is already a very good-looking panel.
The PaperMatte finish also helps when it comes to writing and drawing. It adds a bit of texture to the surface, so the stylus does not glide too freely across the screen. That makes note-taking and sketching feel more controlled and a little closer to pen on paper.
Audio also adds to the experience. The tablet uses a six-speaker system with dedicated drivers handling different frequencies. Four of them focus on the lower end, which helps give the MatePad Air fuller and deeper bass than you would normally expect from a tablet this slim.
Together, the display and speaker setup make the MatePad Air feel well suited to entertainment. Whether I was watching videos, sketching, or just browsing in a bright room, the hardware consistently played to the tablet’s strengths. This is a tablet that clearly puts a lot of emphasis on the sensory side of the experience, and for the most part, that effort pays off.
Powering the tablet is Huawei’s Kirin T93C chipset, paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. In day-to-day use, performance feels smooth and responsive, whether I was jumping between apps, taking notes, browsing, or doing light creative work. It feels fast enough for the kind of tasks most people are likely to throw at a tablet like this, though this is still more of a productivity and media machine than a device built to show off raw benchmark muscle.
Huawei also puts some focus on sustained performance. The MatePad Air uses a 3D cooling design to help manage heat, and that matters on a thin tablet where thermal limits can show up quickly under heavier use. In practice, the tablet stays comfortable to hold, which is arguably just as important as outright speed in a device designed for long reading, drawing, or viewing sessions.
The tablet runs HarmonyOS 4 out of the box, and that comes with the usual Huawei caveat. Google services are not available natively, so the setup is not as straightforward as it is on a regular Android tablet. There are workarounds such as GBox through Huawei’s AppGallery, and getting things up and running is not especially difficult, but it is still an extra step that some users may not want to deal with.
Huawei leans heavily on apps like HUAWEI Notes, GoPaint, and WPS Office to make the MatePad Air feel more useful as a work and creativity device. HUAWEI Notes and GoPaint make the most sense here, especially with the M-Pencil Pro, and they help the tablet feel more purpose-built for note-taking and sketching than a generic large-screen slate.
Battery life is solid. The MatePad Air packs a 10,100mAh battery, which gives it enough stamina for a full day of mixed use without much anxiety. Whether I was watching videos, browsing, writing, or sketching, it felt like a tablet built to last through the day rather than one that constantly pushes you toward the charger.
Charging is also reasonably quick. Huawei rates it for 66W wired charging, which helps take some of the stress out of topping up a battery this large. That is especially useful for a device meant to move between work, entertainment, and creative tasks, because it makes the MatePad Air easier to treat like an all-day companion rather than something you need to plan around.
Sustainability
Sustainability is not just about materials. It is also about how long a device can stay in use, and the MatePad Air 2026 makes a fair case for itself here. Huawei says the body’s resistance to warping has improved by 10 percent compared with the MatePad 12X, and that it can handle an additional load equal to 50 percent of its own weight with only around 1mm of flex. Those are brand claims, but they do support the sense that this is a thin tablet built to hold up well over time.
That said, durability is only part of the picture. Huawei does not publish a fixed multi-year guarantee or a clear end date for software support, which makes the long-term outlook harder to judge. The hardware may be built to last, but without a clearer update commitment, the MatePad Air 2026’s sustainability story feels incomplete.
Value
The MatePad Air 2026’s value depends heavily on the market, since pricing and bundles vary. Huawei also splits the lineup differently depending on region, which can make the tablet feel more or less competitive at first glance. In some markets, it is sold in Standard Edition and PaperMatte Edition versions, with 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB configurations available.
In certain markets, the 8GB + 256GB PaperMatte Edition is priced at €799 and includes either a Glide Keyboard or an M-Pencil Pro. That is firmly flagship pricing, but the bundle helps justify it, especially since the accessories are a big part of the overall experience. For buyers who want the PaperMatte display and plan to use the stylus or keyboard, the value looks fairly strong.
Verdict
The Huawei MatePad Air 2026 makes a strong case for itself with its slim design, excellent OLED PaperMatte display, solid battery life, and thoughtful stylus support. It feels well suited to people who want a premium tablet for reading, sketching, note-taking, and entertainment without carrying something heavy or awkward.
The main caveat is the software experience. HarmonyOS is usable, but the lack of native Google services still makes it less straightforward than a regular Android tablet. If that is not a dealbreaker for you, the MatePad Air 2026 stands out as a stylish and versatile tablet with a lot going for it.
The post Huawei MatePad Air 2026 Review: The OLED Upgrade Changes Everything first appeared on Yanko Design.
Engadget review recap: Google’s Pixel 11 series and more
A roundup of recent reviews from Engadget.
Sony’s Reon wearable air conditioner saved my sanity through multiple heatwaves
Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus looks like an alien is attached to your spine, but it works.
CMF Clip Pro Review: More Than Just a Pretty Case
PROS:
- Excellent physical controls
- Distinctive case design
- Comfortable open-ear fit
- Balanced, clean sound
- Polished Nothing X app
CONS:
- Limited base weight
- Price feels a little high by CMF standards
Open-ear earbuds used to feel like a niche product made for a very specific kind of listener. They were mostly aimed at runners, cyclists, and anyone who wanted to stay aware of their surroundings, and the category was long dominated by a small group of specialist brands. For years, that made open-ear audio feel practical rather than desirable, more about function than style.
