A portable movie projector combines the convenience of a phone or tablet with the big-screen appeal of a TV. None of these small, portable projectors rival the performance of a good TV or traditional home-theater projector, but the Xgimi MoGo Pro comes the closest of any we’ve tested so far. Plus, the MoGo Pro has Android TV built right in, so you can access a ton of movies without having to connect an external media player.
After more than 65 hours researching fire safety, interviewing five experts, and reading well over a hundred pages of smoke-alarm data, we recommend the First Alert SA511CN2-3ST Smoke Alarm with Voice Location as the primary alarm in a comprehensive whole-home fire-protection system.
To offset the chill in a drafty room or to give your home’s heating system a little boost, you may need a space heater. We’ve researched more than 100 models and tested 67 since 2011, and the Vornado VH200 is the best space heater for most people. A lot of space heaters can make you feel like you’re sitting in front of a hair dryer, but our pick (and other Vornado heaters we tried) warmed an entire room faster and more comfortably than everything else we’ve tested.
If you want basic light bulbs that look great and will save you money in the long run, there’s no reason not to choose LED bulbs—they look as good as incandescents and are far more energy-efficient. We recommend Cree’s Exceptional Light Quality line of A19 bulbs. For general-purpose lighting, look for soft white LED bulbs, available in 60 W and 40 W versions. And for a whiter, cooler light for working, get Cree’s daylight LED bulbs, also in 60 W and 40 W versions. The Cree bulbs also function well with dimmer switches, neither flickering nor buzzing, and their color accuracy brings out the best in your decor, furniture, and food, improving the ambiance of your entire home.
A year into the coronavirus pandemic, there’s still a good deal of confusion over what type of face covering is best and how to effectively wear one. Although medical-style masks are more readily available now than they were early on, and may provide superior filtration in comparison with cloth masks, issues related to fit, comfort, counterfeits, and cost mean that cloth masks remain a go-to tool for slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Until reliable standards for non-medical masks are devised, here’s what we know for sure: Any mask is better than no mask, though some options are better than others. We consulted a range of authorities, from fashion designers and textile experts to aerosol scientists and infectious-disease specialists, to zero in on the small but crucial design details that have an outsize impact on how a mask fits and feels, and—by extension—how it helps reduce person-to-person viral transmission. We then commissioned independent lab tests to assess the filtration efficiency and breathability of a variety of cloth masks and filters, including our picks.
We’ve been shoveling ourselves out of average snowstorms and heavy nor’easters with the True Temper 18-Inch Ergonomic Mountain Mover every winter since 2013. It’s the best snow shovel for most people looking to clear walkways, steps, and small driveways. No other shovel matches its unique blend of ideal size, ergonomics, durability, and availability.
Many people approach mattress shopping in the wrong way, by focusing solely on arbitrary measures of firmness level or sleep position, considering only the price, or choosing materials and technology touted in an ad. But that approach might land you a not-so-comfy mattress that you could regret buying.
Wham! A car crash can happen in an instant. And as frightening as that may be, it can be just as distressing to be blamed for a crash that’s not your fault. That’s why a dash cam can be a critical aid if the unexpected happens. After researching more than 250 models and testing about 40, we’ve found that the best overall dash cam is the Nextbase 522GW. It delivers the sharpest video we’ve seen, is the easiest to use, and has handy features that you don’t get with most other dash cams.
The latest gaming consoles from Microsoft and Sony bring with them new features that, in conjunction with the right TV, can offer the best gaming experience possible. After putting new TVs through our regular battery of tests and then adding an Xbox Series X to the mix, we’ve found that the LG CX OLED TV provides the best gaming experience today and has every feature you’ll need for the foreseeable future.
Drinks spill, kids and pets get sick—messes are inevitable, but a portable carpet and upholstery cleaner can make cleanup less of a hassle. We stained three types of fabric with red wine, bacon grease, indigo dye, and runny eggs, and found that of the seven models we tested, the Bissell SpotClean Pro (3624) was the most effective stain remover of the bunch. It’s also easier to use and clean.
More than 40 hours of research and tests of 17 ice scrapers—including on 28 windshields in a -3 °F cold-chamber at Ford’s vehicle test facility in Detroit—prove the Hopkins SubZero 80037 is a far better tool to clear snow and ice off your car than those cheap handheld scrapers we’ve all had to use in a pinch.
Cordless vacuums cost so much more than traditional plug-ins and rarely last as long, but they’re incredibly convenient. If that sounds like a fair trade-off, and you’re ready to go cord-free, we’ve found a handful of models to suit different homes and budgets. First, consider the Dyson V7 Motorhead.
