Craig Rawlins-Wilson

Craig Rawlins-Wilson

Deputy Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I've been writing and editing technology news and reviews for nearly 15 years. I’ve ridden roller coasters to test the first heart-rate-tracking Fitbits, driven three-wheeled Toyotas through the streets of Grenoble, and explored Sony's Walkman retrospective in Tokyo. I've worked as a news editor at Input in New York, spent five years as the editor of Stuff magazine in Johannesburg, and freelanced for Time, The Sunday Times, Tom's Guide, and numerous other outlets.

In between writing hundreds of news stories and reviews, I've edited hundreds more from talented writers, and I've provided tech analysis and commentary for podcasts, radio, and TV. I've tested myriad smart home devices, wearables, cars, cameras, headphones, smartphones, drones, e-bikes, and almost anything else you can put batteries in, plug into an outlet, or connect to the internet.

The Technology I Use

My daily driver is a 16-inch MacBook Pro. I'm willing to accept the extra heft when on the road in exchange for the larger display and all-day battery life. At home, it's connected to a 34-inch LG Ultrawide monitor and a Keychron Q1 mechanical keyboard. I auto-transcribe voice notes and interviews with MacWhisper, snap tabs into place with Rectangle, and grab text from images or videos with TextSniper.

My house is packed with smart lighting from Nanoleaf, Philips Hue, Wiz, and more, along with an array of smart plugs, cameras, and a selection of Google Home speakers and displays to control it all.

If I'm not running or cycling outdoors—or when New York winter sets in—I work out on (or next to) a Peloton Bike. I really like the strength training classes and multi-week programs, and a $25 third-party accessory enables the screen to swivel like the one on the more expensive Bike+.

I usually carry an Insta360 X5 for 360-degree photos and video and a Canon EOS R for stills. I also use a Canon Rebel 2000 EOS and an Olympus Trip 35 for 35mm film. I play vinyl on a Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB connected to a pair of Klipsch R-41PM speakers and an R-100SW subwoofer. I use the same speaker setup for streaming music via a Google Chromecast Audio (long may it live).

For watching video, I use an aged LG Minibeam LED Projector connected to a Yamaha receiver and a 7.1 surround sound system that I cobbled together from local sidewalk giveaways. A Chromecast, a 2012 MacBook, and a Nintendo Switch are plugged into the receiver, and the projector is pointed at a 100-inch ceiling-mounted screen.

For years, I used Android smartphones and Fitbit trackers, but I finally caved and moved to an iPhone and Apple Watch, respectively. It's exhausting being an Android user in US-based group chats, and Fitbits tend to die after a year, in my experience.

I believe you should always go for the most storage you can afford, every light should be dimmable, and the best smartphone ever made was the iPhone 4s (in white).

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