If you’re looking for the best internet provider in Lebanon, Indiana, CNET has you covered. Our experts have reviewed popular providers in the region to help you find the right option for your needs. Right now, CNET’s choice for Lebanon’s best internet provider is Xfinity, thanks to its low monthly rates and included equipment on most plans. This cable giant also offers the widest coverage in Lebanon — more than 96% of households can access service through Xfinity, according to data from the Federal Communications Commission. We also recommend checking out fiber ISP Metronet, which offers symmetrical speeds and blazing-fast service. However, the best provider might come down to what’s available at your address.
If you’re looking for the most affordable broadband in Lebanon, Xfinity Connect costs only $35 per month for download speeds up to 150 megabits per second. For folks looking for speedy home internet, Metronet leads the pack with 2,000Mbps download and 1,000Mbps upload speeds at $70-$75 per month.
Best internet in Lebanon in 2024
Lebanon internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
AT&T Home Internet Read full review
DSL hybrid
$60
10-100Mbps
None
1.5TB
None
7.4
ILines
Fixed wireless/fiber
$40-$50
5-10Mbps
$40 one-time fee (optional)
None
None
N/A
Metronet Read full review
Fiber
$35-$75
150-2,000Mbps
None
None
1 year
6.9
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)
50-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Xfinity Read full review
Cable
$35-$95
150-2,000Mbps
$15 (optional)
1.2TB on some plans
1-2 years on some plans
7
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Lebanon?
Show more (5 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Lebanon
The best internet deals and top promotions in Lebanon depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Lebanon internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as AT&T and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
How many members of your household use the internet?
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Lebanon
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Metronet 2 Gigabits Read full review
$70-$75
2,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review
$95
2,000Mbps
200Mbps
None
Cable
Metronet 1 Gigabit Read full review
$50-$55
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan)
1,000Mbps
75Mbps
None
Fixed wireless
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review
$65
1,000Mbps
20Mbps
1.2TB
Cable
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Lebanon
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Lebanon FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Lebanon?
For most Lebanon households, Xfinity is the best internet provider. With wide availability and low costs for home broadband, Xfinity is a provider worth considering if your address is serviceable.
Is fiber internet available in Lebanon?
Fiber internet is widely available in Lebanon — over 86% of households can access fiber connectivity. Metronet is the largest fiber provider in the area, but local providers like ILines also offer a small fiber presence in Lebanon.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Lebanon?
Lebanon’s cheapest internet service is Xfinity Connect, which costs $35 monthly for 150Mbps of speed.
Which internet provider in Lebanon offers the fastest plan?
Metronet’s 2-gig plan is the fastest in Lebanon at $70 to $75 per month.
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone,” and ironically, online discussions and videos about cortisol imbalance seem to stress people out. That includes me: I have anxiety and, as a result, I’ve always wondered about how my stress is affecting my cortisol levels. I finally got the opportunity to find out when Quest, a diagnostic information services provider, offered me a complimentary Cortisol Blood Stress Hormone Test.
Following my cortisol blood test, I’ve spoken with several doctors to better understand my “high cortisol” results and answer the question: Should we all be concerned about cortisol? Or are all these videos on social media stressing us out for no reason?
What is cortisol? Does it control stress?
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
“Cortisol is an essential hormone produced and released by adrenal glands,” said Dr. Sanjay Dixit, medical director of cardiometabolic endocrine and wellness solutions at Quest Diagnostics and medical expert for questhealth.com, in an email. “Many people associate cortisol as being the ‘stress hormone,’ but it actually has many additional important functions.”
In addition to managing the body’s response to stress, cortisol regulates blood sugar and blood pressure, the sleep-wake cycle and metabolism while suppressing inflammation.
“It is most commonly known as the ‘stress hormone’ because it’s released in response to stress and works to prepare the body for ‘fight-or-flight,'” added Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of longevity platform AgelessRx, via email. “It increases glucose availability, which supplies energy and mobilizes stored fats and proteins to provide additional fuel.”
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Do you need a cortisol blood test?
Dr. Dixit explained that someone could get a cortisol test to see if they have a cortisol deficiency, also known as adrenal insufficiency. Symptoms of this can include:
Fatigue or being overly tired
Worsening muscle weakness
Skin changes (particularly darkening in folds and scars)
Loss of appetite
Unintentional weight loss
Low blood pressure
Another reason a cortisol test may be ordered is to see if a patient has excess cortisol, generally known as Cushing’s syndrome. Potential symptoms for this include:
Bruising easily
Unintentional weight gain
Muscle weakness
Fatigue
Rounded and rosy face
Increased fat in the upper back
Impaired glucose tolerance
“[Impaired glucose tolerance is] something that can be particularly noticeable in type 2 diabetic patients who have trouble managing their glucose levels even with adherence to prescribed medication,” said Dr. Dixit.
Westend61/Getty Images
What happens during a cortisol blood test?
Before my blood was drawn for this test, I had my yearly physical with my primary care provider. I notified her that I would be getting this test and asked to have my other preventative blood tests taken simultaneously. I want to mention this because it’s important to run any health-related tests by a doctor who knows you and your health history.
According to Quest, you must be at least age 18 to buy a test, which is unavailable in Alaska, Arizona or Hawaii. For select tests, you will be asked to answer relevant medical questions. Before a test order is submitted for processing, your purchase and answers will then be reviewed by a telemedicine doctor affiliated with the national clinician network PWNHealth to ensure this test is medically appropriate for you.
You must also schedule the cortisol test between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. “Cortisol levels naturally change throughout the day,” Quest answered in an FAQ, stating that since cortisol levels usually peak in the morning, this particular level would be the best indicator of a cortisol problem.
No fasting is required. But I had to fast for the other blood tests ordered by my doctor.
According to Dr. Dixit, it is also important to note that “a blood test for cortisol can be inaccurate in some cases.” Inaccurate results, for example, can happen if a person is taking oral contraceptives or steroids, such as prednisone.
Once I bought the cortisol test on Quest’s website — it ordinarily costs $89 with a $6 physician service fee — I was sent an email with my order number and a link to schedule an appointment at a nearby Quest location. I scheduled my appointment for 8:20 a.m. at the facility closest to me.
On the day of my appointment, I was texted a link to check in when I arrived and was admitted within 5 minutes. (I highly recommend scheduling beforehand so you don’t have to wait.) I get particularly anxious about blood tests, so I notified my technician and asked if I could lie on an exam table. She assured me that many people get nervous about blood tests and, after I signed off on my tests, did a great job talking to me as a distraction while my blood was drawn.
Later that night, I received the results of my cortisol test. As for the results from the tests ordered by my doctor, I received them five days later. Quest reports that processing times vary, but it generally takes up to eight business days to receive results.
My cortisol blood test results
Unsurprisingly, my cortisol blood test results came back as “high” at 33.2 mcg/dL. Quest reports that a normal range between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. is 4.0-22.0 mcg/dL. To be frank, this freaked me out. I had a feeling that my cortisol levels would be high because of my general anxiety and heightened nerves around blood tests, but actually seeing that “high” result and not fully understanding it ironically increased my stress levels even more.
Quest allows you to discuss your results with an independent physician, so I took advantage of this offer. I called Quest’s customer service line and was emailed to schedule my appointment with a physician at PWNHealth via Everly Health Solutions, a digital health company that acquired PWNHealth in 2021. When scheduling my appointment, I provided context about my cortisol blood test. I was then told that a physician would call me within 4 hours during business hours.
Within 4 hours, a PWNHealth physician called. I asked the doctor if my cortisol level was in line with the fact that I have anxiety and was stressed about the blood test. She said that it could be why my cortisol was acutely high, but that chronically high cortisol levels could be concerning and caused by other conditions, certain medications or pregnancy. She added that it could be related to an adrenal gland condition.
I also asked about how high cortisol levels can go and she stated that there is no “highest point,” especially since it varies from person to person, depending on the condition. She added that people with adrenal gland conditions typically show higher cortisol levels, but there isn’t a specific cutoff.
Though the doctor stated that my high cortisol was likely due to anxiety, she recommended that I follow up with my primary care physician. Afterward, I was able to download my Quest results as a PDF and send them to my PCP.
mapodile/Getty Images
What are ‘normal’ cortisol levels? Why do they change?
“The ‘normal’ reference range varies slightly with the lab that’s doing the testing,” said Dr. Zalzala. “Quest reports a normal a.m. (7 to 9 a.m.) blood level of 4.0 to 22.0 mcg/dL, whereas Labcorp reports normal a.m. blood level of 6.2 to 19.4 mcg/dL.”
As for why cortisol varies throughout the day: “Cortisol is very important in helping a person transition from sleep to wakefulness,” Dr. Zalzala explained. “This triggers a ‘morning cortisol surge’ — a rapid rise in cortisol levels within 20 to 30 minutes of waking, which jumpstarts alertness and prepares the body for the day.”
Over the course of the day, our bodies will also experience mini peaks in cortisol levels to help us maintain energy and alertness. These peaks typically occur around noon and in the early evening. “Interestingly, these peaks often align with standard meal times, playing a key role in supporting our body’s ability to metabolize food and regulate energy levels,” said Dr. Zalzala.
Dr. Betul Hatipoglu, MD, professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine and medical director of the Diabetes and Metabolic Center at the University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, stated in an email that there is a “normal, what we call ‘circadian rhythm’ for cortisol.” As the day goes on, cortisol levels will gradually decrease and become lowest closer to bedtime.
How high can cortisol levels go?
“Cortisol levels could go as high as or closer to 40 [mcg/dL] in individuals who are extremely ill, such as people in intensive care,” Dr. Hatipoglu said. Dr. Zalzala added that a normal adult can generate cortisol levels up to 50 mcg/dL, which is about two to three times their morning surge level, during times of stress.
Dr. Zalzala also mentioned Cushing’s syndrome, a rare disorder in which “the adrenal gland starts making cortisol on its own (adrenal tumor) or in response to a pituitary gland tumor that makes too much ACTH [adrenocorticotropic hormone, which regulates cortisol] and ignores the feedback cycle.” For those with this disorder, cortisol levels can go as high as 100 mcg/dL.
In cases where someone is extremely ill, such as with septic shock, Dr. Zalzala stated that levels can be as high as 1,000 mcg/dL.
Maskot/Getty Images
The relationship between cortisol and anxiety
I shared my results with all the doctors I consulted to see if I could get a better understanding of how anxiety could affect my cortisol levels — and any other factors that may be at play.
“High cortisol in a normal individual can be a sign of stress in your case,” said Dr. Hatipoglu. “However, sometimes other hormones can affect the cortisol levels. For example, if someone is taking oral contraceptives or estrogen therapy, this can increase total cholesterol, which is what you have been tested for.”
Due to fasting, anxiety and being stressed about my blood draw, Dr. Zalzala said that combination could have caused my morning cortisol level to be higher than normal. He added, “Studies have shown that stress or acute anxiety can drive cortisol levels significantly higher, often to values similar to what you experienced.”
Do doctors recommend a cortisol blood test? What other cortisol tests are there?
“I usually would check a random cortisol before 9 a.m. in the morning to make sure the level is not low,” said Dr. Hatipoglu. “If we are concerned about high cortisol, it is usually recommended that we actually do different evaluations.”
To understand whether elevated cortisol levels are a normal reaction or an abnormal increase, Dr. Hatipoglu may then want to do testing such as a milligram dexamethasone suppression test (which measures whether cortisol secretion by the adrenal gland can be suppressed) or a 24-hour urine cortisol test (which measures the amount of cortisol in a person’s urine over a day). However, if a patient is on birth control, stopping it for a few months and then repeating the cortisol test may help show their body’s actual cortisol levels.
Dr. Zalzala, on the other hand, stated that he rarely recommends a single morning cortisol test unless a patient is believed to have Addison’s or Cushing’s disease. Addison’s is a rare endocrine disorder caused by damaged adrenal glands that can’t produce enough hormones.
“For those people who want to use cortisol levels as a tool to make lifestyle adjustments and to monitor other interventions (like therapy or sleep medications), then the saliva cortisol level is the one I would recommend,” stated Dr. Zalzala. “Studies indicate that salivary cortisol levels show a reasonably strong correlation with serum cortisol.”
For my “high” result specifically, Dr. Zalzala stated, “While this result aligns with the stress factors you’ve described, cortisol levels above 20–25 µg/dL [which is the same as mcg/dL] in the morning can sometimes prompt further evaluation, particularly if symptoms suggest additional hormonal imbalance.”
If I were to take supplementary tests under less stressful conditions and my cortisol continues to be elevated, Dr. Zalzala said I should explore other factors with my healthcare provider. “They may consider repeating the test using alternative methods, like a 24-hour urinary free cortisol or late-night salivary cortisol test, which are less affected by immediate stress responses.”
While this particular cortisol blood stress hormone test can be a good first step, Dr. Dixit acknowledges that it may not necessarily be the last one. He suggested that a person concerned about their health should talk to their doctor — even if the test results don’t show anything wrong.
AzmanJaka/Getty Images
What happens if a cortisol blood test is abnormal?
“I think the best way here would be to see a physician, a nurse practitioner or a healthcare provider to get an evaluation,” Dr. Hatipoglu said. “[This is] done to understand if it is true [cortisol] elevation or is it stress-induced.”
Dr. Dixit specifically recommended that in addition to a primary healthcare provider, one could see an endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating health conditions that affect the endocrine system. “That’s because testing for excess cortisol is not as straightforward as a single blood test,” he said, adding that a healthcare provider could perform an evaluation, recommend additional tests and consider other potential causes.
However, if additional tests remain abnormal, a trained clinician must be consulted for further diagnostic decisions. “Most conventionally trained physicians would initially evaluate for Cushing’s or Addison’s disease,” Dr. Zalzala said. “If these are ruled out, a thorough clinician would then investigate other contributing factors affecting cortisol levels. Conversely, a less attentive approach might dismiss the patient without addressing the underlying issues.”
If a doctor does determine that there are problems with excess cortisol or adrenal insufficiency, Dr. Dixit stated that the methods used to address the issue depend on the root cause. For example, with Cushing’s syndrome, medication or surgery may be required since the disorder can be caused by a tumor on the adrenal or pituitary glands.
What can cause abnormal cortisol levels?
“I think it’s useful to talk about the ways the normal cortisol cycle can be disrupted, that could show up on salivary testing if done at the right times of day,” said Dr. Zalzala, who listed the following as common causes for a disrupted cortisol cycle:
For cortisol levels that remain low and flat throughout the day: chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, burnout and some chronic inflammatory conditions
For lower morning cortisol levels that then peak in the evening: chronic stress, sleep disorders, shift work and certain mental health conditions (for example, PTSD)
For normal morning cortisol levels that increase in the evening: anxiety, high-stress lifestyle, evening exposure to artificial light (such as from screens) and late-day caffeine or high-stress activities
For a lower or absent rise in cortisol upon waking, or Cortisol Awakening Response): chronic stress, depression, PTSD, burnout and shift work
Symptoms of high cortisol or cortisol deficiency can also be connected to non-cortisol-related conditions and health issues, according to Dr. Dixit. That is why consulting a doctor about your results and symptoms is essential.
Ekaterina Goncharova/Getty Images
Abnormal cortisol health impacts
While social media may oversimplify all things cortisol as a means of clickbait, Dr. Zalzala said it should not be dismissed. That’s because dysregulated cortisol has the following long-term health impacts:
Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and mood instability
Cognitive impairment such as memory problems and impaired executive function
Metabolic disorders that involve weight gain and obesity, insulin resistance, increased risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and blood sugar instability (such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia)
Cardiovascular issues like hypertension, arterial stiffness, inflammation and heart disease, raising the risk of heart attacks and stroke
Immune system impairment that can include increased susceptibility to infections and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
Bone health issues and muscle wasting like osteoporosis and muscle loss
Sleep disruption and fatigue, including insomnia, chronic fatigue, low motivation and difficulty managing stress
Digestive issues such as gastrointestinal inflammation contributing to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and exacerbating symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease, and gastric ulcers
Should people be concerned about their cortisol levels?
The question that’s on everyone’s mind. After mentioning all of the social media videos circulating saying that people should be worried about their cortisol levels, I asked doctors if there is any legitimacy to these claims or if it’s just fearmongering.
“I don’t think it is fair to say people should be concerned about their cortisol levels — as you can see, cortisol constantly fluctuates,” said Dr. Hatipoglu. “The fluctuation occurs so many times that it is sometimes even difficult to know what is very normal or very abnormal.” However, if you are concerned about your cortisol, she recommends seeing a doctor to see if a test is needed first instead of having it tested randomly.
While Dr. Zalzala acknowledges that there is some truth to the concept of “minding your cortisol levels,” since there are medical conditions that can cause abnormal cortisol levels, he believes “social media often oversimplifies this, turning cortisol into a scapegoat for various health issues.” He specifies that cortisol imbalances are typically caused by deeper issues such as poor sleep, unhealthy habits, unmanaged stress and substance abuse, in which case “cortisol is more of a symptom than the root cause.”
“Cortisol levels, as a tool, should be used in conjunction with other tools like a CGM sensor or a sleep monitor,” concluded Dr. Zalzala.
How to naturally reduce cortisol with lifestyle changes
“I usually recommend important, basic lifestyle management, [including] nutritious meals and good nutrition; movement exercise like yoga, walking and swimming; a good night’s sleep, meditation and mindfulness; good vitamin D; and stress management for day-to-day stresses of life,” said Dr. Hatipoglu. “And last, as much as possible, eliminating smoking and excess alcohol.”
“Minimize caffeine and sugar intake, especially later in the day,” Dr. Zalzala recommended. “Both can elevate cortisol and disrupt the normal rhythm, making it harder to wind down at night.” Excess sugar and starch can cause a spike in blood sugar followed by a crash. This can occur in the middle of the night, disrupting your sleep.
If you maintain a consistent sleep schedule and evening routine without screen time or intense exercise (which can elevate cortisol and disrupt sleep) but still struggle to fall asleep, Dr. Zalzala recommends mild sleep aids like melatonin or L-theanine before moving on to strong options like passionflower or California poppy. “If these aren’t effective, consult a doctor about medications like trazodone or doxepin and rule out conditions like sleep apnea,” he said. “Always discuss sleep therapies, including OTC supplements, with a doctor.”
The takeaway
While the results of my cortisol blood test did stress me out, I’m glad I tried it because it helped me learn more about cortisol. It also gives me even more of an incentive to increase my stress and anxiety management. While I’ve always prioritized my health and wellness, since getting the cortisol blood test, I’ve started exercising more than before, going to bed earlier, thinking up new ways to lower my stress levels and paying closer attention to having a well-balanced diet.
As for ordering the test through Quest, I thought the process was smooth, and it’s nice to have control over the health tests you can get done (if approved, of course). I also appreciated having the option to speak with an independent physician about my results. However, as both Quest and the doctors I consulted advised, it is best to do any health tests under the supervision of a healthcare provider, who can then help with diagnosis and potential treatment. I’m glad I told my doctor about the test and that it was easy to send her my results. And now, I’m way more informed about what the next steps could be if further testing is needed.
What is the best internet provider in Las Cruces, New Mexico?
Xfinity is CNET’s top pick for the best internet service provider in Las Cruces, thanks to its wide availability throughout the city. It’s also the only cable connection available. But if you want the cheapest and fastest internet plans in Las Cruces, Xfinity is the provider for you. Plan prices go up after a year or two, so be prepared for a bill increase though. However, despite the increase, some plans still offer a decent deal even at the regular rate. This cable giant has also made strides in its customer satisfaction ratings.
If Xfinity doesn’t serve your address, you can pick between fixed wireless or satellite internet. While more susceptible to network disruption than wired connections, and slower than Xfinity, they’re decent alternatives. T-Mobile Home Internet is our favorite wireless provider in the area, and you can get great discounts for bundling with an eligible cellphone plan.
Need speed? Xfinity offers the fastest internet plan in the city, with download speeds of 1,200 megabits per second for $80 monthly. The cost per Mbps of its top-end plan is a very cheap 7 cents per Mbps. And if you want to save money, Xfinity also has a $20 monthly plan for 150Mbps.
Best internet in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
CenturyLink Read full review
DSL
$55
10-100Mbps
$15 (optional)
None
None
6.7
Starlink Read full review
Satellite
$120-$5,000
25-220Mbps
$599 one-time purchase (or $2,500 for Priority)
Unlimited; 40GB-5TB (Priority)
None
6.5
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($30-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers)
100-300Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Xfinity Read full review
Cable
$20-$80
150-1,200Mbps
$15 on some plans (optional)
1.2TB
1-year on some
7
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Las Cruces
Verizon 5G Home Internet: According to the latest FCC data, this fixed wireless provider is available to about 52% of Las Cruces households. If you want to avoid a hike in prices from Xfinity after your promo period ends, this ISP is a great alternative. Verizon offers two plans for the area: a 100Mbps plan for $50 a month and a 300Mbps plan for $70. While 300Mbps might not be the fastest plan, you’ll still be getting faster speeds than T-Mobile at 245Mbps. With Verizon, you can expect straightforward service terms: no contracts or data caps and the equipment is included at no extra cost.
Satellite internet: While Starlink is taking the lead for the best satellite connection in the city, Hughesnet and Viasat also offer solid home broadband options. Hughesnet is the cheapest option of the three, with standard service starting at $50 a month for download speeds of 50Mbps. If you’re looking for more speed, Starlink is the fastest satellite ISP, with speeds of up to 225Mbps. Viasat offers a singular plan for up to 150Mbps with no term agreements.
Cheap internet options in Las Cruces
Most internet options in Las Cruces start at around $43 a month, but a few ISPs offer cheaper options. The cheapest internet offering in the city is Xfinity’s $20-a-month plan for download speeds of 150Mbps. If you’re looking for more speed, Xfinity also has a 300Mbps plan for just $15 more. Verizon and T-Mobile also offer eligible mobile customers discounts and may knock $10 to $20 off your monthly bill.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Las Cruces?
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
renal / Getty Images
How to find internet deals and promotions in Las Cruces
The best internet deals and top promotions in Las Cruces depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Las Cruces internet providers, such as T-Mobile Home Internet, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, like Starlink, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Las Cruces broadband?
In the latest Ookla speed test data, Las Cruces had a fixed median download speed of 277Mbps. That’s not bad, especially considering the state of New Mexico rang in with a speed of 178Mbps. Nearby cities like Albuquerque and Sante Fe also couldn’t match Las Cruces, coming in with 248Mbps and 225Mbps, respectively. Rio Rancho took home the trophy for top median speeds with 288Mbps.
Fastest internet plans in Las Cruces
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review
$80
1,200Mbps
35Mbps
1.2TB
Cable
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review
$65
1,000Mbps
20Mbps
1.2TB
Cable
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Las Cruces
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Las Cruces?
Your home broadband options will be limited if you reside in Las Cruces. Most households in the city are serviceable for a cable connection from Xfinity. Like most cable providers, expect a price hike from Xfinity once the promo period ends. A fixed wireless connection from T-Mobile might be a decent alternative to avoid that increase. Starlink is available virtually everywhere, but you might have to settle for slower speeds and a steeper monthly cost (to say nothing of the $599 upfront cost for starting service).
Internet providers in Las Cruces FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Las Cruces?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Las Cruces, offering the city’s fastest speeds, broadest coverage and lowest introductory prices. According to the latest data from the FCC, Xfinity is available to over 99% of households in Las Cruces, which means that your address is likely eligible for service.
Is fiber internet available in Las Cruces?
Yes, according to the latest FCC data, fiber internet is available to approximately 4% of Las Cruces households. Fiber coverage is limited throughout the city, but few households might be serviceable for Quantum Fiber or Xfinity’s fiber internet connection.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Las Cruces?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Las Cruces, offering a $20-a-month plan for 150Mbps. For just $15 more, you can bump up that speed to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Las Cruces offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity offers the fastest internet plan in Las Cruces, with download speeds of up to 1,200Mbps and upload speeds of 35Mbps.
If you’re looking for the best internet in Dover, Ohio, we’ve got you covered. The internet provider options in Dover are pretty limited, like many rural towns in Ohio. Essentially, you have only three high-speed internet providers in the area, but they’re all good options and have widespread coverage in the city. Frontier Fiber is CNET’s top pick of the best internet provider in Dover, Ohio.Frontier Fiber offers the fastest speeds and the lowest prices in the area. If you can’t get Frontier, Spectrum and T-Mobile — both pretty decent alternatives — are available as backups, but both come with their own drawbacks.
Top internet providers in Dover
Dover residents essentially have three options when it comes to home internet: Frontier Fiber, Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet. That’s fewer than most places, but the good news is that fast speeds are available just about everywhere. According to Federal Communications Commission data, 98% of Dover households have access to 250Mbps speeds, compared to 83% of Ohio and 87% of the country as a whole.
Dover internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Frontier Read full review
Fiber
$30-$300
200-7,000Mbps
None
None
None
6.3
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$30-$70
100-1,000Mbps
$10 (optional)
None
None
7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Other available Dover residential internet providers
Outside of the three providers highlighted above, there aren’t many other options for internet in Dover. Here are the other ISPs operating in the area:
Satellite internet: We’d only recommend satellite internet in rural areas where there aren’t any other options available. You can get HughesNet and Viasateverywhere in the city, but the speeds are low, the prices are high and the stingy data caps make things like streaming and online gaming impractical. Starlink is a newer satellite provider that has faster speeds, but it costs $120 a month for service and $599 for equipment.
Watch Communications: This local fixed wireless provider offers plans ranging from 10/2Mbps for $60 a month to 100/20Mbps for $120. It’s a slight step up from satellite, but we wouldn’t recommend it in any other situation.
Raquel Lonas/Getty Images
Pricing for internet providers in Dover
Dover internet prices are about average for a town of its size. Spectrum and Frontier’s introductory plans are cheaper than you’ll find in a lot of places, but there are only four plans in Dover that cost $50 or less.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Dover?
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Frontier Fiber 200 Read full review
$30
200Mbps
None
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review
$45
500Mbps
None
Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review
$50
500Mbps
$10 (optional)
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans)
245Mbps
None
Show more (0 item)
How fast is Dover broadband?
If you’re looking for ultrafast internet, Dover has a number of plans available. There are four gig-speed plans available in the city. That’s more than Cleveland (which has two), and the same as Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
Fastest internet plans in Dover
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Frontier Fiber 7 Gig Read full review
$300
7,000Mbps
7,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review
$130
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review
$100
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review
$65
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review
$70
1,000Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
How many members of your household use the internet?
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Dover
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Dover?
There aren’t a lot of options when it comes to internet service in Dover, but the ones it does have all provide good value and are widely available in the city. Frontier Fiber is the clear winner. It doesn’t have any ultracheap plans, but 500/500Mbps for just $40 a month is an excellent deal. T-Mobile Home Internet is another good backup option if you can’t get Frontier Fiber, with decent speeds at a fair price that’s guaranteed to never increase.
Internet providers in Dover FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Dover?
Frontier Fiber is the best internet provider in Dover. It has fast symmetrical speeds at fair prices, and you won’t have to worry about data caps or equipment fees. Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet are both good backup options, but they have significantly slower upload speeds than Frontier, which could be an issue for households that do a lot of videoconferencing or online gaming.
Is fiber internet available in Dover?
Yes, fiber internet is available in Dover. Frontier offers fiber internet in the city with no contracts or data caps and symmetrical speeds up to 7,000Mbps.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Dover?
Frontier Fiber is the cheapest internet provider in Dover, with starting prices of $30 a month for 200/200Mbps speeds.
Which internet provider in Dover offers the fastest plan?
The fastest internet plan available in Dover is offered by Frontier, with symmetrical 7,000Mbps speeds for $300 a month.
When to watch the Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles?
Thursday, Nov. 14, at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT).
Where to watch
The Commanders-Eagles game will stream live on Amazon Prime Video and for free on Twitch. Fans in the home markets of each team can also watch on their local Fox channel.
The Eagles sit atop the NFC East at 7-2, and the Commanders trail by half a game at 7-3, which means the winner of tonight’s game will lead the division with six weeks remaining in the season. More importantly, the winner of tonight’s game will have a win in the head-to-head matchup between these two division rivals — they meet again in Washington in Week 16. With the Cowboys and Giants out of the race, either the Commanders or Eagles will win the NFC East with the other vying for a Wild Card spot in the conference.
The Commanders-Eagles game starts tonight at 5:15 p.m. PT (8:15 p.m. ET). The game will stream nationally on Prime Video and for free on Twitch.
Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders have a road test against their division rivals from Philadelphia tonight on Thursday Night Football.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Keep reading to see your options for watching Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, Twitch, NFL Plus and — if you live in the home markets of the Commanders or Eagles — a local network channel.
With YouTube and YouTube TV the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, along with games also streaming on Paramount Plus, Peacock and ESPN Plus, there’s lots for NFL fans to keep track of this season. Check out our picks for the best live TV streaming services for NFL fans in 2024.
TNF streaming: Prime Video, Twitch and NFL Plus
Thursday Night Football games are streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video, giving NFL fans more incentive than free two-day shipping to sign up for an Amazon Prime account, which costs $15 a month or $139 a year. You can also subscribe only to Prime Video for $9 a month.
Amazon
Fans in the local markets of each team playing on Thursday night will be able to watch the game on an over-the-air station, while those who don’t pay for either of Amazon’s services can watch for free on Prime Video’s Twitch channel. (Twitch is also owned by Amazon.)
If you subscribe to NFL Plus, the league’s $7-per-month streaming service (or $15 a month with Red Zone included), you can also stream the game without subscribing to Prime or Prime Video. Note that NFL Plus viewing is limited to watching on just a phone or tablet, not on a computer or TV.
Amazon
Thursday Night Football games are streamed live on Amazon Prime Video. For millions of Amazon Prime subscribers, the Prime Video channel is already included at no extra cost. But if you’re not an Amazon Prime subscriber, it might be worth it to shell out the $9 a month for the stand-alone Prime Video service, not only for football but also its impressive selection of shows and movies.
Read our Amazon Prime Video review.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on local TV?
Yes, you can, if you live in the local market of either of the teams playing on Thursday. For this week, that’s Fox 5 (WTTG) in DC and Fox 29 (WTXF) in Philadelphia, according to 506 Sports. There are two ways to watch local channels on your TV without cable or satellite TV. The first is with a live TV streaming service. And the second is with an over-the-air antenna, if you live in an area that has good reception.
Each of the five major live TV streaming services carry Fox, but not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries Fox in your particular area.
Sarah Tew/CNET
YouTube TV costs $73 a month and includes Fox. Right now, the first two months are discounted to $50 a month and there is a 7-day free trial. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV’s welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Directv stream
Fubo
Fubo costs $80 a month and includes Fox, but Fubo charges an RSN fee (either $12 a month if you get one RSN or $15 a month if you have two or more in your area) that raises the monthly charge to $92 or $95. Fubo is currently offering $30 off for the first month of some of its plans, which means you can get its base Pro plan for $62 or $65 to start. Click here to see which local channels you get. Read our Fubo review.
Sling/CNET
Sling TV’s Sling Blue package includes local Fox channels but only in a handful of markets. Sling Blue costs $45 a month in markets where it offers local networks and $40 elsewhere. Read our Sling TV review.
All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
This year’s roster of holiday movies is about to roll out, and Red One may draw you to the theater with its light-hearted storyline and a cast that includes J.K. Simmons, Chris Evans, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka and Kristofer Hivju.
Arriving in theaters on Nov. 15, the action-comedy-sometimes thriller centers on the kidnapping of Santa from his North Pole home. Simmons’ Santa is a buff gym rat whose bench-pressing stats may humble you, and his nickname is Nick. Abducting him is no easy feat, and whoever’s behind the kidnapping must have planned it with precision.
Johnson’s Callum Drift and Evans’ Jack O’Malley pair up in the name of saving Santa Claus, a thorny collaboration attempting to combat a nefarious plan from Grýla (Shipka) and Krampus (Hivju). Mercenary Jack makes a grave misstep that leads to Santa’s kidnapping, and Nick’s E.L.F. team (Enforcement, Logistics and Fortification) has to go dark to rescue him.
CNET attended a press event for the film where cast members and the executive producing team talked about the movie’s unique depiction of its villains, along with characters like Saint Nick. While the film puts its own spin on these mythological figures, Grýla and Krampus have fun old folklore that isn’t exactly wholesome or lightweight. Here’s a look at the dark stories behind them.
Who is Grýla?
Forget Halloween. Who doesn’t love snowy witches in the wintertime? Kiernan Shipka plays Grýla, an ancient Icelandic Yule witch who can transform from her many-tailed giant troll-like appearance into a glam winter sorceress. Like the mythological Grýla, she has a troupe of one dozen kids called the Yule Lads who harass people and help her carry out her Christmastime tasks. They’re not filled with much merriment.
Amazon MGM Studios
According to regional legends, Grýla lives in a cave and punishes children who’ve been misbehaving all year. She likes to capture, cook and eat them, often hunting for them — sword and bag in hand — with her mate. She’s also been married a few times and known to devour a husband or two. The fabled version of the witch isn’t as fashionable as Shipka’s in Red One, but they share a similar goal: Teach the naughty ones how to act right and maybe they’ll avoid punishment.
Grýla has snow goons at her disposal in the movie, and they’re ready to fight, kill and do whatever she orders them to do. This is unique to Red One’s storytelling but reflects the idea that any iteration of Grýla is something of a gang leader. That’s true in folklore, too.
Coincidentally, Shipka played Sabrina the teenage witch in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a series that included an episode with an appearance from Grýla. That version was a grieving mother who tried to help orphans and lost children, but she was still a wilderness witch. Red One offers up its own version of Grýla, but one thing is universal: She and Krampus scare the heck out of kids.
These snowmen with abs take orders from Grýla.
Amazon MGM Studios
What’s up with Krampus?
If you haven’t heard of Krampus by now, then you’ve been missing out. Portrayed in film and TV, the goat-headed beast also has a taste for mischievous kiddos. In Red One, he’s not the head villain in charge, but he is Nick’s foster sibling and the originator of the famous Naughty List.
Hivju was intentional about making Krampus about more than just his costume. “It was like the character is more or less the suit, right?” Hivju said during the press event. “So, I tried to play against the suit, actually play him as feminine, as narcissistic, and self-indulgent as possible. And suddenly that mixture became disturbing. But the funny thing about Krampus is that he has the same objective as Nick. They want the same, it’s just the method: Punishing or rewarding, and sometimes you need a bit of slapping.”
The Krampus of lore has origins in Europe (Austria and Germany, specifically) dating back as far as the 17th century. He’s had many names, with stories and images of him snatching up kids to put in the basket he carries on his back. He traditionally works alongside Santa and is in charge of doling out punishments to naughty children, while St. Nick hands out gifts to the well-behaved. If you’re bad, things go badly. Children are magically kidnapped, ripped apart and tossed in stew, a ditch or body of water. Other times, they’re violently beaten with a switch. In either case, kids’ faces usually get smeared with coal ashes or something smellier. It’s Krampus’ duty and custom to skip the gifts and go straight the punishment.
Red One will see Hivju’s creature struggle with his sense of loyalty. He’s something of a double agent, but he loves his holiday: Krampusnacht. Still celebrated to this day in Europe with parades, parties and alcohol, Krampus has become a part of pop culture. You can even attend a Krampusnacht festival in December if you dare. How’s that for jolliness?
Red One arrives in theaters on Nov. 15, with streaming release to follow on Prime Video.
If you’ve had your Gmail account for years, there’s a good chance that you have thousands of unread messages. If you’re close to using up your 15GB of free storage, you’ve probably tried to delete some spammy emails or unsubscribe to those newsletters you stopped reading. But if the idea of cleaning out your Gmail inbox fills you with dread, and you don’t want to start paying for extra storage, read on: We’ll show you how to get your account back to inbox zero while keeping all your old email.
All you need to do is create a second Gmail account to store all of your current messages. There’s no restriction on the number of free Google accounts you can own, which means you can set one up as a dedicated archive account, and then transfer all your old emails to it.
Transferring your Gmail messages is also a great strategy if you have a school or business Gmail account that you won’t be able to access permanently. Most universities and businesses will deactivate your account once you are no longer a student or employee, so if you want to view your old messages and files, you’ll have to port them to a personal account before you lose access.
Completing the whole process of transferring your Gmail messages to a new account doesn’t take too long, but it will depend on just how many messages you have. We’ll walk you through the simple process of transferring your emails from your old account to a new one (including the important step of backing everything up first).
For more about Gmail, learn about its new AI summaries or how to use emoji reactions.
How much data can you store on Gmail?
Fifteen gigabytes of free storage may sound like a lot when you make a Gmail account, but it gets filled up quickly. For starters, the 15GB isn’t just used for email: It also includes the files you’ve saved in your Google Drive and Google Photos.
If you frequently send or receive messages that contain large files such as videos, or if you find yourself uploading a lot of pictures and videos to your Google Photos, then it won’t be long before you’ll see the “Account storage is full” notification. This means that you will no longer be able to send or receive emails on this account, so you’ll want to do something ASAP.
The quickest solution is to upgrade to a Google One account. Even if you opt for the least expensive plan — 100GB for $20 a year — you’ll still end up paying money to store old emails that you might not even need anymore.
If you don’t want to buy more storage, you can always delete your old emails. You can get back a surprising amount of storage space by putting large files in the trash. Gmail makes it easy for you to identify and delete files by size. Even so, that option might seem tedious; maybe you don’t want to spend hours sifting through correspondence from a decade or more ago, deciding which memories to keep and which to get rid of forever.
There’s always the option to download large files to your desktop before you delete them from your Google account, but at some point, you’ll probably run into the same issue with your local files and have to manage the storage space on your device.
This brings us to our “nuclear option:” Transferring all your emails to a new Gmail account.
How to transfer your Gmail messages to a new email account
Before you start the Gmail transfer process, we recommend that you back up your emails. You can do this by downloading your emails either to your computer or an external hard drive. You can delete the backup after you finish transferring the emails to your new account if you like, but it’s always a good idea to have an extra copy stored locally.
To back up your Gmail messages, go to Google Takeout. Using our test Gmail account that held about 75,000 messages, we got a download from Google Takeout in about 2 hours.
Once you’ve saved a copy of your emails, you’re ready to begin transferring them. Here are the steps you need to take:
1. Start by logging into your original Gmail account, clicking the “gear” icon in the top right and clicking See all settings.
2. Select the Forwarding POP/IMAP tab, and then select the option Enable POP for all mail (POP stands for Post Office Protocol).
3. You’ll have several options under When messages are accessed with POP. To automatically delete the emails from your original account after the transfer, select delete Gmail’s copy.
4. Select Save Changes.
Now it’s time to create your new account and transfer all your messages there:
1. Login to your new archive account, click the gear icon at the top and select See all settings.
2. Select the Accounts and Import tab at the top, and then select Add a mail account next to Check mail from other accounts.
3. In the pop-up window, enter in the name of your original Gmail account. Select Next.
4. Select Import emails from my other account (POP3), andselect Next again.
5. Enter the password of your original Gmail account. You might also be required to create a Google app password (see note below).
6. Select 995 under Port.
7. Check these 3 boxes: Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail, Label incoming messages, Archive incoming messages (Skip the Inbox)
8. Select Add Account.
You’ll probably need to create a Google app password to transfer Gmail messages
We tested this Gmail message transfer process twice, and both times the standard password for the Gmail accounts did not work. After a bit of research, we determined that we’d need to create a temporary “app password” to sync the accounts.
Google app passwords are 16-digit passcodes created for “less secure” apps or devices to access your Google account. They work exactly like your Google password.
If your regular Google password doesn’t work for syncing Gmail accounts, visit https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords to create an app password. Simply create a name for the password — we used “Transfer Bulk Email” — and then hit the Create button. You’ll get a pop-up window with your new 16-digit passcode.
Once you’ve created the app password, return to step 6 of the instructions above and use that new app password instead of your usual password.
Important: Google will only display your app password once. After you’ve created it, you can’t ask to see it again, so be sure to write it down or otherwise record it after it’s been created.
Google’s own Help Center mentions that “app passwords aren’t recommended and are unnecessary in most cases.” So once you’re done transferring your Gmail messages, we recommend deleting your app password.
What happens after my Gmail accounts are synced?
Once you’ve successfully linked your new Gmail archive account to your original account, your emails should begin to transfer automatically. The process could take several hours or days, depending on how many emails you have.
In our test account with about 75,000 messages, we found that it took Gmail about 2 full days to transfer all of them from the original account to the new archived mail account.
Important: After transferring your Gmail messages to your archived mail account, your original Gmail account will place all those messages in the Trash folder, which you’ll need to empty manually. Clearing out those 75,000 messages from the Trash took about an hour.
Before transferring Gmail messages, our test account was using a little more than 12GB, or 80%, of Google’s free 15GB. After transferring, the account was only using 0.66GB, of which 0.06GB was from Gmail.
What Gmail messages won’t be transferred?
We found that Gmail transferred all of our messages except for two categories — Drafts and Spam.
You’ll need to decide what to do with your Drafts manually. Spam messages are automatically deleted every 30 days, so you can let Gmail handle that, or go into the Spam folder yourself after transferring your mail and delete or forward those messages.
Once all of your emails have been imported to your new account, enjoy the experience of inbox zero. You’ve given your original account a new lease on life.
At this point, there are two last steps: you’ll want to stop the automatic transfer process so that you can continue using your original account, and you’ll want to delete that app password if you had to make one.
1. Login to your new account, go into your Settings and select See all settings.
2. Select the Accounts and Import tab, and then select delete for your original account (under Check mail from other accounts.)
3. When prompted to Confirm delete mail account, select OK.
If you had to create a Google app password and want to delete it now, go back to https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords and click the trashcan icon next to the password you created.
Congrats, you’re done.
One important final note: Google will delete accounts that have been inactive for more than two years. So make sure you don’t completely ignore all your old emails after transferring them. If you don’t plan to regularly use your archive account to send email, you can still keep the account active by signing in at least once every two years.
We tested Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model for 30 nights.
Aly Lopez/CNET
My husband Dillon and I are sleep experts at CNET, which means we test and review mattresses and sleep-related products. But despite our titles, we still struggle to get good, quality rest. There are plenty of reasons for this, but part of this issue stems from having different sleeping positions and preferences — a problem many couples face.
There are other factors to consider too: Dillon is a night owl, and I’m an early bird. He sleeps better in a quiet room, while I sleep better with a white noise machine. I like to sleep in the pitch black, and Dillon wouldn’t even notice if a construction-grade work light illuminated the entire bedroom all night. I enjoy cuddling with our dog and cat on the bed, but he doesn’t. Fortunately, after much trial and error and trying various sleep products, Dillon and I have found solutions for most of these differences.
The biggest issue we haven’t figured out yet is our sleeping positions. Dillon is a side sleeper, and loves soft mattresses that cushion his shoulders and hips. I, on the other hand, usually fall asleep on my stomach, so I need my spine in neutral alignment. It’s been tricky to find a bed that we both like, so we started on a mission to find the perfect mattress. In our 30-Night Mattress Testing Series, Dillon and I will try a new mattress each month and share our thoughts until we find one that works for both of us.
Before starting this series, we’d been sleeping on Brentwood Home’s Latex Hybrid, which is considered a medium on the firmness scale and has a traditional innerspring feel. We tracked our sleep on Brentwood Home to compare the data with the first mattress in our testing series: Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model.
Watch us test the Saatva Classic mattress for 30 nights.
Initial thoughts on the Saatva Classic
Once we got the Saatva Classic situated in our bedroom, we began testing it right away. We considered various factors like feel, firmness and temperature, then formed our initial thoughts on the edge support and motion isolation. Off the bat, we agreed that it looked like a high-end, luxurious bed that could be found in a nice five-star hotel. We loved the design and could tell that the materials were high-quality.
We (along with our dog, Charlie) analyzed characteristics such as firmness, feel, temperature, edge support and more.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Firmness
We took turns lying on it, rolling around and testing out the various sleeping positions. It didn’t take long for Dillon to come to the conclusion that while it was an extremely nice bed, it would be too firm for him to sleep on his side. I had the opposite reaction — I enjoyed how firm and supportive it felt while lying on my stomach and back (and even my side). It provided ample support for keeping my spine neutrally aligned.
Feel
We immediately appreciated the responsiveness of the bed. Unlike the sinking-in feeling associated with memory foam, the Saatva Classic is extremely responsive and bounces back quickly, which we both prefer. We also both enjoyed its plush pillow top feel.
Temperature
We agreed that the cover was not cool to the touch but seemed temperature-neutral. As a hot sleeper, I felt this might pose an issue for me, but Dillon wasn’t too concerned about it.
Edge support is an extremely important factor for Aly, and this bed passed with flying colors.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Edge support
Solid edge support is crucial for both of us, but more so for me. Thanks to the cuddles from Dillon and our pets — namely our cat, Jess — I tend to get pushed to the outside edge of the bed and find myself hanging on for dear life. When she’s not sprawling out between us, Jess often lays on my head and takes over the pillow. I usually end up lying below her on the edge of the mattress with no pillow at all, which is another story entirely (and a common point of cat-ention, if you will, in our house). Right away, we could tell that edge support was phenomenal. Even lying right on the edge, the mattress wasn’t sagging, and I didn’t feel like I would fall off.
Dillon was impressed by the Saatva Classic’s motion isolation abilities.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Motion isolation
With one person lying still on the bed and the other moving around, we tested its motion-isolating abilities. We also tested it by placing a glass of water on the bed and bouncing and rolling around. Dillon felt the mattress had pretty decent motion isolation. I found it so-so and thought it might not work well for me in that regard — not just because Jess constantly jumps on and off the bed, but because Dillon and I frequently go to bed and wake up at different times. As a night owl, he tends to go to bed later, and I usually wake up earlier. Having a mattress that absorbs motion and won’t jostle the other person awake would be helpful since we often get in and out of bed at different times.
Design and construction
As I mentioned, we were immediately impressed by the look and quality of the materials used in the Saatva Classic’s construction. The model we had was 11.5 inches tall, which is pretty standard, and Saatva also offers a thicker 14.5-inch version.
I liked how soft and luscious the cover felt. It’s made with naturally hypoallergenic organic cotton and is treated with Saatva’s Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment that is intended to inhibit bacteria growth and mold. We prefer our mattresses to be hypoallergenic since we sleep with our pets (and their fur and dander), so that’s a great feature.
I could tell that it would keep my spine in neutral alignment, partially due to the Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire in the middle of the mattress. Just below that is the layer of Lumbar Zone Pocketed Coils made with recycled steel, firmer in the center third of the bed where most of our body weight was. The base is a coil unit made of tempered steel. That said, the mattress was heavy but lighter than I expected, considering it’s such a durable hybrid bed.
Brand standards
Dillon and I have always admired Saatva as a brand. Its policies are fantastic: 365-night trial period, lifetime warranty, free shipping, delivery and setup, and even complimentary removal of your old mattress. Its beds are handcrafted to order in the US using high-quality and sustainably sourced materials. What’s not to like about that?
Our dog approves of the Saatva Classic and Saatva’s commitment to sustainability.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Our sleep quality goals
To be specific, our sleep goals include getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night (8 plus for me is preferred) and spending less time awake. We both tend to wake up frequently throughout the night, sometimes for a couple of hours. Often, one of us will move to the couch in the middle of the night for a change of scenery when we are uncomfortable and can’t go back to sleep.
Of course, other factors may influence our sleep quality — pets, diet, exercise, room temperature, stress, etc. We have worked hard to pinpoint and mitigate these other factors over the years and feel like we have a decent handle on them. We now seek a mattress we both find so comfortable that neither of us wants to get up and leave it.
Testing, testing…
It didn’t take long for Dillon to confirm what we thought once we started sleeping on it: The bed was much too firm for his liking. The first few nights, he woke up with a sore back and neck. Since the bed we slept on prior to this was a medium on the firmness scale and Saatva Classic’s luxury firm is more of a medium-firm to firm, it would take some time for him (and myself) to adjust.
The luxury firm model of the Saatva Classic is great for back and stomach sleepers (which Dillon is not).
Aly Lopez/CNET
Right off the bat, I really enjoyed this mattress and was sleeping better than I had been on the Brentwood Hybrid. The edge support kept me from feeling like I was going to fly off whenever I’d get pushed to the edge. I didn’t wake up feeling sore like Dillon was, even when I would lay on my side.
Dillon was impressed by its ability to isolate motion, whereas I thought it did a fine job. As a very light sleeper, I’m more sensitive to motion transfer than Dillon is — particularly so because our cat tends to jump on and off the bed (and me) constantly throughout the night — an issue that no amount of motion isolation can solve. I also woke up quite often when Dillon moved around or switched positions throughout the night.
A few nights, I’d find myself overheating and whipping the covers off in sweaty panic. We keep the temperature in our bedroom cool and sleep with a light comforter, so I do think this was happening in part because of the mattress. Dillon wasn’t getting quite as hot as I was, but he also mentioned that he would like a bed with more cooling technology.
A little over halfway through the trial, something interesting happened. One day, I pinched a nerve in my shoulder, which is what led me to the realization that I spend more time sleeping on my side than I had initially thought. For about a week, I would constantly wake up in pain and find myself lying on my side. Because the bed’s firm profile doesn’t offer much pressure relief, it was intensifying the pain from my pinched nerve. After this, I began paying closer attention to my sleeping habits and found that I spend way more time sleeping on my side than I thought.
The mattress feels firm to me, especially while sleeping on my side.
Aly Lopez/CNET
In my testing notes, I wrote: I usually sleep on my stomach… but recently, I’ve been waking up in pain on my side in the middle of the night. Maybe I actually do need a softer mattress?!“
For the most part, until I hurt my shoulder, I was thoroughly enjoying my experience of sleeping on the Saatva Classic. Dillon was not having quite the same experience — at the end of the 30 nights, he was still waking up sore, forced to switch to sleeping on his back because being on his side was too firm, and his arm would fall asleep.
Ranking our personal preferences
At CNET, our sleep experts rank and score mattresses objectively using a standardized rating system. However, as two bad sleeper sleep experts and for the purpose of this series, Dillon and I created a custom subjective ranking system to score the main qualities and features we seek personally in a mattress. More weight was given to firmness and feel (up to 20 points each), while the remaining factors were each out of 10 points, for a total possible score of 100. We ranked these factors on a preferential level, meaning what we liked or didn’t like personally — all of our scoring is subjective. The scale looked like this:
We created a subjective point system to give the mattress an overall rating at the end of the trial.
Cole Kan/CNET
Feel and firmness (the most important features of this trial for us)
On a scale of 1 to 20:
1 = Absolutely abhor this particular feature of the bed
10 = Not my favorite, but I can make it work
20 = It’s perfect, and I could not imagine my life now without this feature of the bed
1 = Absolutely abhor this particular feature of the bed
5 = Not my favorite, but I can make it work
10 = It’s perfect, and I could not imagine my life now without this feature of the bed
Scoring the Saatva Classic
After completing the 30-night trial, we ranked each factor preferentially and offered a brief explanation for the score given. Here are the results:
Dillon’s scoring breakdown
Feel: 12/20
The Saatva Classic feels like a classic firm hybrid bed, which I don’t mind. It’s pretty accommodating. I don’t sink into it at all like memory foam, which I like about it, but I would prefer a softer neutral foam feel with more pressure relief.
Firmness: 5/20
The bed was way too firm for me as a side sleeper. A lot of times, I would wake up feeling sore with my arm asleep. I just need something a little softer. The plush soft model of the Saatva Classic would probably be perfect for me.
Motion isolation: 7/10
I never really noticed Aly moving around on the bed (and she moves around a lot), so I was pretty happy with the motion isolation. I think the only time I felt her move was when she’d get out of bed completely in the middle of the night.
Edge support: 7/10
Edge support is important to me, and it felt sturdy, but I slept against the wall so it was harder to tell for me personally. For the next bed, I will not be sleeping against a wall (thankfully), so it will be a better test.
Temperature: 5/10
Cooling technology is important to me. I would like a bed that has a cool-to-the-touch feel, which this definitely does not have. It felt more temperature-neutral.
Design/construction: 8/10
Saatva got it right with the construction. The materials are super high-quality. This bed feels very durable and luxurious.
Sleep quality: 3/10
I slept so poorly that I considered taking sleep supplements before bed for the first time in my life.
Brand standards (policies, sustainability): 8/10
Saatva has great policies, such as the 365-night trial and lifetime warranty. Sustainability is important to me, and they have a lot of green initiatives. I really like them as a brand and always have.
Dillon’s overall score: 56/100 = 5.6/10
“My score is actually higher than I thought it would be. There are definitely features I really like about this bed, but overall, it’s just not a great fit for me.” – Dillon
Dillon felt the mattress was a little too firm for side sleeping.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Aly’s scoring breakdown
Feel: 16/20
I prefer the traditional innerspring feel that the Saatva Classic has. I like that I can easily switch positions without feeling “stuck” because I tend to move around a lot throughout the night.
Firmness: 14/20
This mattress felt firm to me, which is what I thought I wanted. It is definitely what I preferred at the beginning of the trial until I pulled my shoulder/back and was having trouble sleeping on my side. It made me realize that it actually does feel too firm for me and I think I would like something a little bit softer with more pressure relief.
Motion isolation: 5/10
I thought the motion isolation was fine. I could feel it when Dillon or the pets moved around or got in and out of the bed, but it wasn’t overly jarring or disruptive, especially considering how much we move around.
Edge support: 9/10
Edge support is very important to me because I tend to sleep very close to the edge of the bed. I never felt like I was falling off or like the edge was drooping. Super impressive edge support.
Temperature: 3/10
I sleep very hot throughout the night and the cotton cover on this mattress made the bed feel pretty warm to me. I would frequently have to take the covers off to cool down. Would like to have a bed with more cooling technology.
Design/construction: 8/10
The materials feel very high-quality and luxurious. I like that the beds are GREENGUARD® Gold certified and made with eco-friendly materials like recycled steel coils, organic cotton, CertiPUR-US®* certified memory foams, etc. I like the durable hybrid construction of the Saatva Classic (vs all-foam).
Sleep quality: 7/10
I slept better on the Saatva Classic than I did on our previous mattress, the Brentwood Home Latex Hybrid. While I didn’t hit my sleep average goal of 8 hours per night, it was still higher than my average sleep on Brentwood.
Brand standards (policies, sustainability): 8/10
I appreciate Saatva’s policies, like the one-year trial period and lifetime warranty, free in-home delivery and setup. I don’t particularly like moving mattresses, so having an in-home setup is a feature I would probably look for when purchasing a mattress. I also appreciate that the mattresses are manufactured in the US and that Saatva has many green initiatives, such as planting trees, using solar panels, etc.
Aly’s overall score: 70/100 = 7/10
In hindsight, I think my score should be a little higher. My main qualms were temperature and motion isolation, which are two very tricky issues for a mattress to solve.
As a back sleeper, our dog Charlie ranked the Saatva Classic an astounding 10/10.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
How we tracked our sleep
At the beginning of the trial, we were tracking our sleep data using the TEMPUR-Ergo® ProSmart® Base, which has a built-in AI sleep tracker. After a few hiccups (such as the base disconnecting or accidentally tracking our dog’s sleep), we decided to switch trackers about halfway through the trial. I began using my Apple Watch, and Dillon used his Whoop band, which seemed to provide more accurate biometrics.
Our trackers provided data for amounts of deep sleep, REM sleep, core/light sleep and awake time.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Our sleep data results
Let’s dive into the numbers. As you can see in the graph below, Dillon and I were all over the place. My nightly sleep ranged from a low of 4 hours to a high of 10 hours (which is exceptionally high for me), while Dillon’s ranged from 3 to just over 9 hours. As I mentioned, we missed a few nights of tracking due to the bedframe tracker disconnecting or my Apple Watch deciding not to track my sleep for reasons unknown.
Saatva Classic: Nightly Hours Slept
Our nightly sleep varied quite a bit throughout the trial, ranging from lows of 3-4 hours to highs of 9-10 hours.
The nights when we got little sleep — 3, 4 or 5 hours — usually went like this: I would fall asleep first while lying on my stomach. An hour or two later, Dillon would gently crawl into bed as slowly and quietly as possible to prevent me from waking up. But what would I do? Wake up. No matter how silently he moved through the room, I’d always wake up due to the motion transfer of his movements on the mattress.
We’d then adjust to lying on our sides, and Dillon would (try to) spoon me while I would (inadvertently) spoon our cat. Not long after this, I’d either become overheated, pushing everyone away in exasperation and yanking all the covers off, or Dillon’s arm would fall painfully asleep, and he’d be forced to lie on his back instead. Next stop: Snoreville. Unfortunately, snoring is more likely to occur when sleeping on your back, which is what would happen. I’d lie awake, trying to get comfortable on my stomach again, while Jess would bounce around and make herself comfortable on my head. Eventually, she’d take over my entire pillow, and at that point, I’d have no choice but to wake Dillon up and ask him to please roll onto his side again — I felt terrible doing this because I knew it was uncomfortable for him — or I’d give up, jump ship and move to the couch in the wee hours of the morning. I’d usually wake Dillon up while trying to sneak out of the bed too.
The nights we got great sleep — 8, 9 and even 10 hours (for me) — had a common denominator: I took a sleep supplement before bed. Usually, I’d take a melatonin gummy, lay down on my stomach and pass out within a few minutes, feeling cozy, comfortable and supported on the Saatva Classic. The melatonin helped keep me from waking up, completely unaware of the world around me, and allowed us both to stay asleep throughout the night.
As I mentioned, our sleep numbers aren’t solely based on our experience with the mattress. We recognize that there are many other factors in play when it comes to sleep quality, such as our diet, exercise, bedroom environment, stress levels and so on. But with a mattress that one partner finds uncomfortable, the issues can become exacerbated and affect both people — such as Dillon having to lie on his back because there’s not enough pressure relief for his side, causing him to snore, or me getting too hot and sweaty on a bed with no cooling technology and ripping the covers off.
30-Night Sleep Phase Averages
Aly slept longer than Dillon on average. Dillon was awake more but spent more time in deep sleep.
Throughout the 30 nights, on average:
I slept about 7 hours and 15 minutes per night.
Dillon slept around 6 hours and 40 minutes per night.
I spent 40 minutes awake each night.
Dillon spent about 1 hour awake each night.
Interestingly, we averaged almost the same exact amount of REM sleep each night, which was 1 hour and 40 minutes. I spent an hour longer in core/light sleep (4 hours and 42 minutes) than Dillon (3 hours and 40 minutes). Dillon spent a little more time in deep sleep (an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes) than I did (about one hour).
The results were about as we expected when comparing our sleep on the Brentwood Home Latex Hybrid: I slept over an hour longer on average on the Saatva Classic, while Dillon averaged over an hour less sleep per night on it. The Brentwood Home mattress was a medium on the firmness scale, so it’s softer than Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model. As a side sleeper, this bed may have been a better fit for Dillon. The latex foam in Brentwood Home has a wavy, contouring shape that reduces pressure points for your shoulder and hips. Usually falling asleep on my stomach, the Saatva Classic was a better fit for me as its firmer profile and construction provide enhanced support, helping to keep my spine in a healthy, neutral alignment.
Saatva Classic vs. Brentwood Home (Average Sleep Hours)
Aly slept better on the Saatva Classic compared to Brentwood Home, while Dillon had the opposite experience.
Final thoughts on the Saatva Classic
In continuing our search for the perfect mattress, there are three areas of improvement we’d ultimately like to see: more sleep (closer to 8 hours of sleep per night for Dillon and at least 8.5 for me), more consistent sleep and less time spent awake throughout the night.
After trying this bed for 30 nights, we both feel that the Saatva Classic is a super high-quality and luxurious mattress, but it’s simply not the right bed for us. It’s durable and supportive, and with three firmness options to choose from, this bed can accommodate most sleeper types.
Saatva Classic’s firmness options
After our trial, we realized that Saatva’s website says that the luxury firm model of the Saatva Class is ideal for couples who can’t agree on a firmness profile. The irony! Let’s break that down:
If you and your sleep partner are primarily side sleepers and prefer a softer mattress, we recommend checking out the plush soft version of the Saatva Classic, which we rank around a medium or 5 out of 10.
If both of you sleep predominately on your back and stomach (and especially if you are heavier) and prefer a firm bed, we recommend checking out Saatva Classic’s firm model. We rank this a true firm or around a 9 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
If you’re both combination sleepers or have different sleeping positions (like Dillon and me), then, in theory, the luxury firm model would be the right choice; however, in our subjective experience, it was still slightly too firm. Saatva ranks the luxury firm between 5 and 7 on the firmness scale. Dillon and I agreed that it feels firmer than that, perhaps around a 7 to 8. Again, if you and your partner are heavier individuals with varying sleep positions, then this will likely feel a little softer to you and could be a great option. You could also consider the Saatva HD, which is designed specifically for bigger bodies.
The Saatva Classic is extremely responsive and feels incredibly luxurious.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Our key takeaways
A learned takeaway from this experience is that I spend more time sleeping on my side than I previously realized. This is a key factor in deciding the right mattress for us and will hopefully make it easier to find one that accommodates us both. Going into the trial, Dillon knew he’d prefer a soft mattress, which was confirmed.
Though it wasn’t a perfect match for us, we still highly recommend this particular model to back and stomach sleepers who prefer a durable, firm and responsive mattress. A queen-size Saatva Classic is priced at $1,795, but Saatva frequently runs deals bringing down a few hundred dollars. We think that’s a great value for how high-end and luxurious it is.
How many beds will it take until we find the perfect one? Stay tuned for the next mattress of our 30-Night Mattress Testing Series: the Avocado Luxury Organic.
California residents have access to insanely fast internet from top providers. The state has been instrumental in the evolution of technology, and the internet holds a special place in its history. The Golden State is the birthplace of innovation — from Apple to Intel to Silicon Valley. And it’s been the center of cultural changes in tech. It’s no surprise that you can find fast, reliable home internet connections in California, especially in its biggest metro areas. With remote work, gamers and folks looking to stream to their hearts’ content, you’ll want to keep that data moving — and fast.
What is the best internet provider in California?
City dwellers will likely have several providers to choose from, but we want to give a special shoutout to AT&T Fiber, CNET’s choice as the best internet service provider in California. AT&T Fiber topped our recommended ISP lists for San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento — a feat that earned it our nod for best in the state. Fiber isn’t everywhere, and you may need to choose from other providers, whether it’s Spectrum, Xfinity, Cox, Frontier or a regional provider like Sonic. You can also turn to 5G home internet if you want freedom from contracts and wired internet connections.
Best internet options in California
Rural internet options in California
Provider
Connection type
Price range
Speed range
Data cap
Availability
California Broadband Services
Fixed wireless
$50-$220
10-40Mbps
Varies
Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin counties
Ridge Wireless
Fixed wireless
$100-$115
20-60Mbps
None
Silicon Valley
Rocky Ridge Wireless
Fixed wireless
$60-$175
5-30Mbps
None
El Dorado and Amador counties
SkyHi Broadband
Fixed wireless
$70-$200
5-30Mbps (60Mbps plan may be available)
None
Lincoln and surrounding areas
Succeed.net
Fixed wireless
$40-$100
10-100Mbps
500GB-Unlimited
Areas around Glenn, Yuba City and Sacramento
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60
72-245Mbps
None
Large areas across the state
Ukiah Wireless
Fixed wireless
$55-$100
12-25Mbps
None
Ukiah area
unWired Broadband
Fixed wireless
$60-varies with location
Varies
None
Central California
Valley Center Wireless
Fixed wireless
$60-$105
1-30Mbps
None
North San Diego County
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
California is known for its big cities and pretty beaches, but many Californians live in rural areas and farming communities. That can limit available ISP options considerably. If you’re on the outskirts of a city or town, you may be able to get a DSL connection from a provider like AT&T. If you’re farther out, you may be down to two main options: fixed wireless or satellite internet.
The chart above includes a selection of rural internet providers across California, but it’s not comprehensive. You may find different provider services in your area. One way to find these smaller ISPs is to plug your address into the FCC National Broadband Map to pull up a list of possible providers. Read CNET’s guide to the best rural internet providers.
Start with T-Mobile Home Internet for fixed wireless, but don’t be surprised if it’s unavailable at your address. Fortunately, California has local fixed wireless providers specializing in rural internet. Compared to city options, rural fixed wireless can be expensive and slow. Its main competitor is satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat or Starlink. Consider pricing and speeds when making your decision. Here’s what you need to know about fixed wireless and how it compares to other internet connection types.
EyeWolf/Getty Images
California broadband details at a glance
Approximately 32% of residences in California have access to wired internet with speeds of at least 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up, according to the FCC. That’s the federal government’s minimum standard for broadband. Rural households may not have much choice regarding faster speed tiers, but city dwellers can usually find speedier options.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Similarly, about 31% of California residents can get wired internet with at least 1,000Mbps down. Not surprisingly, access is clustered around the big cities. Providers like AT&T Fiber, Sonic (in the Bay Area), Google Fiber (around Irvine) and Xfinity all deliver at the 1,000Mbps level and above. Rural areas are primarily serviced by satellite or local fixed wireless ISPs. Speeds aren’t always great, but it’s better than no connection at all.
Internet breakdown by city in California
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give its cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in California. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don’t find the location you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more cities every week.
How fast is California broadband?
The Golden State comes in at 10th place for Ookla’s Speedtest ranking (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis) of fixed internet speeds by state. Delaware, New Jersey, Florida and North Carolina are some states that beat it out with faster median download speeds. Ookla’s ranking of internet speeds for the 100 most populous US cities has a strong showing by California. Irvine triumphantly comes in second (just below Raleigh, North Carolina) with a median download speed of 276Mbps. You can largely thank Google Fiber for that.
FCC data lets us dial in on some of the details of internet speeds in California. The National Broadband Map shows roughly 30% of California households have access to fiber internet connections. Much of that is concentrated in the wider Los Angeles metro area and the Bay Area. Keep that in mind if you’re moving and fiber is a must-have. AT&T Fiber is plenty fast, with speeds up to 5,000Mbps in some locations. Xfinity has limited availability of its 10,000Mbps plan in the Bay Area. You’ll also find regional fiber provider Sonic up in the Bay Area. It has a speedy 10,000Mbps plan available in some spots. Frontier Fiber has a small but notable presence in Southern California.
If you’re plagued by slow internet at home, there are some steps you can take to try to improve it. The problem might be with your Wi-Fi setup rather than your internet connection. It could be finding a new router location or picking up a range extender. Follow these four steps to improve your Wi-Fi. If it’s truly a matter of your ISP, it might be time to upgrade your plan or shop around to see if a different provider is faster or more reliable. Find the top ISPs in your area.
Internet pricing in California
Around $50 is a standard starting price for home internet. That will connect you with decent speeds through most ISPs, from Xfinity to Spectrum to AT&T Fiber to Verizon 5G Home Internet. Promotional deals and new-customer contract offers can bring that starting price down. For example, Xfinity’s 150Mbps Connect plan will run you just $20 monthly with a one-year contract.
Affordable doesn’t have to mean slow. AT&T Fiber’s no-fuss $55-a-month 300Mbps plan is a good deal for fiber. If you’re not an internet power user, you should be perfectly happy with that speed level. Verizon and T-Mobile offer bargains for eligible phone customers. Bundle up and your Verizon home internet will cost as low as $35 a month, while T-Mobile home internet will be $40 a month. If you’re in a good location, you may be able to pull down some decent speeds.
When picking your plan, assess your needs. Are you uploading massive files for work? Are you a hard-core gamer? Do you have multiple people in the house who are all streaming at the same time? Maybe you need a higher-end, more expensive plan to handle all that. If not, look to budget options. Instead of AT&T Fiber’s $180-per-month 5,000Mbps plan, you might do just fine with the 1,000Mbps plan at $80 monthly. Check out these eight ways to save on your internet bill.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in California
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
The future of broadband in California
California’s big cities are well-covered with ISP options, but gaps exist in less-populated parts of the state. According to the office of Governor Gavin Newsom, roughly one in five Californians don’t have access to affordable high-speed internet. The state has been making investments to improve this, but a lot of federal money is also coming to help California build out broadband. In June, the White House announced how the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program — part of the Infrastructure Act — will allocate funding. California can expect over $1.8 billion to expand high-speed internet access.
California began construction on an ambitious 10,000-mile fiber network in late 2022. The “Middle Mile” project is intended to help connect communities with no internet or slow internet. The idea is that service providers will hook up to this main network to offer “last mile” connections to homes and businesses. The state hopes to complete the project by the end of 2026. If the project goes as planned, it could be a huge change for the better in rural areas and places that tend to be overlooked by major ISPs.
Internet in California FAQs
Does California have good internet?
Yes, in many places. According to Ookla’s Speedtest data, California’s fixed internet speeds rank highly among all the states, putting it in 11th place. Your broadband experience can vary considerably depending on where you live. If you’re in a major metro area, you should have a choice of at least two or three ISPs, with desirable fiber available in some spots. If you’re in a rural community, you may not fare so well. In that case, fixed wireless or satellite may be your only options. Those aren’t always ideal, but you should at least be able to get connected.
A handful of fiber providers compete to deliver fast uploads and equally fast downloads around California. AT&T Fiber has the biggest presence, although availability is still limited compared to the reach of cable, DSL and fixed wireless ISPs. In the Bay Area, check to see if Sonic reaches your home. It’s been expanding its fiber presence and offers speeds up to 10,000Mbps in some spots. Frontier Fiber is scattered around broader Los Angeles, while Google Fiber can be found in Irvine. Ting operates around limited parts of Southern California, Race Communication services Rancho Santa Fe and Fidium connect some of the Sacramento area.
There are many good reasons for living outside of California’s big cities: Less traffic, a quieter way of life and beautiful scenery are just a few examples. No matter where you are, you should be able to fall back on satellite internet from Hughesnet, Viasat or Starlink to get online. Before you invest in satellite, check for fixed wireless providers in your area by plugging your address into the FCC broadband map. You may find a local ISP that reaches your home with fixed wireless. From there, you can compare speeds and prices to make an informed decision.
While options in Eugene may be limited, Xfinity stands out as the top internet service provider, according to CNET, offering the lowest starting prices, fast download speeds and no equipment fees on most plans. It’s widely available across the city, providing fast and reliable internet access at nearly every address. Though not as widespread as Xfinity, Hunter Fiber delivers the fastest internet speeds in Eugene. As the only fiber provider in the area, it offers symmetrical upload and download speeds. T-Mobile Home Internet is another solid alternative, with download speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps—ideal for small to medium-sized households. Plus, it comes with a price-lock guarantee. Discover more about Eugene’s leading broadband providers below.
Best internet in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
CenturyLink Read full review
DSL
$55
Up to 100Mbps
$15 (optional)
None
None
6.7
Hunter Fiber
Fiber
$60-$120
500-2,500Mbps
None
None
None
N/A
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Xfinity Read full review
Cable
$20-$90
150-2,000Mbps
$15 (included in most plans)
1.2TB
Optional
7
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Eugene?
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Xfinity Connect Read full review
$20
150Mbps
$15 (optional)
Xfinity Connect More Read full review
$35
300Mbps
$15 (optional)
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
245Mbps
None
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Sean Pavone / Getty Images
How to find internet deals and promotions in Eugene
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Eugene depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Eugene internet providers, such as Xfinity may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including CenturyLink, Hunter Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Eugene
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Hunter Fiber Ultimate 2.5G
$120
2,500Mbps
2,500Mbps
None
Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review
$90
2,000Mbps
300Mbps
1.2TB
Cable
Hunter Fiber Pro 1G
$80
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review
$75
1,000Mbps
120Mbps
1.2TB
Cable
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How many members of your household use the internet?
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Eugene
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Eugene FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Eugene?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Eugene. It’s the only wired connection widely available in the city, and it offers the cheapest prices of any provider. That said, you’ll have to deal with data caps on every plan, and prices increase after one or two years.
Is fiber internet available in Eugene?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 17% of Eugene residents, according to FCC data — primarily through Hunter Fiber.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Eugene?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Eugene, with plans starting at $20 a month for 150Mbps download speeds. Prices on this plan increases to $67 monthly after the introductory period.
Which internet provider in Eugene offers the fastest plan?
Hunter Fiber offers the fastest internet plan in Eugene, with upload and download speeds of 2,500Mbps.
Spectrum is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider in Frisco. They’ve got speeds up to a gigabit, and you can start for just $30 a month for 100 Mbps. Plus, Spectrum is the biggest ISP in Frisco and has the best coverage around. If Spectrum isn’t an option for you, check out AT&T Fiber or T-Mobile Home Internet as good alternatives.
If you’re seeking the most affordable internet in Frisco, Astound Broadband’s 300 megabits per second plan costs only $20 monthly and includes unlimited data. Need the fastest internet speeds? AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber both offer symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 5,000Mbps.
Best internet in Frisco, Texas, in 2024
Frisco internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Astound Broadband Read full review
Cable
$20-$55
300-1,500Mbps
None
None
None
7
AT&T Internet Read full review
DSL hybrid
$60
20-100Mbps
None
1.5TB on some plans
None
7.4
AT&T Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$55-$255
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Frontier Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$40-$140
200-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
6.3
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$30-$70
100-1,000Mbps
Free modem; $10 router (optional)
None
None
7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$55 ($40 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)
50-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Frisco?
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Frisco
The best internet deals and top promotions in Frisco depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Frisco internet providers, such as Spectrum, T-Mobile and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, such as AT&T, Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
How many members of your household use the internet?
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Future Publishing/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Frisco
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review
$255
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review
$140
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review
$155
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review
$110
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Astound Broadband 1500 Read full review
$55
1,500Mbps
20Mbps
None
Cable
Astound Broadband 1000 Read full review
$45
1,000Mbps
20Mbps
None
Cable
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review
$80
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review
$80
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review
$70
1,000Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review
$80 ($45 with eligible mobile plan)
1,000Mbps
75Mbps
None
Fixed wireless
Show more (6 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Frisco
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Frisco FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Frisco?
Is fiber internet available in Frisco?
Fiber internet through AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber is available to approximately 60% of Frisco households.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Frisco?
Astound Broadband’s 300Mbps plan is the cheapest service in Frisco, costing $20 a month with no added equipment fees.
Which internet provider in Frisco offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber and Frontier Fiber tie for the fastest plan in Frisco. While both ISPs offer 5,000Mbps with unlimited data, AT&T Fiber costs $255 versus Frontier at $140.
CNET recommends AT&T Fiber as the top internet provider in Charleston. If AT&T Fiber isn’t available in your area, don’t worry—Charleston residents have plenty of solid alternatives. Options range from fiber plans offered by local provider Home Telecom to cable connections from Xfinity and Spectrum. For those interested in wireless options, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet provide reliable 5G service.
Broadband access in Charleston is impressive. According to the Federal Communications Commission, every household in the city has access to broadband speeds of at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload, while 97% can opt for plans offering speeds up to 250Mbps. That’s significantly better than in Columbia, South Carolina’s capital, where only 92% of households have access to such high-speed plans—enough to easily handle streaming, remote work and online gaming for a family of four, according to FCC standards.
While my visits to Charleston tend to focus more on its sandy beaches and iconic cuisine than on internet speeds, it’s good to know that fast, reliable connectivity is available no matter where you go in the Holy City.
Charleston internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
AT&T Internet Air Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60
10-100Mbps
None
1.5TB
None
7.4
AT&T Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$55-$245
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Home Telecom
Fiber
$70-$130
300-2,000Mbps
None
None
None
N/A
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$50-$70
500-1,000Mbps
Free modem; $5 for router (optional)
None
None
7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60-$80 ($35-$45 with eligible phone plan)
50-250Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
WOW Read full review
Cable
$30-$95
300-1,200Mbps
None
None
None
7
Xfinity Read full review
Cable
$35-$95
150-1,200Mbps
$15 (optional)
1.2TB
1-2 years, depending on plan
7
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available Charleston residential internet providers
Charleston has more ISPs than many other cities in the US, providing a rather extraordinary range of options. Here are some other providers worth considering.
Home Telecom: This company covers about 8% of Charleston, with availability mostly in the Daniel Island area. Its fiber-optic plans offer 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 1 gig or 2 gig for $70, $80, $100 or $130 monthly — which is a bit more expensive than AT&T’s Fiber plans. But it’s a local outfit, equipment is included and there are no data caps or contracts.