The Wirecutter Deals team scans the virtual aisles of the internet, searching for great discounts on Wirecutter-recommended products so you don’t have to. In our deals blog posts (like this one), we highlight the discounts that we think Wirecutter readers will love. For more deals information, check out our Deals page, follow us on Twitter @WirecutterDeals, and subscribe to our daily deals newsletter.
From the beginning of Wirecutter’s existence, we’ve been testing printers, totaling nearly 500 hours of research and trying dozens of models. The reliable, simple-to-operate HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e, an all-in-one color inkjet, is a good choice for most people who need to print regularly at home. It’s easy to set up and cheap to run, it works with all kinds of devices, and it produces beautiful prints, from tax forms to glossy photos.
A nonstick pan is the best tool for cooking fluffy omelets, whisper-thin crepes, and delicate fish fillets—without the risk of your food sticking to the bottom. After cooking many dozens of eggs, pounds of fish, and countless crepes, we think the Tramontina 10-Inch Professional Restaurant Fry Pan is the best value for the money; in some cases, it outperforms pans that are more than twice the price. We’ve been cooking in ours since 2016, and although it’s not brand-new slick anymore, it still releases fried eggs and omelets without resistance. Apart from its durable coating, the Tramontina pan offers good heat distribution and excellent maneuverability.
Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries almost always last longer, cost less, and reduce waste compared with single-use batteries. After four hours of research and 120 hours of testing, we decided not to recommend a specific battery, since most name brands perform about the same regardless of whether you pop them into a wireless mouse, a kid’s toy, or a flashlight.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing external drives to find the best options for any use and budget. If you want a dependable external drive that has plenty of storage space for documents and photos and is easy to take on the go, get the 2 TB Seagate Backup Plus Slim. But we also have recommendations if you want more storage space, if you want something more reliable or even faster, or if you need to regularly move large amounts of data from one computer to another with an external drive.
Don’t underestimate the ability of flowers to turn someone’s day around. Whether you’re sending a bouquet to mark a holiday, to celebrate a milestone, or to make nice after an argument, we think UrbanStems is the best flower delivery service. Of the nine companies we tried, its stylish arrangements were the most beautiful, the freshest, the most well packaged, and the easiest to order.
There’s no one smartphone that is best for everyone, but we’ve spent hundreds of hours testing scores of phones so that you can find the best one for you. The phone you buy will depend on your budget, your wireless carrier, and which of the major smartphone platforms—Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android—you’re already invested in. But whether you want a top-of-the-line phone or something more affordable, we have recommendations for iPhone and Android, and all of our picks are available for all the major US carriers.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing TVs to find the best options for any space and budget. If you just want a great TV at a reasonable price, the TCL 6-Series—available in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch screen sizes—is the best overall LCD/LED TV. But if you want even better performance, a cheaper price, or something smaller, we have other recommendations as well.
Whether you’re traveling to work or school, using a backpack is the most comfortable way to carry your laptop, books, and anything else you need for the day. A backpack is more ergonomic than a messenger bag, holds more than a briefcase, and looks more stylish than a rolling bag. Over the past two years, we’ve tested 53 backpacks on buses, trains, cars, bikes, and planes to find the best laptop backpacks for commuting.
If you like to experiment in the kitchen, you might have fun with a sous vide cooker, a device that lets you cook foods slowly and precisely to the perfect temperature—think custardy eggs and effortless medium-rare steak. After testing dozens of models over the past six years, we think the Anova Precision Cooker Nano is the best sous vide immersion circulator for home cooks. It’s the smallest, most affordable model from a company that’s consistently made some of the best-performing cookers we’ve tested. And its precise temperature control and quick heating are on a par with that of much more expensive machines.
A great desk lamp can make all the difference in your workspace—both functionally and aesthetically. It can help you better see what you’re working on, reducing eye fatigue. It can help set the right mood for getting work done. And it can be a design statement. After researching over 40 desk lamps and testing 10, we’ve chosen our favorite desk lamps in a variety of styles and prices.
After spending more than 30 hours researching and testing 10 soldering irons, we found the X-Tronic Model 3020-XTS LED Display Soldering Iron Station to be the best for beginners and casual hobbyists. The station performed similarly to options that cost twice as much and had one of the fastest warm-up times of the soldering irons we tested.
In a world turned upside down, who’d have guessed that a beard trimmer would become vital to the safety and well-being of so many? Whether you’re taking on a grooming task once entrusted to your barber or learning to sculpt new facial hair that sprouted after a few months of isolation, we think the cordless Philips Norelco MG7750 is the trimmer best suited to get most beards looking great.
Quality rain gear keeps you dry while you’re roaming in fresh spring rains or on misty fall days. If your raincoat or pants are stained or dirty, or if they’re starting to “wet out” (absorbing water instead of shedding it), that doesn’t mean they’re no longer effective. With a little TLC, your rain gear can look and function like new.