That is no longer the case. Open-ear earbuds have quickly become one of the busiest segments in personal audio, with mainstream brands now entering the space and giving the format broader appeal. CMF, Nothing’s budget-focused sub-brand, is the latest to join them with the CMF Clip Pro. As you might expect, it leans heavily on design and distinctive hardware touches to stand out, including physical controls that give it more character than most rivals. On paper, it already feels more interesting than the average pair of open-ear earbuds. The real question is whether that personality translates into a product worth buying.
Designer: CMF (Nothing)
Aesthetics
CMF Clip Pro is a good reminder that an earbud case can matter just as much as the earbuds themselves. Here, the case is not just packaging. It is a big part of the product’s identity, and one of the first things that makes the Clip Pro stand out.
The shape is essentially a rounded rectangular pod. It is slightly chunky, but softly contoured, with curved corners, a matte finish, and a subtle rubber-like texture that feels warmer than the glossy plastic shells most earbuds still use. It also stands apart from the usual pebble-like cases, which gives it a more distinctive silhouette in the hand.
The detail that defines the whole design is the oversized circular dial at the top right corner, called Smart Dial. It immediately gives the case a focal point, but it also earns that space by being functional. The metallic finish, ridged edge, and two line markings give it a sharper, more engineered feel, which contrasts nicely with the softer body of the case.
The rest of the design is restrained. There is only a small CMF logo on top, with the status LED and USB-C port kept discreetly out of the way. That minimalism works in the case’s favor, because it lets the shape and the dial do most of the talking.
The color options reinforce that identity. Light Gray and Dark Gray are the safer choices, but Coral is the one that feels most like CMF. It is brighter, more playful, and better suited to a product that clearly wants to stand apart. Most importantly, the case feels designed with intent rather than treated as an afterthought, and that alone gives the Clip Pro an edge.
Ergonomics
The Smart Dial on the case is one of those details that immediately makes the product feel more thoughtful in hand. Each turn delivers crisp, clicky feedback, and pressing the dial has a satisfying weight to it. It feels tactile and deliberate rather than decorative, which makes everyday use that bit more enjoyable.
The case has a matte texture that feels soft in the hand, while the earbuds are mostly glossy. At around 52.1 x 26.7 x 51.0mm and roughly 38.8g, the case stays compact and easy to carry. I also like that it can stand upright on a surface, which is a small but practical advantage over the usual round, pebble-like earbud cases. Each earbud weighs just under 6g, and that lightness helps with long-term comfort.
The Clip Pro is easy to wear for hours without feeling pinchy or awkward. CMF has also built physical buttons into the rear section of each earbud, where they are easy to reach without much adjustment. The earbuds do not interfere with glasses either, which is a nice touch. They can clash slightly with earcuffs depending on their position, but in my experience that is only a minor issue.
There is still a small ergonomic quirk with the charging case. Putting the earbuds back can be a little confusing at first because the left and right sides are not interchangeable. The rear section needs to sit at the bottom with the C-bridge facing inward, and until that becomes second nature, the process feels slightly less intuitive than it should.
Performance
Sound quality is always the challenge with open-ear earbuds because the format comes with clear limits. Without a seal inside the ear canal, you do not get the same bass weight, isolation, or intimacy as you would from a good pair of in-ear buds. The goal here is not to beat traditional earbuds at their own game. It is to sound full and clear enough that the open-ear tradeoff feels worthwhile.
The CMF Clip Pro uses a 10.8mm dynamic driver and supports LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs. In practice, the tuning is more restrained than on some of CMF’s other earbuds. I found the CMF Buds 2 and Buds 2 Pro I reviewed last year noticeably bass-heavy, but the Clip Pro does not lean in that direction, even with Bass Enhancement set to Level 2. Instead, it sounds more balanced, which suits this category better.
Bass still lacks the weight and punch you would get from sealed earbuds, but that is to be expected. The upside is that the sound never feels bloated or as if it is trying too hard to compensate. Clarity is decent, and the overall presentation is clean and easy to listen to. It is not especially rich or immersive, but for casual listening, podcasts, and everyday music, it works well enough.
There is no noise cancelling, and no real isolation either. Some leakage is still present, as you would expect from open-ear earbuds, but it is mild in everyday use. People nearby are unlikely to notice unless they are very close or you’re listening at high volume. CMF also includes an anti-leakage mode, but while it helps, it also makes the sound noticeably more muffled.
As for call quality, the CMF Clip Pro uses a four-mic setup, with two mics on each earbud, alongside noise reduction. It does a decent job of keeping voices clear enough for everyday calls, even in busier environments. It is reliable enough that taking calls on the go does not feel like a compromise.
The physical controls on both the earbuds and the case are easily one of my favorite things about the Clip Pro. In a category where touch controls often feel inconsistent, CMF takes a more tactile approach that immediately helps these stand out. The buttons on the earbuds are easy to use and support a surprisingly broad range of inputs, including double press, triple press, press and hold, and double press and hold. That gives the Clip Pro a level of flexibility that feels more thoughtfully implemented than many rivals.
