All of the countertop water filters we test use carbon filtration to clean tap water. These filters are lined with black granular activated carbon, which, like a magnet to metal, pulls solid and gas contaminants from the water and air that flows through it. Activated carbon-block technology is good at filtering funky tastes and odors,…
We rate refrigerators based on their thermostat performance, temperature uniformity, noise output, ease of use, energy efficiency, crisper performance, and icemaker performance (if they have one). Every refrigerator we test gets wired with 15 temperature sensors. We then monitor those thermocouples for more than a month in one of three temperature-controlled chambers, collecting more than…
To help with that, Consumer Reports tests the camera quality of every smartphone that comes through our labs, dutifully snapping photos and recording video in a studio environment under controlled lighting conditions, and then evaluating the results on a high-quality LCD display. Our expert testers review not only the rear cameras but also the front-facing…
Crude powertrain: The Wagoneer S’s 500 hp is of little use if it can’t be efficiently (or even adequately) employed to move the SUV down the road—and that’s a problem for this SUV. As one tester put it, “Unfortunately, the electric powertrain is one of its worst qualities. It is unrefined in a number of…
Compare Our Picks Photograph: Molly Higgins Others Tested Pillow Cube Side Cube for $66: This isn’t technically a body pillow, but it’s specifically designed for side sleepers (and I love it), so it’s included in this list. This cuboid pillow is designed for the side sleeper, and aims to help with headaches and back and…
Other MagSafe Power Banks to Consider We like a few other MagSafe power banks that didn’t make it into our top picks. Apple MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Apple’s MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air for $99: The super svelte iPhone Air doesn’t have room for a big battery, so Apple offers this…
The latest addition to China’s Tiangong space station is an AI chatbot with expertise in navigation and tactical planning. Named Wukong AI—after the protagonist of the “Monkey King” legend in Chinese mythology, Sun Wukong—the chatbot was introduced on the space station in mid-July, and has already completed its first mission: supporting three taikonauts during a…
Main theme: We bought a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy AWD for our test program, Hyundai’s first model to use its new hybrid system based on a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The podcast panelists share first impressions of this three-row family hauler, covering performance, fuel economy, interior space, cabin luxury, and daily usability. Then they discuss…
So when Consumer Reports asked me to evaluate and review walkers, I was game. A CR market analyst identified the most sought-after walkers on the market today, and I tried each of them in and around my home. But before we delve into the results, I’d like to explain the different types of walkers and…
Other Portable Power Stations We Tested Photograph: Simon Hill Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 2000 Plus for $1,999: The versatile, expandable, durable, and dependable Explorer 2000 Plus was my top pick for a while, and it’s still a good choice if you find it on sale, though the Bluetti Elite 300 that unseated it packs…