Car theft is a serious concern, even among more mainstream models. Vehicle thefts numbered more than a million for 2022 and 2023, but the figures dropped to 850,708 in 2024, according to the NICB, an industry membership organization. California has the highest vehicle theft rate at 463.2 thefts per 100,000 people. Why it matters: The…
Safety EquipmentIn recent years, a growing number of new cars have included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology as optional, if not standard, equipment. That means used cars are more readily available with features ranging from automatic emergency braking (AEB) to adaptive cruise control (ACC). Among those features, Consumer Reports highly recommends AEB with pedestrian…
Today, there are better detangling tools, but which ones are the best? Our diverse team of five Consumer Reports employees and my teenage daughter, with a variety of hair types and textures, including kinky, curly, straight, and coiled natural hair, evaluated six popular detangling hair brushes. Plus: One evaluator tried them on her wigs and…
If your water test report indicates the presence of PFAS, or if you just want some peace of mind, a home water filter can be worth considering. Most water filters that CR tests are designed to improve taste and reduce odors (two of the biggest consumer complaints) by removing common contaminants in tap water. Many…
If you only do one thing, do this. The biggest power hog in your laptop is, by far, the screen. The brighter it is, the more power it consumes. Unless you’re working under direct sunlight, you probably don’t need it at its highest setting. Lowering the brightness is as simple as tapping a function key…
Apple has taken the second approach with caveats. Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air’s battery capacity will sit around 2,900 mAh, a steep drop from prior iPhone models, especially at the 6.6-inch screen size. But the company is supposedly making up for it with power-saving tricks to make sure battery life remains similar to other…
“Changing a tire is a straightforward task in perfect conditions,” says Ryan Pszczolkowski, Consumer Reports’ tire program manager. “But often the location is dangerous, such as a busy roadway, or there’s a wrinkle, such as when you find out your car doesn’t have a working spare tire. It’s wise to know how to change a…
Normally we think the Canon EOS R8 is the best deal, but when you can save $500 on an EOS R5 C Body, why not upgrade? The R5 offers a 45 Megapixel Full-frame sensor and can shoot 8K RAW Video. It’s a powerhouse of a camera and a steal at this price. If you don’t…