What really elevates the experience is the Smart Dial on the case. It handles volume through rotation, and it can also be customized for playback, track skipping, voice assistant access, low lag mode, and call controls. That makes the case feel like more than a simple charging shell, giving the product a bit of personality in everyday use. More importantly, the physical controls work very well in practice. They feel responsive and dependable, which matters far more than simply offering a long list of possible shortcuts. My only complaint is that the sound cue for volume changes can lag slightly behind the actual adjustment.
The earbuds’ controls work right out of the box, while Smart Dial has to be enabled manually in the Nothing X app. Beyond that, the app lets you adjust features like spatial audio, anti-leakage mode, bass boost, low lag mode, and dual-device pairing. There are also five preset EQ modes, plus a custom three-band equalizer that gives you a good amount of control over the sound. Nothing X is not doing anything radically new, but it remains one of the best earbud apps around. It looks great, feels intuitive, and makes it easy to tweak settings without any fuss.
Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours on the earbuds themselves and up to 32.5 hours with the case, while a Long Battery Mode pushes that to 36 hours. In my testing, which included a mix of music, video, and a 20-minute video call, the earbuds still had more than 50 percent battery left after about five continuous hours of use, so CMF’s claim appears to hold up well. CMF also says a quick 10-minute charge can deliver up to four hours of playback, which adds to the overall convenience.
Sustainability
CMF leaves a few unanswered questions here. The Clip Pro earbuds themselves are rated IP54, which adds useful protection against dust and light splashes in daily use. The case, however, is only rated IPX2, so it is best kept away from water.
There is also less clarity around environmental impact than I would have liked. Unlike Nothing’s mainline products, CMF does not seem to clearly publish details on recycled materials, carbon footprint, packaging, or manufacturing for this line. That does not necessarily mean sustainability was ignored, but it does make the product harder to assess on those terms. For a brand that puts so much emphasis on design and presentation, a little more transparency here would have made the Clip Pro feel more complete.
Value
At $99, the CMF Clip Pro sits firmly in the mid-range. That price feels a little high by CMF standards, especially for a brand that has built its reputation on strong value. Even so, the Clip Pro still manages to punch above its price in a few key ways, particularly through its design, physical controls, comfort, and overall user experience.
That said, value here depends heavily on what you want from your earbuds. If you are drawn to the look, appreciate the physical controls, like the fit, and want an affordable open-ear option from a recognizable brand, $99 can still make sense. If you are comparing purely on specifications, protection, or feature depth, this one may feel a little less convincing.
Verdict
The CMF Clip Pro does not completely redefine what open-ear earbuds can be, but it gets more right than wrong. The sound still carries the usual limitations of the format, yet it is tuned with enough balance and clarity to work well for casual listening, podcasts, and everyday music. The price also feels a touch high for a CMF product. Even so, there is a lot to like here. The design is distinctive, the fit is comfortable, the controls are genuinely excellent, and the overall user experience feels more considered than most rivals in this space.
What makes the Clip Pro stand out is that it does not rely on one gimmick alone. The Smart Dial is clever, but it is also useful. The physical buttons are unusual, but they are there because they work. Add in a polished app and solid battery life, and you end up with a pair of open-ear earbuds that feels thoughtfully put together from top to bottom. It may not be the obvious value champion in CMF’s lineup, but it is one of the brand’s most interesting products yet, and one that gets the basics right in ways that matter.
The post CMF Clip Pro Review: More Than Just a Pretty Case first appeared on Yanko Design.
Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max Review: A Beautiful Comeback With Caveats
PROS:
- Distinctive design with bold color options
- Large, sharp display with anti-reflective treatment
- Excellent main and telephoto cameras
CONS:
- Performance is not class-leading
- Weak cross-platform file sharing
- No clear update policy
It has been a long time since I last reviewed a Huawei phone. The last one was the Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition. I still remember that phone well because it was genuinely beautiful. It had the kind of design that instantly felt premium, and it reminded me how good Huawei can be when it wants to make a phone stand out.
A lot has changed since then. The P series is now called Pura, but Huawei’s approach to hardware and design still feels very familiar. The company still knows how to make a flagship look different, and in a market where so many phones are starting to blend together, that still matters.
Designer: Huawei
This time around, Huawei is offering the Pura 90s Pro and the Pura 90s Pro Max. What is interesting is that there is no Ultra model in the lineup, unlike before. That means the Pura 90s Pro Max now sits at the top of the range. It also brings back 5G, which makes this release feel a bit more important than just another yearly update.
The Pura 90s Pro Max has all the right flagship ingredients at first glance. Big screen, ambitious cameras, premium build, and fast charging are all here. The question is whether that is enough to make it a great phone overall.
Aesthetics
The Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max carries the now-familiar triangular camera island that has become a signature since Pura 70. It features two black circular cutouts for the ultra-wide and main cameras, along with a larger black circle for the telephoto camera. A pill-shaped LED flash also sits within the module, completing the layout. It is the kind of design detail that makes the phone instantly recognizable from across a table.
Huawei has also put real effort into the color finishes this year. The Pura 90s Pro Max comes in four colors, and two of them stand out immediately because of their dual-tone gradient treatment. The Blaze Purple unit I received pairs a purple upper half with an orangish-pink lower section, matched with a glossy gold frame that adds even more flair. It is bold, but it never tips into looking gaudy. Instead, it still feels polished and premium.
