Sam Rutherford

Senior Writer, Reviews

Sam Rutherford has been covering tech since 2013 when he started at Tom’s Guide and Laptop Mag. In 2017, he joined Gizmodo before moving to Engadget in 2022. He has reviewed hundreds of phones and laptops while also covering a wide range of other devices including VR headsets, cameras, cars and more. Quotes from his work have been seen everywhere from billboards at the World Trade Center to the Super Bowl. Before getting into tech, he taught archery and looked after penguins at the New England Aquarium, and when he’s not writing he’s probably gaming or testing out a new recipe.

Articles by Sam Rutherford

The Google Pixel 9a might be the new midrange smartphone king
It has dual cameras, a Tensor G4 chip and access to all of Google's AI features for $499.
It's about damn time Microsoft made an Xbox gaming handheld
Xbox’s move to portable PCs is long overdue.
The best Windows laptops for 2025
Here are the best Windows laptops you can get right now, as chosen by Engadget editors.
The best fast chargers for 2025
In order to figure out what the fastest charger on the market is across a range of power outputs, we tested 14 adapters across five different devices. Here are the results.
Ninja Swirl by Creami review: This might be the ultimate home ice cream maker
With the Swirl, Ninja may have created the ultimate home ice cream machine by unlocking the ability to make soft serve. But with expanded features comes extra bulk and a higher price, so is the Swirl a good fit for your kitchen?
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: This cat got its bite back
Even though its first gaming handheld was a flop, MSI didn't give up and returned with a strong contender for one of the most powerful portable PCs on the market.
Lenovo’s codename Flip is another wild take on a flexible-screen laptop
At MWC 2025, Lenovo remixed its already far-out ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable into a far-out laptop with an incredible 18-inch foldable display.
The Lenovo Solar PC Concept feels like a device whose time has come
Lenovo's Solar PC is a good-looking and sustainability-minded concept that features integrated photovoltaic panels that can add an hour's worth of video playback after just 20 minutes in the sun.
Lenovo gave its latest 16-inch ThinkBook a bevy of funky concept screen accessories
At MWC 2025, Lenovo announced a refreshed version of the ThinkBook 16p along with four rather unusual external display prototypes.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a Leica-powered photo showcase
Today, Xiaomi announced global availability for its latest flagship phone: the Xiaomi Ultra 15. And based on our time with it so far, it's a real photography powerhouse.
Lenovo Legion Go S review (Windows version): Not so fast
The Lenovo Legion Go S will be the first third-party gaming handheld to run SteamOS, but it won't be out until May. So in the meantime, we're checking out the Windows 11 model to see if it's worth getting now or if you should wait.
The OnePlus Open 2 isn't happening this year
In a new community note, OnePlus made the surprising and somewhat disappointing announcement that its next foldable phone won't arrive in 2025.
The Ninja Swirl by Creami is conquering the hardest type of ice cream to make at home
With the new Swirl by Creami, Ninja is looking to conquer the final challenge of making ice cream at home: soft serve. And while the machine is a bit bulky, the results speak for themselves.
OnePlus 13 review: A focused flagship that ignores the AI hype
For anyone looking for a powerful new flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 13 is has a blazing new chip, a slick design and a massive battery, all for $100 less than an base Galaxy S25+.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a celebration of early 2000s brawlers
After getting a chance to play a demo of Capcom's Fighting Game Collection 2, this anthology feels like a must-buy for anyone with fond memories of early 2000s titles like Capcom vs. SNK 2 or Power Stone 2.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Too much AI, not enough Ultra
For the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung added a new ultra-wide camera sensor, Gorilla Armor 2 and a big revamp to its AI suite. But is that enough to convince you to buy a new $1,300 phone?
Here are all the Android phones that support Qi2
Here is a list of all the Android phones with official support for Qi2 wireless charging and magnetic attachment.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hands-on: Faster, curvier and way more... AI-ier
For the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung has tweaked its design, added a new 50-MP ultra-wide sensor and focused even more on the phone's AI capabilities.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 doesn't fully support Qi2 on its own
On the new Galaxy S25 line, Samsung says its new phones are "Qi2 ready," but what does that actually mean?
Our unofficial, silly and meaningless CES 2025 awards, just for fun
Here are the totally unofficial CES 2025 dumb fun awards where we try to squeeze a little extra joy out of the most hectic tech convention of the year.

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