Is AppleCare+ Worth Buying for Your iPhone?

Whether those prices are worth it depends on what kind of phone you have and how much risk you’re comfortable with. Let’s say you lose your iPhone 17 Pro within the first year of owning it. The cost of replacing it is $288 (a $149 deductible, plus the $139 you paid for the AppleCare+ plan)….

Read More

CR’s Holiday Tipping Cheat Sheet

There are no hard-and-fast rules about how much you should tip at the holidays, but some tipping norms have become a social convention. For example, giving your barber a holiday bonus equal to the cost of one haircut has become a customary way to show thanks for year-round service. (See “Your Giving Guide,” below, for…

Read More

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…

Read More

Best Whole-House Generators

“A home standby generator does a great job of supplying backup power during an outage,” says Dave Trezza, the test engineer who heads CR’s generator testing program. “But standby generators aren’t cheap, and the installation can be complex and expensive—not a DIY job. That’s why you need a properly sized, top-performing model from our tests…

Read More

Prepaid Car Maintenance Plans: Are They Worth the Cost?

BMW has been a rarity among luxury automakers in that all new models since 2017 that are leased or purchased include a “scheduled maintenance” plan for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The plan covers “consumables” such as engine oil and brake fluid, as well as spark plugs and various filters. This plan…

Read More

How to Choose Nontoxic Cleaning Products

Consider an all-purpose cleaner. Despite what product marketing may tell you, it’s not necessary to have a different cleaner for every surface in your house. An effective all-purpose cleaner will handle almost every job, including kitchen counters, floors, toilets, and bathtubs. This will not only reduce the bulk in your cleaning cabinet but also reduce…

Read More