The other standout is Orange Ocean, which arguably takes the two-tone concept even further. It combines light blue at the top with orange at the bottom, while the center transitions smoothly between the two shades. Even the side frame follows the same color story, which makes the overall design feel more cohesive and more intentional. It is the kind of finish that feels playful at first glance, yet refined enough to belong on a flagship.
For those who prefer something safer, Huawei also offers Blush Gold and Graphite Black. These are more traditional options, but that is not necessarily a drawback. Not everyone wants their flagship phone to double as a statement piece. Still, if you are buying a Huawei at this level, the more expressive finishes are where the personality really comes through.
Ergonomics
In hand, the Pura 90s Pro Max feels better balanced than its bold design might suggest. I was unsure at first whether the large triangular camera island would make the phone feel awkward, but in daily use it never really did. If anything, when I held it one-handed in my right hand, the raised module gave my index finger a natural place to rest.
There is a tradeoff, though. When holding the phone horizontally for gaming, the camera island becomes more noticeable and can get in the way a bit. It is not a huge problem, but it stands out more in landscape use than it does during normal day-to-day handling.
The finish also looks better from a distance than it does up close. Both the glossy back panel and the glossy side frame tend to pick up fingerprints and smudges quite easily, so the phone does need regular wiping if you want it to stay looking clean. That is a little disappointing for a device that puts so much emphasis on design.
Huawei has also gone with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner rather than an in-display one. The power button on the right side doubles as the fingerprint reader, and in practice it feels intuitive enough. It is a small detail, but one that fits naturally with the overall handling experience.
Performance
The Pura 90s Pro Max is powered by Huawei’s Kirin 9030S, paired with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. It also supports 5G, which makes it feel more competitive than some of Huawei’s recent flagships. In daily use, the phone feels fast enough. Scrolling is smooth, apps open quickly, and multitasking is handled well. For things like web browsing, social media, messaging, navigation, and streaming, it behaves like a proper flagship.
The bigger question is whether that is enough at this price. Huawei is not really chasing benchmark dominance here, and that may matter more to enthusiasts than to casual users. If all you want is a phone that feels quick and responsive day to day, the Pura 90s Pro Max delivers. If you expect class-leading performance, though, it is less convincing.
The phone runs EMUI 16, and Huawei has spent years building a more workable ecosystem around its devices. The experience today feels much less daunting than it used to, and most of the apps people need can be downloaded easily through GBox, which is now available via Huawei AppGallery.
For me, one of the biggest remaining inconveniences is file sharing across different phone ecosystems. Huawei does offer solutions such as Huawei Share for transferring files to other devices, but the experience still does not feel as seamless or as universal as what you get with iPhones or across the wider Android ecosystem. That becomes especially noticeable if you regularly share photos and videos between phones from different manufacturers.
The display is one of the easiest things to like about the Pura 90s Pro Max. It is a 6.9-inch panel with a resolution of 2880 x 1308 and a refresh rate that scales from 1Hz to 120Hz. It is large, sharp, and well suited to a phone of this size and price.
Huawei says the anti-reflective screen reduces reflections by up to 70 percent compared with conventional glass. It is not as effective as the matte-style display treatment Huawei uses on some of its tablets, but it still makes the screen easier to view outdoors under bright sunlight.
The speaker setup is solid too. The stereo speakers are good enough for videos, games, and casual listening, with enough volume to avoid sounding weak in everyday use. They do not deliver especially rich or powerful sound, but they do the job well and help round out the phone’s media experience.
Main Camera, 1x
Telephoto Camera, 10x
Main Camera, Macro Mode
Cameras remain one of the main reasons to pay attention to Huawei’s flagship phones, and that is still true here. The Pura 90s Pro Max has an ambitious camera setup, even if some of Huawei’s decisions this time feel a little unusual. On paper, it is a system that feels both impressive and slightly puzzling at the same time.
Telephoto, 4x, Portrait Mode
Telephoto camera, 4x, Snapshot mode
Telephoto Camera, 10x, shot from a moving car
Most notably, Huawei has moved from a 1-inch main sensor to a smaller 1/1.28-inch sensor. That is not entirely unprecedented, and other brands have made similar moves before, but it still feels surprising at this level. The new 50MP main camera uses an RYYB sensor with LOFIC technology, OIS, and a 10-step physical aperture from f/1.4 to f/4.0, though aperture control is limited to Pro mode.
Huawei has also dropped the dual telephoto setup with sensor-shift technology. In its place is a 200MP 4x telephoto camera with a 1/1.28-inch RYYB sensor, an f/2.6 aperture, and OIS. The rear setup is completed by a 40MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, while the front camera is a 13MP unit.
Main Camera, 1x, Night
Telephoto Camera, 4x, Night
Telephoto Camera, 20x, Night
In actual use, though, the cameras are excellent. The main and telephoto cameras are the standouts, but the ultra-wide and front cameras are also very good. Colors are generally accurate thanks to Huawei’s True-to-Color Camera system, although the XMAGE Vivid profile can look a little oversaturated in some scenes.
Switching to XMAGE Original gives images a more natural look. Photos also tend to be slightly bright and a touch over-sharpened. Even so, the overall image quality is consistently strong and easy to like.