Satellite internet: We recommend avoiding satellite internet in Charleston, given that cheaper and faster options are widely available. Satellite internet is best for rural areas that cable and fiber don’t reach. If that’s where you live, Hughesnet and Viasat are the most prominent providers, although each requires a two-year contract. Elon Musk’s Starlink offers higher download speeds and lower latency, although it requires $499 for a standard installation, down to $349 right now, not including the monthly rate of $120 per month.
Spectrum Internet: Charter Communications’ home internet service is available to about 5% of the area, mostly north of the city in Ladson and Summerville. There are two cable internet plans: 500Mbps for $50 per month and a gigabit offering for $70 per month. There are no data caps or contracts. Prices increase by $30 monthly after the first year.
Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, Verizon uses its cellular network to wirelessly provide home broadband connections. It offers some plans with higher maximum download speeds than T-Mobile (1,000Mbps vs. 245), but it’s only available to about 23% of Charleston households.
Susanne Neumann/Getty Images
Pricing info on Charleston home internet service
The average starting price for internet in Charleston is around $46 per month — on par with other cities, including Austin, Dallas and Philadelphia.
Cheap internet options in Charleston
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Contract
Xfinity Connect Read full review
$35 ($66 after one year)
150Mbps
$15 (optional)
None
WOW Internet 300 Read full review
$30
300Mbps
None
None
Spectrum Internet Read full review
$50 ($80 after one year)
500Mbps
None
None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
245Mbps
None
None
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
100Mbps
None
None
AT&T Fiber Internet 300 Read full review
$55
300Mbps
None
None
Home Telecom 300
$70
300Mbps
None
None
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Charleston broadband speeds
According to the FCC, 100% of Charleston residents have access to broadband internet and, even more impressively, more than 43% are eligible for gig speed connections (940-1,000Mbps) from either AT&T Fiber, Home Telecom, Spectrum or Xfinity. AT&T also offers multigigabit plans up to 5 gigs (5,000Mbps).
What are the fastest internet plans in Charleston?
Provider
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Starting price
Data cap
Contract
AT&T Fiber Internet 5000 Read full review
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
$245
None
None
AT&T Fiber Internet 2000 Read full review
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
$145
None
None
Home Telecom
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
$130
None
None
WOW Internet 1.2 Gigs Read full review
1,200Mbps
50Mbps
$95
None
None
AT&T Fiber Internet 1000 Read full review
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
$80
None
None
WOW Internet 1 Gig Read full review
1,000Mbps
50Mbps
$60
None
None
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review
1,200Mbps
35Mbps
$95 ($105 after two years)
1.2TB
2 years
Home Telecom
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
$100
None
None
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review
1,000Mbps
25-75Mbps
$80 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)
None
None
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review
1,000Mbps
35Mbps
$70 ($100 after two years)
None
None
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review
1,000Mbps
20Mbps
$75 ($85 after one year)
1.2TB
2 years
Show more (7 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Charleston
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. We also cross check speeds with Ookla’s Speedtest.net. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
This guide leverages an in-house artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our own writing and uses our database to generate content about specific internet service providers that our writers can use in determining and presenting our picks for a given guide. Check CNET’s AI policy for more information about how our teams use (and don’t use) AI tools.
Because our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC’s website to check the primary data for ourselves and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we input local addresses on provider websites to find the specific options available to residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of our prepublication fact-check.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
What’s the bottom line on Charleston internet providers?
Residents of Charleston have a variety of options when it comes to choosing a broadband provider. Xfinity covers nearly every address in the city, and some households can get faster upload speeds through fiber connections from AT&T and local provider Home Telecom. If it’s cheap internet you’re after, look no further than WOW — it has some of the lowest starting prices you’ll find anywhere in the US which don’t spike after 1-2 years of use.
Internet providers in Charleston FAQs
Which is the best internet service provider in Charleston?
It depends on where you live. AT&T Fiber is a solid choice — and CNET’s top pick — but it’s not available to all households; most residents will have to settle for the provider’s DSL connection. If that’s the case, there are better options in that price range. Xfinity covers the greatest number of addresses but comes with data caps and temporary discounts. T-Mobile Home Internet offers no data caps, no price increases and free equipment rental — but its download speeds top out under 240Mbps, which might be insufficient for households with multiple users.
Which is the cheapest internet provider in Charleston?
Charleston’s cheapest internet provider is Xfinity, whose 150Mbps cable internet plan costs $20 per month. This price increases to $64 per month after one year. WOW’s 300Mbps plan starts at $30 per month, and if you opt for a $5 price guarantee, it’ll stay that way. WOW’s gigabit plan, which offers 1,000Mbps and costs $60 monthly, is one of the best values in the US at 6 cents per Mbps.
Yes. AT&T Fiber offers three plans for up to 1 gig in several areas and up to 5 gigs in others. Local provider Home Telecom offers four fiber plans with strong coverage penetration in the Daniel Island area.
Despite Washington’s cloudy, rainy weather, homeowners can still benefit from solar panels. Whether you’re looking to save on your power bill or cash in on government incentives, we did the research for you to find the best solar panel companies in business in Washington.
The state’s 100% clean electricity goal and the 2021 Climate Commitment Act have continually increased the role of renewable and clean energy sources (including solar) in power generation. The Inflation Reduction Act’s federal tax credit is also a massive boon to homeowners looking to switch to clean energy, offering a 30% tax rebate on the cost of any clean energy additions to your home.
Washington state also offers net metering, which credits your household for sending excess energy produced by your solar panel system to the grid — and allows you to pull energy from the grid when your solar panels can’t produce the energy your home needs.
Given the combination of state and federal solar incentives and utility rate increases, installing a solar system to ease your financial burdens and increase your energy independence might be a decision worth considering. Here’s a look at some of the best solar installation companies, to help you get started.
Best national solar companies in Washington
EnergyPal
Most versatile
EnergyPal is more than just a middleman. It’ll handle your solar installation from beginning to end while also allowing you to benefit from its proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of hardware for panels, batteries and inverters, has plentiful financing options and offers responsive customer service support.
Freedom Forever
Best for cash customers
Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that’s changing.
Purelight Power
Newcomer with in-house installers
Purelight Power is the new kid on the block, but that doesn’t mean it’s second-rate. The solar company has been expanding rapidly into multiple states and has an in-house team that takes customers through every step of planning, permitting and installation. Warranty periods are fairly standard, but the company offers solar panels from companies like Silfab, SEG and Tesla Solar, battery options from Tesla Powerwall and Franklin Home Battery, and microinverters from Tesla.
Tesla Solar
Most affordable
Tesla’s solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk’s ventures. Even Tesla’s Solar Roof seems to get more love.
If price is the thing you won’t budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.
Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla’s service is a bit of a gamble.
Local Washington solar installers
National solar panel installers aren’t the only options you have. Here are some local companies we found that you may want to consider.
Based in Seattle, A&R Solar installs solar panels, batteries and EV chargers for residential and commercial customers. It also provides energy monitoring services. The company begins its installation with a home energy audit to assess your energy use and identify your energy-saving goals. According to A&R Solar, its in-house experts will review financing options and all incentives before installing a solar system. The company doesn’t offer solar leasing or power purchase agreements. A&R Solar says you’ll get 10-year performance, 10-year quality of work and 10-year free equipment replacement warranties on top of a manufacturer warranty of up to 25 years.
Blossom Solar is a full-service solar and battery installer based in northwestern Washington state. Before installation, Blossom Solar experts will conduct an energy audit of your home, help you design your solar system, manage all the required paperwork and local permitting, and organize the final inspection with your city officials. The company says it gives a 25-year product warranty and a 10-year quality-of-work warranty. It doesn’t offer a solar lease or power purchase agreements.
Puget Sound Solar has been in the solar business for 20 years. The company installs solar panels, batteries and EV chargers for residential and commercial customers. It also provides 24/7 monitoring of your solar system. With Puget Sound Solar, you get 10-year performance and 25-year quality of work warranties. The company partners with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, Generations Credit Union and Verity Credit Union, offering its customers zero-money-down financing options.
How to determine which solar company in Washington is best for me
You have a lot of choices when it comes to getting solar panels. The most important step is to get quotes from several companies and compare their prices and offerings. Make sure these quotes are coming from companies that have sent someone out to examine your home and your rooftop and discuss your energy use and priorities.
Consider a company’s product offerings, warranties, price and reputation when making a decision. Ask around with your friends and neighbors who have gotten solar, and check online reviews to see if a company does a good job.
Cost of solar panels in Washington
Here’s a look at the average cash price for a typical solar panel system in Washington state before factoring in tax credits and incentives, according to data from FindEnergy.com. The average cost for solar panels in Washington state falls in line with the national average.
Average cost of solar panels in Washington
Typical system size (kW)
Price per watt
Total installed cost
Cost after 30% federal tax credit
Washington
5
$3.45
$17,238
$12,067
National average
5
$3.56
$17,823
$12,476
The map below shows the average total price, cost per watt and system size for solar panels in different states, according to data from FindEnergy.com. The prices shown do not represent savings from tax credits or state solar incentives. If FindEnergy doesn’t have solar data for a particular state, it appears grayed out on the map.
Washington solar panel incentives and rebates
Washington residents have several solar incentives to save thousands when purchasing residential solar panels. The residential clean energy credit, a federal solar tax credit program previously known as the investment tax credit, is one of the most important solar incentives available for American homeowners. This credit lets you claim 30% of the cost of a solar system from your federal income taxes for the year. While the credit is available until 2034, it will drop to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 and terminate in 2035, unless renewed.
You can receive the clean energy credit by filling out and submitting form 5695 (PDF) to the IRS. Go over the IRS instructions on how to complete this form. After the IRS approves your documents, your solar savings will appear as a credit when you file your federal tax return. The credit will lower your tax burden and give you a higher refund.
In addition to the clean energy credit, Washington residents can take advantage of a few state incentives.
Washington’s net metering policy allows solar owners to send their excess solar generation back to the power grid and get credits on their electric bill at their utility’s retail value.
The state’s Solar Easement and Rights Laws allow you to voluntarily sign a solar easement agreement with your neighbors to ensure your solar panels have access to sunlight. The laws limit the ability of homeowners’ associations to ban solar panel installations on a resident’s property.
Washington offers a 100% sales tax exemption on all solar systems of up to 100 kW and labor costs pertinent to solar installation. You can claim the sales tax exemption when filing your state tax returns.
Allows you to claim 30% of the total cost of your solar panel system back in federal tax credits.
Property tax exemption
Some states have regulations that exempt your property taxes from increasing after a solar panel installation increases your home value. At this time, Washington state does not have this regulation in place.
Community solar
Community solar programs allow you to tap into solar energy without the costly commitment of installing panels by subscribing to a shared solar array through your utility. Typically this leads to a energy bill discount. Check with your local utility to see if community solar is available to you.
How solar-friendly is your state?
CNET recently ranked states based on their residential solar policies: the laws and regulations affecting consumer-level solar panel installation and adoption. These policies play a major role in determining how accessible and affordable a solar panel system is to the average resident.
Each state was evaluated through a methodology and scored based on eight categories. The final score was converted to a letter grade.
Here’s how your state scored on CNET’s solar policy test.
Washington
Grade: D
Incentives available:
Retail rate net metering
Solar panel systems fully exempt from sales taxes
Statewide community solar programs
Strongest scoring categories:
Washington residents have the best exchange rate on electricity with retail rate net metering, and solar equipment within the state is fully exempt from any sales tax. Community solar programs allow renters and homeowners alike to pull energy from solar panels for a fee statewide.
Categories to improve:
Washingtonians have no access to a state solar tax credit, and there are no other low-income solar programs in the state to make residential installation more accessible. The state also doesn’t exempt solar panel systems from property taxes, which is going to be a hit to solar savings year after year.
How to pay for solar panels in Washington
You have a few routes to go solar in Washington. Choosing what’s right for you will depend on your circumstances.
Cash: If you purchase a solar system with cash, you immediately assume full ownership. You will avoid any interest or loan fees associated with taking out a loan. The federal residential clean energy credit can help you recoup some of the high upfront cost of your investment (details on that below). Consider saving up for your future solar panels in a high-yield savings account.
Solar loans: If you don’t have cash to pay for solar panels, but still want to own them, taking out a solar loan is the next best option. These loans, typically offered by your solar installer, are another option that is still eligible for the federal tax credit. Keep in mind that interest and fees can lead to higher costs over time.
Other loans: You don’t have to borrow money from your solar company or the partner they recommend. You can also pay for solar panels — and get the full federal tax credit — with loans from banks and other lenders. That includes home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, which are secured by your home. Be careful: If you don’t pay back a home equity loan or HELOC, your lender can foreclose.
Leasing: If you lease, you sign a long-term contract with a solar developer. The developer will install solar panels on your property and charge you a monthly rate (it’s like paying rent) for using the energy from the panels. Unfortunately, you won’t get any government incentives since you don’t own leased panels. As the owner of the panels, the solar developer will receive all the incentives.
Power purchase agreement: With a power purchase agreement, a solar developer installs solar panels on your property and charges you a fixed price per kilowatt-hour for the energy generated by the panels. Like solar leasing, the company supplying electricity to your home through a power purchase agreement retains ownership over the solar panels and takes advantage of all government incentives.
While investing in solar isn’t cheap, it’s worth considering full ownership of a solar system by buying or financing it since they often save the most in the long term. If you buy your panels, the average payback period is estimated to be between six and 12 years. If you can’t afford solar panels, a lease or power purchase agreement could be an affordable alternative.
Just looking for an emergency backup? Check out our list of the best portable solar panels and solar generators.
Important installation factors to consider
Before going solar, it’s good to consider whether potential constraints outweigh the benefits of installing solar panels.
Roof condition and pitch: A roof’s pitch can play an essential role in determining the cost of a solar system. See if your roof has the right pitch to maximize solar production. Based on the US Department of Energy‘s calculations, an angle between 15 and 40 degrees is ideal for panel performance. Consulting with a professional solar installer will help determine if your roof needs repair or replacement before installing solar panels.
Insurance coverage: Incorporating your solar equipment into your homeowner’s insurance policy is an excellent way to add more protection to your system. Call your insurance company if your policy would extend to the solar system. If it does, remember to add your solar panels to your insurance after installing them.
Commitment vs. time: Before you commit to solar, calculate how long you will live in your home. Buying or financing a solar system or signing a lease or power purchase agreement are long-term commitments. If you move in a few years, you may not fully realize your solar investment.
Homeowners Associations (HOA) regulations: Washington has solar access laws in place that prevent any HOA from outright banning solar panels. There still may be some restrictions or requirements so it’s best to check with your HOA and local government to make sure you’re following all the guidelines.
Your location: Where you live and how many sunny days per year you receive. Washington receives 2.8 – 4.4 peak sun hours per year. Even though some experts say four peak sun hours per day is ideal for going solar, getting solar panels in Washington can still be beneficial. A reputable solar installer will help you make this determination.
Renting vs owning: If you rent your home rather than owning it, it will be really difficult to convince your landlord or property manager to get them. Renters can sign up for community solar — a subscription to a solar farm through your utility — with no commitment or buying panels.
How we found the best solar companies
The companies we listed above as “the best” are curated from CNET’s best solar companies list. Companies making the best list are scored on the equipment, warranties and customer service they offer. Then, we make sure these recommendations are available in your state. You can read a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.
Companies listed under the local installers were chosen in a less rigorous way. We chose them because they offered something unique or notable to customers in the state, they seemed well-regarded by internet reviewers or because they were one of the few installers we could find information on in the state.
Whether we’ve completed a full review on a company or not, it’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes from different installers before choosing a company.
Solar panels undergo rigorous testing and are designed to withstand harsh conditions, including strong winds, rain and snowfall. Locations with severe weather conditions often provide specific installation instructions to ensure solar panels’ secure and safe placement. While most solar manufacturers give 25-year product and performance warranties, the panels can last many years beyond the warranty period with proper care.
Is it worth getting solar panels in rainy states like Washington?
Yes, it can be worth going solar in Washington. Solar panels produce power using direct and indirect sunlight, which means they still make some electricity during cloudy days. Their generation capacity will be much lower when it’s overcast. Rain has its benefits; it improves the production of solar panels by washing away dust and dirt.
Will solar panels raise my homeowner’s insurance premium?
Typically, the installation of solar panels doesn’t lead to an increase in your homeowner’s insurance premium. Every insurance company handles solar panels differently, so it’s worth checking with your insurance company if solar panels will impact your insurance premium and by how much.
Watch the Premier League in Australia from AU$7 a month
Optus Sport
It’s the final game of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s brief tenure as interim Manchester United manager on Sunday, as the Red Devils host Leicester City at Old Trafford.
With Rúben Amorim waiting in the wings to take over during the upcoming international break, van Nistelrooy will be hoping to sign off in winning style against a side that he has already overseen a victory over during his temporary appointment.
United saw off Leicester 5-2 in the EFL Cup last month, with the Foxes following up with a drab 1-1 draw against Ipswich.
Manchester United take on Leicester City on Sunday, Nov. 10 at Old Trafford, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. GMT local time, making it a 9 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada and a 1 a.m. AEDT kickoff in Australia in the early hours of Monday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is so far unbeaten during his stint as Man United Interim Manchester United manager, with two wins and a draw.
Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
How to watch Man United vs. Leicester City in the US without cable
Saturday’s Man United vs. Leicester City match is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.
Peacock offers two Premium plans, and after the recent price increases, the ad-supported Premium plan costs $8 a month and the ad-free Premium Plus plan is $14 a month.
How to watch the Premier League 2024-25 season from anywhere with a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view EPL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
82% off with 24mo plan (+6 free months)
Can I livestream Man United vs. Leicester City in the UK?
No broadcaster has selected this game for live broadcast in the UK.
That also means that if you’re in the UK traveling for pleasure or for work, you’re unlikely to be able to watch the game like you normally would at home, thanks to geoblocking.
There’s one option to get around this, however. By using a VPN, as explained above, you can set your location to a country where the match is being broadcast and go from there.
Livestream Man United vs. Leicester City in Canada
If you want to stream this EPL game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights to every Premier League fixture once again this season.
Fubo
Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL this season, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It costs CA$30 per month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually.
Livestream Man United vs. Leicester City in Australia
Football fans down under can watch EPL matches live on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League fixture of the 2024-25 season live in Australia.
Optus
With exclusive rights to stream all EPL matches live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.
If you’re already an Optus network customer, you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
CNET editors select the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
When we test mattresses, we have an established process that assesses key factors like firmness, feel and performance. Determining the best hypoallergenic mattresses includes verifying that all the materials are allergy-safe. We then dive further into the bed’s construction, considering how each layer may contribute to its hypoallergenic qualities.
Firmness: We lie on each mattress and simulate sleeping in all positions: stomach, back, side and combination. Using our experience from testing nearly 300 different mattresses, we examine their construction and analyze how soft or hard a bed feels compared to others.
Feel: This is where we get handsy with the beds. We touch and feel the mattresses and watch what the material does. Is it light and bouncy like latex foam, or slow and dense like memory foam?
Durability: We can’t lay on every mattress for years, so it’s hard to tell exactly how long each bed will last. We can get an idea of a bed’s durability by looking at its construction. Beds with steel coils are typically more durable and stronger than all-foam mattresses.
Body type: We use construction and feel to determine how accommodating a bed will be to all body types, including heavier or lighter individuals or couples. Hybrid mattresses with steel coils are typically more supportive and longer-lasting than all-foam mattresses for those on the heavier side.
Sleeping position: We get real physical and flip around the mattresses, testing each sleeping position: side, back, stomach and combination.
Motion isolation: With one or preferably two people on the mattress, we jump and bounce around to see how much movement can be detected throughout the bed. We also place a cup of water at the edge of the bed and bounce around to see how much it moves.
Edge support: We analyze a mattress’s materials and physically lay on each edge of the mattress to get a feel for how well it’ll keep us feeling sturdy.
Temperature: We use hot sleepers to test and determine how cool a bed sleeps. We also look at its materials and construction. Did a brand add any special technology to make it sleep cooler?
AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider in Dayton. It’s the only fiber option that is easily available in the city and includes equipment with every plan. Plus, AT&T offers super fast internet speeds and has the highest customer satisfaction ratings compared to any other provider around, making it the best overall choice for internet service.
AT&T Fiber isn’t the only option. If you can’t get it at your address, Spectrum has the most affordable internet plans in Dayton and is available almost everywhere in the city. Prices start at just $30 a month, but they increase significantly after one year, and it costs an extra $10 a month to rent equipment on most plans.
T-Mobile Home Internet is another good backup option in Dayton. Download speeds average between 72 and 245 megabits per second — fast enough for small- to medium-sized homes — and T-Mobile guarantees it won’t ever raise your price too. If you’re looking for something fast and fairly cheap, then this could be the right internet service provider for you.
Best internet in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Altafiber
Fiber
$40-$100
400-2,000Mbps
$11 (optional)
None
None
N/A
AT&T Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$55-$250
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
AT&T Internet Read full review
DSL
$55
Up to 140Mbps
None
1.5TB on some plans
None
7.4
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$30-$70
100-1,000Mbps
$10 (optional)
None
None
7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers)
50-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Dayton?
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Spectrum Internet Advantage 100 Read full review
$30
100Mbps
$10 (optional)
Altafiber Fioptics 400
$40
400Mbps
$11 (optional)
Spectrum Internet Premier Read full review
$50
500Mbps
$10 (optional)
Altafiber Fioptics 600
$50
600Mbps
$11 (optional)
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans)
245Mbps
None
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
300Mbps
None
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Davel5957 / Getty Images
How to find internet deals and promotions in Dayton
The best internet deals and the top promotions in Dayton depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Dayton internet providers, such as Verizon 5G Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Dayton
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
AT&T Internet 5000 Read full review
$250
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Altafiber Fioptics 2 Gig
$100
2,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Internet 2000 Read full review
$150
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Altafiber Fioptics 1 Gig
$70
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Internet 1000 Read full review
$80
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review
$70
1,000Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans)
1,000Mbps
75Mbps
None
Fixed wireless
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Dayton
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Dayton FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Dayton?
AT&T Fiber is Dayton’s best internet service provider, offering the best combination of availability, speed and value. Prices start at $55 a month, and all plans have symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is valuable for people who game online and make many video calls.
Is fiber internet available in Dayton?
Yes, fiber internet is available to 43% of Dayton households, according to FCC data. Fiber is primarily offered by AT&T Fiber, but Altafiber also has a fiber presence in neighborhoods on the south side, like Oakwood and Belmont.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Dayton?
Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Dayton, with plans starting at $30 a month for 100Mbps download speeds. Prices increase significantly after a year.
Which internet provider in Dayton offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in Dayton, with upload and download speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
Gifts in the $300 range strike a perfect balance between practical and sophisticated. Here you’ll start to see more premium products that will surprise and delight just about anyone. We’ve gathered a collection of the best gifts under $300, all tested by our CNET experts.
With global warming becoming an urgent issue, heating our homes efficiently — and sustainably — has taken center stage. As winters become more unpredictable, finding effective heating solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels is essential. Though traditional HVAC systems still dominate, heat pumps offer an appealing alternative, delivering winter warmth and optional summer cooling with a smaller carbon footprint.
Heat pump adoption is on the rise, especially as more people recognize its benefits for both energy savings and environmental impact. In 2023, Americans purchased 21% more heat pumps than other heating systems, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.
If you’re considering a heat pump for your home, cost is likely a top concern. Many people assume heat pumps are expensive to buy and operate, but the reality may surprise you. With potential tax credits, rebates and long-term savings, a heat pump could be a wise investment that not only heats your home efficiently but also lowers your energy bills over time.
CNET’s comprehensive guide breaks down what you can expect in upfront costs, operational expenses and potential savings, helping you make an informed decision about heating your home in a more sustainable way.
How much does a heat pump cost?
Like any major home appliance, the cost of a heat pump is going to vary depending on a number of factors. Typically, purchasing the system itself is going to be the largest cost that you will face. But you can quickly rack up expenses the more elaborate the system is.
“The top three drivers of price are system performance and efficiency, the quality of the installation labor, and the complexity of the install,” said DR Richardson, co-founder of Elephant Energy, an electrification company that installs heat pump, heat pump water heaters, EV chargers and other appliances.
A common heat pump option is a ductless mini-split heat pump. These are popular for their flexibility and efficiency, and can serve most standard homes. According to HomeAdvisor, these types of heat pumps will typically cost between $1,300 to $8,000 for equipment and installation. Costs are kept low because there is minimal duct work that has to be done.
Ducted air-source heat pumps are another common option. The price for these systems generally falls between $4,500 and $8,000, including installation. Air-source heat pumps work by transferring heat between your home and the outside air, making them a versatile choice that can function in most homes.
On the higher end of the spectrum are geothermal heat pumps, which are the gold standard for energy efficiency. The initial investment is significant, typically ranging from $6,000 to $20,000, but these systems offer the promise of the most savings over time. One thing worth noting, though: These systems require the installation of underground loops and may need to be located near a water source like a pond or lake.
How much does it cost to have a heat pump installed?
Once you have picked a heat pump system that makes the most sense for your home, you’ll have to consider the actual installation process. You’ll want a professional to handle this, and the cost will depend on a variety of factors such as the size and layout of your home, the condition of existing ductwork, and labor costs.
Ductless mini-split systems are generally less invasive to install since they do not require ductwork, making them a cost-effective option for homes without existing ducts. Air source pumps are common and can work with existing ductwork. They involve installing an outdoor unit and connecting it to an indoor air handler via refrigerant lines.
Geothermal heat pumps are the most expensive and the most elaborate to install. The high expense is due to the installation of the underground loop system, which requires significant excavation and specialized equipment. Some systems may need to be located near a water source like a pond or lake to operate at peak efficiency. These systems use the stable temperatures of the ground to provide highly efficient heating and cooling, leading to long-term energy savings despite the higher initial investment.
Richardson said that while higher-quality installations cost more, “HVAC systems are quite complex with sophisticated knowledge required to install them according to manufacturer and local code specifications. In HVAC, you often get what you pay for.”
What tax credits and rebates are available for heat pumps?
Tax credits and rebates for heat pumps can significantly offset the initial installation costs, making these energy-efficient systems more accessible. For air-source heat pumps, federal tax credits can cover up to 30% of the installation cost, up to $2,000, thanks to the energy efficient home improvement credit. This credit applies to qualified equipment installed in your primary residence and includes costs for both equipment and installation.
Geothermal heat pumps often qualify for even more substantial incentives. A different federal tax credit, the residential clean energy credit, covers geothermal systems, offering a 30% tax credit without a cap. This can be particularly beneficial given the higher upfront costs of geothermal installations. These credits apply to both new and existing homes and cover the costs of installation and labor.
Some states and municipalities may have other incentives available to homeowners to further offset the cost of heat pumps. It is worth looking into the potential rebates and credits available in your specific region that may make a heat pump even more cost effective.
“More efficient systems typically cost more upfront, but often qualify for better financial incentives reducing the total cost,” Richardson says. He explains that through federal and state incentives, “homeowners often can save $7,000 to $12,000 on this cost.”
Bottom line: Is buying a heat pump worth it?
While every home is different, there are many cases in which buying a heat pump can be a financially and environmentally beneficial decision over time. While the upfront costs can be significant depending on the system that you choose, the long-term savings on energy bills can be substantial. The lifespan of a heat pump typically ranges from 15 to 20 years, providing reliable and efficient service over time that will allow those savings to stack.
Beyond the economic benefits, heat pumps also offer significant environmental advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. Investing in a heat pump can be a smart choice for many homeowners looking to enhance their home’s efficiency and sustainability.
While the new Sony PlayStation 5 Pro is the talk of the gaming-console town right now, there are plenty of people with the standard PS5 who don’t feel the need to upgrade, despite all the Pro’s new tricks. That said, it’s still not uncommon to run into issues with the PS5, even in the “latter stage of its life cycle.”
Software glitches and storage corruption can make it a nuisance to work with or render it unusable to the point where you’ll need to dive into advanced settings or reset it completely to resolve your issue. Luckily, there are a host of options at your disposal to get your PS5 back in working order. Below, we’ll detail some of the ways you can fix your PS5 and reset it if you need to.
Given both the standard and Pro versions of the console share very similar DNA, the steps detailed below may work for the Pro as well, but we’ll need to dig into its settings a bit more first.
For more, here’s how to back up and restore your PS5 data.
How to Reset your PS5 from Settings Menu
The easiest and most common way to reset your PS5 is to do so from the console settings.
From the PlayStation home screen, navigate to the Settings menu at the top right.
Select System.
Select System Software.
Select Reset Options.
Then, confirm by choosing Reset Your Console.
If you don’t have a controller to navigate through your PS5’s system UI, you can connect peripherals like a mouse and keyboard to reset your console that way. You can even connect your mobile device to your PS5 using the Remote Play app for iOS or Android to control your console via your phone and reset it that way.
If all else fails, enter PS5 Safe Mode
Safe Mode gives you multiple options to take advantage of even before you need to reset your PS5. For instance, if you’re having storage issues, you can repair the console’s storage to try to resolve it. System UI glitches or issues? Performance drops? In safe mode, you can try the Clear Cache and Rebuild Database option to rebuild a new database of all the console’s content without having to start from scratch. Or try to, at least. And if necessary, you can reset the console
If your PS5 won’t fully boot up, you won’t be able to reset it as you normally would since you won’t be able to get to the settings menu, so you’ll need to boot into Safe Mode and reset the console that way.
How to boot into PS5 Safe Mode and reset it
Note that resetting your PS5 from Safe Mode will result in the loss of all data stored on the console, so make sure you back up everything properly before proceeding.
With the PS5 turned off, press and hold the power button and release it after you hear two beeps (one beep occurs with the initial press and a second should follow 7 seconds later.)
Connect your controller via USB cable and press the PS button on it. (If this doesn’t boot you into Safe Mode, turn off the console and try the above steps again.)
From the Safe Mode menu options select either Reset or Reset (Reinstall System Software)
Reset will delete all user data and return your PS5 to its original state. Reset (Reinstall System Software) will delete all user data and, you guessed it, reinstall the system software.
How to reinstall PS5 system software manually
If you needed to reinstall your PS5’s system software and it failed, you can attempt to reinstall it manually, using a USB drive.
To get started, you’ll need a USB drive that has at least 1.2GB of free space on it, and it’ll need to be formatted to either EXFAT or FAT32 using a PC or Mac.
Create a folder within the USB drive called PS5 and another folder within that one called UPDATE.
Visit the PS5 software download page and download the reinstallation file. (There are two on the page, so make sure you’re choosing the reinstallation file and not the update file.)
Once downloaded, save the file in the the UPDATE folder within your USB drive and rename it to, “PS5UPDATE.PUP“
Now that your USB Drive is prepared, insert it into your PS5 and start the console up in Safe Mode using the steps above.
Select Reset (Reinstall System Software) and the console should recognize the USB with the update file on it and install the software image from there.
If for some reason this fails, attempt the same process using another USB port on the console.
For more, check out Microsoft expects a new Xbox and PlayStation console by 2028.
The wait for Apple Intelligence is over. Apple has teased and promised many features since introducing its AI technology earlier this year, and now we get our first taste of Apple’s AI ambitions in iOS 18.1.
And although the first suite of features is modest in scope, you’re sure to find at least some of them to be helpful. After running the iOS betas with access to Apple Intelligence for several weeks, I think these are the three features you’ll actually use on a day-to-day basis.
You need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro (or their Plus and Max variants) running iOS 18.1 and, crucially, you must request access to Apple Intelligence to take advantage of these new technologies.
Once you’re in, here’s what you can realistically expect. More features will be added as time goes on — and keep in mind that Apple Intelligence is still officially beta software — but this is where Apple is starting its AI age.
Summaries bring TL;DR to your correspondence
In an era when there are so many demands on our attention and seemingly less time to dig into longer topics…Sorry, what was I saying?
Oh, right: How often have you wanted a “too long; didn’t read” version of not just long emails but the fire hose of communication that blasts your way? The ability to summarize notifications, Mail messages and web pages is perhaps the most pervasive and least intrusive feature of Apple Intelligence so far.
When a notification arrives, such as a text from a friend or group in Messages, the iPhone creates a short, single-sentence summary.
Apple Intelligence summarized two text messages.
Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET
Sometimes summaries are vague, and sometimes they’re unintentionally funny, but so far I’ve found them to be more helpful than not. Summaries can also be generated from alerts by third-party apps like news or social media apps — although I suspect that my outdoor security camera is picking up multiple passersby over time and not telling me that 10 people are stacked by the door.
Nobody told me there’s a party at my house.
Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET
That said, Apple Intelligence definitely doesn’t understand sarcasm or colloquialisms — you can turn summaries off if you prefer.
You can also generate a longer summary of emails in the Mail app: Tap the Summarize button at the top of a message to view a rundown of the contents in a few dozen words.
In Safari, when viewing a page where the Reader feature is available, tap the Page Menu button in the address bar, tap Show Reader and then tap the Summary button at the top of the page.
Summarize long articles in Safari in the Reader interface.
Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET
Siri gets a glow-up and better interaction
I was amused during the iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 releases that the main visual indicator of Apple Intelligence — the full-screen, color-at-the-edges Siri animation — was noticeably missing. Apple even lit up the edges of the massive glass cube of its Apple Fifth Avenue Store in New York City like a Siri search.
Instead, iOS 18 used the same-old Siri sphere.
Now, the modern Siri look has arrived in iOS 18.1, but only on devices that support Apple Intelligence. If you’re still tapping your fingers in the Apple Intelligence waitlist queue, you’ll also see the Siri sphere for now.
Siri under Apple Intelligence looks like a multicolor halo around the edges.
James Martin/CNET
With the new look are a few Siri interaction improvements: It’s more forgiving if you stumble through a query, like saying the wrong word or interrupting yourself mid-thought. It’s also better about listening after delivering results, so you can ask related followup questions.
However, the ability to personalize answers based on what Apple Intelligence knows about you is still down the road. iOS 18.1 also doesn’t yet tie in ChatGPT as an alternate source of information — that interaction has only just rolled out in the iOS 18.2 developer beta.
Remove distractions from your pictures using Clean Up in the Photos app
Until iOS 18.1, the Photos app on the iPhone and iPad has lacked a simple retouch feature. Dust on the camera lens? Litter on the ground? Sorry, you need to deal with those and other distractions in the Photos app on MacOS or using a third-party app.
Now Apple Intelligence includes Clean Up, an AI-enhanced removal tool, in the Photos app. When you edit an image and tap the Clean Up button, the iPhone analyzes the photo and suggests potential items to remove by highlighting them. Tap one or draw a circle around an area — the app erases those areas and uses generative AI to fill in plausible pixels.
Remove distractions in the Photos app using Clean Up.
Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET
In this first incarnation, Clean Up isn’t perfect, and you’ll often get better results in other dedicated image editors. But for quickly removing annoyances from photos, it’s fine.
Watch this: Apple Intelligence Impressions: Don’t Expect Radical Change
In October, Microsoft added Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to Game Pass the same day it was released, and that entry in the series had the biggest opening weekend of any Call of Duty game. Now, Microsoft is set to bring a new Metal Slug game and the goofy Goat Simulator game to Game Pass soon.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick — offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gets you access to a large library of games, with new titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 added every month, plus other benefits, such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.
Read more: What You Need to Know About Xbox Game Pass Standard
Here are all the titles Game Pass subscribers can play soon. You can also check out the games Microsoft added to the service in October.
Metal Slug Tactics
Available now.
The latest Metal Slug game explodes onto Game Pass on the same day it’s released. But while past Metal Slug entries were filled with side-scrolling action, Metal Slug Tactics is a turn-based tactics game with RPG and rogue-lite elements. So you’ll be able to upgrade your characters and weapons to conquer the battlefield.
Go Mecha Ball (console)
Available now.
This wild rogue-like game comes to Game Pass Standard after landing on Game Pass Ultimate in February. In this title, you blast through arcade-style levels using a combination of pinball-style physics and an arsenal of weapons. You’ll also have to upgrade your mech along the way to take on waves of enemies and huge boss battles.
Harold Halibut (console)
Available now.
This narrative game focused on friendship is coming to Game Pass Standard. You play the titular Harold as he explores a retro-futuristic world under an alien ocean. Harold’s world is full of weird, wonderful and diverse people and fish, each with a unique story. While exploring Harold’s claymation world, you learn more about its inhabitants as you try to find the meaning of “home.”
The Rewinder (console)
Available now.
In this pixel art adventure game based on Chinese mythology, you play as a “rewinder,” someone who can enter people’s memories and influence their actions. You’re dispatched to a village to investigate why a spirit couldn’t be reincarnated only to find the village deserted. Uncover the mystery of the village and learn what happened there seven years ago.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (console)
Available now.
This quirky adventure game filled with rogue-lite elements, heists and your daily recommended amount of vegetables is coming to Game Pass Standard. You play as the titular Turnip Boy as he teams up with the Pickled Gang to shake down hostages, steal valuables and plan what’s likely the strangest heist you’ve ever seen.
Goat Simulator Remastered
Available: Nov. 7
Chaos. That’s the best way to describe this game. You play as a goat and your mission is total destruction of everything in sight. Can’t stand the look of that car? Run it off the road. Don’t like town hall’s placement? Demolish it. Want that kid’s ice cream? Eat it. Do what you want in this sandbox-style game where anything is possible.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Available: Nov. 19
Get ready to take to the skies in the latest installment of Microsoft Flight Simulator. You can pursue your own aviation career, compete against pilots from around the world and explore a detailed digital twin of the real world. So take your seat in the cockpit captain, air traffic control is giving you the green light.
Games leaving Game Pass soon
While Microsoft is adding those seven games to different Game Pass tiers, the company is also removing seven games from the service on Nov. 15. So you still have some time left to finish your campaign or any side quests before you have to buy these games separately.
For more on Xbox, check out other games available on Game Pass Ultimate now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.
Watch this: Hands-On With the All-Digital Xbox Series X
The nature of water itself makes some aspects of testing water guns a bit difficult, but I feel good about the process overall.
To start, we need to know how much water these things will hold. I do this by weight. Since 1 milliliter of water weighs 1 gram, it’s easy to measure capacity with a scale. After subtracting the empty blaster weights, you can see in the table below exactly how the capacities shake out. The Nerf Super Soaker Hydra has the overall largest capacity followed by its Super Soaker sibling. The least capacity was definitely the Temi blaster since it only stores the water for a single burst at a time.
Ry Crist/CNET
Once the capacities are locked down, I then go through the process of shooting each gun as quickly as possible to find the shortest amount of time possible to empty that capacity. I have help from someone with a timer and sometimes have to do multiple runs. Sitting around and shooting water guns for a couple of hours nonstop is way more of a workout than I expected.
You can see here that typically if it takes a long time (over 30 seconds) to empty a water gun, its overall soak factor (capacity divided by empty time) is pretty low. Although the quickest dump time doesn’t always mean the highest soak factor, that is exactly how it works out with the Temi. With a moderate one-shot capacity at just over 500mL, the 1.8 seconds it takes to empty gives it a massive soak factor of almost 300.
The Super Soaker siblings come in second and third with similar empty times, but the Hydra’s larger capacity gives it a better soak factor. The old-school Nerf XP50-AP and Team Magnus guns have median capacities and low soak factors, but keep you in the fight for much longer than their counterparts.
Ry Crist/CNET
The only other measured test we run is for distance. This one is fairly simple in design, but has a touch of abstractness to it.
Holding the blaster at the same starting point, height and angle, I let out several blasts, usually five, until I am sure that I can’t get the water any farther on an outdoor concrete surface, which discolors well with water. I then measure from the starting point to the furthest edge of the water markings — discounting any stray single drops.
CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.
News about states clearing out their voter registration rolls continue to make headlines, even as there are less than 24 hours to go until Election Day, so it’s understandable you may be anxious about the status of your own registration if you haven’t looked into it already.
A recent example of this came from Virginia, where this month the state’s attempt to purge suspected noncitizens from its rolls via a program rolled out in August prompted legal action from the Department of Justice, which filed a lawsuit citing concerns that eligible citizens would be unduly removed in the process. In a 6-3 decision from Wednesday, the US Supreme Court allowed Virginia’s contested purge to go through. Similar purges have also recently happened in North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma, with a federal court ordering a halt on another attempted purge in Alabama.
Research from the Brennan Center found that these purges jumped 21 percent from 2020 to 2022 compared to the same period between 2014 and 2016. While these purges can often be routine matters that accurately clear out voters who are longer eligible, the Brennan Center warned that increasing them too much can lead to heightened “risk of inaccurate purges.” When enacted this close to a major general election, they can also run the risk of purging people who did nothing wrong and leave them with no time to fix the situation.
No matter what the reason might be in your state, there are a handful of free online tools that can help you look up your registration status, and do it quickly. Read on for all the details, including information about avoiding election-year phishing scams.
For more on the upcoming elections, here’s which states currently allow early voting and which states will still let you register to vote.
Where can I check my voter registration?
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
While you can hunt down the secretary of state’s website for where you live to check on your voting status, a quicker way is by visiting a nonpartisan voter website to check your registration. Note that all these sites listed below let you check on your voter status if you live in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC, but they don’t include voter information if you live in one of the US territories: US citizens residing in US territories can’t vote for president in the general election. Here are three nonpartisan sites you can use to check on your voter status:
Vote.org is one of the more popular sites that you can use to check your voter registration status online. Operated by a nonprofit, nonpartisan voter outreach organization, Vote.org lets you look up whether you are registered to vote, using a few simple pieces of personal information: Your first and last name, street address, date of birth, and email address. You also have the option to add your phone number to receive texts, which you can also opt out of. If you find you’re not registered, you can tap the Register to Vote buttonon the main Vote.org page to sign up.
Can I Vote from the National Association of Secretaries of State is another one-stop shop for voting resources. If you select the Voter Registration Status link on the main Can I Vote page and then choose the state where you live, you’ll be sent to your state official registration confirmation page to check on your voter status.
Vote411.org, funded by the League of Women Voters, also lets you check on your voter status, register if you’re not signed up, and see what’s on your local ballot. Similar to the NASS voter site, Vote411 allows you to check your status by directing you to your state’s voter registration confirmation page. If you aren’t registered, Vote411.org offers a Register to Vote link on its main page, which prompts you to enter your name, address, email and phone number, and provides information on registration options available to you. If your state offers online registration, Vote411 will provide a direct link to that official page.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
What if I find out that I’m not registered to vote?
If you use one of these resources and find that you’re not registered, perhaps because of a voter roll purge or because you forgot that you never registered to begin with, there are multiple options at your disposal to try to register in time for the 2024 general election. You can check out this guide from CNET to find out what methods your state offers for voter registration and what its deadlines are. By now, deadlines to register have passed in many states, but there are still some that will allow you to register on Election Day itself.
How do I look out for election phishing?
As in many other aspects of modern life, elections and voter registration have become targets for phishing scams. Reports out of major swing states like Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania found that people were targeted by schemes that use URLs like “all-vote.com” and “votewin.org,” with text messages claiming that the recipient wasn’t registered to vote. Clicking through would prompt them to enter their personal information into a form.
In a report on election phishing, cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs suggested three “red flags” to look out for when you suspect such a message might be a scam:
Check a site like Icann Lookup to see if the URL domain was registered recently.
Check the site to see if it contains little actual information about who runs the supposed group.
Check to see how much personal information is asked of you and if the form signs you up for more messages.
All can be clear signs of a phishing scam.
For more information about the upcoming election, check out how the US election system is under attack and how officials are preparing for challenges to the process.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
Every multivitamin will have nutrients, but they may also contain ingredients you’d rather avoid.
Always take note of the dosage of each nutrient included in your vitamin selection.
Some vitamins have serving sizes of three or more capsules daily. Others only require one tablet each day.
The most popular forms of vitamins are capsules, tablets and gummies. Decide which one is best for you.
Extra certifications help you feel confident that the vitamin only contains what’s on the ingredient label.
Always consider your medical conditions and current medication when choosing a multivitamin.
If the recent time change and darker days have you feeling drained and like you want to crawl back into bed, you may want to consult your doctor about taking vitamins for energy. Unsurprisingly, daylight saving time can affect both your mental and physical health, while the darker fall and winter months can affect your mood and sleep. So it’s no wonder why many people want an energy boost during the end of the year.
To ensure your body’s cellular energy production is in top shape, you’ll want the right vitamins. Good energy metabolism means you can combat fatigue and improve your overall mental health. B vitamins will give you an energy boost and they’re an essential part of your diet. There are other essential minerals like iron that you can get via supplements. To help you hit certain nutritional requirements, CNET’s wellness experts have curated a list of the best energy supplements available to support your nutritional needs, considering factors like brand reputation, ingredient quality, consumer reviews and even taste.
And before we move on, if you have a deficiency or are missing other essential energy vitamins, you might want to consider adding supplements to fulfill the missing vitamins.
What are the best vitamins for energy?
In addition to coffee, tea or energy drinks, certain vitamins can help boost energy. The best supplements to boost your energy are B vitamins. These essential B vitamins include thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9) and cobalamin (B12). All eight B vitamins are responsible for helping the body process energy from food.
If your diet lacks these vitamins and you are experiencing fatigue, you may benefit from an added supplement. Always consult a doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.
Best vitamins for energy in 2024
Nature’s Bounty has over 50 years of experience in the vitamin industry and is a brand that we consistently choose and trust. Its products are non-GMO and contain no artificial colors, flavors, sugar, starch, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, yeast or fish. One tablet of its Super B Complex supplements contains 60 mg of vitamin C, 25 mg of thiamin (vitamin B1), 20 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2), 25 mg of niacin (vitamin B3), 5 mg of vitamin B6, 400 mcg of folic acid (vitamin B9), 100 mcg of vitamin B12, 1,000 mcg of biotin (vitamin B7) and 5.5 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).
These supplements contain high percentages of your daily value of B vitamins. Speak with your doctor before adding any vitamins to your daily routine, as you may already be getting enough vitamin B in your diet.
One a Day refers to its serving suggestion. One tablet of its energy multivitamin contains 1,050 mcg of vitamin A, 60 mg of vitamin C, 10 mcg of vitamin D, 10.1 mg of vitamin E, 25 mcg of vitamin K, 3 mg of thiamin (vitamin B1), 3.4 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2), 40 mg of niacin (vitamin B3), 4 mg of vitamin B6, 400 mcg of folic acid (vitamin B9), 12 mcg of vitamin B12, 300 mcg of biotin (vitamin B7), 10 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), 250 mg of calcium, 9 mg of iron, 150 mcg of iodine, 40 mg of magnesium, 15 mg of zinc, 45 mcg of selenium, 2 mg of copper, 2 mg of manganese, 100 mcg of chromium, 25 mcg of molybdenum and 90 mg of caffeine.
If you are sensitive to caffeine, be aware that one multivitamin tablet has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.
Nature Made is another trusted vitamin brand. Its ingredients are gluten-free and free of artificial flavors, dyes and preservatives. One soft gel of Nature Made’s Super B Complex supplements contains 1.5 mg of thiamin (vitamin B1), 1.7 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2), 20 mg of niacin (vitamin B3), 2 mg of vitamin B6, 665 mcg of folic acid (vitamin B9), 6 mcg of vitamin B12, 300 mcg of biotin (vitamin B7) and 10 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). Other ingredients include soybean oil, gelatin, dibasic calcium phosphate, glycerin, yellow beeswax, rapeseed lecithin and added colors.
These supplements contain beeswax and therefore, are not suitable for those following a vegan diet.
Two capsules of its Raw B-Complex supplements contain 5 mg of thiamin (vitamin B1), 10 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2), 45 mg of niacin (vitamin B3), 10 mg of vitamin B6, 450 mcg of folate (vitamin B9), 133 mcg of vitamin B12, 325 mcg of biotin (vitamin B7) and 45 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). What makes Garden of Life supplements unique is that they often include raw blends of organic materials. The B-Complex supplements contain two: a 360 mg of raw organic fruit and vegetable blend and a 60 mg raw probiotic and enzyme blend.
Keep in mind that the two strains of probiotics included in the enzyme blend are Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus plantarum. Those two specific strains are not the most well-known or used for gut health. If you are looking to help your gut, consider a supplement that is solely a probiotic.
The cherry-flavored Vitafusion Extra Strength B12 vitamins are the simplest on this list. The supplements only contain B12. In addition to being gluten-free, dairy-free and free of artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup or synthetic dyes, the vitamins won a 2022 ChefsBest Excellence award for its taste. Two gummy vitamins contain 3,000 mcg of vitamin B12, as well as tapioca syrup, sugar, water, gelatin and two percent or less of a blend of oils (coconut and palm) with beeswax, citric acid, lactic acid, natural flavor, pectin and sodium citrate.
If you have a nut allergy, be aware that these vitamins contain tree nuts (coconut). Also, they’re processed in a facility with products that contain egg, fish, shellfish, soy and tree nuts.
When looking for vitamins for energy, keep these factors in mind.
Daily vitamin recommendations
Vitamins for energy work best if you aren’t currently hitting your daily recommendations of B vitamins. Filling this nutritional gap can make a huge difference in your daily amount of energy. Pay attention to how much vitamin B is in your supplements. If you are already getting enough in your diet, you don’t need a huge amount.
Always contact your doctor with your concerns before starting any type of vitamin supplement.
Dietary restrictions
Vitamins will specify if they are vegan, dairy-free or gluten-free. If you have any of these dietary preferences or restrictions, look for vitamins that are made without gluten, dairy or animal products.
Verifications
While dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, there are a few verifications you can check for that ensure the product you’re buying is safe to use.
The vitamin supplements for this list were selected based on price, accessibility, quality, and vitamin and mineral quantities. We also took into account third-party verifications, dosage and customer reviews. The vitamins that made this list are the best of the best out there right now.
The eight B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, biotin, folate and B12) provide the most energy, as they aid in cell metabolism, help the body transform carbohydrates and fats into energy and carry energy-nutrients around the body.
B12 and B complex are both very important. With B12 supplements, you are only getting one B vitamin, and with B complex supplements, you are taking all eight B vitamins. If you lack B vitamins from your diet, consider a B complex vitamin. If you are B12-deficient, a B12 supplement may be better for you.
As much as we wish this were true, it is not. Taking a B12 supplement or any vitamin B supplement will not give you energy right away like a cup of coffee. Instead, it could take a few weeks of taking B12 regularly until it increases your energy levels.
Keeping devices charged doesn’t seem like a big deal until you look down and notice your trusty phone is running on 1% and there’s no cable in sight. Even when there is one available, it might be clunky or get tangled into something when you need it most. If you’ve been looking for the kind of cable you can carry around in your pocket or even wallet and you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can now start saving on tech essentials and accessories just in time for the holiday gifting season. Deals can be found on items such as this humble but handy Voltme retractable USB-C cable, which now costs as little as $10 for Amazon Prime members when you also click the on-page coupon.
The Voltme cable is available in different colors, and some cost $13 even with Prime. If you’re not a Prime member you can still save 20% with the on-page coupon, and you can potentially save an extra 5% when you buy two or more eligible items when you use the coupon code NUOOR8AT. Voltme designed their retractable USB-C cable to be compatible with both Mac, Android and other devices that have USB-C input and output ports. It’s safe to use with laptops, tablets and phones. Capable of up to 100 watts of power output, the retractable cable supports Super Fast charging.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Each Voltme cable is capable of the following lengths (in feet): 1.3, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.3, giving you plenty of options. An E-MARK chip also keeps temperature steady for safe charging. The cable itself is made of TPE, a flexible material that can withstand pushing, pulling and other significant wear and tear as needed. With 6 colors to choose from, you’ll be able to charge your devices reliably while also choosing something that reflects your aesthetic.
Looking for other accessories that can help you keep your items charged while on the go? Check out our list of the best USB-C chargers, accessories and cables so you can find what you need.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Watch the Premier League in Australia from AU$7 a month
Optus Sport
Two sides who had mixed fortunes in the EFL Cup in midweek go head-to-head at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday as Spurs host Aston Villa in this intriguing Premier League clash.
Tottenham pulled off a shock bu knocking out Manchester City on Wednesday, while Unai Emery’s Villa were on the opposite end of a surprise result after suffering defeat at home to struggling Crystal Palace.
Villa can quickly bounce back, with a win here set to lift them above Nottingham Forest and Arsenal into third place in the table. Inconsistent Having followed up their emphatic thrashing of local rivals West Ham with a toothless defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs will meanwhile be hoping to bring some consistency as they look to maintain their push towards the European qualification spots.
Spurs take on Aston Villa on Sunday, Nov. 3 at Tottenham Hotspurss Stadium, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. GMT local time, making it a 9 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada and a 1 a.m. AEDT kickoff in Australia in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Pape Matar Sarr scored the winning goal in Spurs’ 2-1 win over Man City in their Carabao Cup Fourth Round match in midweek.
Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images
How to watch Tottenham vs. Aston Villa in the US without cable
Sunday’s Tottenham vs. Aston Villa match is streaming on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login. It can also be streamed via Sling TV and other, more expensive streaming TV services.
Sling TV/CNET
Sling TV’s Blue plan includes USA Network, making it a great option for fans wanting to watch Premier League action. It’s $40 per month and features over 40 channels, including other sports channels like ESPN and FS1.
Read our Sling TV review.
How to watch the Premier League 2024-25 season from anywhere with a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view EPL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Tottenham vs. Aston Villa in the UK
Sunday’s afternoon kickoff is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and UHD channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.
Now TV
Sky subsidiary Now offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for £15, or sign up to a monthly plan from £35 per month right now.
Livestream Tottenham vs. Aston Villa in Canada
If you want to stream this EPL game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights to every Premier League fixture once again this season.
Fubo
Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL this season, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It costs CA$30 per month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually.
Livestream Tottenham vs. Aston Villa in Australia
Football fans down under can watch EPL matches live on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League fixture of the 2024-25 season live in Australia.
Optus
With exclusive rights to stream all EPL matches live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.
If you’re already an Optus network customer, you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Picking the best antivirus software means finding one that keeps your PC or mobile device safe, doesn’t consume a lot of system resources, is easy to use and stays out of the way until you need it. Here’s what to look for.
Effectiveness
Antivirus software runs scans for known malware and can offer real-time protection. It can also watch for shady websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also offer ransomware protection and monitor unexpected behavior that may be a sign of new and not-yet-identified viruses and malware. You want antivirus software that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without flagging too many false positives.
You can determine an antivirus software’s effectiveness by looking at its detection rate in tests performed by labs like the AV-Test lab. None of this software is perfect — malware is evolving all the time — but you should look for software with an 80 to 90% detection rate.
Light on system resources
You don’t want antivirus software that taxes your PC’s resources, like RAM and CPU power. If after you install the program, websites open slowly, apps download sluggishly, software opens leisurely or copying files takes longer than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is that all of our picks offer a free trial or money-back guarantee to let you try out the antivirus program before you buy, so if your system feels bogged-down after installation, you may want to keep looking.
Cost and discounts
Don’t just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company’s website. Another way to save: You can trim your cost with smaller antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices rather than, say, 10. You may also find discounts on an app’s Amazon page or at outlets like Best Buy.
During the purchase process, pay close attention to renewal costs. Most antivirus tools charge annual fees and only offer discounts for the first year (though you may be able to get a discount by paying for two years up front). These promotional prices might lead to you paying more — sometimes as much as double the original amount — for following years.
Bundled services
Antivirus software may come bundled with other security tools like a password manager and a VPN. Buying a security suite with all of these tools lets you manage everything from one account, saving you the hassle of managing multiple accounts — and it can save you money, too.
However, the VPNs in these security bundles aren’t always the best tools available. You may want to purchase separate subscriptions or choose a VPN with antivirus if privacy is a major concern.
Privacy
To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor what’s going on with your PC, check in with company servers about unusual behavior and provide sound banking protection. The companies say they anonymize this technical data as much as possible to protect your privacy. If you want to know more, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so you can read their privacy statements to learn what the companies do with the information you share.
Protection for other platforms
Microsoft is by far the biggest target for viruses and malware. Android is second, with 0.15% of apps installed on Android devices (with Google Play Protect) in the potentially harmful app, or PHA, category as of January 2024.
The threat to MacOS and especially iOS is low, in part because of the tight control Apple has over its app stores. While Mac does come under attack via side-loaded apps, it’s rare, and if you download apps only from the Mac and iOS app stores and keep your guard up when clicking links and downloading files, you should be OK without an antivirus app on Apple devices. Thankfully, you can stay safe when downloading apps by sticking with official app stores, reading reviews and consulting privacy policies.
Issues with Avast
In test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performed well for malware detection, with options ranging from Avast free antivirus software to Avast Premium Security. We’ve included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.
However, early in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million to settle charges that claimed the company had sold customer browsing information to more than 100 third parties from 2014 to 2020. Avast allegedly collected the data through browser extensions and antivirus software and sold the data through its Jumpshot subsidiary, the FTC claims. As part of the settlement, Avast is prohibited from selling or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes.
In response to the initial reports in 2020, then-Avast CEO Ondřej Vlček said in a statement that he understood that his company’s actions raised questions of trust. To address that, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January 2020 and closed its operations.
We hope the FTC actions mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and that Avast returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software options. Until then, we recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm (listed above).
Issues with Kaspersky
Let’s talk about Kaspersky Lab, specifically about the 2024 federal ban, announced on June 20, prohibiting Kaspersky from directly or indirectly selling antivirus or cybersecurity software or services in the US or to US citizens. This sweeping ban follows a more limited one in 2017 that prohibited Kaspersky software and services on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.
Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the highest-rated antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers. Its software consistently earned top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs.
“Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard US national security and the American people,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the official announcement of the ban.
In a statement, Kaspersky said it “does not engage in activities which threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted US interests and allies.”
The Department of Commerce recommends those who use Kaspersky software switch to replacement software from other security companies as soon as possible. To aid Kaspersky customers with the transition, Kaspersky will be allowed to provide antivirus updates to its software until Sept. 29, 2024, the department said.
Apple released iOS 18.1 on Oct. 28, about a month after the tech giant fixed a few iPhone bugs with iOS 18.0.1. Apple brought a lot of new features to your iPhone when it released iOS 18 in September — like RCS messaging and home screen customization — and the latest update introduces some new features and fixes to many iPhones. The update also brings a few Apple Intelligence features to people outside the EU and China who have an iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, as well as any devices in the iPhone 16 lineup.
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About iOS 18
To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Update Now and follow the prompts on your screen.
Here are some of the features that iOS 18.1 could bring to your iPhone.
Call recording comes to your iPhone
Call that number for a holiday surprise.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
With iOS 18.1, your iPhone can now record phone calls. Once you’re on a call, you should see a symbol in the top left corner of your screen that looks like a sound bar. Tap this and you’ll start recording your phone call. Once you do start recording a call, an automated voice will announce to you and the person on the other line that the call is being recorded after a 3-second delay. This feature works regardless of whether you’re talking to another iPhone user or an Android user.
After your call is finished or you stop recording, your iPhone will save the recording to your Notes app. You can then play the call back in Notes. Newer iPhones, like the iPhone 14 Pro, can also see transcripts of the call in Notes, but older iPhones, like the iPhone XR, can’t.
Before you use this feature, please check with local law enforcement about the legality of call recording, just in case.
Apple Intelligence features
The latest iOS update introduces a handful of Apple Intelligence features to some iPhones, like writing tools for emails, the Clean Up photo tool and an upgraded Siri. That means you can have your iPhone proofread and revise emails before you send them, remove distracting items from photos and more.
Before you use these features though, you have to join the Apple Intelligence waiting list. To do that, go to Settings >Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join the Apple IntelligenceWaitlist and tap Join Waitlist. Once you’re approved, you’ll get access to the above Apple Intelligence features.
On the left is my original message and on the right is the message rewritten with Apple Intelligence. I like my original better, but that’s just me.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
But these aren’t all the Apple Intelligence features coming to your iPhone. For example, Apple’s AI-powered emoji generator Genmoji isn’t included in this iOS update, so it’ll be included in a future update.
These features are only available to people outside the EU and China and who have an iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the iPhone 16 lineup. If you have the base model iPhone 15 or below you won’t be able to access these features at this time.
Updated RCS messaging support
When Apple released iOS 18, it brought RCS messaging support to iPhones. With iOS 18.1, it expands this functionality to include Messages for Business. Before this update, Messages for Business was only available through iMessage, so this could make it easier for more businesses to communicate with iPhones.
Control Center adjustments
One of the big changes iOS 18 brought to iPhones was a revamped Control Center, and Apple made a few adjustments to these changes in iOS 18.1.
With iOS 18.1, if you go into your Control Center and tap the Connectivity tile — where you can find your Wi-Fi, Airplane Mode and similar settings — you’ll see a few controls are now tile-shaped rather than row-shaped. This is a small change, but it could be helpful by giving you easier control over your connectivity settings.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
You can also add independent controls for Wi-Fi, VPN, AirDrop and Satellite to Control Center. Before, these controls would be present in the Connectivity tile, or on the Connectivity page in Control Center, but you couldn’t add them as their own control. Apple previously let you add an independent Bluetooth control to Control Center.
There are also new Level and Measure controls you can add to your Control Center. Both Level and Measure can be helpful for renovations if you don’t have a tape measure or bubble level on hand.
If you don’t like how your Control Center is set up any longer, Apple added a way to reset your Control Center back to the default layout. Go to Settings > Control Center and tap Reset Control Center.
Change primary Apple ID email address
With iOS 18.1, Apple now lets you change or add a new primary email address for your Apple ID. To do either, go into Settings > Apple ID > Sign-In & Security. From here you can tap the option to Add Email or Phone Number or you can tap an existing address and tap the toggle next to Primary Email. Once your primary email address is set, Apple will send messages to that address.
Tinted home screen widgets
Apple also adjusted the iOS 18 feature that lets you tint your home screen apps in iOS 18.1. Now, if you add a tint to your apps, it will also be applied to widgets on your home screen, like Clock, Battery and Calendar. Before this update, widgets wouldn’t be affected by tint, only apps.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
Sleep apnea detection
Apple announced in September that Apple WatchOS 11 would bring sleep apnea detection to compatible Apple Watches. The feature was then approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. And according to MacRumors, iOS 18.1 enables the feature on compatible Apple Watch models paired with an iPhone running the software.
Expanded emoji keyboard
Another change in iOS 18.1 is the expansion of the emoji keyboard. Now if you go into your emoji keyboard and you swipe left, instead of seeing the section for Frequently Used stickers, you’ll see a section for your custom stickers. If you swipe left again, you’ll be in a new menu that gives you full access to your Memoji, allowing you to easily use them in place of other emoji.
The emoji in the emoji keyboard are also slightly larger than in iOS 18. It’s not an earth-shattering change, but it’s there.
Drag and drop with iPhone mirroring
According to MacRumors, if you have an iPhone running iOS 18.1 and a MacBook running MacOS Sequoia 15.1, you can now easily drag and drop files from one device to the other while mirroring your iPhone screen. This could make sharing files between your devices even more seamless than before.
Here are Apple’s full release notes for iOS 18.1:
Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max).
Writing Tools
Writing Tools are available nearly everywhere you type, allowing you to rewrite, proofread and summarize text right in the app you’re working in.
Rewrite suggests different versions of your text so you can choose which combination of flow and wording you like best.
Proofread lets you view suggested improvements to what you’re writing, like grammar fixes and language refinements.
Summarize allows you to select text wherever you’re writing and generate a high-quality summary.
Siri
A new look and feel includes a glowing light that wraps around the edge of your screen, animates responsively to the sound of your voice and lets you keep scrolling or typing while you talk to Siri.
Type to Siri when you don’t want to speak a request out loud by double tapping at the bottom of the screen.
Richer language understanding enables Siri to follow along if you stumble over your words or change your mind mid-sentence.
Conversational context is maintained over the course of a session, so you can refer more naturally to something you said in a recent request or something Siri mentioned in a recent response.
Product knowledge helps you get answers to thousands of questions about the features and settings on your Apple products.
Voice enhancements make Siri sound more natural, expressive and clear.
Photos
Photos search lets you find photos and videos simply by describing what you’re looking for.
Clean Up removes distractions in your photos.
Memory movies can be created by describing the story you want to see.
Notifications
Notification summaries make it easy to catch up on your notifications with a glanceable summary of the most important information.
Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that ensures the most urgent notifications get through to you while silencing potential distractions.
Smart Reply in Mail and Messages helps you quickly respond to messages with suggested responses.
Priority messages in Mail understands the content of your messages and prioritizes those that require your attention, displaying them at the top of your inbox.
Transcription summaries in Notes give you an intelligently created summary of the transcript from your audio recording or call recording.
Phone
Call recordings and transcriptions let you record live calls and transcribe them in the Notes app, with an automatic announcement that the call is being recorded.
Camera
Camera Control can quickly switch to the front TrueDepth Camera (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max).
Spatial photo capture, along with spatial video capture, is available in a new Spatial camera mode (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max).
Airpods
Hearing Test feature provides scientifically-validated hearing test results from the comfort of home (intended for users 18 years or older).
Hearing Aid feature provides personalized, clinical-grade assistance that is automatically applied to sounds in your environment as well as music, videos and calls (intended for users 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss).
Hearing Protection feature helps users minimize exposure to loud environmental noise across listening modes (available in the United States and Canada).
Features require AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or later.
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
Control Center has new options to add connectivity controls individually and reset your configuration.
RCS Business Messaging lets you connect with businesses over RCS (requires carrier support).
App Store search lets you use natural language to find what you’re looking for more easily.
Game Center friend invites can be sent directly from the Contacts app and Friend Suggestions, and receivers can see the invites in the inbox in Settings.
Fixes an issue in Podcasts where unplayed episodes are marked as played.
Fixes an issue where videos recorded at 4K 60 while the device is warm could experience stutter while scrubbing the video playback in Photos.
Fixes an issue where digital car keys may not unlock or start a vehicle with passive entry after restoring from a backup or transferring directly from another iPhone.
Fixes an issue where iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro models may unexpectedly restart.
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100
For more on iOS, here’s my review of iOS 18, what to know about RCS messaging on iPhones and our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You can also check out what was fixed with iOS 18.0.1.
Watch this: Apple’s Monster iPhone Update: How Apple Intelligence Works on iOS 18.1
Fortnite players have post-Halloween surprises waiting for them every week this month. The game is bringing back its Chapter 2 map last seen in 2021, but launching it with a Remix twist where music artists will take over sections of the map over the course of November.
Announced by Epic Games during a Times Square event on Friday, the event kicks off today with a Snoop Dogg takeover for its first week, including the transformation of an area formerly known as “The Agency” into “The Dogg Pound.” The takeover will extend to weapons as well, with the Boogie Bomb item playing “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Snoop Dogg will also be the featured artist in Fortnite Festival, the rhythm game mode featured within the platform.
The Dogg Pound as it will be depicted inside of Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix.
Epic Games
The second week will feature Eminem, with the rapper having a look similar to his “Houdini” music video. A Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant, referencing the famous line in the artist’s song “Lose Yourself” that itself became a restaurant in Detroit, Michigan, will also be added to the map.
Eminem’s Mom’s Spaghetti restuarant will land in Fortnite during Chapter 2 Remix’s second week.
Epic Games
The third week will feature Ice Spice, which will bring a decorative take to the map’s Shark Island. And the final week of the event will feature the late Jared “Juice WRLD” Higgins, with Epic mentioning they worked with the artist’s estate and mother to create the experience that will be revealed later in the month. Players who login on the game’s Nov. 30 finale will get a free cel-shaded outfit in commemoration of Higgins.
Fortnite’s new “Kicks” will include original designs like these Shark shoes alongside real-world brands like Jordan and Nike.
Epic Games
Fortnite is also introducing “Kicks” as a shoe cosmetic for the game, starting on Nov. 12. These shoes will include real-world brands like Nike and Jordan, alongside Fortnite original designs such as a shark shoe.
Fortnite’s new Chapter 2 Remix event is the latest in a series of music-based events that the game has included, which includes the Harmonix-developed Fortnite Festival music game.
Dive Into a Dazzling Collection of Award-Winning Underwater Photography
Foldable phones have been around for years, but high prices, limited software functionality and fragile builds have hampered their appeal. That’s still largely true, but foldable phones took leaps forward in design, versatility and even price over the last two years.
That’s as evident as ever in 2024 considering phone makers like Samsung, Google and Xiaomi have further refined their foldable phones’ designs, with the sleeker Galaxy Z Fold 6, polished Pixel 9 Pro Fold and unbelievably thin and light Mix Fold 4. There are also more foldable phone options than ever after Google and OnePlus entered the foldable phone market last year, and cheaper devices like Motorola’s $700 Razr also emerged in 2023.
This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.
Read more: ‘A Cambrian Explosion:’ AI’s Radical Reshaping of Your Phone, Coming Soon
Sales of foldable phones are only expected to increase, with the International Data Corporation expecting 25 million devices to be shipped in 2024, up from 18.1 million in 2023.
Still, with some models costing close to $2,000 without a trade-in discount, foldable phones don’t come cheap — especially book-shaped devices that aim to fill the needs of a phone and a tablet.
If you’re thinking about buying a foldable phone, consider your budget and how you intend to use your phone, among other factors. Check out CNET’s list of the best flip phones and best foldable phones to learn more about our top picks.
Watch this: Three Futurists Predict the Phone of the Future
What’s your budget?
The most important question to ask is how much you’re willing to spend on a new phone. Even though foldable phones aren’t as expensive as they were back in 2019, they’re still significantly pricier than most standard phones. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,900 while the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold costs $1,800 without a trade-in. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 costs $1,100 and Motorola Razr Plus costs $1,000. Motorola’s 2024 Razr is among the most affordable options out there at $700.
The 2024 Motorola Razr stands out for its cover screen.
James Martin/CNET
Book-style foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, OnePlus Open ($1,700) and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are among the most expensive phones you can buy. Flip phones are priced around the same as premium non-folding devices like the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, both of which start at around $1,000. If you’re used to budgeting for a device in that price range, splurging on a flip phone won’t feel much different.
But there are some indications that prices may continue to come down in the near future. Chinese electronics maker ZTE released a flip phone called the Nubia Flip 5G this year, which currently sells for $499, making it cheaper than the iPhone 16, Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9.
If you are interested in buying a foldable phone, don’t forget to keep an eye out for discounts and trade-in deals to make current prices more palatable. Keep in mind that many of those deals usually ask that you meet some type of requirement, like opening a new line with a carrier or trading in a relatively recent phone.
Are you an Android fan?
Apple probably isn’t releasing a foldable phone anytime soon. (Pictured: the iPhone 16 lineup.)
James Martin/CNET
Loyal iPhone users hoping to buy a foldable phone anytime soon may be out of luck. Though rumors about a foldable iPhone have circulated for years, we still don’t know when or if Apple will ever release a phone that bends in half. However, a report from The Information suggests Apple is working on at least two flip phone-style prototypes.
It’s far from being the first time that talk has surfaced about Apple plans for a foldable phone. Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, an analyst known for making predictions about future Apple products, has previously reported that the company is working on a foldable device around the same size as the iPad Mini, as MacRumors reported in 2021. During that same year, Bloomberg reported that Apple had developed foldable screens for internal testing.
But these reports suggest a foldable iPhone is still a ways off, meaning folks who really want a phone that folds in half need to be OK with sticking to Android for now.
Are you careful with your phone?
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an IP48 durability rating.
Lisa Eadiccico/CNET
While today’s foldables are sturdier than earlier models, the simple fact that they have hinges and bendable screens still makes them more delicate than regular phones. Shortly after Google launched its first foldable phone, the Pixel Fold, in June 2023, some Reddit users reported broken screens, for example. Most foldable phones aren’t dust resistant and have a lower water resistance rating than standard devices like the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24 lineup. But Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 do have some level of dust protection: IP48 to be exact, which means it can withstand solid objects greater than one millimeter.
If you work outdoors, have a tendency to drop your phone or handle it roughly or prefer not to use a case, you’ll want to be careful when switching to a foldable phone. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with repair options from the device maker as well as third-party services.
Is it the right time to buy a foldable phone?
The OnePlus Open is the first foldable phone released under the OnePlus brand.
Numi Prasarn/CNET
Like many electronics, foldable phones are often released on a seasonal basis. You’ll want to consider this to avoid spending $1,000 or more on a device that may soon feel outdated. While you can sometimes find compelling discounts on older models, it’s usually a good idea to opt for the latest version if you can.
Companies usually support their phones with new versions of Android for only a few years. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold will get seven generations of OS upgrades, for example.
Samsung typically releases its new foldable phones in the summer, and it maintained that pattern this year by announcing the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 in July. Motorola, meanwhile, introduced its 2024 Razrs in June, while Google introduced the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in August.
The OnePlus Open, which is the brand’s first foldable phone, launched last October, although some rumors point to a 2025 launch for its sequel.
The Black Friday shopping weekend is also a great time to look out for deals on foldables, especially since new models for the year have already launched. Motorola’s Razr Plus, for example, saw a $300 discount on Amazon over the Black Friday weekend.
What do you want from a new phone?
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 (top) and Galaxy Z Fold 4.
James Martin/CNET
This is probably the most significant consideration aside from your budget. Foldable phones are expensive and have some shortcomings compared to regular devices.
For example, they can sometimes feel bulky and awkward to use when closed thanks to their unconventional designs, although that’s improved over time. The cameras on foldable phones often aren’t as advanced as the ones you’ll find on premium non-folding phones. A slight learning curve also comes with using a foldable phone for the first time, especially for larger book-style foldables. Most importantly, many of today’s foldables still have a visible crease that runs across the screen.
Those compromises can be worth it for the right buyer. If you watch videos and play games on your phone often, a phone-tablet hybrid like the Galaxy Z Fold or Pixel 9 Pro Fold could be worth it. When I switched to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for several weeks in 2023, I loved having a larger canvas for writing and reading emails. I even left my tablet at home during a flight and used my phone solely for watching Netflix on the plane. Think long and hard about whether you need a phone that can double as a tablet and are willing to pay a higher price for that benefit.
Flip phones are for those who want a regular-sized phone that can fit in pockets and purses more easily. Since phones like the Motorola Razr and Galaxy Z Flip essentially have a built-in kickstand, they’re also ideal for those who like to take selfies and group photos without finding someone else to take the picture.
Newer flip phones like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and later and the 2023 Motorola Razr Plus and later also have cover screens that allow you to run full apps when the device is closed. Not only does this make it easier to quickly check Google Maps or Spotify from the palm of your hand, but I find that it can turn my phone into a mini smart display. When I tested the 2023 Razr Plus, for example, I enjoyed propping it open like a tent to play music, view album art and skip to the next song in my playlist while doing household chores.
With that in mind, flip phones are best for those who prioritize convenience and portability above almost everything else in a smartphone.
Overall, deciding whether to buy a foldable phone comes down to your budget and what you’re looking for in a new phone. Factors like durability and timing are also important to consider, but it all comes down to how much you’re willing to spend and what you’re hoping to get from your device.
No matter if you have oily or acne-prone skin, sensitive skin or dry skin on your face, the best sunscreen for your face and particular needs exists — and may even be on this list. Many of these formulas are from higher-end skincare brands, with a few drugstore finds. While I’m not saying you need to buy the more expensive options, if you do you’ll usually get a better formula that caters to your skin type, feels lightweight and blends well.
Dry skin: Use sunscreens that contain moisturizing ingredients including aloe, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, coconut water, sunflower oil or various fruit extracts. The sunscreen can be added on top of moisturizer or on its own, depending on how dry your skin is.
Oily skin: Steer clear of any sunscreen that is not oil-free. You don’t want to add to the overall oil. Look for sunscreens that say “noncomedogenic” on the bottle, meaning it won’t clog pores.
Acne-prone skin: If you have oily skin, chances are you also have acne-prone skin. Similarly, pick sunscreens that are noncomedogenic, oil-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free and irritation-free.
Sensitive skin: Look for sunscreens that have minimal ingredients and that are first and foremost, fragrance-free. It also helps if the sunscreen is dermatologist-tested, oil-free, paraben-free, irritation-free and noncomedogenic.
Whether you use mineral sunscreen formulations or chemical ones, be sure you use one with broad spectrum SPF and skin-nurturing hyaluronic acid to provide both the sun protection and breathable skin comfort you need.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the first entry in the popular shooter franchise that publisher Activision Blizzard released after being bought by Microsoft in 2023. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play that game now and other popular games like StarCraft and StarCraft 2 soon.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick — offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox One, and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gets you access to a large library of games, with new titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 added every month, plus other benefits, such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.
