15 Best Laptops (2025), WIRED-Tested and Approved

How Much Should You Spend on a Laptop? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron If you’re shopping for a laptop, you probably have an idea of how much you want to spend. But some context might help put things in perspective. The cheapest laptops cost around $200, but they can range up to $5,000. Meanwhile, the average amount people…

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Quietest Vacuums of 2025

In our lab, CR’s engineers put vacuum cleaners through a set of tough tests to evaluate how well a model picks up dirt, how much debris it retains, how easy it is to maneuver, and how noisy it is.  We embed sand and pet hair into carpets to see how effective the appliance is at…

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Best Handheld Steam Cleaners

A handheld steam cleaner can’t perform magic, but it should be able to loosen deeply embedded dirt, sanitize surfaces, and get in between grout and around metal grates. Many models come with accessories to remove wrinkles from clothing. I was thrilled to discover that a steam cleaner can even help clean vinyl, plastic, or metal…

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NASA’s Largest Satellite Antenna Ever Has Just Unfurled in Space

A Flower-like satellite has “bloomed” in outer space, unfolding to reveal the largest radar antenna reflector ever put into orbit. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), a joint project between the US space agency and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), launched on July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southeastern India, before…

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How to Choose the Right Vacuum for the Job

These lightweight tools (most weigh under 10 pounds) are much more powerful than they used to be. But their cleaning prowess still can’t match an upright or canister (especially on carpet), so they’re better for targeted tasks. They’re good enough that if you live in a small space with mostly hard-surface floors, a top model…

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Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

We evaluate fuel economy under standardized conditions, using a specific procedure on our test track to calculate stop-and-go city-driving numbers and a 5-mile stretch of a nearby high-speed road for highway mileage. (Learn more about how Consumer Reports tests cars.) Below, you’ll find the recommended vehicles that get the best fuel economy overall: Each gets…

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