If your home isn’t equipped for central air conditioning, mini-splits may be a smart alternative, particularly if you don’t want to install and remove clunky window units each season. Mini-splits, also known as ductless air conditioners, can cool large spaces quickly and quietly. Mini-splits are a type of heat pump. They cool your home by…
This holds true for more than just household finances. Thanks to extra power, value, and customizability, desktop PCs remain the top choice for serious gamers, photo and video editors, and anyone who wrangles large spreadsheets for work. At Consumer Reports, we group models into three main categories: all-in-one, mini, and tower. Below you’ll find a…
“Sleeping on your stomach tends to worsen back pain,” says Nnaemeka Echebiri, MD, a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. When your hips sink into the mattress, they force your lower back into a hyperextended or overarched position. This stresses the small joints that connect the vertebrae—known as the facet…
Before anything else, you’ll have to decide between ink and laser. I’ll get into the details when it comes to each model, but the most important consideration is paper type, because it’s a limitation rather than a benefit. Laser printers use heat in the bonding process, which means if you regularly print on windowed envelopes…
If you’ve ever found yourself in a restroom with single-ply toilet paper you needed to use a lot of, you know what I mean. Comfort and softness are critical to a good roll of toilet paper, but other factors come into play as well. We tested 15 different types of toilet paper through rigorous testing…
Aluminum won’t crack like a polycarbonate shell. You can stomp on these bags and stand on them. Don’t tell airport security, but my daughter and I have been known to race aluminum carry-on bags through airport terminals, like real-life Mario Kart. When frequent travelers buy luggage, they want this structural integrity and reliability. Rigid shells…
Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company SpaceX is acquiring his AI startup xAI, the centibillionaire announced on Monday. In a blog post, Musk said the acquisition was warranted because global electricity demand for AI cannot be met with “terrestrial solutions,” and Silicon Valley will soon need to build data centers in space to power its…
The takeaway is clear: While online shopping offers convenience, it remains a buyer‑beware environment, especially when it comes to baby products. Consumer Reports recommends several steps parents can take to protect their families: Understand who you’re buying from. It’s not always easy to tell who is selling a given product—and that’s part of the broader…
HDR, short for high dynamic range, is now found in a vast majority of midsized and large sets. HDR increases the contrast between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks a TV can produce. To do a good job with HDR video, a TV needs to get bright enough to display brighter, more colorful images…
The nationwide incentives featured below are good on the highlighted vehicles until at least July 31, 2025. The vehicles are listed in rank order by the percentage of potential savings off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which is 4 to 23 percent this month. (And, yes, with electric vehicles there may be additional savings through…
