You’ll inevitably drop your smartphone. Once at a theater, my Galaxy Note slipped out of my pocket and fell onto the seat’s metal frame, crushing the side button so that the phone kept trying to activate Bixby, Samsung’s voice assistant. The phone was very hot by the end of the movie. A case might have…
Summer might mean pool days and wet hair—but also vacations and nights out at beach bars. For those times, you want hair tools that work quickly for effortless styles that defy humidity. Some of our favorites, including Dyson’s pricey Airstrait and Airwrap, are currently on sale. Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just…
A tire pressure warning light on a chilly morning doesn’t necessarily indicate a puncture, just that your tires are running low pressure and that you need to top them off as soon as possible. Colder temperatures will cause tire pressure to drop about 1 pound per square inch for every 10° F drop in air temperature. If…
Mercedes says the CLA was designed from the beginning to be an electric vehicle. The all-electric CLA with EQ Technology goes on sale first, and we know the most about it so far. It’s an all-electric design that comes with both a J1772 charging port for Level 2 charging and a NACS port for DC…
We’ve found significant differences from one formulation to another. One year of testing tells you how a stain will do after a year on your deck or about three years of weathering on vertical surfaces (siding or fences), as you’ll see in our wood stain ratings. Our location in the Northeast exposes the boards to…
Currently, there are four Eero systems on the market worth considering, offering a broadly similar experience. The first two are dual-band systems (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Folks with internet connections up to 500 Mbps can go with the regular Eero 6. If you have a faster connection, up to 1 Gbps, and your home…
Most models use a double-wall design (like an insulated metal mug) to burn wood more efficiently, cutting smoke in the process. That wall is crucial—by trapping hot air against the fire chamber, it makes it easier for wood to fully light. In addition, most models feature a network of holes or vents, strategically placed to…
People prioritize different features in a dishwasher, including a third rack, a short wash-cycle time, or a fingerprint-resistant surface. We note these options on each model page from our comprehensive dishwasher ratings and provide the details you need to know about them in our dishwasher buying guide. But there are a few performance aspects that…
Catherine Roberts Catherine Roberts is a health and science journalist at Consumer Reports. She has been at CR since 2016, covering infectious diseases, bugs and bug sprays, consumer medical devices like hearing aids and blood pressure monitors, health privacy, and more. As a civilian, her passions include bike rides, horror films and fiction, and research…
Spin class is not for the faint of heart—or the unprepared. Among the heart-pounding playlists, the flashing neon lights, and the hyperactive choreography, you’ll want gear that keeps you comfortable and locked in. From cycling shoes that can keep pace with your power intervals to reusable water bottles that won’t slow you down, I’ve rounded…