A good humidifier creates a comforting indoor condensation level that can soothe your cracked skin and help you breathe more easily—but even the best ones still require more maintenance and attention than you’d expect from such a seemingly simple device. We recommend the Honeywell HCM-350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier because it’s quieter, more durable, and easier to clean than any other evaporative humidifier we’ve tested, with a 1-gallon tank that will last all day.
Light bulbs—even smart ones—should be easy. Just screw a smart LED bulb into a lamp and pair it with a smartphone, and you never have to worry about navigating dark hallways or hunting for a switch. Many even let you adjust the color. We recommend the Philips Wiz Smart Wi-Fi LED Color Bulb because it’s bright enough for everyday use, delivers vibrant colors, and can team up with Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri Shortcuts, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. It’s also one of the most affordable color bulbs we’ve tested, making the switch to using smart bulbs as easy as, well, screwing in a light bulb.
Weeding through the endless foam-mattress options online can feel as exhausting as suffering through a bad night’s sleep. But we’ve tested dozens of mattresses since 2016 so you don’t have to.
When buying a phone, we generally recommend sticking with the same platform your current phone uses. At a minimum, switching entails learning the quirks of a new interface and potentially losing access to purchased apps, app-specific data, or even photo and data services. But if you’re considering a switch, we have some insight on the real-world differences between iOS and Android, gleaned from thousands of hours of using smartphones and tablets on both platforms.
Any power strip will work in a pinch to add a few extra outlets to a room, but it’s important to find one that won’t leave your electronic devices vulnerable to harmful power surges. We’ve spent more than 150 hours researching and testing surge protectors, and we’re confident that the Tripp Lite 12-Outlet Surge Protector offers the best combination of protection and outlet quantity at a reasonable price. It absorbs common household surges—up to thousands of volts—before they reach your electronics, preventing damage and fires. And you don’t have to wonder whether it’s still doing its job, because once its protection has worn out, it safely cuts the power so you know it’s time to get a replacement.
Even if you’re not a secret agent and don’t think you have anything to hide, you need a paper shredder. Garbage and recycling bins full of bank statements and credit card offers are treasure troves for identity thieves. Your best defense: a paper shredder, which chomps through sensitive documents and spits them out as confetti. After researching 25 shredders and running more than 2,000 sheets of paper (along with staples, paper clips, CDs, and credit cards) through eight of them, we recommend the AmazonBasics 15-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper/CD/Credit-Card Shredder for personal and home-office use.
Few things are as awe-inspiring as being out under a clear night sky, looking up, and gazing at a seemingly infinite array of stars overhead. So we gathered 10 telescopes, and after five months of star parties we think the Celestron NexStar 5SE is the best telescope for a curious amateur. It gathers enough light for you to view the best features of our solar system, and it gives you enough power to begin to explore deep-sky objects. In addition, this model has an electronic GPS database preloaded with almost 40,000 celestial objects, and after you calibrate the scope, it can scan the skies for you.
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, there’s a good chance you’re all in: iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. One way to keep each of these devices powered is to run three cords to three adapters—but the best way is to use a single charging station. If you have an older iPhone, Mophie’s 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand is the best charging station, offering fast wireless power for all your Apple gear (well, except for your MacBook and iPad) in a tidy, convenient design that’s worth the price. And if you’ve upgraded to an iPhone 12 with Apple’s MagSafe charging and mounting system, don’t worry—we have a pick for you, as well.
A good towel will dry you off quickly, but a great towel will make you feel like you’re having a spa day. After researching hundreds of towels and drying off with dozens since 2014, we think the Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel is the best choice if you want to invest in soft, plush bath linens. It feels luxurious, comes in an array of colors, and has proved itself durable.
Do you like exercising, hiking, or playing outdoors in the cooler months? How about working in the yard or going for walks? Do you do fieldwork, fish, or hunt? Go to sports practice or play in the snow? Chances are, there’s some outdoor activity you do in the winter months, and if so, a set of comfortable, functional base layers—lightweight pieces of clothing to wear under sweaters or jackets or pants—is a worthwhile investment.
Cats scratch when they play, to sharpen their claws, to relieve stress, and to mark their territory. If you don’t have a scratcher, your feline may direct this behavior onto your furniture instead. To find the best cat scratcher, we sought the help of 74 cats and kittens at the Little Wanderers NYC rescue group. Our cat-tastic experts loved the Pioneer Pet’s SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post because it’s sturdy, time-tested, and tall enough for even large cats to enjoy with ease.
