I have probably tested close to 100 cheap phones over the last 9 years, and I’ve never really had to worry about bringing a backup in case things go awry. Budget phones are usually sluggish but work well enough. But I almost immediately regretted not bringing a spare smartphone when I took the HMD Fusion…
The Meta Quest 3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a massive upgrade over its predecessor in almost every category. It has improved specs across the board—slightly higher resolution, a faster processor, more RAM, and the option for up to 512 GB of internal storage—but the biggest change is the mixed-reality upgrade. The previous model, the Quest…
In the midst of our reporting on Nike’s turbulent year, we failed to emphasize one fact: Even as Nike’s corporate leadership flails in a post-Covid world, the company’s shoes and athletic apparel still make up a huge market segment and are still the leading performance models in the industry. Every marathon shoe is just a…
Jump-starting a car used to be a simple affair, but since cars have become more complex there are new risks, and you should be cautious if you jump-start one on your own. Plus, you might want to think twice about asking a stranger for help. “When a vehicle battery dies, most people immediately think to…
With various standards and charging technologies at work, it is much harder than it should be to work out what a cable can do. There are a few things worth knowing when shopping. USB Standards: The Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard dates to 1996 but has seen many new standards, revisions, and connector types in…
The debacle led to a hearing in the US Senate on consolidation in the ticketing industry. In May, the US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit seeking to break up Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which it accused of abusing their alleged ticketing monopoly to trample competitors. In a statement provided to WIRED at the…
Save on the Latest Gear at B&H Photo B&H Photo is one of our favorite places to shop for camera gear. If you’re ever in New York, head to the store to check out the giant overhead conveyor belt system that brings your purchase from the upper floors to the registers downstairs (yes, seriously, here’s…
Sharpening your own knives may seem intimidating, but once you get over the initial learning curve, it can be a cost-effective way to transform your dull knives into a new set. To further put my expertise into perspective, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of sharp knives since my dad, a former butcher, taught me…
There are two main types of chargers: trickle and maintainer. Basic trickle chargers slowly replenish the battery, but they need to be monitored and manually disconnected when the battery is topped off. A maintainer may be all most people need. True to their name, these budget-friendly chargers are meant to preserve the charge level, not…
To qualify for a tax credit of up to $7,500, a new EV or eligible plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) must meet certain rules: • A vehicle’s MSRP must not exceed certain limits, so pricey EVs like the GMC Hummer EV, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S won’t qualify. For SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, the…