Ultra-wide Camera, 0.6x
Main Camera, 1x
Video is strong too. All four cameras can record at up to 4K 60fps, and the footage is crisp, sharp, and pleasingly colorful. The tradeoff is that there is no 8K, no 24fps option, and no Log recording, which may be down to chipset limitations.
The weaker part of the experience is usability. There is no timer shortcut in the main camera interface, so you have to dig into settings to find it. Double-tapping the preset zoom levels also does nothing, unlike on many rival phones.
Telephoto Camera, 10x
Telephoto Camera, 20x
Telephoto Camera, 100x
They are small issues, but they make the camera app feel less polished than the image quality itself. It is a little frustrating because the hardware and output are strong enough to deserve a more refined shooting experience. Huawei gets the fundamentals right, but some of the smaller interface decisions still feel oddly behind the curve.
The EU version of the Pura 90s Pro Max comes with a 5,270mAh battery, while other regions get a larger 6,000mAh cell. Even so, battery life was still solid in my use. The phone comfortably lasted a full day with a mix of camera use, browsing, and general daily tasks.
Main Camera, 2x, B&W
That said, 5,270mAh does not feel especially big by current flagship standards. The good news is that charging is very fast. The phone supports up to 100W wired charging and up to 80W wireless charging with compatible chargers.
Sustainability
On paper, the Pura 90s Pro Max looks well protected. It is rated IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance, and Huawei says its Kunlun Glass offers 25 times better drop resistance and 16 times better scratch resistance. Those are strong claims, and they help reinforce the sense that this is a phone built to handle daily wear reasonably well.
The bigger issue is what happens over time. Huawei still does not clearly say how long the phone will receive software updates or security patches, and that matters just as much for a flagship at this price. Good physical protection is important, but long-term software support is what really determines how well a phone ages.
Value
Starting at €1,149, or roughly $1,250, the Pura 90s Pro Max sits firmly in flagship territory. That is still a lot of money, but compared with some other camera-focused flagships like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Vivo X300 Ultra, and Oppo X9 Ultra, it is around €500 to €800 cheaper. Huawei is also offering the kind of hardware you would expect at this level, including a standout design, strong cameras, a large high-quality display, and very fast charging.
At the same time, that price leaves less room to overlook the phone’s weaker points. Performance is solid rather than class-leading, the software ecosystem still comes with some friction, and Huawei remains unclear about long-term update support. That makes the Pura 90s Pro Max feel less convincing on value than some of its rivals, even if the hardware itself is often impressive.
Verdict
The Pura 90s Pro Max is a phone I ended up liking more than I expected. It looks distinctive, feels premium, and delivers where Huawei has long been strongest, especially in camera performance. There is a lot here that feels thoughtfully done, even if some of Huawei’s decisions remain a little hard to understand.
At the same time, it is not a flawless flagship. The chipset does not feel best in class, the software ecosystem still asks for compromises, and the lack of clarity around long-term support is difficult to ignore at this price. The Pura 90s Pro Max is still a very good phone, but whether it makes sense for you depends a lot on how much you value Huawei’s design and camera strengths over a more complete all-round flagship experience.
The post Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max Review: A Beautiful Comeback With Caveats first appeared on Yanko Design.
Bixdo Glossonic Brush Air (W30) Review: The Toothbrush That Replaces Your Whitening Strips
PROS:
- Striking design with ambient light effect when docked
- 120-day battery life greatly simplifies portability
- Effective whitening process combined with brushing
CONS:
- Handle might be too large for some hands
- Very limited color options
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
By making the whitening happen in the background, the Bixdo Glossonic Brush Air (W30) electric toothbrush doesn't overhaul a bathroom routine so much as quietly upgrade it.
At-home teeth whitening has never been more accessible, yet most people can’t stick with it. Whitening strips take 30 to 45 minutes and often cause sensitivity. Whitening toothpastes rely on mild abrasives that can wear down enamel over time. Professional treatments work well, but they’re expensive and require appointments that take time out of your schedule. The category has a compliance problem that no stronger formula or new packaging seems to fix.
The Bixdo Glossonic Brush Air (W30) takes an entirely different approach. Rather than adding another product to the routine, it builds whitening into the process of brushing, something most people already do twice a day. Paired with a Bixdo’s whitening toothpaste and blue light technology, it turns a daily habit into a gradual brightening system that doesn’t ask much of the person using it.
Designer: Bixdo
Click Here to Buy Now: $139.99.
Aesthetics
Most electric toothbrushes lean into a clinical aesthetic. The Bixdo W30 departs from that with a sleek, lacquered silhouette in deep navy blue fading into a frosted white at the base, a gradient that’s genuinely eye-catching for a toothbrush. That finish gives it a quality closer to personal-care hardware than a dental appliance, and it’s the kind of object you’d actually want on a vanity rather than stashed under the sink.
The Bixdo W30 charges via a USB-C port built into the base of the handle, which is a small but telling design choice. It keeps the whole package clean and self-contained, with no proprietary dock or cradle to misplace. For a bathroom counter that’s already busy, that kind of restraint matters. It’s the kind of detail that doesn’t announce itself but would be noticeably annoying if it were handled differently.
