WIRED Reviews
Hardwired to find the best of the best—all products are meticulously tested by our over-caffeinated reviewers and editors. Learn about the Reviews team.

Hard Headed
How This Tiny Startup Built the World’s Safest Bike Helmet
Inspired by head-banging woodpeckers, Vancouver-based Pikio Labs has discovered a new approach to skull protection.
Chris Haslam



America’s Hybrid Hype Has Hit the Used Market
Demand is so high that some used cars are selling for more than new ones.
Aarian Marshall

Amazon Snuffs Out the Fire and Rebrands Its Slates as Alexa Tablets
The three new aluminum Alexa Tablets now run Android with full access to the Google Play Store. There are versions for kids too.
Julian Chokkattu

The New Alexa Tablets Feel Like a Blueprint for an Amazon Phone
Amazon is rumored to be making a smartphone, and the Alexa-powered experiences on its new tablets give us a taste of what might come if that happens.
Julian Chokkattu

The New ChatGPT Is More Show Than Tell
OpenAI is updating ChatGPT for all users with an “Intelligent UI” that’s more visual—generating interactive elements as part of the chatbot’s outputs.
Reece Rogers
Daily Deals

Top Disney Plus Discounts and Promos for October 2026
Cut your subscription costs with the latest active Disney+ bundle deals, verified student offers, and partner promotions.
Molly Higgins

Top H&R Block Coupon: 25% Off DIY + Tax Pro Assist
Save over 25% when you opt for H&R Block’s free online offering, plus a tax pro review.
Molly Higgins

Instacart Promo Code: $15 Off for October 2026
Find the best Instacart promo code for massive savings in October 2026.
Molly Higgins

Limited Time: TurboTax Coupons Full Service This October
Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. Score 10% off full service expert on federal tax filings and more exclusive TurboTax discount codes on WIRED.
Molly Higgins

The Best Time to Get a New Kindle Is Right Now
Amazon raised Kindle prices across the board, but Prime Day is still the best time to buy.
Nena Farrell

Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy, WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu and Matthew Korfhage

The Best Gaming Routers, as Tested By an Entire Family of Gamers
Gaming online can seriously strain your internet connection, but the best gaming routers could give you the edge.
Simon Hill

I Printed a Shovel, Earrings, and Everything in Between With This 3D Printer
The Bambu Lab P2S Combo makes useful, polished objects without requiring advanced technical skills.
Kat Merck

The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget
There’s little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. These iPhones and Android devices—ranging from $100 to $800—stood up to WIRED’s testing.
Julian Chokkattu and Simon Hill

Which Samsung Galaxy Phone Should You Buy?
From flagship and budget to flipping and folding, Samsung’s Galaxy range spans the breadth of the smartphone cosmos. WIRED’s here to help you make your choice.
Julian Chokkattu and Simon Hill

Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now?
The first folding iPhone Duo is here, alongside the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, but they’re not your only options. We have all the details on Apple’s smartphone lineup to help you find the right model.
Julian Chokkattu and Simon Hill

Don’t Buy an Android Phone Until You Read Our Guide
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu
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Bose Wants to Be the Headphone King Again. Does This New Release Take the Crown?
Bose’s sequel to the QuietComfort Headphones is incredibly comfortable and has excellent noise-canceling, but those traits are no longer enough to beat the competition.
Harry Rabinowitz

The Beats 360 Are Workout Headphones That Will Spot You in the Gym
Beats’ new flagship headphones are customizable, stylish, fun, and great for working out. But there are stronger options for everyday use.
Harry Rabinowitz

Make It Loud With These Tested Party Speakers
These speakers combine serious volume, big bass, portability, and the occasional karaoke session to bring the party anywhere.
Chris Haslam

The Best Open Earbuds I’ve Tested
I’ve tested dozens of open earbuds. My favorite ones let you hear the world and your tunes equally.
Harry Rabinowitz

