Engadget
| Company type | Digital platform |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology news, Consumer electronics |
| Founded | March 2004 |
| Founder | Peter Rojas |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dana Wollman (Editor-in-chief) |
| Products | News articles, feature stories, product assessments, purchasing guides, video programs, podcasts, newsletters |
| Owner | Yahoo! Inc. |
| Website | engadget |
Engadget () is a digital platform dedicated to technology news, evaluations, and in-depth analysis, focusing on gadgets, consumer electronics, video gaming, applications, social networks, streaming services, artificial intelligence, space exploration, robotics, electric vehicles, and various other consumer technology sectors. Its offerings include news articles, feature stories, product assessments, purchasing guides, two weekly video programs, The Engadget Podcast, the The Morning After newsletter, and a weekly deals bulletin. Since September 2021, the site has been managed by Yahoo! Inc..
History
Engadget was established in March 2004 by Peter Rojas, a former editor and co-founder of Gizmodo. It quickly became the flagship blog within Weblogs, Inc., a network comprising over 75 blogs such as Autoblog and Joystiq. In 2005, AOL acquired Weblogs Inc.
The site rapidly built a strong reputation for breaking news on gadget launches and leaks. Early in its development, it introduced the weekly Engadget Podcast. On December 30, 2009, Engadget released its inaugural iPhone application; this app was relaunched in 2017 but was eventually discontinued.
On July 15, 2013, Tim Stevens resigned from his role as editor-in-chief, with Marc Perton stepping in as interim executive editor. Later that year in November, Engadget integrated features from gdgt, including a comprehensive device database and aggregated reviews. This move aimed to transform Engadget into an exhaustive consumer electronics resource akin to CNET and Consumer Reports, catering primarily to early technology adopters.
Michael Gorman assumed the editor-in-chief position in April 2014 with Christopher Trout serving as executive editor. Trout succeeded Gorman as editor-in-chief in April 2017; Dana Wollman was elevated to executive editor and later became editor-in-chief in September 2018.
On December 2, 2015, Engadget underwent a redesign that broadened its editorial focus to highlight technology’s wider societal effects, aiming to attract a readership beyond just industry professionals. This expanded editorial approach remains central to the site’s content strategy.
By 2023, Engadget produces more than twenty daily stories spanning news updates, feature pieces, reviews, buying advice, analytical articles, and opinion columns. It publishes The Morning After newsletter Monday through Friday and a weekly deals newsletter on Thursdays. The weekly Engadget Podcast is hosted by deputy editor Cherlynn Low alongside senior reporter Devindra Hardawar with new episodes released every Friday. Additionally in 2023, Engadget introduced two weekly video series: the titular The Morning After, hosted by UK bureau chief Mat Smith (also the newsletter author), and a gaming-centric show led by senior reporter Jessica Conditt.
Awards
Engadget earned a Webby Award for "Best Writing" under the "Websites and Mobile Sites" category in 2018. Between 2019 and 2020, it received three accolades from the Society for Features Journalism: two were awarded for features by then-staff member Chris Ip and one by contributor Megan Giller.
Official Best of CES Awards
Starting in 2013, Engadget served as the official judge for the Best of CES Awards through a collaboration with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes CES; this partnership continued through CES 2021. For CES events in 2022 and 2023, Engadget independently issued "Best of CES" awards without CTA affiliation.
William Shatner and Twitter Verification
On June 21, 2014, actor William Shatner expressed criticism towards several members of Engadget's editorial team concerning their Twitter verification status. This followed the site's social media editor, John Colucci, celebrating the milestone of reaching over one million followers on Twitter. Shatner referred to some staff members as "nobodies" in comparison to verified actors and accused them of engaging in bullying during an interview with Mashable. More than a month later, he continued to address the matter on his Tumblr blog. Engadget responded by standing by its personnel and addressing the wider debate surrounding social media verification practices.
SB Nation
At the beginning of 2011, eight prominent editorial and technical employees departed from AOL to launch a new gadget-focused platform under CEO Jim Bankoff at SB Nation. Joshua Topolsky, who formerly served as editor-in-chief, explained that their departure was motivated by the desire for improved opportunities due to outdated blogging infrastructure and a hiring freeze that had persisted since his leadership began.