The brush head is where the design gets interesting. The filaments are made from translucent material specifically to channel blue light from inside the handle outward to the tooth surface, supporting the Bixdo whitening system directly at the point of contact. The effect is genuinely dramatic: when active, the entire head blazes with a vivid blue glow, making the whitening feel tangible rather than abstract.
Ergonomics
Picking up the Bixdo Glossonic Brush Air (W30), the weight feels deliberate, and the glossy finish stays comfortable without feeling slippery. A single oval button sits below a small embedded display on the handle face, keeping the interface minimal and uncluttered. The display shows mode icons and labels clearly at a glance. The form is easy to grip, whether the brush is used straight on or at an angle for back teeth.
A single press of the button gets the brushing started, and the display confirms the active mode at a glance. The brush sends a brief vibration every 30 seconds as a prompt to shift to the next brushing zone, a useful nudge that keeps the routine thorough rather than habitual. When the session ends, the screen shows a brushing result to indicate how the session went.
Performance
The cleaning side of the Bixdo W30 isn’t an afterthought. Its sonic brushing action drives a thorough clean across the tooth surface and into the spaces between teeth, putting it on level ground with mainstream premium electric toothbrushes in terms of mechanical cleaning power. Teeth feel noticeably cleaner and smoother after each session, and it performs that way consistently, before the whitening layer even factors in.
The whitening mechanism is built around the Bixdo whitening system, where the blue light works together with the PAP-based whitening toothpaste and light-guiding brush head to address everyday surface stains. Many devices use blue light, but how those elements are designed to work together determines whether it actually does anything useful. The Bixdo W30 is built around that coordination rather than around any single feature.
The system pairs with a PAP-based whitening toothpaste specifically designed for everyday whitening care. Unlike many whitening products that rely on hydrogen peroxide and are intended for occasional high-intensity use, the PAP-based formula fits naturally into a twice-daily brushing routine. It’s the kind of formulation that makes sense for something meant to be used consistently, day after day, rather than as an occasional treatment.
There are four brushing modes: DAILY, DIAMOND, and GENTLE, which all activate the blue light in three-minute sessions at varying intensities, and GUM CARE, a two-minute vibration-only option for users with sensitive teeth and gums. Results build gradually with consistent use, which suits the broader logic of a product designed to work within a daily routine rather than deliver a single dramatic result.
Battery life is another standout. The Bixdo W30 is rated for 120 days on a single charge, which means charging it roughly twice a year at most. For anyone who travels regularly, this essentially eliminates the charger from the packing list entirely. The brush is also IPX7 waterproof, so rinsing it off or using it in the shower isn’t a problem.
Sustainability
The 120-day battery life has an environmental dimension worth noting. Most electric toothbrushes get charged weekly or more often, adding up to dozens of charge cycles a year that slowly degrade the battery’s overall capacity. The W30’s extended battery means fewer cycles, less energy consumed over time, and a device that’s more likely to stay in good working condition longer before the battery becomes an issue.
The brush head is designed to be replaced at least every three months, in line with standard dental guidance, which gives the routine a clear and easy-to-follow maintenance rhythm. That’s a more sustainable ownership model than replacing the full device. The refill toothpaste and replacement-head model together mean the handle stays in service rather than becoming disposable hardware when something wears out.
Value
The Bixdo W30 sits at the premium end of the consumer toothbrush market. But its intended comparison isn’t other electric toothbrushes. It’s meant to replace a combination of products: a capable electric brush and a separate whitening system. Professional in-office treatments run anywhere from $350 to $1,200 per session, and most people need more than one session a year to maintain results.
Compared to whitening strips, the math becomes even more interesting. A pack of good-quality strips can run $40 to $60, lasts a couple of weeks, and needs to be repurchased on a regular cycle. The Glossonic Brush Air’s ongoing cost is the companion PAP toothpaste, a reasonable daily-use repurchase for something doing double duty as both toothpaste and whitening treatment. As a consolidated system, that recurring expense starts to look quite reasonable.
Most whitening products separate plaque removal and whitening into two different steps. The Bixdo W30 brings both together, with brushing handling the mechanical clean while the blue light, PAP-based toothpaste, and light-guiding brush head work as part of the Bixdo whitening system. The toothpaste refill is the only recurring cost once the brush is in hand, which is a straightforward trade-off for a product that effectively replaces two separate categories.
Verdict
After extended use, the Bixdo W30 comes across as a product that’s been thought through rather than simply assembled. The results are gradual, building up like good skincare, and no increased sensitivity was experienced throughout the testing period. Teeth look noticeably brighter after two to three weeks of consistent daily use, particularly along the edges where stain buildup from coffee tends to accumulate first.
For regular coffee or tea drinkers who’ve struggled to stay consistent with strips, the Bixdo Glossonic Brush Air (W30) is genuinely worth considering. It doesn’t overhaul a bathroom routine so much as quietly upgrade it, one session at a time. The whitening happens in the background while the brush does its cleaning job, which is a pretty elegant way to address a problem most people have quietly given up on.
Click Here to Buy Now: $139.99.
The post Bixdo Glossonic Brush Air (W30) Review: The Toothbrush That Replaces Your Whitening Strips first appeared on Yanko Design.
RayNeo is going both minimalist and maximalist with its latest AR smart glasses
RayNeo's latest AR smart glasses are going for very different audiences: The very discrete, and the very nerdy.