Read more: What You Need to Know About Xbox Game Pass Standard
Here are all the games Game Pass subscribers can play soon. You can also check out all the games Microsoft added to the service earlier in October.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Available now.
It’s the early 1990s, the Cold War is over and the US is the lone superpower in the latest installment of the popular shooter franchise. While most people are watching the Middle East, a clandestine group has infiltrated the highest levels of the CIA. Now your team, led by Black Ops character Frank Woods, is being hunted by the military.
Once you’ve moved through the campaign, you can battle others in online multiplayer or team up with them to fend off the zombie hordes.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (cloud)
Available now.
The first Call of Duty game to land on Game Pass since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 is now available on Xbox Cloud Gaming.
In this rebooted first-person shooter, you can continue the story of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as you and a team of special forces members try to track down an ultranationalist terrorist. You can also take on hordes of the undead in the zombies gameplay mode or challenge your friends in multiplayer mode. With the Carry Forward feature, you can transfer much of your content and weapons progressions from Modern Warfare 2 to this game, and as long as you have an Activision account you can use this feature across different platforms.
Call of Duty: Warzone (cloud)
Available now.
The free-to-play, battle royale Call of Duty game is now on Xbox Cloud Gaming. This game can support huge maps filled with up to 150 players in a single match — many similar games can support 100 players. So wherever you physically are, get ready to virtually drop in and fight it out across maps like Verdansk and Rebirth Island.
South Park: The Fractured but Whole
Available now.
From the twisted minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone comes a turn-based RPG adventure set in the iconic quiet, little, redneck, podunk, white trash mountain town. You’re the new kid on the block and are thrown into a game of two superhero factions fighting to create their own media franchise. But as the game goes on, the superheroes uncover a conspiracy to raise crime in the town, bringing them into conflict with ninjas, the sixth-graders and members of the local elderly population.
Donut County
Available now.
The story-based physics puzzle game is back on Game Pass more than a year after Microsoft removed it. You play as a hole in the ground tasked with consuming objects in each stage. It’s similar to the game Katamari Damacy, but instead of pushing a ball around to collect items, you eat everything in sight — which is coincidentally what I did when I visited a donut shop the other day.
MechWarrior 5: Clans
Available now.
Step into a towering mech and fight your way across the galaxy in the latest installment of the MechWarrior series. Your territory is being invaded in this game, and you lead a squad of five other mech pilots to turn the invasion back. This isn’t a run-and-gun game, though. You’ll have to coordinate your moves with other units to create the perfect opportunities to attack.
Ashen
Available now.
Microsoft is bringing this co-op action RPG back to Game Pass almost five years after removing it from the service. In this game, you’re searching for a home in a sunless world, and your quest brings you into contact with other characters and monsters. How you deal with them — fight them, work with them or ignore them — is up to you.
Dead Island 2 (PC)
Available now.
Just in time for Halloween, you can play this zombie survival game on your PC a few months after Xbox console and cloud gamers could play it. In this title, you and your band of survivors are looking for a way out of the zombie-infested streets of Los Angeles. But it’s not all doom and gloom. The dark humor in this gory title is reminiscent of films like Zombieland and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, so don’t be surprised if you chuckle to yourself as you swing a bat at a zombie’s head.
StarCraft: Remastered (PC)
Available: Nov. 5
Experience Blizzard’s updated original sci-fi real-time strategy game for the first — or umpteenth — time. Experience the battle between the Terrans, Protoss and Zerg with improved graphics and audio. This edition also includes the expansion StarCraft: Brood War. Just watch out for that Zerg rush.
StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection (PC)
Available: Nov. 5
Once you’ve played the original StarCraft, jump into the galactic battle again with this popular sequel. In addition to the original campaign, this edition of the game also includes the Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, Legacy of the Void and Nova Covert Ops expansions, giving you plenty of battles and scenarios to work through.
Games leaving Game Pass soon
While Microsoft is adding those games to Game Pass, it’s also removing five others on Oct. 31. That means you still have some time to finish your campaign or any side quests before you’ll have to purchase these games separately.
For more on Xbox, check out other games available on Game Pass Ultimate now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.
Watch this: Hands-On With the All-Digital Xbox Series X
My gaming reflexes aren’t what they used to be (not that they were ever that great), so I’ll take every little bit of help I can get to improve my accuracy and speed. Razer’s completely overhauled Wolverine wireless controller for Xbox/PC can do just that. Upgrading the design and components of its V2 Chroma version, the V3 Pro lets you play how you want to play with greater precision and comfort than its earlier models.
True to its name, this is a “pro” controller with features that will likely be overkill unless you’re a competitive gamer (although you may want an edge even if the competition is only among friends). It would be easier for me to say run out and buy one right now if the controller wasn’t $200. While it’s not overpriced, considering what you’re getting, it is expensive.
Josh Goldman/CNET
The price is in line with other pro controllers I’ve tested, though, like the Vitrix Pro BFG and Scuf Instinct Pro. While those have their own perks, the Razer wins for its all-around excellence. And if you don’t mind losing the wireless and a couple of other minor features, there’s a wired Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition that gets you almost all of the V3 Pro features at half the price. Stepping up to the Pro gets you high-speed 2.4GHz wireless, a carrying case, a slightly rubberized finish, two swappable thumbstick caps (shorter domed and taller concave), better haptics and the Razer wordmark has the company’s Chroma backlighting. There’s, of course, a built-in battery, too, to power it when used wirelessly. The rest of the features are the same between the two versions.
Hall Effect thumbsticks
Adjustable triggers
Claw-grip bumpers
Four back paddles
Tactile action buttons and eight-way floating D-pad
Tournament mode with 1,000Hz polling rate on PC
There’s a headset jack at the front if you want to plug in.
Josh Goldman/CNET
At this point, getting Hall Effect thumbsticks on a premium controller should be a given, but that’s not always the case. They’re one of the prime features of the Wolverine V3, though, ending drift and increasing durability. They have just enough resistance for finer control, and the anti-friction rings around them let the sticks slide around smoothly.
There are trigger stops, so you can have a short, quick actuation or a longer pull. That’s not unusual to find, but the feel is significantly better here, giving you a mouse-click trigger response for first-person shooter games when locked out or a smooth trigger motion with a perfect amount of resistance for precise control for racing games.
Josh Goldman/CNET
The claw grip bumpers are helpful to have, even if you use a traditional grip. I’ve never played using a claw grip, but when combined with the back paddles, I did eventually get faster when playing FPS and team-based co-op games. It helps that all six of the buttons are remappable.
Razer’s Xbox app for customizations is clean and straightforward. You can remap or completely disable each of the four back paddles and the claw grip bumpers, adjust thumbstick sensitivity, tweak haptic strength and change the RGB color of the Razer wordmark, among other things. Settings can then be saved to individual profiles for different games, genres, users or whatever you want. You can’t remap the triggers, regular bumpers or action buttons.
The back paddles are less like actual paddles on the V3.
Josh Goldman/CNET
I’ve used many controllers with back paddles/buttons over the years, and they always seem to get in the way or are awkward to use. Razer somehow managed to get the paddle sizes and positions just right, significantly better than the Wolverine V2 Chroma. The button feel is good too. In fact, all of the buttons and the D-pad have a wonderful responsive clickiness to them — not a single mushy button here.
The controller connects wirelessly to an Xbox or PC using the included 2.4GHz USB-A dongle (there’s no Bluetooth if you were hoping for a controller for casual gaming too). There’s also a 10-foot USB-A-to-USB-C cable, so it can also be used wired. The best part: when connected to a PC, you can access a Tournament mode that reduces input lag by raising the polling rate to 1,000Hz.
Again, $200 is no doubt a lot to spend on a controller, but Razer didn’t skimp on the Wolverine V3 Pro’s features. If you’re looking for a full-featured Xbox or PC controller, this is one of the best you can get right now. Plus, you can get almost all of its features in a wired version for $100, which is tough to beat.
Spectrum is CNET’s top pick for the best internet service provider in North Carolina, thanks to its fast speeds, widespread availability and reasonable pricing. The cable giant services a lot of addresses in the state, but if you’re out of the coverage area, there are plenty of other options, depending on where you live within the state.
If you want the top speeds, Google Fiber offers the fastest internet in North Carolina. You can get speeds as high as 8,000 megabits per second at reasonable prices, but Google Fiber only serves select cities in North Carolina. If you’re in the rural areas, you can opt for local fiber providers or fixed wireless options like T-Mobile Home Internet. Check out all of our top picks below to find the best internet provider for your home.
What’s the best internet providers in North Carolina?
Whether gaming, watching movies and TV shows, or working, North Carolina is home to some of the fastest internet speeds in the country. While AT&T and Google’s fiber options are mainly limited to Charlotte and The Triangle, North Carolinians can access many internet connection types. Due to its wide availability in the state, fast speeds and simple pricing, we’re giving the nod to Spectrum as the best internet provider overall in North Carolina. Your options will vary depending on where you live, but fortunately, everyone in the state can get online, although it may be through satellite internet.
Best internet options in North Carolina
Rural internet options in North Carolina
Provider
Connection type
Price range
Speed range
Data cap
Availability
Brightspeed
DSL/fiber
$50
Up to 100Mbps
None
Eastern part of the state
Hughesnet Read full review
Satellite
$50-$95
50-100Mbps
100-200GB
Entire state
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible phone plans)
72-245Mbps
None
Entire state
Viasat Read full review
Satellite
$150
25-150Mbps
850GB
Entire state
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
North Carolina broadband at a glance
Around 96% of North Carolinians have access to download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps, according to state data. Additionally, North Carolina ranks seventh among the 50 states and Washington, DC, for the fastest median download speeds, per the speed-testing company Ookla. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The median download speed in the Tar Heel State sits at about 262Mbps, thanks in part to the reliably fast Google Fiber, and in fact, Raleigh holds the top spot on its list of cities with the fastest internet, with median download speeds of about 331Mbps. North Carolina boasts a whopping five cities in the top 30 of Ookla’s ranking of 100 cities by fastest internet speeds, with Raleigh coming in at the top, Durham at seven, Charlotte at 21, Winston-Salem at No. 22 and Greensboro at No. 45. So yes, the Tar Heel State has some fast internet, mostly thanks to fiber internet from AT&T and Google. Just over 48% have access to a fiber internet connection, although mostly in Charlotte and The Triangle.
Internet breakdown by city in North Carolina
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in North Carolina. We tackle details such as internet connection types, max speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don’t find the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Internet pricing in North Carolina
The starting price of internet service in North Carolina will depend on where you live, but judging by the most widely available ISPs in the state, expect to pay around $50 to get online. If you’re an existing customer of certain T-Mobile plans and have access to its 5G internet offering, you can get that service for $40 per month.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in North Carolina
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Future of broadband in North Carolina
The federal government in late June awarded North Carolina $1.5 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the state. The Department of Information Technology Division of Broadband and Digital Equity “will use [Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment] funding to connect high-cost areas, remaining unserved and underserved locations, and community anchor institutions without fiber access,” reads the state’s five-year plan draft. The government also plans to boost digital literacy and make internet access more affordable.
Internet in North Carolina FAQs
Does North Carolina have good internet?
You bet your tar heel it does. Not only does North Carolina rank 7th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in terms of fast median download speeds, according to Ookla, but five cities — Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem — boast some of the highest city download speeds in the country.
Yes. There are two primary providers: AT&T and Google. Fiber internet is mostly available in Charlotte and The Triangle, but the state government plans to expand access to the technology over the next five years.
Is Spectrum or AT&T better to connect to the internet in North Carolina?
If you have access to Spectrum and AT&T, you may wonder which is the best choice. The short answer: If you can get fiber internet from AT&T, that’s your best option. If AT&T’s DSL service is matched up against Spectrum’s cable connection, you’d be wise to turn to Spectrum. Read more in CNET’s breakdown of AT&T vs. Spectrum.
It’ll be November by the end of this week, and that means a new round of Social Security Disability Insurance checks will soon be headed out to recipients. If you’re unsure when you’re supposed to receive your monthly benefit check, we’ll break down the SSDI payment schedule for you.
The Social Security Administration sends monthly payments to people who typically have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work. Depending on the situation of the individual, others may qualify and can apply for SSDI as well.
If you’re curious how the recent 2025 Social Security COLA Increase announcement will affect your benefits next year, we have you covered.
For more, here’s what you can do if you’re last payment never arrived and the Supplemental Security Income payment schedule.
Payment schedule if you’ve had SSDI since May 1997 or earlier
If you started getting SSDI before May 1997, you’d usually receive your payment on the third day of every month. Note that this isn’t always the case, like when the third day falls on a weekend or holiday. This past March was such a month, and SSDI recipients received their payments two days earlier, on the first day of the month.
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For everyone else, payments are birth date dependent
If you began receiving SSDI after May 1997, then your payment date is determined by the day of the month you were born. Payments are typically paid out on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of the month. Which Wednesday you get your check breaks down like this:
Birthdate between
Social Security check date
1 and 10 of the month
2nd Wednesday of the month
11 and 20 of the month
3rd Wednesday of the month
21 and 31 of the month
4th Wednesday of the month
When you’ll get your SSDI payment for November
Here’s when your SSDI payment should arrive this month:
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CNET Money brings financial insights, trends and news to your inbox every Wednesday.
If you’ve received Social Security before May 1997
Nov. 1
If your birthday falls between day 1 and 10 of the month
Nov. 13
If your birthday falls between day 11 and 20 of the month
Nov. 20
If your birthday falls between day 21 and 31 of the month
Nov. 27
Will the 2025 COLA affect my payment?
Probably, but it depends. The COLA for 2025 will introduce a 2.5% increase in monthly benefit checks, but exactly how much will depend on several factors. Any monthly income, how long you’ve received benefits, and what type of benefit you receive can result in a different payment increase. Recipients will receive their COLA notice sometime in December with specific details on their case. A COLA of 2.5% will add about $48 to the average benefits check when it arrives in January 2025.
For more, don’t miss the actions that could get your Social Security benefits suspended or terminated and how to apply for SSI.
Air fryers are excellent at a cooking a range of foods, and they’re typically safe. Air fryers run on electricity so there are no harmful air pollutants or gas leaks to worry about, and these powerful convection ovens don’t pose a major fire hazard as long as you keep them clean and don’t run them for too long without supervision. But there’s one part of the air fryer that almost nobody cleans and it could cause a dangerous buildup of food residue over time.
Read more: Making a Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer Is the Best Cooking Hack I’ve Found all Year
The underside of the air fryer hull where the heating coils are housed is prone to food splatter and gunk buildup. Some forum users on Reddit’s air fryer sub have admitted that they ignore the icky buildup, but that could be genuinely dangerous. Cleaning it every few weeks with a wet rag will reduce the risk of an air fryer malfunction and keep the food you’re cooking from becoming tainted.
Below you’ll find a complete guide to air fryer safety including how to clean it and use it. For more, learn how to make crispy bacon or the perfect cheeseburger in the air fryer.
Are air fryers dangerous?
CNET
The potential risk of an air fryer should not overshadow the mighty countertop oven’s many benefits. In fact, air fryers are generally safer than other cooking methods, including natural gas stoves, which have flammable gas flow and an open flame. Two alarming studies also show that gas stoves can leak toxic gas when not in use and may contribute to childhood asthma.
When used properly, air fryers cut down on fat and calories compared to deep-frying or pan-frying and are an excellent conduit for eating more healthily. They can also save money on your energy bill if you use one instead of the wall oven, which takes more energy to heat and longer to cook food once heated.
But the key to air fryer safety is taking care of your cookware — while these handy pieces of equipment are usually incredibly safe, it’s important to keep them clean of any grime that might accumulate while you cook.
But that doesn’t mean air fryers pose no risk. Faulty wiring or user error can cause air fryers to overheat, burn the food inside or melt the machine itself, leading to several reported cases of kitchen fires and burns. To date, there have been no deaths reported.
One of the reasons could be an influx of cheap air fryers, some as cheap as $20 or $30. A few of those cheaper brands have caused problems leading to consumer recalls. While you certainly don’t have to spend more than $100 on an air fryer — and probably shouldn’t — going too cheap could spell trouble.
If you’re thinking of buying one, check out CNET’s complete guide to air fryers, including how they work and what to consider when choosing a model. In this post, I’ll explain the potential dangers of using an air fryer and how to mitigate the risk of an air fryer-related fire in your kitchen.
1. Clean your air fryer basket after every use
Wash the entire air fryer basket with soap and water after every use. Avoid the dishwasher, which can corrode the nonstick surface over time.
David Watsky/CNET
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Air fryers are great for cooking chicken wings, mozzarella sticks (OK, not all air fryer food is healthy) and other crave-able snacks. If you don’t add any cooking oil or spray, you might notice a pool of oil or film left in the basket when you lift out the eats. That oil — and any other food bits — should be thoroughly cleaned after every use. Residual oil and small burnt bits of food will increase the chance of a fire inside the basket.
The good news is that most air fryer baskets are nonstick so all it takes is a few vigorous scrubs with a warm soapy sponge to get them ready for the next session. Some air fryer baskets are advertised as dishwasher-safe, but I suggest washing them by hand. The pummeling your basket will take inside the dishwasher can erode the nonstick coating over time.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
2. Clean the coils above the basket once a month
Clean the coils above your air fryer cooking basket for a safer kitchen and better-tasting food.
David Watsky/CNET
A less obvious but equally important part of taking care of an air fryer to clean is the coils and the area surrounding them inside the hull of the fryer and above the basket. During cooking, oil, sauce and even bits of food can spatter up and onto those coils. You likely won’t notice this buildup unless you tilt the air fryer back or turn it upside down completely.
When cleaning the inside of an air fryer, it’s best to avoid the use of soap, since residual soap could taint food the next time you cook. And saturating it with too much water could potentially damage the functionality of the coils. Instead, use a damp scrubby or the rough side of your sponge. If you do it often enough, it shouldn’t be difficult to get those coils clean.
Aside from lowering the risk of fire, cleaning this section will keep your air frying humming along and cooking with optimal power.
3. Give the air fryer its own outlet while in use and unplug it after
The safest outlet is an empty one.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Air fryers draw a large current and have the potential to cause an electrical fire. It’s always best to unplug them when not in use. Some air fryers are rather quiet, so this also ensures the air fryer isn’t still running or won’t be accidentally turned on by a passing cat or the curious hand of a toddler. (Plus, this can save you some money over time, as appliances can still draw power even when they’re turned off.)
Kitchen appliances, including toasters, air fryers and microwaves, should also be plugged directly into an outlet rather than into an extension cord or outlet extender since they add more resistance to the flow of electricity. You should also avoid running your air fryer through an outlet with other appliances plugged in, especially those in use, as it can put stress on the circuits.
In truth, any electrical appliance can cause a fire if there’s a faulty electrical outlet or bad wiring. Call an electrician if you hear a crackling or see sparks. Speaking of damaged electrical outlets, try to position your air fryer so the hot air blowing out the back is not hitting an electrical outlet in your kitchen. Over time, this can cause problems.
4. Don’t crowd the air fryer basket
If you’re struggling to get the basket in because food is piled so high, it might be time for a larger air fryer.
David Watsky/CNET
One thing you don’t want is food touching the hot coils during use or loads of grease and sauce splattering up toward the hot coils. To avoid this, don’t overcrowd the cooking basket or pile food so high that you have to jostle or squish it to get the basket in. If you find yourself jamming food in to cook the amount you need for you or the family, it might be time to spring for a larger air fryer.
5. Don’t leave the air fryer on and unattended
Do make bacon in the air fryer, but don’t walk too far away while it’s cooking.
Getty Images
Air fryers get hot and they get hot fast. As with any oven, you won’t want to walk too far away from it while it’s in use and monitor for smoke or unusual smells like burning food or plastic. And always adhere to the cooking instructions.
Many ovens only suggest cooking on higher temps for 20 minutes or less at a time. Read your air fryer instructions carefully before diving in.
Do air fryer baskets contain harmful chemicals or PFOA?
Air fryer baskets are coated with the same chemicals as nonstick cookware. If you’re trying to avoid nonstick altogether, you have plenty of options.
David Watsky/CNET
Most air fryer baskets are coated with a chemical nonstick surface. Depending on how old you are, you’ve probably heard about Teflon and may be wondering if it’s safe. A chemical called PFOA used in the original Teflon was linked to cancer and banned in 2014.
New and purportedly safer materials such as GenX are now used for nonstick-coated cookware and air fryer baskets. There is still some skepticism and an ongoing debate about the safety of nonstick, but to date, no major studies have linked modern cookware use to negative health outcomes in those who use nonstick or Teflon cookware. Although GenX, when consumed in higher quantities and when found in drinking water, has been deemed toxic by the EPA.
If you’re trying to avoid nonstick altogether, there are options for air fryers with nonstick baskets, such as this model. Most air-frying toaster ovens come with wire racks instead of baskets and present another good alternative to nonstick.
For more on air fryers, read our beginner’s guide to air fryers and find out if an air fryer is cheaper to run than a big oven.
FAQs
Is it safe to use a chemical nonstick air fryer basket?
You may have heard of “Teflon flu,” but it’s generally safe to use chemical nonstick cookware nowadays. Teflon products created prior to 2014 contain a chemical called PFOA, and that was what would get people sick. Still, it’s best to make sure you’re getting your cookware from reliable vendors. If you buy something from outside of the US, you run the risk of that product still containing PFOA.
Why is it important to clean your air fryer after you cook?
When you cook something with the air fryer, especially foods like chicken wings or mozzarella sticks, an oily film can get left behind on the air fryer’s basket. If you don’t clean that up, there’s a small risk that your air fryer basket will catch fire when you cook more food.
Best for:
Back sleeper
Combo sleeper
Side sleeper
Stomach sleeper
Pros
All-foam provides support for average-size individuals
Great for those seeking a neutral foam option
Firmer profile accommodates back and stomach sleepers
Nice value for a premium all-foam option
Cons
Not the best option for those on a super-tight budget
People over 250 pounds might benefit from support coils
Could be softer for strict side sleeping
Lull mattresses are hard to miss, given their popularity on social media. I’ve been testing Lull mattresses for several years now, and they’re an all-foam bed mattress option that’s generally accommodating for the average sleeper. A couple of years ago, the Lull brand introduced the Luxe Hybrid, now its top-tier option.
Lull has recently introduced the Original Premium mattress to its lineup. This bed has the same qualities as the Lull flagship, only souped up to the next level. So, what distinguishes the Original Premium from the Original Lull, and why should you consider spending more on it? In this review, I will cover everything you should know about this new Lull mattress, including who we think it’ll work best for.
First impressions of the Lull Original Premium
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
The Lull Original Premium arrives at your doorstep inside of a large box — since there’s a big drawing of a lion on the sides, I doubt you’ll confuse it for anything else you’ve ordered. The unboxing process for this bed is quite simple, but it might be nice to have a friend there to help you out, as online beds can be quite heavy to lift by yourself.
Also, since this is an all-foam mattress, it may look slightly misshapen right after it’s unboxed. Foam beds usually take a night or so to expand right out of the box, so we suggest giving the bed some time to sit out on your foundation and fully inflate before making any harsh judgments on it. We found this to be the case with our model.
In the morning, the bed finally looked similar to the pictures advertised on Lull’s website. We took this as a sign it was ready for testing. I thought that it felt like a straightforward, comfy foam bed. Compared to the Original Lull, it had a much more refined look. The stitching on the exterior and quilted cover definitely gave the bed a “premium” appearance. Overall, I can see where the bed gets its name — it’s quite nice.
Video: Lull Original Premium mattress review
Watch me review the Lull Original Premium in this video.
Lull Original Premium mattress firmness and feel
What does the Lull Original Premium feel like?
I mentioned that it feels like a comfy foam bed, but more specifically, it has a neutral foam feel. Unlike the Original Lull, which has a blended or mixed foam feel, here you get more responsiveness with less body-contouring quality. I thought the bed felt a lot like the Casper One Foam mattress; a light, fluffy, neutral feel on top with a denser quality from the layers below.
Having this type of neutral feel in your next mattress is often a safe way to go. If you’re unsure as to what feel you prefer in beds, a neutral foam feel will probably fit the bill for you nicely. Unless you know you want a dense memory foam bed like a Tempur-Pedic or an ultraresponsive latex foam bed like Zenhaven, you can’t go wrong with a neutral-feeling mattress.
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
How firm is the Lull Original Premium mattress?
I found this bed to be slightly firmer than the other two Lull mattresses. It’s between a medium and a medium-firm on our scale. This makes it a fine option for all sleeping positions but most ideal for primary back and stomach sleepers who want something that’s on the slightly firmer end of the spectrum.
If you’re more of a side or combination sleeper who enjoys having a bit more pressure relief in your bed, this might not be the best option for you. The other two Lull beds may provide a bit more cushion for your hips and shoulders. Check out our Best Beds for Side Sleepers for softer online options.
Lull Original Premium mattress construction
This is a 12-inch thick all-foam mattress with a premium design. It’s made up of the following support and comfort layers:
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
1. On the bottom, you’ve got around 7 inches of a dense, polyurethane support foam
2. Then, you have a high-resilience transition foam to act as a buffer between the support and comfort for the mattress.
3. Above that transition layer, you’ve got the bed’s main comfort layer of gel-infused memory foam. This is an open-cell layer that’s designed to be ultrabreathable
4. For additional comfort, the bed has a quilted cover on top that has even more memory foam quilted into it.
Lull Original Premium mattress performance
Motion isolation
The gel-infused comfort foam topping this mattress does help to deaden and absorb a good amount of cross-mattress movement. The bed’s motion isolation isn’t as superior as something like a dense memory foam bed, but it still gets the job done. If you sleep with a partner who’s easily awakened at night by the slightest movement, you may want to look into something like a Tempur-Pedic mattress, but we don’t anticipate you having any issues with the Lull Original Premium.
Edge-to-edge support
This bed doesn’t have any sort of reinforced design along the edges, but we’d say it still has average performance in terms of edge support. There’s no apparent roll-off sensation, and we don’t foresee anyone falling off this mattress anytime soon. Compared to the flagship Lull, I’d say it has slightly sturdier edges, but the bed with the most supportive perimeter of the Lull lineup is the Luxe Hybrid. For an all-foam bed, though, it’s not half bad in terms of edge support.
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
Temperature
This bed doesn’t have any active cooling features, but it should still sleep around the temperature-neutral range at night. Many of the construction elements within the mattress are advertised to provide cooling advantages, but a lot of that is just marketing noise. Sleeping temperature often comes down to other factors like the types of sheets, pajamas or pillows you’re using rather than the actual mattress itself.
Durability
Since this is an all-foam mattress, it should be most ideal at supporting average to petite-size individuals. If you’re a heavier person, over the 250-pound mark, you might prefer sleeping on a hybrid mattress that has coils for support. The Lull Luxe Hybrid is a great option for bigger body types since it has pocketed coils on the bottom rather than a dense foam. Due to its premium design, it should prove to be slightly more durable long-term than the Original Lull.
Off-gassing
After you unbox your brand-new Lull Original Premium, you might notice that the bed has an off-putting factory smell. While this might lead you to believe that there’s something wrong with your new mattress, rest assured, it’s a completely normal thing to experience with beds that ship to you in a box. This smell should go away after a couple of nights.
Who is the Lull Original Premium mattress best for?
Though this is a generally accommodating all-foam mattress that should work fine for most people, it still might not be the best option for everyone. Here’s who we think will benefit the most from it.
Sleeping position
Back and stomach sleepers will likely get the most out of this mattress. Since it’s on the firmer side, it provides a good amount of support rather than cushion. In terms of side sleepers, it’s not the most pressure-relieving option out there. Those sleeper types may prefer something softer than a medium to be less resistant against your shoulders and hips. If you’re a combination sleeper, you’ll likely find the balance of support and comfort sufficient for your preferences.
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
Body type
While all body types could get by on this mattress, the all-foam design lends itself to be best at supporting medium to petite-size individuals. If you’re a heavier person, we always recommend getting a hybrid bed as opposed to an all-foam one, just because coil support systems are a bit better at providing bigger body types with lots of support over time. However, considering the premium design of this mattress, we think it should be plenty durable for average-size folks.
Lull Original Premium mattress pricing
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Size
Measurements (inches)
Price
Twin
38×75 inches
$1,199
Twin XL
38×80 inches
$1,399
Full
54×75 inches
$1,499
Queen
60×80 inches
$1,699
King
76×80 inches
$2,199
Cal King
72×84 inches
$2,199
For a more of a premium online option, I’d say this mattress is priced pretty reasonably. Unfortunately, it’s around $300 more than the Original Lull mattress, but you are spending up for a quality, all-foam bed. Luckily, Lull as a brand is great with the discounts it runs on its mattresses.
After a discount is applied, you can usually expect to pay just over $1,000 for a queen size. This makes the bed considerably more affordable, on par with other all-foam beds like the Original Leesa and even the Casper One Foam.
Trial, shipping and warranty
As a brand, Lull backs the Original Premium mattress with some of the best policies in the industry. Its beds ship to you in a box for free, and once it’s in your possession, you get a 365-night trial period to try it at home, risk-free. If you happen not to like it within that time frame, you can return it completely free, but if you decide to keep it, you’re backed by a lifetime warranty. Just be sure to use the right foundation for the bed. Otherwise, you could void your bed’s warranty.
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
The final verdict
If you’re looking for a quality all-foam mattress with a neutral foam feel that’s slightly firmer, this is a great option to look into. That said, if you don’t care about the “premium” bells and whistles like the quilted cover, and you maybe want something right around a medium, you could save $300 by going with the Original Lull — just food for thought.
You might like the Lull Original Premium mattress if:
You want an all-foam mattress
You want a neutral foam feel
You like a bed that’s between medium to medium-firm
You want a bed backed by generous policies
You might not like the Lull Original Premium bed if:
You’re looking for a hybrid mattress
You prefer the feel of dense memory foam
You like your bed to be on the softer side
You’re on a super-strict budget
Other mattresses from Lull
There are two other mattresses that Lull as a brand currently offers. There’s the flagship Lull mattress, which is an all-foam bed that also has a medium firmness and a neutral feel. It’s also one of the most popular beds that’s advertised on social media — believe me, it’s all the rage when it comes to “influencers.”
The brand’s top-tier option is the Lull Luxe Hybrid. This is a hybrid mattress that uses a combination of foam on the top for comfort and pocket coils on the bottom for support. Compared to the other beds, this is likely the best option of Lull’s lineup for heavy individuals.
How does Lull Original Premium compare to other mattresses?
Lull Original Premium vs. Original Lull
There are some major distinctions between the two all-foam beds from Lull. The Original Lull is made of just three foam layers and features more of a mixed-foam feel. The Original Premium features an additional layer, which in this case is a quilted cover, and it has more of a neutral foam quality compared to the Original Lull. There’s also a difference in firmness between the two. The Original Premium is slightly firmer than the Original Lull, which is right around a proper medium. The flagship Lull is also considerably more affordable than the Original Premium.
Lull Original Premium vs. Nectar Premier
These are both the midtier options from their respective brands, and there’s a lot to consider about each choice. Both are all-foam mattresses by default, but the Nectar Premier mattress is available in a hybrid rendition. Nectar Premier is also slightly softer than the Lull Original Premium, which is between a medium and a medium-firm. The most noticeable difference, though, comes down to feel. The Nectar Premier has a responsive memory foam sensation, whereas the Lull Original Premium has a straightforward, neutral foam feel.
Is this mattress good for back pain?
The Lull Original Premium is advertised online to have some Zoned-Support features, namely in the top two comfort foams. This may help to mitigate back pain for some sleepers, but we didn’t notice much, if any, of a Zoned Support quality in this mattress. There are many other beds that we’ve tested with more pronounced Zoned Support systems that should benefit those with back pain a bit more. These options include the Casper Dream Max, the Saatva Rx and even the Leesa Legend.
Sadly, you cannot flip any of the Lull beds. All of the beds in Lull’s lineup are currently one-sided beds. There are many beds within the online space that are double-sided, which is kind of cool — who doesn’t want two beds in one? Many options, like the Layla and Plank beds, are flippable and definitely worth your consideration.
As I’ve mentioned, the Lull Original Premium should last you for at least the next 7 to 10 years, if not much longer. Though heavier people can cause beds to degrade faster, that shouldn’t be the case at all with this particular mattress. If you are on the much heavier side, you’ll likely get more long-term durability from the Lull Luxe Hybrid. That said, the quality all-foam construction of the Original Premium will help the bed last most body types for many years to come.
In testing to find the best immersion blender for 2024, I ran several tests on each model over the course of a week and took note of how well each performed. I also took into account other attributes like size, weight, sturdiness, how easy the blender was to clean and the various modes and number of speeds at which it ran.
Blending cooked vegetables for soup
Blending soups and sauces out of cooked vegetables and other ingredients is by far the most popular use for an immersion blender. I blended four cups of cooked vegetables and broth in a saucepan on the highest setting and recorded how well each one blended the ingredients after one minute, and again after an additional minute.
The $30 Homgeek hand blender did OK in the soup test but left far more unblended vegetables than many of its counterparts.
David Watsky/CNET
With the exception of the cheap blenders under $40, all of the models I tested had no trouble pureeing the veggies into soup within a few minutes, but some created a slightly smoother soup in less time. The best of them not only pureed the vegetables in two minutes but even began frothing the liquid toward the end of the allotted time. Some of the cheaper models required more than two minutes to get all the chunks pureed.
Making whipped cream
Not all the immersion blenders I tested offered attachments like a whisk or chopping bowl. For those with a whisk, I made a batch of this popular dessert topping using one-half a cup of whipping cream and noted how each batch looked after one minute of whipping and again after two. Here, I was looking for the blender to make dense-yet-fluffy whipped cream as quickly as possible.
For any hand blender with a whisk attachment, I made a batch of whipped cream. The Cuisinart made the fluffy stuff in under two minutes.
David Watsky/CNET
Food chopper test
Several of the models in our test range also include a food-processor attachment. For those that did, I chopped one cup of carrots and celery, diced into roughly one-inch chunks. After 10 seconds of chopping, I photographed the resulting pile of chopped carrots and noted which delivered the smallest and most uniform results. Most of the stick blenders with food processor cups fared well in this test, including the $34 Beautiful Hand Blender, but some did the job a few seconds faster.
The $34 Beautiful hand blender did an excellent job pulverizing a cup of carrots and celery in under 10 seconds.
David Watsky/CNET
Touch and feel
This test is subjective, but I made sure to handle each immersion blender for several minutes noting the overall weight, balance and sturdiness. I did the same while I was using them in the various tests noting any irregularities or discomfort.
The more expensive models including the KitchenAid, Braun, Breville and Vitamix all felt well-balanced and solid, giving me confidence that they wouldn’t break or become loose with regular use. The cheaper models didn’t elicit quite the same confidence, and some felt as if one tumble off the counter to the kitchen floor might spell an early demise.
Budget hand blenders under $40, including the Bella, lose something in the way of performance and sturdy build.
Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: New NYT Connections Game for Sports Fans Lets Players Swing for the Fences
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Cheeky or saucy.
Green group hint: Atmosphere or feeling.
Blue group hint: Forms of measurement
Purple group hint: ____ Match Girl
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Sassy
Green group: Ambience
Blue group: Units
Purple group: The Little ___
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is sassy. The four answers are cute, fresh, smart and wise.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is ambience. The four answers are air, mood, feeling and quality.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is units. The four answers are bar, bel, lux and mole.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is The Little ____. The four answers are Mermaid, Prince, Rascals and Tramp.
Anya Taylor-Joy shines in this horror satire about an elaborate dinner with a dark twist. It presents an assortment of guests gathering at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant on an island. Renowned chef Julian Slowik, played by a magnetic Ralph Fiennes, has planned every detail of the evening except for the inclusion of Taylor-Joy’s Margot. Dishing out thrills and social commentary, The Menu will have you pleading for seconds.
There’s a running joke in my family that centers around my older sister’s absolute refusal to use a cup or mug with ingrained coffee stains. Although a cup has clearly been washed thoroughly, she refuses to drink any liquid — even coffee — out of it.
This provides fodder for fun jabs and inside jokes, but it did get me wondering: Why do coffee and tea stain all my mugs, and why are the stains so hard to get rid of?
With these questions in mind, I fell down the rabbit hole of all things coffee stains. I set out to find a solution to prevent the build-up of stains on my mugs, cups, thermoses and coffee pot. Below, you’ll learn why coffee (and tea) stains are so stubborn and five effective ways to fight them off.
Read more: Learn how to remove stains from clothes, how to clean workout clothes and how to clean your running shoes.
Why does coffee stain your cups and mugs?
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
It’s so frustrating to run your cups and mugs through the dishwater only to find they’re still stained at the end of the cycle. Before you throw out that old cup, think of it as a learning opportunity to research why coffee has such powerful staining power.
Coffee can stain cups and mugs due to the presence of compounds called tannins, a type of polyphenol that is naturally present in coffee beans. When coffee is brewed, tannins can adhere to the surface of cups or mugs, leading to brown staining over time.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
How to avoid coffee stains in your mugs
To stop stains before they start, it’s best to rinse a cup or mug right after use to prevent any stains from setting in.
CNET
Additionally, coffee stains can be exacerbated by other factors, like the temperature of the coffee, since heat accelerates chemical reactions. The tannin compounds in the hot coffee will more strongly adhere to the cup material. Leaving the coffee in the cup or mug for an extended period also makes stains harder to remove since the tannins will set into the surface of the cup as the coffee cools down.
The porosity of the cup material can also impact the likelihood of staining. The more porous the material, the more susceptible it is to absorbing liquids and staining. Plastic, earthenware and stone cups or mugs are generally considered more porous. I recommend purchasing high-quality stainless steel cups or mugs since they’re non-porous, making stubborn stains unlikely.
Regular cleaning of cups or mugs can help prevent coffee stains from ingraining into the material. Let’s review some of the best methods for removing coffee stains.
5 methods to remove coffee stains for good
The following five methods should remove the coffee stains from your cups once and for all. (Or at least until the next time you drink coffee out of it, in which case, you’ll need to repeat these steps.)
Method one
What you’ll need: Baking soda and water.
What to do: Create a paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and tap water. Apply the paste to the stained areas of the cup, scrub gently with a sponge or brush, then rinse thoroughly.
Method two
What you’ll need: White vinegar.
What to do: Soak the coffee-stained cup in a mixture of white vinegar and water for a few hours. After, scrub the stains with a sponge or brush, and then wash the cup with dish detergent to eliminate the sour vinegar taste and its pungent smell.
Method three
What you’ll need: Lemon juice and salt.
What to do: Make a mixture of lemon juice and table salt. Gently rub this mixture over the stained areas and then rinse thoroughly. You will want to wash the cup or mug with dish detergent and water afterward to get rid of any lingering lemon taste or smell.
Method four
What you’ll need: Baking soda and white vinegar.
What to do: Sprinkle a few teaspoons of baking soda inside the cup or mug, gently pour in white vinegar and allow the mixture to fizz. Once it has fizzled out, scrub the stained areas with a sponge or brush and rinse thoroughly.
Method five
What you’ll need: Denture cleaning tablets.
What to do: Denture tablets clean mugs just as well as they clean teeth. Fill the stained cup with warm water and drop in one denture cleaning tablet, making sure to add enough water to completely cover the coffee stains. Let it sit for a few hours, and then scrub and rinse as with the other methods.
With anything, a little effort and time will go a long way to making your cups and mugs shine. These tips will work on any drinkware material and can even be used for tea stains too. Feel free to repeat any of the above processes as needed to get the stains out.
For more cleaning tips, you can also check out how often you should clean your makeup brushes, and the best way to machine wash your sheets and bedding.
All-foam design is ideal for average sized individuals Softer profile makes it great for primary side and combo sleepers Great for those seeking a true memory foam mattress
Cons
Heavier people may want a more supportive hybrid option Not best for strict back or stomach sleepers looking for something firm Not for those who want a neutral foam feel from their bed
A mattress is a huge investment. You want to make sure you’re getting something that’ll last and meets your sleep needs. One mattress brand we’ve come to expect good things from is DreamCloud. We’ve been reviewing DreamCloud beds for years. We’ve seen all the brand’s changes and have kept up with the new features and releases. The company now has three different mattress choices for consumers to choose from, expanding its reach to people who have different firmness and sleep position preferences.
The DreamCloud Premier Rest is its most luxurious, top-of-the-line offering. It’s much softer than the other DreamCloud beds, offering plenty of cushion for the hips and shoulders of side sleepers. Until recently, the bed was only available with a hybrid construction, but now you can purchase it with an all-foam design, too. The all-foam design is so popular that it’s currently sold out in several sizes. But check out our review below of the DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress to find out whether you should snag it when it’s back in stock.
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
First impressions
We received this bed for free to review, and it was shipped to us inside of a large box. We dragged it inside, freed it from all its plastic and cardboard packaging and watched as the bed quickly expanded. Being a foam bed, it’s not as heavy as the version with coils, but it’s still pretty hard to move by yourself, so you might want a friend to help you out with the unboxing process.
Setting up a new bed-in-a-box is usually a fun and easy process. We’ve unboxed hundreds of mattresses over here, and it still never gets old to see a bed spring to life out of a box. Since this version of the bed doesn’t have springs, it did look misshapen right out of the packaging. After unboxing, we typically give beds a night or two to sit out and properly expand, so that’s what we did with this mattress.
In the morning, it was finally time to test it out. This time, the bed was fully inflated and looked normal. There’s a height difference of about two inches between the two support options of this bed. Also, compared with the hybrid model, we noticed that the foam version had a predominant memory foam feel.
You can feel a definite body-conforming, sink-in sensation when you hop on. The memory foam carves around the shape of your body, creating little nooks for you to rest in. Like the hybrid model, the DreamCloud Premier Rest is on the softer side. The main thing I took away from my first tests with the foam DreamCloud Premier Rest was that it has a softer memory foam feel. Check out our video review on it below.
Video: DreamCloud Premier Rest Mattress Review
DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress firmness and feel
Both versions of the DreamCloud Premier Rest have a memory foam sensation, but it’s tenfold on the memory foam model. The all-foam support system allows you to really feel the memory foam on top, rather than the responsiveness of the coils below. This memory foam feel isn’t as dense as a Nectar or Tempur-Pedic bed, nor is it as responsive as a Layla or Bear. It strikes a nice balance of comfort for a memory foam option
Memory foam isn’t right for everyone. I rotate around at night, so I’m a combination sleeper, and I find memory foam to be a bit restrictive for my preferences. When I move around on a memory foam bed, I sometimes feel stuck, but if you mainly sleep in one position, you’ll likely enjoy the feel that memory foam provides.
How firm is the DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress?
Like the hybrid version, it’s on the softer end of the spectrum. We would place it between a medium and a medium-soft on our firmness scale. This is DreamCloud’s answer for side sleepers, it offers plenty of pressure relief for your shoulders and hips. It should also work for most combination sleepers.
Firmness is usually subjective based on weight. You could feel the bed to be at a completely different firmness. Since heavier people sink into beds more, they find them to be softer, while smaller sleepers lay on top more and perceive beds to be firmer. We rank mattress firmness based on the size of an average person, in and around the range of 180 pounds.
DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress construction
There is a difference between the hybrid DreamCloud Premier Rest and this new all-foam version, mainly in terms of support. The memory foam model is 14 inches thick and made up of these materials:
1. It starts off with a 9-inch layer of dense support foam. This is the main support layer for the mattress.
2. Above the support foam is a 2-inch layer of dynamic transition foam, which acts as a buffer between that support foam and the bed’s main comfort layer.
3. Then, you have around 3.2 inches of gel memory foam, which is used for the bed’s main comfort layer.
4. Wrapping the mattress up is its breathable cashmere blend cover. It has some extra comfort elements quilted into it and helps make the bed look and feel luxurious.
This cover is removable, but it isn’t machine washable. You’ll have to spot-clean it with some mild detergent if it happens to get dirty.
DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress performance
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
Motion isolation
You’ll want a bed that deadens cross-mattress movement if you sleep with someone who’s easily woken up at night. Thankfully, the memory foam DreamCloud Premier Rest has some of the best motion isolation out of all the beds from the brand. The all-foam design combined with the gel memory foam on top both help to stop movement where it starts. We doubt you’ll have many issues when it comes to motion isolation on this particular mattress.
Edge-to-edge support
Sometimes you’d prefer not to wake your partner to tell them to move over. If they’re hogging the mattress, you’ll want a bed with some sturdy edges, and for an all-foam mattress, this version of DreamCloud Premier Rest performs fine. Being a softer option, it’s not the best we’ve ever encountered, but you shouldn’t fall off anytime soon. That said, you may be getting better edge support from the hybrid rendition.
Temperature
The memory foam DreamCloud Premier Rest doesn’t have any apparent active cooling features, but it should sleep temperature neutral. The cashmere blend cover is breathable, so I don’t see the bed excessively warming up on you. Sleeping temperature usually comes down to exterior factors, not just your bed. Your pajamas or sheets could be causing you to sleep hot, and it might even have to do more with the temperature of your room than anything else.
Durability
Beds can last a long time, usually around 10 years, if not more. We’ve found that all-foam beds can degrade faster than hybrid mattresses over time. Since metal coils are more supportive in the long run than dense foam, we typically recommend hybrid beds to bigger people. In the case of the foam, DreamCloud Premier Rest is an all-foam bed with a premium design. Since it’s made to a higher level of quality than an average foam bed, it should last you for several years.
Off-gassing
There’s often a factory smell when you unbox your brand-new mattress. While it may be off-putting at first, you should know that this is a completely normal part of the process. If your new bed has a strange odor, it probably just needs some time to sit out on your foundation and off-gas. The smell should go away after a couple of days.
Who is the DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress best for?
While the foam DreamCloud Premier Rest might be a great option for side sleepers, it may not be ideal for all sleeper types. Here’s who we think will be most suitable for the foam version of the DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress.
Jonathan Gomez/CNET
Sleeping position
Strict side-sleepers should be getting the most out of this mattress. Combination sleepers who rotate between all sleeping positions could also get by on the bed, regardless of the support option you go with. If you’re a primary back or stomach sleeper, you may want to look into a bed that has more support than pressure relief. In that case, look into the DreamCloud Premier or their flagship mattress as both are firmer options with lots of support.
Body type
Since this is the all-foam version of the DreamCloud Premier Rest mattress, it should be best for average or smaller-size people. Heavier individuals who weigh above 250 pounds usually get more support from coil support systems. If you’re around that weight, we’d recommend checking out the hybrid model. That said, all body types should be able to get by on this bed, and you do have some support options to choose from.
DreamCloud Premier mattress pricing
Size
Measurements
Price
Twin
38 x 75 in
$1,696
Twin XL
38 x 80 in
$2,924
Full
54 x 75 in
$2,266
Queen
60 x 80 in
$3,424
King
76 x 80 in
$3,997
Cal king
72 x 84 in
$4,001
Usually, when you have a choice between a foam or hybrid design, the coils cost more. In this case, the foam version of the DreamCloud Premier Rest is the more expensive option. Alhough it’s only a hundred dollars extra, we think it’s still a great value for an all-foam bed of this quality. Being that it’s the most premium and luxurious option from the brand, we’re pleased to see it’s offered at a reasonable price point.
Trial, shipping and warranty
As a brand, DreamCloud backs its beds with some generous policies. Its beds ship to you in a box for free, and once it’s in your possession, you get an entire year to try it at home risk-free. If you happen to not enjoy your bed within that time frame you can get free returns, but if you decide to keep it, you’re backed by a forever warranty. Just be sure to use the right foundation for the bed. Otherwise, you could void that mattress warranty.
The final verdict
In a nutshell, this bed was different from the hybrid version we’ve come to know and love, but we still enjoyed it. We’d mainly recommend it to those who want a memory foam mattress that’s a little softer than your average bed. If you’re an average or petite-sized person who mainly sleeps on your side, this is a great option for you. Otherwise, you may want to check out the other beds in the brand’s lineup.
You might like the DreamCloud Premier mattress if:
You’re a side or combination sleeper
You want a memory foam bed
You like a slightly softer feel
You weigh less than 200 pounds
You want a premium all-foam mattress for a great price
You might not like the DreamCloud bed if:
You’re strictly a side sleeper under 150 pounds
You prefer sleeping on hybrid mattresses
You prefer a firmer feel
You’re on a super tight budget
Other mattresses from DreamCloud
The DreamCloud Premier Rest is the brand’s top-of-the-line option, but there are some other mattresses within its lineup that vary a bit more in terms of firmness and construction. Here’s what you should know about the other beds from DreamCloud.
The DreamCloud: This is the flagship DreamCloud bed with a firmness dependent on the support option you go with. The hybrid is around a medium, making it perfect for all sleep styles, while the memory foam model is much firmer for strict back and stomach sleeping. It’s also a bit thinner in terms of construction and is the most affordable option the brand offers. Whether you go with the all-foam or hybrid, it’s a quality queen-size bed that’s available for well below a thousand dollars after a discount.
DreamCloud Premier: This is the more enhanced DreamCloud bed with a firmness that’s more appropriate for all sleeper types. On our firmness scale, it sits between medium and medium-firm, so it should work for side and combination sleepers, as well as back and stomach sleepers. It also features a memory foam feel and is a little thinner compared to the Premier Rest. With the Premier, you get to choose whether you want an all-foam or hybrid design as well.
How does the DreamCloud Premier Rest compare to other mattresses?
DreamCloud Premier Rest vs. DreamCloud Premier
When it comes to comparing these two more enhanced DreamCloud options, there’s a lot to consider. In terms of comparing the new foam versions, the Premier is more suitable for all sleeper types, while the Premier Rest is much softer for side and combo sleepers. Both have a straightforward memory foam feel, but since the Premier Rest has more memory foam on top, you may be getting the most amount of body-conforming from this mattress.
DreamCloud Premier Rest vs. Saatva Classic
Both of these are presented as luxurious options within the online space. Both are considered premium for different reasons. The main thing could come down to the type of mattress you want.
The Saatva Classic is a supportive hybrid mattress by default. It features a dual coil construction designed to support extra weight. Compared with DreamCloud Premier Rest, which has a memory foam feel, the Saatva Classic feels like more of a traditional innerspring mattress with a pillow top. Price-wise, the DreamCloud Premier Rest is a bit more affordable, but with Saatva you’re also spending up for other things like complimentary white glove delivery and in-home setup
Is the DreamCloud Premier Rest firm?
Unlike the other beds within the brand’s lineup, this is not a firm mattress. It’s the softest option of the three DreamCloud beds and is ideal for accommodating side sleepers. If you want a firmer option from the brand, we suggest looking at their other two mattresses.
How long does it take the DreamCloud Premier Rest to expand?
Depending on the support option you choose, the Premier Rest could take a couple of hours or days to fully inflate. Since the hybrid option has support coils, these help the bed expand rather quickly. With the all-foam model, you may want to give this option a night or two to expand properly. It may look pretty depressed right out of the box, but it just needs time to sit out and get to its true form.
Is the DreamCloud Premier Rest good for stomach sleepers?
The memory foam DreamCloud Premier Rest is good for stomach sleepers, depending on your body type and sleeping preferences. If you’re a female stomach sleeper, you may prefer the bed’s pressure relief for your chest. Otherwise, it may be a bit too cushioning if you’re looking for a firmer option that provides more support.
PKGO Charcoal Grill This was a very solid charcoal grill and the only reason it dropped off of the main list is because of how heavy it is. Although it’s a manageable size, at 35 pounds it’s a little heavier than a grill I’d personally want to be lugging around. The PKGO is solidly built and has a very cool dual function where the lid pops off and flips over into a hibachi so you can actually double your cooking surface and get that close-to-the-coals hibachi seer if you’re looking for it. If you don’t mind a little extra weight on your grill
Everdure Cube Portable Charcoal Grill: I really love this small and stylish charcoal grill with its built-in cutting board and prep container. The only thing keeping it off this list was the steep price, but it is currently on sale for $170 with a $20 on-page coupon. It’s well-built and easy to maneuver (under 20 pounds) and if you’ve got the extra coin lying around, I say go for it.
Magma Firebox Single-Burner: This is another grill I liked, but it’s not portable or affordable. The burner alone weighs 26 pounds and originally cost $450 (though it’s currently on a steep clearance), but you’ll need to add the grill top accessory, which costs $300. This model was engineered with boaters in mind, so if you’re setting sail, you might give the pricey Magma a closer look.
Giantex tabletop propane grill: I had no major issues with this grill. It worked fine, got hot and cooked evenly. When compared to the Weber Q and NomadiQ I simply like the design of those small gas grills better. The Weber Q is more solid and has those handy built-in shelves while the NomadiQ is simply the most portable gas grill I’ve ever seen. This is a fine grill and worthy of the $300 list price.
Char-Broil Portable Gas Grill (Update: Out of stock): This grill is cheap and the product matches the price tag. It was rickety once assembled and didn’t feel like it would last more than a season. For $40, what more could you hope for? If you need something to get you through a camping weekend or two, this should do the trick.
Char-Broil: Char-Broil Deluxe Tabletop Grill: While the above Char-Broil might work as a no-nonsense budget grill, this model is way too poorly designed and crafted to waste $70. One of the worst for value in the small grill category, and a definite stay-away.
BioLite Grill and Fire Pit: This is a solid option if you covet a fire pit that transforms into a grill for beach hangs and backyard barbecues. This $250 model worked well but we found the build a little chintzy for such a pricey grill.
Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Brooklyn, according to CNET. Its internet plans are known for quality customer care, easy-to-understand terms, excellent speeds and near-symmetrical uploads. Optimum and Spectrum are great choices for cable internet, too. If you can’t get quality service at your address, T-Mobile and Starry offer fixed wireless options at terrific prices.
We’ve also identified the lowest prices and fastest speeds to simplify your broadband shopping. The most affordable plan in Brooklyn is Astound Broadband’s 300Mbps plan, which costs $20 per month and includes unlimited data. Optimum wins by a landslide for the speediest plan in the city, offering 8 gigabits per second — or 8,000Mbps — for $280 per month.
Best internet in Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Astound Broadband Read full review
Cable
$20-$55
300-1,500Mbps
None
Varies; 500GB-1TB or unlimited
None
7
Optimum Read full review
Cable/fiber
$40-$280
300-8,000Mbps (varies by location)
None
None
None
6.2
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$50-$70
500-1,000Mbps
Free modem; $10 router (optional)
None
None
7.2
Starry Read full review
Fixed wireless
$30-$85
200-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($30-$40 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon Fios Read full review
Fiber
$50-$110 ($25-$85 with select 5G mobile plans)
300-2,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.6
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans)
80-1,000Mbps (varies by location)
None
None
None
7.2
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Brooklyn
Astound: Formerly known as RCN, Astound gives Optimum a run for its money for the cheapest internet provider in the area, with plans starting at $20 per month. Service is limited to select blocks in Downtown Brooklyn and Coney Island. There’s also a steep, steep price increase down the road.
T-Mobile Home Internet: The arrival of 5G and its use for home internet is exciting, but the availability of cable, fiber and fixed wireless throughout Brooklyn makes T-Mobile’s $50 plan with speeds of 72-245Mbps a little less enticing. If you’re interested, T-Mobile Home Internet is available in random spots throughout Brooklyn.
Xchange Telecom: Mainly a fixed wireless provider with some DSL and fiber mixed in, Xchange Telecom is specific to the New York metropolitan area, with service covering much of Brooklyn north of Kings Highway. Speeds up to 1,000Mbps are available, according to the FCC, but actual speeds and pricing will vary based on your location and the available connection type.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Satellite internet: No local list of internet providers would be complete without mentioning Hughesnet and Viasat. Yes, they are probably available at your address, but slow speeds, high prices and restrictive data caps would make satellite internet an absolute last resort for internet in Brooklyn. You’d be better off rolling the dice with Xchange Telecom.
Cheap internet options in Brooklyn
Excluding some of the impractical (and often expensive) internet options like satellite service, the average starting price for internet in Brooklyn is around $42 per month. That’s lower than many areas, but Astound’s cheap $20-per-month plan and Starry Connect’s $30-per-month plan are the main factors bringing the average down. Otherwise, expect the cheapest internet plans to run you between $40 and $50 monthly, plus taxes and fees.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Brooklyn?
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Brooklyn
The best internet deals and top promotions in Brooklyn depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Brooklyn internet providers, such as Optimum, Spectrum and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Verizon and Starry, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
How fast is Brooklyn broadband?
Brooklyn’s internet speeds are just below the New York state average, ringing in with a median download speed of 225Mbps versus the Empire State’s average of 228Mbps. Remember that these are averages and not necessarily indicators of what speeds to expect from your ISP. Multiple providers can offer plans with speeds faster than Brooklyn’s average.
The fastest speed you’ll find in the city is 8,000Mbps, which is offered by Optimum for $280 per month. Providers such as Verizon, Starry, Astound and Spectrum also offer gigabit speeds if Optimum isn’t available at your address.
Fastest internet plans in Brooklyn
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Optimum 8 Gig Read full review
$280
8,000Mbps
8,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Optimum 5 Gig Read full review
$180
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Verizon Fios 2 Gig Read full review
$110 ($85 with select 5G mobile plans)
2,300Mbps
2,300Mbps
None
Fiber
Optimum 2 Gig Read full review
$120
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Astound 1500 Read full review
$55
1,500Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans)
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fixed wireless
Astound Gig Read full review
$45
1,000Mbps
20Mbps
None
Cable
Spectrum Gig Read full review
$70
1,000Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Optimum Gig Read full review
$60
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read full review
$90 ($65 with select 5G mobile plans)
940Mbps
880Mbps
None
Fiber
Show more (5 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Brooklyn
See all results for internet providers in New York.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Brooklyn
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Brooklyn?
Regardless of where you live in Brooklyn, you’ll be able to get home internet. The city has many providers offering wide coverage, including Verizon, Optimum and Spectrum. While cable providers may offer the best deals for bundling your internet and TV services, fiber-optic ISPs, such as Verizon Fios, offer symmetrical speeds that minimize lag and delay.
Internet providers in Brooklyn FAQ
Does Brooklyn have fiber internet?
Yes. More than 76% of households in Kings County are eligible for fiber-optic internet service, according to the FCC. Verizon Fios is Brooklyn’s largest fiber internet provider, but fiber service may also be available from Optimum or Xchange Telecom.
Brooklyn neighborhoods with the greatest fiber coverage include Red Hook, East Flatbush and Gravesend. Downtown Brooklyn, New Utrecht, Brownsville and Kensington are neighborhoods with the least fiber coverage.
If you’re out and about, you can find free Wi-Fi in a few Brooklyn areas, including Fort Greene Park and Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Check out this NYC parks map to find more locations with free Wi-Fi. You can also find free Wi-Fi at many coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses throughout Brooklyn.
As for free Wi-Fi at home, you’ll need an internet connection, which won’t be free unless you qualify for low-income programs that offset the cost of internet service. Most providers, including Verizon, Spectrum and Optimum, charge an additional fee for Wi-Fi equipment but allow you to use your own compatible equipment and skip the fee, making the Wi-Fi aspect of your internet connection essentially “free.”
No. Xfinity does not offer internet service in Brooklyn. The major cable internet providers in Brooklyn are Astound, Optimum and Spectrum. Xfinity availability largely stops at the New Jersey border, but there are select areas of Manhattan that are serviceable for Xfinity.
Even if you go to the gym every day, you won’t automatically get healthy muscles. In addition to a balanced regimen of exercise and strength training, you need a good diet to help you build and maintain a strong body.
Part of supporting muscle growth is protein. This collection of amino acids makes up a large portion of our muscle and organ tissues. Although supplements like protein shakes are one way of fulfilling your daily protein quota, they aren’t optimal. The best way to make sure you’re getting enough protein is to eat whole foods.
Optimizing your diet just takes a little effort in the planning stages. Here’s how various foods help you build muscle mass — and the best things to eat if you’re trying to boost your strength.
How food helps build muscle
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Although protein is essential for muscle building, it’s not the only important food component in the process. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a good muscle-building diet must also include plenty of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet that features all these will provide the necessary ingredients to help your muscles repair and rebuild after a workout.
Overall, the NASM recommends that most people consume at least 0.7 to 0.8 grams of protein and 1.8 to 3.2 grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight each day. Total calorie intake also plays a role in muscle building, as it’s difficult to build muscle if you’re burning more calories than you consume.
Diet alone isn’t enough to stimulate muscle growth. Exercise — primarily resistance training, such as lifting weights — is necessary to start the process. When you tear the fibers in your muscles, that stimulates cellular growth and repair. That’s when your body can use the food you’ve eaten to rebuild and strengthen muscle tissue. Other factors also influence how effective and efficient this process is, from when you eat your food and how much rest you give your muscles between workouts to your hormonal and genetic makeup.
Tanja Ivanova/Getty Images
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
8 foods to optimize your gains
Although there are many factors at play in building muscle, there’s no doubt diet plays a key role. Here are eight muscle-building foods you can eat to optimize your workouts and increase your muscle mass.
1. Eggs
Eggs have long been considered a power food, and for good reason. They’re incredibly rich in nutrients from fat and protein and include a potent mix of vitamins such as B12, B6 and thiamin. Their nutrient-dense profile makes them especially powerful, but most important is that they contain a hefty dose of leucine. This amino acid is known for its muscle-building prowess.
2. Fish
If you already have enough fat in your diet but need to boost your protein intake, look no further than fish. It’s one of the best lean sources of protein you can eat, and it’s full of other vitamins and minerals. A bonus? Fish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. Although they’re known for their many other health benefits, omega-3s may also improve muscle performance and help prevent the loss of muscle mass. Salmon and tuna are particularly great muscle-building food choices.
3. Nuts
When eaten in moderation, nuts are an excellent choice for building muscle. These tasty snacks offer a perfect mix of protein, fats and fiber, making them one of the most balanced ways to supplement your workouts. You have to be careful, as many nuts (including peanuts, which are actually legumes), are high in calories. For the most nutrient-rich options, try almonds or walnuts.
4. Soybeans
If you’re trying to build muscle on a meatless diet, soybeans should be one of your closest friends. These are some of the most nutrient-dense legumes you can eat, and they pack a potent punch of protein to aid in building muscle. Soy contains all nine essential amino acids, making it one of the best plant-based protein sources available.
Lauren Burke/Getty Images
5. Greek yogurt
Dairy is a unique source of protein because it provides a combination of fast-digesting whey protein and slow-digesting casein protein. When consumed together, these two types of protein may enhance and prolong the protein-synthesis process that your muscles go through when rebuilding, helping you build your lean mass. Greek yogurt is a particularly great dairy choice because it contains twice the protein compared to regular yogurt and boasts additional probiotic health benefits you can’t find in milk or cheese.
6. Cottage cheese
It doesn’t offer the same probiotic benefits as yogurt, but cottage cheese is a great second choice for dairy-based protein. Cottage cheese packs more protein than Greek yogurt while boasting the same slow- and fast-digesting combination. It’s a particularly great source of casein, and it provides a significant calorie boost if you need to make sure you’re getting enough.
7. Olive oil
It may not sound like your typical body-building food, but extra virgin olive oil has become increasingly popular for its muscle benefits in recent years. Widely known as a source of healthy monounsaturated fats, olive oil also helps to reduce inflammation and slow muscle breakdown. Both of these features can aid in any muscle-building regimen.
8. Quinoa
They don’t call quinoa a superfood for nothing. This dynamic grain (it’s a seed but classified as a whole grain) packs a little bit of everything, including a lot of protein, fiber and carbohydrates, plus a hefty dose of vitamins and minerals. It’s a perfect food for building muscle and maximizing the benefits of your workouts.
Elizaveta Antropova/Getty Images
A recipe for stronger muscles
Adding these muscle-building foods to your diet will definitely help you boost muscle mass and increase your strength. Remember that boosting muscle mass takes time and that diet is only one piece of the puzzle. Combining a balanced diet of high-protein foods with healthy exercise and rest will speed up your journey and improve your overall health along the way.
At least 49 people in various states have become ill after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday, citing “an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.” One person has died and 10 have been hospitalized.
The majority of the illnesses have been reported In Colorado and Nebraska. However, McDonald’s restaurants in additional states — Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma — have also paused serving the slivered onions and beef patties that are used for the Quarter Pounders as the CDC investigation continues.
“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC said in an update Wednesday.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have now been linked to one death and at least 10 hospitalizations.
Getty Images
The people who have become ill in connection with the outbreak range from 13 to 88 years old. It’s unclear at this time what ingredient in the burger caused the illness. However, the CDC states that fresh slivered onions are used predominantly on the Quarter Pounders at the chain restaurant, which is why certain locations have temporarily stopped serving them and the Quarter Pounder patties.
On Wednesday, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger told Today that the company is “very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics. We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu.”
“Food safety is our top priority at McDonald’s,” he added.
What is E. coli?
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
E. coli is a bacteria that is found in various places, including the intestines of humans and animals, according to the CDC. E. coli does not always cause illness, but you can become sick if you ingest the bacteria from contaminated food or water.
Common symptoms are severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become ill from E. coli.
The CDC says to call your health care provider if you have severe symptoms of E. coli. You can also contact your local or state health department to report foodborne illnesses. The CDC’s directory of health departments can be found here.
The key to a good and healthy diet isn’t removing everything we love and picking up the nearest leaf to chow on. It’s all about moderation, and, thanks to us discovering more about nutrition and the processes we use to make food delicious, how moderation can help us ensure we get to eat the foods we love while being aware of what overeating these foods can do to our body.
Eating highly processed foods can be balanced by a diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins. However, if these processed foods dominate your diet, or if you do not incorporate lower-oil, higher-fiber options, you may face negative health consequences.
It’s OK to have some processed options in your diet, and you definitely shouldn’t feel bad for having them. But if you’re looking to improve your health, then you should moderate these 11 foods.
11 foods that can negatively affect your health
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
While the following foods are particularly lacking in nutritive value, the point of paying attention to this list is less about cutting each item out entirely and more about realizing how little they bring to your diet. We don’t recommend you avoid these foods completely as food restriction can potentially trigger disordered eating. The main takeaway here is that it’s OK to eat the foods this list, as long was you’re also eating nutrient-rich foods that provide you with the vitamins and minerals you need.
Many of the following foods contain highly refined grains, high amounts of trans fats or other processed fats that are hard for the body to use effectively. The food sources simply lack many of the key nutrients like dietary fiber that promotes gut health. Over time, depriving your body of the many vitamins, minerals and nutrients of whole foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains may create deficiencies that have medical symptoms.
White bread
White bread is made with a kind of bread flour that is processed from wheat. The processing removes bran and germ: parts of wheat grain. Whole wheat will generally be darker and denser, due to the fact that it contains more nutrients and more fiber. These two aspects are great for your digestion and give your body the nutrition it needs. White bread has a nice light flavor but it’s made of just the endosperm layer of a wheat grain, and it contains less nutritional value. Instead, opt for whole grain bread, which is loaded with essential nutrients.
To learn more about how complex carbs help keep you healthy, check out why you should be eating more carbs, not less.
Potato chips
Many of the reasons why eating too many chips can be harmful is because they don’t provide a balanced source of calories. The amount of oil and simple carbohydrates they contain makes them calorie-dense, but they aren’t correspondingly full of useful nutrients like vitamins. Chips that don’t contain any preservatives are a nice option for an occasional delicious indulgence, but eating nothing but chips in a meal will leave your body wishing for more vitamins, protein and fiber.
French fries
French fries include many of the same nutrients as chips, though there’s more actual potato in a french fry. The crispiness of a french fry, however, doesn’t have to be due to deep fat frying, which has a lot of oils if you eat them often. In an air fryer, a thin sheen of oil (or even zero oil) can still get you a homemade, low-salt batch of french fries made from basically only potatoes. If your diet already has enough oil in it, this could be a good way to get a crispy treat without going over your daily value.
Fried chicken
Chicken is a delicious lean protein, but the breading on fried chicken tends to include a ton of white flour, oil and salt. These three ingredients are fine in moderation, but opting for grilled chicken or air fried chicken could help you to reduce unhealthy ingredients if you’re already getting more than the recommended amount.
Processed meats
Generally, processed meats have few nutrients in them that, when consumed in excess, have been linked to negative medical outcomes. Processing meats sometimes involves adding nitrates and nitrites, which have been linked to higher cancer risk when eaten out of moderation. Also, sodium is built into processed meat at fairly substantial levels. Whenever possible, cook and eat fresh meat.
Sugary cereals
Like eating candy, sugary cereal often has a lot of simple carbohydrates and sugars compared to a lower protein, fiber and vitamin content. As a breakfast option, sugary cereals can also result in a blood sugar crash that makes you feel hungry soon after eating the cereal. Opting for a lower sugar cereal that has more protein and fiber included, as well as a plant-based or dairy milk can help you feel full and energetic longer.
Margarine
Margarine was turned to when the saturated fats in butter were seen as a negative for our health. However, margarine varies: in some countries, they have harmful trans fats that aren’t easily processed by the body and in many cases they have a similar amount of processed saturated fat. Read the label or opt for a less processed oil, like olive oil, as a bread topper if you really want to cut butter from your diet.
Frozen entrees
All frozen entrees aren’t created equal — flash-frozen vegetables and cooked chicken, for instance, sometimes are low in preservatives and are a great way to eat if you need convenience food. However, for premade meals, check what kinds of food and other items are in your meal, especially if you’re worried about preservatives or coloring in your diet.
Boxed mac and cheese
While some of the prominent brands of mac and cheese have been found to be high in harmful chemicals, a big reason they’re considered unhealthy is due to the high amount of simple carbohydrates and fats and low nutritional value. If you love the cheesy pasta, though, don’t despair: There are a variety of versions now that are either incorporating whole grains, vegetables like cauliflower and lower levels of preservatives and fats.
Baked goods
Cakes, donuts and other baked goods can be delicious. But they can also be loaded with simple carbohydrates and saturated fats. Plus, they have very little fiber, protein or vitamins. If you make your own baked goods, however, it’s easy to make a treat that will deliver more nutrition, be it with some whole wheat flour substituted in, an unsaturated fat substituted for butter or adding fruits or grated zucchini to increase vitamin content.
Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: New NYT Connections Game for Sports Fans Lets Players Swing for the Fences
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Fancy companies.
Green group hint: Think it up.
Blue group hint: The eagle has landed.
Purple group hint: Name game.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Brand-name.
Green group: Devise.
Blue group: NASA spacecraft.
Purple group: Games where you say the game’s name.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Oct. 22, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is brand-name. The four answers are designer, haute, high-end and luxury.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is devise. The four answers are concoct, engineer, hatch and mastermind.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is NASA spacecraft. The four answers are Galileo, Pioneer, Viking and Voyager.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is games where you say the game’s name. The four answers are Bingo, Marco Polo, Tag and Uno.
A website is a great way to expand your business and let people know about your services. However, hosting services can be expensive and designing a site can take some time. That’s why it’s a great idea to snag Hostinger’s limited-time deals, which can save you up to 79% on some of the company’s best plans and packages. Plus, Hostinger is including three free months as part of the deal, just in time for the holidays. There are some terms and conditions to this, but we’ll explain all of these below so you can take advantage of these discounts.
Hostinger is currently offering three plans at a discount, and each includes multiple tools you can use to make a website and host it. These plans require you to purchase a 48-month term and include an extra three free months. The Premium plan is 79% off, offering the biggest discount and bringing the cost to just $2.49 per month. It provides a free domain, 100GB storage, free email, weekly backups and more. The plan reverts to $7.99 once the plan renews. If you need a plan that offers more features, their Business plan offers daily backups, 200GB storage, basic WooCommerce and free content delivery networks. It’s currently 75% off, which means you’ll pay just $3.49, and it will revert to $8.99 per month upon renewal.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Finally, Hostinger is also offering its Cloud Startup plan for only $7.59 per month — a 70% discount. This plan offers every possible Hostinger service and also includes a dedicated IP address and priority support. This plan reverts to $19.99 with renewal. All annual plans include a free domain and AI support that lets you design your site. Plus, migrating your site to Hostinger is free. Hostinger also includes a dashboard that lets you see your stats so you can better improve your market outreach. There’s also a Cloud Professional plan available, but that’s probably overkill for most small businesses and organizations.
To better take advantage of these services, check out our articles on why you need web hosting and web hosting vs. a domain name. We’re also keeping track of upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Week deals so you can keep saving on everything you need.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections and Strands puzzles.
There are plenty of other online word games now, but I still play the New York Times Wordle game every day. These days, it’s not only an old friend, it’s also a nice warm-up for Connections, Strands and the rest.
Also, we’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity, if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. If you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object they’ve spotted as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There is one vowel in today’s Wordle answer, but it is the repeated letter, so you will see it twice.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer begins with the letter S.
Wordle hint No. 4: Love dove
Today’s Wordle answer can mean to behave in a loving, cuddly way.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer generally refers to a piece of cutlery used for stirring and other things.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is SPOON.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Oct. 20, No. 1,219, was DICEY.
Way back in 2014, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I got the chance to be turned into a 3D model. Unfortunately, they wanted several hundred dollars for a 3-inch model that would have taken a few months to get to me. I didn’t splurge at the time, but my fascination for the idea has never disappeared. Recently, I was lucky enough to have a similar experience, and in 2024, I think we have reached the point where I can recommend the experience to everyone. It’s much easier to do, much more affordable, and with a few tips from me, you can get fantastic results.
There are many ways to get a figurine that is personalized to you. Hasbro makes the Selfie Series, which puts your scanned head on an action figure, and Funko has the Pop! Yourself system, which lets you make a facsimile of yourself with various accessories. Both are a lot of fun, but both lack true customization.
With more and more people investing their time and money into cosplays, renaissance faires, and other amazing outfits, having even a small figure that accurately replicates the look and feel of your entire outfit as a keepsake is worth some time. You could even, as I saw several people do, have your pet scanned and printed to keep them with you no matter what happens.
What is 3D scanning?
3D scanning uses imagery to create a mesh that can be 3D printed using different techniques and materials. If you have a scanner at home—something like the Revopoint Miraco, for example—you can scan objects using infrared light to build a model and then use one of the best 3D printers to print a model of yourself. This is a good choice if you only want the raw model or if you are scanning a lot of objects for your job or for fun.
The other option is Photogrammetry, which uses lots of photos to create a 3D model of you. The great thing about photogrammetry is that it requires no special equipment other than a camera and some good software like Polycam so it’s easy to scan just about anything that isn’t moving.
The Shrunk 3D booth is big enough to feel comfortable in and feels very futuristic.
James Bricknell / CNET
The booth I used is a company called Shrunk3d, and they use photogrammetry to capture not only your physicality but also your clothes, skin tone and any props you might have, making it perfect for cosplayers, sports people and couples, to name just a few. The advantage of using a service like Shrunk 3D is that you don’t need a scanner, 3D printer or anything else to have a fantastic model in just a few weeks.
The process is incredibly simple. I stepped into the center of the booth and struck a pose. Surrounding me is an array of 96 cameras powered by Raspberry Pi computers that instantly took pictures of me from every angle. This is especially helpful when doing this with small children or pets, as asking them to stand still as you walk around them can be difficult. Once the images are taken, you can see them on the screen as the Shrunk 3D technician works to upload them.
The scanning was quick, easy and a lot of fun.
James Bricknell / CNET
Because I was at a 3D printing event, we could buy just the images, the 3D model file, called an STL, or the actual model in various sizes. Normally, however, you would purchase just the model. Prices vary from $90 for the smallest, 3-inch model of a single person to a whopping $580 for a family of two adults and one child or pet at 9 inches tall.
Of course, using photogrammetry at home is much cheaper and we’ve explored how to make 3D models with your phone before, but the downside to printing at home is that you can’t apply the level of detail to the model that you can with a high quality industrial 3D printer. This image is a prime example. The tattoo on her leg would be impossible to recreate at home, but using a booth allows you to capture the details that make you, you.
The detail you can get from a booth is hard to beat at home.
James Bricknell / CNET
Why would you want a 3D model of yourself?
A couple of years ago, my elderly neighbor’s pet passed away. A little spaniel named Reggie. We knew it was coming for a while, but it was sad all the same. Afterward, I 3D printed her a model of a spaniel that I found on the internet and painted it gold as a little keepsake. It didn’t look exactly like Reggie, but it was close, and she loved it. Having a 3D model of your dog, in full color, that you can keep forever is pretty great, and I saw multiple people using it for that reason at the convention.