The Best Wi-Fi Routers to Reach Every Corner of Your Home
Don’t suffer the buffer. These WIRED-tested home routers will deliver reliable internet across your home, whatever your needs or budget.
Simon Hill
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What’s in the Guts of Apple’s Most Powerful Computer Ever?
The Mac Studio can run frontier-level AI language models locally. It’s only a preview of what’s to come.
Luke Larsen

The Best Laptop Docking Stations to Supercharge Your Workstation
Docking stations expand what your laptop can do, and I’ve been testing the best of the best to see which you should buy.
Luke Larsen

The Best External Hard Drives to Back Up Everything You Have
Need an ultrafast drive for video editing or a rugged option to back up your photos in the field? We’ve got a solution for every situation.
Scott Gilbertson

The Best Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers for Taking Back Your Weekend
It’s finally time to ditch the gas canister—I tested these cordless leaf blowers on gravel, wood chips, and even a 5-pound concrete paver.
Sal Vaglica

Here’s Why Staples Should Be Your Go-To for Holiday Photos and Last-Minute Gifts
Staples’s printing service offers fast pickup and in-store experts who can help you get your family photos, novelty gifts, and business documents looking exactly how you want.
Scott Gilbertson

My Cat Helped Me Test Smart Collars. These Are My Favorites
After months of monitoring Basil’s activity and sleep, I found that Fi and Tractive cat trackers come with their own trade-offs.
Molly Higgins

The Tractive Cat 6 Mini Is a Fitbit for Your Cat
Cats are finally getting the dog treatment. This smart cat collar features GPS location, activity, and sleep tracking, plus all-new heart and respiratory rate monitoring.
Molly Higgins

Last Chance Prime Day Deals on Smartwatches, Smart Rings, and Wearables
I’ve tested the wearables, tracked the prices, and found the Prime Day deals worth grabbing.
Boutayna Chokrane

The Best Sleep Trackers for Smarter Rest and Recovery
I tested the top sleep wearables for every type of sleeper, including devices from Oura, Google Fitbit, and Eight Sleep.
Boutayna Chokrane

I Tested Mattress Toppers for Every Kind of Sleeper
These toppers will transform your mattress into exactly what you need, whether that’s a super-plush pillow top, memory foam, or targeted back support.
Nena Farrell

Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers
Nothing ruins a great night of sleep faster than getting too hot. We slept on a myriad of cooling mattresses to find which ones drew the heat away best.
Molly Higgins

Snag Last-Minute Digital Gifts Online and Stay Cozy Inside
Forget the wrapping paper and shipping. Go digital this year with subscriptions, ebooks, apps, and more.
Simon Hill

The 10 Best Coffee Subscriptions of 2026 to Keep You Wired
We tried dozens of the best coffee subscriptions to find freshly roasted, delicious coffee for every taste.
Matthew Korfhage
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Factor Meals Have Gotten Much Better. Now to Ditch the Microwave
Factor home-delivery meals have mastered the art of a juicy, medium-rare steak. But inconsistency is still an issue.
Matthew Korfhage

The Best VPNs That Actually Protect You Online
Every VPN says it’s the best, but only some of them are telling the truth.
Jacob Roach

We Put These Reusable Water Bottles Through the Daily Grind
We dropped them, tossed them in bags, and cleaned their fiddly lids. Here are the ones we recommend.
Boutayna Chokrane and Alexis Berger

I Tried to Make My Backyard Mosquito-Free. Here’s What Worked
After years of testing repellents, traps, and sprays, I found a few ways to keep the bugs at bay—and plenty that aren’t worth the effort.
Christopher Null

Quince Luggage Gives Away a Run for Its Money
Is Quince the Away alternative we’ve been waiting for? I tested its luggage to find out, and the price difference is hard to ignore.
Boutayna Chokrane

I Tested a $290 Smart Bird Feeder With a Seriously Impressive Camera
The Kiwibit Feeder 2 Pro delivers action-camera-quality imagery, but too much of the experience is locked behind a subscription.
Kat Merck