Merach UltraRow R60N review: Built for harder home rowing
PROS:
- Makes short, everyday rowing sessions easy to fit into the day
- Smooth, adjustable resistance for harder bursts or longer rows
- Comfortable fit, solid build, and an adjustable phone/tablet holder
- Rowing-generated power helps extend the console's AA battery life
CONS:
- Pairing with the app replaces the console metrics with a BT indicator
- The console still uses four AA batteries
At 52, I don’t want every bit of movement to require workout clothes, a drive to the gym, or a scheduled block of time. During two weeks with the Merach UltraRow R60N, I used it every day in two-, 10-, and 15-minute bursts, often when my watch or smart ring told me to get up and move. That became the point of the machine: it was there when I had a few minutes, not waiting for me to commit to a formal workout.
The R60N is a large home rowing machine, measuring 93.9 inches long and weighing 86.6 pounds. It combines air resistance at levels 1 through 7 with added magnetic resistance at levels 8 through 10. At $799.99 when this review was prepared, it asks for real floor space, but it delivers a comfortable, full-body cardio option that I could use without a lot of setup or impact.
Click Here to Buy Now: $699.99 $1099.99 ($400 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!
Aesthetics and Ergonomics
The UltraRow R60N looks like equipment rather than furniture. The smoked-black flywheel grille, matte surfaces, long single rail, exposed handle, and adjustable footrests all emphasize the mechanical path of a rowing stroke. It’s a purposeful, utilitarian design that doesn’t try to disappear into a living room.
Nothing about the R60N feels flimsy. The materials feel good in hand, the assembly feels solid, and the dark color gives it a restrained, masculine look that fits the straightforward mechanical design.
It doesn’t disappear physically, either. The assembled rower measures 2,385 x 500 x 876 mm, or approximately 93.9 x 19.7 x 34.5 inches. Its long, narrow stance demands a dedicated lane for the rowing motion, even though the machine itself isn’t especially wide. In person, it feels like a serious space commitment when it’s expanded and ready to row. At 39.3 kg, or about 86.6 pounds, moving the complete rower requires more than a casual lift or quick relocation.
Merach describes the R60N as foldable in some materials, but its storage system works differently from a conventional upright fold. The rower separates where the long rear rail and seat section meet the front assembly that houses the flywheel, resistance control, and display. There are no screws to remove. Instead, the two sections meet through a tension-held, tool-free connection that comes apart the same way in reverse.
Setup was relatively straightforward, and I was able to install it alone. The unexpected part was bringing those sections together for the first time, because it changes the R60N from two manageable components into one long, substantial machine. Once it’s connected, though, moving it around the room is easier than its overall 86.6-pound weight suggests. Lifting from the rear brings the front transport wheels into play, making it manageable for one person to reposition or fine-tune its location.
Merach lists the stored arrangement at 910 x 700 x 1,335 mm, or approximately 35.8 x 27.6 x 52.6 inches. That makes the machine much shorter in storage, but wider and taller than its assembled footprint. It still needs a committed storage location. The wheels make it easy enough to reposition the assembled rower within one room, but moving it between rooms means detaching the two sections and carrying them separately.
A 410 mm, or 16.1-inch, seat gives the R60N a notably elevated entry point. In use, its broad, shaped surface felt ergonomic and comfortable rather than restrictive. I didn’t experience pain or discomfort during my sessions. Once the foot straps were secured, the setup felt stable and straightforward enough to stop thinking about.
At 6’2″, I had plenty of room to row comfortably. The long rail is listed at 1,250 mm with a 1,200 mm inseam allowance, while the footrests offer seven adjustment positions. Merach publishes a user-height range of 3’11” to 6’10” and a 500-pound maximum weight capacity, so the company intends the R60N to accommodate a wide range of body types. A 510 mm handle and widely spaced pedals round out that accommodating layout.
The 5.3-inch adjustable LCD is small by connected-fitness standards, but that’s part of the R60N’s character. It treats the display as an instrument panel rather than an entertainment screen, with fields for time, distance, calories, strokes, pulse, stroke rate, 500-meter pace, watts, and averages. Merach also calls the display backlit and anti-glare.
Performance
The R60N is built around the transition from air resistance to a combination of air and magnetic resistance. Merach documents levels 1 through 7 as air-only settings and levels 8 through 10 as air-plus-magnetic settings. You change those levels with a large manual resistance control, which Merach describes as a lever adjustment. A 32-blade fan and 3.5 kg flywheel provide the moving mass behind that system.
In use, the resistance adjustment felt good and intuitive. I could move from an easier setting into heavier tension to find the right effort, then use that range differently depending on the session. For short, timed bursts, I turned the resistance up. For longer rows, I eased it back so I wouldn’t tire out too quickly.
At levels 8 through 10, the R60N adds magnetic resistance rather than relying only on a faster pull. Merach’s 900N peak-resistance figure is tied to 25 strokes per minute, so it is a manufacturer rating, not an independently measured result. In my use, the shift into heavier resistance felt smooth and useful for short, harder intervals.
Over two weeks, I used the R60N every day, but not through a conventional workout routine. I lost count of the sessions because they ranged from two minutes to 10 or 15 minutes whenever my watch or smart ring prompted me to get up and move. I could step away from my desk, get on the rower in whatever I was already wearing, and row while listening to a show, watching TV, or talking with someone in the room.