My favorite reason, though, is way more nerdy. Whenever I go to a convention or a Renaissance faire, I spend a lot of time and money on my outfits, and I’m not even fanatical about it. If you spend a huge amount of time making your own Mandalorian or Iron Man suit, wouldn’t it be great to have a little 4-inch model to keep track of it? With every little detail captured forever? You can keep them all at home on one shelf, adding new ones every time you make a new outfit.
Having a model of you or your loved ones is something to cherish
Shrunk 3D
5 tips to make your 3D scan look great
Whether you are scanning at home or scanning in a booth, there are some ways to make the model look even better. If you are in the booth make sure you follow any instructions they give you, but these will be a helpful guide.
Strike a pose
You aren’t sitting for a picture in the 1900’s, you can have fun and not be stiff as a board. If you are at home being scanned make sure your pose is comfortable to hold for several minutes but in a booth you can try something a little more exotic.
This is how every Cosplayer should show off their work after a convention.
Shrunk 3D
Think about angles
When you 3D print a model you need to be thinking about angles. By tweaking your stance to be a little closer together, or, like I did, by making your arms into 45-degree shape on your hips, you can make the printing process easier and add more detail to the underlying mesh. When printing from home, reducing support is a great way to make the model look nicer, so try to raise your arms above 45 degrees if you are holding them out.
Keep your accessories close
The coolest part of a booth 3D model is the details you can get from your accessories, but you’ll want to keep them close so they don’t snap off in printing. If you have pouches, satchels or purses, make sure they lay flat against your side. If you are holding larger objects like laser guns or bats, they should be fine, but small straps need to be secured.
Ponytails and beards
Hair is hard to 3D print so try and think about that before you go in. If you have a ponytail try to make it lower on your head so it touches your back. If you have a big bushy beard like I do try to make it touch your chest so there is a continuous line of material to hold the hair in place.
Stand out
Think of a 3D scan as a snapshot of your life at that moment. Make sure you are dressed for the occasion, but make sure the important parts of you are captured. A full-length tattoo on your leg on your wedding day should be remembered. The hard work that went into your and your partner’s gowns at the Labyrinth Ball should be pulled out to the side to show off the cut. Remember, this is yours to keep forever, so make it something to cherish.
Conclusion
While 3D scanning from home may still be a time-consuming and often frustrating experience, the concept of having a 3D model of yourself is an exciting one. The quickest and easiest way to get a small model of yourself is to use one of these 3D booths where all the heavy lifting is done for you.
If you are at a convention in your cosplay outfit or a wedding with your family and you see a chance to get one of these done, you really should. It may feel pricey, but it’s a gift you’ll keep forever or, better yet, hand it down to your loved ones.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Oct. 20, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Luggage ID Answer: TAG
4A clue: “___ Lisa” Answer: MONA
5A clue: Smallest of five digits Answer: PINKY
6A clue: 90° is the right one Answer: ANGLE
7A clue: “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and ___” Answer: WISE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Equipment used while barbecuing Answer: TONGS
2D clue: Low-down joint Answer: ANKLE
3D clue: Marvin of Motown Answer: GAYE
4D clue: Puzzle that celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer Answer: MINI
5D clue: Nails stick out of it Answer: PAW
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Plays loud and sounds very good for its compact size
You can link two together to create a stereo pair
Speakerphone capabilities
USB-C audio
Cons
Doesn’t link with Bose app
No water resistance rating
Somewhat expensive
The best way to describe Bose’s new SoundLink Home ($219) wireless speaker is as the spiritual successor to the company’s SoundLink Mini 2 speaker, which was quietly discontinued in late 2018. Available in two color options, the SoundLink Home is a portable Bluetooth speaker with up to 9 hours of battery life, but it has more of an indoor design, with an aluminum chassis and no water resistance. In other words, you can move it around, but it’s probably not a speaker you’d take to the beach or on a camping trip.
Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers
Aside from its attractive design, the SoundLink Home’s big strength is its sound quality. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and weighing slightly more than 2 pounds, it produces an impressive amount of bass for its compact size and also offers decent clarity. Overall, it sounds excellent for a mini Bluetooth speaker and has a bigger and somewhat richer sound than the SoundLink Flex ($150).
However, like any small speaker, it does have its sound limitations. If you push the volume up with more complicated tracks, it can sound a bit restrained in certain frequencies as its digital processing seeks to prevent distortion. Also, it’s more suited to small- to medium-sized rooms. It filled my bedroom and home office with sound, but it felt a little too small for my living room, though it was fine for creating background music.
The SoundLink Home in light silver. It also comes in cool gray.
David Carnoy/CNET
Note that this is a mono speaker that uses some digital processing trickery to widen the soundstage and make the sound come across as more expansive. That’s all fine, but pairing two of these speakers together as a stereo pair does produce significantly better sound. Also, you can link the speaker directly to a computer, smartphone or tablet with a USB-C cable for wired sound. As you might expect, the SoundLink Home does sound slightly cleaner and more detailed in wired USB-C mode.
There aren’t any extra features apart from a built-in microphone that allows you to use the speaker as a personal speakerphone. And it works well in that capacity. Callers said my voice sounded clear, and background noise reduction was good.
On a more critical note, the SoundLink Home is somewhat expensive and doesn’t link to Bose’s companion app for headphones and other Bluetooth speakers. That’s a little weird and leaves you with no way to tweak the sound profile with some equalizer settings. While I didn’t feel a big urge to adjust the sound profile, I’m just pointing it out for folks who like to play around with their speaker’s sound settings.
The back of the speaker.
David Carnoy/CNET
Bose SoundLink Home vs. SoundLink Flex
The big question for a lot of people will be whether to go with Bose’s less expensive SoundLink Flex speaker or this model. Bose recently released a 2nd-generation Flex that adds a few new features, including a new shortcut button, Bose app compatibility (you can now tweak the sound profile with an equalizer and create a SimpleSync connection with another compatible Bose product) and support for the AAC and AptX audio codecs. While those aren’t major upgrades, they do make an excellent portable Bluetooth speaker slightly better.
The SoundLink Home does sound better than the SoundLink Flex 2nd Generation (right), but the Flex is fully waterproof and has better battery life.
David Carnoy/CNET
The choice ultimately comes down to how you plan to use these mini wireless speakers, and whether you want a speaker with a more rugged design — the Flex — that delivers very good sound for its size (and is rated for 3 hours more of battery life) or a less rugged speaker that offers about a 30% bump up in sound quality. You do notice the sound quality improvement in some tracks more than others. For instance, if you’re playing a simple ballad or acoustic track that isn’t pushing a lot of bass, the gap is less noticeable. All these compact speakers tend to have varying sound quality, depending on the quality of the recordings and the type of tracks you are playing.
Note that the SoundLink Home currently supports the SBC and AAC audio codecs but not AptX. That omission isn’t a big deal, particularly considering you get that USB-C audio with the SoundLink Home.
Listening to the speaker in wired USB-C audio mode does improve the sound a bit.
David Carnoy/CNET
I wish I could tell you to get one speaker over the other, but it’s not quite as simple as that. However, if you expect to mainly use the speaker indoors in, say, a home office, bedroom or kitchen, with some occasional trips out to the patio, the SoundLink Home is probably the better choice — so long as you’re willing to shell out the extra dough for it. Of course, in an ideal world, you’d be able to link a SoundLink Home to a SoundLink Flex, but that option currently isn’t available and who knows if it ever will be.
As far as other competing products go, there are obviously a lot of compact Bluetooth speakers out there. JBL, Klipsch and Marshall have tabletop wireless speakers (Marshall Acton 3 and Kilburn 2, for example) that are billed as home Bluetooth speakers (some also offer Wi-Fi streaming), but they tend to be bigger than this speaker, and not all of them are portable. I like the JBL Authentics 300, but it’s much larger than this Bose speaker and also costs significantly more. You also have the Sonos Roam 2, which is a little smaller than the Bose but is designed to hook into your home Sonos Wi-Fi system as well as being a portable Bluetooth speaker. However, the Bose Soundlink Home does sound better than the Roam 2.
In the end, both Bose’s SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Home are excellent little Bluetooth speakers. But if sound is your priority, the SoundLink Home is the winner.
Bose SoundLink Home key specs
Dimensions: 4.33 x 8.50 x 2.34 inches
Weight: 2.046 pounds
Bluetooth 5.3 (30-feet range)
Battery life: Up to 9 hours at moderate volume levels
USB-C charging (4 hours to fully charge, no charger included)
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Oct. 19, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Lawyer’s assignment Answer: CASE
5A clue: “I’m outta here!” Answer: LATER
6A clue: Be a nuisance to Answer: BOTHER
7A clue: Net flicks? Answer: VOLLEYS
8A clue: Pop star Grande Answer: ARIANA
9A clue: Awaits a final judgment Answer: PENDS
10A clue: On the boundaries of acceptable behavior Answer: EDGY
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Taylor Swift, per the signature on her endorsement of Kamala Harris Answer: CATLADY
2D clue: Capital of Greece Answer: ATHENS
3D clue: “I’m outta here!” Answer: SEEYA
4D clue: Makes a mistake Answer: ERRS
5D clue: Cracking up, to a texter Answer: LOLING
6D clue: Totally uninterested in a lecture, perhaps Answer: BORED
7D clue: Use an e-cigarette Answer: VAPE
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
What is the best internet provider in North Dakota?
Midco is the best internet service provider for most households in North Dakota, thanks to its wide availability, fast speeds and a reputation for good customer service. However, Midco service isn’t available everywhere in North Dakota. T-Mobile Home Internet or any of the state’s many local fiber ISPs are also solid picks, depending on what’s available in your area.
We’ve also found the top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds. The cheapest widely available internet plan in North Dakota is Midco’s offering of 250 megabits per second starting at $39 a month (although you may be able to find an even cheaper introductory deal). Midco offers some of the fastest internet around with its 5,000Mbps fiber plan, but availability is limited. Many rural homes and small towns can access gig fiber internet through a local provider, so check your address to see who services your location.
Best internet in North Dakota
North Dakota internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Bluepeak
Fiber
$55-$100
1,000-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
N/A
CenturyLink DSL Read full review
DSL
$55
3-100Mbps
$15 (optional)
None
None
6.7
Dakota Central
Fiber
$50-$100
250-1,000Mbps
$10 (optional)
None
None
N/A
DRN
Fiber
$75-$150
250-1,000Mbps
Varies
None
Optional
N/A
Midco
Cable/fiber/fixed wireless
$39-$249
35-5,000Mbps
Varies
None
None
N/A
Sparklight Read full review
Cable
$29-$59
300-1,000Mbps
$14 (optional)
5TB soft cap
None
6.9
SRT Communications
Fiber/DSL
$50-$90
25-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
N/A
Quantum Fiber
Fiber
$50-$75
500-940Mbps
None
None
None
6.7
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($30-$50 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers)
50-300Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Starlink Read full review
Satellite
$90-$120
25-220Mbps
None (One-time $349 fee)
None
None
6.5
Show more (6 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Rural internet options in North Dakota
CenturyLink: CenturyLink’s legacy DSL network stretches outward to cover some rural areas around Dickinson, Bismarck, Jamestown, Valley City, Fargo and Grand Forks. It may be one of the few wired options for some locations, but it has some downsides. Speeds typically max out at 100Mbps but may be drastically slower depending on location. The monthly fee is $55, with an optional $15-per-month equipment lease. CenturyLink’s vastly faster sibling service, Quantum Fiber, is available in a few scattered areas around the state, but it’s hard to find.
Dakota Central: There are many local fiber ISPs in North Dakota, and not all are included in this guide. Dakota Central brings gig-level fiber to a chunk of land around Carrington and Jamestown. Typical plans range from 250Mbps for $50 per month to 1,000Mbps for $100 per month. Speeds up to 10,000Mbps may be available. There’s a one-time connection charge of $25. You can add a router for $10 monthly or bring your own. There are no data caps or contracts.
DRN: DRN’s fiber network stretches across part of the southeast and includes the communities of Ashley, Lisbon, Oakes and Verona, among others. Prices start at $75 a month for 250Mbps and top out at $150 monthly for a gig. All speeds are symmetrical. There’s a $95 activation fee, but you can waive that if you agree to a one-year contract. A router is included. There are no data caps.
Midco: Midco’s fixed wireless networks stretch across the far eastern side of the state. There’s one plan available starting at $39 per month for speeds of 35 to 100Mbps. Unlimited data is included. Wi-Fi equipment costs $11 a month. Fixed wireless is a fallback choice if wired options don’t reach your address (or if DSL is too slow) and you don’t want to resort to satellite internet. Here’s how fixed wireless compares to other types of internet connections.
Polar Communications: Polar’s territory runs from the state’s northeast corner to Walcott. Plans start at $62 a month for 100Mbps fiber and go up to $112 for a gig. Add about $10 to those numbers to include Wi-Fi equipment. There are no contracts or data caps.
Red River Communications: Red River covers the southeast corner of North Dakota with fiber plans starting at $70 a month for 250Mbps. The gig plan costs $108 per month. Speeds are symmetrical and there are no data caps.
RTC: RTC offers fiber internet to a broad area along the state’s western side, including towns like Watford City and New Town. Plans start at $80 monthly for 100Mbps and top out at $125 monthly for a gig. Speeds are symmetrical, data is unlimited and Wi-Fi gear is included.
Satellite Internet: Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet compete to provide internet connections to remote areas nationwide that aren’t served by faster or more affordable options. North Dakota is fortunate to have a lot of rural fiber coverage, but it doesn’t reach everywhere. That’s where satellites can swoop in and save the day, but it can be costly, and speeds may be slow. Compare with any DSL or fixed wireless options you might have.
Mike Danneman/Getty Images
Internet breakdown by city in North Dakota
It isn’t easy to cover a state’s broadband options and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in North Dakota. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds, cheapest providers and more. Check back later if you don’t find the city you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more locations every week.
Cheap internet options in North Dakota
In Fargo, Sparklight offers a $29-a-month introductory deal for 300Mbps service. That price is good for a year, then goes up to $55 monthly. For more widely available plans, look to Midco and its 250Mbps tier for fiber or cable. Starting prices will vary with where you live in North Dakota, but I found offers of $39 or $49 monthly. Midco sometimes runs even cheaper limited-time deals. I’ve seen the 250Mbps plan for as low as $23 a month for the first three months of service.
What are the cheapest internet plans in North Dakota?
Plan
Starting monthly price
Monthly equipment fee
Max download speed
Sparklight Read full review
$29
$14 (optional)
300Mbps
Midco
$39
Varies
250Mbps
Bluepeak 1 Gig Fiber
$55
None
1,000Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plans)
None
245Mbps
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
None
100Mbps
Quantum Fiber
$50
None
500Mbps
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How many members of your household use the internet?
How to find internet deals and promotions in North Dakota
The best internet deals and top promotions in North Dakota depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
North Dakota internet providers, like Midco, T-Mobile Home Internet and Sparklight, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including CenturyLink, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is North Dakota broadband?
North Dakota fared better than South Dakota in a recent Ookla Speedtest.net ranking of median download speeds for US states. While South Dakota landed in 43rd place (average download speed of 151Mbps), North Dakota delivered a respectable showing of 27th place (average download speed of 191Mbps). Midco’s wide coverage, gig and multi-gig top speeds play a role in that. Another factor is fiber coverage in rural areas and smaller towns. You don’t have to live in one of the state’s biggest cities to get fast internet. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Fastest internet plans in North Dakota
Plan
Starting price
Max download speeds
Max upload speeds
Connection type
Bluepeak 5 Gig
$100
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
Fiber
Midco Fiber Internet 5 Gig
$249
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
Fiber
Bluepeak 2 Gig
$70
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
Fiber
Midco Fiber Internet 2 Gig
$129
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
Fiber
Bluepeak 1 Gig
$50
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
Fiber
Dakota Central
$100
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
Fiber
DRN
$150
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
Fiber
SRT Communications
$90
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
Fiber
Midco Fiber Internet Gig
$49
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
Fiber
Midco Gig Internet
$49
1,000Mbps
50Mbps
Cable
Quantum Fiber
$75
940Mbps
940Mbps
Fiber
Sparklight Read full review
$59
940Mbps
50Mbps
Cable
Show more (8 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one person sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two people to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more people to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in North Dakota
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there; we go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in North Dakota?
Many households in North Dakota have Midco cable, fiber or fixed wireless internet as an option. The service is solid, and the speeds range from reasonable for cable or fixed wireless to crazy-fast regarding fiber. Other providers like Quantum Fiber and Bluepeak have a small presence in North Dakota, but you’re most likely to encounter Midco as a top option.
The story of broadband runs deep and wide across North Dakota. The state’s rural areas are well served by fiber internet. A patchwork of local ISPs covers small towns and remote homes alike. Here’s a partial list of these providers: BEK Communications, Dakota Central, DRN, SRT Communications, Polar Communications, Northwest Communications, MLGC and Consolidated Telcom. You’ll find symmetrical speeds of at least a gig (and sometimes more). That’s plenty fast enough to turn your rural hideaway into an internet fast lane.
Internet providers in North Dakota FAQs
Who is the cheapest internet provider in North Dakota?
Of widely available internet plans, look to Midco’s 250Mbps tier as an affordable option. Introductory pricing for either fiber or cable usually starts at $39 a month, but you may spot bigger discounts occasionally. Verizon and T-Mobile offer bundle discounts when you combine 5G home internet with an eligible phone plan.
Which internet provider in North Dakota offers the fastest plan?
Midco’s 5,000Mbps fiber plan is one of the fastest in North Dakota but has limited availability. Check on Bluepeak’s 5,000Mbps fiber plan if you’re in Grand Forks, as well. Many of the local ISPs that service the state’s rural areas offer gig fiber speeds.
Is fiber internet available in North Dakota?
Among bigger-name ISPs, Quantum Fiber and Midco have a limited fiber footprint in North Dakota. There are gems in rural areas thanks to the many local fiber ISPs that service small towns and remote locations throughout the state. Dakota Central, DRN and SRT Communications are examples.
What internet provider has the best coverage in North Dakota?
Midco’s cable, fiber and fixed wireless networks cover over 63% of North Dakota households, according to the FCC. The fiber network is the least widespread of the three connection types, but it offers the fastest speeds at up to 5,000Mbps.
New Eye-Scanning Orb Revealed by Sam Altman’s World
New Eye-Scanning Orb Revealed by Sam Altman’s World
New Eye-Scanning Orb Revealed by Sam Altman’s World
All right, welcome everyone. We know many people flew in. So it’s like a really big deal for us that you’re here. This is a big day for us. Um We started working on this about five years ago and back then, we really believed that something like this should exist in an A I future that we all want to live in. And so not only do we think what we do is critical. We also think it’s very, very timely and that is why one of the main themes of today is about scale and how we can get all the products and services that we built to many, many more people in the next years. But before we talk about the extra products, we wanted to talk a little bit about why we are even here, why we started this? And what is top of mind for us? And with that Sam, why didn’t you talk a little bit about that? Great uh Nice to see all of you. So we started this a long time ago with a belief that at the time seemed very unusual uh which was the A I progress was about to go very rapid. And we thought that if A I happened, if, if A I fulfilled the dream, uh we still have a long way to go, but we’ve made a lot of progress since then. It was going to be the most powerful tool that humans had yet created. It would change the economy, it would change society in all sorts of ways. And the thing that we hoped for the most with A I and the things we wanted to build around A I is that A I would really accelerate people. This idea that A I was a tool that people would use, not an entity on its own and that people were going to be able to do things in the world that they just couldn’t have done before. And we started thinking about the infrastructure that society was going to need. If A I really started to happen, you know, what, what does it take to get to this great outcome for the world? We could imagine a world back then and even more now with lots of A I tools that let people do far more than they ever could before. Lots of A I agents off doing things. Uh And one thing we thought for sure is that the world was gonna need a new, a new layer of infrastructure um for this to be able to happen, that you wanted the ability to uh verify humanity. You wanted to know who the people were, you wanted to be able to provide great infrastructure for humans and agents to be sending resources back and forth and doing all sorts of things and communicating with each other. And we thought that maybe uh if there were a way to build a new network, that it would be a powerful step forward towards doing this. And so with that, we came up with a simple plan and that plan didn’t change much since then. And I don’t think it will change much going forward and it had four big steps. That’s it. The first one was about building a proof of human system that can be deployed globally. It is fully anonymous. Then second, use that infrastructure to launch a digital token by giving ownership in it to eventually every human and use that to get the the network to critical scale. Then third continues to scale and decentralize the network to then eventually among many other great things that we hope this network will do, use it to make the benefits of A I accessible to everyone. And so we, we did one, we developed world I which we think is that proof of human on internet scale. We launched a token last July, which brought us to step number two. And so currently we are at three. And that means that a big, big focus of what we do is the continuous scale and decentralization of the network. Currently, every two seconds, someone who joined the network. We are at 15 million total users, 7 million of which verified with an orb. And one other thing that we really care about is the density of the network because we think that makes it useful for developers and us to build products that are actually critical and useful to people. We are now at one out of seven in Santiago and Lisbon, just two examples and even one out of three of adults in Buenos Aires Argentina that are verified. And so while this is exciting and kind of something to be proud of from where we came from, this is of course, just the very beginning, just like truly the super early beginnings of what we are trying to do because the mission here is to truly bring the service to every human. And the first step of the plan talked about proof of human. And five years ago, this sounded like this abstract thing because Ellen turing actually don’t work. They just break for one reason or the other. You could think about using phone cameras, you could think about potentially using government I DS, maybe using face ID, none of those actually work. And given we really care about this problem and we think it’s critical to achieve our ultimate mission. We took it very serious and we came to this like super super painful realization very early in the project that we will likely have to distribute physical hardware around the world. And not only that we have to open it up. So many other companies, many other parties can join us in building these devices and probably like many different shapes, probably integrated into hardware devices that already exist or we already use. But this is very likely what will need to happen because the current infrastructure, the current systems that are out there just don’t work for that particular problem. And that’s why we built the orb which and secure as well as an anonymous way to solve the proof of human problem at global scale. And today we will talk about the next generation of the orbs something we’ve worked on really hard for quite a while and I’m really excited about. So here it is, here’s the new Orb. So besides being just incredibly beautiful, it was designed from the ground up with scale in mind, the entire software stack was completely rewritten for all orbs to enable verifications three times faster than before. The new ORB was designed with 30% fewer parts and it enables us to assemble them at twice the speed. Initially, we’re tripling the production capacity of the orb with plans to increase that even further with new assembly partners and locations around the world. We’re making progress towards the ultimate goal of decentralized orb manufacturing of the latest ORB is built with uh the NVIDIA Jetson architecture which has five times the A I performance over the previous generation. It’s capable of 100 trillion operations per second. So this enables the new orb to execute sophisticated A I models that prove humanness and operate entirely on device and even faster than before the new orb was built with more transparency and the ability to audit the code that’s running on it. It has a fully removable SD card that contains all the operating instructions. So anyone can compare those instructions on the SD card versus our published source code. But to provide access to every human, we need more orbs lots more orbs probably on the order of 1000 times more orbs than we have today. Not only more herbs, but more orbs in more places. And I wanna talk about a few ways. We’re gonna achieve that today. Firstly, we’ll continue to expand our operations into even more countries than we’re in today. I’m excited to share the flagship locations with you today. Also, these are premium verification experiences. We have staff there available to answer any questions people have. We’ve opened our first two flagship locations in Buenos Aires and Mexico City just a couple of weeks ago. This is our Mexico City location that opened just a few weeks back. I think they really look amazing. Next, we’re expanding access to orbs through self serve verifications. Think of these as orbs inside existing retail locations. So your neighborhood convenience store or local coffee shop, like you see behind me, these enable people to both discover the project through seeing an orb in a retail environment or specifically going to that retail store with the intent to verify with an orb. These partnerships are key to scaling the orb locations and getting more distributed in a region. They’re providing access to even more people than we do today. And if you don’t want to go find an orb, that’s ok. So starting today, we’re announcing a new feature called Orb on demand. This will enable anyone with the touch of a button to request an orb come to them much like a pizza you would have delivered to your apartment, you can push a button, it shows up at your door and that driver then leaves the food behind. And I’m incredibly excited to announce a brand new partnership with Rappy, the number one delivery service in Latin America. They’re integrating with our app and they’ll dispatch their existing delivery fleet to bring orbs to anyone who wants to verify whenever they want to. And lastly, I wanna talk about a new type of operator. We’re starting today called community operators. So anyone can rent or buy the new orb to verify anyone in their community. We’ll have a website up. You can place your preorder and starting in the spring of 2025 it’ll be delivered to you. In fact, I want all of you guys here today to be our first community operators. Everyone here will get an orb
Staying safe online and keeping your data out of the hands of the bad guys is vital, especially as we find ourselves using free Wi-Fi networks more and more. Whether you’re using a coffee shop’s Wi-Fi or you just don’t quite trust your ISP, a great VPN is one way of keeping prying eyes away from your information and browsing habits. If you’re looking to score the best VPN service at the best price, NordVPN is one option to consider. It’s one of our favorites and right now the company’s two-year plans are marked down by 74% with three free months included.
If you sign up for one of NordVPN’s two-year plans, you’ll be able to secure up to 10 devices at once. Prices start from just $2.99 per month but for those who want the best value, signing up for the Ultimate plan may be the best option. In addition to all of the features of the Plus plan, you’ll also get 1TB of encrypted cloud storage, as well as cyber protection benefits including identity theft recovery and extortion protection.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Features offered as standard across all of the plans include secure, high-speed internet access via your new VPN, something that shouldn’t be downplayed. Running a VPN can often make browsing the web, enjoying online content and more much slower than it would normally be. That shouldn’t be the case here, thankfully.
There are also one-year VPN subscription deals available, but the discounts are not as large, so signing up for the longer subscription will likely be the better option for most people. It’s worth noting that NordVPN and Surfshark have merged, but have continued to operate autonomously so far. For other options, check out our roundup of the best VPN deals happening now.
Pop culture fans of all ages will gather at New York Comic Con, which kicks off on Thursday at the Javits Center. A fresh lineup of guest speakers, merchandise and surprise drops await attendees and cosplayers looking to snap photos with celebrities and immerse themselves in their favorite comics, TV shows, anime and movies.
Event organizer ReedPop’s Brien McDonald, vice president of content, recently gave CNET a preview of what to expect and some of the most exciting reveals to look forward to. As someone who’s deeply involved on the TV and film side of things for NYCC (and a fan himself), McDonald notes that studios like Netflix and Paramount have big things planned.
McDonald is personally excited about The Simpsons and Apple TV Plus appearing at the event for the first time. “Apple TV has staked out a really cool spot in the streaming space where they’re bringing prestige, high-quality TV series, and it’s not genre. But I think something like Shrinking, or Elsbeth or even something like Ghosts — it’s cool that studios and producers are bringing this to New York Comic Con because it shows that this event is deep into the pop culture now.” He also acknowledged that panels for genre programming such as Dune: Prophecy and The Penguin “will blow people’s minds.”
If you can’t attend in person, you can still catch the panels on the event’s Main and Empire stages. Viewers at home can livestream for free via ReedPop’s YouTube channel and NYCC’s social media accounts.
So, what exactly should TV and movie buffs check out? Be on the lookout for everything from animation to celebrations to guest panels and hot new trailers this year. Count on Max, Blumhouse, SpongeBob, Sony, Netflix and a ton of anime.
Paramount/Nickelodeon
Anime at New York Comic Con
McDonald said there will be a “big anime kickoff on Thursday.” Dragon Ball will host a panel that day for the new series, Dragon Ball Daima, on the Empire stage. The presentation lines up with the series’ 40th anniversary in November. Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima will hit the Main stage to discuss his series on Friday, and on Saturday, fans will get an exclusive preview of Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom.
One Piece fans should check out Friday’s panel on the Empire stage, where McDonald says they’ll have a “big presentation.” Viz Media, Crunchyroll and Toei Animation are hosting various presentations to share what’s going on with their latest projects, too.
And with Bleach celebrating its 20th anniversary, anime geeks will want to catch the panel for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. ET. Fans will get treated to a peek at an upcoming episode and hear from voice actors Masakazu Morita and Noriaki Sugiyama.
Toei Animation/Shueisha/Bird Studio
Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob party
Did you hear that SpongeBob Squarepants hit a milestone this year? In honor of the show’s 25th anniversary, Nickelodeon will celebrate at NYCC with a dedicated booth. “If you’re a fan and you grew up with the series and you want to walk down Memory Lane, then see what’s ahead, definitely check in on that,” said McDonald.
The setup will include AR, 3D animation and large models of Bikini Bottom’s Krusty Kab and SpongeBob’s famous pineapple house. On Friday at 11 a.m., there will also be a panel for the show at the Empire stage, featuring voice actors Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence, Clancy Brown and Carolyn Lawrence.
Can’t miss trailers galore from Sony, Netflix, Blumhouse and more
“We’re going to see so many new trailers,” said McDonald. Max will have a showing for Creature Commandos from DC and some other surprises for releases like Dune: Prophecy.
McDonald also hinted that Netflix will drop a trailer for The Electric State, a new film starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. Both actors are scheduled to be at the movie’s panel on Friday with the Russo Brothers. “There’s going to be a lot of sizzle around what they do in that panel. That’ll be an exciting one,” he shared.
Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt and Ke Huy Quan in Netflix’s The Electric State.
Paul Abell/Netflix
You’ll also want to see the Sony panel featuring sneak peeks and talent from Venom: The Last Dance, Karate Kid: Legends and Kraven the Hunter. Could that mean appearances from Tom Hardy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe or Jackie Chan? Don’t miss the event on Friday at 7 p.m. on the Empire stage.
“If you’re brave enough and like the scary, Blumhouse is really bringing it,” McDonald said. “I know what’s in there. It’s big, it’s scary, it’s big names. That one’s going to be a lot of fun.” Jason Blum will be on deck to reveal what’s new and to celebrate 15 years of horror for BlumFest. Stream the panel on Friday at 2:30 p.m. from the Empire stage.
5 things fans don’t want to miss
I asked McDonald if there are five things he’d recommend for superfans to see, and he narrowed down some of the biggest highlights to put on your schedule:
Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Friday at 11 a.m., Main stage) — “I’m expecting that one to knock everybody’s socks off,” said McDonald.
BlumFest NYCC (Friday, 2:30 p.m., Empire stage)
The Simpsons (Saturday, 11:30 a.m. Main stage)
Star Trek Universe panel (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Empire stage)
Outlander season 7, part 2 preview (Thursday, 6:30 p.m. on Empire stage)
Advice for first-time attendees
If you’re going to the convention in person as a first-timer, McDonald offered up a few tips. “The deal is — you have to plan, you have to make your panel reservations, even sketch out where you want to be and the time it takes to get there.” He adds, “Don’t show up willy-nilly,” trying to wing it. Keep these things in mind:
CNET will be attending NYCC 2024, so be sure to follow our latest coverage on the site and on all of our socials to get an insider’s look at some of the biggest exhibits and reveals.
Today’s top high-yield savings accounts offer APYs up to 5.30%.
Savings rates are falling after the Fed cut interest rates on Sept. 18.
Putting your extra funds in a savings account with a competitive yield can help you earn more money in interest.
The top high-yield savings accounts still earn up to 5.30% APY — more than 10 times the national average. And the sooner you open an HYSA, the greater your earning potential could be because these rates won’t stick around forever.
APYs have been slowly dropping since the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Sept. 18. Experts expect the Fed to cut rates at least once more before the year is out, though it’s likely to be by 0.25%, according to David Peters, a certified public accountant.
“I think that we are seeing enough signs of slowing inflation that you will see at least one more rate cut before the end of the year,” said Peters. “However, I would expect it to be more modest than the last one.”
That means you still have time to maximize your earnings. Read on to see CNET’s picks for the best high-yield savings account rates.
Today’s best savings rates
Here are some of the top savings account APYs available right now:
APYs as of Oct. 16, 2024, based on the banks we track at CNET.
Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a savings account to get the best APY possible. You can enter your information below to see CNET’s partners’ rates in your area.
How the Fed’s decisions affect savings rates
At the Fed’s September policy meeting, the central bank cut interest rates by 50 basis points – the first time it’s cut rates since March 2020. Whenever the Fed adjusts the federal funds rate, it affects borrowing costs and how fast your money can grow. For instance, when the Fed cuts rates, banks tend to decrease their interest rates, too.
“The Fed controls short-term interest rates, which directly influence the rates offered by banks on savings accounts,” said Justin Haywood, certified financial planner and president of Haywood Wealth Management. Depending on the bank, the changes can take several weeks or even months to take effect.
A single interest rate cut won’t immediately affect your wallet. You can still take advantage of APYs north of 5%, but the key is to act fast. Since savings rates are variable, banks can change the rate on your savings account at any time.
Here’s where savings rates stood at the start of this week compared to the start of last week:
Last week’s CNET average savings APY
This week’s CNET average savings APY
Weekly change
4.61%
4.58%
-0.65%
This week’s APY as of Oct. 14, 2024, based on the banks we track at CNET. *Weekly percentage increase/decrease from Oct. 7, 2024, to Oct. 14, 2024.
CNET Money brings financial insights, trends and news to your inbox every Wednesday.
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Here’s all of the excitement headed to your inbox.
What to look for when choosing a savings account
It’s important to stash your extra cash in a savings account with a high APY, but don’t make that the only criteria on your search list. There are other factors you should consider when choosing the best savings account for your goals, including:
Minimum deposit requirements: Some HYSAs require a minimum amount to open an account, typically, from $25 to $100. Others don’t require anything.
ATM access: Not every bank offers cash deposits and withdrawals. If you need regular ATM access, check to see if your bank offers ATM fee reimbursements or a wide range of in-network ATMs, said Lanesha Mohip, founder of the Polished CFO and CNET expert review board member.
Fees: Look out for fees for monthly maintenance, withdrawals and paper statements, said Mohip. The charges can eat into your balance.
Accessibility: If you prefer in-person assistance, look for a bank with physical branches. If you’re comfortable managing your money digitally, consider an online bank.
Withdrawal limits: Some banks charge an excess withdrawal fee if you make more than six monthly withdrawals. If you think you may need to make more, consider a bank without this limit.
Federal deposit insurance: Make sure your bank or credit union is either insured with the FDIC or the NCUA. This way, your money is protected up to $250,000 per account holder, per category, if there’s a bank failure.
Customer service: Choose a bank that’s responsive and makes it easy to get help with your account if you need it. Read online customer reviews and contact the bank’s customer service to get a feel for working with the bank.
Methodology
CNET reviewed savings accounts at more than 50 traditional and online banks, credit unions and financial institutions with nationwide services. Each account received a score between one (lowest) and five (highest). The savings accounts listed here are all insured up to $250,000 per person, per account category, per institution, by the FDIC or NCUA.
CNET evaluates the best savings accounts using a set of established criteria that compares annual percentage yields, monthly fees, minimum deposits or balances and access to physical branches. None of the banks on our list charge monthly maintenance fees. An account will rank higher for offering any of the following perks:
Account bonuses
Automated savings features
Wealth management consulting/coaching services
Cash deposits
Extensive ATM networks and/or ATM rebates for out-of-network ATM use
A savings account may be rated lower if it doesn’t have an easy-to-navigate website or if it doesn’t offer helpful features like an ATM card. Accounts that impose restrictive residency requirements or fees for exceeding monthly transaction limits may also be rated lower.
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SodaStream
Most people know the benefits of drinking more water and less soda, but there’s nothing wrong with having some soda every now and then with a good meal or just to relax with. Making your own soda at home is not only a way to save you from making a trip to the store or buying more soda than you really want, but it’s also an eco-friendly option. With a worthy soda machine, you can have a drink just as good as the brand name stuff or even make a few tweaks to flavor it just how you like.
Not only is a soda maker a great way to get creative, but it can also save you a little money — something we can all be bubbly about. Soda makers work by adding carbonation to most drinks, letting you choose the flavor and the ingredients. When looking for a soda machine, it’s important to make sure it’s worthy of your precious kitchen counter space. That means it has to be space-saving, easy to use and actually make tasty soda.
To find the best, I took a total of eight soda makers to task, including three SodaStream models, Ninja’s fancy new at-home Thirsti machine and Aarke’s striking stainless steel carbonator, to find the best soda maker. Based on my testing, here are the four best soda makers to buy for yourself or that special someone who’s impossible to buy gifts for.
What’s the best soda maker overall?
After extensive testing (and one persistent case of hiccups), we’ve marked the SodaStream Terra as the best soda maker for 2024. During our testing, we found it consistently makes sparkling water with its simple manual pump; it’s cheaper to purchase, and it also offers an exchange program that makes getting carbonation canisters cheaper.
While there are more elegant options, the SodaStream Terra is probably the best soda water maker for most people.
SodaStream
Best soda makers to buy in 2024
The Terra is SodaStream’s entry-level model, but it works well and lands at the top of our list as the best soda water maker for most people. The Terra made consistently fizzy water with simple manual pumps. It’s very easy to operate and doesn’t take up much space on the counter.
The Terra model has one recent improvement over SodaStream’s previous models in that you can click the carbon dioxide canister into the back rather than having to load it from the bottom. This saves a step each time you change the canister. Speaking of canisters, SodaStream has an easy exchange program where you can drop off empty cartridges in exchange for full ones at about half price ($17).
If I had one complaint about this and some other SodaStreams, it’s that the plastic build is a tad flimsy. The Terra has the lowest price of any model on this list. The basic package is around $100 and includes a carbon dioxide cartridge and plastic carafe, The value bundle features three plastic bottles (1 liter), two carbon dioxide cartridges (60L) and two bottles of Bubly drops to flavor your water for $160. Read my full review of the SodaStream Terra.
If it’s more than just sparkling water you covet, Ninja’s souped-up Thirsti beverage system is the right pick. At its base price of $150, it’s more expensive than a standard SodaStream, but that’s because it does a whole lot more.
The Thirsti is the only electronic drink maker on this list. It adds carbon dioxide to your water with the best of them, but also has the option to impart flavors, caffeine, vitamins and other enhancements electronically in 6-,12-, 18- or 24-ounce servings.
Choose from more than 20 water drops to plug into the front of the drink maker — as many as two at a time — and the Thirsti will spit out fruity beverages, lemonade and flavored sparkling water in about 3 seconds. The beverages are all zero-calorie and some are sweetened with sucralose. If you don’t like the taste of that sugar substitute, you’ll want to stick to the “Splash” pods, which contain only essence.
The basic Thirsti package comes with the machine, a carbon dioxide canister and eight water drops to add some panache to your hydration routine. Read our Ninja Thirsti review.
If design and aesthetics are important to you, the Aarke is pretty clearly the best-looking soda water maker on the market. It’s built from metal, while most others are constructed from cheaper plastics. It also has something of a vintage malt shop appeal, and it’s slim, so you can slide it onto the counter without forfeiting much real estate. The Aarke III works well, although it releases carbon dioxide a bit less consistently than a SodaStream.
This is also the most expensive soda maker on our list at around $200, and that price doesn’t include a carbon dioxide canister. The good news is you can use SodaStream and Soda Sensei canisters with the Aarke and take advantage of their robust canister exchange programs. Read my full review of the Aarke here.
If you’re looking to transport yourself to an Italian piazza, a bottle of sparkling water poured from a shapely glass bottle could help. SodaStream’s Aqua Fizz has all the functions of the other models but an elevated design. The carafe that accompanies the starter package is glass and the base that holds them while in use is metal. It’s also quieter than other models since the bottles are encased completely while they’re being pumped with gas.
I don’t like the look of this model quite as much as the Aarke, but it’s a more affordable premium model, and the glass carafes, although smaller than the plastic versions, are nice to set on the table for dinner parties.
In testing to find the best soda water makers, it mostly came down to general performance, ease of use, and overall value. I made at least 10 full bottles of sparkling water using each, noting how proficiently and consistently a machine executed its most vital duty of imparting carbon dioxide into the water. I also carbonated other liquids — including fruit juice and wine — but found that there was no difference in performance based on the type of liquid being carbonated. If a machine carbonated water well, it did so across all liquids.
Some of the machines took more muscling and pumps of the lever to get carbon dioxide emitted into the bottles. Of the manual machines, the SodaStream models were the most consistent. With five unique settings, the Spärkel electric seltzer maker makes the most precise soda water.
The stylish Aarke III carbonator comes in five finishes and has a vintage malt shop look.
Aarke
I also took note of the sturdiness and build of each soda water maker. The Aarke III is by far the most stylish soda water maker and is built solidly out of stainless steel, with five finishes to choose from. Aesthetics are nice, but it’s also by far the priciest model, with an over $200 tag, which keeps it from being the best model for most people.
DrinkMate OmniFizz: This $120 sparkling water maker did a fine job carbonating water, wine and juice. I don’t have much negative to say about the machine other than that the hinge at the top that connects the bottle to the machine seems like it could loosen or break over time.
SodaStream Fizzi One Touch: The SodaStream Fizzi One Touch is an electronic sparkling water maker that typically retails for $130 but is currently on sale for $124. It works well and has three presets to get whatever level of carbonation you seek. This is another model I don’t have any major issues with, but I just don’t think it’s worth the extra $54 over its manual counterpart, the Terra when it is not on sale.
Sparkel: This unique carbonation system uses powder packets instead of carbon dioxide canisters to add fizz to water. It works well, but the machine base is bulkier than most and isn’t quite worth the $150 price.
Soda Sensei [Out of Stock]: This model looks nice, but it struggled a bit more than the SodaStream Terra to make consistently bubbly water.
Let’s use the rough estimate SodaStream gives of getting 60 liters out of each $17 cartridge if you use the exchange program. That breaks down to about 25 cents per liter. By comparison, the average cost for a 1-liter bottle of soda water is about 80 cents in a store.
If you were to go through six cartridges over a year ($102), plus the cost of the SodaStream Terra ($100), that would be $202 total and about 56 cents per liter, a significant savings over store-bought seltzer.
These calculations are based on drinking 360 liters per year, which is about 33 ounces of soda water per day, or a little less than three cans. The more carbonated water you drink and the longer you use your SodaStream, the more you’ll save versus paying for the canned stuff.
Definitely. A soda water maker such as SodaStream or the Aarke Carbonator has almost no negative environmental impact. If used instead of store-bought seltzer, these machines will take hundreds of cans and plastic bottles out of the waste management and recycling system every year. Standard carbon dioxide canisters are also reusable, which is why SodaStream will sell you a refill for half price if you return the empty canister.
Can you carbonate other beverages with a soda water maker?
Beyond making carbonated water, you can add fizz to just about any liquid with a soda water maker. Fruit juices, sparkling wine and beer that have gone flat (even flat soda) are just a few popular beverages to consider other than plain cold water. If you want fizzy milk, you can make that too.
Mobvoi’s new TicWatch Atlas takes a rugged approach to its latest WearOS smartwatch, while keeping the $350 starting price of the prior TicWatch Pro 5 models.
The Atlas smartwatch comes in a stainless steel model with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display. The watch’s new software features include a Heat Map for tracking one’s most active locations when exercising. The Atlas also adds a fall detection feature, which wasn’t available on prior TicWatch 5 smartwatches, for triggering an SOS alert to call 911 or an emergency contact in the event of a fall. Rival Android watches like the Google Pixel Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch series also have this feature, so it’s good to see Mobvoi’s watch reach parity by adding it.
TicWatch also notes that the Atlas is now able to display health tracking stats like heart rate, calories burned and one’s Vo2 Max on the watch’s secondary Ultra-low-power display before entering into the watch’s workout modes. That low power display is usually how TicWatch differentiates itself from other WearOS watches, by providing an option for showing essential data without having to fully power up the watch’s more power-intensive OLED display.
Mobvoi says that the Atlas should get about 90 hours of battery life when in Smart mode — where the watch alternates between the lower power display and the OLED display. Mobvoi also rates the watch for 45 days when it’s in Essential mode, where it primarily just uses that lower power display.
You spot a tiny bug hovering in your kitchen, and next thing you know, there are dozens or even hundreds of them.
Fruit flies are some of the most annoying pests to get rid of, especially once they’ve locked on to a food source in your home. And unfortunately, your living space is probably full of tasty treats, from fruits and veggies to sugary snacks.
CNET
With fruit flies, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We asked Jody Green, an entomologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, what causes fruit fly infestations and, more importantly, how to stop them or get rid of them once they start.
What causes fruit flies?
Beer, wine and soda are like a siren song for fruit flies.
Katie Teague/CNET
Fruit flies will normally hitch onto any overripe fruit that you bring home from the grocery store, or any bruised fruit, which tends to ripen and rot more quickly.
Once the flies get in your house, she said, they’ll lay eggs everywhere they can — in rotten fruit or any fermented substances, especially onions and potatoes. And as it gets warmer, their life cycles quicken. That’s how infestations happen.
Read more: Keep Bugs Out of Your Kitchen With These Common Houseplants
Thankfully, there are ways to kick fruit flies out of your kitchen and expel them from your home. Some steps can help prevent an infestation, while others can help eliminate one. So take a look below, and keep your place free of fruit flies.
What do fruit flies look like?
Once fruit flies descend on your kitchen, it’s tough to get them to leave.
David Watsky/CNET
Fruit flies are about an eighth of an inch long, have red eyes (though some species have darker eyes) and are light brown with dark rings around their abdomen. They also have two wings (many insects have four).
What sorts of foods and environments attract fruit flies?
Ripe produce and sugary foods are magnets for fruit flies.
Helin Loik-Tomson/Getty Images
The common name that entomologists give fruit flies is “vinegar flies.” That’s because they’re naturally attracted to fermented liquid, and when fruit rots, it also ferments.
But fruit flies don’t thrive only on rotten fruit or vinegar. They also love sugary substances like soda, wine and beer, and you can find them in the bottom of your trash bin or any wet place with a substantial food source.
“Substantial food source” may mean something different to you than to the small but mighty fruit fly, Green said. “It may not be the food you are wanting to eat, but fruit flies are so tiny it only takes a tiny microhabitat” — like the residual soda in a can in your recycling bin or leftover bits and crumbs in a takeout container in your garbage, Green explained. Those are prime spots for fruit flies to breed. Once the weather warms, it takes less time for fruit fly eggs to turn into babies.
How to stop stop a fruit fly infestation before it starts
Take the garbage out as often as possible during warm summer months.
Taylor Martin/CNET
To prevent fruit flies from taking over your kitchen, it all comes down to cleaning. Keeping your place as dry and free of food as possible prevents pests from continuing their life cycle.
Throw away garbage and take out recycling frequently. Clean out the bottom of bins when liquid accumulates, wipe down counters after you’re finished cooking, and keep your sink and garbage disposal free of old food, empty of dishes, and as dry as possible.
Storing fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of on the counter will also make it harder for the fruit flies to find them. And since they’re attracted to rotting fruit, you should carefully pick your produce at the store to make sure you aren’t bringing any rotten or bruised pieces home, Green said.
She also added that you should recycle or compost cardboard boxes that hold produce as soon as possible, because fruit flies could be breeding in them. Any place that catches water or is moist, like a wet kitchen rag or the rug next to the sink, could become a breeding ground for fruit flies.
For more home tips, here are the best air purifiers for clean air and the best cordless vacuums.
FAQs
Can I get fruit flies without leaving out fruit?
Yes, you can get fruit flies even if you don’t leave fruits and vegetables outside of the fridge. Though fruit flies are attracted to fermented fruits and vegetables, they also love sugary substances. The flies will similarly swarm wine, beer, soda and other sugary liquids if you leave cups of them around the house.
How clean do I need to be to avoid a fruit fly infestation?
Fruit flies are able to subsist off very small amounts of food or drink — the scraps of a takeout box or the soda left at the bottom of a can, for instance. You’ll want to make sure you wash out any container before placing it in the trash can or recycling bin, especially in warmer months when fruit flies are breeding at a rapid pace.
Vacuuming is rarely fun, but when done correctly, it can make a massive difference in your home. Using a vacuum to suck up debris, dust and pet hair from your floors not only makes your house look better, it also improves your indoor air quality, since those microbes and dirt particles won’t get kicked up by foot traffic.
CNET
But if you’re like me, you may not have known that there is a correct and incorrect way to clean your floors. Even if you have the best vacuum on the market, using it the wrong way will prevent the tool from performing at its peak and your floors won’t be as clean as they could be.
We’ve done a lot of in-depth hands-on and lab testing to ensure we are recommending the best cordless, robot and budget vacuums on the market. As we all know, the best tool isn’t going to help much if we don’t use it properly. So, by combining the top vacuums with professional cleaning tips, you’re sure to have tidy floors in no time.
The right way to vacuum clean your home
Those short, quick, back-and-forth motions that the majority of people do when vacuuming isn’t sucking up all that dust, dirt and lint that is embedded into carpets and floors. The more efficient way to vacuum — and the way professional cleaners do it — is to go forward, in structured rows.
You’ll first start by vacuuming a row of your carpeting in one direction, wall-to-wall. This first pass should be against the nap of the carpet to make it fluff up and to make the deeply embedded dirt come up easier. A way to tell if you’re vacuuming against the nap correctly is if the carpet piles stick up or look a little darker.
Next, push the vacuum back over that strip you just vacuumed. This will lay the carpet back down flat and will suck up the rest of the dirt you missed on the first pass. Once you’re back to your starting place, vacuum another strip right next to the first, overlapping slightly. Keep repeating this routine until the whole room has been vacuumed thoroughly.
Once you’ve completed that step, go perpendicular: If you were vacuuming north to south the first time, vacuum east to west on this second pass. Yes, it’s extra work and maybe it even seems like overkill, but this method ensures you get every bit of dirt and debris, which will keep your carpet cleaner and looking newer for longer.
For more helpful vacuum info, explore the best Roomba alternatives to keep your floors clean and the best robot vacuum deals available now.
I have over a decade of experience covering food, kitchen gadgets and home tips. In the past year alone, I’ve tested dozens of air fryer recipes. What did I discover during that time? That this 10-minute air fryer salmon recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious meals you can make with the simple appliance.
Salmon made on the stovetop in a skillet is great, but you’re bound to end up with a greasy, fishy stovetop afterward. Broiling or baking salmon in the wall oven is another good option, but you’ll have to heat up that big lug of an appliance all for a few portions of fish. Really, it can be a total pain to have the seafood smell wafting around your kitchen for hours on end after you’re finished cooking.
Air fryer salmon has been a revelation for me, and the speedy, clean method has me eating more seafood than ever. An air fryer cooks fish fast, makes very little no mess and uses less energy than the big oven. The whole recipe can be completed in under 15 minutes, leaving you with a tasty medium-rare cut of salmon to pack in some protein when you’re in a rush.
As with most filets of fish, salmon does well with a blast of high heat to give the outer layer a crust without overcooking it through the middle. Air fryers are designed to do just that with super convection that blows hot air at rapid speeds using a powerful fan to inside a small cooking chamber.
Air fryers take only a couple of minutes to preheat, so if you’re making a quick weeknight meal for one or two, cooking salmon in the air fryer is an ace up your sleeve. Air fryers also cost less to run and use less energy than big ovens, and they don’t create an oily mess like searing salmon on the stovetop will.
A fresh filet and seasonings are all you need to make the perfect air fryer salmon dinner.
David Watsky/CNET
Making salmon in the air fryer takes about 10 minutes from start to finish. Here’s how to make a perfect fish filet every time.
For more, see our favorite places to order salmon online and the best air fryers we tested for 2024. If you’re wondering how these trendy and efficient countertop cookers work and which model is best, read my complete guide to air fryers.
Ingredients for the 10-minute air fryer salmon
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp soy sauce or tamari
1 tsp brown sugar
1 green onion, diced
Salmon filet
Salt and pepper to taste
Parchment paper (optional)
5 easy steps: The perfect 10-minute air fryer
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F on either “air fry” or “roast.”
Step 2: Whisk together olive oil, brown sugar, soy sauce and green onion.
Step 3: Pat the salmon filet dry and place it in the air fryer on top of parchment paper (paper optional).
Step 4: Pour soy sauce mixture over salmon and brush to coat completely.
Step 5: Close the basket and cook for about 8 minutes, checking with a fork or internal probe for doneness (cook a minute or two more if you prefer your salmon medium well or well done).
Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon.
David Watsky/CNET
The air fryer is my go-to for roasted chicken, replacing my slow and dirty dish-heavy oven recipe. I recently learned to make juicy air fryer cheeseburgers and sizzle bacon in less than 10 minutes and without dirtying a skillet or sheet pan.
Air fryers are incredibly convenient and can do many of the same jobs that an oven can. They only take a couple of minutes to preheat, contain many of the cooking messes you’d otherwise have to spend time cleaning up and are overall more energy-efficient cooking appliances.
When you’re planning to cook meals with an air fryer, you need to make sure you have enough space inside of your appliance for the food you want to cook. Many air fryers can accommodate for a single person’s serving size, but you’ll likely have to run the air fryer multiple times to make enough food for your whole family.
The best internet service provider in Houston is AT&T Fiber, thanks to its symmetrical download and upload speeds and high customer satisfaction scores. However, not all Houston addresses can access AT&T Fiber doesn’t, so Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet are also quality options to consider if you’re outside of AT&T’s service area.
If you want the cheapest internet plans in Houston, there are some solid options, too. The cheapest ISP in Houston is tied between Xfinity and Astound Broadband, both offering $20-a-month plans. You may be better off choosing Astound’s service, which comes with a 300-megabit-per-second connection compared to Xfinity’s 150Mbps.
AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber and local internet provider Tachus Fiber offer the fastest internet speed in Houston. Each provider boasts 5 gigabits of symmetrical speed, costing $245, $140 and $180, respectively.
Houston internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Astound Broadband Read full review
Cable
$20-$55
300-1,500Mbps
Free modem, $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional)
None
None
7
AT&T Internet Air Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60
75-225Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
AT&T Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$55-$245
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Brightspeed
DSL
$50
Up to 140Mbps (varies by location)
$15 modem (optional)
None
None
6.6
Frontier Communications Read full review
DSL, Fiber
$30-$100 ($40-$140 after 12 months)
500-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
6.3
Optimum Read full review
Cable
$40-$60
300-940Mbps
None
None
None
6.2
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$50-$70
500-1,000Mbps
Free modem; $10 router (optional)
None
None
7.2
Tachus
Fiber
$65-$180
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
N/A
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers with autopay)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans and autopay)
50-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Xfinity Read full review
Cable
$20-$80
150-2,000Mbps
$15-$25 included in some plans
1.2TB on some plans
1 year on some plans
7
Show more (6 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Houston
Beyond the three picks above, several other broadband choices exist in the Houston metro area. Some can be found only in small pockets of the city, while others are mainly located in the city suburbs. There are some compelling choices here, even though they’re not as widely available.
Astound Broadband: This cable internet provider, known regionally as Grande, offers some of Houston’s most competitive starting rates. Its starting price of $20 a month for a 300Mbps plan comes out to an affordable 6 cents per Mbps. By comparison, Xfinity’s cheaper $20 per month plan features download speeds of only 150Mbps and has a much higher cost per Mbps of 13 cents. The Astound 1500Mbps plan is also the cheapest in the city, starting at $55 monthly. The rub is that Astound’s price increases are some of the steepest in the industry.
Brightspeed: Somewhat similar to AT&T but without as deep a presence. You’ll want to research this because, depending on your location, you may be dealing with mostly DSL coverage for the Houston area (which can be as low as 20Mbps), or if you’re in the Kingwood area, you might see the company’s much more compelling fiber product.
Frontier Communications: Frontier has a scattered presence in the greater Houston area. You won’t find it downtown, but you can get its DSL and fiber-optic service in the northeast outskirts of Baytown, Beach City, Cove and Crosby. You’ll also find it in the southern portion of the metro area in League City and Sante Fe. If Frontier Fiber is available — it features symmetrical plans of 200Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps, 2Gbps or 5Gbps speeds ranging from $40 to $140 per month for the first year — it’s a very appealing choice. If Frontier DSL is your only option, try other alternatives.
Kinetic by Windstream: This DSL and fiber provider is available in just a few small pockets within the Houston city limits. Most of that availability is in the southern suburb of Sugar Land. You’ll mostly deal with its DSL service rather than the faster fiber-optic plans.
Optimum: First off, I can imagine you might be confused. Suddenlink is the provider you’re probably familiar with in the Houston area. Its parent company, Altice USA, renamed it Optimum in 2022. In any case, Optimum service is scattered lightly throughout the metro area but has a heavier density north of the city in Conroe and Kingwood. This cable ISP is notable for its highly competitive starting rates, some of the most affordable in the area.
Spectrum: Charter Communications’ ISP has some of the more customer-friendly, straightforward terms you’ll find for cable internet service. There are no contracts, no data caps and a free modem rental included in your monthly price, ranging from $50 to $70. It also includes free access to Wi-Fi hotspots across the country. Spectrum service is limited in the city center of Houston. You can find coverage north of the city, mainly in Magnolia, Spring, Tomball and The Woodlands.
Tachus: This local ISP, founded in 2018, is notable for its community presence and commitment to building 100% fiber-to-the-home networks within the greater Houston metropolitan area. It’s now available to over 50,000 homes in Atascocita, Conroe, East Montgomery County, Kingwood, Magnolia, Oak Ridge County North and The Woodlands. There are five fiber plans, depending on what is available at your location, — 300Mbps, 600Mbps, 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps — ranging from $65 to $180 a month, with no data caps and no contracts. A modem rental is included in the monthly price, but you’ll need to provide your own router or rent one for as low as $6 per month.
T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile uses its 5G and 4G LTE networks to power its fixed wireless home internet product, which is available to over 50 million homes nationwide and approximately 94% of residents in the greater Houston area. Check your address on the T-Mobile site to see if you’re serviceable since not all who have T-Mobile cell service at home are eligible for the home internet service. In any case, it’s an intriguing offering that includes installation fees, taxes and equipment rental under its $55-a-month fee, with no data caps or contracts.
Getty Images
Cheap internet options in Houston
The average starting price for internet service in Houston is just over $46 a month, but a few providers offer plans cheaper than that.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Xfinity and Astound Broadband offer the lowest starting price in Houston. Xfinity’s Connect plan (150Mbps) has a promo price of $20 for the first two years and then $67 a month after that. It’s also widely available throughout the Houston metro area and the Bayou City burbs. Astound Broadband’s $20 plan grants download speeds up to 300Mbps, which is double the speed of Xfinity’s Connect plan and includes your equipment rental.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Houston?
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Astound Broadband 300 Read full review
$20
300Mbps
Free modem; $5 for Whole-home Wi-Fi (optional)
Xfinity Connect Read full review
$20
150Mbps
$15 modem (optional)
Optimum 300 Read full review
$40
300Mbps
None
Spectrum Internet Read full review
$50
300Mbps
Free modem; $10 router (optional)
Frontier Fiber 500 Read full review
$30 ($55 after 12 months)
500Mbps
None
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plan and autopay)
300Mbps
None
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review
$55
300Mbps
None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan and autopay)
245Mbps
None
Tachus 300
$65
300Mbps
None
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Houston
The best internet deals and top promotions in Houston depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Houston internet providers, such as Xfinity, Astound Broadband, Spectrum and Optimum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T, Frontier and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is Houston broadband?
Houston, we have a problem. Although it’s one of the top five most populated metros in the US, H-Town couldn’t crack the top 50 on Ookla’s list of the country’s fastest cities for broadband. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Per the speed-testing site’s most recent reporting, Houston managed to clock in at only No. 58. By contrast, its fellow Lone Star State cities of Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth and San Antonio all placed in the top 15. Other Texas towns that placed higher on the speed chart — adding insult to injury — include Arlington, Garland, Irving, Lubbock, Laredo and Plano. Some small consolation: Houston finished well ahead of Dallas, which was in the bottom 3.
Some Houstonians may have access to the splashy 5Gbps plans from AT&T and Frontier which cost $245 and $130 per month, respectively.
Fastest internet plans in Houston
Provider
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review
$100 ($140 after 12 months)
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review
$245
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Tachus Fiber 5 Gig
$180
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Tachus Fiber 2.5 Gig
$110
2,500Mbps
2,500Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review
$145
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review
$70 ($110 after 12 months)
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review
$80
2,000Mbps
200Mbps
1.2TB
Cable
Astound 1500 Read full review
$55
1,500Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Cable
Astound Broadband 1000 Read full review
$45
1,000Mbps
50Mbps
None
Cable
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review
$80
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review
$50 ($75 after 12 months)
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review
$70
1,000Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Tachus Gig
$90
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review
$65
1,000Mbps
20Mbps
1.2TB if using own equipment; none if renting with Xfinity
Cable
Optimum Gig Read full review
$60
940Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Show more (10 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near Houston
See all results for internet providers in Texas.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Houston
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on Houston internet providers?
Houston offers several high-speed internet choices. You can get hooked up with home internet from fast fiber options, including AT&T, Frontier and local internet service provider Tachus. You could hop online via cable connections from Optimum and Spectrum. You could join the 5G home internet movement by trying Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet.
Comcast’s cable internet offering of Xfinity has Houston covered with the most extensive availability across the metro area. As we say in our CNET home internet reviews, a fiber internet connection outperforms cable almost every time. If you can access a fiber provider in the area — including AT&T Fiber, Consolidated Communications, Frontier Fiber or Tachus — don’t hesitate to sign on the virtual dotted line.
Best internet providers in Houston FAQs
Which internet service provider has the most coverage in Houston?
More than a dozen different ISPs are in the greater Houston metro, including satellite internet providers like Hughesnet, Starlink and Viasat (all three are available to 100% of the area, according to the FCC). Besides those satellite providers, Xfinity covers the most extensive area. You can find Comcast’s cable service as far as Conroe to the north, East Bernard to the west, Baytown to the east, and Freeport and Galveston to the south.
Yes. You can find fiber internet throughout H-Town. Houston’s top fiber internet providers include AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber and Tachus Fiber. It should also be noted that a small percentage of Xfinity locations are also eligible for fiber service, but it first requires a site survey to ascertain if the address is serviceable.
What internet provider has the fastest speeds in Houston?
The fastest internet speed you can currently get in Houston is 5Gbps (5,000Mbps), provided by AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber and Tachus Fiber. Per Ookla’s latest findings, the provider with the fastest average download speeds in Houston is AT&T, with a median download speed of approximately 257Mbps.
If you’ve been considering investing in a smart ring to track your wellness, you may also consider using the FSA and HSA dollars you have stashed away to purchase one. Popular rings including the Galaxy Ring, Oura Ring, Ultrahuman Ring Air and Circular Ring are now FSA and HSA eligible.
While there are differences between the two accounts, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts are tax deductible and allow people a small break while paying for health care services, products and medications, which are notorious for being expensive in the US. Smart rings like the Oura Ring and Galaxy Ring are health trackers first and foremost, which is why they’re considered eligible for FSA or HSA reimbursement.
How to buy a smart ring with your FSA or HSA dollars
To buy a Galaxy Ring using FSA or HSA funds, Samsung says to go through its website, purchase as you would normally with a debit or credit card and then send in your proof of purchase to your FSA or HSA plan so you can be reimbursed. Samsung said you can also purchase from a third-party retailer like Best Buy and still be reimbursed.
Before you buy either smart ring with plans to have the cost reimbursed, though, it’s a good idea to check ahead of time with your FSA or HSA plan to make sure you’ll be covered. As Oura outlines, plans can set their own eligibility rules and may require extra documents for reimbursement.
A Galaxy Ring costs $400, while the Oura Ring starts at $300 and goes up based on your color and design preference. Notably, Oura has a $6 monthly subscription fee to access its health features, while the Galaxy Ring doesn’t. (Oura says the membership fee is also HSA and FSA eligible.) Read more about how the two smart rings compare and what to know about the brand-new Oura Ring 4.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: Health and Fitness Tracking on Your Finger
What other health ‘extras’ can you use your FSA and HSA dollars on?
You’d be surprised at the long list of items that are open for purchase or reimbursement with FSA or HSA cards. Everything from vision care and glasses, common medications, tampons, doctor appointment costs and even more “natural” therapies, such as massages. In other words, if it’s used to keep you healthy and costs you money, it’s worth checking to see if you can use your FSA or HSA dollars on it.
If you’ve got some health care money burning a hole in your pocket (especially those FSA dollars, which don’t roll over to the new year), take inventory of your current health needs, what you tend to spend money on and what you could put toward FSA and ultimately save you some money. You can also search popular department stores specifically for FSA or HSA items and peruse CNET’s list of FSA-eligible items.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: My Favorite Smart Ring, Hands Down
If you didn’t get a chance to shop during Amazon Prime Day, you’re in luck. There are still plenty of splurge-worthy deals on essentials and tech — even home security cameras, which can make great utilitarian gifts if you have someone on your list who can be hard to shop for. If you or someone you know would like to keep a better eye on the home or small business, now’s a great time to snag our top choice for the best home security camera, the Arlo Pro 5S, for only $100 at Amazon. That saves you 60% on the overall asking price of $250.
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This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
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The Arlo 5S includes a mount you can use to easily install your camera, and video object detection — perfect for monitoring any package deliveries. This security camera supports dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity and detects 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Once you sync this camera to your Wi-Fi network, it’ll connect to whichever band is stronger. Need an even more budget-friendly option? The Arlo Essential security camera 2K is just $60 right now, saving you a total of $40.
If you missed Prime Day and are looking for essentials, tech and other upgrades but want to stick to your budget, check out our list of remaining deals under $25.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
In an ideal world, we would all be stocking our cheese boards with only those hunks acquired from a farmers’ market or specialty cheese stores. In the real world, most of us are picking up cheese while doing our regular grocery shopping where the requisite mongers or cheesemakers who might guide us are entirely absent from the proceedings.
This is not a reason to despair, as there is high-quality cheese to be found at the supermarket if you know how to seek it out. “It’s really hard sometimes just to know what exactly a particular cheese is, especially if it’s a generic, plastic-wrapped piece of something you’re not familiar with,” says Hannah Howard, author and cheese educator. “It could be incredibly delicious. It could be incredibly disappointing.”
Read more: How to Find Great Cheese for Cheap
Many excellent cheeses from around the world have the necessary scalability and distribution required to allow them to share shelf space with the shreds and slices that we buy for cooking and sandwich-assembling convenience, however. To start, head away from the basic dairy aisle in your supermarket and over to what I like to call “cheese island,” where the “fancy” stuff is kept. (You know what I’m talking about.) Many excellent grocery stores such as Whole Foods and Kroger have worthy cheese counters, but even conventional grocers without a designated cheese department are guaranteed to have some really good stuff lurking in the selection.
Howard recommends 10 grocery store cheeses that you can always count on: they are as easy to find as they are appropriate to serve to company.
Le Gruyere AOP
La Gruyere is a perfect addition to your next cheese board.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
I’d stake a claim on Le Gruyere AOP being the cheese with the most history, pedigree and care to be routinely available no matter where you shop. Even Trader Joe’s has it. A classic cheese from Switzerland — not to be confused with the generic category that we call “Swiss cheese” — “there is an incredible amount of care, love and attention to detail that goes into every single step of the process for making the cheese, from treating the cows well, to getting the very freshest milk, to the cheesemaking heritage, which has been passed down for over 1000 years,” says Howard. “With Le Gruyere AOP, you can feel completely confident that the flavor, the texture, the caliber and everything that went into making that cheese is of the very highest quality.”
Le Gruyere AOP is also among the most flavorful cheeses available in a grocery store, with its washed rind and raw milk pedigree. (Raw milk cheese is permitted in the U.S. so long as it ages for at least 60 days, so no worries, as Le Gruyere AOP ages for six months or more.) It is also a terrific melter, perfect for all manner of cooked cheese preparations like fondue, grilled cheese, or mac and cheese.
It bears mentioning that the term “Gruyere” here is not enough, as the U.S. government has deemed the term a “generic” one, although those that rightfully favor the real thing would say that there’s nothing generic about Alpine pastured cows and a millennium of precedent. So take care in observing the label: “You want to see that AOP,” says Howard, which indicates it’s actually from Switzerland, “and the ‘le’ is also a good sign.”
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano is called the king of cheese for a reason.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
Often deemed the “king of cheese” by those in the know, Parmigiano Reggiano is another selection that is broadly available, but that must be sought by its official name. The term “parmesan” was developed to get around name-protected restrictions, and anything labeled as such is a far cry from the real thing.
“‘Parmesan’ in the supermarket could be anything at all,” says Howard, “whereas, you know that Parmigiano Reggiano is crafted in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. It’s a very different cheese than Le Gruyere AOP, but like it, there is a dedicated consortium that is committed to honoring every single step of the process so that nothing gets stamped with that label that isn’t incredibly high quality,” she says.
You can typically find the real thing next to the parmesan shreds and powders. Even if it’s shrink-wrapped and cut into uniform pieces, so long as it’s called Parmigiano Reggiano you’re getting the good stuff. Full of crunchy crystals and flavor that brings forward pineapple notes, it isn’t just for cooking or shaving on top of pasta — put some chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano on your grazing cheese board and people will invariably ask “wait, what is this?”
Fromager D’Affinois Le Fromager
The best brie in your supermarket isn’t actually brie.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
The best brie available in your supermarket doesn’t have the word “brie” anywhere on the packaging. That’s because brie isn’t a category of cheese, only one player in what is known to cheese people as the “bloomy rind” game, and conventional, supermarket brie bears little resemblance in either flavor or texture to the real, French thing. So be wary of anything that is actually labeled “brie,” and steer yourself toward those that look like brie, but aren’t.
Enter Fromager D’Affinois Le Fromager. (Don’t worry about the pronunciation. You can just tell everyone it’s brie.) An ultrafiltration process and custom cultures ensure a cheese that is both extra creamy and much fuller in flavor than industrial bries. Fromager d’Affinois cheeses are pasteurized according to U.S. regulations (real French brie is not, by the way), but “you still get a lot of nuance and depth of flavor that you would from raw milk cheeses,” says Howard.
Plus it’s a “double cream” cheese, meaning that extra cream is added to the base milk for richness. “With all that butterfat content, it’s going to be luxurious,” says Howard, and will actually ooze as it comes to room temperature, which a lot of industrial bries won’t. “If you put it out at a party, it’s going to disappear quickly, and it’s going to be a hit.”
St. Agur Blue
Real blue cheese like Saint Agur’s easy-to-find offering is dense, creamy, sweet and just a little spicy
Pamela Vachon/CNET
In this country, we are usually introduced to blue cheese in its saddest forms: conventional crumbles or bottled salad dressing, so it’s no wonder that many of us believe we don’t like it. Every blue cheese is different — there’s a blue for you, I swear it — real blue cheese is dense, creamy, sweet and just a little spicy or pungent from its blue veining.
Still not convinced? Try St. Agur, a blue cheese from France that enjoys wide distribution due to its large-scale production, but still exhibits artisanal qualities and is about as likable as blue cheese gets. “If you’re a blue cheese skeptic, I think this is a cheese that could convert you,” says Howard.
Like Fromager D’Affinois above, St. Agur is also a double cream cheese, with the additional cream adding to the cheese’s richness and semi-sweet flavor. Even if you’re not snacking on it but are simply looking for a salad crumble, it’s better to go with the real thing and do the (minor) work yourself. “Grating a lot of harder cheese might take some time, but crumbling a creamy blue cheese is super easy,” says Howard.
Chevre
Tangy chevre cheese can be found in any grocery store in the US.
Pamela Vachon
A log of fresh goat cheese is always a good find from your supermarket. I didn’t name a brand here; because of its fresh and inexpensive nature, you may be able to find a good, relatively local brand in your supermarket wherever you are shopping. Vermont Creamery is a great choice on the East Coast, and Laura Chenel — the first lady of goat cheese in the U.S. — is excellent on the West. Trader Joe’s carries one of my absolute favorites, a goat cheese log with an herb blend known as fine herbs. (Looks like “fine,” but is French, and therefore “feen.”)
“Chevre is always very pretty on a cheese plate or a salad with its snow-white color from the goat’s milk, and it has this beautiful, tangy quality that sets it apart and just lends some personality and zing to whatever it touches,” says Howard. “And it is very versatile in the kitchen. It’s a great way to kind of spruce up a flatbread or a pasta with minimal effort.”
It also happens to be a great value, and can often be found in the neighborhood of just three dollars, for those who lament the price of cheese when it comes to buying the quality stuff.
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar
Cabot Clothbound is a premier cheddar with mass market distribution.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
Cheddar is the second-most consumed cheese in the U.S. — mozzarella is the first, owing to our love of pizza — but few of us know it in its true, original nature. Cheddar wasn’t born yellow in shrink-wrapped packages. If you’re not yet hip to “clothbound” or “bandaged-wrapped” cheddars, prepare for a mind-blowing experience of flavor and texture.
“It’s exactly how it sounds,” says Howard. “It is literally bound in a cloth and wrapped up,” which preserves its moisture, especially when rubbed with oil or lard during the aging process. “It is a kind of alchemy of maturation, where the flavors develop in a specific way,” she says, “and it’s a tradition from English cheddar that also is about 1000 years old, and it creates this beautiful crumbly texture, and approachable but complex flavor as the cheese ages.” Think hazelnuts and horseradish.
Cabot is one of the first families of U.S. cheesemaking, and its Clothbound Cheddar is a sharp and savory marvel. Before “girl dinner” there was “ploughman’s lunch,” where a robust cheddar of this kind was served with a hunk of bread, some mustard and ale to wash it down with. Can we please make this a hashtag?
Manchego
You can’t go wrong with a block of salty manchego.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
You already know you love Manchego, but do you know why? “When I worked at a wine and cheese bar, we would always joke that everybody asked for Manchego,” says Howard. “I think it’s a lot of people’s gateway into fancy cheese, and it’s really delicious.”
The good news is that Manchego isn’t an industrial cheese hiding in fancy cheese’s clothing. It happens to be an expertly crafted, carefully protected cheese that is Spain’s number one export, so we happen to have a lot of it available. You’ll recognize it from its basket-weave-looking rind. While baskets are no longer used in the aging of Manchego, it’s a nod to its historical pedigree.
“I think what’s so appealing about it is that it’s made with sheep milk from La Mancha sheep in central Spain, and sheep’s milk has more fat and more protein than cow’s milk, so it’s extra rich and extra full of delicious flavor,” says Howard. “It’s both approachable, but a little bit unexpected and outside of what you might eat every day.”
Pro tip: if the Manchego on your cheese board starts to sweat, this is a good thing, not a red flag. Due to the high fat content of sheep’s milk cheese, it’s just the fat globules liquefying as the cheese comes to room temp, and it indicates that the cheese is at a good temperature for serving to enjoy its maximum flavor.
Humboldt Fog
Blue cheese is polarizing but you can find this excellent version at most grocery stores.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
Cypress Grove is one of America’s first artisanal cheesemakers, beginning in 1983. It was purchased by Emmi in 2010, one of the larger cheese distributors in the U.S., but that just means more of us get to enjoy it, but its cheeses are still crafted with care and creativity.
Humboldt Fog is a stunner and one that you can even find in your typical supermarket. More than just a fresh goat’s milk cheese, it’s got a delicate bloomy rind and a sexy stripe of ash to show off.
“Humboldt Fog is one of the first original American artisan cheeses, inspired by the fog that comes in in the morning in Humboldt County, California where it was created,” says Howard. “Some people think the ash stripe that bisects it is blue, but it is vegetable ash, so it doesn’t affect the taste of the cheese, but it does create a very beautiful presentation for a cheese board.” (This was also one of three American cheeses that were served to the President of France at a State dinner in Washington D.C. French/American relations remain secure so that’s saying something.)
Even those who don’t love goat cheese can’t resist its look. “A lot of people are hesitant about goat cheese,” says Howard, “and I find this a goat cheese that can win over even goat cheese skeptics.”
Midnight Moon
Midnight Moon is available at most major supermarkets.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
Midnight Moon was my personal conversion cheese, where the lightbulb went off that some cheeses were better than the conventional ones I had grown up consuming. (Those are still good, and I still love them.) Another selection from Cypress Grove, imagine my ongoing joy that I don’t even have to go to the fancy supermarket in my neighborhood in order to acquire some Midnight Moon, which is sitting in the case not far from my childhood cheeses.
