Talking Cars 492: 10 Top Picks of 2026

Main theme: In this episode of the “Talking Cars” video podcast, we discuss the models that make up the best and brightest cars and trucks that we’ve tested. The panel says that, for the first time, every CR Top Pick is either a hybrid (or available as one) or an electric vehicle. We talk about…

Read More

Can You Get a Deal After You’ve Already Paid?

Many major retailers will adjust the price of an item if a customer can show it’s available elsewhere for less when they check out.  A number of popular stores, however, do have policies for post-sale considerations, whether you find a better price elsewhere or the item goes on sale where you bought it. Some may…

Read More

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…

Read More

The Best Unlimited Phone Plan: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Compared

“Unlimited” is a funny term. Unlimited cell phone plans often come with a long list of footnotes, terms, conditions, and exceptions. Mercifully, all of the Big Three cell companies have, by now, ditched throttling on their highest-paid tiers, and include 5G data access in all their unlimited plans. Yet there are still many differences in…

Read More

Sennheiser’s Awesome Wireless Earbuds Are Almost Half Off

Looking to score almost 50 percent off on a pair of high-end true wireless earbuds? Amazon currently has the Black Graphite Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) marked down to just $180, a full $170 off their list price, with lesser discounts on the regular black and white varieties. Courtesy of Sennheiser Sennheiser…

Read More

Anyone Could Forget a Kid in a Hot Car, Research Shows

Diamond says the problem involves two parts of a person’s working memory: prospective and semantic. Prospective memory helps us remember to do something in the future, while semantic memory allows drivers to make the trip from work to home on autopilot, where they arrive without remembering clear details of how they got there. Prospective and…

Read More