That convenience became the most persuasive part of the experience. I didn’t have to block out an hour, change clothes, or make a formal commitment to exercise. The R60N was simply there, ready for however long I had or until I was tired. It isn’t silent, but the airflow created while rowing is noticeable in a pleasant way, and the overall noise never felt intrusive. For me, it removes much of the friction that turns a workout into something easy to postpone.
The console is meant to complement that training style. The display itself is good in initial use, and it lists workout metrics including pace, watts, strokes, and heart-rate data. Merach’s current product page doesn’t list built-in programs, but it does list Bluetooth connectivity for the MERACH app.
Pairing the rower to the app worked fine in my use. The tradeoff is that, once connected, the onboard display shows only a BT indicator. In other words, the app becomes the active workout display, so you can’t follow the app and read the console’s usual metrics at the same time. That behavior makes sense, but it’s worth knowing before choosing where to place your phone or tablet.
Above the display, an adjustable holder accepts a phone or small tablet. It tilts up and down, so it can keep a workout app, a show, or other content within view while you row. That small detail supports the R60N’s best practical trait: it’s easy to use for a few minutes whenever there’s time, rather than only during a planned workout.
Connected features are a bonus
The R60N doesn’t need an app to work. Its own display handles the essential workout information, and its resistance remains a manual-lever adjustment. That’s the right hierarchy: the machine is the product, while the MERACH app can add structure or variety if it suits the way you train.
What the free MERACH app adds
The MERACH app is free to download. Its no-subscription starting point includes Free Training, timed training, and distance-based goals, along with a dashboard for duration, distance, calories, and workout history. MERACH also lists challenges such as GlobalGo, which uses completed activity to unlock regional badges.
That is enough to make a phone or tablet more useful than a passive screen beside the rower. It gives the R60N owner a place to save sessions, set a simple target, revisit progress, or choose a basic guided workout without turning a straightforward row into a recurring bill.
What a paid service adds
MERACH’s U.S. App Store listing currently shows subscriptions at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. The company says that advanced trainer-led on-demand classes may require a paid membership, but it doesn’t publish a clear online feature-by-feature paywall. The practical benefit of paying is likely to be more guided content and a deeper training library, not a change to how the R60N itself creates resistance.
For someone who likes to get on, row hard, and get off, the free MERACH tools and the onboard display may be all they need. A paid MERACH membership matters more for a buyer who wants a steady supply of guided sessions and community-style motivation.
Sustainability and repairability
One understated benefit is that the R60N doesn’t need to live beside an outlet. For day-to-day use, that makes placement simpler and avoids another powered device drawing from the wall. The R60N is otherwise non-motorized, with the workout itself driving the resistance system.
That benefit comes with a small qualification: Merach lists four AA batteries for the display. The company also says rowing motion helps power the console, while its FAQ says batteries remain necessary for the display. In practice, this is a lower-power, outlet-free setup, not a completely battery-free one.
Long-term ownership will come down to ordinary mechanical details. The R60N uses a nickel-plated steel pull rope, a single aluminum rail, PU seat rollers, adjustable footrests, and a manual resistance lever. These are the parts that matter most over repeated sessions, storage cycles, and routine cleaning.
Warranty language deserves equally close attention. Merach’s product page promotes a two-year warranty, while its U.S. warranty page describes one year of standard coverage plus an additional year after registration. Buyers should register the product and confirm the current warranty terms, maintenance guidance, and replacement-part availability before purchasing.
Value
At $799.99 when this review was prepared, the R60N is priced like a serious piece of home fitness equipment. The money goes toward the air-plus-magnetic resistance system, heavy single-rail chassis, elevated seat, long rail, detachable two-piece storage, and backlit performance console. What matters is how those pieces affect daily use, and that is where the R60N earns its place.
The R60N makes the strongest case for someone with enough dedicated space who wants a machine they can use in short, repeatable bursts at home or in an office. At 52, I valued being able to get up, move, and raise my heart rate without the impact or preparation I associate with running. The rowing motion engaged my legs, calves, ankles, core, and arms, making it feel like a full-body cardio option rather than a machine that limits movement to one area.
I wouldn’t buy it solely as a muscle-building tool. Its real value is that it makes regular movement unusually accessible: you can get on for a few minutes or 10 minutes without changing clothes, driving to a gym, or paying for a membership. People without a dedicated storage location, or anyone who needs to move the rower between rooms often, should look for something with a smaller footprint.
Verdict
The Merach UltraRow R60N is at its best when it has a permanent place in your home or office. Its resistance range, comfortable fit, compact display, and adjustable device holder made it easy for me to move more often without treating every session like a workout.
The caveat is space. The R60N is long when assembled, and its two-piece storage design is practical for a dedicated room but not for carrying from room to room. If you can give it a home and want convenient, whole-body cardio on your own schedule, it earns its $799.99 price.
Click Here to Buy Now: $699.99 $1099.99 ($400 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!
The post Merach UltraRow R60N review: Built for harder home rowing first appeared on Yanko Design.
Nimble SharePower review: Two battery packs for the price of one
The Nimble SharePower is a versatile battery pack that gets even better when you're traveling with a friend.