“When I worked behind a cheese counter, if we didn’t know what to give someone, Midnight Moon was always the sure bet,” says Howard. “People loved it, cheese newbies and cheese connoisseurs alike,” she says. “It has the sweetness that comes from the Gouda process and cultures, and then it’s aged for six months or longer, so it has those delicious crunchy tyrosine crystals, and then it’s a goat milk cheese, which is really unexpected.”
Sartori Bellavitano
Pamela Vachon/CNET
Wisconsin is America’s dairy state, so it fits that a Wisconsin cheese is one of the best supermarket cheeses you can find. Sartori Bellavitano is a cheese that behaves like equal parts of parm and gouda, bringing a salty sweetness to the occasion. It also comes in a number of flavors and styles to suit myriad tastes.
“If you want to be playful on a cheese board and introduce a beautifully colored rind, or just something that stands out they have a bunch of flavors,” says Howard, including selections that are wine-soaked, studded with herbs or peppercorns, or rubbed with espresso. “It’s kind of eye catching and a good conversation starter, but it’s also a high bar of quality for a industrial produced cheese, and is consistent and delicious.”
베팅 요건이 없는 것은 상금을 걸지 않고 온라인 카지노 게임을 즐길 수 있는 가장 좋은 방법 중 하나입니다. 또한 언제든지 실제 돈 잔액을 인출할 수 있다는 의미이기도 합니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 단점이 없는 것은 아니며 플레이어는 약관을 주의 깊게 읽어 작동 방식을 이해해야 합니다.
베팅 요건은 상금을 인출하기 전에 보너스를 통해 플레이해야 하는 횟수를 알려줍니다. 이는 카지노 프로모션의 중요한 부분이며 카지노는 이를 사용하여 남용을 방지하고 공정한 게임 플레이를 보장합니다. 대부분의 보너스에는 베팅 요건이 있지만 몇 가지 예외도 있습니다.
베팅 요건이 없는 카지노는 플레이스루 조건이 없는 슬롯을 제공하는 웹사이트입니다. 이는 일반적으로 더 작은 보너스이며 종종 무료 스핀의 형태로 제공되지만 다른 유형의 프로모션의 형태일 수도 있습니다.
베팅이 없는 슬롯 사이트를 찾는 방법은 여러 가지가 있지만 신뢰할 수 있는 기관에서 유효한 도박 양보를 받은 라이선스가 있는 사이트만 선택해야 합니다. 이렇게 하면 이러한 카지노가 법을 준수하고 개인 데이터를 보호한다는 것을 확신할 수 있습니다. 또한, 상금을 빠르게 인출할 수 있는 신뢰할 수 있는 은행 옵션이 있는 카지노만 선택해야 합니다.
베팅 요구 사항이 없는 온라인 슬롯
무배팅 입금 보너스를 제공하는 카지노는 꽤 많지만, 자신에게 맞는 카지노를 찾는 것이 중요합니다. 최소 입금 요건이 낮고 업계에서 좋은 평판을 가진 카지노를 찾아야 합니다. 또한, 카지노가 신뢰할 수 있는 관할권에서 규제되고 안전한 암호화를 사용하여 민감한 정보를 보호하는지 확인하세요.
낮은 배팅 요건을 갖춘 무배팅 카지노를 최대한 활용하려면 높은 환급 비율과 많은 스릴을 제공하는 슬롯 게임도 선택해야 합니다. 가장 인기 있는 게임으로는 Book of Dead, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest가 있습니다. 이들은 캐주얼 플레이어와 진지한 플레이어 모두에게 좋은 선택입니다.
네, 무배팅 슬롯을 제공하는 온라인 슬롯 사이트는 많이 있습니다. “무배팅 슬롯” 또는 “무배팅 슬롯 사이트”로 검색하면 찾을 수 있습니다. 또한 각 사이트의 이용 약관을 확인하여 선호 사항을 충족하는지 확인해야 합니다.
올바른 슬롯 게임을 선택하는 것은 승리를 극대화하고 손실을 줄이는 데 도움이 되기 때문에 중요합니다. 각 슬롯 머신의 규칙을 읽고 작동 방식을 이해하면 됩니다. 게다가, 무료 버전의 게임에서 재미로 플레이하여 기술을 연습할 수도 있습니다. 이렇게 하면 실제 돈을 걸고 플레이하기 전에 규칙을 배우고 전략을 연습할 수 있습니다. 또한, 너무 많이 잃지 않으려면 항상 적당히 플레이해야 합니다. 실제 돈을 걸고 플레이하는 것은 중독성이 있을 수 있고 손실에 대한 한계를 정하는 것이 중요하기 때문입니다.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed puzzle for Oct. 4, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: What lanternfish can do, using organs called photophores Answer: GLOW
5A clue: Channel with “Vanderpump Rules” and “Below Deck” Answer: BRAVO
6A clue: Consumed Answer: EATEN
7A clue: Really need a bath Answer: STINK
8A clue: Change for a twenty Answer: TENS
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Storm drain cover Answer: GRATE
2D clue: “Et tu, Brute?” language Answer: LATIN
3D clue: Bakery fixtures Answer: OVENS
4D clue: Stats or policy nerd Answer: WONK
5D clue: Work email sign-off Answer: BEST
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
JBL Pulse 5: JBL’s Pulse speaker is now in its fifth generation, and both the sound quality and 360-degree light show have been improved. JBL has “expanded the transparent outer body” so the customizable light show looks more impressive. (There’s a companion app for iOS and Android that allows you to alter the colorful lighting effects.) The speaker is also IP67 dust-proof and waterproof, and it offers up to 12 hours of battery at moderate volume levels. If you’re looking for more information on the newest launch, check out our first look of the JBL Pulse 5.
Tribit StormBox: The StormBox looks like a cross between a UE and a JBL speaker. We suspect that’s not an accident. This fully waterproof speaker costs significantly less than the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 and produces a bigger sound. Its rechargeable battery offers up to 20 hours of battery life for playing music and more. Tribit’s XSound speakers are probably a better value, but the StormBox is more stylish.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen): A couple of years ago, Bang & Olufsen upgraded its dome-shaped aluminum-clad A1 speaker with improved battery life, better speakerphone performance (it now has a three-microphone array) and slightly improved sound. It’s not only the smallest wireless speaker from the Danish company, it’s technically the most affordable. The speaker has some great features for the price that you can learn more about in our Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 review.
Bose SoundLink Micro: Although a little pricey and due to be upgraded, the Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably decent for its tiny size, delivering more bass than other pocketable speakers. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and is available in three color options, although the blue version appears to be hard to find. Check out our full review of Bose’s SoundLink Micro speaker here.
Anker Soundcore Motion Plus: Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus came out in 2019, but it remains one of the best-sounding speakers for around $100. It’s larger than many mini Bluetooth speakers, but it’s still compact. It manages to sound quite a bit fuller than much of the competition in its price range, with bigger bass, more volume and better clarity. It’s also fully waterproof (IPX7-rated) and has support for the aptX streaming codec for devices like Samsung’s Galaxy phones that support it. The speaker is packed full of other features that we talk about in our Anker SoundCore Motion Plus review.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore: While it’s a little overpriced for the sound quality it delivers, the Beosound Explore is a very good little speaker that has a sleek, eye-catching design, is fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67 rating), and offers excellent battery life, with up to 27 hours of music listening at moderate volume levels.
Looking for moreWordle answers? Click here for our daily Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections and Strands puzzles.
There are plenty of other online word games now, but I still play the New York Times Wordle game every day. These days, it’s not only an old friend, it’s also a nice warm-up for Connections, Strands and the rest.
Also, we’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity, if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. If you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer begins with the letter W.
Wordle hint No. 4: On Broadway
Today’s Wordle answer is in the title of a Broadway musical that became a movie starring Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood,
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a vehicle used by American settlers and drawn by oxen, horses or mules.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is WAGON.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Oct. 2, No. 1201, was SHELL.
Before anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on new wireless headset. The quality of value-priced headsets continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headsets and headphones for less than $100. But the premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $200 or more — sometimes much more.
Boom microphone or not?
When a headphone has boom microphone, that’s when it technically becomes what we describe as a “headset.” While many consumer headphones work well for making calls, having an extended microphone that sits closer to your mouth can improve how well your voice gets picked, making it sound clearer. When retracted, some boom microphones will mute the headset so people can’t hear you. And some boom mics now feature mute buttons on them. This is an important feature for video calls where you want to easily mute and unmute yourself. The downside to having the boom microphone is that it makes you look like you’re wearing a headset instead of headphones. That’s a bit of factor if you plan on wearing whatever you buy outside your home or office.
Fit, aka comfort
It’s key that the headset or headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug yet not too snug. Ideally, you want a headset of headphones you can wear over the course of a day with minimal breaks.
Durability
You want headset that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Return policy
It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer’s remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one.
Not great for back or stomach sleepers unless you’re under 150 pounds
The Puffy Lux mattress combines plush memory foam with hybrid support, making it a great option for side sleepers who prefer a soft, cloud-like feel. With its medium-soft firmness, the mattress cradles the body, providing pressure relief while still offering support with its pocketed coils. If you enjoy sinking into a comfortable, airy foam mattress, the Puffy Lux might be a perfect fit.
Of course, people have varying preferences, so not everyone will like a soft mattress. As such, the Puffy Lux isn’t for everyone. It’s the right pick for the cozy mattress lover who loves a good memory foam feel they can nestle into. Below is my full Puffy Lux mattress review and the lowdown on whether I think it’s worth the money.
Read more: How CNET tests mattresses: We do the work so you don’t have to
Puffy
First impressions of the Puffy Lux mattress
The Puffy logo is a cloud, and clouds are scattered across the cover of the Puffy Lux mattress, so it’s safe to say I had high expectations for the softness of this mattress. I soon found out it not only talks the talk, but it walks the walk too. This mattress is like one big marshmallow. It’s very obviously a memory foam mattress, but it’s not super dense. It feels soft and gently presses against your body, cradling your curves. You can also tell it’s a hybrid mattress (the inner springs are in the bottom layer) because of how sturdy and supportive it feels. My back does sag a little bit into the bed when I’m on my back or stomach, so I feel most comfortable when I’m on my side.
Video: Puffy Lux Mattress Review
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the Puffy Lux mattress.
Puffy Lux firmness and feel
How firm is the Puffy Lux mattress?
After testing and lying on this mattress, I would consider it a little softer than a medium; in between medium and medium-soft or a 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale. You sink into the mattress more than you sit on top of it, and it relieves pressure around your curves and joints. It’s not the best at keeping my back from dropping into the mattress, but it would feel more supportive for somebody who weighs under 150 pounds.
How does the Puffy Lux mattress feel?
Puffy was not shy with the memory foam in this mattress and it’s very prevalent, but it’s more light and airy than it is dense. Some memory foams take a few seconds to nestle around your body and even feel firm at first, but that’s not the case with the Puffy Lux. The soft memory foam molds around my body immediately and I slowly sink into the bed’s comfort layer. It really gives you that “ahhhh” feeling, kind of like you’re being hugged by a teddy bear.
A look at the inside of the Puffy Lux Hybrid (the pocketed coils are hiding behind the thick foam encasing, which is meant to improve edge support).
My Slumber Yard
Puffy Lux mattress construction
If you were to cut open this mattress, you’d see four different layers inside stacked on top of each other. Since I don’t suggest you ruin your mattress to peek inside, I’ll give you a breakdown of the bed’s 12-inch construction:
1. A 7-inch system of pocketed coils Puffy calls Contour Adapt coils. It’s surrounded by dense foam along the perimeter to reinforce the edges so they feel strong and sturdy if you sleep on the edge of your bed.
2. Climate Comfort foam acts as a transition layer to form a barrier in between the coils and the different foams above. It gets its name from its humidity-resistant capabilities as it wicks moisture away.
3. Plush Dual Cloud foam is comfortable foam that helps give the bed its cozy cloud feel.
4. Cooling Cloud foam helps give the mattress its soft memory foam feel that hugs your curves.
5. A hypoallergenic cover Puffy calls stain-resistant. I wouldn’t go out of your way to test this claim, but it is machine-washable in case you need to clean something up.
Puffy Lux mattress performance
Motion isolation
Even though the Puffy Lux is a hybrid mattress made with coils, it’s really good at deadening movement across the mattress. I give the credit to the several layers of memory foam stacked on the top, which absorb motion like a pro. If you share a mattress with a partner, this will help prevent you from being disturbed when they move around in the middle of the night.
Edge support
Not only does the Puffy Lux contain steel coils that help maintain the integrity of the bed’s support system, but they’re backed with dense, firm foam as a double reinforcement. If you’re forced to the edge of your mattress because your partner is a kicker or a bed hog, you won’t feel like you’re going to roll off the side.
Temperature
Don’t be fooled by the name of this bed’s Cooling Cloud foam. It’s not going to feel very cool. On the flip side, it’s not going to warm up either. Instead, I find the Puffy Lux sleeps temperature-neutral; the temperature of your room, your pajamas, the region you live in and whether or not you sleep with a partner will probably play a bigger role in how warm you get while you sleep.
Who will like the Puffy Lux mattress?
A soft firmness level is more accommodating to certain sleeping positions than others, and it’s important to pay attention to your most dominant position to determine if a mattress is going to be right for you. Your body type also plays a role in how suitable a mattress is going to be.
Position
The Puffy Lux mattress is perfectly soft and plush to relieve the hip and shoulder joints of a side sleeper.
Zooey Liao/CNET
Soft mattresses are best for side sleepers because they allow enough give for your shoulders and hips to push into the layers, for more pressure relief and comfort. Beds that feel plush may not be supportive enough to keep a stomach or back sleeper’s spine in a straight alignment, which can lead to back pain when you wake up in the morning. Unless you weigh under 150 pounds, back and stomach sleepers will want to look into a firm mattress.
Combination sleepers, on the other hand, should be just fine on this mattress as long as your primary positions aren’t your back and stomach.
Body type
Hybrid mattresses like Puffy makes are accommodating for all body types, it just depends on the level of support you’re looking for.
People who weigh over 150 pounds will appreciate the support the Puffy Lux provides with its 7-inch pocketed coil system, while petite body types can accept or pass on a hybrid depending on whether or not they want that additional support. I also see it being worth the money for somebody who strictly sleeps on their side and wants a truly plush mattress.
Puffy Lux Pricing
Size
Measurements (inches)
Price
Twin
38 x 75 inches
$2,249
Twin XL
38 x 80 inches
$2,399
Full
54 x 74 inches
$2,649
Queen
60 x 80 inches
$2,849
King
76 x 80 inches
$3,049
Cal king
72 x 84 inches
$3,049
Split king
76 x 80 inches
$3,448
I have good news and bad news. The bad news: At MSRP, the Puffy Lux mattress is a little expensive; a queen size retails for $2,849. The good news is that Puffy often offers a discount so you can walk away with a good deal. If you shop today, you can benefit from an extended Presidents Day sale happening right now.
Trial, warranty, shipping
You won’t find Puffy anywhere in stores, so you’ll have to purchase Puffy mattresses from the company’s website. Puffy does try to sweeten the deal with a nice trial period, a generous warranty policy and free shipping.
You’ll receive free shipping to your doorstep, and your mattress will arrive rolled up inside of a cardboard box. It will be a little smelly, like a new car, right when you unbox it. The smell will dissipate after a day or two.
You’ll have 101 nights to test your bed, and a lifetime warranty to back it if you decide to keep your Puffy Lux. This is pretty impressive and it shows that Puffy is confident about the integrity of its product.
Final verdict
As a stomach sleeper, for me, the Puffy Lux is a little too soft to keep my back in a proper alignment. If you’re a side sleeper or a combination sleeper who enjoys side sleeping, this mattress was made for you. Its soft, airy and fluffy foams slowly hug your body and your curves, and it’s really pleasant if you’re a sleeper who can’t get enough of memory foam. It’s a little expensive, so I might not recommend it to budget shoppers, but it’s a good pick for people who have the extra income to spend on a new bed.
You might like the Puffy Lux because:
A lifetime warranty for a mattress is impressive and showcases its quality construction.
Its soft feel is perfect for side and combination sleepers.
Its hybrid construction accommodates all body types.
Extra foam reinforcements around the edge make the sides sturdier (a plus for couples).
It boasts a comforting memory foam feel that’s light and airy.
You want an easy-to-clean mattress with a machine-washable cover.
You might not like the Puffy Lux if:
You want a firm mattress (for example, you suffer from back pain, or sleep on your back or stomach).
You dislike the feel of memory foam.
You’re on a budget.
Other mattresses from Puffy
Puffy Royal Hybrid: The Royal Hybrid mattress is one of the most luxurious offerings from Puffy. It has a responsive memory foam feel that has a nice balance between the sink-in quality of foam without being too dense. It sits between a medium and a medium-soft on our firmness scale, making it the best option for side sleepers.
How does the Puffy Lux mattress compare to other mattress?
Brooklyn Bedding Signature vs Puffy Lux: The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is another popular hybrid mattress. Instead of having a single firmness level, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature is available at three firmness levels. The softest option is around medium-soft, which is slightly softer than the Puffy Lux.
Helix Sunset Luxe vs Puffy Lux: The Helix Sunset Luxe mattress is another soft bed we’ve tested. It’s also extremely soft and great for side sleepers, although the main difference is how the mattress feels. Instead of the memory foam feel you get from Puffy, the Helix Sunset Luxe has a pillow-top feel.
The Puffy Lux mattress is a hybrid mattress with durable pocketed coils and several layers of memory foam.
We rate the Puffy Lux mattress as a medium-soft or three on our firmness scale. That means it’s best for strict-side sleepers who need a soft mattress with a lot of pressure relief. Back and stomach sleepers may find this mattress too soft for their needs.
The average lifespan of a mattress is around eight years. Although how you take care of your bed will influence how much life you get from it. Puffy backs its mattresses with a lifetime warranty.
Apple’s iPad lineup has never been so strong, and it’s responsible for some of the best tablets on the market right now. They’re an easy choice for people who already live within the Apple ecosystem. They’re fast, feature long-lasting batteries and are highly portable. The latest high-end M4 iPad Pro is a powerful tablet with a stunning display, for example, but it’s also among the most expensive tablets we’ve seen. Thankfully, there are deals to be had across the lineup, including on the diminutive iPad Mini and the capable M2 iPad Air. That M4 iPad Pro, the best iPad in Apple’s lineup, can often be picked up with a discount.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
We’ll be updating this list regularly to ensure it reflects the most recent prices, so be sure to check back later if you don’t see something that’s right for you today.
Read more: Best iPad for 2024: Navigating Apple’s Tablets
Best iPad deals
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
It’s a little older, but the 10.2-inch iPad from 2021 is still a solid option. It lacks USB-C support, but it’s an excellent price, which makes it a good choice for kids or just as a backup option. The 64GB model is currently discounted by $105.
Read our ninth-gen iPad review.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
The latest model of the iPad Mini packs a lot of might into such a small device. Just a touch bigger than a mobile phone, this is great for those who want a tablet that’s truly portable. It’s $110 off at Amazon right now.
Read our iPad Mini review.
Apple/CNET
The latest version of the iPad Air comes with a fast M2 chip and a choice of 11- and 13-inch display sizes. It’s fast and sleek, and right now you can save on yours with the biggest savings available on the bigger display.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
This iPad Air is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a fast and efficient device. It’s got power and speed aplenty, and while the screen isn’t the best on the market, it still does a good job at streaming shows and handling late-night work sessions. It isn’t the newest model and is increasingly difficult to find. Right now it’s out of stock and the newer sixth-gen model might be a better bet.
Read our iPad Air 2022 review.
Apple/CNET
Our review team noted this generation iPad Pro was the best for Apple Pencil fans, but that’s not the only thing this model has going for it. The powerful M2 chip isn’t as cutting edge as the M4 chip, but this iPad still gets the job done and then some. Plus it’s $200 less than usual, and trading in a similar device could get you up to $300 in trade-in credit.
Note: Best Buy deals vary and some locations might not have this exact deal. They may have open-box deals at varying prices that can still help you save.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
Amazon is currently offering the latest M4 iPad Pro for $928, a sizeable savings that gets you a great tablet at a great price.
Apple just launched the iPhone 16 lineup, but don’t forget about the company’s cheaper, smaller model: the $429 iPhone SE.
The pint-size iPhone made a comeback in 2020 and 2022, and another new version is expected to arrive in early 2025, according to Bloomberg.
Unlike Apple’s flagship iPhone family, the iPhone SE’s launch timing is somewhat irregular. The first generation SE launched in 2016, followed by the second version in 2020 and the third in 2022. Apple also hasn’t mentioned whether it plans to release new iPhone SE models moving forward since it rarely speaks about future products. But now that Apple has moved away from the iPhone Mini, the iPhone SE has an important role to play as the more portable and more affordable iPhone in Apple’s lineup.
Read more: After 2 Weeks With the iPhone 16, This Is My Favorite Feature
There’s plenty of room for Apple to further improve its cheaper iPhone. While my colleague Patrick Holland praised the 2022 iPhone SE for its accessible price and familiar home button, he criticized it for its lack of night mode photos and dated design. Android competitors like Samsung and Google have also improved their similarly priced budget phones in recent years. The Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A55 5G both offer features once reserved for premium devices, like high refresh rates and multiple cameras.
It’s impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. Based on predictions and reports from Bloomberg, MacRumors and the plugged-in TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with other leaks and Apple’s product launch history, here’s what we’d expect from Apple’s next budget iPhone.
Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment regarding a future iPhone SE when this story was originally published.
Watch this: iPhone 16 Review: All About the Buttons
iPhone SE 4 may launch in early 2025
There has been a lot of back-and-forth about the iPhone SE 4’s launch timing in recent years. But an August report from the often-accurate Mark Gurman of Bloomberg suggests that a new iPhone SE could debut in the beginning of 2025. That suggests it may arrive in the first quarter, which would line up with Apple’s previous iPhone SE release dates. The first and third generation models, for example, both launched in March.
The report comes after reports and speculation about the iPhone SE’s existence have been uncertain over the last several years. In 2019, the analyst Kuo said Apple was working on an iPhone SE with a full-screen design similar to the iPhone XR, as MacRumors reported at the time. Apple has released two versions of the iPhone SE since then that retain the old iPhone 8-inspired design, which led to speculation about whether the model Kuo was referring to has been canceled or postponed.
Kuo’s 2023 predictions regarding the iPhone SE 4 have also been mixed. He reported last January that an iPhone SE originally planned for 2024 was canceled but followed up to say the project had been revived. He changed his prediction again in April 2023 to say that the model he previously referred to might just be an engineering prototype for an Apple in-house 5G baseband chip. His previous comments also suggested the iPhone SE 4 would include this 5G chip.
Read more: Inside the Apple Watch Series 10’s New Sleep Apnea Detection Feature
But newer reports, including one from MacRumors, indicate Apple is indeed developing a new iPhone SE that reportedly includes some dramatic upgrades.
It will likely have a new processor and Apple Intelligence
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
The iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple’s most recent flagship iPhone. For example, the 2022 iPhone SE has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Since Apple’s newest mobile chip is usually the iPhone SE’s standout feature, it’s hard to imagine Apple straying from that pattern.
But that’s more important than ever now that Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of new AI features, is dependent on the company’s latest chips. The iPhone 16 family and last year’s Pro models are the only iPhones that will be able to run these features for now. But based on Apple’s history and Bloomberg’s report, which says the iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence, it looks like that could change in the coming months.
Apple Intelligence includes new AI-powered features such as the ability to rewrite, summarize and proofread text, a new version of Siri that’s better at understanding words even when you fumble, the ability to erase objects in photos and notification and message summaries, among other features. The first wave of Apple Intelligence features will arrive in beta next month, while more features — such as the ability to generate custom emoji — will come later.
Otherwise, the next iPhone SE could have an Apple-made 5G chip, according to Kuo. Still, it’s hard to know if that prediction still applies since he later revised his estimate to say this device was likely an engineering prototype to test that 5G chip. MacRumors also reports that the iPhone SE 4 will have an Apple-made 5G modem.
An iPhone 14-like design with an OLED screen
The iPhone 14
James Martin/CNET
If the company is working on another iPhone SE, it will likely have a 6.1-inch screen similar to Apple’s modern flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, by comparison, has a 4.7-inch screen with thick borders at the top and chin, much like the iPhone 8.
In particular, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to look a lot like the iPhone 14, which Apple launched in 2022. A MacRumors article reported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 will have a modified version of the iPhone 14’s chassis and reiterated that point again in November.Bloomberg’s report also suggests the iPhone SE4 will resemble Apple’s two-year-old flagship.
It’s not just the design that’s expected to get an upgrade; the display will see improvements too. Multiple reports, including those from Kuo, MacRumors, Bloomberg, The Elec and Nikkei Asia, suggest the next iPhone SE will have an OLED screen instead of LCD. That’s a big deal because OLED typically displays richer contrast and deeper blacks, and these types of screens are consistent across the rest of Apple’s iPhone lineup.
Read more: Thinking About Buying a Foldable Phone? Here’s How to Decide
The iPhone SE will likely have a larger battery
The next iPhone SE could inherit the iPhone 14’s battery as well, according to MacRumors. If the blog’s previous reports about the iPhone SE 4 following in the iPhone 14’s footsteps prove to be accurate, a larger battery would be necessary to power its larger screen. Apple doesn’t disclose the battery capacities for its phones, but it says the iPhone 14 should get five extra hours of video playback compared to the third-generation iPhone SE. Between the new chip and bigger battery that we’re expecting to find in the next iPhone SE, it sounds like Apple’s next affordable iPhone could see some pretty significant gains in battery life.
Goodbye Touch ID, hello Face ID
Fans of Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. MacRumors reports that the next iPhone SE will have Face ID, like other modern iPhones, instead of Apple’s fingerprint sensor. That conflicts with Kuo’s report from 2019, which indicated that the next iPhone SE would have a smaller notch area without Face ID and Touch ID embedded in the power button. But since Kuo’s report is about five years old, that information may be outdated.
It may get the iPhone 15’s camera, USB-C and Action button
Kevin Heinz/CNET
Apple’s next wallet-friendly iPhone may have a few things in common with Apple’s newer iPhones. Since Apple switched to USB-C for the iPhone 15 lineup to comply with new European rules, it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 could ditch the Lightning connector as well. MacRumors also claims the iPhone SE 4 will have USB-C.
The more surprising note in MacRumors’ story is that the iPhone SE 4 could gain the Action button, which is a new key for programming shortcuts that’s currently exclusive to the iPhone 16 family, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If true, it would be another sign that Apple wants to make the Action button standard across the iPhone lineup, coming after it brought the Action button to the standard models this year.
MacRumors also reports that a 48-megapixel single camera could be in store for the next iPhone SE. That would signal another similarity it could share with the iPhone 15 and 16, which also have 48-megapixel main cameras. If the report is accurate, the iPhone SE will only have one rear camera, unlike Apple’s more expensive phones. The regular iPhone 15 has wide and ultra-wide cameras, while the Pro versions have wide, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras.
But Apple introduced the “Fusion” camera on this year’s regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which it says enables a 2x optical quality zoom despite lacking a dedicated telephoto lens. While reports don’t specify whether the iPhone SE 4 will have this camera, it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple implemented it to compensate for the iPhone SE’s single camera setup.
If the rumors are true, the fourth-generation iPhone SE could bring Apple’s tiny, budget iPhone up to date with the rest of Apple’s lineup. Depending on the price, it could end up being a solid choice for people in need of a more modern iPhone that don’t care about the iPhone 16’s extra flourishes, like the Camera Control button.
Apple’s iPhone 16, 16 Plus Show Off Bolder Colors and Buttons
While you might associate cooler fall temperatures with flu season, it’s also a good time to start thinking about COVID-19 protection. You can now get updated COVID vaccines — including the new Novavax vaccine, and the federal government has started sending at-home COVID tests again.
Using the COVIDTests.gov website, US households can once again order four free at-home COVID test kits. The government opened the ordering system on Sept. 26.
Beyond the free tests from USPS, there are still a few different ways to get free testing for COVID-19. Read on to find out the ways you can still get free COVID testing, as well as how to get free COVID treatments.
For more, learn the best time to get a flu shot and how to tell whether your symptoms are COVID-19, flu or just allergies.
How does the USPS free COVID-19 test program work?
In January 2022, President Joe Biden announced the launch of CovidTests.gov, a website where households could order four free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests shipped by the Postal Service. The site added four more free tests in March 2022, eight more in May 2022, four more in December 2022 and four more again in September 2023. This new round of shipments also includes four COVID tests to start. It’s not certain if there will be another round of free tests this winter.
Unlike some complicated government applications, ordering free tests from the Postal Service is simple. It take less than 2 minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address, and the tests should ship in about a week or two. People without internet access or those who have trouble ordering online can request tests using a toll-free phone number: 800-232-0233
It’s not clear exactly how long the free COVID-19 tests will last, so it’s best to get your order in as early as possible..
How can I order free tests from USPS?
Visit CovidTests.gov and then click on the blue button reading Order Free At-homeTests, which will take you to the ordering page. You only need to provide your name and your address to order your tests. You can also enter an email if you want to receive shipping notifications. You don’t need to provide any credit or debit card details — the tests and the shipping are free.
All orders will be shipped via First Class Package Service. People who can’t access the website or who have trouble ordering online should be able to call 800-232-0233 to order their free tests.
When will my COVID tests arrive?
In the past, free COVID tests from USPS have arrived about two weeks after ordering. The tests are typically sent out within seven to 12 days and are delivered by USPS within one to three days after shipping.
What are my other free COVID-19 testing options?
Aside from the Postal Service’s program to ship free COVID tests, you have five main avenues to find free COVID-19 testing locations across the US: HRSA health centers, Test to Treat locations, ICATT testing sites, private health insurance, and Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These options function similarly, but we’ll break down the specific steps to find your nearest free testing location.
First, select the language you would like to receive your results in. Then simply enter the location you wish to search into the box labeled Location. The locator also allows you to widen your search radius, so you can see all the options your area has to offer.
Once you’ve found a center that works for you, click through to that particular location’s website and follow their specific instructions for obtaining a free COVID-19 test.
Test to Treat locations have COVID testing and medicine
The Test to Treat program makes COVID testing and therapeutics more accessible.
HHS/Screenshot by CNET
Test to Treat is a federally funded healthcare initiative that provides more accessible COVID-19 care. This option differs from the others in this article as you can use the Test to Treat centers to receive both COVID testing and treatment for infections. Like the other COVID-19 free testing options, Test to Treat has a locator tool that you can use to find an eligible Test to Treat center near you.
The Test to Treat center locator works like the other COVID testing search tools. Enter your location into the search bar and the tool will display Test to Treat locations in your area. A sliding bar lets you resize the search radius to capture all of the Test to Treat centers within your area.
Within the Test to Treat locator results, you’ll be able to see each location’s address, which COVID-19 therapeutics they offer and other special instructions you might need to know to get tested. If there’s not an option to schedule a COVID test online through your chosen site, you may need to call.
Increasing Community Access to Testing provides COVID testing for the uninsured
ICATT offers free testing to uninsured patients who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have recently been exposed.
CDC/Screenshot by CNET
Increasing Community Access to Testing is another free testing program that you can use if you need access to free COVID-19 testing. ICATT works a bit differently than the other programs on this list.
ICATT is specifically designed for uninsured patients who have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone can get an ICATT test at one of the program’s locations, regardless of insurance status. If you are uninsured and you wish to be tested at an ICATT-eligible site, you will not need to pay for your test. If you are insured, you might need to pay a fee.
The ICATT locator tool works just like the other locator tools for free COVID testing — input your address or your ZIP code to find ICATT locations near you. There is a search radius adjuster in this locator to tweak your searches to capture the entire area that you want to search.
Once you’ve found a location, follow your testing site’s steps for scheduling your appointment.
What about free COVID tests from health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid?
On Jan. 10, 2022, President Joe Biden announced that all health insurance companies would be required by law to provide their customers with eight free COVID-19 tests per month. That requirement expired with the end of the national public health emergency for COVID-19 on May 11, 2023.
California law still requires all health care providers to offer eight free at-home COVID-19 tests per month to their customers. Outside that state, you’ll need to check with your own health insurance to learn its coverage policy for over-the-counter COVID tests.
Medicare generally doesn’t pay for over-the-counter products like COVID-19 test kits, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare’s coverage of at-home COVID tests ended with the public health emergency.
If you’re enrolled in Medicare Plan B, you still have access to “laboratory-conducted COVID-19 tests” such as polymerase chain reaction tests, but you won’t be covered for over-the-counter rapid antigen tests. If you have health care coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, you can still receive free at-home COVID tests through Sept. 30, 2024.
For more, learn how your blood type could make you more susceptible to COVID.
A DNA test kit is a great tool to learn about your family history, but its usefulness can go beyond just ethnicity estimates. By testing your DNA sample, a test kit can provide information about predisposed medical conditions, which is very useful. The best genetic tests are from Ancestry and 23andMe. The latter was the first to offer a DNA testing kit you could use in the comfort of your own home. However, after reports of the company’s financial difficulties and data breach, you may want to know how other options stack up.
Below, we compare 23andMe with Ancestry, one of its most popular alternatives. Here’s how to tell which one’s best for you.
Ancestry vs. 23andMe
AncestryDNA
I tried the AncestryDNA kit, which comes with a saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag and a prepaid return label box. To register the kit, I downloaded the Ancestry app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can register your kit online too, and just manually enter the number.
When you make an account, the app asks for your consent on several items, including consent to process your sample, to store the sample if you want future testing, and to participate in research. The research includes taking surveys and questionnaires that AncestryDNA says it will use to attempt to better understand human history and health.
I declined to consent to store my sample or participate in research. AncestryDNA asks a few questions about your health history. You can edit what information becomes public or private on the site, and how you want to appear to other users if your DNA matches with someone else. You’ll have an opportunity to review all information before proceeding.
Read more: In the Future, Not Even Your DNA Will Be Sacred
Ancestry does not use the standard Y-chromosome and/or mitochondrial DNA methodologies most others use — so we know less about how it actually analyzes DNA.
After spitting in the tube, I mailed off the kit and confirmed that it was sent off in the app. The app “tracked” the kit’s journey from being received at the lab to processing and more before it told me my results were ready.
Your results will include an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. AncestryDNA also tells you which other users your DNA closely matches. It flagged my aunt, who also used the site, as Close Family. The app let me compare our Ethnicity Estimates and gave me the option to send her a message.
Read more: What AncestryDNA Taught Me About DNA, Privacy and the Complex World of Genetic Testing
Pros:
You can decline to have your sample stored or participate in research.
The AncestryHealth report was broken down into Notable Health Results, Health Results and Wellness Results. The reports include information about cancer risks, carrier status for diseases like cystic fibrosis and your blood health.
The wellness reports give you information on your vitamin levels, among other things.
AncestryHealth can flag potential health conditions based on the family history you shared or by variants detected in your DNA sample.
You get an Ethnicity Estimate report, which shows which regions in the world your ancestors were most likely linked to. This area on the map was color-coded, along with the others that my DNA was linked to. The AncestryDNA Regions list has over 1,000 regions that your sample is tested against, so you’ll see where your DNA didn’t turn up results, too.
Cons:
The family tree aspect and the DNA aspect required two separate apps. The desktop version keeps it all in one place if you work on a browser.
The health screening does not have Food and Drug Administration approval.
23andMe
I tried the Health and Ancestry kit which came with the saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag and a prepaid return label box. Like AncestryDNA, 23andMe also required kit registration (in-app or online) prior to testing. I downloaded the app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can also manually enter the code.
The 23andMe kit asked for consent on several items when I made an account, as AncestryDNA did. I could store my sample for future tests, participate in research, get health reports and had the ability to share my step data from a fitness app for a more comprehensive look at my activity. I declined all except the health reports.
Unlike Ancestry, 23andMe does have FDA approval as a risk screener for a handful of genetic conditions and diseases. If you’re primarily interested in DNA testing for this purpose, 23andMe is the better choice.
The app tracked my sample’s journey to the lab and the DNA extraction process. The app tested 216 populations to generate the report.
23andMe can display the results in a timeline, so you can see approximately how many generations ago your most recent ancestor came from each region. For example, my results turned up a tiny bit of Ashkenazi Jewish background, but my timeline indicated that the relative would’ve been alive five to eight generations ago. You can also view your results as a Chromosome Painting, which shows where in your chromosomes a specific region matched and how prevalent it is.
There were a lot of facets to explore in the results. For example, 23andMe gave me more information on each region my DNA matched. If I tapped on the icon for each country, 23andMe told me about the history of the region and the people’s migration patterns over time and also provided resources to learn about the culture, ways to book an Airbnb to visit and other features. I could also seek out possible relatives among 23andMe users and found my mother’s cousin.
Pros:
23andMe is FDA-approved as a risk screening.
23andMe’s health reports included predispositions, carrier status, wellness, traits and a health action plan. Predispositions tested for Parkinson’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, celiac disease and more. The lab would test for certain genetic variants.
The wellness report included interesting items like whether or not you’re a deep sleeper, how much you likely move in your sleep, genetic weight and other factors.
The traits reported are particularly interesting. These detailed how likely I was to be able to have a certain eye color, hate cilantro, have freckles, hate eating sounds, get bitten more by mosquitos and other things.
Cons:
Like with AncestryDNA, 23andMe specified that the test results weren’t a diagnosis or a guarantee that you wouldn’t be diagnosed with a disease later.
AncestryDNA vs. 23andMe cost comparison
The best DNA kits will have different services that come at varying prices. Let’s break down AncestryDNA’s and 23andMe’s services and costs.
AncestryDNA cost
AncestryDNA ($99): Ancestry’s basic offering allows you to search its US database for family connections.
AncestryDNA + Family Tree ($100): Includes access to international records to trace your family lineage.
AncestryDNA Traits + All Access ($199): In addition to the other services, you can access historical records and 35 genetic traits with this tier.
23andMe cost
23andMe offers four different DNA testing kits. All four products include ancestry reports, relative-finding options, trait reports and family tree building.
Ancestry and Traits Service ($119): Includes ancestry reports, relative finding options, trait reports and family tree building.
Health and Ancestry Service ($199): Includes carrier status reports, health predispositions and wellness reports.
23andMe Plus Membership ($268): Only the 23andMe Plus membership enhanced ancestry features, pharmacogenetics reports and consistent updates to existing reports.
23andMe Plus Total Health ($999): Builds upon the 23andMe Plus Membership reports and adds blood testing, biological age identification and genetics informed clinical care.
The bottom line
Ancestry is best known for its family tree feature. When you use its DNA testing service and integrate those results, you can view everything in one browser. The information is split across two different mobile apps, which is less helpful. Overall, Ancestry’s tools, including the ability to build a tree and link your health and DNA insights, definitely help paint a bigger picture of a person’s origins and can help facilitate a conversation with newly discovered family members.
23andMe has a more user-friendly layout and presents its findings in a way that encourages you to immerse yourself in your (possibly newfound) heritage. It lacks the strength that Ancestry has when it comes to building your family tree. I could view a predicted tree, but it was sparse and only included other 23andMe users.
Because I was already familiar with my family’s origins, I can say that both kits seemed to yield accurate results.
Who should choose AncestryDNA:
If you’re working on a family history project, AncestryDNA is the best choice for you. Remember that the family tree and DNA information are in two separate apps.
Who should choose 23andMe:
If you’re looking to learn about your genetics or health information, I’d go with 23andMe. You’ll like the easy-to-read format.
For more, find out how I used tech to uncover more about my own family tree. You can also order a DNA test from other services for your pet, if you really want to.
Watch this: Here’s how genetic genealogist CeCe Moore finds potential criminal suspects
Ancestry vs. 23andMe FAQs
Which is more accurate, AncestryDNA or 23andMe?
Both AncestryDNA and 23andMe seemed to yield accurate results. Ancestry has a bigger DNA database, but 23andMe has a more user-friendly layout. They are two of the best options you can get.
What is the difference between 23andMe and Ancestry?
23andMe and Ancestry are two of the best DNA kits you can use. When deciding which one you want to choose, it comes down to what you’re looking to get out of your search. If you’re looking for thorough health information, go with 23andMe. Ancestry is the better option if you’re looking for family members or chart your lineage.
Which DNA site is most accurate for ethnicity?
Thanks to its extensive DNA database, AncestryDNA is one of the best DNA tests for accurately assessing ethnicity. The results you get will be broken down into an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. The ethnicity report is an in-depth look at which regions your ancestors are linked to.
If you want to learn more about your genetics and health information, you’ll like 23andMe. It’s one of the most popular DNA kits you can get. The website and app do a great job of breaking down all the information provided about your health, ancestry and traits. Additionally, 23andMe has FDA approval as a risk screener for a handful of genetic conditions and diseases.
Correction, July 3: A previous version of this story transposed the “who should choose” sections. The error has been corrected.
Two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL will be on display in Arizona on Sunday. Kyler Murray has looked like his old self through three games this year, after missing parts of the past two seasons with a knee injury. Meanwhile, rookie Jayden Daniels entered the dual-threat QB chat last Monday night in leading the Commanders to a prime-time victory. Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for a third score.
The Commanders and Cards kick off in Arizona at 4:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. PT) on Fox. Here’s how you can watch, even if the game isn’t available on your local Fox channel.
After an injury-blighted last couple of seasons, Kyler Murray has made an impressive start to the new campaign for the Cardinals.
Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Commanders vs. Cardinals game today: When and where?
This matchup sees the Cardinals host the Commanders at 4:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. PT) on Sunday. The game will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Cardinals.
How to watch the Commanders vs. Cardinals game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally due to incorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch the game and that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, plus it’s a great idea for when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you’ve got a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to watch Commanders vs. Cardinals in the US
Sunday’s Commanders vs. Cardinals game is on Fox nationally. The good news for football fans is that Fox is available on most of the major live TV streaming services. The least expensive such service is Sling TV Blue.
Sling/CNET
Sling TV’s Blue plan includes NBC, Fox and the NFL Network, though it does not have CBS, ABC or ESPN. Enter your address here to see which local channels are available where you live. NFL RedZone is also available for an extra $11 a month.
Note that to get ABC and ESPN, you’ll need to switch to the similarly priced Orange plan (which drops Fox, NBC and NFL Network) or go for the combined $60 a month Orange and Blue bundle that includes channels from both packages. With the combined plan, the Sports Extra add-on, which has RedZone, is an extra $15 a month.
One important caveat: In our experience, Fox local affiliates will only be available if your billing address is in one of the 18 metropolitan areas covered in Sling’s agreement. If you’re outside of one of these areas, you’re probably better off going with one of the alternate services listed below.
Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local Fox stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all cost far more than Sling, but they also carry a full complement of live channels, including football broadcasting channels like CBS and ESPN. Check out our live TV streaming services guide for details.
Sarah Tew/CNET
For $73 a month, you’ll get all the major football channels with YouTube TV. Plus, RedZone is available for an extra $11 per month. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV’s welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.
Fubo
Fubo costs at least $92 per month when you factor in the RSN fees it charges, which you don’t need for NFL games but must pay for anyway. Fubo’s base plan costs $80 but it charges an extra $12 a month if you get one RSN or $15 a month if you have two or more in your area. RedZone is available for an extra $11 per month, and you can get 4K broadcasts with its $90-a-month Elite plan. It’s worth noting that Fubo has recently introduced a new $30 off for the first month offer for its Pro, Elite With Sports Plus and Deluxe plans. Click here to see which local channels you get in your region with Fubo. Read our Fubo review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
DirecTV
All the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
An over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for Fox. The best part about antennas is that there are no streaming or monthly fees required, although you will need to make sure you have good reception.
Quick tips for streaming the Commanders vs. Cardinals game using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed puzzle for Sept. 29, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Politician whose last name sounds like 1-Down (and not like a dance!) Answer: WALZ
5A clue: ___ Hawkins dance Answer: SADIE
6A clue: The person I used to be, self-descriptively Answer: OLDME
7A clue: Botches Answer: FLUBS
8A clue: Egyptian snakes Answer: ASPS
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: See 1-Across Answer: WALLS
2D clue: Make sense, so to speak Answer: ADDUP
3D clue: Arms or legs … or branches Answer: LIMBS
4D clue: Features of puzzles, blizzards and jazz Answer: ZEES
5D clue: Spot to sleep when you’re in the doghouse Answer: SOFA
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
An advanced audio mode for paying ChatGPT users is being rolled out, several months after OpenAI hit pause on the feature. The update brings five new voices (for a total of nine), improved accents, improved memory and more personalized interactions to the audio tool available for ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers. Plans start at $20 a month.
The feature, originally announced in May, made headlines after one of the voice options sounded eerily similar to the fictional voice assistant portrayed by actress Scarlett Johansson in the film Her. After Johansson’s legal team sent letters to OpenAI, the company delayed the greater rollout of advanced audio mode. In a blog post at the time, OpenAI said the specific voice, which the company called Sky, “was never intended to resemble (Johansson’s).”
“Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products,” the post said. “We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn’t communicate better.”
The Sky voice option was removed from the feature.
The update promises the ability to better recall conversations and have more natural interactions. It also has the ability to converse in 50 languages and will listen to requests if interrupted.
“Hope you think it was worth the wait,” CEO Sam Altman wrote in a tweet Tuesday.
Advanced audio mode is not yet available in all regions, including the European Union, UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
The launch comes as Google continues to roll out its free AI-powered Gemini Live audio tool to English-language Android users through the Gemini app. Gemini Live, which promises to learn and adapt to users’ conversational style over time, was also announced in May. Meanwhile, Facebook-maker Meta announced on Wednesday it’s adding celebrity voices, including those of Kristen Bell, John Cena and Dame Judi Dench, to its AI chatbot.
California’s ban on plastic grocery bags is set to expand, but shoppers still have over a year to wait until paper becomes the only game in town.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed a bill into law that will make his state’s preexisting ban on plastic grocery bags complete. Ten years ago, California became the first state to ban thin plastic grocery bags, which aren’t easy to recycle and have become an environmental burden. A loophole in this decade-old law allowed stores to offer customers a thicker sort of plastic bag, but once this new law takes effect, those will be gone as well.
The use of plastic grocery bags has been a significant contributor to plastic pollution, with a 2024 report from Condor Ferries saying that around 327 million bags from the US alone end up in the ocean each year, while a 2023 Environmental Protection Agency report found that around 3.04 million tons of “plastic bags, sacks and wraps” ended up in landfills as recently as 2018. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have laws banning or restricting single-use plastic bags in an effort to curb those issues.
For more, here’s how to identify which plastics you can recycle and which takeout containers are recyclable.
What sort of bags are being added to California’s ban?
Under the current ban, which became law in 2014, California stores have been allowed to offer customers thicker plastic bags that are supposedly more recyclable. Under the expanded law signed by Newsom, any and all plastic bags will be banned from grocery stores, permitting stores to let customers use their own reusable bags or buy a paper bag.
When does California’s expanded plastic bag ban go into effect?
There’s quite a long time to wait for this expanded ban, as it’s set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Why is the plastic bag ban being expanded?
California State Sen. Catherine Blakespear was one of the expanded ban’s supporters while it was working its way through the state legislature. She cited statistics suggesting that the current ban hasn’t reduced overall plastic use in the state. According to the state study she referenced, the amount of plastic bags thrown away per person on California grew from eight pounds in 2004 to 11 pounds in 2021.
“We are literally choking our planet with plastic waste,” Blakespear said while speaking in favor of the bill in February.
For more, read about what can be done about a world “drowning in plastic” and which mistakes to avoid when recycling paper and cardboard.
Beats by Dre is one of the most popular brands when it comes to the best headphones on the market today. Beats headphones are known for their top-quality sound, iconic style and comfort for long-term wear, but the high price tag is naturally off-putting for many people. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best deals from around the web on everything from over-ear headphones to wireless earbuds and beyond.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Some models are more expensive than others but the quality Beats offers is impressive — which often makes them a good overall value. Since Apple bought Beats 10 years ago, there’s been a renewed push in both quality and features. Apple has included hardware, like the H1 chip, in some Beats headphones, as well as software that makes Beats pair more easily with Apple’s products.
You’ll be able to find deals on Beats headphones and earbuds across multiple retailers, which can be rare for other Apple-made products, and Apple even matches some Beats headphone deals from third-party retailers at its own online store. With older models, the deals are even better. Check out the best prices currently available.
Beats headphone pricing 2024
undefined
Model
Retail price
Best price right now
Best all-time price
Beats Studio Pro
$350
$250
$180
Beats Studio Buds Plus
$170
$140
$130
Beats Solo4
$200
$199
$120
Beats Flex
$70
$50
$35
Beats Powerbeats Pro
$250
$195
$150
Beats Solo3
$200
$119
$79
Prices fluctuate frequently, and sometimes certain colors are less expensive than others, so click through on any model to see pricing for specific colors.
Read more:Best True-Wireless Earbuds for 2024
Beats / CNET
The latest generation of Beats Studio Buds, the Studio Buds Plus, might look the same on the exterior, but our reviewer noted updated interior qualities, including improved fit and upgraded sound. And thanks to better mic placement, they have excellent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance that are significantly better than the previous model.
Apple/CNET
Battery life Rated up to 40 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
A decent $100 discount on Beats Studio Pro headphones is available at Best Buy until September 29, so act fast if interested. Available in black, these have a 40-hour battery life with Dolby Atmos, a built-in mic, Bluetooth and all the quality of Beats technology you’ve come to expect.
Beats/CNET
Battery Life Rated up to 12 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant No IP rating
These wireless earbuds are not true wireless, but they’re not bad, and the price of the Beats Flex is even better. They provide up to 12 hours of listening time per charge and have auto-pause magnetic buds to boot.
Beats/CNET
The Powerbeats Pro headphones have been out for a few years and are usually listed for $250. Right now, you can get them on sale for $200.
Beats/CNET
First released in 2016, the Beats Solo3 headphones predate the Solo Pro and have the W1 chip instead of the H1 chip. Though they’re wireless, they’re missing noise cancellation (unlike the Solo Pro). That said, the Solo3 is one of the most popular Beats models ever made.
Walmart is currently offering the rose gold variant for $119, which is $60 less than the regular price of $179 — and that’s lower than the original release price of $199.
Read our Beats Solo3 review.
Watch this: Beats Fit Pro are the sports AirPods you’ve always wanted
Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup is now out. And you may be wondering whether to go with the $800 baseline model or pay more for the iPhone 16 Pro, which starts at $1,000.
For the first time in years, Apple’s regular iPhone has gotten a significant upgrade. The iPhone 16 has two new hardware buttons, a bigger battery, a new ultrawide camera, a new A18 chip and it will eventually receive Apple Intelligence.
But the iPhone 16 Pro has a number of impressive additions, too. All three of the rear cameras are new or “new to the phone.” The Pro also has a larger screen with a thinner border, a new processor (Apple’s A18 Pro chip) and unique features like 4K 120fps slow motion video recording. Similar to the regular iPhone 16, the Pro has a new Camera Control button and a bigger battery.
Picking between the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can be a challenge. But here’s a breakdown of the key specs and features for each device to help you with that decision.
Pricing and storage
The iPhone 16 starts at $800 for 128GB of storage, $900 for 256GB and $1,100 for 512GB. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $1,000 for 128GB, $1,100 for 256GB, $1,300 for 512GB and $1,500 for 1TB.
Up to 22 hours video playback; up to 18 hours video playback (streamed). MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W
Up to 27 hours video playback; up to 22 hours video playback (streamed). MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W
Fingerprint sensor
None (Face ID)
None (Face ID)
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
No
No
Special features
Apple Intelligence, Action Button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance, colors: Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
Apple Intelligence, Action Button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance, colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
The iPhone 16 Pro has a trio of rear lenses: a wide, ultrawide and 5x telephoto.
James Martin/CNET
A key draw for Apple’s iPhone Pro models is the higher-grade camera, for both photos and videos.
When it comes to rear cameras, the baseline iPhone 16 sports a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, while the 16 Pro has a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera with a larger and faster image sensor, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. Both phones feature the same 12-megapixel TrueDepth front-facing camera.
For video, the iPhone 16 can shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second, in addition to 1080p spatial video at 30 frames per second. The 16 Pro has the same spatial video capacity but can also shoot in 4K up to 120 frames per second — bringing slow-motion effects to the iPhone.
See more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Compelling Upgrade With My Favorite iPhone Feature in Years
So if you want to do a bit more with your camera (or just zoom in at a concert without compromising quality), the Pro’s premium features may be tempting.
Displays, size and weight
The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch OLED display, while the 16 Pro’s is 6.3 inches. The 16 has a 60Hz refresh rate, while the Pro has a 120Hz refresh rate to make animations, scrolling and gaming look smoother. Both have a 460 ppi pixel density and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits.
Here is the iPhone 16 family: (left-to-right) iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
James Martin/CNET
The iPhone 16 is 5.81 inches tall, 2.82 inches wide and 0.31 inches thick. The 16 Pro’s dimensions aren’t too far off: 5.89 inches tall, 2.81 wide and 0.32 inches thick. The baseline 16 weighs 170g (6 ounces), while the Pro is 199g (7.03 ounces). The materials vary, too, with the iPhone 16 featuring an aluminum enclosure, while the 16 Pro is made with a titanium alloy.
Both feature Dynamic Island, as well as an Action Button and Camera Control button.
The iPhone 16 comes in Black, White, Pink, Teal and Ultramarine, while the iPhone 16 Pro comes in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium and Desert Titanium. Each are water resistant, with an IP68 rating.
Both support USB-C charging. There’s no fingerprint sensor on either, so you’ll need to use Face ID or a passcode.
Apple’s iPhone 16, 16 Plus Show Off Bolder Colors and Buttons
See all photos
Batteries, processors and software
Apple doesn’t disclose its battery capacity but says the iPhone 16 has up to 22 hours of video playback (18 hours streamed), while the 16 Pro has up to 27 hours of video playback (22 hours streamed). Both feature wired charging (Apple doesn’t disclose the speed), and MagSafe wireless charging up to 25 watts with a 30-watt adapter or higher. They also support Qi2 charging, up to 15 watts.
The 16 is powered by an A18 chip, while the 16 Pro packs the more powerful (and aptly named) A18 Pro chip. They each come with iOS 18 and will support Apple Intelligence when it arrives later this year.
iPhone 16 and 16 Pro which one should you buy?
Here’s the iPhone 16 Pro running a preview version of Apple intelligence which brings a number of improvements to Siri, including a new glowing border.
James Martin/CNET
For the majority of people the iPhone 16 has more than enough to offer. The cameras are great for photos and videos. The phones run iOS 18 with notable features like being able to customize your home screen and apps, new emoji tapbacks for iMessages and support for satellite texting. They even come in a variety of bright saturated colors. The iPhone 16’s biggest downside is its screen which still has a 60Hz refresh rate and looks just OK when compared to pro iPhones. If you have and iPhone 13 or older, the iPhone 16 is a wonderful upgrade.
But if you want even better cameras with the ability to zoom in really close to subjects, or just want a better display experience than the iPhone 16 Pro deserves a look. The phone packs enough niceties and offer creative types who are into photography and filmmaking plenty of expressive options — though it comes at a higher price. If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or older, than upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro makes sense. If you’re rocking an iPhone 13 Pro and the battery capacity is getting low, it’s also worth considering the 16 Pro. But if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or 15 Pro, there’s no need to upgrade.
Watch this: Review: Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Is an Impressive Upgrade
NASA’s Curiosity rover has been exploring the Gale Crater on Mars since 2012. That’s a long time to weather dust storms, drive along the base of a mountain and crawl over endless pointy rocks. The rover’s aluminum wheels have taken a beating. New images show some dramatic gaping holes, but don’t be alarmed. NASA has it under control.
The photos are eye-opening. Curiosity has six wheels and some are worse off than others. The right-middle wheel looks rough, but “is still holding up well despite taking some of the worst abuse from Mars,” wrote rover engineer Ashley Stroupe in a mission update on Sept. 24. The wheel sports a gaping hole where you can see down into the mechanisms inside.
Some Curiosity wheels are in better shape than others. This one has been punctured by rocks.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA isn’t sweating the situation. The damage has been building for years, so the rover team came up with some clever solutions to extend the life of the wheels. The team scrutinizes the rover’s path and tries to avoid particularly nasty terrain. Curiosity is also able to drive backward over rough patches to reduce the strain on certain wheels.
Curiosity regularly checks up on its wheels. It takes multiple sets of images and drives to expose different parts of the wheels.
“This is an activity we do periodically to assess the state and health of the wheels,” Curiosity team member Remington Free wrote in a mission update on Sept. 23. “For full documentation of our wheel state, we will drive seven meters over the course of about three hours.”
The rover is equipped with multiple cameras but uses the Mars Hand Lens Imager mounted on its robotic arm to view the wheels.
An illustration shows the difference in the designs between the older Curiosity rover wheels and the newer Perseverance wheels.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Curiosity has covered over 20 miles on Mars and NASA has learned a lot during that time. The newer Perseverance rover, which landed in a different Mars crater in 2021, has a modified wheel design. Percy’s wheels are larger in diameter, narrower and have curved treads as opposed to the chevron pattern used for Curiosity. The modifications are meant to prevent the issues Curiosity has experienced. So far, Perseverance’s wheels are going strong.
Curiosity has done remarkably well considering it’s constantly rolling over the Mars equivalent of Lego pieces scattered all over the floor. The wheel gaps and breaks aren’t slowing down the elder rover’s science work. It’s still busy analyzing rocks, studying the history of water on Mars and seeking to understand if the red planet might have once been habitable for microbial life. It’ll take more than a few wheel holes to cramp its style.
Early voting periods have officially begun in five states, with more set to kick off throughout October. Knowing the specifics about your own state’s rules is crucial if you’re hoping to take part in the process.
Almost every state offers residents options allowing them to vote before Election Day on Nov. 5, but these options vary greatly in terms of start date, lengths and methods available, depending on the state. A few states don’t even have the option for all residents to vote early, just those with an approved excuse. Check out the map below for details about each state’s early voting process, and read on for a more in-depth breakdown.
Early voting got renewed attention during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the 2020 presidential race was in full swing. Around 70% of the 154.6 million Americans who voted in that race did so prior to Election Day — either in person or by mail — with nearly 50% also doing so during the 2022 midterms, suggesting that the increased early voting trend might last.
For more information about the election, read about how you can find your voter registration online and where each presidential candidate stands on the child tax credit
What is early voting?
While it may go by different names depending on the state, “early voting” refers to the process that allows you to cast your vote prior to Election Day.
Some states call it in-person early voting, which lets you go to a specific polling place and casting your vote in a way similar to how you’d vote in person on Election Day.
Other states refer to it as in-person absentee voting, which lets you to visit a designated office, request an absentee ballot for any reason, fill it out, and submit it during the same visit. This may also be called no-excuse absentee voting, meaning that any registered voter can do it for any reason. Every state, even the few with no other early voting options, offer absentee voting for those with eligible excuses, such as serving in the military or attending school away from home.
As the early voting page for the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, these two methods end up feeling pretty much the same for voters at the end of the day.
What about all-mail voting?
A handful of states and Washington, DC, run their elections under an all-mail system, meaning that every registered voter is mailed a ballot that they can fill out and return by Election Day. These states also offer other early voting options should their voters want them for whatever reason, so it’s best to contact your local election office for details about those options.
When does early voting start in my state?
Below, we have more details information about the process, broken down by state, based on voting information gathered by the NCSL. Just a reminder that requesting an absentee ballot by mail is available everywhere for registered voters with eligible excuses. Below, you’ll find another interactive map laying out which states have begun their early voting periods.
As of Sept. 26, early voting periods have started in South Dakota, Vermont, Illinois, Minnesota and Virginia, with the latter two of those being considered key swing states for presidential elections. For each of those states, these periods will go all the way through Election Day. In Vermont, an all-mail state, ballots will be mailed out to residents no later than Oct. 1. The remaining states and DC join the fray over the course of the next month.
Alabama: No early voting, only absentee voting with an approved excuse.
Alaska: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 21 in most places and lasts until Election Day. Contact your local election supervisor’s office to confirm any potential differences.
Arizona: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 9 everywhere and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. This end date can vary under certain circumstances so check with your local election office.
Arkansas: In-person early voting begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
California: The state has all-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 7 and runs until Election Day.
Colorado: All-mail voting, with in-person early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Connecticut: The state has in-person early voting. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Delaware: The state has in-person early voting. Begins Oct. 25 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
District of Columbia: All-mail voting, with in-person early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 28 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Florida: In-person early voting. Begins as early as Oct. 26 and may run to Nov. 2, the Sunday before Election Day, but dates can vary by county. Contact your local election office for details.
Georgia: In-person early voting. Begins Oct. 15 and last until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. Hawaii: All-mail voting, with early in-person options. Early period lasts from Oct. 22 until Election Day.
Idaho: In-person absentee voting, but only in some counties. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day. Contact your local election office to confirm early voting options.
Illinois: Early in-person voting. Begins Sept. 26 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Indiana: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Iowa: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Kansas: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Kentucky: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 31 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Louisiana: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 18 and lasts until Oct. 29, one week before Election Day.
Maine: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 6 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.
Maryland: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 24 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.
Massachusetts: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 19 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Michigan: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Minnesota: In-person absentee voting. Begins Sept. 20 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Mississippi: No early voting; only absentee voting with an approved excuse. Absentee period begins Sept. 23 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Missouri: Early absentee voting. The time frame begins earlier for those with an approved absentee excuse: Sept. 17. No Excuse absentee period begins Oct. 22. Both periods end on Nov. 4, the Monday before Election Day.
Montana: Early absentee voting. Begins Oct. 7 and lasts until noon on Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Nebraska: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 7 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Nevada: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 12 and lasts until Nov. 1, the day before Election Day.
New Hampshire: No early voting options only absentee voting with an approved excuse.
New Jersey: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
New Mexico: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until Election Day.
New York: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 26 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
North Carolina: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 17 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
North Dakota: Early in-person voting. Begins at least 15 days prior to Election Day, but the time frame varies across the state and prospective voters should contact their local election office to confirm.
Ohio: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Oklahoma: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 30 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Oregon: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 31 and last through Election Day, with election officials planning to mail ballots to all registered voters between Oct. 16 and Oct. 18.
Pennsylvania: In-person absentee voting. Begins as early as four weeks prior to Election Day and lasts until Election Day. The exact time varies by area, so contact your local election office to confirm.
Rhode Island: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
South Carolina: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
South Dakota: In-person absentee voting. Begins Sept. 20 and lasts until 5 pm on Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
Tennessee: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 16 and lasts until Oct. 31, the Thursday before Election Day.
Texas: Early in-person voting. Begins Oct. 21 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Utah: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Early period begins Oct. 22 and lasts until Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.
Vermont: All-mail voting, with other early voting options. Ballots sent out no later than Oct. 1, and you can submit through Election Day.
Virginia: In-person absentee voting. Begins Sept. 20 and lasts through Election Day.
Washington: All-mail voting, with other early options. Early period begins Oct. 18 and lasts through Election Day.
West Virginia: In-person early voting. Begins Oct. 23 and lasts until Nov. 2, the Saturday before Election Day.
Wisconsin: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 22 and lasts until Nov. 3, the Sunday before Election Day.
Wyoming: In-person absentee voting. Begins Oct. 8 and lasts until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
For more information about the election, here’s how you can find out what’s on your ballot online.
Looking for more Connections answers? Click here for our daily Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: Connections Bot Will Give You a Numeric Score Every Day
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Three sports successes.
Green group hint: Color your walls
Blue group hint: Foods with regional names
Purple group hint: Think of a famous horse race
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Trio of sports achievements
Green group: Needs for painting a room
Blue group: Food named after cities
Purple group: ____ derby
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The completed NYT Connections puzzle #472 for Sept. 25, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is trio of sports achievements. The four answers are hat trick, threepeat, trifecta and triple crown.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is needs for painting a room. The four answers are drop cloth, paint, roller and tape.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is food named after cities. The four answers are broil, cheesesteak, sprouts and wings. (London, Philadelphia, Brussels and Buffalo.)
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ derby. The four answers are demolition, home run, Kentucky and soap box.
To put these detectors to the test, we took to the lab and built a test rig designed to measure each unit’s response time to varying concentrations of carbon monoxide, specifically at 250 ppm and 400 ppm. Our goal was to determine each detector’s respective effectiveness at detecting potentially hazardous levels of carbon monoxide. To declare our winners, we also took into account features that add to the overall user experience, performance and cost-efficiency of each unit.
For the 250 ppm concentration level, we try to simulate a situation where carbon monoxide has begun to build up to hazardous levels. We test twice at this concentration and average the results. At 400 ppm, we replicate a worst-case scenario, a potentially deadly situation, and give the units a pass or fail score. Spoiler alert: They will all save your life, which goes to show how important it is to have carbon monoxide detectors installed on every floor of your home.
Our custom-built carbon monoxide detector test station. It’s one of the deadliest things we’ve ever put together in our product testing lab.
Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET
This is one of the most dangerous tests we’ve ever conducted. Carbon monoxide exposure is no joke. It’s virtually undetectable and, well, quite deadly. We needed to create a safe way of testing carbon monoxide detectors without risking the health and safety of our laboratory staff. So I made use of my rudimentary carpentry skills and built a carbon monoxide detector test station. Its components are:
Carbon monoxide detector chamber — made using wood, plexiglass, silicon, tape and a bunch of finish nails.
Carbon monoxide tank with gas flow regulator — cylinder tank containing carbon monoxide at 2,500 ppm and balance air.
Testo 300 with carbon monoxide Ambient sensor — our control device for this experiment.
Two portable carbon monoxide gas alarms.
A look at the interior of CNET’s carbon monoxide detector test rig.
Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET
The chamber houses two carbon monoxide detectors, a) the CO Ambient sensor portion of our control device, the Testo 300, which is a combustion analyzer used by heating engineers who carry out installation and routine maintenance of industrial and residential heating systems, and b) the unit under test, or UUT, which takes the place of each carbon monoxide detector we tested for you. The chamber is sealed with foam but not air-tight, since we’re not particularly interested in making a carbon monoxide bomb.
We use a portable carbon monoxide alarm on the gas regulator to keep a nose out for leaks.
Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET
We installed a gas flow regulator on our tank to avoid pressure spikes, followed by a gas line to feed our gas mixture into the chamber. Two additional portable carbon monoxide detectors are used. One near the valve, to ensure there are no leaks and another that must be worn by the person experimenting to make sure there is no carbon monoxide buildup in the test station area. On top of all that, our respirator suits and amply ventilated location ensure that we get a constant stream of fresh air at all times. This might all sound excessive, but it’s always good laboratory practice to put safety first, especially when you’re dealing with such a stealthy and prolific killer.
We start by feeding our gas mixture to the chamber and closely monitoring the carbon monoxide concentration on the Testo. Once the concentration inside our chamber reaches at least 250 ppm or 400 ppm, we stop feeding the gas and start a timer. We want to assess how long the carbon monoxide detectors take to react to those conditions. As you may understand, we wanted to limit our exposure while making sure our results were repeatable.
Our results are summarized in the interactive graph below:
PC gaming is more popular than ever, and in order to be at the top of your game, you’ll need the perfect mouse to snipe headshots. Razer makes some of the best wireless gaming mice out there, but they usually cost a pretty penny. If you’re looking for a great deal, you can now grab the Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed for just $50 on Amazon, a savings of nearly 30%. This is the lowest price it’s ever dropped to at the retailer.
Razer’s HyperSpeed wireless technology was designed with low latency gaming in mind. The company boasts that it’s 25% faster than other wireless technologies available. Those wishing to take advantage of this speed can use the mouse for up to 285 hours on a single charge. Switching to its Bluetooth mode extends that battery life up to 535 hours. Regardless of whichever mode you feel is best for you, the Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed is an excellent gaming mouse.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Like most Razer products, this mouse features its signature Chroma RGB lighting with 16.8 million colors and a variety of lighting effects. It offers six DPI settings to choose from (400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400), and you can use the Razer Synapse app to create a custom DPI perfectly tailored for your play style. There are also nine programmable controls and the option to unlock a set of secondary commands on top of the existing controls within the Razer Synapse app. For anyone worried about durability, you’ll be good to go for up to 60 million clicks thanks to its mechanical gold-plated switches.
If you’re only in the market for a mouse and don’t necessarily need it to be the best for gaming, we’ve also rounded up the best wireless mice you can buy.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Sept. 23, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: 2024 Charli XCX album with a lime green cover Answer: BRAT
5A clue: All the ___ (super popular) Answer: RAGE
6A clue: Like presents and first names Answer: GIVEN
7A clue: Where fig leaves first came into fashion Answer: EDEN
8A clue: Rain-friendly rental for an outdoor wedding Answer: TENT
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Someone walking in front of a train? Answer: BRIDE
2D clue: Bird in a Poe poem Answer: RAVEN
3D clue: Worker at an airport gate Answer: AGENT
4D clue: Tweenager’s age, maybe Answer: TEN
6D clue: Understand Answer: GET
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Our team has spent years expertly selecting vitamins by studying the market, reading hundreds of customer reviews and understanding which essential vitamins our bodies need.
Every supplement will have melatonin, but they may also contain ingredients you’d rather avoid.
Always take note of the dosage of melatonin in your supplement — don’t exceed 10 mg.
Some melatonin supplements have serving sizes of two gummies. Others only require one tablet each night.
The most popular forms of melatonin are capsules, tablets, gummies and liquid. Decide which one is best for you.
Extra certifications help you feel confident that the supplement only contains what’s on the ingredient label.
Always consider your medical conditions and current medication when choosing a melatonin supplement. Speak with your doctor.
Sleep is an important piece of your overall health. Having a relaxing bedtime routine including a consistent time you go to bed can help you feel comfortable in your sleep habits. But for many, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Even with doing all the right things before bed, sometimes you just need more. We found the best melatonin supplements available for those nights you just need an extra push into dreamland.
Sleep is essential if you want to be a functional person. I don’t have a proper sleep schedule at all, and if you’re anything like me, you know how frustrating losing sleep is — especially after trying all the tips and tricks on the internet. If you’re looking to improve sleep quality and you need a little extra help, you’ve got options. There are plenty of natural supplements that can help you chill out and get to sleep faster.
Melatonin, a natural hormone in our brains, can be taken at night to help you sleep. By doing so, your brain will tell your body it’s time to hit the hay. The artificial melatonin in the supplement mimics the natural melatonin production in our brains when it gets dark out. It’s a natural sleep aid, which is ideal if you prefer to stay away from traditional prescription sleep medicine. Melatonin may also help with other issues, including reducing high blood pressure. But how do you choose the best melatonin supplement for you? There are many melatonin supplements on the market, so finding the right one might leave you feeling a little confused. Before you decide, you’ll want to take a look at the melatonin content of the supplement you’re considering.
How much melatonin can adults take?
Typical melatonin doses are between 1 and 5 milligrams, although some products go to as high as 20 mg. Experts at the Cleveland Clinic recommend trying 1 mg of melatonin for a whole week, then upping the dose by 1 mg each following week. Stop once you get to 10 mg (do not exceed 10 mg) or until the time it takes for you to fall asleep has decreased. Talk to your doctor about any dosage concerns.
Here are the best melatonin supplements on the market, chosen by our vitamin experts.
Best melatonin supplements of 2024
Nature Made is one of the best vitamin supplement brands on the market, if not the best. All of its supplements are USP-verified, meaning that the products and facilities have been tested for toxins and contaminants and that the label is correct. Nature Made Melatonin tablets contain 5 mg of melatonin and 80 mg of calcium (as dibasic calcium phosphate), about only 6% of the daily recommended value of calcium. If you already take a multivitamin with calcium, this shouldn’t interfere. In addition, one tablet also contains sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate and croscarmellose sodium. Nature Made is free of added colors, preservatives, artificial flavors and gluten.
Take one tablet about an hour before you go to bed. One bottle will last about 90 days.
Nature’s Bounty has over 50 years of experience in the supplements industry. The company is known for being affordable and accessible. The tablets in a bottle of Nature’s Bounty’s Melatonin are double-layered, meaning that the first layer of 2.5 mg of melatonin is fast-acting. The second layer of an added 2.5 mg of melatonin is intended for extended-release. In addition to the melatonin, one tablet contains dicalcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose and less than 2% of silica, triacetin, vegetable juice color, vegetable magnesium stearate and vegetable stearic acid. Nature Bounty’s supplements are non-GMO and contain no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, sugar, starch, milk, soy, sodium, gluten, wheat, yeast or fish.
Take one tablet at bedtime. One bottle will last for about 60 nights.
Olly consistently produces great-tasting gummy vitamins. If you don’t like swallowing pills with an aftertaste, gummy supplements may be for you. Olly Sleep gummies are unique on this list because they don’t just contain melatonin. Each serving size of two gummies contains 15 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, 2 g of added sugar, 1 g of protein, 100 mg of L-Theanine, 3 mg of melatonin, 17 mg of chamomile extract, 17 mg of passionflower extract and 16 mg of lemon balm extract. Other ingredients include glucose syrup, beet sugar, water, gelatin, natural flavors, citric acid, coloring (from blueberry and carrot juices), pectin, vegetable oil and carnauba wax. They’re processed in a facility that makes products that may contain soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, fish, shellfish and wheat.
The gummies are blackberry-flavored, gluten-free and contain no artificial flavors. Take two gummies 30 minutes before bed — no water or food required.
Natrol is one of the most popular melatonin brands. One bottle of Natrol contains 100 tablets, enough for 100 nights. The fast-dissolving tablets don’t require any water. One serving contains 10 mg of melatonin and other added ingredients such as dextrose, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose gum, crospovidone, maltodextrin, glyceryl behenate, sucrose esters, gum acacia, beetroot powder, silicon dioxide, sucralose and artificial flavor. The tablets are free of milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, yeast and preservatives.
This is the exact melatonin supplement that I sometimes use before bed. The only reason why these supplements aren’t the best overall is that they may not be for everyone. The flavor is similar to children’s cherry cough syrup, so I make sure to always brush my teeth after taking one tablet. However, Natrol does offer another citrus flavor.
Thorne is a well-known personalized supplement subscription brand. Thorne is popular with athletes because some of their supplements are NSF-certified for sport. You know what you are putting in your body from looking at the label — no surprises. Thorne Melatonin contains 3 mg of melatonin and other ingredients including microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, calcium laurate and silicon dioxide. The capsules are free of artificial flavors, gluten, dairy and soy.
This vegan supplement is to be taken at bedtime. One bottle will last about 60 nights.
Liquid supplements are great for anyone who dislikes swallowing pills or artificial flavors of gummy vitamins. Now Liquid Melatonin comes in a pack of two 2.0 fluid ounce bottles and requires about 20 drops a serving. Each bottle contains about 60 servings. The lower dose of 3 mg may require a second serving before bed. In addition to melatonin, the supplement also contains water, vegetable glycerin, fructose, xylitol (which is very harmful to pets — keep out of reach), organic cane alcohol (6%), natural orange extract (citrus sinensis), natural flavors, potassium sorbate (as preservative), citric acid, malic acid and natural lemon oil. This liquid supplement is free of gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish or shellfish ingredients.
At bedtime, take the drops directly, or you can add them to your favorite beverage. The flavor is citrusy, but reviewers have described the taste as unpleasant. Drinking something afterward is recommended.
Keep these factors in mind when searching for the best melatonin supplements for sleep.
Ingredients
You don’t want anything unnecessary added to your melatonin supplements, such as fillers or extra sugar. Always study the ingredients in any vitamin supplement, and speak with your doctor before starting any supplements.
Dosage
The amount of melatonin in your supplement can have a direct effect on how fast it takes you to fall asleep. 3 mg is the lowest dose of melatonin that will still help you fall asleep. 10 mg is the highest dose, and you shouldn’t go any higher than that.
Serving size
The serving size directly affects how long a bottle of melatonin will last you. Even if you have a product with 50 gummies, if you have to take two gummies at night, this will only last you 25 days.
Form
Melatonin can come in tablet, capsule, gummy or liquid form. You should look for a form that fits your needs. For example, if you don’t want extra sugar in your vitamins, don’t buy gummy vitamins. However, if you don’t like swallowing pills, maybe gummy vitamins are the best option.
Verifications
While dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, there are a few verifications you can check for that ensure the product you’re buying is safe to use.
All supplements on this list are 100% drug-free. They were chosen by my personal experience of taking melatonin supplements and my expertise in vitamin brands, pricing, ingredients and verification knowledge.
