Step-by-Step Guide to Wall-Mounting Your TV

If you’re handy, wall-mounting a TV is not too hard, but not everyone has the skills or inclination to do it. And you don’t need to. Retailers, including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, all offer installation services. Prices vary, depending on how complicated the installation will be. For example, Best Buy’s Geek Squad charges $250…

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Amid Tariff Uncertainty, Is This the Best Time to Buy a Laptop?

With all of that being said, it’s worth keeping a cool head. There’s no reason to panic-shop for the most expensive laptop you can afford when a more thoughtful, needs-based purchase can save you money. “Maybe consumers don’t need a system that expensive,” Bouchard says. “Maybe they need something that’s just good enough to do…

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Best Phone Cameras

To help with that, Consumer Reports tests the camera quality of every smartphone that comes through our labs, dutifully snapping photos and recording video in a studio environment under controlled lighting conditions, and then evaluating the results on a high-quality LCD display. Our expert testers review not only the rear cameras but also the front-facing…

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Can AI Avoid the Enshittification Trap?

I recently vacationed in Italy. As one does these days, I ran my itinerary past GPT-5 for sightseeing suggestions and restaurant recommendations. The bot reported that the top choice for dinner near our hotel in Rome was a short walk down Via Margutta. It turned out to be one of the best meals I can…

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Best Lip Balms for Smooth, Hydrated Lips

Like Vaseline, ChapStick is a brand with a long, storied history. I’ve always associated it with the classic cherry ChapStick of my youth, so discovering this richer balm was a delightful surprise. We couldn’t agree on its hydration, longevity, and taste (yep, taste), which knocked it out of the runner-up slot, but it deserves an…

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How Not to Ruin Your Nonstick Pan

So, what extra care does your nonstick pan need? We interviewed manufacturers and consulted experts from our labs to determine what you should do to ensure that your pan’s coating remains safe to use and turns out flawless fried eggs for years to come. 1. Avoid metal utensils. Metal can scrape or otherwise mar the…

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Some Newer Cars Are Missing a Spare Tire

Since 2020, about 9 percent of the cars tested by Consumer Reports have come with a full-sized spare. Studying our database, we found that 46 percent came with a temporary (aka space-saver) spare tire, and the rest were equipped with a sealant kit (34 percent), a run-flat tire (7 percent), or nothing at all (4…

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Best Used Cars and SUVs for Less Than $5,000

Below, we have the most reliable used cars available for $5,000 or less. The top choices came with standard electronic stability control (ESC), a safety system that saves lives and is now required on all new cars. We also included models where ESC was available as an option, and the ones that did not offer…

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How to Prepare for a Weather Emergency

Prepare electronic devices. Having your phone fully charged is only one step in preparing for an emergency. Here are things you need to do with your electronics. Don’t forget your pets. It’s always a good idea to take your pets with you when you evacuate. But how do you prepare for that? Here’s how to…

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