The Ultimate Scratching Post’s sisal surface and tall, boxy design should satisfy most kitties, but if your cat doesn’t like it, we also have picks for a carpeted post scratcher, a cardboard lounger, and a scratcher that you can mount on a wall or lay on the floor.
Its durable woven sisal lasts longer than carpet and is better for your pet than rope. It's also one of the tallest scratchers we tested, so your cat can stretch out.
Why we love it: Pioneer Pet’s SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post is the best-looking, most durable post scratcher of the 16 post models we researched and the five we tested. At 32 inches it’s tall enough for your cat to stretch out comfortably. Its solid-wood base is sturdy, so it says upright even during vigorous scratching or leaping, and its woven-sisal scratching surface is a natural fiber that shreds cleanly (unlike carpet) and won’t become prickly over time (unlike sisal rope, also common among scratchers).
On top of that, woven sisal is extremely durable: We let 20 cats abuse it for a week and a half, and it had no visible marks. Several Wirecutter staffers have owned this scratcher model for years, including senior staff writer Kimber Streams, who’s owned the same scratcher since 2017. “It’s had a long run for sure,” they said. Elizabeth Llewellyn, a feline welfare and behavior specialist, writes that she has had hers for over five years. Newer Ultimate Scratching Post converts also report minimal wear and tear: “It’s still going strong one year later with one tiny but determined cat,” said Sasha VanHoven, Wirecutter’s social strategy manager. On Amazon, where it currently has a rating of 4.7 stars (out of five) across more than 16,000 ratings, reviewers praise its durability: “Still going strong five years later,” writes one owner, who may actually have had it for 10.
Unlike with most post scratchers, The Ultimate Scratching Post’s wooden base isn't covered in scratchable material, but its rectangular post has nearly 900 square inches of woven-sisal scratching surface, more than most other models we tested. At 16 pounds, the post is hefty enough to stay put during vigorous exercise but still easy to move when needed, and it has a wooden platform on the top for your cat to perch on. It’s also the least-ugly cat scratcher we tested—by a significant margin—and it doesn’t look out of place with mid-century decor.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: We found a few spots in the woven sisal where the weave missed a loop or two, which a determined cat could loosen or even get their claws caught on. (We recommend spot-checking your post and securing loose threads during setup.)
This is the only scratcher we tested that has a rectangular post, so you’ll need to rotate the scratcher periodically as it wears; traditional posts are tubular, so a cat can scratch them from any angle comfortably. Finally, our test unit of The Ultimate Scratching Post came with hex screws to attach the post to the base, but no Allen wrench, so you’ll need to keep your toolbox handy.
Although woven sisal is an ideal scratching material, not all cats will like it right away. It may look unfamiliar and feel rougher than other surfaces such as your couch cushion. Nicole Kay of the Just Cats store in the Denver area told us you can attract your cat to a scratcher by dusting it with catnip, or scratching your nails against its surface so your pet knows it’s okay to approach. (Just don’t press your cat’s paw pad to a scratcher; this scares some cats.)
Dimensions: 16 by 16 inches (base), 7 by 7 by 32 inches (post); 16 pounds
The more you carry around a pocket knife, the more uses you’ll find for it. Everything from opening delivery boxes to fishing little objects out from between floorboards can be accomplished without having to search around for a specific tool. After researching pocket knives for over 60 hours and talking to two people who have reviewed at least 450 knives between them, we tested 28 knives—by slicing up 20 cardboard boxes and peeling 30 apples—and found that the Columbia River Knife and Tool Drifter is the best knife for most people to carry every day.
The Wirecutter Deals team scans the virtual aisles of the internet, searching for great discounts on Wirecutter-recommended products so you don’t have to. In our Deals blog posts (like this one), we highlight the discounts that we think Wirecutter readers will love. For more deals information, check out our Deals page, follow us on Twitter @WirecutterDeals, and subscribe to our daily deals newsletter.
Leaving your beloved pet home alone can be distressing. A good pet camera makes your time away painless, showing you firsthand that your pet is happy and safe, even when you’re not there. However, after extensive testing and research, we found that most pet owners don’t actually need a fancy pet camera. You can get the same peace-of-mind benefits from our favorite cheap security camera, the Wyze Cam v2. It’s compact, has great video, and offers free cloud storage.
Early last year, I switched from drinking leaf water (tea) to drinking bean juice (coffee) every morning. Something about living amidst a global pandemic, civil unrest, and an unmitigated climate crisis made me want to switch things up.
The holidays are over, the winter doldrums are settling in, and continuing pandemic concerns may mean that your family’s collective case of cabin fever is about to become worse than ever. Submitting to a winter of discontent might seem inevitable, unless you know how to coax your kids (and yourself) into embracing the elements.
