Billy Steele

Deputy editor, reviews

After beginning his career in tech journalism as a news freelancer at Engadget in 2011, Billy progressed through the ranks and now leads the reviews program as deputy editor. During that time, he has written hundreds of headphone, soundbar, speaker and gear reviews. In addition to hardware, his expertise includes audio platforms and streaming services with significant long-form reporting on those topics. In 2019, Billy was Engadget’s most prolific reviewer, completing more product testing than anyone else on staff. He's also an aspiring backyard pitmaster with a number of smart grill reviews and outdoor gear guides under his (apron) belt.

Articles by Billy Steele

Recteq X-Fire Pro 825 review: A smart grill that pulls double duty
The X-Fire Pro offers the ease of gas with the wood flavor of pellets in the same grill.
Traeger debuts Westwood smart pellet grills that start at $700
If you're looking for a new smart pellet grill, Traeger's new Westwood series starts at $700.
Engadget review recap: ASUS ZenBook A16, AirPods Max 2, Sonos Play and LG Sound Suite
A roundup of the latest reviews from Engadget.
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5 review: A basic TV sound booster
Sony’s latest compact soundbar can boost TV volume, but it has constrained directional audio and offers limited features.
Fender Elie review: Handsome speaker/amp hybrids with excellent clarity
The first two speakers from Fender Audio are almost amazing, but not quite.
Samsung's Music Studio speakers and two of its 2026 soundbars are available now
Samsung's home theater lineup this year includes two new speakers and four new soundbars.
March Madness 2026: How to watch the Final Four
Every second of the NCAA Tournaments is available to stream, if you have enough screens and a TV log-in.
Apple AirPods Max 2 review: Better late than never
The H2 chip delivers a host of new features for the AirPods Max 2, but it's time for a comprehensive redesign on these pricey headphones.
Fender Mix review: Well-designed headphones that just fall short of greatness
Fender Audio's first set of headphones makes a strong initial impression, but a deft hand with tuning and some added utility would've made them even better.
Sony adds the Bravia Theater Bar 5 and Bar 7 to its soundbar lineup
Sony's 2026 home theater lineup includes two new soundbars, three new subwoofers and new rear speakers.
Denon expands its multi-room speaker lineup with the Home 200, Home 400 and Home 600
Denon takes on Sonos with three new speakers that are powered by HEOS wireless multi-room streaming.
LG Sound Suite review: Dolby Atmos FlexConnect in a powerful package
LG’s latest home theater system offers immersive sound and lots of options. It’s expensive though, and the marquee feature isn’t always easy to use.
Engadget review recap: Lots of Apple devices, Galaxy S26, Dell XPS 16 and more
A roundup of the latest reviews from Engadget.
How to get your grill ready for the outdoor season
Here's everything you need to know about getting your grill cleaned and ready for the summer.
Denon's DP-500BT turntable combines premium design with Bluetooth streaming for $899
Denon's latest record player offers a built-in preamp, semi-auto operation and aptX Adaptive wireless streaming.
Engadget review recap: Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy Buds 4, Dell XPS 14 and more
A roundup of recent reviews published by Engadget.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro review: Impressive audio, imperfect ANC
Samsung's latest earbuds bring improvements to audio and new features, but they're both far from the best in terms of ANC performance.
Everything you need to know about streaming F1 on Apple TV
Apple has revealed all of the details about its F1 coverage, including five-feed Multiview streaming.
Ooni debuts a rotating stone for its Koda 2 pizza ovens
Ooni's latest pizza oven accessory offers a hands-free way to ensure even cooking.
The best record players for 2026
If you're just getting into vinyl or want to upgrade, we've got options for everyone under $600.

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