I Test Products for a Living. These Are the Gifts I’d Buy My Mom
From a calendar that keeps my family organized to a frame that rescues photos from my camera roll, these favorites make thoughtful gifts.
Nena Farrell

The Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant Critic
Here are the best delivery services and meal kits in 2026, including the Martha Stewart meal service, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.
Matthew Korfhage
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The Best Mushroom Coffee for an Alternative Buzz
“Coffee” made with functional mushrooms like lion’s mane and chaga is all the rage. We tried the most popular brands to find which were the most palatable.
Pete Cottell

I Tested the Best Kitchen Composters and Food Recyclers—and Yes, Some of Them Stink
After years of smells, strange noises, and “tea,” these are the composters and food recyclers I’d actually recommend.
Kat Merck

How to Choose the Best Electric Toothbrush for a Healthier Smile
After two years of testing, these are the electric toothbrushes that impressed WIRED staffers the most.
Boutayna Chokrane

Before You Buy a Red-Light Therapy Mask, Read This
I tried the red-light therapy masks flooding my feed and consulted with professionals to find out which ones are worth the splurge.
Boutayna Chokrane

I Tried the Best Red-Light Therapy for Hair Loss. Here’s What Worked
Don’t fly to Turkey just yet. Our WIRED testers saw visible hair regrowth with these red-light therapy devices.
Boutayna Chokrane

I Wore This Red-Light Therapy Headband for 5 Months, and My Hair Actually Grew Back
Hairmax’s LaserBand 82 ComfortFlex took only 90 seconds per treatment, and it produced visible results along my widening part.
Kat Merck

This Bargain-Priced HD Projector Punches Above Its Weight
With the curtains closed and the power cable nearby, this affordable Full HD smart projector is a compact delight.
Chris Haslam

This Projector Is a Hole-in-One as a Golf Simulator, but Subpar for Anything Else
The Optoma GT2400HDR laser projector is great for setting up a driving range in your living room, but mediocre video quality makes it less appealing for home entertainment.
John Brandon

The BenQ GV50 Ceiling Projector Is Better for Party Tricks Than Display Quality
This affordable, portable projector doesn’t try to be a cinematic marvel, but it’s fun to use.
John Brandon

The Soundcore Nebula P1i's Neat Design Can’t Quite Overcome Its Pitfalls
I tested the Soundcore Nebula P1i, an affordable projector, to see if it could overcome the typical drawbacks that most budget projectors suffer from.
Chris Haslam

The Withings BodyScan 2 Is the Most Fascinating Smart Scale I’ve Tested
After months of testing, this high-end smart scale has made me rethink how much a bathroom weigh-in can tell me.
Christopher Null

How to Choose the Best Smartwatch for Your Day-to-Day
These WIRED-tested wearables reduce your reliance on a phone while keeping you connected.
Boutayna Chokrane

Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
From the latest Ultra to last year’s SE, these are the Apple Watches worth considering.
Boutayna Chokrane

The Samsung Galaxy Watch9 Has a Health Score for That
Samsung’s latest smartwatch offers useful health tracking alongside a growing pile of metrics you may never use.
Boutayna Chokrane

How to Collect CDs
Fed up with paying to stream music you’ll never actually own? Give the little silver disc a spin. Here’s how to start a CD collection or get more out of one you already have.
Orlando Mendiola

How to Beat Surveillance Pricing Before It Bleeds You Dry
Consumer advocate Lindsay Owen’s new book, Gouged, traces how corporations use software—from ever-changing prices to opaque algorithms—to squeeze every penny from you.
Reece Rogers

You Don’t Need to Pay for Distraction-Blocking Software
These free iOS and Android apps create the physical friction you need to put down your phone.
Justin Pot

This Browser Extension Lets You Snooze Open Tabs Until Later
The free add-on Tuck brings one of the best features of modern email—the ability to hide something for a bit—to that tangle of tabs in your browser.
Justin Pot