There are some negative potential effects of melatonin to be aware of with these supplements. These include waking up groggy, headaches, dizziness, nausea and drowsiness.
Always speak with your doctor before starting any supplements, such as melatonin. They can help you determine the correct dosage.
Yes, melatonin works by making you sleepy around bedtime. The supplement mimics the naturally occurring hormone in our brains that tells our body it is time to fall asleep. In addition, melatonin can also make you dizzy or drowsy.
The rice cookers I tested fell into three loose categories: small, affordable devices, midrange multicookers and specialized, high-end rice cookers.
Each mini rice cooker I tested, including the Imusa 3-cup, the Dash mini 2-cup rice cooker, and the Black & Decker 3-cup rice cooker offered decent, small servings of white rice, although the Dash took a painfully long 35 minutes just to cook just 1 cup of white. All of them struggled with brown rice and mixed rice.
The slightly larger 6-cup Oster (our budget pick) and the Zojirushi rice makers performed nearly identically, making perfect pots of white rice in 19 and 20 minutes respectively and very good brown rice — albeit perhaps just slightly underdone — in a lightning-fast 22 minutes. I would gleefully recommend either one as a solid space-saving rice cooker option. While the Zojirushi does seem slightly more solidly built, it’s more than double the price of the Oster, which gives the Oster our final nod.
The simpler Oster and Zojirushi rice makers performed nearly identically in our testing.
David Watsky/CNET
The $50 8-cup Hamilton Beach rice cooker (Currently Out of Stock) seems like a good deal for the size, but its rice was inconsistent, with severely undercooked, dry rice sections. Zojirushi’s 3-cup option also disappointed with rice that was too wet and slightly broken down, losing the distinction of well-cooked white rice.
Cuisinart’s 4-cup and Black and Decker’s 7-cup rice cookers were some of our least favorites because they were both so messy. Cuisinart’s boiled each time I used this conventional rice cooker and Black and Decker’s larger model leaked onto the counter, necessitating significant cleanup.
When it came to the midrange multicookers, I found the cooking time to be slow and the results were consistently a little off. An 8-cup Aroma rice cooker and food steamer, Instant Pot’s Zest cooker and a 5-cup Panasonic got us excited with the various functions available on their interfaces, but all three produced overcooked, slightly mushy rice, possibly due to the slow cooking. I also tested Cusinart’s larger Rice Plus Multi-Cooker and while it can hold a lot of rice and produced decent batches of white and brown, cooking rice took longer than any other machine to do so at well over an hour and a half for brown rice.
If you find yourself cooking loads of different types of grains, one of these may be a viable option since they have so many niche settings. For rice, there are better options available. You might also find you get more value with a true multicooker that includes a pressure cooker function. I’d direct you to CNET’s list of best Instant Pots for 2024 for a bit more on that.
Somehow I didn’t blow a fuse.
David Watsky/CNET
Finally, the higher-end, specialized rice cookers from Tiger and Zojirushi were both impressive, as noted above. It’s clear these devices are carefully calibrated; Zojirushi even offers a little bit of personalization as to how you want your white rice cooked, which is ideal if you’ve got folks with different rice texture preferences living under the same roof.
The Tiger is less than half the price of its counterpart and cooked rice extremely well; faster than any others. It may not have all the bells and whistles of the Zojirushi, which nabs our top pick for custom rice, but it’s our top overall choice for 2024.
From, the MGM Plus series about people trapped in a mysterious, fright-filled town, returns for season 3 on Sunday. It’s hard to imagine the show, which counts grinning nocturnal monsters as just one of its scary layers, heightening the horrors. Still, according to star Harold Perrineau, that’s what audiences are in for.
“You should prepare for a worse season 3,” Perrineau, who plays Sheriff Boyd Stevens, told CNET. “The creepy children come back, the monsters, and then it gets worse. Yeah, you should prepare for worse.”
From debuted in 2022 and follows different people in the same heart-pounding predicament. After witnessing an obstacle in the road, they enter an inescapable place with terrors lurking behind every forest tree and around every diner corner. At night, bloodthirsty beings taunt the residents, who also experience worms crawling under their skin, ghastly kids repeating unintelligible words, and nightmares they never wake up from.
Ahead of season 3, which premieres just in time for spooky season, CNET chatted with Perrineau about what’s to come. His character is the well-respected leader of the motley crew that’s trying to stay alive, unravel the mystery, and escape.
Jessie Redmond/MGM Plus
Though season 3 will find most of them with their feet still on scary soil, season 2’s final scene seems to free a townsperson from the frightening realm. (Spoiler: The woman, Tabitha, appears to wake up in an ordinary hospital.) As a synopsis for the new season puts it, “In the wake of Season Two’s epic cliffhanger, escape will become a tantalizing and very real possibility as the true nature of the town comes into focus, and the townspeople go on offense against the myriad horrors surrounding them.”
In the below interview, edited for clarity, Perrineau talks the cliff-hanger, what he would do if he wound up in From’s town, and what he didn’t like about killing one of the show’s sinister creatures. The series is executive-produced by creator John Griffin, showrunner Jeff Pinkner and director Jack Bender. Pinkner and Bender also worked on the TV show Lost, which featured Perrineau.
MGM Plus
Q: Between creepy children, ominous music boxes and the main nocturnal monsters, season 2 was scary. Should we prepare for a season 3 that’s just as terrifying? Perrineau: You should prepare for a worse season 3. Yeah, because the creepy children come back, the monsters — and then it gets worse. Yeah, you should prepare for worse.
Season 3 is — the nicest way to describe it is that season 3 is dark. It’s dark. It’s heavy. Not only are you scared about all the things that are coming, your heart gets filled with empathy for all the things that are about to go down. It’s heavy.
My favorite moment from season 2 is, of course, a Boyd scene. It’s when he’s surprisingly able to kill one of the monsters. I wanted to know what you thought of that scene. Perrineau: I was super surprised that that’s where that was going. … When I read it, I was like, “Oh, wow, it died? Like it just full died?” I was really, really surprised about that. But then, of course, was less surprised when then the body had cicadas and we couldn’t — we had to burn it, and all these other crazy things started happening. But yeah, I thought it was pretty cool.
The only thing that’s a bummer about that scene is that the actor, Jamie, is maybe the nicest man you have ever met in your entire life. … Oddly, I didn’t realize how many people were like, “Oh my god, I’m so sad. Smiley’s dead.” He’s a monster, guys, [he had] to die.
The season 2 finale cliff-hanger seemed like a step closer to some clarity. I was wondering: Can viewers expect some of their burning questions about the town to be answered this season? Perrineau: I’m going to tell you just, and this is the way the writer will say it: He is going to say, “Absolutely, yes, you’re fully going to get answers to questions. The question after you get the answer is, ‘Now what?'” And that’s the trick of the whole thing, right? Like, oh yeah, he’ll answer the questions, but now what are you gonna do? And so that’s the thing that’s — I think is really cool about the show, that it’s not a show really about questions, it’s not a show really about horrors, it’s a show about people. It’s a show about what do you do when you’re in a situation that you have no control over? And so, you find the answer, but now, what do you do? And that’s the thing that’s really compelling about playing all these characters and being in From, because I think John Griffin has really put together a group of really interesting characters that have to go through this trauma together.
Chris Reardon/MGM Plus
I love that we get to spend so much time with the characters as they navigate that terrible, traumatizing reality. Do you ever think about what you personally would do if you were in a situation like that? Perrineau: You mean, after I stopped crying? Sure, I think about it all the time. You know, one of the things that was really helpful for me is actually having kids. Me having kids, and my “protect” energy, is what I bring to Boyd. And so I imagine that in a circumstance anywhere like that, that my protect person would jump up and, just like Boyd, will relentlessly try to figure out a way to save his family or friends, people that he loves, from this horrible situation. I hope that I would do that after I stopped crying.
What have you enjoyed the most about playing Boyd over these three seasons? Perrineau: Oh, that’s not a terribly hard thing to do. It’s really fun to play the hero, even if he’s a hero who makes questionable choices, do you know what I mean? I like this idea of somebody who, even if you don’t love all his choices, he’s actually trying to do something good. I actually like that. I’m not a big fan of antiheroes, you know what I mean? You know, ‘They’re a secret serial killer, but they’re serial killing for good.’ I’m not a big fan of it, though there are great people who’ve done those shows. I actually like this idea of somebody who’s really trying to do something, like he’s trying to save them. And I like the idea that John Griffin has written such real responses, and real people like, “This guy is an ex-military guy who thinks he can figure this out.” … You have to find some really human way to respond to all of the things, the stimuli coming towards you. I like that puzzle. I like the person that I’m trying to figure out. And so, yeah, I really enjoy being Boyd Stevens.
Anyone who’s ever donated to a political campaign or group probably knows the score: You give money to a candidate or cause you support one time, and then you’re deluged with messages begging for more. This experience has recently gotten an even bigger spotlight recently as political fundraising has ballooned over the past few months, looping in even more people to these calls for donations as we near Election Day.
Though these messages might seem endless, especially during the heated days of a presidential race, there’s always a way to make them stop — because these fundraising entities are bound by law to seek your consent for automated messaging. Read on for more details about modern fundraising practices and what you can do to better keep the fund-raisers at arm’s length.
And for more information to prepare you for this election season, read about finding the early voting period in your state and how to determine your registration status.
Why do campaigns send so many automated messages?
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Automated messages have emerged as a major part of political outreach efforts in the digital age. Text messages, in particular, have become a potent tool for campaign fundraising. Speaking with Time magazine, Alex Quilici, CEO of call-blocking company YouMail, explained that texts are more cost-effective than physical mail or phone calls, and that they have a tendency to encourage more engagement. This is especially true for young people, he added, who are more likely to respond to texts from numbers they don’t recognize, than to calls.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
How can I make the fundraising texts and emails stop?
The Federal Communications Commission, aka the FCC, requires that these political fundraising entities get your consent for automated messaging, which also means they’re required to let you opt out at will.
Most texts you get for political fundraising purposes will include some sort of instructions on how to make the messages stop (commonly by texting “STOP” back at them). It’s also possible to try to avoid these messages from the start, with fundraising companies like ActBlue and WinRed noting that it’s optional to add your phone number on their forms.
Adding your email, however, usually isn’t optional. To opt out of further fundraising emails, you should be able to go to the bottom of any message you receive and find a link that lets you unsubscribe from the current mailing list. You might have to do this a few times across different fundraising messages, because your information might’ve ended up on multiple lists used by fundraising operations.
What can I do about phishing scams?
If you suspect that an email you’ve received is not a run-of-the-mill annoying fundraising prompt but instead a phishing scheme in disguise, you should do two things: First, under no circumstances click through their links or give them any information about yourself. Second, forward the message to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at [email protected].
For more, find out what each major presidential candidate has said about the child tax credit.
Therapy is a critical part of treatment for mental health concerns like depression or anxiety. But what are you supposed to do if you can’t afford it? Even with sliding scale payments, therapy can be expensive. Online therapy services like BetterHelp and Talkspace make it more affordable, at around $60 to $90 per session, but that’s still not in the budget for many people. Not to mention, therapists aren’t always taking new patients.
Therapy will always be the gold standard for mental health treatment, but circumstances can make it temporarily impossible. That doesn’t mean your mental health has to suffer. These simple wellness strategies can help you nourish your mental wellness without spending any money.
Also, see how to naturally treat depression and anxiety and ways you can give yourself a happiness boost each day.
1. Use mental health apps to track daily progress
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Mental health apps offer resources to people who otherwise couldn’t get them. While they’re not a substitute for therapy and can’t diagnose conditions, mental health apps like Moodfit and Sanvello are great tools to use on your mental wellness journey. The best mental health apps will help you relieve stress and anxiety and teach you how to manage symptoms in the future.
There’s a lot of variety in what these apps offer and the features that are built in. Many offer a great catalog of educational resources to help you learn about conditions and adapt coping strategies to manage them daily.
Mental health apps can also be a reminder to check in on yourself. Most send push notifications throughout the day, which can be used as an indicator to stop and assess how you’re feeling.
Wiphop Sathawirawong/Getty Images
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
2. Implement cognitive behavioral therapy strategies on your own
Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat depression, anxiety and addiction. CBT strategies and tools are intended to be taken outside of therapy sessions and used in daily life.
It’s called self-directed therapy. Again, it isn’t a replacement for traditional therapy with a professional, but it can supplement your mental health efforts when you don’t have access to talk therapy. This self-help strategy is best reserved for those with moderate symptoms that don’t affect daily tasks.
A systematic review of 33 studies found that self-help treatments can decrease anxiety and depression. Self-directed therapy results were “moderate,” according to the review. So people didn’t feel 100% better, but they reported feeling less anxious or depressed. If you’re interested in self-directed therapy strategies to improve your mental well-being, we recommend checking out the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ list of books. The books on the list have received a “seal of merit.”
Common self-directed therapy techniques:
Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings and reflecting on them can help you identify negative thoughts and behavior patterns. Once you’re aware, you can take meaningful steps toward making changes.
Guided courses: With self-directed therapy, you have to start somewhere. Guided courses can help you learn methods and tactics for daily management. You can consult the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its mental health education directory.
Mental health apps: Many mental health apps use cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to reduce anxiety and help manage symptoms.
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3. Stay connected to others
It’s important to connect with other people, especially those experiencing similar things. Studies show that connecting to others can provide a sense of meaning and purpose and decrease loneliness. Group therapy or support groups are typically led by a mental health professional or group leader and can be low-cost or free. Whether it be friends, family or strangers, sharing your feelings and experiences is essential.
Connections with people aren’t the only ones that can help improve your mental health. Pets and animals can reduce stress and anxiety levels. Take some intentional time to hang out with your pet — play with your dog, hug your cat. If you don’t have a pet, you can volunteer at a local animal shelter or humane society. Fostering or pet-sitting animals is also an option.
4. Practice mindfulness and meditation
Meditation has a history that stretches back thousands of years, but it’s become an extremely popular stress-relieving practice in the last few. Mindfulness helps you become more attuned to what you’re feeling and thinking, which helps you manage your thoughts and emotions more effectively, rather than becoming overwhelmed by them. Mindfulness uses techniques like meditation and breathwork to improve your mental health.
Mindfulness can help you manage symptoms of anxiety and other mental health disorders by helping you understand and cope with what you’re feeling. Studies show that meditation can help reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety and help you sleep. The focus is on mind and body integration, which can help you enhance your mental well-being.
You can also use meditation apps to reduce stress and help maintain your mindfulness regimen. These free or low-cost apps are great for beginners.
Read more:Headspace Review: Get Tools for Mindfulness, Meditation and More for Just $5 a Month
Other practical tips to improve your mental health without therapy
Exercise: Several mental health benefits are associated with exercise, like relieving anxiety or improving your mood. Exercise also can boost your confidence and release endorphins. You don’t have to jump straight into heavy lifting; any exercise can help.
Go outside and soak up the sun: Sunlight boosts serotonin in the brain, which can improve your mood. When you don’t get enough sun, your serotonin levels drop, leading to seasonal affective disorder.
Prioritize your sleep:Poor sleep is linked to a greater risk of anxiety or depression, poor mood and higher stress levels. Prioritize your sleep by sticking to your bedtime routine — get ready for bed by doing something relaxing, aim for the same bedtime each night and turn off your screens.
Take a step back from social media: Constant social media use can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression. A digital detox may be warranted if you compare yourself to others online or notice a dip in your mental health. Start by limiting your time on social media. Then, try to fill that time with things you enjoy or people you like spending time with.
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When should I see a therapist?
Self-directed therapy and well-being tactics are extremely useful, but they’re not the be-all and end-all of mental health. Face-to-face time with a licensed therapist is essential for those with severe conditions and symptoms.
The first thing you should do is check your insurance. Employer-provided insurance and Medicaid may cover screenings, psychotherapy and counseling. Your insurance coverage will depend on your state and your health plan, but many plans include mental health coverage for in-network therapists.
Read more: How to Find the Best Therapist Near You
Your finances shouldn’t stop you from getting the help you need. It may take some research into therapists and programs, but there are low-cost options.
Sliding scale payments: Some therapists offer sliding scale fees — you pay what you can afford. The cost will be based on your income. Not all therapists offer this, but many do.
Low-cost or free services: Some therapists offer low-cost or free counseling for individual and group sessions. If you live near a college or university, the graduate department may offer free or discounted therapy sessions.
Local and online support groups: Local organizations and volunteers in many areas offer support groups for things like grief and addiction. Use Mental Health America’s list of support groups to find one that best fits your needs. You can participate in a peer-led support group through the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI).
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT MIni Crossword completed puzzle for Sept. 20, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: See who can get there the fastest Answer: RACE
5A clue: Comic actor Sandler Answer: ADAM
6A clue: Acronym for a pro-housing movement Answer: YIMBY
8A clue: Fencing sword Answer: EPEE
9A clue: Org. that certifies foods as “Organic” Answer: USDA
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Beam of sunshine Answer: RAY
2D clue: French goodbye Answer: ADIEU
3D clue: Places where bug juice is served and color wars are waged Answer: CAMPS
4D clue: Plant deep (within) Answer: EMBED
7D clue: Opposite of nay Answer: YEA
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Good for
Organic, healthy, low-calorie, pescatarian, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, Whole30, gourmet
Score Breakdown
Taste/results7/10Value7/10Ease of recipes8/10Recipe variety7/10Healthiness9/10
Pros
Mostly organic ingredients and healthy recipes
Customizable menus
Good for those eating gluten-free, keto or paleo
Interesting recipes with unique flavors
Cons
Some recipes took longer than the website said
More expensive than other services
Portion sizes may be small for some
A lot of plastic used
During my first try ofGreen Chef, I found the recipes overly complicated, a bit random and sometimes even difficult to execute in the way the recipe instructed. With Green Chef being on the higher end of the meal kit price, the resulting meals just weren’t good enough to justify the cost. Even so, while it’s still one of the more expensive meal kit options, Green Chef has made significant changes to its menu and meal plan cost since then.
Green Chef’s healthy meal kits earned a spot on our list of best meal kits in 2024.
David Watsky/CNET
After testing Green Chef for a second time, I found the service much easier and a better value in than the first go-round. So much so that I’ve deemed it the best healthy meal kit pick in 2024, especially for those looking to eat wholesome, organic meals and cut out some of the cumbersome steps that come with cooking from scratch. Green Chef also proves to be a practical option for those eating gluten-free, paleo, keto and vegetarian diets.
Here’s how the subscription service works, and my full review of the Green Chef meal kits, updated with new testing in late 2023.
How Green Chef works
Choose between six overarching meal plans to help you hone in on your eating goals.
Green Chef/Screenshot by CNET
Green Chef is a meal kit subscription, meaning it sends ingredients to you along with recipes for healthy, mostly organic meals. When signing up, the service offers six main nutrition plans such as Plant-Powered and Calorie Conscious to guide your selections, but you’ll still have access to Green Chef’s full menu of over 50 meals per week. (See below for this week’s menus.)
After choosing a meal plan type, you’ll then choose how many meal kits per week you want to receive — three or four — and also how many servings per meal — two, four or six.
Green Chef is one of the healthier meal delivery services with mostly organic ingredients and lots of vegetables and lean meats.
David Watsky/CNET
After plugging in your payment info, you’ll select meals from your plan and delivery date for the following week. Each week you’ll select your meal and a box arrives on the doorstep on the day of your choosing in insulated packaging. Green Chef ships to nearly every US zip code except for Alaska, Hawaii and some parts of Louisiana. Though it wasn’t an issue for me, a critique I found in other Green Chef reviews was shipping delays — albeit usually no more than a day or two.
How much does Green Chef cost?
Recipes per week
Meals for 2
Meals for 4
Meals for 6
2
N/A
$13
N/A
3
$13.49
$12.49
$12
4
$13
$12
$12
*Prices per serving
What are Green Chef meals like?
Green Chef meals are healthy with plenty of options for special diets including keto, paleo, vegan and gluten-free. Expect lots of organic vegetables and lean meats with lighter sauces and seasonings. There is the scattered “cheat meal,” such as truffle linguine with chicken and mushrooms or Salisbury steak and potatoes, but most of the dishes have high nutritional value with very few heavy cream-based sauces, cheese toppings or excess empty carbs.
Green Chef recipes are bright and colorful, filled with superfoods and healthy greens.
Green Chef/Screenshot by CNET
There’s a fair variety of fish and seafood options plans including salmon, tilapia and shrimp recipes. Some seafood recipes are included with a standard meal plan, while others are considered premium and cost as much as $9 more per serving.
I appreciated the eco-friendly paper bags that hold the components of each recipe, but found a good deal of single-use plastic once I opened them.
David Watsky/CNET
Green Chef flavors will be familiar to most American eaters, and I’d say the company plays it safer than rivals such as Sunbasket or Blue Apron. I noticed a good deal of heat and punchy elements such as chimichurri, lime, peppers and Mexican spice. In a previous round of testing, I found some recipes to be odd, random and unappealing, but not so much in this latest round.
Green Chef support materials
A few of my recipe cards.
David Watsky/CNET
Green Chef’s recipe cards can be sent in printed form or found online. I found them to be clear and concise, with some helpful footnotes for beginners, such as a brief explanation of what a roux is. There’s also an app that allows you to order or change meals and find recipes, too.
Add-ons
Green Chef has a dozen or so add-ons, including Good Chop meat packs and breakfast bites.
Green Chef/Screenshot by CNET
Add-ons have become a popular feature for meal kit services to pad your weekly order. They’re convenient and can knock a few items from your weekly shopping list. Green Chef has partnered with meat purveyor Good Chop to offer meat add-ons, including chicken parts, beef packs and selections of seafood. You can also tack on some sous vide egg bits or oatmeal for an easy breakfast. Prices vary but tend to skew a little higher than you’d find at a grocery store.
How easy are Green Chef meal kits?
Vegan enchilada ingredients ready to go.
David Watsky/CNET
Green Chef meal kits require some skill and are ideal for intermediate home cooks. Most are simple to prepare, often taking less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
As with many other meal kit services, Green Chef has a few more involved meal kits that may take 45 minutes or more, but you won’t find many overly complicated recipes as you might with a service such as Martha & Marley Spoon or Sunbasket, and you don’t need extensive cooking experience. That said, the average Green Chef recipe is slightly more complex than those from a beginner service like HelloFresh, Home Chef or Dinnerly.
I did notice that the project time to cook each recipe was a little off. The pan-roasted chicken with basil pesto took about five to seven minutes longer than the card indicated, for instance. Another, the simple pork and apple meatloaves, took about 10 minutes less than Green Chef predicted.
What I cooked and how it went
Barbecue pork and apple meatloaves with green beans and slaw: This meal was fantastic and one I plan to make again, with or without help from a meal kit. The apple added so much to both the meatloaf mixture and the slaw. It was also very simple, taking less time and effort than I anticipated. I would say the portion size was on the small side and might not be enough for a big eater.
This pork and apple meatloaf recipe was fast, easy and delicious: 10 out of 10.
David Watsky/CNET
Pecan-crusted trout with lemon caper sauce: This is a fail-proof flavor combination for me. I thought the dish was good, although the premade sauce was a little bland. The fish was fresh and the dish as a whole was light, but also satisfying.
Salmon with spicy mango salsa and potato hash: A perfect summer salmon with bright and bold flavors. This one was very filling.
Mushroom and black bean enchiladas with chimichurri sauce: I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss having some chicken or pork in my enchiladas, but the flavors for this dish all worked well and the chimichurri was a big hit.
Mushroom and black bean enchiladas with lots of sauce.
David Watsky/CNET
Pan-roasted chicken with basil pistou, Swiss chard and rice: This recipe features surprising elements including sweet diced dates and punchy artichokes. Everything worked in perfect harmony to create an excellent dish. My only beef is that the recipe took me a little longer than expected.
Ancho-lime sweet potato bowls: One of the better plant-based meal kit recipes I’ve made. Absolutely loved the addition of lime zest to the white rice and have added that trick to my normal rice-cooking routine.
A very tasty ancho chili and sweet potato bowl over zesty lime-infused rice.
David Watsky/CNET
Caribbean shrimp with coconut rice, mangos and chard-cabbage slaw: Coconut rice is one of my favorite side dishes in the world so my expectations are high. This was solid, but another one that didn’t blow me away. I thought the rice needed something else to punch up the flavor.
Who should try Green Chef?
Green Chef is one of the best meal kit options for those looking to eat organic food and want simple, healthy meals. It’s also a solid choice for vegetarians since the plant-based menu includes nine hearty vegetarian meal kit selections per week, like orange miso tofu or artichoke “crab” cakes. Green Chef recipes feature interesting ingredient combinations, making it a good choice for adventurous eaters. It’s also good for eating gluten-free, keto or paleo.
Who shouldn’t try Green Chef?
Because it starts at $12 a serving, Green Chef probably isn’t a great pick for someone on a tight budget. (See our list of the best cheap meal delivery services for that.) I also found portion sizes small, so big eaters may not find the recipes to be enough.
Green Chef pricing
Pricing for Green Chef meals lands between $12 and $13.49 a serving depending on the number of servings ordered. Green Chef now offers variable pricing, whereas it used to be one per-serving price no matter which plan you chose. You can order as few as six servings per week (the most expensive cost per serving) or as many as 24 (the cheapest per serving). There’s also a $10 flat-rate shipping fee for each box.
All of this still adds up to Green Chef being on the more expensive end of the meal kit category — not entirely surprising, considering these meal kits feature mostly organic produce and meats. That said, with the improved quality of recipes, the higher-than-average prices didn’t bother me as much as the last time I tested it.
Packaging and environmental friendliness
I noticed a fair amount of single-use plastic in Green Chef meal kits.
David Watsky/CNET
Green Chef claims to be the No. 1 most sustainable meal kit company, but those are fuzzy stats, and I found there to be a good deal of plastic waste. That said, the box, coolers and ice packs are all recyclable and the recipes all come in paper bags, unlike the plastic large plastic bags used by Home Chef.
What’s the Green Chef menu this week? June 3, 2024
Protein Packed weekly menu
Hearty white bean and chicken soup
Chicken with garlic chard rice
Harissa apricot glazed barramundi
Gyro-spiced pork filet kale salad
Gyro-spiced chicken kale salad
Gluten-Free weekly menu
Teriyaki pork fried rice
Hearty white bean and chicken soup
Chicken with garlic chard rice
Teriyaki turkey fried rice
Spicy harissa turkey stuffed peppers
Plant-Based weekly menu
Shawarma-spiced cauliflower tacos
Baja cauliflower bowls
Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls
Caramelized onion and apple melts
Quick and Easy weekly menu
Hearty white bean and chicken soup
Pesto shrimp couscous bowls
Shawarma-spiced cauliflower tacos
Spicy harissa turkey stuffed peppers
Calorie Smart weekly menu
Coconut shrimp soup
Spicy chili-ginger chicken kale salad
Chicken with garlic chard rice
Spicy harissa turkey stuffed peppers
Mediterranean weekly menu
Harissa apricot glazed barramundi
Chicken with garlic chard rice
Pesto shrimp couscous bowls
Shawarma-spiced cauliflower tacos
Verdict: Is Green Chef worth it?
When I first tested Green Chef meal kits in 2021, I wasn’t entirely impressed, but the service has since made a few small changes that add up to a major overall improvement. With simpler recipes that feature high-quality and mostly organic ingredients, in my late 2023 test I found Green Chef to be well worth the price. It’s still pricier than most services, but a good pick for those looking to eat healthy, interesting food made at home.
In the recipes I tackled, the meats and produce were fresh and arrived in good shape. I enjoyed some bold flavors such as apple and pork meatloaves and bright sauces, many of which had a homemade quality. Green Chef also deftly caters to niche eating plans such as gluten-free, keto and Mediterranean diet, which is perfect for a gluten-intolerant person such as myself.
With cheaper per-serving prices and options for steak and seafood on the standard meal plan, Blue Apron is still my pick for the best meal kit service in 2024. But if you’re interested in cooking mostly organic meals that don’t skimp on taste, Green Chef is your best option.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for today’s Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.
Strands doesn’t get as much attention as its New York Times game siblings Wordle and Connections, but it can be just as challenging and entertaining. Strands just moved out of beta, so it’s now in the New York Times’ official Games app, which might bring it more fans. I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
How to play NYT Strands
1. Use today’s theme to look for words relating to that topic. See one? Drag or click the letters in order. Click on the last letter twice to submit your guess. If you’ve found a theme word, it’ll light up in blue and stay that way.
2. Other words you find are considered hint words that give you clues to the theme words. Find three hint words (they must have at least four letters each) and the game will reward you by showing you a theme word. But if you can’t unscramble it, find three more hint words and the game will highlight the theme word’s letters in order.
3. Hunt for the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, though it could flow across or top to bottom. It summarizes the puzzle theme.
4. When you’re done, you’ll have used every letter on the board in either a theme word or spangram. Theme words fill the entire board and do not overlap.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Work out the bugs
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: It’s a bug’s life
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
BEETLE, EARWIG, SPIDER, TERMITE, MILLIPEDE
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is CREEPY CRAWLIES. To find it, start with the C that’s three letters over from the left on the top row and wind down.
The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Sept. 19, 2024.
Deciding on a show to watch on Netflix can feel overwhelming, given the plethora of titles across all genres, from lighthearted comedies to intense dramas to period pieces. We’ve narrowed down some of the most entertaining shows on the streaming service right now, including both Netflix originals and acquired series. The toughest bit will be deciding which one to start with.
If you’re looking for your next comfort show, here’s our roundup of some of the best series you can binge on Netflix. And if you’d rather go with a movie instead, here are our picks for the best Netflix original movies.
Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2024
Keith Bernstein/Netflix
A compelling, artful retelling of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The Crown touches on many themes beyond just the monarchy, including politics, family and the tumult of royal marriages — namely that of Charles and Diana. Beyond the spectacular casting across all six seasons, the show is supported by strong writing and gripping storylines that stir up emotion in viewers, regardless of how they actually feel about the British monarchy.
Ed Miller/Netflix
Inspired by real events from writer-actor Richard Gadd’s own life, Baby Reindeer follows Donny Dunn, an aspiring comedian whose day job is bartending. The bar is where he extends kindness to a stranger named Martha, setting off a months-long chain ordeal of stalking. Donny’s experience being stalked triggers a wave of unaddressed trauma, making for an interesting story. The seven-episode series recently won a string of Emmy awards and is available to binge.
Frank Ockenfels/AMC
Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013)
Lauded as one of the best television shows of all time, Breaking Bad has all the merits of a standout series: a suspenseful storyline, dynamic characters and shocking plot twists — many of which are not for the faint of heart. It follows high school chemistry teacher Walter White, who turns to cooking meth when he’s diagnosed with cancer and worries about providing for his family. But his knack for producing the illegal substance leads him down roads he never imagined.
Netflix
Animated series Blue Eye Samurai unfolds with Mizu, a mixed-race woman warrior who is seeking revenge against four men — one of whom is her father. Set during the Edo period in Japan, the show features Maya Erskine as Mizu, Stephanie Hsu, Ming-Na Wen, George Takei, Masi Oka, Brenda Song, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Mark Dacascos among the cast. Season 1 of the Emmy winner is streaming now.
Netflix
Praised by CNET’s Aaron Pruner as a “brilliant new take on the anti-hero story,” Netflix’s Ripley is the latest book-to-screen adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel character. Andrew Scott plays the cunning Tom Ripley, a stylish con-man who uses morally sketchy methods to gets what wants — even murder.
Netflix
Peaky Blinders (2013 – 2022)
Peaky Blinders tells the story of an English gang run by Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his family after World War I. The gang controls the city of Birmingham, but Shelby begins to set his sights beyond the streets as he aims to move up in the world. What sells this show is not only its compelling storyline, but also its stellar casting. For fans of period dramas — and crime shows — Peaky Blinders is a must-watch. A word of caution, though: This gritty series is not for the squeamish.
Netflix
Black Mirror (2011 – Present)
Black Mirror is a dark, dystopian imagining of a world overrun by technology and modern “advancements.” A series of standalone episodes each depict their own compelling — and often unsettling — imagining of the impact of our increasingly digital lives. (The anthology format itself can be a refreshing way to consume television in the age of binge-watching.) It will haunt and entertain you in all the best ways.
NBC, Justin Lubin/NBC
The Good Place (2016 – 2020)
This show is not only hilarious and witty, but it’ll force you to reexamine deeper questions about life and what’s inherently “good” or “bad.” In the show, Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) finds herself in the afterlife and, surprisingly, in the Good Place. But, as it turns out, she learns she’s actually there by mistake. This inspires Eleanor to embark on a mission to shed her old ways. The plot twists will throw you for a loop, and the amusing, one-of-a-kind characters will keep you coming back for more.
USA Network
This comedy-drama follows Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a college dropout with no legal experience who manages to land a job at the law firm of one of New York’s top attorneys, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht). They become a powerful team, but have to keep Mike’s lack of legal credentials under wraps. A testament to Suits’ brilliance is that it became the most-watched acquired series when it hit Netflix in 2023. (The star power of now-Duchess Meghan Markle, who plays paralegal Rachel Zane in the show, was likely also a factor.) All seasons are streaming on the platform now.
Ludovic Robert/Netflix
If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably seen this one all over your feed. One Day is a heart-wrenching adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel, in which we see Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) reunite on the same day across two decades. It’s a unique storytelling device that’ll make you reflect on time and relationships, and pull at your heartstrings all the while.
Netflix
Squid Game (2021 – Present)
This thriller was all anyone talked about when it debuted, and for good reason. Hundreds of people in desperate need of cash compete in a series of games that become a fight for survival. If you can handle the grotesque and gory themes throughout this show, it’s an enthralling watch. Then you can eagerly await season 2.
Netflix
A road rage incident between Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong) turns into a drawn-out feud, setting the stage for an enthralling comedic drama made all the better by stellar casting. Beef stole the show at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, nabbing eight wins, and won all three categories it was nominated for at the 81st Golden Globe Awards.
Getty Images
Monk does an excellent job combining crime, drama and comedy. It follows Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a private detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder who works with the San Francisco Police Department to solve unconventional cases. It’s impossible to watch this show without forming an affinity for the main character, and there’s smart writing throughout. Monk is perhaps best characterized as a comfort show, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Some of the most impactful shows are the ones rooted in reality. Such is the case for Maid, which is based on a memoir of the same name by Stephanie Land (some character names were changed). It tells the story of Alex Russell (Margaret Qualley), who gets a job cleaning houses after leaving an abusive relationship. In her struggle to make ends meet for her and her young daughter, the show paints a stark picture of poverty in America, and explores the deep chasm between the haves and have-nots.
Netflix
Stranger Things (2016 – Present)
Stranger Things is an enthralling medley of horror, drama and nostalgia. Set in the 1980s in fictional small-town Indiana, residents begin experiencing a series of odd events, including the disappearance of a young boy, and begin to search for answers.
Netflix
The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
This miniseries feels so much like it was based on a true story, thanks to genuine writing and lifelike characters. An orphaned girl in the 1960s named Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers a knack for playing chess, which takes her all the way to big competitions and the world stage. But fame begins to take its toll as she’s forced to reevaluate what she really wants in life.
Netflix
Money Heist (2017 – 2021)
In this riveting Spanish crime drama, a mastermind called “The Professor” assembles a group of eight people to carry out an ambitious robbery of the Royal Mint of Spain. The show uses compelling flashbacks and time jumps to keep you on your toes.
Netflix
Never Have I Ever (2020 – 2023)
If you need a fun, lighthearted show that’ll make you laugh, Never Have I Ever could be your answer. Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) is a first-generation Indian-American teenager who struggles to reconcile her dual identities, all while dealing with the typical challenges of high school and climbing the social ladder. There are relatable themes no matter your age — or you might just find yourself having flashbacks to the traumas of adolescence. But in a funny way.
Bridgerton (2020 – Present)
One of the most aesthetically pleasing shows on this list. Bridgerton is set in Regency-era England as the Bridgerton siblings search for love while navigating high society — and being the subject of anonymously penned gossip pamphlets. There’s plenty of drama, beautiful costumes and lavish tea parties to keep you coming back for more. The first installment of season 3 arrives on May 16, so catch up now.
R. Diamond, WireImage
Grace and Frankie (2015 – 2022)
One of the funniest and most original shows on Netflix, Grace and Frankie follows two long-time rivals who end up leaning on each other after learning their husbands have fallen in love with each other. Come for the all-star cast — including Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston — and stay for the refreshingly unique plot.
To start, here’s a list of the eight models we tested in this latest round to find the best electric kettle:
Chefman Easy Fill Electric Kettle: This is a fantastic value at around $31. A pour-through lid makes it quick and easy to fill. It doesn’t have temperature control, nor does it keep the water hot after it reaches a boil. It was one of the slower kettles, taking 6 minutes to reach a boil. If you just want to boil water and don’t need any bells and whistles, this is the one for you.
Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Kettle: With five preset temperature settings, a cool-touch exterior, fast boil time and a reasonable price, this is a nice option for tea drinkers. It can hold your set temperature for up to 30 minutes.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore One-Touch Kettle: Our overall winner is a great value with a host of features, and it brought water to a boil as fast as any electric kettle we’ve tested. It has four preset temperatures, but you can dial them up or down in five-degree increments. This attractive kettle will keep your water at your chosen temperature for up to 60 minutes, and the cool-touch exterior makes it a safer option.
KitchenAid 1.25 Liter Electric Kettle: This has an unusual look for an electric kettle in that it looks like a traditional one. It’s compact and cute and comes in a bunch of color options, making it one of our top picks. You might even match it to your other KitchenAid appliances, such as a stand mixer. It includes a mesh filter to trap scale for cleaner water but otherwise doesn’t offer any fancy features.
Aromaster Electric Gooseneck Kettle (out of stock): The gooseneck spout and built-in analog thermometer are the star features of this kettle. A gooseneck spout is a must for pour-over coffee, and knowing the exact temperature is important since you don’t want water at a full boil for brewing coffee. You can’t set or hold a certain temperature, but at least you can see it on this kettle.
Bodum Melior Gooseneck Electric Kettle: At around $40, this is the cheapest gooseneck kettle option I tested. If that’s the only feature you need, the price point makes the Bodum an attractive pick, but it lacks distinguishing features and is relatively slow to boil compared to other, higher-wattage options.
Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle: If you want a reasonably priced gooseneck kettle with five temperature presets for tea and coffee, plus a 60-minute temperature hold, this is your kettle for around $70. Clearly marked buttons on the base make it simple to use.
Stagg EKG Electric Kettle: Looking to impress your guests with the best pour-over coffee? With a retail price ranging between $165 and $195 depending on the finish, this one’s a splurge, but it has the best features for coffee aficionados. The Stagg has the gooseneck spout you want for a controlled pour, and you’ll be able to dial up the exact temperature you desire and then hold it there for 60 minutes. Plus, it’s a downright gorgeous addition to any kitchen, something you’ll be proud to display.
For comparison, here’s a more detailed overview of each model’s key specs:
Electric kettle specs
Chefman Easy Fill Electric Kettle
Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Kettle
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore One-Touch Kettle
KitchenAid KEK1222 Electric Kettle
Aromaster Electric Gooseneck Kettle
Bodum Melior Gooseneck Electric Kettle
Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle
Stagg EKG Electric Kettle
Model number
RJ11-17-GM-EF
41033
19135
KEK1222
YK-139T
11883-259US
CO108-NK
EEO1AA1A
Color
Matte Black, Clear
Black
Black, Cornflower Blue, Merlot, Oyster Grey, Sage Green, White Icing
Black Matte, Onyx Black, Brushed Stainless Steel, Empire Red, Pistachio
Finally, here are the testing notes from previous years’ tests.
The Zwilling Enfinigy performed well, and we loved the minimalist design.
David Watsky/CNET
The Zwilling Enfinigy was a favorite right out of the box purely from an aesthetic perspective, and this kettle performed at a high level during our tests, too. The build is solid, and I dug the minimalist one-button design. At just over 2 pounds, it isn’t overly bulky, and it has a cool-touch exterior for finger safety. There’s also a similar-looking, equally-sized Pro model now.
Another top pick from previous years is the Oxo Brew Adjustable Gooseneck Kettle. With its gooseneck spout, it’s a particularly appealing kettle for pour-over or other manual coffee-making setups that require a steady, controlled pour. It’s still a great pick, but Cosori’s gooseneck kettle offers comparable features and performance while costing a few bucks less.
Meanwhile, the Oxo Brew Cordless Glass Kettle was actually the fastest and most consistent kettle from our 2021 boil tests. It features a sleek and sturdy build and would fit nicely with any kitchen motif, especially if you’d prefer an electric kettle with a glass carafe.
The Smarter iKettle: Currently unavailable in the US, this performed well in our tests, and I loved the sturdy, stainless steel build. It’s the only app-controlled kettle we’ve tested, which proved both a blessing and a curse. Specifically, it boiled water quickly and completely when controlled through the app, but it shut off before coming to a complete boil when I tried to boil water the old-fashioned way, using the button on the side of the kettle. If you’re app-addicted, it is convenient to be able to see how much water is in your kettle and to start it boiling remotely from your device. Whether or not that’s worth paying a little more than you would for a standard electric kettle is up to you.
The Smeg gets style points and boiled water in a jiff, but it’s a little pricey for what it does.
David Watsky/CNET
The pricey Smeg Electric Kettle was another high-octane kettle with a solid build and a ton of retro charm to boot. My main beef with it is that it got extremely hot to the touch. It’s also awfully expensive, especially considering there are no special features other than simply boiling water. If you like the look, you won’t be disappointed, but it doesn’t offer much value.
The Cuisinart PerfectTemp also did well in testing but its performance is not commensurate with the $100 list price (though it can be found on sale for as low as $68). If you’re looking to snag one from that brand and the PerfectTemp isn’t on sale, I’d recommend this slightly basic model for $70, which has fewer presets but a more reasonable price. As my (now former) colleague Megan Wollerton reported in her initial round of testing for CNET, PerfectTemp has received customer feedback and Amazon reviews stating that its auto shut-off feature is defective and poses a potential fire hazard. Cuisinart did not respond to a request for comment.
Both of the Ovente electric kettles I tested — the $26 Ovente Illumination (currently out of stock) and the $50 (now $36) Ovente Victoria Series — are affordable options that boil water quickly and are easy to use. Neither one stood out in testing, and they felt a bit cheaply made. Also, both had lids that were unnecessarily detached from the kettle, which means you could misplace them. Knowing me, I probably would.
Sensors attached to this four-channel K thermometer SD logger help track water temperature.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are great ways to enjoy music, podcasts and more when you’re driving. You can also send and receive messages and make phone calls while staying safe and keeping your eyes on the road. Older cars tend not to come with these features, but there’s a solution that saves you from buying a new car just to get CarPlay and Android Auto. This foldable touchscreen display is a great way to add both to your vehicle for just $80 without resorting to an expensive CarPlay or Android Auto head unit swap. But you’ll need to act quickly — this deal isn’t going to last much longer.
This unit has a large 6.8-inch touchscreen and supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so it doesn’t matter which phone you have. There are plenty of connectivity options as well, including Bluetooth and an aux jack, while a built-in FM transmitter is also offered.
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Mounting the display is quick and easy, and support for Siri and Google Assistant for hands-free calling, navigation and music makes this a safer option than trying to stab away at your small phone screen while on the move. Keep in mind that this StackSocial deal could end at any moment and without warning, so factor that into your buying decision.
Looking for a new phone to go with this display? Be sure to check out our collection of the best iPhone deals, while our list of the best phone deals also includes some of the big-name Android models, too.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Fishda Double Massage Head Fascia Gun (Update: Out of stock)
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CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
If you’ve been experiencing frequent soreness, investing in an affordable massage gun is a great way to bring about some relief. Soreness in different muscle groups can happen for a variety of reasons. But it could also boil down to simple things like regularly hitting the gym or having a tough week at work. While getting a professional massage can help in such cases, it might not always be an option; this is where a good massage gun comes in handy. These handy gadgets make it easy to target those deep tissue areas and sore muscles without leaving your home.
Massage guns use a percussion technique to help relieve stress and pain in your sore muscles within a few minutes. Plus, they aren’t that difficult to use. They come in many shapes and sizes — from full-size guns that look like hair dryers to mini ones that are easy to store — and are usually more than capable of easing some of your pain. One model I tested even has an odd, triangular body, while another incorporates two heads.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
I tried to get a good sampling of what’s out there by putting my muscles on the line — with an eye toward cheaper massage guns priced $100 or less. I started with the most affordable models from Hyperice and Therabody, the premium and popular massage gun brands. Then I worked my way down to the most inexpensive off-brand and budget-friendly massage guns I could find.
Here is a shortlist of the best budget massage guns available in 2024.
Like Therabody, Hyperice is a premium brand with prices to match. And speaking of matching, the Hypervolt Go sells for around the same price as the Theragun Mini. But I like the former more, in part because it comes with two heads instead of one massage gun head and has a more comfortable gun-style design.
It’s a compact massage gun when compared to the likes of the MaxKare and Taotronics models, but also larger than the Naipo and Recoverfun. So let’s call it “medium.”
But, wow, is it powerful — on par with the Theragun in terms of muscle-punching force. With only three speeds, however, it might prove a little much if you prefer a gentler massage. Hyperice doesn’t supply a carrying case, which is inconvenient, and the AC adapter is proprietary.
Between this and the Theragun Mini, I’d choose this. But there are budget-friendly massage guns that are also more versatile, so it’s not my top pick.
Weight: 1 pound, 8 ounces
Charging method: Proprietary
Number of heads included: Two
Carrying case included: Drawstring
Naipo’s massager is the lightest and most compact model in the group, with a small but comfortable grip and more percussive force than you’d expect.
Other pluses include five speed settings and four different massage heads. Naipo doesn’t provide a carrying case, which is a bit disappointing. But my only real complaint is that it’s not amongst the quieter massage gun options; the other “minis” in the roundup, the Recoverfun and Sportneer, produce much less noise.
I’ve seen various coupon or code deals that bring the price down on this massager, so you should get it when it’s on sale.
Weight: 14.11 ounces
Charging method: USB-C
Number of heads included: Four
Carrying case included: No
Recommended with reservations
The triangular Mini exerts an impressive amount of force for its portable massage gun size, but the shape makes it hard to hold comfortably. What’s more, Therabody doesn’t provide multiple head attachments; it only includes a ball head. Other massage guns here come with at least two — if not four or even six — for a lower price.
Even at the lowest of its three speeds, the Mini feels stronger than a lot of the other budget massage gun options I tried. In fact, anyone looking for just a light, relaxing massage might find it a little too powerful.
Meanwhile, the unit relies on a proprietary AC adapter, not USB-C. That’s one more thing to pack on a trip — and the adapter doesn’t even fit in Therabody’s snug zippered carrying case.
While I’d be glad to have this on hand for deep-tissue relief, it’s hard to recommend otherwise. There are too many other models with more features and lower prices.
Weight: 1 pound, 8 ounces
Charging method: Proprietary
Number of heads included: One
Carrying case included: Zippered
Available in three colors (including a dazzling red), the Recoverfun Mini is among my favorite massagers in the group. Although it’s heavier than Naipo’s similarly compact model, with a metal barrel that feels a little cold until it warms up, it’s also surprisingly quiet. (When you’re trying to relax, extra noise doesn’t help.)
The gun offers four speed settings and Recoverfun supplies the “big four” attachments: ball, bullet, fork and flat. The flat one is made of aluminum, which offers no clear advantage I can see but which looks cool. You also get a drawstring carrying case, though you’ll have to supply your own powered USB port for the USB-C charging cable.
Weight: 1 pound, 5 ounces
Charging method: USB-C
Number of heads included: Four
Carrying case included: Drawstring
You know the old saying: Two heads are better than one. But is that true of most massage guns? I thought Fishda’s Frankenstein was just a gimmick, but damn if it doesn’t deliver twice the muscle-punching goodness. For big areas like thighs and glutes, I genuinely enjoyed this “bigger” massage.
Fortunately, it’s not twice as loud as other guns; in fact, it’s surprisingly quiet. It also has a relatively compact shape, basically a taller version of the Recoverfun Mini. But there’s some heft to it: At 1.7 pounds it weighs more than any of the best massage guns in its size class. Expect arm fatigue to set in a bit sooner with this one.
It’s also on the expensive side relative to other models, though that’s to be expected given the dual heads. However, you can often find coupons that bring the price down considerably.
Weight: 1 pound, 11 ounces
Charging method: USB-C
Number of heads included: Four (times two)
Carrying case included: Drawstring
Watch this: Can’t get a professional massage? Get a massage at home with the right gear
If you love all the stargazing opportunities we’ve been getting lately, set yourself a reminder to look up at the sky on Tuesday night. You can check out a super harvest blood moon, and a partial lunar eclipse. “Super harvest blood moon” almost sounds like a horror-movie title. It’s not frightening, though, and it could make for an awesome evening outside, if you know what to look for. Let’s break down that Halloween-esque name.
The harvest moon, arriving on Sept. 17, appears every year. It’s simply the name given to the moon that happens closest to the autumn equinox, which takes place on Sept. 22 this year. But this year’s harvest moon is also going to be a supermoon, as well as a blood moon, and these phenomena don’t often happen together.
For it to be a supermoon, the moon has to be at its perigee, which means it’s as close to the Earth as it can get during its orbit. This causes the moon to look bigger and brighter than it normally would. There are three to four supermoons a year, and they usually line up in a row. This year, the first supermoon was last month’s rare blue supermoon. September will be the second. We’re scheduled to get supermoons in October and November as well.
So then, what’s a blood moon? Blood moons occur during partial or complete lunar eclipses. The Earth blocks the sun from fully lighting the moon, causing the sun’s light to curl around the Earth’s magnetic field. The field filters the sun’s light, leaving mostly light from the red part of the color spectrum, thus turning the moon red. Similar to supermoons, blood moons occur a few times per year.
When is the super harvest blood moon?
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
The official full moon will occur on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 17, and the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 18. Skygazers will be able to see a mostly full moon in the days leading up to the full moon and the days after. Looking at the sky any night between Sept. 16-20 will show you a moon that is over 90% full. So, if you miss it on Sept. 17, you can still enjoy the bigger and brighter moon on other days, it just won’t be completely full.
The moon is the easiest celestial body to find in the sky. It’ll rise out of the eastern sky for everyone in the US at around 7:50 p.m. ET on the East Coast and around 7:10 p.m. PT on the West Coast.
While you’re looking up at the sky, keep an eye out for T Coronae Borealis, a white dwarf star that is set to go nova any day now and will show up as a new star in the sky for a while.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
When is the partial lunar eclipse taking place?
Blood moons are caused by lunar eclipses, and one will be taking place on the evening of Sept. 17. The eclipse should be visible to the entire continental US, although the time of day will vary depending on where you are.
On the East Coast, the eclipse will start at around 8:41 p.m., reach its maximum at 10:44 p.m. and then end by 12:47 a.m. On the West Coast, it’ll start at around 7:12 p.m., right as the moon climbs over the horizon. It’ll reach its maximum at 7:44 p.m. and then finish up by 9:47 p.m. You can add or subtract an hour depending on your time zone to know when it’ll hit you.
It won’t be a huge eclipse. You’ll see a sliver of the moon disappear briefly before coming back. The eclipse will affect the moon’s color more than it will how well you can see it. If you’re itching to see a full lunar eclipse, you won’t have too long to wait. The next one is set for the evening of March 13, 2025.
How rare is a super harvest blood moon?
None of the individual components of the super harvest blood moon are rare. Harvest moons happen every year, and supermoons happen three to four times a year. Blood moons also occur a few times every year. However, having all three events line up at the same time is actually quite unusual. The next time such an event is scheduled to happen is in September 2033, and after that, it won’t happen again until 2042.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for today’s Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.
Strands doesn’t get as much attention as its New York Times game siblings Wordle and Connections, but it can be just as challenging and entertaining. Strands just moved out of beta, so it’s now in the New York Times’ official Games app, which might bring it more fans. I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
How to play NYT Strands
1. Use today’s theme to look for words relating to that topic. See one? Drag or click the letters in order. Click on the last letter twice to submit your guess. If you’ve found a theme word, it’ll light up in blue and stay that way.
2. Other words you find are considered hint words that give you clues to the theme words. Find three hint words (they must have at least four letters each) and the game will reward you by showing you a theme word. But if you can’t unscramble it, find three more hint words and the game will highlight the theme word’s letters in order.
3. Hunt for the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, though it could flow across or top to bottom. It summarizes the puzzle theme.
4. When you’re done, you’ll have used every letter on the board in either a theme word or spangram. Theme words fill the entire board and do not overlap.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: What a stud!
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Claire’s Accessories.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
SimpliSafe home security systems can be easily tailored to your needs. Just simply add or subtract hardware and equipment as you please.
CNET
When choosing a home security system for your home, you may be tempted to start by deciding between a DIY setup or one that is professionally installed and monitored. When you consider the equipment, installation, monitoring options and other features you want, you’ll probably reach a DIY-versus-pro system decision along the way. Here are some more parameters to consider when shopping around for home security systems:
Equipment and installation
Do you just need to keep watch over your entryways? A good video doorbell for your front door and an outdoor camera covering the back may be all you need; easy to install and monitor yourself. If you want to keep closer tabs on your home inside and out with 24/7 monitoring and quick access to emergency response services, you’ll want a more robust system. DIY and professional brands offer home security bundles with most, if not all, of the equipment you’d need to get started and the ability to add single devices as needed.
Most home security devices are compatible with Alexa and Google Home smart hubs, but if you prefer Apple HomeKit or another smart home ecosystem, you may have to do a bit more shopping and comparing to find a system compatible with your existing smart home devices. Don’t fret over compatibility too much as Matter will make it easier to connect previously noncompatible devices (although it hasn’t quite come for security cameras yet).
Keep in mind all that equipment will need to be installed. While there isn’t much to installing a security camera or even a wired video doorbell, whole-home systems can be a bit more demanding to install and set up. Some are DIY-friendly and use adhesive to position devices without leaving permanent marks, but not all systems do this. If you’d rather leave that to an expert and have them walk you through how to use the system, a professional home security service may be the way to go.
Monitoring, alerts and emergency features
Arlo’s app is simple and intuitive to use.
Karen Freeman/CNET
Virtually all home security systems allow for self-monitoring, likely via an app on your phone. They’ll also send you push notifications when there’s an event, such as when a package is delivered to your doorstep.
Consider whether you want to be in charge of all the monitoring or if you’d like some support. A professional system will come with 24/7 monitoring, but you may be able to add professional monitoring to your DIY system for a fee, depending on the brand you choose.
More advanced features, such as facial recognition, glass break sensors and communication with emergency services may not be available from all manufacturers and devices. Consider the level of monitoring you want, and who you want to do it, along with the emergency response options, when choosing a home security system.
Costs, upfront and ongoing
We listed “cost” last here for a reason. A complete home security system will likely cost you at least a couple of hundred bucks, so be prepared for that. There’s the potential to spend lots more on equipment, or a lot less. Also, keep in mind that the size of the system greatly affects the cost. Starter systems like many we listed here typically cost between $150 and $300, and allow you to add other compatible devices over time. Larger systems with 10 devices or more will cost at least several hundred dollars and can go up to $1,000 or more, depending on the tech that’s included.
Ongoing costs can carry a bit more weight when choosing the best security system. Expect ongoing monthly fees from a professional service and possibly a contract to lock you into those fees for a year or two (although we favored picks without a required contract). Signing a contract may not be ideal, but it may also come with free equipment or installation and lower upfront costs.
If you’re comfortable with self-monitoring, DIY systems may not come with any ongoing costs. Monthly subscriptions (without a contract) for cloud storage, enhanced features and possibly even professional monitoring are typically an option with DIY systems, often for lower monthly fees than professional services.
Looking for the most recent Connections answer? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, the number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: Connections Bot Will Give You a Numeric Score Every Day
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: To be situated.
Green group hint: Reduce.
Blue group hint: Incompetent person.
Purple group hint: Famous groups of seven.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Reside.
Green group: Decrease.
Blue group: Doofus.
Purple group: Member of a septet.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Sept. 15, 2024.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is reside. The four answers are dwell, inhabit, live and stay.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is decrease. The four answers are decline, drop, dwindle and ebb.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is doofus. The four answers are clown, dweeb, sap and turkey.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is member of a septet. The four answers are dwarf, sea, sin and wonder.
Saline solution is a type of sterile saltwater people with sinus symptoms may use to help clean excess mucus or allergens out of their nasal passages. In addition to what’s now a popular allergy, infection or inflammation relief method in the West, nasal rinsing (often with a neti pot) is a practice that got its start in India and South East Asia.
When done safely and with properly sterilized water, nasal rinsing with saline solution is considered safe to do (and make) at home. It’s important you follow health guidelines for mixing the solution. While rare, deaths from sinus rinsing have occurred from using tap water that hasn’t been sterilized, as what may be safe to drink can cause serious infections when it passes through the nasal passages.
Here’s what to know about nasal rinsing and making your own saline solution. As always, it’s best to contact your doctor before trying this to learn whether it’s right for you.
How to make a saline rinse for your nose
Before you make a nasal rinse at home, you’ll need a device to administer it. Some container examples include a neti pot, rinse bottle or rubber ear bulb syringe.
Step 1: Find sterilized or distilled water, or boil your own
You can buy water that’s safe to use for nasal irrigation from the store if it’s labeled “distilled” or “sterile.” This means the water has gone through a process that’s expected to kill most things that could cause infections.
You can also sterilize tap water by boiling it, although advice on how many minutes seems to vary slightly. The FDA recommends boiling water for three to five minutes before letting it cool, and the Cleveland Clinic recommends five. The CDC says to get water to a rolling boil for one minute; people living at elevations above 6,500 feet should boil water for three minutes. (The boiling point of water changes with elevation, affecting some cooking rules.)
If you’re really in a rut and can’t disinfect water by boiling it, the CDC also offers tips for filtering and then disinfecting water with (small amounts of) unscented household chlorine bleach. If you go this route, keep in mind this mixture is not safe for drinking.
The FDA says that previously boiled water can be stored in a clean, closed container for use within 24 hours (one day).
Step 2: Mix salt and baking soda
In a clean container, combine three teaspoons of non-iodized salt (the type you’d use for canning or pickling) with one teaspoon of baking soda.
Step 3: Combine dry ingredients with sterilized water
Add one teaspoon of dry mixture per eight ounces of lukewarm water. You can use a little less to minimize burning or side effects of nasal irrigation.
South Agency/E+ via Getty Images
Make sure all containers that touch solution are clean
Your neti pot, nasal rinse device or any container should always be clean and sanitized before handling your solution. Follow the instructions on the nasal wash, if they have them.
Do you need to use boiled or distilled water for your nasal solution?
Yes, always. It may be safe to swallow and digest, but our digestive system is set up to receive and neutralize pathogens that are not safeto have up our noses or sinuses.
The rare deaths linked to neti pot use or nasal rinsing have been from people using tap water or unsterilized water, according to the CDC. Specifically, using unsterilized water for nasal rinsing has been linked to rare cases (PDF) of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, which is when an ameba gets up the nose and travels to the brain.
Even if you’re using an irrigation system that comes with a pre-mixed saline solution, you still need to use sterilized water, as the Cleveland Clinic notes.
Is it safe to make your own contact solution at home?
No. The solution people most use to store their contact lenses overnight is a specific mix of saline solution and disinfectant — made in a sterilized facility in a specific formula safe for the eyes — which works to keep your contact lenses not only moisturized but free of build-up or contaminants that cause eye infections. The FDA says to avoid exposing your contact lenses to water, even if it’s distilled, as this has been associated with a type of eye infection that’s resistant to treatment and cure.
In general, the eyes are relatively vulnerable to serious infections compared to other body parts. They’re close to the brain and have little protective barrier, which is why recalls or the potential contamination of eye drops (or anything you put in your eye) are taken very seriously. While one person may not develop any symptoms, or they get a milder infection that stays local to the eye and clears itself, another person’s infection may cause permanent eye damage or blindness.
Looking for the most recent Connections answer? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: Connections Bot Will Give You a Numeric Score Every Day
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Cheers!
Green group hint: Ways to indicate commands to a device.
Blue group hint: At the beginning of a word.
Purple group hint: Not queen, but.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Wine bottle info.
Green group: Console inputs.
Blue group: Prefixes.
Purple group: ____ king.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
NYT Connections completed puzzle for Sept. 14, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is wine bottle info. The four answers are grape, region, vintage and winery.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is console inputs. The four answers are button, knob, slider and switch.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is prefixes. The four answers are pro, retro, sub and super.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ king. The four answers are burger, California, lion and prom.
Save $360 on Visible Plus plan with iPhone purchase
All four iPhones are on sale now through preorders, and the countdown to the Sept. 20 shipping date is on.
CNET
All four iPhone 16 phones are now available to buy through preorder sales, starting at $799 (see below for more pricing details). That means you’ll be able to purchase Apple’s new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max so that it arrives the same day it goes on sale in stores. With Apple, retailers and carriers vying for your preorder sale, you’ll thank yourself for paying attention to their different trade-in deals and sales. We’ve got all that info below, so read on.
Read more: Get the New iPhone 16 Pro for Free With This T-Mobile Preorder Deal
The iPhones’ biggest selling points? The camera processing and AI features, of course. But also, two new physical buttons — something we haven’t seen in an iPhone for years. There’s a tactile camera button you can press down and slide your finger along, and an “action” button that can pull up one app during the day (let’s say, Maps), and another at night (like the flashlight).
All the new iPhones will come loaded with iOS 18, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system (iOS 18 will come to all iPhones that support it on Monday). Across all models, you’ll have nine colors to choose from and four storage capacities, all the way up to 1TB. You can also, of course, scoop up MagSafe accessories. Meanwhile, we’ll keep updating this page as we find more iPhone 16 preorder deals.
Watch this: Hands-On with iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
Buying the new iPhone 16? Check out the best deals on iPhone accessories like Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4.
iPhone 16 sale date
Apple’s iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup will go on sale in stores on Sept. 20. If you preordered your iPhone 16, it should arrive on your doorstep by then. You’ll also be able to pop into any retailer that sells the iPhone — like an Apple Store, BestBuy or your carrier — and buy from their available stock.
It’s not unheard of for popular configurations of colors, models and storage capacities to sell out of available stock and experience a delay. So we suggest you have a couple backup options in mind if you’re determined to get a new iPhone on Sept. 20 or shortly after. Or be prepared to wait.
More from the Apple event
Where do I preorder the iPhone 16 before Sept. 20?
iPhone 16 preorders are open now — they kicked off in the early hours of Friday, Sept. 13.
First, decide which model iPhone you want to buy — iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Then, select your preferred color and storage capacity, and decide if you’re trading in an older iPhone, which could get you up to $650 back from the Apple site.
Then choose an optional carrier and AppleCare Plus coverage (or not) and click the blue Get ready for pre-order button. You can then choose any accessories you want to add and finally enter your payment information to complete your purchase.
iPhone 16 price: How much do they cost and what are the specs?
Prices differ depending on the amount of storage you buy, but here’s the range:
iPhone 16: $799 to $1,099
iPhone 16 Plus: $899 to $1,199
iPhone 16 Pro: $999 to $1,499
iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199 to $1,599
Read more: All-New iPhone 16 Button Adds Camera Control to Apple’s Flagship Phone
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: Black, white, pink, “teal” (green) and “ultramarine” (blue)
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max: Black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium and desert titanium
How do iPhone 16 trade-in offers work?
Some carriers are offering up to $1,000 on eligible trade-ins, which could net you an iPhone 16 Pro for free. One important thing to keep in mind is that most trade-in deals from carriers require you to become a customer, and they often apply to the priciest plan options.
Select retailers with trade-in programs could offer you gift cards toward future purchases instead, so you don’t have to be locked into a contract to take advantage of the savings from parting with your old device. However, those offers may not provide as much of a deal as traditional trade-in offers. We’ve got specifics on how much you can expect to receive for trading in your phone at select retailers and carriers below.
We saw the new iPhone 16 models in the demo room at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Best iPhone 16 preorder deals today
We’ll continue updating the below list with all of the best iPhone 16 deals across all of the major US retailers and carriers at this preorder stage.
You can preorder the iPhone 16 series from the Apple Store starting Friday, Sept. 13, at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET), with the expected arrival date to be Sept. 20.
Apple is already offering some carrier deals with preorders as well. Existing Verizon customers can save up to $930 with trade-in; AT&T customers can save up to $800 with trade-in and both T-Mobile and Boost customers save up up to $1,000 with no trade-in required.
T-Mobile will offer the full iPhone 16 lineup for preorder beginning Friday, Sept. 13, with in-store availability at T-Mobile on Sept. 20. Both new and existing customers can trade in an eligible device on Go5G Next get an iPhone 16 Pro for free or up to $1,000 off any iPhone 16 model. Those who trade in and are on the Go5G Plus plan can get a free iPhone 16 or up to $830 off any other iPhone 16 model. If you have another Go5G, you can still qualify for the iPhone 16 or up to $830 off if you trade in and add a new line.
AT&T take preorders for the iPhone 16 lineup beginning Friday, Sept. 13, at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET). You can get up to $1,000 off on iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max and up to $830 off on iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, with an eligible trade-in. That essentially nets you an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro for free. These discounts are dolled out over 36 months in the form of bill credits.
Eligible devices are smartphones with a minimum trade-in value of $180 for up to $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max. For other phones in the series, the trade-in device must have a minimum value between $130 and $179. Additionally, customers must sign up for or be on an unlimited voice and data plan.
Starting this Friday, Sept. 13, you can preorder the iPhone 16 lineup via Boost’s site, its Amazon storefront or the Apple store. Purchase an iPhone 16 on a $25 per month unlimited plan and you can get one entire year free of Boost Unlimited 5G mobile service or opt to get up to $1,000 off a device — no trade-in required.
Opt to get Boost mobile service through Apple Stores or Apple’s website and trade in an eligible iPhone through Apple to receive between $180 and $650 additional credits.
Xfinity Mobile will carry the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, all of which will be available for preorder beginning Friday, Sept. 13, with availability on Sept. 20. It will also carry the AirPods 4 as well as the latest Apple Watches, which can be preordered now and available Sept. 20.
At this time, there are no deals announced, but we anticipate those to be on par with other carriers and will update this post accordingly once those are announced.
Verizon will be offering the iPhone 16 series for preorder beginning Friday, Sept. 13, with availability on Friday, Sept. 20. They are offering a number of deals already.
New and existing Verizon customers on the Unlimited Ultimate plan can get an iPhone 16 Pro for free or up to $1,000 off another phone in the iPhone 16 lineup, when you trade in any phone in any condition. If you opt for the Unlimited Plus, you can get up to $830 off or choose the Unlimited Welcome plan and you can still get up $415 off phones in the iPhone 16 series.
If you switch to Verizon or add a new line, you can get an iPhone 16 Pro for just $10 per month on the Ultimate Unlimted plan (36 months) or $15 per month on the Unlimited Plus plan.
And finally, there’s the option to bring your own device and add a new line to receive a promotional credit: $360 if you opt for the Unlimited Plus plan or $540 on if you opt for the Unlimited Ultimate. This promo credit is applied over 36 months.
Best Buy is launching iPhone 16 series preorders Sept. 13 at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET) and if you purchase your new iPhone through Best Buy with a qualified activation and trade-in through AT&T, you can save up to $1,000 on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Walmart is offering the iPhone 16 lineup for preorder on Sept. 13, with availability on Sept. 20. While Walmart is not offering any unlocked model deals, you can save on carrier options through AT&T. New and existing AT&T customers can trade in an eligible device worth $130, you can get up to $830 off; if you have a device to trade in worth $180, you can save up to $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. You’ll have to activate a new line or upgrade your line to an eligible plan if you’re not already on one.
Grab a phone from the iPhone 16 lineup at Visible and score $360 towards your Visible Plus service. Simply join Visible on a new line of service, purchase an eligible device either on device payment or at full retail price, select the Visible Plus plan and activate your service within 30 days. You’ll receive a $10 discount off your monthly service for a period of 36 months for a total savings of $360.
Want to get a deal on previous iPhone models? Our roundup of the best iPhone deals includes sales on the iPhone 15, iPhone SE and more.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, and Connections puzzles.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Clothed (in) Answer: CLAD
5A clue: Ring of light Answer: HALO
6A clue: Black ___ (dangerous spider) Answer: WIDOW
7A clue: Longtime talk show host known for pulling pranks on her guests Answer: ELLEN
8A clue: Worker with a comb, perhaps? Answer: BEE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: South American country with a 4,000-mile coastline Answer: CHILE
2D clue: Tool for a soup kitchen volunteer Answer: LADLE
3D clue: Succulent in some health drinks Answer: ALOE
4D clue: “I’m reading a book about antigravity. I can’t put it ___!” (groaner) Answer: DOWN
5D clue: One “w” in www Answer: WEB
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
NRG Clean Power brings one of the solar industry’s most confident approaches to its work, offering a price match and 40-year warranty. This helped push NRG to one of CNET’s highest scores we’ve seen from the solar companies we’ve reviewed so far.
One big caveat: If you don’t live in California or Texas, you’ll need to keep shopping. If you do live in one of these two states, NRG is worth considering.
NRG Clean Power has its origins in a California-based heating and air conditioning company that has been around for three decades. Twelve years ago the company split, with NRG Clean Power focusing solely on solar power as “sort of its own entity,” according to sales director Andrew Cohen.
Somewhat confusingly, the company has no relation to international energy behemoth NRG Energy, which has dabbled in solar and other renewables over the years.
NRG Clean Power focuses on residential solar installations across California, and increasingly in parts of Texas.
In recent years there’s been a bit of a rush to add solar power to many a roof or residence. It just seems to make sense with a new round of financial and tax incentives that can pay for a substantial amount of a new system. (Despite inflation and other economic turbulence, the residential solar market broke its record for installations again in 2022.) And with the ravages of climate change in the form of unprecedented wildfires, heat waves and powerful storms making headlines, adding more renewables to our energy mix is also a socially responsible investment.
This has created something of a boom, with numerous solar installers popping up to supply all that demand. This can make it a bit bewildering to navigate the industry. NRG Clean Power looks to reassure homeowners by standing behind its work longer than any other company we’re aware of, with a warranty that extends across the lifetime of your system or roughly half of yours (40 years), whichever comes first.
Keep in mind we don’t directly review equipment or services (you can learn more about our methodology below) and it’s important to do your own due diligence and collect multiple quotes from local installers before signing a contract.
What do I get from NRG Clean Power?
NRG Clean Power offers solar system installations for purchase and is willing to help homeowners find financing through a solar loan. NRG Clean Power has also started offering solar leasing or power purchase agreements.
Unlike many solar companies, NRG also does roofing. This means it can replace or upgrade a homeowner’s roof before installing solar to boost efficiency and make sure that the most important foundation of any rooftop solar system is going to last for the duration of its lifetime.
Another non-standard service offered is solar panel cleaning, an important maintenance service the company says can boost home energy production by as much as 25%. Though to reach that mark, those would likely be some dirty panels.
What solar equipment does NRG Clean Power install?
NRG installs a number of name brand solar panels, batteries and inverters, including a lot of solar modules from REC, Panasonic and Qcells as well as “pretty much anything that’s going to make the design optimal for that particular homeowner,” Cohen said.
He notes that NRG is a certified installer for many manufacturers, which can sometimes mean longer warranties.
Enphase, SolarEdge and Tesla are the company’s most popular choices for batteries as well as inverters, including either microinverters or string inverters.
What warranties does NRG Clean Power offer?
NRG Clean Power typically relies on manufacturers’ warranties for equipment. Industry standards are around 25 years for panels and inverters and 10 years for batteries. Cohen says because the company is a certified installer with REC, it’s possible to get a longer, 30-year warranty on their components.
What really sets NRG apart is its 40-year or lifetime workmanship warranty. The company guarantees its installation work against leaks, unsatisfactory energy production or other performance issues for 40 years or the lifetime of the system, whichever comes first.
At the time this was written, this warranty is by far the longest workmanship warranty we’ve come across in the residential solar industry so far.
Does NRG Clean Power offer monitoring services?
The NRG Clean Power app allows you to check the status of project approval and installation before the system is activated for the first time. The app is relatively new and has not yet been reviewed on Google or Apple app stores.
For system monitoring, Cohen said it’s usually best to rely on apps provided by the inverter manufacturer, such as the Tesla or Enphase Enlighten app.
He added that NRG itself doesn’t monitor people’s energy production, but recommends you make weekly checks and take advantage of a solar panel cleaning service once or twice a year.
“It’s really important that homeowners are monitoring their systems consistently,” Cohen said.
Does NRG Clean Power use subcontractors?
NRG covers all of California and most of Texas using all-remote, virtual energy advisors and a list of installers, including subcontractors.
“We find that it’s the best business model for us to be able to leverage local pros as well as our own,” Cohen explained.
While the company employs some in-house installers, it’s likely to contract out work in more remote areas.
Cohen said NRG has a strict onboarding process for subcontractors and wants to see a portfolio of work from all of its potential installers.
We always consider it a bonus to see more employee installers on a company’s roster, but it’s not a factor that counts in our scoring system. NRG’s approach is not unusual for the industry.
How much do NRG Clean Power panels cost?
Like nearly all solar companies we speak with, NRG Clean Power did not offer specific pricing information. This isn’t surprising, given how much homeowners’ needs and challenges can vary from one situation to the next and market to market.
When I asked about solar pricing, the first thing Cohen mentioned was the company policy of providing a price match, which is definitely not an industry standard.
“If you can provide an apples-to-apples quote that has premium materials, probably the same inverter, same solar module or at least same wattage with a similar efficiency, we’ll price match that quote as long as it’s a hard quote,” he was quick to explain.
He added that he considers NRG generally “competitive” on pricing.
“We’re more of a high volume installer and we’re able to keep our fees low by leveraging local installers.”
Here’s a look at the national average prices from three different data sources including: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, FindEnergy and the energy consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
To get an idea of what solar costs look like in each state across the US, here’s a look at the average total cost, system size and cost per watt of solar panels, according to data from FindEnergy.com.
What financing options does NRG Clean Power offer?
NRG works with a number of credit unions and financial institutions, including Mosaic Federal Credit Union and the Energy Loan Network to help homeowners find solar loans and financing for a new system.
Additionally, Cohen said the company is also willing to work with other credit unions or loans that homeowners secure on their own.
“If you can get a better loan than something we offer, no problem,” Cohen said.
The company offers leases and power purchase agreements as well as loans and financing, Cohen said.
Does NRG Clean Power operate in my state? How do I order?
NRG Clean Power offers solar installations across the vast majority of California and parts of Texas, including the Dallas and Houston areas.
Ordering from the company begins with providing recent utility bills and basic information about your house before a virtual consultation that’s usually a Google Meet lasting 30 to 60 minutes. NRG’s energy consultants use Aurora design software to create a 3D model of the property using lidar and satellite imagery. The conversation also includes discussion of financing, if desired.
To move forward, a deposit (usually about $1,000) is collected followed by an in-person site evaluation where a technician and drone are sent to inspect the property and house thoroughly. Cohen said it’s also possible to request an express site evaluation for a homeowner that can provide their own photos.
Next comes a more detailed design for approval by both sides. The company then collects a second “progress payment” and moves forward to the permitting process. Finally, the system is installed, and once an inspection is completed and there is permission to activate the system, everything is done. Cohen estimated it’s typically a two- to three-month process from start to finish.
NRG Clean Power reviews: What are customers saying?
Overall, there aren’t that many online reviews of NRG Clean Power, compared to some of the larger companies out there. It was a mix of negative and positive reviews. The company is accredited with the Better Business Bureau, but has a score of “B,” which is lower than most accredited solar companies.
5-star NRG Clean Power reviews
“I was referred to NRG by a neighbor, and am glad I took the recommendation! Installed in just a couple of months and no problems to report. Good communication.” — Paul R, March 3, 2023
1-star NRG Clean Power reviews
“Run, don’t walk away from this company!! We ordered solar panels in April, 2022 and didn’t get them installed until October, 2022. They are still unusable and the installation crew has no idea why or how to fix it. We have NEVER been able to speak to anyone at NRG unless they were wanting money.” — Jackie D. Jan. 1, 2023
Is NRG Clean Power the best choice?
One of the most important things to do when choosing a company to install a solar system on your home is to get multiple hard quotes for your individual situation. Reviews like this can only tell you so much. Also, keep in mind that CNET does not directly review any of the equipment or services described here.
We do not go through the ordering process with NRG Clean Power, but instead rely on our own research, conversations with the company and knowledge of the industry to put together this review.
That said, NRG could be a compelling option, especially given its impressive workmanship warranty and emphasis on its price match guarantee.
There’s some cause for concern in reviews and complaints about the company submitted to the Better Business Bureau. Generally speaking, though, we don’t recommend making a decision based solely on online reviews. You might consider asking a company representative about some of the patterns you see in negative reviews to find out how they’ve been addressed.
NRG Clean Power pros and cons
Pros
Industry-leading workmanship warranty
Price match guarantee
Wide array of brands and components offered
Cons
Better Business Bureau grade is lower than many competitors
Operates in only two states
How we evaluate solar companies
Reviewing solar companies in a hands-on way is difficult. Accounting for all the differences project to project is impossible. To provide a helpful review, we focused on what we can measure and meaningfully compare among companies.
We focus on three buckets of criteria: equipment, warranties and service.
Within the equipment category, companies receive scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they install. Warranties include the guarantees on the panels, workmanship and weatherization against leaks. Companies earn points for service if they offer a price match, a meaningful level of price transparency and a well-rated app for monitoring solar production. They lose points if there are major issues pertaining to customer service (lawsuits, investigations or clear reputations for shoddy service). These issues will always be detailed in the review.
You can read a detailed look at how the scoring breaks down.
We don’t consider the average price of a company’s installations in their score. This information is difficult to find and hard to compare across service areas (and even roof to roof). Companies are often slow to disclose it, too. We also leave out easily found but not useful information such as the number of states a company operates in.
FAQs
Who is the owner of NRG Clean Power?
NRG Clean Power is a privately held company. It lists Oren Tamir as CEO. It is not related to the larger NRG, an energy retail provider.
How long has NRG Clean Power been in business?
NRG Clean Power, the solar company — not to be confused with the NRG energy retail provider — has been in business for over 30 years.
Looking for more Connections answers? Click here for our daily Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score, and their win streak.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: Connections Bot Will Give You a Numeric Score Every Day
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Store that site.
Green group hint: Done to support someone or something.
Blue group hint: B-ball stars.
Purple group hint: Endings have a language in common.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Mark online for later.
Green group: Behalf.
Blue group: NBA legends, familiarly.
Purple group: Ending with Greek letters.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Sept. 12, 2024.
New York Times/Screenshot by CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is mark online for later. The four answers are bookmark, favorite, like and save.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is behalf. The four answers are advantage, benefit, interest and sake.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is NBA legends, familiarly. The four answers are Bird, Curry, Kobe and Magic.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ending with Greek letters. The four answers are biota, feta, mochi and Pepsi.
A new and unique technology is around the corner, with the potential to change the way we connect to the internet. It offers different advantages than traditional Wi-Fi, though it is still too early to say what this means for broadband in our homes. So, what is this new technology, and how does it work?
What is Li-Fi?
Light Fidelity, also known as Li-Fi, uses the power of light to transmit data. Unlike Wi-Fi, which uses radio waves to create a wireless connection, Li-Fi relies on light to transmit data. Through this process, Li-Fi promises speeds that are 100 times faster than Wi-Fi.
Research for Li-Fi has been around since the early 2000s. Alongside his team, German physicist Harald Haas founded this technology by discovering that light can be used for two-way data transmission. It wasn’t long before French company Oldecomm, one of the global leaders in this technology, began conducting its experiments on Li-Fi in 2008. In July, Europe launched Ariane 6 into space, carrying out four experiments, one geared toward testing Li-Fi technology.
How does Li-Fi work?
The Li-Fi Group/Screenshot by CNET
Li-Fi functions as a Visible Light Communications system; at its core, data is transferred from LED light bulbs. These bulbs carry pulses of light that produce information similar to Morse code. No, this process can’t be seen by the naked eye. The game-changers in this scenario are the compatible devices that can synthesize this information rapidly.
What does this mean for the internet?
Wi-Fi, also known as wireless fidelity, first emerged in 1996. In the past few years, the development of technologies like Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 early this year have transformed how we stay connected.
With Li-Fi, data is transferred at an accelerated rate compared to Wi-Fi, resulting in higher speeds. Speeds aren’t the only important factor in a wireless connection.
The LiFi Group, a pioneer in commercializing Li-Fi technology and its products in the digital space, highlighted other notable benefits, like increased security.
“Security is another key advantage of Li-Fi because the signals are confined to the area illuminated by the light source and cannot penetrate walls. The risk of unauthorized access is greatly reduced,” a spokesperson from The LiFi Group tells CNET.
Back to the topic of speeds, Li-Fi speeds could reach up to 224,000 megabits per second (in theory) and could be particularly advantageous for smart cities, virtual reality, 4K streaming and even online gaming, where lower latency is crucial. Additionally, because Li-Fi does not rely on radio frequencies like Wi-Fi, your connection will be free of electromagnetic interference. Li-Fi might also be a safer option for your home since it produces less radiation.
It’s worth noting that this technology is still in its infancy, so we won’t see its true impact until it’s fully implemented in the real world.
Iberdrola
I digress, while this technology isn’t perfect yet, there are some key things you should know:
Pros
Speed: More data is carried out faster through light sources than with radio waves used by Wi-Fi.
Efficiency: Li-Fi is more energy-efficient as it harnesses the power of LED light bulbs.
Security: Li-Fi technology reduces the risk of your data being intercepted by outside threats.
Availability: Light sources are everywhere, increasing your chances of connecting to the internet.
Cons
Limited range: Your connection will be confined to closed spaces since this technology relies on light sources. Large establishments and businesses might have a harder time utilizing this technology.
Limited compatibility: This is a newer technology which means that fewer devices are equipped to decode its data.
Doesn’t solve slow internet speeds from ISPs: If you are on your provider’s slowest plan or are experiencing throttled speeds,Li-Fi won’t solve these issues.
So, where can I find Li-Fi?
At present, Li-Fi is still in its research phase in the US and other parts of the world. It might take some time before we see how Li-Fi will impact the internet. Li-Fi is projected to be rolled out in the mainstream market within the next couple of years. Oldecomm is predicting that Li-Fi will be available anytime between 2024 and 2029. Implementing this technology will solely depend on company investments.
Li-Fi technology would benefit many sectors like defense and government, increasing the ability to transmit data securely.
Datamatics Business Solutions/Screenshot by CNET
On the bright side, we might not be that far away as we’re seeing this technology across different industries. The LiFi Group describes this technology to be crucial for sectors like defense and government, which is optimal for transferring data securely. Other industries, like aviation, are also making use of this technology, as seen with Spectrum Networks LLC, which is based in Fife, Washington.
Moreover, there is an increased interest among US companies that are funding research to develop this technology. VLNComm, based in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a leader in VLC technology and pivotal in developing Li-Fi. In addition, the company Signify, known for its energy-efficient lighting products, is also a key player in VLC technology. This company is headquartered in the Netherlands, but its North American corporation is nestled in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Both companies are doing work that will lay down the foundation of Li-Fi technology.
What’s next for Li-Fi?
‘We’ve been in discussions with several leading companies, not only within the Li-Fi and wireless communication sectors but also across industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications, logistics and more,” says the LiFi Group spokesman. “The growing demand for innovative connectivity solutions, especially in environments where traditional wireless technologies face limitations, will likely drive more companies to explore and invest in Li-Fi in the near future.”
What’s the bottom line on Li-Fi?
Li-Fi technology seems like a great alternative to Wi-Fi and, in theory, might benefit many industries. It’s still too early to say that this technology will replace Wi-Fi as a whole. It might take some time before we actually see tangible evidence of its impact on wireless connectivity. Li-Fi is promising, as we see increased interest among companies funding research to develop the standard. Until then, we’ll keep you up-to-date on new developments with this technology.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed puzzle for Sept. 11, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: “You’re slaying!,” to a drag queen Answer: WERK
5A clue: “Same here” Answer: SODOI
6A clue: “Pipe” or “pump” instrument Answer: ORGAN
7A clue: Ran away from the scene Answer: FLED
8A clue: Things often skipped while listening to podcasts Answer:ADS
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: New York ___, newspaper that published the first crossword puzzle (1913) Answer: WORLD
2D clue: A cube has 12 of them Answer: EDGES
3D clue: The Beatles sang about a long and winding one Answer: ROAD
4D clue: Family members, collectively Answer: KIN
5D clue: Place for a couch potato Answer: SOFA
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Max’s trove of Studio Ghibli movies has a new, Oscar-winning inclusion.
Hayao Miyazaki’s 2023 fantasy adventure The Boy and the Heron began streaming in the US on Friday, joining the animation studios’ existing My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and more. The film, which won the best animated feature Academy Award earlier this year, is a semi-autobiographical tale “about life, death, and creation,” according to distributor GKIDS. It centers on a young boy, Mahito, who follows a gray heron into another world after losing his mother.
Miyazaki wrote and directed The Boy and The Heron, his first feature in 10 years, after coming out of retirement to make the movie. The English-dubbed version includes the voices of Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh and more. Max subscribers can also opt for the original Japanese audio.
Max costs $10, $17 or $21 monthly after the streamer raised ad-free prices in June. You can also seek out a different way to get the service. For example, Max With Ads is free for Cricket Wireless customers on the $60-per-month unlimited plan. You can opt for a bundle of Max, Hulu and Disney Plus, a student discount or an annual DashPass plan, which comes with the ad-supported version at no extra cost.
If you don’t want a subscription, The Boy and the Heron costs $10 to buy at Amazon and Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu).
Max/Warner Bros. Discovery
Max also offers an annual price for all of its tiers. You can save some money over paying for 12 individual months, but you’ll have to pay a larger amount upfront. For more on the streamer, check out our review.
How to watch The Boy and the Heron with a VPN
Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Max while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to access the movie from anywhere in the world. There are also other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming.
A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic to stop your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins when connecting to Wi-Fi networks. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and meets our security standards.
You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
If you’re looking for a secure and dependable VPN, our Editors’ Choice is ExpressVPN. It’s fast, works on multiple devices and provides stable streams. It’s $13 a month, or you can opt for a deal that gives you 15 months for $6.67 per month if you pay the total amount up front.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our review of ExpressVPN.
Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation and choose a country where The Boy and the Heron will be streaming on Max. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream The Boy and the Heron on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Max to stream.
If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services will restrict VPN access.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed for Sept. 10, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: What a phisher might try to get you to click Answer: LINK
5A clue: “___ Copperhead,” Barbara Kingsolver novel that won a 2023 Pulitzer Answer: DEMON
6A clue: Act melodramatically Answer: EMOTE
7A clue: One just squeaking by? Answer: MOUSE
8A clue: Suspicious of Answer:ONTO
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Fruit used to treat scurvy Answer: LEMON
2D clue: “Catch ya later!” Answer: IMOUT
3D clue: “Quite the contrary!” Answer: NOTSO
4D clue: Bending body part Answer: KNEE
5D clue: Music submission to a recording studio Answer: DEMO
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Looking for more Wordle answers? Click here for our daily Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections and Strands puzzles.
There are plenty of other online word games now, but I still play the New York Times Wordle game every day. These days, it’s not only an old friend, it’s also a nice warm-up for Connections, Strands and the rest.
Also, we’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity, if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. If you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer begins with the letter D.
Wordle hint No. 4: Money meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a bank card that deducts money from one’s checking account.
Wordle hint No. 5: Another meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can also refer to an accountant’s entry recording money owed.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is DEBIT.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Sept. 8, No. 1177, was DRAWN.
Watch international soccer in Canada from CA$25 a month
Portugal will look to make it two wins from two Nations League games on Sunday, as they welcome a beleaguered Scotland side to the Estadio da Luz.
The Portuguese have made a strong start to League A Group 1 after beating Croatia 2-1 on Thursday thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Scotland have gained promotion from League B, they come into this game in poor shape. A tepid showing at Euro 2024 in the summer was followed up on Thursday by a 2-3 defeat at home to Poland in what on paper appeared to be their easiest game in a tough Nations League group.
Portugal host Scotland at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Sunday, Sept 8. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. WEST local time which is also 7:45 p.m. BST in the UK, 2:45 p.m. ET or 11:45 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 4:45 a.m. AEST on Monday, Sept. 9 in Australia.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match live wherever you are in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a milestone 900th career goal during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win over Croatia on Thursday.
Carlos Rodrigues – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Livestream the Portugal vs. Scotland match in the US
Saturday’s match is on Fox Sports 1. If you don’t have the channel as part of your cable lineup, it can be streamed via Sling TV.
Sling/CNET
Sling TV’s Blue plan includes FS1, making it a great option for those wanting to watch international soccer action. It’s $40 a month ($45 in some places) and includes over 40 channels, including other sports channels like ESPN.
How to watch the Portugal vs. Scotland match online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view this Nations League fixture locally, you may need a different way to watch the match — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream the Portugal vs. Scotland match in the UK for free
The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcaster ITV1 will be showing this match.
Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. BST ahead of the 7:45 p.m. kickoff. That also means the match will be available to stream on ITVX, while viewers in Scotland will be able to stream the game on STV Player.
ITV
As the match is being broadcast on ITV1, that means you’ll also have the option of watching the game online for free via the network’s on-demand streaming service, ITVX (formerly ITV Hub).
The service has an updated app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs.
Livestream the Portugal vs. Scotland match in Australia
Football fans Down Under can also watch this match on streaming service Optus Sport.
Optus
With exclusive rights to screen every EPL match live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games and international fixtures, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.
If you’re already an Optus network customer you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price of AU$10 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.
Livestream the Portugal vs. Scotland match in Canada
If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada.
DAZN
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$25 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, plus EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Quick tips for streaming international soccer using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Looking for more Wordle answers? Click here for our daily Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections and Strands puzzles.
There are plenty of other online word games now, but I still play the New York Times Wordle game every day. These days, it’s not only an old friend, it’s also a nice warm-up for Connections, Strands and the rest.
Also, we’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity, if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. If you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There is one vowel in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: Placement
The one vowel is in the middle of the word.
Wordle hint No. 4: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer begins with the letter D.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a person’s face who looks ill or haggard, but it can also refer to the past tense of something artists do.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is DRAWN.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Sept. 7, No. 1176, was OWNER.
There are so many expenses we have to juggle each month. From rent or mortgage payments to grocery costs to gas, you face a never-ending stream of bills. And, of course, there’s always utility costs on top of that. So, how can you save money on monthly expenses, for example, including gas, electric, water and AC bills? Rather than straining your budget and paying hundreds of dollars each month, consider making some behavioral changes that will reduce the energy you use and, thus, cut down your bills.
CNET staffers have followed fluctuating utility bills over the last several months and have written numerous articles with tips and tricks on how to slash energy bills. There are effective ways to pocket more money each month, and many of them are minor lifestyle changes you can make today.
Below, we’ve compiled every article that can help you achieve lower electric, water and energy costs. And if you like this cheat sheet guide, you can also explore our solar cheat sheet and our home sustainability cheat sheet.
National average utility bills
In the US, the average family should expect to spend close to $300 every month on electricity, gas, water and sewer bills — but that price can fluctuate greatly depending on region and usage.
Here’s a breakdown of average monthly utility costs, according to Move.org, as well as a breakdown of the 10 states with the highest average utility bills in the US:
Electricity: $117.46
Natural gas: $61.69
Water: $45.44
Sewer: $66.20
10 states with the highest average utility bills in the US
State
Electricity
Natural gas
Water
US average
$117.46
$61.69
$45.44
Hawaii
$162.66
$236.83
$45.44
Connecticut
$161.55
$80.94
$45.44
Alabama
$143.95
$78.83
$45.44
Georgia
$129.92
$85.88
$45.44
Arizona
$136.70
$78.22
$45.44
Massachusetts
$132.18
$80.49
$45.44
Rhode Island
$130.75
$81.55
$45.44
New Hampshire
$120.01
$82.20
$45.44
South Carolina
$138.16
$61.69
$45.44
Texas
$132.59
$61.69
$45.44
Save money on electric and gas bills
Probably the most important utility and the largest utility bill for Americans is electricity. You may have noticed a spike in electricity bills over the past few years, the reason being rising natural gas prices. Natural gas accounts for about 38% of the country’s electricity production, so these bills are understandably connected.
Natural gas prices are expected to remain high, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Considering many household appliances use natural gas — including stoves, ovens, dryers, fridge and gas-powered furnaces — your bill can be considerable.
Here are some tried and true ways to lower your electric and gas bills:
For renters who may not be able to make any large-scale adjustments, try these 10 apartment-friendly, energy-saving tips.
Here Are 23 Ways to Save On Your Electric Bills Right Now
See all photos
Save on water bills all year long
Between showers, sinks, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines and yard work, you probably use more water than you think. The average American household uses more than 300 gallons of water daily, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Altogether, this equates to about $1,000 per year on water bills. Your monthly bill might be lower or higher than this, depending on your location, water usage habits, water-saving tech and other factors.
It’s important to save on your water bill. Here’s how:
So many of your appliances require water. Luckily, there are ways to cut down and save.
Madhourse/Getty Images
More tips to save money during the summer
On average, it costs between $75 and $175 per month to run a central air conditioning system and cool a home in the US. For many Americans in the South and Southwest, summer is the most brutal time of year for expenses.
Here’s how to beat the heat without putting a dent in your wallet:
Learn to save money during the winter, too
Winter can be a costly time of year for many Americans in colder climates who rely on furnaces. Here are a few tips to help you pocket more cash:
For all your heating information, explore our winter utility FAQ.
Keep checking CNET’s Home Tips section for more advice on saving money and getting things done around the house.
For more cheat sheets, check out every Alexa and Google Home tip you need to know, your guide to getting solar at home and how to navigate your home internet options.
A person in Missouri was sick with bird flu, or avian influenza, but as of now doesn’t have a known exposure to animals in the ongoing bird flu outbreak, according to a Friday news release from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the CDC said that the bird flu risk to the general public remains low, it’s the first time the CDC’s national flu surveillance system has detected a H5 virus, which is the type of flu currently driving the outbreak among birds and cattle in the US. The other 13 cases of H5 were detected in “targeted” surveillance of people have been in people who’ve worked directly with sick animals, according to the CDC.
The person who was sick had underlying health conditions, was hospitalized and has since recovered, the CDC reported. No other transmission has been found among contacts, and there’s been no sign of unusual flu activity in people, which would suggest a bigger public health threat. An investigation is ongoing, as more information is needed about the strain the patient was sick with.
“It is important to note that, while rare, there have been novel influenza A cases where an animal source cannot be identified,” the CDC said in its release, referencing the type of influenza the bird flu outbreak strain belongs to. But ongoing investigation into the case will be “particularly important,” the CDC said, “in light of the current lack of an obvious animal exposure.”
It started out ravaging the US poultry industry in 2022, but bird flu made the jump to US cattle this year and has been impacting the dairy industry since spring, thinning the virus’ line between where it’s stayed so far (spreading between animals) and contact with humans. Health officials have been taking steps to curb the spread of avian influenza (specifically, H5N1 or “bird flu”) by ramping up their monitoring of the virus and preparing for the worst-case scenario. The US Department of Health and Human Services announced in early July that the government is providing Moderna $176 million to develop its influenza mRNA vaccine, which could be used in the case bird flu ever became a pandemic or starting spreading person-to-person.
As long as animals and humans live, work and gather around each other, there will be a risk of viruses mutating enough to make the jump from species to species. Fortunately, bird flu in humans so far has been rare, in part because the virus doesn’t spread that easily from animals to humans, or between humans, although sporadic cases have occurred in other countries as well as the US.
Here’s what to know about bird flu, or avian influenza, and what it looks like in people.
Bird flu started as a poultry and bird issue in the US but has spread to cows, which frequently have close contact with people and further the risk of the virus making the jump to humans one day.
Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment via Getty Images
What is bird flu?
In short, bird flu, aka avian influenza, is a type of flu that spreads between some animals and is currently causing outbreaks among birds and cattle in the US. Scientists are watching it closely for mutations that could make it easier to spread between people, because while it isn’t currently able to spread between people, if it gained the ability to do so it would pose a major public health threat.
More specifically, bird flu is a disease caused by infection with an influenza type A virus, and is either “highly pathogenic” or “low pathogenic;” the current H5N1 outbreak strain among animals is highly pathogenic.
Bird flu was first detected and controlled in 1997, but it reemerged in 2003 and started spreading widely among birds.
The World Health Organization reports four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. Type A viruses, which occur in both humans and different kinds of animals, are the biggest threat to public health and can cause pandemics, the WHO says. The “swine flu” of 2009’s pandemic was caused by a type A virus. Seasonal flu viruses in humans are caused by type A and type B viruses.
Bird flu has been ravaging the US poultry industry for the last couple of years, resulting in the culling (killing) of millions of infected or potentially infected birds.
Getty Images
Is bird flu deadly? How many cases have there been in the US?
With the additional case in Missouri, there have been 15 human cases of H5 (highly pathogenic) bird flu in the US since the bird flu outbreak began. Fourteen of them are from this year.
Human cases remain rare, but bird flu is considered a serious threat to public health because of its historically high mortality rate — about half of bird flu H5N1 in people have resulted in death since tracking began, according to WHO information. No deaths from bird flu have been reported in the US; people who’ve tested positive for the virus historically have had direct contact with sick animals and exhibited mild symptoms.
Earlier this summer, a handful of mild bird flu cases in farm workers from Colorado who had direct contact with sick birds were discovered. While they weren’t the first human cases, the new cluster of cases prompted more concern the virus may one day start spreading from person to person and pose a greater health threat to people. It also called attention to the way some people are tasked with handling affected birds in potentially dangerous ways and the risks to their health, as NPR reported.
Can I get bird flu from milk, eggs or meat?
There haven’t been any reports of people getting bird flu in the US from drinking milk or eating meat from birds or cows. The commercial food supply, which makes up most food you’d get in a regular grocery store, is regulated and meat from impacted animals shouldn’t make it to store shelves.
There have been fragments of inactive bird flu virus found in pasteurized milk samples since the virus started spreading to cows, the high-temperature pasteurization process inactivates any virus or bacteria, including bird flu, that could make people sick. Infectious virus has been found in raw milk, and the US Food and Drug Administration is reiterating the general health risks of drinking raw milk, not just in terms of bird flu but also for other pathogens that often live in unpasteurized milk.
Beyond cooking your food thoroughly, it may be difficult to catch influenza from food or drinking sources anyway, according to infectious disease experts we’ve spoken to in the past since influenza (which bird flu is) is a respiratory virus.
You can check if your personal information was stolen in the National Public Data breach and take steps to protect your data if your Social Security number was part of the massive theft of a reported 2.9 billion records in December 2023. Here’s how.
According to an August statement from National Public Data — a data broker that sells personal information to private investigators, consumer public record sites, human resources and staffing agencies — “a third-party bad actor” hacked into the data and leaked the stolen information on the dark web. National Public Data obtained the information by scraping nonpublic sources without consent, according to a proposed class action lawsuit. A House of Representatives committee has opened an investigation in response.
Here are steps you can take to see if your information was stolen and then what to do if your Social Security number and other personal data was leaked in the massive data hack. For more information, here are the best identity theft protection services and how to freeze your credit. For more on Social Security, here’s when to expect your Social Security check to arrive this month and four ways you can lose your Social Security benefits.
How was my personal information stolen in the National Public Data breach?
National Public Data said it obtains personal information from public record databases, court records, state and national databases and other repositories nationwide.
According to a National Public Data statement in August, “The incident is believed to have involved a third-party bad actor that was trying to hack into data in late December 2023, with potential leaks of certain data in April 2024 and summer 2024.”
The theft — reportedly by a cybercriminal group by the name of USDoD — may be as large as nearly 3 billion personal records of people and may include your name, email address, phone number, Social Security number and mailing address.
The exact number of people whose information was stolen is still unknown. Maine’s Attorney General’s office puts the number at 1.3 million, reportedly based on conversations with the data broker. Troy Hunt of Have I Been Pwned estimates the stolen files include 134 million unique email addresses.
On Aug. 22, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability announced it was opening an investigation into “into reports about a possible cyberattack executed against National Public Data.” CNET has reached out to National Public Data for comment.
How to see if my Social Security number was stolen in the National Public Data breach
Two online security companies have put up websites that let you check for free if your Social Security number is part of the stolen store of personal information: One is npdbreach.com from the online privacy company Atlas Privacy; the second is npd.pentester.com by the Pentester cybersecurity company.
Both lookup tools are easy to use and search for different pieces of information in the stash. Neither requires you to enter your Social Security number. Both showed my personal information was stolen in the hack after I searched the different states I’ve lived in.
What is National Public Data doing to respond to the data theft?
In an August statement on the security breach, the company said it’s cooperating with law enforcement and governmental investigators and conducting a review of the potentially affected records. For those who had their information stolen, the company said “it will try to notify you if there are further significant developments applicable to you” and recommends you closely monitor your financial accounts for unauthorized activity. At the end of the statement, the company included an email address: [email protected].
How do I learn if my Social Security number was leaked?
While you can’t stop the theft, you can watch your credit reports and financial accounts for unexpected activity to see if your Social Security number and other personal information are being used.
Check if your stolen data has been leaked: To start, check a free site like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email has been leaked as part of a data breach.
Monitor your credit reports: To spot identity theft, request one free credit report a year from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — and look for unfamiliar activity, such as a new account you didn’t open. Watch your credit card and bank statements too for unexpected charges and payments.
Sign up for a credit monitoring service. A credit monitoring service can constantly monitor your credit report on major credit bureaus and alert you when it detects unusual activity. With a monitoring service, you can set fraud alerts that notify you if someone is trying to use your identity to create credit, including someone trying to use your Social Security number. Here are the best identity theft protection services.
I think my Social Security number was stolen. What should I do?
First, if you think your Social Security number has been stolen, know that the Social Security Administration itself can’t do much if someone uses your stolen information to, for example, open a line of credit or get a job. Here’s what you can do.
Create your online Social Security account. To stop someone else from creating an online Social Security account in your name — where they could see your statement, change your address and more — create your own online account.
Head to the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov and fill out a form to receive a personal recovery plan. This plan walks you through all you need to know about protecting yourself from fraud and recovering your identity. You can also call 877-438-4337.
Contact the Internal Revenue Service if your Social Security number has been stolen to prevent the thief from using your number to file a tax return and receive your tax refund or to prevent them from using your number for a job. If a thief uses your Social Security number to get a job, owed taxes may show up on your record. Visit the IRS’s guide to identify theft to dispute these claims, get help and clear up any issues you have.
File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which monitors cybercrime complaints to combat internet crime. It’s also advisable to check your credit report every so often to detect any fishy behavior as it happens. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to receive a free credit report.
Contact the Social Security Administration if you think your Social Security number has been compromised and the administration can help review your statements.
Do I need a new Social Security number?
If you have done all the steps that the Social Security Administration recommends and your Social Security number is no longer being used by someone other than yourself, then you don’t need to apply for a new SSN. If you’ve taken all of the necessary steps and still find that your number is being used, you can apply for a new one.
The administration doesn’t make it easy to get a new SSN. You’ll need proof that your number continues to be used by someone other than yourself. The administration said if you lost your card or think someone stole your number but have no evidence of someone else using it, you won’t be able to receive a new one.
What can I do in the future to help prevent identity theft?
Sometimes, like with the National Public Data breach, there is little you can do to keep your information safe. But you can take steps to limit your risk.
Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Instead, store it in a safe place in your home. Try to memorize your number so you don’t have to take your card out every time you’re filling out a document that requires it. If you have to provide your number over the phone, make sure you’re far away from other people who could possibly hear it.
Employers and landlords often request documents to be sent electronically through email. If you have to provide your Social Security number or other personal documents by email, try encrypting the document with a password or providing your number separately in a phone call.
Your employer will need your Social Security number to run a background check. You should be skeptical of any job posting that requires you to enter personal information at the outset of an application. Unless you are starting a new position and have an offer in hand, you should not provide your Social Security number to a recruiter.
Finally, always check your bank statements and credit statements regularly to address any issues as soon as they pop up. Enable two-factor authentication on your passwords to protect your private information on websites and apps. And verify the source of your notices — whether they’re phone calls or emails. The Social Security Administration said in general it will only call you if you request a call. If you believe you’ve received a scam call or email, don’t give the person any personal information.
How else could my personal data get stolen?
Theft happens everywhere, all the time. People will steal wallets and bags or go through the mail in search of personal bank or credit card information. The Social Security Administration warns that people rummaging through trash outside of homes or businesses in search of critical information is another way identity theft takes place, along with people buying personal information from insider sources. There’s also the risk of receiving phone calls, texts or emails from seemingly official sources who are actually fraudsters looking to trick you into revealing information.
As CNET’s Bree Fowler explained, cyberattacks happen when hackers take to online accounts with combinations of usernames and passwords that are often stolen in previous data breaches and use them to break into as many accounts as they can. That strategy is reason enough to protect your passwords and use passkeys whenever possible.
Looking for more Wordle answers? Click here for our daily Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections and Strands puzzles.
There are plenty of other online word games now, but I still play the New York Times Wordle game every day. These days, it’s not only an old friend, it’s also a nice warm-up for Connections, Strands and the rest.
Also, we’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity, if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. If you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter R.
Wordle hint No. 4: Good grief
Today’s Wordle answer is the first name of a lesser-known Peanuts character.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer refers to a TV program that has already been shown, but is played again.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is RERUN. Rerun van Pelt was Linus and Lucy’s little brother in the Peanuts comic strip, because Lucy thought having a second brother was like watching a TV rerun. He first appeared in 1973.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Sept. 5, No. 1174, was WIDEN.
When I first began cooking with an Air Fryer years ago, I used it primarily to heat frozen foods. It was quick and efficient, and I even started to prefer it over my oven. But when I learned I could use it to cook chicken from scratch, it became my all-time favorite kitchen appliance.
So far, chicken wings are my favorite meal to make in the air fryer. They are simple, quick and delicious — and most importantly, clean-up is a breeze because very few dishes are used for this recipe.
While you can make any flavor of wings in the air fryer, my go-to are these simple buffalo chicken wings. Keep reading to learn how you can make your own.
Ingredients for air fryer buffalo chicken wings:
1 pack of chicken wings (about 15 wings)
1/2 cup of Frank’s RedHot Hot Sauce
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter melted
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of pepper
How to make 25-minute air fryer chicken wings:
Step 1: Pat dry the chicken wings and place them in a large mixing bowl and drizzle olive oil over them.
Step 2: Combine the seasonings and sprinkle them on the wings, then mix well.
The four seasonings you will need for air fryer chicken wings.
Corin Cesaric/CNET
Step 3: Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 10 minutes.
Don’t stack the chicken wings in the air fryer. Instead, make sure they are all in a single layer.
Corin Cesaric/CNET
Step 4: While the wings are cooking, melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan, then add in Frank’s RedHot Hot Sauce (or a hot sauce of your choosing) and simmer on low heat.
If you would rather use a buffalo sauce instead of traditional hot sauce, you do not need to add butter to this recipe.
Corin Cesaric/CNET
Step 5: When the wings are done cooking and have an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees, place them in a clean mixing bowl and pour the buffalo sauce mixture over them.
These air fryer chicken wings are simple and quick, making them perfect for a week night meal.
Corin Cesaric/CNET
Step 6: Toss the wings until they are fully coated and serve hot.
Serve this dish with carrots, celery and your favorite dipping sauce.
Looking for more Connections answers? Click here for our daily Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score, and their win streak.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Read more: Connections Bot Will Give You a Numeric Score Every Day
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Beauty school skills.
Green group hint: Find fault with.
Blue group hint: To get.
Purple group hint: Huddle up.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Hair salon offerings.
Green group: Criticize.
Blue group: Obtain.
Purple group: Measured in football stats.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
NYT Connections completed puzzle for Sept. 5, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is hair salon offerings. The four answers are blowout, color, cut and trim.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is criticize. The four answers are bash, blast, pan and slam.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is obtain. The four answers are bag, land, score and snag.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is measured in football stats. The four answers are attempt, reception, sack and yard.
Going to your local coffee shop every morning can be pretty time consuming, not to mention costly as well. With back to school season in full swing, schedules are becoming even busier. Having a quality coffee maker at home that offers a barista-style brew can be just the pick-me-up you need. And you can get one at a pretty affordable price. Caffeine lovers can get a great deal on an AeroPress right now, with Woot slashing up to 36% off select models. Prices range from $30 to $45, depending on which model you chose. The XL model is at a record low price of $45 right now. But you’ll want to make your selection soon, as this sale ends Sept. 12.
The AeroPress coffee press has something of a cult following — and is one of our favorite coffee accessories — thanks to its simplicity, ease of use and portability. All you really need to do is add water, ground beans and a cup and you can have the perfect coffee anywhere. It’s a single-serve coffee maker that works by pressing water through coffee grounds into your cup. Not only does this make the AeroPress faster than a French press when you’re in a rush, but it also doesn’t have the same bitterness. You’ll want to make sure your coffee grounds are on the finer side, but it can brew one to three cups of coffee in about 1 minute, and it’s so compact, you can take it anywhere, which makes it a great option for dorms, camping, travel or carrying with you to the office.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
It also produces a strong, espresso-like shot that is fine to drink on its own or — with a dash of water or milk — make your own Americano or latte at home. You can make cold brew, too. And with the microfilter, your coffee won’t be filled with grit. Your purchase also includes a set of filters, a filter cap, a scoop and stirrer, so you’ll have everything you need to be your own barista. The XL model also includes a carafe.
If this style doesn’t quite work for you, we’ve got plenty of other coffee maker deals worth checking out.
Looking for more Connections answers? Click here for our daily Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
There’s also news in the Connections world. The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one it’s had for some time for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score, and their win streak.
Read more: Connections Bot Will Give You a Numeric Score Every Day
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Tiny bit.
Green group hint: For Fido.
Blue group hint: Party down.
Purple group hint: Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Very small amount.
Green group: Puppy purchases.
Blue group: Help put on a party.
Purple group: Symbols on a keyboard.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
NYT Connections completed puzzle for Sept. 4, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is very small amount. The four answers are hint, touch, trace and shred.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is puppy purchases. The four answers are bed, bowl, collar and crate.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is help put on a party. The four answers are cater, host, throw and plan.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is symbols on a keyboard. The four answers are brace, caret, hash and star.
Prime Video currently offers Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, which is a pretty big deal — the black-and-white flick frequently cracks the top five on lists of the best horror films ever. If you’ve never seen the film, starring Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, it’s best to go straight in without looking up details.
Labor Day is officially winding down, but before you head back to the grind, don’t forget to browse some of the many lingering deals still on offer. CNET’s shopping team has been tirelessly searching round the clock, sifting through thousands of remaining deals for the absolute best discounts across a wide range of categories. From Amazon to Best Buy, Walmart to Target, and even Home Depot, CNET’s experts are keeping tabs on the biggest savings for Labor Day and beyond. Whether you’re looking for discounts on TVs, appliances, laptops, headphones, kitchen essentials, or more, we’ve got you covered with the best offers.
Using decades of experience in uncovering the best bargains, our team has been keeping this list updated, and we’ll ensure the deals are fresh and updated until all the Labor Day sales officially dry up. But don’t wait too long, the discounts are already starting to disappear.
Our absolute favorite Labor Day deals
It’s not the latest model, but the trusty 9th-gen iPad packs enough power for everyday multimedia consumption and casual browsing, making it a great affordable choice. There’s ample performance here for casual gamers, and the iPad fits seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem, making it a great addition if you’re already using Apple products.
Details
Apple products are often on the expensive side but this Labor Day deal at Amazon will save you almost $200 off the latest 13-inch MacBook Air. This model comes equipped with Apple’s M3 chip, 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage space. It’s also one of our favorite laptops right now.
Details
Anker’s excellent USB-C charger combo will let you top off your iPhone at fast speeds. The pack includes everything you need to get started, including fast charging USB-C cables. The two-pack enables you to keep a charger at home and one at the office. Better still, the charger has both USB-A and USB-C ports which lets you use it with an array of new or old accessories.
Details
We love Nectar mattresses at CNET, and this Labor Day, there are some truly incredible savings to be had. The memory foam offer excellent comfort with a firm back for better support. With some of the lowest off-season prices we’ve seen, you can snag a queen all-foam mattress for as low as $649. Meanwhile, a hybrid construction can be had for $799.
Details
Effortless connectivity and excellent noise cancelation make the AirPods Pro 2 an obvious choice for those in the Apple ecosystem. The earphones come with a charging case that can extend overall battery life to almost 30 hours. You can even take them out for a run thanks to the IP54 rating.
Details
Whether you’re ending your summer with a Labor Day camping trip or just want to be prepared in case of an emergency, a portable power station is essential in keeping not just electronic devices powered but medical devices powered as well. Keep in mind this model does not come with a solar panel.
Details
Best Labor Day tech deals
Apple/CNET
Tech usually gets some of the best discounts during sales, and the Labor Day sales this year are no different. Whether you’ve been looking to get some back-to-school electronics for your kid or just replace your old beat-up tech around the house, our Labor Day picks will have something for you. We’ve picked the best Labor Day tech deals from top brands like Apple and Samsung, with some great discounts on tablets and other electronics across the big retailers.
The best deals on tablets, power stations, speakers and more
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: $950 (save $250): This tablet comes with the S pen, which can come in handy for taking notes, plus you’ll get a free one-month Xbox Game Pass among other freebies.
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet: $90 (save $50): The Fire HD 10 is a solid budget-friendly tablet. It’s great for online browsing, streaming your favorite shows and movies and of course, reading via the Kindle app.
Samsung T7 SSD, 4TB: $280 (save $200): You can never have too much extra storage. Keep backups of your favorite memories and important documents on this 4TB solid-state drive.
There are only a few shopping holidays left this year, and Labor Day is one of those. It’s a great time to replace your old and busted TV and upgrade to something that has a better resolution and features that will make those binging sessions more enjoyable. We’ve listed a host of top TV deals below, but if you need more, we have a dedicated roundup of the best Labor Day TV sales as well.
Hisense 58-inch U6HF 4K Fire TV: $348 (save $202): This budget-friendly Hisense TV has a gorgeous display and comes equipped with all your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. Plus, you can control it with your voice
With the school year starting and work commitments piling up as the end of the year approaches, now is a great time to get a new laptop or Chromebook to replace your aging machine. There are plenty of laptop deals for Labor Day, whether you want a shiny gaming laptop, a reliable MacBook, or a budget Chromebook for your kid. If you don’t see something you like below, check our complete list of the best Labor Day laptop sales right now.
Save on Apple, HP and Lenovo laptops
Best Labor Day mattress deals
Cole Kan/CNET
If you’ve been looking to get a new mattress, the Labor Day sales are a pretty good time to get them. Major bed brands are running discounts on some of the best mattresses you can buy. Many of these discounts are available during other sales, but they’re still pretty substantial. So if you’ve got a mattress that needs replacements, you can grab one from the deals we’ve listed below, or head over to our more extensive list of the best Labor Day mattress deals you can get right now.
Save big on mattresses from Casper, Brooklyn Bedding and more
Nolah, 35% off sitewide: Plus an additional $100 off with code CNET100 will get you the best foam mattress for side sleepers at just $942 for a queen size.
Helix: 25% off sitewide: Plus, get two free pillows with any mattress purchase. Use code LDW25 to save 25%, or use our exclusive code, CNET27, to get 27% off.
If you’ve set out with the goal of home improvement on a budget, there’s nothing quite like getting some smart home accessories to add a bit of convenience to your home. Whether it’s smart speakers, smart lights that you can control remotely, or security camera systems that will secure your home and loved ones, we’ve got the top Labor Day smart home deals below, from top retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.
Deals from Amazon, Blink, Ring and more
Best Labor Day headphone deals
Apple/CNET
There’s nothing quite like a good pair of headphones or wireless earbuds to help you relax with some music, or be more attentive in a Zoom meeting. Plenty of great headphones and earbuds from top brands like Sony, Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, and others are on sale this Labor Day. We’ve gathered the best audio deals for you below across multiple big retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Save on headphones from Apple, Bose, Sony and more
Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones: $120 (save $80): The Beats Solo3 headphones offer best-in-class battery life with up to 40 hours of listening time. Right now several color variants are available at this low price.
Soundcore by Anker Space Q45: $100 (save $50): These Soundcore noise-canceling headphones will reduce the noise around you by up to 98%. You’ll also get up to 50 hours of playtime, which makes them perfect for long trips.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2: $174 (save $105): If you prefer earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are also on sale. These have ANC and they’re water-resistant, which means they’d be perfect for the gym.
Apple AirPods Max: $399 (save $150): A fan favorite, providing ultimate comfort and style with top-tier audio quality. Right now all color variants are on sale.
Although most appliances will last you a while, it’s best to upgrade your aging ones before they go bust, to avoid disruption in your daily life. This Labor Day, plenty of great appliances are on sale across the big retailers. So if you’ve been waiting for an upgrade to your old appliances, or have a broken machine that needs replacing, now is a good time. We’ve listed the top appliance deals below, but if you need more options, we have a more extensive list of the best Labor Day home appliance deals, which we’ll be updating regularly while the sales are live.
Save on dishwashers, refrigerators and other appliances
Best Labor Day everyday essential deals
iHealth/CNET
Big sales events like this Labor Day sale don’t have to just be for the big purchases. There are plenty of household items you can get right now at a discount, saving you money on even those smaller purchases. While the discounts may not look huge, they’ll add up if you’re planning on stocking up for the next few weeks. If you’re looking for more budget deals on day-to-day items, you can check our list of the best Labor Day deals under $25.
Stock up on everyday essentials from top brands
Best Labor Day home and kitchen deals
Ninja/CNET
Labor Day sales are also a good time to upgrade your home and kitchen tools, whether you’ve been looking to upgrade your vacuum with a new model or a smart robot vacuum, or planning to set yourself up for some holiday grilling with a brand new grill as the season approaches. We’ve listed the best home and kitchen Labor Day deals below, but if you need great deals on grills, check out our dedicated rundown of the best Labor Day grill sales.
Snag huge savings from Ninja, KitchenAid, Dyson and more
More Labor Day deals from CNET
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Need gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and other events? Our gift guide includes a huge range of suggestions for every occasion.
Best Labor Day retailer sales
Amazon: One of the biggest online retailers is going all-in on the Labor Day discounts with significant savings on tech, home appliances, and smart home equipment.
Walmart: Save big on appliances like televisions, refrigerators, laptops, and more over at Walmart’s big Labor Day sale.
The Home Depot: Eyeing home improvement tools? Home Depot has the best discounts on tools, appliances, and even grills.
Casper: If you’ve been on the lookout for a new mattress, Casper is offering 35% off its entire range. In fact, there’s a 30% discount across the website so you might want to take a look even if you’re not in the market for a new mattress.
Best Buy: Shop incredible Labor Day deals on laptops, headphones, televisions and more.
Which Labor Day sales are the best?
There are plenty of competing Labor Day sales and deciding which is best for you to shop will depend on what you’re hoping to buy.
Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart are generally good starting points if tech and smart home purchases are on your mind with stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Overstock being the places to begin your hunt for home and garden products.
Don’t rule out more niche retailers like B&H Photo, Dell, HP and GameStop, though, if their Labor Day promotions suit your needs. You can also shop direct at your favorite brands for Labor Day deals.
When do Labor Day sales end?
Labor Day 2024 falls on Monday, Sept. 2, but not all sales begin and end on that date. Most sales went live for several days prior to the long weekend and a few will extend through the week post-Labor Day. We’ll be monitoring sales so you can nab the most savings this year.
Should I wait for Black Friday sales?
Labor Day sales offer some of the best savings at this time of year, sitting nicely between Memorial Day sales and Black Friday. If you need something now, particularly furniture or yard equipment, Labor Day is a great time to buy, with end-of-summer pricing applying to a lot of those types of products.
Black Friday is the biggest sale of the year, though, and if you can afford to wait the extra couple of months you could potentially get more for your money. That being said, rumors abound of a second Prime Day sale or “Prime Early Access Sale” slated for October, which could kick off the holiday shopping season much earlier and may mean even less time between Labor Day and fall sales.
How do I make the most of Labor Day sales?
Before diving into Labor Day sales, the best thing to do is to narrow down exactly what is on your shopping list this year. That way, you can identify the best retailers to start your search and avoid being distracted by the thousands of deals that will bombard you as you explore the many different Labor Day sales out there. Here’s a quick list to make it easier for you.
The CNET Deals team will keep you up to date on all of the best deals this Labor Day and beyond, so be sure to follow the team on Twitter and sign up for the CNET Deals newsletter.
Don’t Let Labor Day End Without Checking Out These Impulse Buy Gifts
Upgrading to a new phone can be expensive, so it’s well worth taking advantage of Labor Day deals while they’re still hot. We’re seeing plenty across Amazon but wanted to highlight the latest Samsung model, which has seen a decent $250 discount applied. Available in four different colors — black, gray, violet and yellow all in titanium blends — the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a premium phone that has everything you need for today’s modern age. It’s available for $1,049 at Amazon after being slashed by 19%.
This Galaxy S24 Ultra is a powerhouse. It comes equipped with a large 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD Plus display, 12GB of RAM as well as 256GB of storage. On top of this, it sports a 50-megapixel camera with a five-times zoom, comes with an S Pen and some nifty AI features — including Live Translate and Circle to Search. Not to mention, the model has a solid battery life and is slated for seven years of software upgrades so there’s no chance of it becoming outdated anytime soon.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
One of our biggest gripes with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was its expensive $1,300 price tag, however, it still earned our top spot for best premium Android phone for 2024, So taking into account this price cut, the cost becomes a bit more palatable. While not the lowest price we’ve ever seen (that was $949 at the beginning of August), it’s still a pretty good reduction that likely won’t last long.
Not a fan of this particular Samsung phone? We’ve got plenty of other options for you, so check out our roundup of the best Samsung Labor Day deals happening right now for big savings on a plethora of other models.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Amidst the long Labor Day weekend’s celebrations and cookouts, the fantastic deals keep on piling up. We’ve been combing through the many deals on the web so that you can spend more time with family and friends and still not miss out on the best Labor Day bargains available. From TVs and kitchen must-haves to home appliances, mattresses, and smart home gadgets, now is the perfect time to score some serious savings.
CNET’s seasoned shopping experts have compiled the best discounts from top retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and more, making it easy for you to find the best deals. With decades of experience in uncovering the best bargains, our team has been tirelessly updating this list around the clock, and we’ll continue doing so until the Labor Day sales wrap up. We’re committed to helping you save big across the web.
Our absolute favorite Labor Day deals
It’s not the latest model, but the trusty 9th-gen iPad packs enough power for everyday multimedia consumption and casual browsing, making it a great affordable choice. There’s ample performance here for casual gamers, and the iPad fits seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem, making it a great addition if you’re already using Apple products.
In addition, when you grab it from Best Buy, there is the potential to save up to $160 if you have an eligible device to trade in, and you’ll automatically get three free month of Apple TV+, Apple Music and Apple Fitness plus four months of Apple Arcade with your purchase.
Details
Effortless connectivity and excellent noise cancelation make the AirPods Pro 2 an obvious choice for those in the Apple ecosystem. The earphones come with a charging case that can extend overall battery life to almost 30 hours. You can even take them out for a run thanks to the IP54 rating.
Details
The Anker Prime is a powerful 140W charging solution that can easily top up a full-sized laptop. The generous port selection includes dual USB-C ports, two USB-A ports for legacy hardware, and two AC sockets for plugging in additional accessories. The pop-out socket design makes it easy to stow away the slim charging station when not in use.
Details
TCL’s Q-series smart television combines premium picture quality with top-tier streaming capabilities. The QLED Quantum Dot technology and Dolby Vision decoding give it exceptional contrast and accurate colors. The television is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice input.
Details
The dynamic style of this speaker isn’t just for looks: it offers 360 degrees of sound giving you the max volume for a portable speaker of its size. It’s wireless, water-resistant and has a battery that will last for 17 hours. Choose from black or silver.
Details
Whether you’re ending your summer with a Labor Day camping trip or just want to be prepared in case of an emergency, a portable power station is essential in keeping not just electronic devices powered but medical devices powered as well. Keep in mind this model does not come with a solar panel.
Details
Best Labor Day tech deals
Apple/CNET
Tech usually gets some of the best discounts during sales, and the Labor Day sales this year are no different. Whether you’ve been looking to get some back-to-school electronics for your kid or just replace your old beat-up tech around the house, our Labor Day picks will have something for you. We’ve picked the best Labor Day tech deals from top brands like Apple and Samsung, with some great discounts on tablets and other electronics across the big retailers.
The best deals on tablets, power stations, speakers and more
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: $950 (save $250): This tablet comes with the S pen, which can come in handy for taking notes, plus you’ll get a free one-month Xbox Game Pass among other freebies.
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet: $90 (save $50): The Fire HD 10 is a solid budget-friendly tablet. It’s great for online browsing, streaming your favorite shows and movies and of course, reading via the Kindle app.
Samsung T7 SSD, 4TB: $280 (save $200): You can never have too much extra storage. Keep backups of your favorite memories and important documents on this 4TB solid-state drive.
Nebula Capsule 3 projector: $620 (save $180): The Nebula 3 laser projector can output 1080p content at sizes as large as 120 inches while being small enough to fit in a large pocket or small bag.
There are only a few shopping holidays left this year, and Labor Day is one of those. It’s a great time to replace your old and busted TV and upgrade to something that has a better resolution and features that will make those binging sessions more enjoyable. We’ve listed a host of top TV deals below, but if you need more, we have a dedicated roundup of the best Labor Day TV sales as well.
Hisense 58-inch U6HF 4K Fire TV: $348 (save $202): This budget-friendly Hisense TV has a gorgeous display and comes equipped with all your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. Plus, you can control it with your voice
With the school year starting and work commitments piling up as the end of the year approaches, now is a great time to get a new laptop or Chromebook to replace your aging machine. There are plenty of laptop deals this Labor Day weekend, whether you want a shiny gaming laptop, a reliable MacBook, or a budget Chromebook for your kid. If you don’t see something you like below, check our complete list of the best Labor Day laptop sales right now.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 gaming laptop: $1,700 (save $300): Calling all gamers, with high-quality display and audio quality, never miss even a second of your game again. Plus right now you can get Assassin’s Creed Shadows for free with purchase.
If you’ve been looking to get a new mattress, the Labor Day sales are a pretty good time to get them. Major bed brands are running discounts on some of the best mattresses you can buy. Many of these discounts are available during other sales, but they’re still pretty substantial. So if you’ve got a mattress that needs replacements, you can grab one from the deals we’ve listed below, or head over to our more extensive list of the best Labor Day mattress deals you can get right now.
Save big on mattresses from Casper, Brooklyn Bedding and more
Nolah, 35% off sitewide: Plus an additional $100 off with code CNET100 will get you the best foam mattress for side sleepers at just $942 for a queen size.
If you’ve set out with the goal of home improvement on a budget, there’s nothing quite like getting some smart home accessories to add a bit of convenience to your home. Whether it’s smart speakers, smart lights that you can control remotely, or security camera systems that will secure your home and loved ones, we’ve got the top Labor Day smart home deals below, from top retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.
Deals from Amazon, Blink, Ring and more
Best Labor Day headphone deals
Apple/CNET
There’s nothing quite like a good pair of headphones or wireless earbuds to help you relax with some music, or be more attentive in a Zoom meeting. Plenty of great headphones and earbuds from top brands like Sony, Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, and others are on sale this Labor Day. We’ve gathered the best audio deals for you below across multiple big retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Save on headphones from Apple, Bose, Sony and more
Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones: $120 (save $80): The Beats Solo3 headphones offer best-in-class battery life with up to 40 hours of listening time. Opt for the silver variant to save $120, but others are on sale for $125.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2: $179 (save $100): If you prefer earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are also on sale. These have ANC and they’re water-resistant, which means they’d be perfect for the gym.
Apple AirPods Max: $399 (save $150): A fan favorite, providing ultimate comfort and style with top-tier audio quality. Right now all color variants are on sale.
Although most appliances will last you a while, it’s best to upgrade your aging ones before they go bust, to avoid disruption in your daily life. This Labor Day, plenty of great appliances are on sale across the big retailers. So if you’ve been waiting for an upgrade to your old appliances, or have a broken machine that needs replacing, now is a good time. We’ve listed the top appliance deals below, but if you need more options, we have a more extensive list of the best Labor Day home appliance deals, which we’ll be updating regularly while the sales are live.
Save on dishwashers, refrigerators and other appliances
Big sales events like this Labor Day sale don’t have to just be for the big purchases. There are plenty of household items you can get right now at a discount, saving you money on even those smaller purchases. While the discounts may not look huge, they’ll add up if you’re planning on stocking up for the next few weeks. If you’re looking for more budget deals on day-to-day items, you can check our list of the best Labor Day deals under $25.
Stock up on everyday essentials from top brands
Best Labor Day home and kitchen deals
Ninja/CNET
Labor Day sales are also a good time to upgrade your home and kitchen tools, whether you’ve been looking to upgrade your vacuum with a new model or a smart robot vacuum, or planning to set yourself up for some holiday grilling with a brand new grill as the season approaches. We’ve listed the best home and kitchen Labor Day deals below, but if you need great deals on grills, check out our dedicated rundown of the best Labor Day grill sales.
Snag huge savings from Ninja, Eufy, KitchenAid and more
Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker: $149 (save $50): Just because summer is over doesn’t mean we can’t have ice cream anymore, especially when we can make any flavor we want in our own homes.
Silonn ice maker: $80 (save $30): You don’t need an expensive ice machine to have ice all the time. This Silonn ice maker makes 9 cubes in 6 minutes and up to 26 pounds per day.
Traeger Grills Ironwood XL: $1,800 (save $200): This is our favorite pellet grill on the market, using a downdraft exhaust and excellent lip seal for perfectly smoky and precise grilling.
Dyson Hot+Cool Autoreact HP7A air purifier: $400 (save $250): If you deal with annoying allergies, this air purifier could help. Dyson has combined intelligent sensing with advanced filtration to keep your home clean. This model also provides heating and cooling.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Need gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and other events? Our gift guide includes a huge range of suggestions for every occasion.
Best Labor Day retailer sales
Amazon: One of the biggest online retailers is going all-in on the Labor Day discounts with significant savings on tech, home appliances, and smart home equipment.
Walmart: Save big on appliances like televisions, refrigerators, laptops, and more over at Walmart’s big Labor Day sale.
The Home Depot: Eyeing home improvement tools? Home Depot has the best discounts on tools, appliances, and even grills.
Casper: If you’ve been on the lookout for a new mattress, Casper is offering 35% off its entire range. In fact, there’s a 30% discount across the website so you might want to take a look even if you’re not in the market for a new mattress.
Best Buy: Shop incredible Labor Day deals on laptops, headphones, televisions and more.
Which Labor Day sales are the best?
There are plenty of competing Labor Day sales and deciding which is best for you to shop will depend on what you’re hoping to buy.
Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart are generally good starting points if tech and smart home purchases are on your mind with stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Overstock being the places to begin your hunt for home and garden products.
Don’t rule out more niche retailers like B&H Photo, Dell, HP and GameStop, though, if their Labor Day promotions suit your needs. You can also shop direct at your favorite brands for Labor Day deals.
When do Labor Day sales end?
Labor Day 2024 falls on Monday, Sept. 2, but not all sales begin and end on that date. Most sales are live or will start to go live soon. Though some might last up to that day, a few might extend past that. We’ll be monitoring sales so you can nab the most savings this year.
Should I wait for Black Friday sales?
Labor Day sales offer some of the best savings at this time of year, sitting nicely between Memorial Day sales and Black Friday. If you need something now, particularly furniture or yard equipment, Labor Day is a great time to buy, with end-of-summer pricing applying to a lot of those types of products.
Black Friday is the biggest sale of the year, though, and if you can afford to wait the extra couple of months you could potentially get more for your money. That being said, rumors abound of a second Prime Day sale or “Prime Early Access Sale” slated for October, which could kick off the holiday shopping season much earlier and may mean even less time between Labor Day and fall sales.
How do I make the most of Labor Day sales?
Before diving into Labor Day sales, the best thing to do is to narrow down exactly what is on your shopping list this year. That way, you can identify the best retailers to start your search and avoid being distracted by the thousands of deals that will bombard you as you explore the many different Labor Day sales out there. Here’s a quick list to make it easier for you.
The CNET Deals team will keep you up to date on all of the best deals this Labor Day and beyond, so be sure to follow the team on Twitter and sign up for the CNET Deals newsletter.
The world of home projectors is an expensive path to go down. More often than not, you either need to pony up a huge chunk of cash and get a top-of-the-line model, or you choose the cheaper route that doesn’t always deliver a great experience. However, with this deal during the 2024 Labor Day sales, the second-generation Samsung Freestyle projector is available for just $598 at Amazon. With this price cut, you’re saving $200 on this projector’s usual list price, and this is a match for the lowest we’ve seen this projector go — equalling its Black Friday price from late last year.
This projector is tiny, not far off being the size of a soda can, and its design makes it easy to swivel and readjust. It’s capable of creating a screen up to 100 inches in size and can be used to stream shows, watch films and even play video games with a high degree of accuracy, which isn’t something every projector can manage.
Labor Day Live Blog
Don’t miss our nonstop live curation of the best Labor Day deals discovered by CNET Deals experts.
Labor Day Live Blog
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In our review of the original model, CNET contributor Geoffrey Morrison loved its design, colors and streaming capabilities but also said that the lack of a built-in battery and its dimness were drawbacks for the price. Those areas haven’t been significantly addressed in the second-gen model, but with 25% off you can certainly focus more on the pros than the cons, and even have budget for a decent USB-C battery pack or portable power station if you want to make it more portable.
It’s also worth noting out that the Freestyle can stream games directly from cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. That is a new feature in this latest model and means you can easily play PC or console-quality games on a huge screen without having to futz around connecting your console — or without owning one at all. All you need is a compatible controller, such as the PDP Replay which was designed with the Freestyle in mind and can be bundled in for $50. Or if you have an Xbox or PlayStation controller at home already, you’re good to go.
This Labor Day, Samsung has many other products on sales, if you’ve been looking for a new TV or appliances don’t miss out because the best deals don’t last for long.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
The long Labor Day weekend is well underway, with new deals coming in from top retailers on the hour. There are retailers offering discounts across hundreds of categories for their Labor Day sales. CNET’s team of shopping experts has been culling through the best of them to bring you the greatest savings on a variety of products ranging from TVs to mattresses and everything in between. We’ve included deals from all the major outlets, including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and others, so you can get your money’s worth this weekend.
Our team has been working around the clock vetting deals and keeping this list up to date and we’ll continue to do so until the Labor Day sales ends. We want to be sure you are getting the best discounts from all over the internet.
Our absolute favorite Labor Day deals
If there’s a time to consider buying a massive TV, Labor Day is it. This 98-inch one delivers high-contrast color and brightness with four times the pixels of the average HD TV making it dynamic for gaming, streaming movies and sports.
Details
Say goodbye to stopping by the coffee shop every morning and start making your cup of joe at home. It’s a pretty compact machine so it can fit in any space. And if you’re guilty of forgetting to turn off your appliances, this coffee maker has an auto shut-off feature, perfect for your precoffee brain.
Details
Keep track of your health and fitness goals easily with an Apple Watch. Monitor your heart rate, activity level, step count and even sleep patterns. It also connects to your phone so you can see all your notifications right on your wrist.
Details
Whether you’re ending your summer with a Labor Day camping trip or just want to be prepared in case of an emergency, a portable power station is essential in keeping not just electronic devices powered but medical devices powered as well. Keep in mind this model does not come with a solar panel.
Details
If your Wi-Fi signal doesn’t seem to carry throughout your entire home, it might be a good idea to get an extender. Simply plug it into an outlet and get much better Wi-Fi signal in that back bedroom or basement. Be sure to add the on-page coupon to save the most.
Details
Best Labor Day tech deals
Apple/CNET
The best deals on tablets, power stations, speakers and more
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet: $90 (save $50): The Fire HD 10 is a solid budget-friendly tablet. It’s great for online browsing, streaming your favorite shows and movies and of course, reading via the Kindle app.
Samsung T7 SSD, 4TB: $280 (save $200): You can never have too much extra storage. Keep backups of your favorite memories and important documents on this 4TB solid-state drive.
Nebula Capsule 3 projector: $620 (save $180): The Nebula 3 laser projector can output 1080p content at sizes as large as 120 inches while being small enough to fit in a large pocket or small bag.
Elephas mini projector: $40 (save $70): This tiny projector comes with a tripod, multiple ports to connect your devices and built-in speakers. It also supports 1080P output. Make sure to clip the on-page coupon for the full discount.
Hisense 58-inch U6HF 4K Fire TV: $348 (save $202): This budget-friendly Hisense TV has a gorgeous display and comes equipped with all your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. Plus, you can control it with your voice
Save on headphones from Apple, Bose, Sony and more
Apple AirPods Max: $399 (save $150): A fan favorite, providing ultimate comfort and style with top-tier audio quality. Right now all color variants are on sale.
Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones: $125 (save $75): The Beats Solo3 headphones offer best-in-class battery life with up to 40 hours of listening time. These also have Apple’s W1 chip for effortless pairing within the Apple ecosystem.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2: $179 (save $100): If you prefer earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are also on sale. These have ANC and they’re water-resistant, which means they’d be perfect for the gym.
Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker: $149 (save $50): Just because summer is over doesn’t mean we can’t have ice cream anymore, especially when we can make any flavor we want in our own homes.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Need gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and other events? Our gift guide includes a huge range of suggestions for every occasion.
Which Labor Day sales are the best?
There are plenty of competing Labor Day sales and deciding which is best for you to shop will depend on what you’re hoping to buy.
Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart are generally good starting points if tech and smart home purchases are on your mind with stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Overstock being the places to begin your hunt for home and garden products.
Don’t rule out more niche retailers like B&H Photo, Dell, HP and GameStop, though, if their Labor Day promotions suit your needs. You can also shop direct at your favorite brands for Labor Day deals.
When do Labor Day sales end?
Labor Day 2024 falls on Monday, Sept. 2, but not all sales begin and end on that date. Most sales are live or will start to go live soon. Though some might last up to that day, a few might extend past that. We’ll be monitoring sales so you can nab the most savings this year.
Should I wait for Black Friday sales?
Labor Day sales offer some of the best savings at this time of year, sitting nicely between Memorial Day sales and Black Friday. If you need something now, particularly furniture or yard equipment, Labor Day is a great time to buy, with end-of-summer pricing applying to a lot of those types of products.
Black Friday is the biggest sale of the year, though, and if you can afford to wait the extra couple of months you could potentially get more for your money. That being said, rumors abound of a second Prime Day sale or “Prime Early Access Sale” slated for October, which could kick off the holiday shopping season much earlier and may mean even less time between Labor Day and fall sales.
How do I make the most of Labor Day sales?
Before diving into Labor Day sales, the best thing to do is to narrow down exactly what is on your shopping list this year. That way, you can identify the best retailers to start your search and avoid being distracted by the thousands of deals that will bombard you as you explore the many different Labor Day sales out there. Here’s a quick list to make it easier for you.
The CNET Deals team will keep you up to date on all of the best deals this Labor Day and beyond, so be sure to follow the team on Twitter and sign up for the CNET Deals newsletter.
If the sight of this image upsets you, I understand. But believe me when I tell you that this is the image of a well-loved and well-used part of my daughter Emma’s life. This ninth-gen iPad has been with her through her small years and is a constant source of joy, education and enlightenment for her, and it can take a beating too. Right now, it’s just $199, the lowest price it has ever been, and frankly, any other tablet is worthless in comparison. Here are our other favorite Labor Day sales.
One caveat to the rest of this post: A good case is essential if you want your 5-year-old to use an iPad. We have the OtterBox Made for Kids Case and have broken a million screen protectors, but in the three years we’ve had it, nothing has broken on the tablet itself. Emma carries it around on her head, leading to drops, and more than a few times, it has bounced down the stairs. She spills milk on it regularly, and all the sticky mess a child can get into, but the case has always kept it safe.
I know there are people out there who worry about screen time, and I do too, but Emma uses the iPad for more than just YouTube (only the kid’s version, folks!) and Minecraft. She uses it for her math programs from school –she’s very proud of her score in Lexia — and games like Pok Pok, a calming game with endless ways to stay entertained on long journeys. She’s grown up playing Pok Pok, which has helped her learn problem-solving and introduced her to ideas about diversity and community.
We recently moved to Virginia from California, and the iPad has allowed Emma to talk to her cousins back on the West Coast while playing Minecraft and call her older sisters in the UK on FaceTime. It’s a great communication tool, and I can tell you her grandparents get a huge kick out of talking to her at random times of the day. And since it features Apple’s excellent parental controls, it can be locked down by us, the parents, to make sure she is safe.
I’ve tried other tablets, believe me. I’m an Android guy at heart, but even the best Android tablets don’t hold a candle to the iPad. Same with the Amazon Fire Kids Edition. The main reason — the only reason frankly — not to get an iPad for a kid was the price, and with this new deal price of $199, that issue is almost gone.
Whether you’re preparing to enjoy a long weekend or you’re looking for a great discount, Labor Day weekend has finally made its way here. We’ve gathered up the hottest deals and greatest savings on tons of products ranging from TVs to mattresses and just about everything in between. All of your favorite retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and plenty more have big sales starting today, and we’ve put the best offers here.
All of the Labor Day sales below have been vetted by CNET’s team of shopping experts, who will be working around the clock until the sale ends to make sure you are getting the best discounts from all over the internet.
Our absolute favorite Labor Day deals
If there’s a time to consider buying a massive TV, Labor Day is it. This 98-inch one delivers high-contrast color and brightness with four times the pixels of the average HD TV making it dynamic for gaming, streaming movies and sports.
Details
Say goodbye to stopping by the coffee shop every morning and start making your cup of joe at home. It’s a pretty compact machine so it can fit in any space. And if you’re guilty of forgetting to turn off your appliances, this coffee maker has an auto shut-off feature, perfect for your precoffee brain.
Details
Keep track of your health and fitness goals easily with an Apple Watch. Monitor your heart rate, activity level, step count and even sleep patterns. It also connects to your phone so you can see all your notifications right on your wrist.
Details
Whether you’re ending your summer with a Labor Day camping trip or just want to be prepared in case of an emergency, a portable power station is essential in keeping not just electronic devices powered but medical devices powered as well. Keep in mind this model does not come with a solar panel.
Details
If your Wi-Fi signal doesn’t seem to carry throughout your entire home, it might be a good idea to get an extender. Simply plug it into an outlet and get much better Wi-Fi signal in that back bedroom or basement. And this one by TP-Link is now 54% off.
Details
Best Labor Day tech deals
Apple/CNET
The best deals on tablets, power stations, speakers and more
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet: $90 (save $60): The Fire HD 10 is a solid budget-friendly tablet. It’s great for online browsing, streaming your favorite shows and movies and of course, reading via the Kindle app.
Samsung T7 SSD, 4TB: $280 (save $200): You can never have too much extra storage. Keep backups of your favorite memories and important documents on this 4TB solid-state drive.
Hisense 58-inch U6HF 4K Fire TV: $348 (save $202): This budget-friendly Hisense TV has a gorgeous display and comes equipped with all your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. Plus, you can control it with your voice.
Oxford spiral notebook 6-pack: $10 (save $4): Whether you’re getting the kids ready for back-to-school or you need to write down your next big idea, these wide-ruled notebooks are a great option.
Quartet dry-erase markers: $11 (save $8): These markers are essential for the office or back-to-school. This pack of 36 comes in 4 colors — black, red, blue and green.
Snag huge savings from Ninja, Eufy, Shark and more
More Labor Day deals from CNET
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Need gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and other events? Our gift guide includes a huge range of suggestions for every occasion.
Which Labor Day sales are the best?
There are plenty of competing Labor Day sales and deciding which is best for you to shop will depend on what you’re hoping to buy.
Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart are generally good starting points if tech and smart home purchases are on your mind with stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Overstock being the places to begin your hunt for home and garden products.
Don’t rule out more niche retailers like B&H Photo, Dell, HP and GameStop, though, if their Labor Day promotions suit your needs. You can also shop direct at your favorite brands for Labor Day deals.
When do Labor Day sales end?
Labor Day 2024 falls on Monday, Sept. 2, but not all sales begin and end on that date. Most sales are live or will start to go live soon. Though some might last up to that day, a few might extend past that. We’ll be monitoring sales so you can nab the most savings this year.
Should I wait for Black Friday sales?
Labor Day sales offer some of the best savings at this time of year, sitting nicely between Memorial Day sales and Black Friday. If you need something now, particularly furniture or yard equipment, Labor Day is a great time to buy, with end-of-summer pricing applying to a lot of those types of products.
Black Friday is the biggest sale of the year, though, and if you can afford to wait the extra couple of months you could potentially get more for your money. That being said, rumors abound of a second Prime Day sale or “Prime Early Access Sale” slated for October, which could kick off the holiday shopping season much earlier and may mean even less time between Labor Day and fall sales.
How do I make the most of Labor Day sales?
Before diving into Labor Day sales, the best thing to do is narrow down exactly what is on your shopping list this year. That way, you can identify the best retailers to start your search and avoid being distracted by the thousands of deals that will bombard you as you explore the many different Labor Day sales out there. Here’s a quick list to make it easier for you.
The CNET Deals team will keep you up to date on all of the best deals this Labor Day and beyond, so be sure to follow the team on Twitter and sign up for the CNET Deals newsletter.
This last Memorial Day, this RC car by Laegendary (not a typo) appeared on one of CNET’s best deals lists and I thought it looked decent. I wasn’t sure I’d buy it for the normal price, but it was on sale, and my family loves RC cars, so I thought we’d give it a try. I’m glad I did because it turned out to be an awesome purchase.
This Labor Day, Amazon has this zippy little car at a modest 5% discount, but it’s hard not to still recommend since it’s such a blast to use.
This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
My family and I have six or seven RC cars at this point, and for the price and size, this thing really slaps. It has two 1600-mAh, 7.5-volt batteries that can propel the car at around 30mph for about 40 minutes of driving. The giant wheels — it’s a 1:10 scale car so it’s pretty beefy — let you drive it across grass, sand, and tarmac with equal ease.
It also comes with a travel bag for your batteries to charge them safely outside. Lithium polymer batteries are susceptible to heat, so keeping them out of the sun when charging is good. We’ve been banging around the neighborhood for weeks now, crashing into rocks and other RC cars, and it’s taken it all like a champ. I especially like the enclosed chassis as it can run over puddles and wet grass without danger.
When pitted against my $140 Haiboxing car (also discounted right now), it held its own wonderfully. It’s the same speed as the Haiboxing car but does feel a little slower as it’s much bigger. What it lacks in top speed, it makes up for in torque, though; this thing rears onto its back wheels from a standing start and pushes through even the tallest grass in our neighborhood. We made a little ramp for it to jump over, and it did great there, too, with no damage or stalling at all. The controller is good, with trim and power controls, and the foam grip on the control wheel feels much better than the hard plastic of cheaper models. It has a range of 250 feet too, so you could run it around a circuit without having to worry about a loss of connection.
It was a silly impulse to get another RC car, but I’m glad we decided to do it. It’s as good as the more expensive cars we already own and would make a fantastic gift for anyone who loves gadgets. Want something that flies instead? Check out the best drones you can buy right now.
Looking for the most recent Connections answer? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Shiny!
Green group hint: What medalists do.
Blue group hint: Famous places.
Purple group hint: Brrr!
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Sparkling things.
Green group: Participate in summer Olympic events.
Blue group: Wonders of the world.
Purple group: Ice ____.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
NYT Connections completed puzzle for Aug. 30, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is sparkling things. The four answers are diamond, glitter, gold and sequin.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is participate in summer Olympic events. The four answers are box, dive, fence and row.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is wonders of the world. The four answers are gardens, lighthouse, pyramid and temple.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ice ____. The four answers are cream, cube, machine and storm.
We tested Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model for 30 nights.
Aly Lopez/CNET
As sleep experts at CNET, my husband Dillon and I test and review mattresses and sleep-related products. Ironically, despite this experience, we still struggle to get quality rest. Part of this issue stems from having different sleeping positions and preferences — a problem many couples face.
Dillon is a night owl, and I’m an early bird. He sleeps better in a quiet room, while I sleep better with a noise machine. I like to sleep in the pitch black, and Dillon wouldn’t even notice if a construction-grade work light illuminated the entire bedroom all night. I enjoy cuddling with our pets on the bed and he doesn’t. Fortunately, after much trial and error and trying various sleep products, Dillon and I have found solutions for most of these differences.
However, the most significant difference we haven’t yet resolved is our sleeping positions. Dillon is a side sleeper, and he likes soft mattresses that offer plenty of pressure relief for his shoulders and hips. I prefer a firmer mattress since I usually fall asleep on my stomach, so I need my spine in neutral alignment. It’s been a challenge to find a bed we both find comfortable and accommodating — thus began our hunt for the perfect mattress. In our 30-Night Mattress Testing Series, Dillon and I will test a different mattress each month and document the entire process until we find one that works for both of us.
Before starting this series, we’d been sleeping on Brentwood Home’s Latex Hybrid, which is considered a medium on the firmness scale and has a traditional innerspring feel. We tracked our sleep on Brentwood Home to compare the data with the first mattress in our testing series: Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model.
Watch us test the Saatva Classic mattress for 30 nights.
Initial thoughts on the Saatva Classic
Once we got the Saatva Classic situated in our bedroom, we began testing it right away. We considered various factors like feel, firmness and temperature, then formed our initial thoughts on the edge support and motion isolation. Off the bat, we agreed that it looked like a high-end, luxurious bed that could be found in a nice five-star hotel. We loved the design and could tell that the materials were high-quality.
We (along with our dog, Charlie) began testing the Saatva Classic right away.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Firmness
We took turns lying on it, rolling around and testing out the various sleeping positions. It didn’t take long for Dillon to come to the conclusion that while it was an extremely nice bed, it would be too firm for him to sleep on his side. I had the opposite reaction — I enjoyed how firm and supportive it felt while lying on my stomach and back (and even my side). It provided ample support for keeping my spine neutrally aligned.
Feel
We immediately appreciated the responsiveness of the bed. Unlike the sinking-in feeling associated with memory foam, the Saatva Classic is extremely responsive and bounces back quickly, which we both prefer. We also both enjoyed its plush pillow top feel.
Temperature
We agreed that the cover was not cool to the touch but seemed temperature-neutral. As a hot sleeper, I felt this might pose an issue for me, but Dillon wasn’t too concerned about it.
Edge support is an extremely important factor for Aly, and this bed passed with flying colors.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Edge support
Solid edge support is crucial for both of us, but more so for me. Thanks to the cuddles from Dillon and our pets — namely our cat, Jess — I tend to get pushed to the outside edge of the bed and find myself hanging on for dear life. When she’s not sprawling out between us, Jess often lays on my head and takes over the pillow. I usually end up lying below her on the edge of the mattress with no pillow at all, which is another story entirely (and a common point of cat-ention, if you will, in our house). Right away, we could tell that edge support was phenomenal. Even lying right on the edge, the mattress wasn’t sagging, and I didn’t feel like I would fall off.
Dillon was impressed by the Saatva Classic’s motion isolation abilities.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Motion isolation
With one person lying still on the bed and the other moving around, we tested its motion-isolating abilities. We also tested it by placing a glass of water on the bed and bouncing and rolling around. Dillon felt the mattress had pretty decent motion isolation. I found it so-so and thought it might not work well for me in that regard — not just because Jess constantly jumps on and off the bed, but because Dillon and I frequently go to bed and wake up at different times. As a night owl, he tends to go to bed later, and I usually wake up earlier. Having a mattress that absorbs motion and won’t jostle the other person awake would be helpful since we often get in and out of bed at different times.
Design and construction
As I mentioned, we were immediately impressed by the look and quality of the materials used in the Saatva Classic’s construction. The model we had was 11.5 inches tall, which is pretty standard, and Saatva also offers a thicker 14.5-inch version.
I liked how soft and luscious the cover felt. It’s made with naturally hypoallergenic organic cotton and is treated with Saatva’s Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment that is intended to inhibit bacteria growth and mold. We prefer our mattresses to be hypoallergenic since we sleep with our pets (and their fur and dander), so that’s a great feature.
I could tell that it would keep my spine in neutral alignment, partially due to the Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire in the middle of the mattress. Just below that is the layer of Lumbar Zone Pocketed Coils made with recycled steel, firmer in the center third of the bed where most of our body weight was. The base is a coil unit made of tempered steel. That said, the mattress was heavy but lighter than I expected, considering it’s such a durable hybrid bed.
Brand standards
Dillon and I have always admired Saatva as a brand. Its policies are fantastic: 365-night trial period, lifetime warranty, free shipping, delivery and setup, and even complimentary removal of your old mattress. Its beds are handcrafted to order in the US using high-quality and sustainably sourced materials. What’s not to like about that?
Our dog approves of the Saatva Classic and Saatva’s commitment to sustainability.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Our sleep quality goals
To be specific, our sleep goals include getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night (8 plus for me is preferred) and spending less time awake. We both tend to wake up frequently throughout the night, sometimes for a couple of hours. Often, one of us will move to the couch in the middle of the night for a change of scenery when we are uncomfortable and can’t go back to sleep.
Of course, other factors may influence our sleep quality — pets, diet, exercise, room temperature, stress, etc. We have worked hard to pinpoint and mitigate these other factors over the years and feel like we have a decent handle on them. We now seek a mattress we both find so comfortable that neither of us wants to get up and leave it.
Testing, testing…
It didn’t take long for Dillon to confirm what we thought once we started sleeping on it: The bed was much too firm for his liking. The first few nights, he woke up with a sore back and neck. Since the bed we slept on prior to this was a medium on the firmness scale and Saatva Classic’s luxury firm is more of a medium-firm to firm, it would take some time for him (and myself) to adjust.
The luxury firm model of the Saatva Classic is great for back and stomach sleepers (which Dillon is not).
Aly Lopez/CNET
Right off the bat, I really enjoyed this mattress and was sleeping better than I had been on the Brentwood Hybrid. The edge support kept me from feeling like I was going to fly off whenever I’d get pushed to the edge. I didn’t wake up feeling sore like Dillon was, even when I would lay on my side.
Dillon was impressed by its ability to isolate motion, whereas I thought it did a fine job. As a very light sleeper, I’m more sensitive to motion transfer than Dillon is — particularly so because our cat tends to jump on and off the bed (and me) constantly throughout the night — an issue that no amount of motion isolation can solve. I also woke up quite often when Dillon moved around or switched positions throughout the night.
A few nights, I’d find myself overheating and whipping the covers off in sweaty panic. We keep the temperature in our bedroom cool and sleep with a light comforter, so I do think this was happening in part because of the mattress. Dillon wasn’t getting quite as hot as I was, but he also mentioned that he would like a bed with more cooling technology.
A little over halfway through the trial, something interesting happened. One day, I pinched a nerve in my shoulder, which is what led me to the realization that I spend more time sleeping on my side than I had initially thought. For about a week, I would constantly wake up in pain and find myself lying on my side. Because the bed’s firm profile doesn’t offer much pressure relief, it was intensifying the pain from my pinched nerve. After this, I began paying closer attention to my sleeping habits and found that I spend way more time sleeping on my side than I thought.
The mattress feels firm to me, especially while sleeping on my side.
Aly Lopez/CNET
In my testing notes, I wrote: I usually sleep on my stomach… but recently, I’ve been waking up in pain on my side in the middle of the night. Maybe I actually do need a softer mattress?!“
For the most part, until I hurt my shoulder, I was thoroughly enjoying my experience of sleeping on the Saatva Classic. Dillon was not having quite the same experience — at the end of the 30 nights, he was still waking up sore, forced to switch to sleeping on his back because being on his side was too firm, and his arm would fall asleep.
Ranking our personal preferences
At CNET, our sleep experts rank and score mattresses objectively using a standardized rating system. However, as two bad sleeper sleep experts and for the purpose of this series, Dillon and I created a custom subjective ranking system to score the main qualities and features we seek personally in a mattress. More weight was given to firmness and feel (up to 20 points each), while the remaining factors were each out of 10 points, for a total possible score of 100. We ranked these factors on a preferential level, meaning what we liked or didn’t like personally — all of our scoring is subjective. The scale looked like this:
We created a subjective point system to give the mattress an overall rating at the end of the trial.
Cole Kan/CNET
Feel and firmness (the most important features of this trial for us)
On a scale of 1 to 20:
1 = Absolutely abhor this particular feature of the bed
10 = Not my favorite, but I can make it work
20 = It’s perfect, and I could not imagine my life now without this feature of the bed
1 = Absolutely abhor this particular feature of the bed
5 = Not my favorite, but I can make it work
10 = It’s perfect, and I could not imagine my life now without this feature of the bed
Scoring the Saatva Classic
After completing the 30-night trial, we ranked each factor preferentially and offered a brief explanation for the score given. Here are the results:
Dillon’s scoring breakdown
Feel: 12/20
The Saatva Classic feels like a classic firm hybrid bed, which I don’t mind. It’s pretty accommodating. I don’t sink into it at all like memory foam, which I like about it, but I would prefer a softer neutral foam feel with more pressure relief.
Firmness: 5/20
The bed was way too firm for me as a side sleeper. A lot of times, I would wake up feeling sore with my arm asleep. I just need something a little softer. The plush soft model of the Saatva Classic would probably be perfect for me.
Motion isolation: 7/10
I never really noticed Aly moving around on the bed (and she moves around a lot), so I was pretty happy with the motion isolation. I think the only time I felt her move was when she’d get out of bed completely in the middle of the night.
Edge support: 7/10
Edge support is important to me, and it felt sturdy, but I slept against the wall so it was harder to tell for me personally. For the next bed, I will not be sleeping against a wall (thankfully), so it will be a better test.
Temperature: 5/10
Cooling technology is important to me. I would like a bed that has a cool-to-the-touch feel, which this definitely does not have. It felt more temperature-neutral.
Design/construction: 8/10
Saatva got it right with the construction. The materials are super high-quality. This bed feels very durable and luxurious.
Sleep quality: 3/10
I slept so poorly that I considered taking sleep supplements before bed for the first time in my life.
Brand standards (policies, sustainability): 8/10
Saatva has great policies, such as the 365-night trial and lifetime warranty. Sustainability is important to me, and they have a lot of green initiatives. I really like them as a brand and always have.
Dillon’s overall score: 56/100 = 5.6/10
“My score is actually higher than I thought it would be. There are definitely features I really like about this bed, but overall, it’s just not a great fit for me.” – Dillon
Dillon felt the mattress was a little too firm for side sleeping.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Aly’s scoring breakdown
Feel: 16/20
I prefer the traditional innerspring feel that the Saatva Classic has. I like that I can easily switch positions without feeling “stuck” because I tend to move around a lot throughout the night.
Firmness: 14/20
This mattress felt firm to me, which is what I thought I wanted. It is definitely what I preferred at the beginning of the trial until I pulled my shoulder/back and was having trouble sleeping on my side. It made me realize that it actually does feel too firm for me and I think I would like something a little bit softer with more pressure relief.
Motion isolation: 5/10
I thought the motion isolation was fine. I could feel it when Dillon or the pets moved around or got in and out of the bed, but it wasn’t overly jarring or disruptive, especially considering how much we move around.
Edge support: 9/10
Edge support is very important to me because I tend to sleep very close to the edge of the bed. I never felt like I was falling off or like the edge was drooping. Super impressive edge support.
Temperature: 3/10
I sleep very hot throughout the night and the cotton cover on this mattress made the bed feel pretty warm to me. I would frequently have to take the covers off to cool down. Would like to have a bed with more cooling technology.
Design/construction: 8/10
The materials feel very high-quality and luxurious. I like that the beds are GREENGUARD® Gold certified and made with eco-friendly materials like recycled steel coils, organic cotton, CertiPUR-US®* certified memory foams, etc. I like the durable hybrid construction of the Saatva Classic (vs all-foam).
Sleep quality: 7/10
I slept better on the Saatva Classic than I did on our previous mattress, the Brentwood Home Latex Hybrid. While I didn’t hit my sleep average goal of 8 hours per night, it was still higher than my average sleep on Brentwood.
Brand standards (policies, sustainability): 8/10
I appreciate Saatva’s policies, like the one-year trial period and lifetime warranty, free in-home delivery and setup. I don’t particularly like moving mattresses, so having an in-home setup is a feature I would probably look for when purchasing a mattress. I also appreciate that the mattresses are manufactured in the US and that Saatva has many green initiatives, such as planting trees, using solar panels, etc.
Aly’s overall score: 70/100 = 7/10
In hindsight, I think my score should be a little higher. My main qualms were temperature and motion isolation, which are two very tricky issues for a mattress to solve.
As a back sleeper, our dog Charlie ranked the Saatva Classic an astounding 10/10.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
How we tracked our sleep
At the beginning of the trial, we were tracking our sleep data using the TEMPUR-Ergo® ProSmart® Base, which has a built-in AI sleep tracker. After a few hiccups (such as the base disconnecting or accidentally tracking our dog’s sleep), we decided to switch trackers about halfway through the trial. I began using my Apple Watch, and Dillon used his Whoop band, which seemed to provide more accurate biometrics.
Our trackers provided data for amounts of deep sleep, REM sleep, core/light sleep and awake time.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Our sleep data results
Let’s dive into the numbers. As you can see in the graph below, Dillon and I were all over the place. My nightly sleep ranged from a low of 4 hours to a high of 10 hours (which is exceptionally high for me), while Dillon’s ranged from 3 to just over 9 hours. As I mentioned, we missed a few nights of tracking due to the bedframe tracker disconnecting or my Apple Watch deciding not to track my sleep for reasons unknown.
Saatva Classic: Nightly Hours Slept
Our nightly sleep varied quite a bit throughout the trial, ranging from lows of 3-4 hours to highs of 9-10 hours.
The nights when we got little sleep — 3, 4 or 5 hours — usually went like this: I would fall asleep first while lying on my stomach. An hour or two later, Dillon would gently crawl into bed as slowly and quietly as possible to prevent me from waking up. But what would I do? Wake up. No matter how silently he moved through the room, I’d always wake up due to the motion transfer of his movements on the mattress.
We’d then adjust to lying on our sides, and Dillon would (try to) spoon me while I would (inadvertently) spoon our cat. Not long after this, I’d either become overheated, pushing everyone away in exasperation and yanking all the covers off, or Dillon’s arm would fall painfully asleep, and he’d be forced to lie on his back instead. Next stop: Snoreville. Unfortunately, snoring is more likely to occur when sleeping on your back, which is what would happen. I’d lie awake, trying to get comfortable on my stomach again, while Jess would bounce around and make herself comfortable on my head. Eventually, she’d take over my entire pillow, and at that point, I’d have no choice but to wake Dillon up and ask him to please roll onto his side again — I felt terrible doing this because I knew it was uncomfortable for him — or I’d give up, jump ship and move to the couch in the wee hours of the morning. I’d usually wake Dillon up while trying to sneak out of the bed too.
The nights we got great sleep — 8, 9 and even 10 hours (for me) — had a common denominator: I took a sleep supplement before bed. Usually, I’d take a melatonin gummy, lay down on my stomach and pass out within a few minutes, feeling cozy, comfortable and supported on the Saatva Classic. The melatonin helped keep me from waking up, completely unaware of the world around me, and allowed us both to stay asleep throughout the night.
As I mentioned, our sleep numbers aren’t solely based on our experience with the mattress. We recognize that there are many other factors in play when it comes to sleep quality, such as our diet, exercise, bedroom environment, stress levels and so on. But with a mattress that one partner finds uncomfortable, the issues can become exacerbated and affect both people — such as Dillon having to lie on his back because there’s not enough pressure relief for his side, causing him to snore, or me getting too hot and sweaty on a bed with no cooling technology and ripping the covers off.
30-Night Sleep Phase Averages
Aly slept longer than Dillon on average. Dillon was awake more but spent more time in deep sleep.
Throughout the 30 nights, on average:
I slept about 7 hours and 15 minutes per night.
Dillon slept around 6 hours and 40 minutes per night.
I spent 40 minutes awake each night.
Dillon spent about 1 hour awake each night.
Interestingly, we averaged almost the same exact amount of REM sleep each night, which was 1 hour and 40 minutes. I spent an hour longer in core/light sleep (4 hours and 42 minutes) than Dillon (3 hours and 40 minutes). Dillon spent a little more time in deep sleep (an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes) than I did (about one hour).
The results were about as we expected when comparing our sleep on the Brentwood Home Latex Hybrid: I slept over an hour longer on average on the Saatva Classic, while Dillon averaged over an hour less sleep per night on it. The Brentwood Home mattress was a medium on the firmness scale, so it’s softer than Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model. As a side sleeper, this bed may have been a better fit for Dillon. The latex foam in Brentwood Home has a wavy, contouring shape that reduces pressure points for your shoulder and hips. Usually falling asleep on my stomach, the Saatva Classic was a better fit for me as its firmer profile and construction provide enhanced support, helping to keep my spine in a healthy, neutral alignment.
Saatva Classic vs. Brentwood Home (Average Sleep Hours)
Aly slept better on the Saatva Classic compared to Brentwood Home, while Dillon had the opposite experience.
Final thoughts on the Saatva Classic
In continuing our search for the perfect mattress, there are three areas of improvement we’d ultimately like to see: more sleep (closer to 8 hours of sleep per night for Dillon and at least 8.5 for me), more consistent sleep and less time spent awake throughout the night.
After trying this bed for 30 nights, we both feel that the Saatva Classic is a super high-quality and luxurious mattress, but it’s simply not the right bed for us. It’s durable and supportive, and with three firmness options to choose from, this bed can accommodate most sleeper types.
Saatva Classic’s firmness options
After our trial, we realized that Saatva’s website says that the luxury firm model of the Saatva Class is ideal for couples who can’t agree on a firmness profile. The irony! Let’s break that down:
If you and your sleep partner are primarily side sleepers and prefer a softer mattress, we recommend checking out the plush soft version of the Saatva Classic, which we rank around a medium or 5 out of 10.
If both of you sleep predominately on your back and stomach (and especially if you are heavier) and prefer a firm bed, we recommend checking out Saatva Classic’s firm model. We rank this a true firm or around a 9 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
If you’re both combination sleepers or have different sleeping positions (like Dillon and me), then, in theory, the luxury firm model would be the right choice; however, in our subjective experience, it was still slightly too firm. Saatva ranks the luxury firm between 5 and 7 on the firmness scale. Dillon and I agreed that it feels firmer than that, perhaps around a 7 to 8. Again, if you and your partner are heavier individuals with varying sleep positions, then this will likely feel a little softer to you and could be a great option. You could also consider the Saatva HD, which is designed specifically for bigger bodies.
The Saatva Classic is extremely responsive and feels incredibly luxurious.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Our key takeaways
A learned takeaway from this experience is that I spend more time sleeping on my side than I previously realized. This is a key factor in deciding the right mattress for us and will hopefully make it easier to find one that accommodates us both. Going into the trial, Dillon knew he’d prefer a soft mattress, which was confirmed.
Though it wasn’t a perfect match for us, we still highly recommend this particular model to back and stomach sleepers who prefer a durable, firm and responsive mattress. A queen-size Saatva Classic is priced at $2,095, but Saatva frequently runs deals bringing down a few hundred dollars. We think that’s a great value for how high-end and luxurious it is.
How many beds will it take until we find the perfect one? Stay tuned for the next mattress of our 30-Night Mattress Testing Series: the Avocado Luxury Organic.
After you’ve picked between meal kits or meal delivery, you’ll want to find a service within your budget. There are meal kits with recipes for as cheap as $6 a serving with basic menus and no-frills recipes. More expensive services include recipes with more exotic ingredients, high-end cuts of meat and organic produce, but can cost as much as $15 or $20 a serving.
Meal kit or prepared meal delivery
The first big decision you’ll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat. Meal kits will demand more of your time and energy but they’ll also cost a little less per serving. Prepared meals require almost no time and energy, other than what it takes to actually eat the food, but typically run a few dollars more per serving.
Blue Apron is budget-friendly and includes steak and seafood options.
David Watsky/CNET
Healthiness
While most meal delivery services have healthy options, some are much healthier than others. If you’re keen on eating low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based or pescatarian food, certain meal kits and meal delivery services are better than others. This list of the healthiest meal delivery services for 2024 is a good place to find the most nutritious options.
Thistle meals are as healthy as they get and show up fresh. Here’s what I thought of the prepared meal service.
David Watsky/CNET
Number of meals per week
With almost every service, the more meals or servings are in your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. Ideally, you’ll want to determine exactly how much food makes sense for your household. If you can’t imagine yourself cooking more than twice per week, don’t order more than two meal kits because they typically won’t last more than a week in the fridge.
Most prepared meals either arrive frozen or can be frozen after unboxing. That means it’s less of an issue if you order too many meals on your first go-around. Most services allow you to change the number of meals or servings in your plan even after you’ve started.
Daily Harvest is one of the healthiest and cheapest meal delivery services we tried.
Chromebooks are super handy and can function as worthy alternatives to Mac and Windows devices in many cases. They’re typically not as heavy as their competitors and they often offer a better battery life too, making them the perfect portable companion for people who are regularly on the go.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Chromebooks are often available for significantly less money than MacBooks and Windows PCs, but they still work well for many people’s day-to-day needs. The main difference between these options is the operating system. Instead of MacOS or Windows, Chromebooks run on ChromeOS, which is a bit more lightweight, and because it doesn’t need the same resources, Chromebooks can deliver equivalent features with simpler hardware specs, which in turn provides you more bang for your buck.
Because of their simplicity, Chromebooks can also be a great option for kids. (They might already be using one for school.) Chromebooks are good, too, for less tech-savvy adults in need of a simple computer or anyone who wants an inexpensive laptop for a home office, along with some entertainment. There’s even a new crop of big-screen Chromebooks for gamers.
Read more: Best Chromebook for 2024
To help you find the best Chromebook deal, CNET’s editors have selected all the top discounted Chromebooks available right now. One word of shopping advice: Although Chromebooks can run well on modest components, some heavily discounted models online might still be too underpowered for heavy use. A big discount might not be worth the frustration. Also, if the Chromebook is cheap, be sure to check the auto-update expiration date for the model. The AUE is when ChromeOS stops receiving system updates, typically eight years after release, but the date isn’t the same for every model.
If you’ve been looking for a new laptop and don’t want to spend top dollar, Chromebooks are worth considering. We’ll continue to monitor Chromebook deals and regularly update this list, so check back often for the best prices.
Acer/CNET
This Acer Chromebook has a large screen and can handle the basic needs of today’s students and office workers at an affordable price. With 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD, you’ll be able to store important documents and participate in online video calls as needed. It’s got an Intel UHD graphics card that can handle basic games, so you can take the mindful breaks you deserve.
Asus/CNET
This Asus Chromebook has a decent $200 savings now that it’s on clearance at Best Buy. That means stock is low and this price won’t likely hang around for long. It’s perfect for business and gaming with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, an Intel UHD 630 graphics card and a 15.6-inch touchscreen.
Asus/CNET
It’s hard to get a Chromebook cheaper than this. It has everything you need on an everyday basis or as a secondary option for taking with you on the go. That $129 asking price gets you the 14-inch laptop, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a MediaTek Kompanio 500 processor and a MediaTek graphics card.
HP/CNET
A great HP model with a nice $100 discount applied. This is a great budget-level Chromebook that comes with an Intel N100 processor, 4GB of RAM, an Intel UHD graphics card, 64GB of storage, fast charging and a battery life of around 13 hours.
Samsung/CNET
Only $10 away from the lowest price we’ve ever seen, this Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a bargain. The 2021 model has 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and a 13.3-inch screen with an Intel UHD graphics card.
What should you look for in a Chromebook deal?
One of the biggest things to consider is which configuration is on sale. Often, with the best Chromebook deals, only a specific version of the Chromebook is on sale, and making any changes to it could affect the price. This means that sometimes you find the 256GB model is actually cheaper than the 128GB option or a similar situation.
When are the best deals available?
Generally, you’ll find the best Chromebook deals during back-to-school shopping time in late summer or early fall and a bit later in the year during annual Black Friday sales events. Chromebook deals are available throughout the year, but if you’re looking for the best deal and can afford to wait a little, these are the best times of the year to buy one.
Which retailers usually offer the best deals?
You can usually find deals across a variety of retailers when it comes to Chromebook sales. Amazon and Best Buy are constantly running discounts, and deals can also be found at Newegg and Walmart. Amazon’s prices fluctuate and Best Buy’s sales come and go, so it’s worth checking back weekly to see if a discounted price returns.
There are hundreds of home security cameras on the market, ranging drastically in price, functionality and quality, but only a few offer solar power. After CNET’s years of testing home security cameras, we have some tips if you’re on the hunt for a new solar-powered security camera. Here are a few parameters to consider.
Privacy
This is a big one. You don’t want anyone peeping on your property or hacking into your camera. Wireless home security cameras can be more susceptible to hacking due to their connectivity to Wi-Fi networks and remote access. Wired home security cameras are more secure. (Read more about the pros and cons of wired versus wireless systems here.)
Video resolution
Video quality should be a major consideration when buying a home security camera, whether solar-powered or not. In simplest terms, your camera won’t be effective if the only footage being recorded is grainy and unreadable.
The higher the resolution, the better the video quality. Most home security cameras on the market now have 1080p resolution, but others even have 2K resolution (like the Arlo Pro 4) or 1,536×1,536-pixel resolution (like the Arlo Video Doorbell). Just remember, the higher the video quality, the more bandwidth it takes up and the more likely your camera is to experience lag times or glitches.
Local vs. cloud storage
You have two main options: There’s cloud storage, which sends your video footage to a remote server to be saved, and local storage, which relies on a separate accessory or piece of hardware, usually a microSD card, to hold any footage you’d like to save. Usually, cloud storage requires a monthly fee.
There’s a trendy kitchen appliance that is fast closing in on the grill as my favorite summer cooking tool. Yep, the air fryer is at it again. This time the speedy machine steps in to keep temperatures down and save money on energy during these warmer months.
Cooking outside on the grill remains one of my favorite summer pastimes, but when the mercury creeps above 90, I need a way to make dinner that doesn’t involve hovering over a steel box of fire. And the oven only serves to heat the entire house, requiring far more energy to keep it temperate.
To prove why the air fryer belongs in the summer cooking hall of fame, I ran some tests to see how much the oven heats up the kitchen versus an air fryer. Spoiler alert: The air fryer trounced the oven, barely raising the temperature in my home at all. Air fryers also cook quickly and need almost no preheat time so you’ll keep from turning that all-important space into a sauna.
A heat wave requires creative thinking to keep the home cool and an air fryer is my ticket to getting through those sweltering summer spells without starving. The best part? A quality air fryer can be had for as little as $50. And since air fryers use less energy than an oven or grill, they’ll save you money on your monthly energy costs.
Trendy air fryers are all they’re cracked up to be, especially when it’s hot out.
David Watsky/CNET
How much my oven heated my kitchen after 30 minutes
The air fryer turns out juicy chicken thighs in under 20 minutes.
David Watsky/CNET
To find real-world differences, I roasted chicken thighs in my KitchenAid wall oven (less than 10 years old) and a 4-quart Dreo air fryer, according to two popular recipes from a well-known cooking site. I tested the temperature before, during and after to see how much of a difference each machine makes.
My Brooklyn apartment kitchen is on the small side, but it’s not enclosed and opens up to the rest of the apartment. I kept the windows closed for the test, although it’s worth noting that recent studies show cooking with natural gas in an enclosed kitchen can be a health risk.
I’m finding fewer and fewer reasons to turn on the big oven these days.
David Watsky/CNET
The standard oven recipe called for the chicken to be roasted at 375 degrees for 30 minutes in the oven. Because of its smaller chamber, the air fryer recipe only required 20 minutes of cooking at the same temperature. The air fryer requires only about a minute to come to temperature, while the oven takes more than five.
An ambient thermometer is all I needed to test how much hotter a gas oven can make the kitchen.
David Watsky/CNET
I placed a standard ambient thermometer in the middle of the kitchen — about 5 feet from the stove — at counter height. I took a reading before the oven or air fryer was turned on. I took another reading halfway through the cooking time and the last one at the end of the cooking time. Between the two sessions, I waited for the kitchen to return to a resting temperature before starting the next one.
The big oven made my kitchen 12 degrees hotter than the air fryer
Ovens have more capacity than air fryers but it’s still rarely worth it to heat the house up during summer.
KitchenAid
As I suspected, my oven heated the kitchen far more than the air fryer. Midway through the recipes (15 minutes), the oven raised the temperature of my kitchen by 15 degrees from 71 F to too-hot 88 F.
After 10 minutes of cooking with the air fryer on 375 F, the temperature in my kitchen had gone up only 5 degrees F, from 72 F to a pleasant 77 F. While you can feel the emanating from the air fryer if you stand close enough, it’s not enough to significantly change the temperature of the kitchen.
Read more:Here’s How to Keep Your Kitchen Cool (and Lower Your Energy Bill) During a Heat Wave
Not only did the air fryer cause less of a temperature spike, but I only needed to have it running for roughly 20 minutes with one minute of preheat time. The oven took 30 minutes to cook the chicken and 6 minutes to preheat.
Using the air fryer will cut down on energy bills
Even modern ovens use significantly more energy than an air fryer.
Mary King/CNET
During a heat wave, your air conditioner is already working hard. Heating the kitchen up with your oven will only require them to work harder, using more energy to bring the room back down to your desired temperature. For the AC to make up the difference for one 20- or 30-minute cooking session with an oven, it may not be a total budget-buster. But spread that out over time or for longer cooking sessions and using the oven during hot months can have real fiscal ramifications. For more on this, read my breakdown of exactly how much more an oven costs to run than an air fryer.
What can you make in an air fryer?
Roasted chicken in the air fryer is dynamite and takes less time than in the large oven.
David Watsky/CNET
An air fryer can do almost any cooking job that an oven can, although air fryers are typically smaller than wall ovens so you can’t cook as much in one go.
I’ve been tinkering with the air fryer a lot this year. I discovered the joy of cooking whole chickens in the air fryer, filets of salmon and even bacon cheeseburgers. The air fryer goes well beyond its reputation for cooking crispy wings and french fries. You can make dinner party-level recipes in the air fryer without breaking a sweat, literally.
Here are seven foods that I only make in the air fryer now not just because they keep my kitchen cooler but because the results are as good or better than other methods. And here’s our complete guide to air fryers, everyone’s favorite new kitchen appliance.
Hot Weather, Cool Phone: Expert Tips to Avoid Your Phone Overheating
Our team of sleep experts has spent years researching, testing and deconstructing over 200 mattresses. Most of our testing happens in our 6,000-square-foot mattress warehouse in Reno, Nevada. In addition to the office space where our team tirelessly compiles mattress data, there are also two mock bedrooms we use to test and film reviews in. A back room also serves as an overflow for the hundreds of mattresses the team has tested.
Testing mattresses is a very hands-on process that involves analyzing the construction, feeling and rolling around on the beds from multiple points of view. Our team has a variety of genders, body types and sleeper positions, which allows us to give each bed a well-rounded view that we can compile into recommendations for the average person.
Firmness and feel: Firmness and feel are some of the most subjective factors when testing mattresses. How firm a mattress feels will depend on how much pressure you put on the mattress, aka your body weight. To get the best picture of a mattress’s true firmness and feel, we have multiple team members test and rate each bed.
Durability and construction: We can’t sleep on every mattress we test for years to test the durability (though we have done it for some). While we note the construction of a bed, we use it to inform how durable and supportive a bed will be over time. Saatva, for example, received a 10 support score during testing because of the hefty construction and dual-coil system.
Motion isolation: When I say motion isolation, I’m referring to how well a bed can dampen movement across the surface. We test this by having multiple teammates move around and measure how much motion they can feel. Memory foam tends to perform best in this area. For example, the Nectar Premier mattress scored higher in motion isolation because the memory foam layers are superior at dampening movement compared with innerspring mattresses.
CNET video producer Jon Gomez captures mattress expert Dillon Payne testing the edge support of a mattress.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Edge support: This one might not seem like a big deal, but edge support is important if you sleep on the edge of the bed. Think about it like how strong the bed’s perimeter is. If it caves in when we sit or lay on it, it doesn’t have good edge support and receives a score corresponding to where it falls in the data.
Temperature: Many brands claim their mattresses are cooling, although very few are. While adding cooling technology or gel-infused foams can help regulate temperature, it doesn’t mean they are physically cool to the touch. We carefully assess each of the cooling features but differentiate between being temperature-neutral and cooling. For instance, Purple is a naturally breathable bed because of the grid construction, but we don’t consider it an actively cooling bed.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, the fully electric descendant of the automaker’s iconic Microbus, arrives stateside later this year with a starting manufacturer’s retail price of $59,995 for the base Pro S model. Along with pricing, VW also revealed range estimates for the 2025 ID. Buzz with rear-drive configurations cruising for an EPA-estimated 234 miles per charge and dual-motor 4Motion all-wheel drive dropping to 231 miles.
The ID. Buzz’s starting MSRP is a fair bit pricier than the vehicle that inspired its aesthetic. A 1967 VW Type 2 retailed for around $2,575 at the height of its popularity or about $25,300 in inflation-adjusted 2024 bucks — but the new model is loaded with a whole lot more tech.
Technology and luxury have come a long way in the 60 years since the Type 2.
Volkswagen
The starting price gets you single-motor electric rear-wheel drive and seating for up to seven passengers thanks to its second- and third-row bench seats. (The long wheelbase Buzz we’ll get in the US is 6.9 inches longer than the European-spec two-row model.) The entry-level model also comes standard with a solid suite of cabin tech that includes a 12.9-inch touchscreen, wireless App-Connect (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and the automaker’s IQ.Drive driver assistance package.
Starting at $63,495, stepping up to the Pro S Plus model adds power-sliding side doors and a power-lift rear hatch, which are game-changing upgrades for families or older owners with limited mobility. This trim level also includes a head-up display, a surround-view camera system and swaps the standard stereo for a 700-watt, 14-speaker Harman-Kardon audio rig. The Pro S Plus also unlocks an optional 4Motion dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain upgrade, which bumps that MSRP to $67,995. Choosing AWD also swaps the second-row bench seat for captain’s chairs, dropping total passenger capacity to six souls, but improving comfort for the trade.
2025 VW ID. Buzz pricing
Trim
FWD
AWD
Pro S
$59,995
n/a
Pro S Plus
$63,495
$67,995
First Edition
$65,495
$69,995
3-Row VW ID Buzz Electric Microbus Is Headed to the States in 2024
See all photos
Read: Best EVs of 2024
Limited to the launch window, the ID. Buzz First Edition model tops the lineup, starting at $65,495 with rear-drive or $69,995 with 4Motion. Its loadout is nigh-identical to that of the Pro S Plus spec with the addition of a unique design for its 20-inch wheels, standard roof rails with cross bars, “First Edition” exterior badging and the coastal-inspired interior design motif with heritage floor mats. The First Edition Buzz also comes standard with an electrochromic glass roof that transitions from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button — a feature that’s a $1,495 option for the post-launch Pro S Plus.
Check out our first look at Volkswagen’s upcoming ID. Buzz for more details on what to expect from the electric retro van when it arrives in driveways and dealerships later this year.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed puzzle for Aug. 21, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Top ten, e.g. Answer: LIST
5A clue: Nintendo antagonist in a yellow hat and purple overalls. Answer: WARIO
6A clue: One end of a battery. Answer: ANODE
7A clue: Ten in an Olympic swimming pool. Answer: LANES
8A clue: What “X” can mean. Answer: KISS
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Hawaiian island seen from the west shore of Maui. Answer: LANAI
2D clue: Unwrinkles, as a dress shirt. Answer: IRONS
3D clue: A decagon has ten. Answer: SIDES
4D clue: Bottom ten? Answer: TOES
5D clue: Go for a stroll. Answer: WALK
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Seeing cosmic phenomena with the naked eye can be something of a rarity. So when one presents itself, it’s a good idea to sit up and pay attention. Like the recent solar eclipse and phenomena like the Aurora Borealis seen in our skies, there’s another dazzling event you’ll want to take in as soon as it’s possible. It’s time to join the swaths of NASA scientists and astronomers waiting with bated breath to cosmic explosion that’ll light up the night sky – and you don’t even need a telescope to see it.
Back in February 2016, astronomers spread the news that the star system T Coronae Borealis had entered a “phase of unprecedented high activity.” Eight years later, that solar activity could result in a nova event large enough to be visible from Earth by the naked eye.
In a nova event, a white dwarf star pulls in solar material from a nearby red giant. When the heat and pressure get too high, the result is a thermonuclear explosion. That makes the white dwarf appear brighter in the sky, but it doesn’t disintegrate, and once the explosion dissipates, the star goes back to its original brightness. That massive eruption is a nova.
The nova can be seen with the naked eye for upward of a week after it happens. For that period, it’ll seem like a new star has appeared in the sky. According to NASA, the explosion could happen anytime, day or night, between now and September, although scientists say it may take longer.
What will the nova look like?
Those fortunate enough to be looking at the night sky when the show starts may be disappointed. It won’t look as explosive as it really is. According to Dr. Elizabeth Hayes, project scientist for the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, someone looking at the sky when the event occurs won’t see anything right away.
“If they keep watching for the next 24 hours, they will see a faint star appear and gradually brighten,” Hayes told CNET. “Of course, someone on Earth will have their view interrupted as the Earth rotates.”
“The best time to look by eye will be about one day into the eruption,” Hayes said. “But the nova will be visible by eye for a few days.”
The cosmic light show is courtesy of T Coronae Borealis, also known as the Blaze Star or T CrB. It’s a binary star system comprising a white dwarf and an ancient red giant about 3,000 light years away from Earth in the Northern Crown of the Milky Way. It’s part of the Corona Borealis constellation that makes a distinctive “C” shape in the sky, primarily during the summer months.
The white dwarf, which is the dead remnant of a star, is about the size of Earth but has the same mass as the sun. Meanwhile, the aging red giant is a dying star that’s shedding material out into space. The white dwarf’s massive gravitational pull is hauling in the ejected material from the red giant. Once the white dwarf has accumulated enough material, the heat increases so much that it causes a runaway thermonuclear reaction. That explosion is called a nova.
The prior nova from this star system occurred in 1946. It’s a cycle that’s been going on since it was first discovered more than 800 years ago.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that will create a lot of new astronomers out there, giving young people a cosmic event they can observe for themselves, ask their own questions, and collect their own data,” said Rebekah Hounsell, an assistant research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “It’ll fuel the next generation of scientists.”
Where is Corona Borealis?
You likely aren’t as familiar with Corona Borealis as you are with constellations that are easier to spot, like the Big Dipper. It’s difficult to find in the night sky unless it’s clear. Light pollution from major cities can also make it more difficult to find.
NASA says the easiest way to find Corona Borealis is to find Vega and Arcturus, the two brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere. (Skygazing apps for your phone might help with this.) From there, you can essentially draw an imaginary line between the two. Corona Borealis is almost right in the middle. You can use the graphic below to see what we mean.
The nova will happen in the Corona Borealis constellation near the Hercules constellation and right between Vega and Arcturus.
NASA
Alternatively, you can also seek out the Hercules constellation and Corona Borealis will be right next to it. Remember that you can’t see the star in question until the nova pops, so if you look up in the sky before it happens, the spot where the nova will occur won’t be visible.
When will the T CrB nova occur?
Nobody knows for sure. Astronomers and scientists only know that the nova is due to erupt at any time. Most of them agree that the nova should take place anytime before about September, although it could take longer.
Since the nova could occur at any moment, NASA is relying on citizen astronomers and space enthusiasts to call it out when the nova happens.
“Using social media and email, (observers will) send out instant alerts,” said Elizabeth Hays, chief of the Astroparticle Physics Lab at NASA Goddard. “We’re counting on that global community interaction again with T CrB.”
Early detection can also help NASA collect more data about the event to better understand its mechanics.
“We’ll observe the nova event at its peak and through its decline, as the visible energy of the outburst fades,” Hounsell said. “But it’s equally critical to obtain data during the early rise to eruption — so the data collected by those avid citizen scientists on the lookout now for the nova will contribute dramatically to our findings.”
Do I need a telescope to see the nova?
No. NASA says the nova will be visible to the naked eye on a clear night. It’ll also be pretty bright, so it should be fairly noticeable. But as always, folks with telescopes and binoculars will have a better view.
People with high-powered telescopes will see the changes more definitively.
“A telescope that measures the optical spectrum would see something very different from the red giant spectrum,” said Hayes. They’ll see “nova eruptions emit spectral lines at specific wavelengths. These tell us about the elements in the explosion and how fast the blastwave travels away from the white dwarf.”
The nova won’t look like an explosion like you see in Michael Bay movies. It’ll simply look like another star in the sky that wasn’t there previously.
What’s the difference between a nova and a supernova?
Most people have heard of the term “supernova.” It’s the last dying gasp of a star as it goes dark. That last dying gasp, however, also happens to be the largest explosion ever witnessed by humans, as the star violently ejects material into space. Scientists believe that supernovas are responsible for elements heavier than iron in the universe. Weirdly enough, even the iron in your blood can be traced back to supernovas or similar cosmic explosions.
A nova, on the other hand, requires two stars. One star is always a white dwarf, while the other is usually a red giant.
There are other types of novas as well. Hypernovas are supernovas that achieve a certain size and brightness. Usually, they’re about 10 or more times brighter than a standard supernova. Another type, an extremely rare kilonova, occurs when two neutron stars collide, releasing an incredible gravitational wave along with electromagnetic radiation.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
There’s a subscription for everything nowadays, but some of them are really innovative. Good examples include subscription services for food or drink items or full meals, which have been game changers for those who love to try new variants of wine, meat and even tea. Tea can be a calming beverage for many, and there are certainly ways to make it more enjoyable with different varieties, which you can get delivered straight to your door. The best tea subscriptions offer a variety of teas: green, black, herbal and breakfast blends.
We’ve immersed ourselves in several top tea clubs to find the best ones you should try in 2024. We spent a lot of time trying all the tea clubs listed below to see what they do best. And if there’s a tea lover in your group, the tea subscriptions we recommend make great gifts; although be sure to plug in your recipient’s address and not your own.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
(More of a coffee drinker? We’ve tried the top coffee clubs, too.)
Best tea clubs and subscriptions for 2024
If you have an adventurous tea drinker on your shopping list, this is a loose-leaf tea monthly club to gift. My subscription contained several teas that made me say “Oooh, I wonder how that’ll be” or “I didn’t know you could make tea taste like that.” Most of them did work very well, including a creme brulee oolong and pumpkin spice black tea.
Subscribers to this loose tea service can choose from a mixed tea subscription box, a black tea box, a green tea box and an herbal tea box. A new fresh and fragrant unique tea will be delivered monthly, bimonthly or quarterly.
Each fresh tea box comes with a curated selection of teas (14 grams of each) packaged with information about each of the different teas and enclosed in resealable bags. The teas will vary based on the season and trending flavors. You will also get reusable cotton tea filters with the first monthly subscription.
Pricing: A subscription for three half-ounce samples starts at $18 a month for a full year of subscription paid annually.
Atlas lets you customize your subscription a bit more. When signing up for this tea subscription box, you’ll log whether you want pure teas, blended teas or a variety. You also choose if you’d like flavored and pure teas, herbal blends or all tea types.
Atlas lives up to its name with elegant teas from some of the best tea-producing regions in the world including many in the East like Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Nepal.
Just like the sister subscription Atlas Coffee Club, all these teas arrive with corresponding postcards that contain info about the region the tea hails from. I love that touch and can’t think of a more delightful thing to peruse while I’m sipping the stuff.
The baseline subscription for this service isn’t a massive amount of tea per delivery, so this is a perfect tea club for a moderate tea drinker or a tea lover who has a standard morning variety but likes to mix in a fun new herbal or oolong every once in a while.
Pricing: A subscription gives two teas per month (30 cups) and is $4 for the first shipment and $14 after. Sign-up is simple and you can cancel anytime.
Art of Tea has one of the more intense tea clubs to experience every tea type. To get a sense of your preferences, you can try the tea profile quiz where it collects information such as what time you drink tea, flavor likes and dislikes and how experienced you are with tea. At the end it will recommend teas based on your answers.
The Tea Club Subscription allows you to choose from six different tea subscription types: single origin, pyramid teabags, classics, caffeine-free, explore and wellness. You’ll also select either a three-month, six-month and 12-month plan.
Each monthly tea box contained just one type of tea. I got four ounces of a warm masala chai in my first box and it was heaven on a cool Sunday afternoon. Between two and four ounces of tea (or 12 teabags if you’ve selected pyramid sachets) will be shipped out with information to dive deeper into the wide world of tea. Teas are seasonally selected and you’ll get a new fresh tea or flavored teas each month.
Be aware that, depending on your tea club selection (single-origin, classic, tea bags), Art of Tea sends a different quantity of tea but the prices are the same. There’s also a sprawling shop of teas and tea-related products if you’re not a subscription person.
Pricing: A three-month subscription is $81, six months is $133 and a full year costs $254.
As if a warm cup of tea didn’t already make you feel good enough, how about supporting only small tea farmers in the process? Verdant Tea Club functions like a CSA with teas that are selected each month from a single farmer to highlight their family’s work.
My first delivery included a toasty oolong, green tea and two rich black teas (all loose leaf) along with brewing instructions for each one and colorful background information on that month’s small farm.
Pricing: Verdant Tea Club costs $35 per month, $99 for three months, $195 for six months or $385 for a year and will include anywhere from three to 10 teas totaling 75 grams (about 2.6 ounces). Those are likely to include hyper-seasonal teas and fresh, limited harvests, too.
The Republic of Tea is a sprawling market of teas with a subscription option, should you choose it. Sign up for the Tea of the Month Club and you’ll get 50 bags of a new tea every 30 days unless you get the assortment subscription. You can select the assorted tea subscription or all your teas in one category like black teas, herbal teas, wellness blends and more.
The big difference between this tea subscription service and most of the other tea subscription boxes is you can see the entire six or 12 months of tea deliveries ahead of time and decide beforehand if the assortment seems like one you’re interested in tasting. It also makes it the perfect gift subscription since you’ll know which teas are coming but your loved one will be surprised every month.
The tea from Republic of Tea is excellent but be aware that the subscription is a little more clunky and impersonal than the others. This is a good gift for the pragmatic tea drinker on your list.
Pricing: Six months of tea club deliveries is $109 and a full year is $190.
When it comes to Android phones, Google makes some of the best and most reliable, with multiple phones earning their rightful place on our list of favorite phones overall. Plenty of new hardware and specs were introduced during the 2024 Made by Google event, including the highly anticipated Pixel 9 lineup. The new phones incorporate advanced AI with Google’s Gemini software and have been equipped with upgraded cameras, among other advances.
Read more: Everything Google Announced at Its Made by Google Event
Google/CNET
The Pixel 9 lineup runs on Google’s Tensor G4 processor and Android 14, though Android 15 is expected to arrive soon. As for other specs, the premium Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch OLED display, a 5,060-mAh battery and is available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage, along with 16GB of RAM. If you’re looking at the base model instead, you’ll get a 6.3-inch OLED screen and a 4,700-mAh battery, as well as 12GB of RAM and the choice of either 128GB or 256GB of storage.
Watch this: What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
How much does the Pixel 9 series cost?
Pricing on the new models varies, with the base Pixel 9 listing at $799, the Pixel 9 Pro retailing for $999 and the premium Pixel 9 Pro XL selling for $1,099. There is also a newly designed Pixel 9 Pro Fold that you can preorder if you prefer a foldable model.
If you’re ready to upgrade, there’s no need to wait. Preorder deals are here at multiple retailers and carriers, helping you save on the latest flagship devices. We’ve listed the best below. Additionally, you should start seeing pretty significant Pixel deals on older models now that the newest edition is on the horizon, which could be another great option for budget-conscious buyers.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 9 Pro.
Google
Best unlocked Pixel 9 deals
Right now you’ll get $100 in Google Store credit when you buy Pixel 9 directly from Google or $200 when you buy the Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL. If you opt for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you’ll get a whopping $350 in Google Store credit. (You will need a Google Pay profile in order to receive the credit.) And if you don’t mind parting with your current phone, you can also receive up to $760 in trade-in credit for eligible devices.
Another perk you’ll get when you preorder your new Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a year of Gemini Advanced for free, a value of $240. You’ll also get a year of Google One AI Premium, six months of Fitbit Premium and three months of YouTube Premium with your purchase of the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold. If you opt for the base Pixel 9, you’ll still get six months of Google One Premium (2TB) and Fitbit Premium, as well as three months of YouTube Premium.
Those who join Google Fi Wireless can get an extra $500 back on your new Pixel phone, which will be delivered via 24 monthly bill credits.
If you upgrade with a carrier via the Google Store, there are some deals to be had, too. With Verizon, you can get up to $800 off the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro XL with an eligible trade-in.
While there are no direct discounts on the updated Pixel 9 lineup, right now when you preorder your Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro XL from Best Buy the retailer will throw in a gift card to be used on a future purchase. The base model Pixel 9 will score you a gift card worth $100, while the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL will score you a $200 gift card. For those that go for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you’ll get a free $350 gift card with your purchase. You’ll also get three months of Google One 100GB storage if you’re a new subscriber.
And if you’re willing to part with an older device, you can get up to $1,099 in trade-in savings through Best Buy’s own trade-in program, though most phones will bring in significantly less than that, so be sure to check your particular model to get a better idea of how much credit you can expect.
Amazon is offering a $100 gift card with preorders of the Pixel 9 or a $200 gift card with preorders of the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL while supplies last.
There is also an option for a $350 gift card with the purchase of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but it is currently unavailable. We’ll be watching to see if and when the retailer brings this offer back online.
Right now at Target you can get a $100 gift card with your purchase of the base Google Pixel 9 or a $200 gift card when you purchase a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. You can also grab the Pixel 9 Pro, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set to be available soon. However, those two models do not come with a bonus gift card.
Read more: Inside Google’s Secret Camera Lab That’s Like an Ikea for Pixel Testing
Best Pixel 9 deals with a carrier
If you preorder from AT&T you can score double the storage on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL between now and Aug. 21. You’ll also be able to score the 9 Pro or the 9 Pro XL for free with an eligible Pixel phone trade-in. AT&T is accepting Pixel phones from any year in any condition.
You can get double the storage for free at Verizon when you preorder the Pixel 9 or the Pixel 9 Pro XL. And right now at Verizon you can also get up to $900 off a new Pixel 9 series phone with a qualified trade-in and a new line. That will essentially score you the base Pixel 9 for free. In terms of qualifying for the trade-in credit, Verizon is accepting phones in any condition, but you will need to have the Unlimited Ultimate plan.
No phone to trade? No problem. You can save $620 on the Pixel 9, $640 on the Pixel 9 Pro and $660 on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL with a new line, no trade-in required.
You can get up to $1,000 off with a new line on the Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plans, or score the same deal when trading in an eligible device on those plans. Whichever way you choose, that gets you the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro XL for free. Other offers include saving up to $600 on other qualifying plans or up to $500 in trade-in credit when you trade in an eligible device on a GoG5, Magenta or One plan.
You can also get double the storage for free when you preorder the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro XL from T-Mobile. Be aware, this offer ends Aug. 21 and applies only to phones in the obsidian color.
Right now Xfinity has a lot of great preorder deals on the Pixel 9 lineup. You can save $800 on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold when you trade in an eligible device. No device to trade? No worries. You can still get $500 off each of these phones.
Right now, Visible has a teaser on its site saying that you will soon be able to save $240 on your new Google phone. Simply grab the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold once stock arrives and then use promo code GOOGLE at checkout to score the discount. Both new and existing members will be able to take advantage of this deal.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
Smart home gyms can be expensive. Keep in mind how much you’re willing to invest.
Consider the space you have to mount a smart home gym.
Consider all the functions offered by the smart home gym like classes and interchangeable accessories.
Most smart home gyms come with a monthly membership. Consider the cost of this and how many users can sign up.
Home gym equipment, more specifically smart home gym equipment, has come a long way. So, if you’re working out at home and are looking for a way to amp up your fitness routine, there are quite a few great options to consider. And the best part is that smart home gyms can be used by everyone, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced exerciser.
Smart home gym systems offer a wide variety of workout options, from virtual classes to AI personal training, which can be a great way to bring something new into the mix. And as someone who’s tested fitness equipment for years, I set out to find the very best smart home gyms to invest in, and here’s the rundown. There’s something for everyone, no matter your workout style or budget.
What is the best overall smart home gym?
Our roundup includes the best pieces of equipment across various categories: mirrors, bikes, rowing machines, treadmills and the like. These aren’t comparable and there is no winner, but every product listed is the best in its category based on my expertise and rigorous testing.
Best Smart Home Gyms for 2024
The Tempo Studio is a smart home gym that resembles an armoire, meant to blend in with your home. It’s an ideal smart home gym to own whether you’re new or experienced with strength training. The Tempo Studio’s basic package comes well-equipped with two dumbbell bars, weight collars and five sets of weight plates from 1.25 to 25 pounds. You have the option to upgrade your package to the Tempo Studio Plus or Tempo Studio Pro, which includes additional weights and accessories like a bench and a barbell. The Tempo Studio is designed to hold all of its equipment neatly so you won’t need to worry about it being spread across your living room floor. The top part of the studio consists of the touchscreen, while the bottom part has a cabinet that stows the weight plates out of sight. The back of the Tempo Studio has slot-like compartments that hold the barbell and dumbbell bars securely and safely in place.
I recommend making sure you have room for the Tempo Studio before purchasing because the stand itself is large and you need an additional 6 feet of space in front of the screen so your body can be detected during a workout. The Tempo Studio memberships start at $140 (including a $101 equipment fee) a month with a 12-month commitment. After 12 months, the equipment is yours to keep and the monthly cost is $39 for the training subscription. It lets you create up to six profiles, so everyone in your home can use it. Tempo also has an app that you can download (available for iOS and Android) and use while you’re traveling.
There are various live and on-demand classes you can choose from, including HIIT, bodyweight strength, bodyweight cardio, weightlifting, yoga, boxing, stretching and meditation. Additionally, you can customize your workout experience by creating a program based on how many days a week you want to work out and for how long, and you can split them up by body part and rest days. If you want to exercise without personalization, you can still filter the collection of workouts by activity, modifications needed (for example: lower-back friendly, pregnancy-safe), the coach, equipment and more.
What makes the Tempo Studio stand out as ideal for strength training is that it uses artificial intelligence with 3D sensors to provide feedback on your form and movement during class. It can also count your reps and detect the dumbbell weights you’re using. Using the Tempo Studio, I was impressed by the feedback it gave me while doing a leg workout. Although it can be challenging to stay within the 6-foot parameters of the screen, the device can detect your movement and tell you if your form needs improvement or if it’s on par. It can also read the weights you’re using and provides recommendations based on whether you should go heavier or lighter next time. It functions like a personal trainer and is helpful if you’re new to strength training or want reinforcement on your form with certain exercises.
The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is our pick for the best smart treadmill. This treadmill is large, but its size makes it versatile for tall and short individuals. The good news is it does fold up so you can prop up the belt when it’s not in use. It has a 22-inch HD touchscreen that tilts and pivots so you can adjust it for different uses, like if you want to take a workout class on the floor.
Like all NordicTrack equipment, you will need an iFit membership that costs $39 a month for a family plan or $15 a month for an individual plan. You’ll have access to live and on-demand classes (also available in the iFit app), so you can enjoy a variety of workouts on and off the treadmill. The treadmill uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you can connect headphones, a smartwatch or a heart rate monitor.
This treadmill has the ability to incline from zero to 15% and decline up to -3%. Both runners and walkers can enjoy this treadmill since the speed goes from zero to 12 miles per hour. If you like interval training, the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 also has quick-touch control buttons on the console, which makes it easier to adjust your speed.
One of iFit’s stand-out features is that you can create your own trail using Google Maps to exercise anywhere in the world. Also impressive is NordicTrack’s AutoAdjust technology, which allows an iFit virtual instructor to adjust your incline and speed during class. You could be running or walking in the jungle and you’ll notice the treadmill adjust to replicate that terrain. The same applies when you run on your own and choose your own location on Google Maps. This hands-free option lets you focus on the class without having to fuss with any buttons. It’s also a good way for runners who need to train for a race to get the outdoor feel indoors.
The Tonal is a popular strength training smart home gym that’s been advertised everywhere, with endorsements by athletes like Lebron James and Serena Williams. While the Tempo Studio is excellent for people beginning to strength train, the Tonal is our pick for those who are well-versed and want to take things up a notch.
When we tested this smart home gym, we loved its sleek look and were impressed by the hardware. It resembles a cable machine combined with a touchscreen TV and is intended to replace your dumbbells, barbells and weight plates while saving space in your home. It has 13 different sensors to track your form and technique, while the smart handles and bar accessories (an optional additional $495) have a gyroscope motion sensor that keeps track of your reps. Tonal uses up to 200 pounds of total resistance and calibrates your weights for different exercises based on your initial fitness assessment. Before you start a workout, Tonal can also tell which muscle groups are fatigued the day of your workout and make sure to work around it. For example, if Tonal knows you worked out your legs yesterday, it may suggest an upper body workout today so your legs can properly recover.
Tonal offers thousands of on-demand and live workouts for beginners to advanced athletes. It even has five dynamic weight modes that make your workout harder: Spotter, Burnout, Chains, Eccentric and Smart Flex. These modes challenge your workouts the way a personal trainer would in person, either by acting as a spotter, increasing your weight, focusing on high reps or changing up the focus from the eccentric to concentric part of the move and even making you lift till failure. If you don’t want to take a class, you can use the Tonal on its own and customize your own workout while still receiving the same feedback you would in class. You can also connect your Amazon Music or Apple Music account and listen to your own music during your workout. Although it is the most expensive smart home gym on this list, it’s worth owning one if you’re experienced with strength training and want that extra challenge in the comfort of your home without needing to go to the gym.
Last year Peloton unveiled the first smart rowing machine that teaches you how to row and corrects your form. Although the price tag is steep ($2,995), the Peloton Row stands by its promise that it will make you a better rower. This machine is large, so you will need to make sure that you have room for it in your home. The good thing about this is that it’s appropriate for people of all heights and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. The Peloton Row 24-inch HD Touchscreen easily rotates for those times you want to work out on the floor while using your All-Access Peloton membership (an additional $44 a month).
The Peloton Row provides a unique rowing experience that you won’t get with other rowing machines. This rowing machine has sensors that detect the position of the handle and seat. The sensors help when calibrating your rowing form, which is important when taking a class since it ties into the Form Assist feature. Form Assist provides real-time feedback on your form using the sensors from the calibration process. During class, an image of a digital person on a rowing machine shows up on the screen and moves in sync with you.
If your form is off, Form Assist alerts you by highlighting a specific body part in red where the stroke needs correction. You’ll be able to see your form rating score at the end of class, which tells you how well you rowed as well as where you made errors and tips on how to correct it. When I tried the Peloton Row, it made me more aware of my rowing form and improved it thanks to Form Assist. If it’s in your budget and you’re serious about rowing, you can’t go wrong with purchasing a Peloton Row.
The Peloton Bike took the pandemic by storm and soon many people found the smart exercise bike in their living rooms. CNET’s Russell Holly tested various exercise bikes and named the Peloton Bike the most popular bike for a reason. The sleek signature look of the Peloton Bike is appealing because it looks like a sophisticated piece of equipment in the middle of your living room. It offers plenty of live and on-demand classes with its All-Access membership and lets you create up to 20 user profiles.
The Peloton requires clip-on shoes, which normally cost extra unless you upgrade to a more expensive package. The Peloton community is also what keeps its name relevant as its members are supportive on and off the bike. Holly says, “Even if you’re not in one of the live classes, which run frequently through the Peloton app, your performance is shown in real time alongside others who’ve taken the class.” While in a live class, you may get an encouraging high five from another member through the leaderboard, and offline you can connect with your favorite instructors via social media. The Peloton Bike is ideal for those who want a classic smart exercise bike that provides an immersive group fitness experience.
Ellipticals may seem like a standard piece of exercise equipment, but it all depends on the features and look. The NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 offers a 14-inch touchscreen as well as auto-adjust capabilities, adjustable stride length and oversized cushion pedals. It’s a large machine, so you’ll not only need enough space in your home to hold it but also enough space overhead as well. This elliptical combines a heavy flywheel with magnetic resistance to give you a challenging workout. Despite its heavy-duty qualities, it provides a quiet and smooth ride.
Just like the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 treadmill, this NordicTrack elliptical functions best with an iFIT membership. It also has Bluetooth connectivity so you can pair your smartwatch or heart rate monitor. The NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 auto-adjust feature control allows the instructor to adjust your incline during a simulated workout. Similar to the NordicTrackCommercial 2450, you’re able to virtually train from just about anywhere in the world thanks to Google Maps, which creates a more immersive experience.
You also have the option to use the machine manually on those days when you prefer not to take a class. If you’re looking for a smart elliptical that can give you an experience like no other, then the NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 is a solid pick.
Note: In December 2023 Lululemon Studio Mirror started a partnership with Peloton and discontinued selling the Mirror. Previous Mirror owners can still use the device and will have access to the Lululemon Studio classes as well as the Peloton resources.
The Lululemon Studio Mirror is ideal for those who enjoy the hybrid approach to fitness. The smart fitness mirror gives you access to popular boutique fitness classes that you can enjoy inside your home as well as in the studio. Because it’s a smart mirror, it is easy to set up and blends into any room in your home. You have the option of mounting it or leaning it against the wall. If you choose the latter, it’s still recommended to anchor it to your wall for extra security. The Lululemon Studio Mirror is not a touchscreen and is instead controlled by its app which is easy to set up on your iOS or Android smartphone.
The Lululemon Studio Mirror’s classes are powered through the included Lululemon Studio membership. For $39 a month, your membership will give you access to thousands of popular fitness studios including Rumble, Dogpound, Aarmy, Y7 Studio, AKT, Pure Barre, Yoga Six and Forward_Space. Along with your membership, you’ll be able to attend discounted classes at the studio locations and receive 10% off Lululemon products as well as discounts when you attend in-person Lululemon Studio partner classes. There are plenty of beginner, intermediate and advanced classes including boxing, strength training, pre and post-natal and pilates classes to fit your fitness level. Lululemon Studio also includes Time Saver class options which are shorter classes lasting from 5 to 15 minutes. New classes drop every week so your workout collection stays fresh.
Other fun features include a two-way audio and video camera which is helpful during live classes if you’re looking for form feedback from the instructor or if you opt to take personal training classes (for an additional fee). You can also connect with the Lululemon Studio Mirror community during live classes via a community stream and get friends who own one to get in on some friendly competition. If you want to listen to your own music, you can connect your Apple Music account or choose music built into the Lululemon Studio app.
The Lululemon Studio Mirror is a great home gym pick if you love the camaraderie of group fitness training and want a diverse set of class options.
Pros:
Installation is easy
Blends into any room
The app is easy to use
Perks at participating partner fitness studios and discounts at Lululemon
Cons:
No touchscreen
Personal training costs extra
Only connects to one third-party music app
Lululemon Studio membership is a separate cost
Each smart home gym is tested differently based on its category since no two are alike. We narrowed down the best smart home gyms based on each of their respective categories. These include treadmills, ellipticals and mirror gyms, all of which have been tested by various CNET editors over the years.
Budget: Smart home gyms tend to be expensive and can easily cost a minimum of $1,000. Therefore it’s an investment you want to make sure is going to be worth it for your home and exercise preferences. Consider how much you’re willing to spend and what’s included in that price.
Space: Many smart home gyms are relatively large pieces of equipment. Before purchasing one, make sure you have enough room to set it up and move around it. For example, if you’re purchasing a machine such as a treadmill, it’s ideal to look for one that folds for easier storage. Whereas if you are purchasing a smart fitness mirror you’ll want to make sure that wherever you mount it there’s still room to exercise in front of it.
Versatility: Smart home gyms usually offer more than one function. If you’re buying a smart home gym, make sure it also offers a variety of classes so you can build a well-rounded workout. If you want personal training, make sure the smart home gym offers it as an option.
Membership: Since smart home gyms typically replace a gym membership, you’ll want to make sure that the membership provided will allow multiple user profiles so your whole family can use it.
Since the types of smart home gyms that exist vary across the board, there aren’t best practices that apply to all of the ones on this list. Instead, there are some key things to keep in mind–particularly for treadmills, ellipticals and rowing machines.
Best treadmill practices: Make sure to get clearance from your doctor first if you are pregnant, have been sick or recovering from an injury or surgery. Your treadmill workout should consist of a five to 10-minute warm-up, pace yourself and don’t run too fast too soon, avoid holding on to the handrails and keep your arms by your side, but use them so you’re a more efficient runner. Focus on running tall and light and relaxed to avoid any unnecessary tension.
Best rowing machine practices: Learn the importance of the setup which is broken up into four parts known as the catch, drive, finish and recovery. If you’re really interested in getting into rowing, it’s recommended to learn the right technique from an expert.
Best elliptical practices: Make sure to stand tall, keep your core engaged, and avoid slouching. Hold onto the handles and keep your feet flat and sturdy on the pedals when you pedal forward.
Which smart fitness mirror is best for a home gym?
This depends on what you’re looking for in a smart fitness mirror. Most offer a variety of classes that are updated regularly but have a different purpose. Some focus on perfecting the artificial intelligence aspect of it to give you form feedback, while others prefer to concentrate on personal training or high-quality group fitness classes. The smart fitness mirror you choose will also depend on your preference, budget and space availability.
Owning a smart home gym can make it easier for you to stay active since you have a full gym at home.You can also share the experience with other family members looking to get fit.
Your smart home gym or smart fitness mirror will come with instructions on how to maintain and care for it. Some only recommend using microfiber or cleaning cloths to keep it clean and dust-free. Never use cleaning products that have not been approved by the manufacturer.
Protein is essential for helping our bodies function. It assists with regulating hormones and transporting molecules, but it also acts as an enzyme for chemical reactions and more. For the average person, a general goal is to eat about 100 grams of protein daily. However, the amount of protein you should consume changes based on how active you are, among other factors.
To help you achieve your daily needs, this visual guide shows what 100 grams of protein looks like, whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian or omnivore diet.
The grams were calculated by taking the information from the nutrition facts label on packaged items and weighing them when necessary. The gram amounts listed in this guide are specific to the products used for this experiment, so your numbers may vary if you look at a different brand for the following products.
What 100 grams of protein looks like for omnivores
Amanda Capritto/CNET
Eating 100 grams of protein per day should be pretty easy if you don’t have any dietary restrictions. Here’s one way to do it:
Two eggs (12 grams)
Snack cheese (5 grams)
Greek yogurt (15 grams)
Beef sausage (14 grams)
One can of tuna (27 grams)
½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams)
2 ounces of deli ham (10 grams)
1 ounce of mixed nuts (5 grams)
Two slices of rye bread (10 grams)
Everything pictured above comes to 103 grams, which puts you slightly over the goal of 100 grams.
What 100 grams of animal protein looks like
Amanda Capritto/CNET
As you can see, getting 100 grams of protein from animal products doesn’t take much:
Four eggs (24 grams)
One can of tuna (27 grams)
Three beef meatballs (15 grams)
2 ounces of turkey bacon (10 grams)
3 ounces of turkey breast (24 grams)
This amounts to a perfect 100 grams of protein. If you ate all of this in a day, plus bread and other nonanimal products, you would easily surpass 100 grams of protein in a day.
What 100 grams of protein looks like for vegetarians
Amanda Capritto/CNET
For vegetarians, 100 grams of protein might look like this:
Four eggs (24 grams)
½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams)
Two snack cheeses (10 grams)
¼ cup of protein granola (10 grams)
A single-serve Greek yogurt (15 grams)
One tablespoon of hemp seeds (4 grams)
Two tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams)
One scoop of plant-based protein powder (20 grams)
This actually comes out to 99 grams of protein, which is pretty close and still a great number to hit for a day.
What 100 grams of protein looks like for vegans
Amanda Capritto/CNET
What you see isn’t totally what you get with the amount of protein here:
1 ounce of nuts (5 grams)
½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams)
A protein granola bar (8 grams)
Two slices of rye bread (10 grams)
¼ cup of protein granola (10 grams)
One tablespoon of hemp seeds (4 grams)
Two tablespoons of chia seeds (10 grams)
Two tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams)
One scoop of plant-based protein powder (20 grams)
This amounts to 79 grams of protein. If we double up on the mixed nuts, chia seeds and hemp seeds, this brings us to 93 grams of protein. You could add an extra tablespoon of peanut butter or eat a full cup of oats, instead of half a cup, to come closer to 100 grams.
This plate also excludes high-protein vegan meat substitutes, such as tofu, tempeh or plant-based meats like the Impossible Burger. Those food sources can make it easier to get 100 grams of protein for someone who eats a vegan diet.
Got the Sunday scaries? You’re not alone. Achieving happiness is a goal for just about everyone (and not just on Sunday evenings). Whether it’s therapy, exercise or meditation, we all want to bring more peace and joy into our lives. When we think about what makes us happy, our diet isn’t usually at the top of the list (unless your favorite fast-food joint brings joy to mind).
What we eat can play a role in how we feel. Studies linking nutrition and mental well-being have emerged in the past decade, and certain foods are associated with increased serotonin in our brains. Serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone,” is a chemical that plays an important role in regulating our mood. Low serotonin levels can cause mood instability.
For more mental health resources, try these simple ways to improve your mental health without therapy, and check out our list of ways to manage anxiety without medication.
Read more: Best Mental Health Apps
8 foods to boost your happiness
Here are our favorite foods for a lift.
1. Dark chocolate
You know the typical scene in movies where a girl sits on her couch in sweats, eating a tub of chocolate ice cream. Turns out Hollywood was on to something. A systematic review found that dark chocolate can positively affect one’s mood. There are three main components found in chocolate that are associated with the feeling of happiness: tryptophan, theobromine and phenylethylalanine. Tryptophan is an amino acid the brain uses to produce serotonin. Theobromine is a weak stimulant that can improve your mood. Meanwhile, phenylethylalanine is another amino acid used by the body to produce dopamine, which acts as an antidepressant.
2. Bananas
If there were ever such a thing as “good mood food,” bananas are probably it, but maybe not in the way you think they are. Although bananas contain serotonin, it is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (think of the BBB as a wall that filters what can and cannot enter our bloodstream and make its way to our brains). Bananas can play a crucial role in regulating your mood in a more indirect way. Your body needs vitamin B6 to create serotonin, and bananas are especially rich in this nutrient. A single medium-size banana contains up to 0.4 mg of vitamin B6, which accounts for roughly 25% of the daily recommended intake.
Read more: Painting Your Walls These Colors Can Help You Feel Happier
3. Coconut
If you’ve got the winter blues and are dreaming of warmer days, coconut may transport your taste buds and mood to a tropical state of mind. Coconut is loaded with medium-chain triglycerides, which can help boost your energy. Another reason coconut is considered mood food is that a 2017 animal study found that MCTs from coconut milk may reduce anxiety. More research is needed to fully understand the link between anxiety and coconut in humans.
4. Coffee
This one is for the 1 billion coffee drinkers in the world. Now you can justify your coffee intake (in moderation, of course) since coffee is making the world a happier place, one sip at a time. A 2016 meta-analysis concluded that coffee consumption is significantly associated with decreased risk of depression. Another small study concluded that coffee — both caffeinated and decaffeinated — significantly improved the subjects’ mood compared to those who ingested a placebo drink.
Getty Images
5. Avocado
Other generations may say that avocado toast is to blame for millennials not owning houses, but one thing is for sure — avocados are making us happier. This smooth and creamy fruit is packed with nutrients including choline, which your body uses to regulate your nervous system and mood. A 2020 study found that the healthy fats in avocados are associated with decreased anxiety in women. Another great reason to consume more avocados is that they’re rich in vitamin B, which has been linked to lower stress levels.
6. Berries
Did you know that consuming more fruit is also associated with better mental health? A 2016 meta-analysis found that fruit and vegetable intake was highly associated with improved mental health. Berries, in particular, are rich in antioxidants, also known as flavonoids, which may reduce depression symptoms. Another study where subjects were given blueberry juice showed promising results that linked blueberry intake with slower cognitive decline that’s associated with aging.
7. Fermented foods
Foods that go through a fermentation process like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha and yogurt help you maintain a healthy gut and may also help improve your mood. The fermentation process creates probiotics, which in turn, support healthy bacteria in your gut. Now, what does your gut have to do with your mood? A lot. Up to 90% of serotonin produced by your body is created from gut cells. Eating fermented foods promotes better serotonin production.
Readmore: The 8 Biggest Anxiety Myths Out There Right Now
8. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are packed with Vitamin D, which has been linked to antidepressant qualities and may boost your mood. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you’re in luck, since mushrooms are the only non-animal-derived food source with a substantial amount of Vitamin D that’s bioavailable (the body can easily absorb it). To get the most Vitamin D benefit from mushrooms, expose them to sunlight for a few hours before cooking.
Too long, didn’t read?
When you’re not feeling your best self, your first instinct may be to reach for the pack of cookies. While these may give you some satisfaction, they’re unlikely to help your mental health in the long run. Instead, opt for nutrient-rich foods like the ones on this list to give you a happiness boost.
Charles Town, West Virginia, is just a 64-mile drive west of Washington, DC. While it may not enjoy the same fast lifestyle as the nation’s capital, it has some fast internet. Fiber, even. If you live in the eastern corner of West Virginia, you can choose between multiple internet providers that make streaming and gaming easy.
According to the latest Ookla data, West Virginia ranks 43rd in the nation regarding internet speeds. As a state, its median download speed is just over 171 megabits per second. That being said, Charles Town is above average. Multiple plans promise at least 1 gigabit per second download speed.
What is the best internet provider in Charles Town?
For a small town, Charles Town delivers impressive high-speed internet and many plans. The best provider for our money is Xfinity, which promises fast speeds without an astronomical price.
Internet options in Charles Town range from satellite to fiber. The most recent Federal Communications Commission data put Comcast’s Xfinity internet service close to the top of the leaderboard when it comes to residential coverage in Charles Town. However, you’ll also find good speed from Shentel and Frontier. Today, Frontier’s fiber plan is the fastest. The best internet plan for you will depend on your budget and how you use the internet.
Internet providers in Charles Town overview
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Frontier Read full review
DSL/fiber
$30-$130
200-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
6.3
Hughesnet Read full review
Satellite
$50-$65
50-100Mbps
$15
None
24 months
6
Shentel
Cable
$70-$205
150Mbps-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
N/A
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$50-$70
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Viasat Read full review
Satellite
$70-$300
12-150Mbps
$15
None
24 months
6.1
Xfinity Read full review
Cable
$20-$120
150Mbps-2,000Mbps
$15 (optional)
None
None
7
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
All available Charles Town residential internet providers
Other internet service providers in Charles Town exist besides Xfinity, Frontier and T-Mobile. Depending on your budget or speed requirements, you may also want to consider one of the following companies.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Hughesnet: HughesNet is another satellite internet provider in Charles Town. Plans start at $50 per month for 50Mbps speed. More expensive plans don’t offer faster download speeds but do offer more data usage before you slow down.
Shentel: This company has speeds up to 1Gbps at $205 per month, but you can also get 150Mbps speeds for $70 per month if Shentel is available at your address. The company covers about 58% of Charles Town as of early 2024.
Viasat: Viasat offers satellite internet, which may be right for rural customers who are not within range of other providers. Plans start at $70 per month.
L. Toshio Kishiyama/Getty Images
Pricing info on Charles Town home internet service
You can expect to pay at least $50 per month for internet in Charles Town, though the fastest plans go for well over $100 monthly. A more expensive plan is often worth it if you have multiple users or want to play video games.
Cheap internet options in the Charles Town metro area
With Xfinity offering a plan at just $20 per month, you can get quality service at a low price in Charles Town. T-Mobile and HughesNet also come in at under $60 per month, but T-Mobile requires no contract and has no additional equipment fee.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Charles Town?
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How fast is internet service in Charles Town?
Charles Town has surprisingly fast speeds for West Virginia, where the median download speed for the state is approximately 149Mbps. Fiber options in this part of the state are the best way to guarantee that you’ll enjoy fast downloads and uninterrupted streaming.
Frontier and Xfinity have the fastest plans in Charles Town. Frontier has two multigig internet plans, and the provider also throws in a free router.
What are the fastest internet plans in Charles Town?
Provider
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Starting price
Data cap
Contract
Frontier Fiber 5 Gig Read full review
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
$130
None
None
Frontier Fiber 2 Gig Read full review
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
$100
None
None
Frontier Fiber 1 Gig Read full review
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
$65
None
None
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review
2,000Mbps
200Mbps
$120
None
None
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review
1,200Mbps
200Mbps
$80
None
None
Shentel
1,000Mbps
10Mbps
$205
3.25TB
None
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Charles Town
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Charles Town?
If you need fast internet in Charles Town, look no further than Frontier plans. If price is top of mind, the cheapest Xfinity plan will leave a budget for streaming platforms. It’s worth noting that while 5Gbps plans are impressive, most casual internet users won’t require that type of speed to be satisfied with their service.
Internet providers in Charles Town FAQs
Is fiber internet available in Charles Town?
Yes. Internet provider Frontier offers fiber internet in Charles Town.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Charles Town?
Xfinity offers the cheapest plan in Charles Town, with a $20 monthly price tag for 150Mpbs speed. This plan is recommended for use in households that only need support for about five devices at once, depending on your activity.
Verizon Fios and Optimum are closely matched in Yonkers, but Verizon Fios stands out as the best internet service provider overall due to its local fiber internet coverage, stable pricing and high customer satisfaction. Verizon Fios is also known for its bonus offers that frequently feature gift cards, streaming service subscriptions or other freebies just for signing up.
As for Optimum, the provider offers fiber and cable internet service in Yonkers. Available speeds will vary according to which connection type is available at your address. Where fiber service is available, Optimum offers the fastest plan in Yonkers, with multigigabit speeds up to 8,000 megabits (8 gigs) per second. Regardless of the available service type, cable or fiber, Optimum will likely have the cheapest internet, with service starting at $45 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps ($40 with Auto Pay). Verizon Fios charges $60 for the 300Mbps plan, but that can drop to $35 with an eligible mobile plan and Auto Pay offers.
If you’re looking for alternatives to Verizon Fios and Optimum, fixed wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet may also be available. Verizon has a slightly lower starting price and faster max speeds, but T-Mobile Home Internet currently has far greater availability in Yonkers.
Best internet in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York, internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
Optimum Read full review
Cable, fiber
$45-$285
300-940Mbps cable, 300-8,000Mbps fiber
None
None
None
6.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$55-$75 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60-$80 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans)
50-1,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.2
Verizon Fios Read full review
Fiber
$60-$120
300-2,300Mbps
None
None
None
7.6
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Yonkers?
Plan
Starting price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Optimum 300 Read full review
$45
300Mbps
None
Verizon Fios 300 Read full review
$60
300Mbps
None
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)
300Mbps
None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$55 ($40 with eligible mobile plans)
245Mbps
None
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Getty Images
How to find internet deals and promotions in Yonkers
The best internet deals and top promotions in Yonkers depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Yonkers internet providers, such as Verizon Fios and Optimum may run gift card or streaming service promotions for new customers. Others, including Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing and deals year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Yonkers
Plan
Starting price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Optimum 8 Gig Read full review
$285
8,000Mbps
8,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Optimum 5 Gig Read full review
$185
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Verizon Fios 2 Gig Read full review
$120
2,300Mbps
2,300Mbps
None
Fiber
Optimum 2 Gig Read full review
$125
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review
$75 ($45 with eligible mobile plans)
1,000Mbps
75Mbps
None
Fixed wireless
Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read full review
$100
940Mbps
880Mbps
None
Fiber
Optimum Gig Read full review
$85
940Mbps
50Mbps cable, 940Mbps fiber
None
Cable, fiber
Show more (2 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Yonkers
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Yonkers internet providers FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Yonkers?
Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Yonkers, though Optimum is a close second. Verizon Fios uses a 100% fiber-optic network, whereas Optimum relies on a cable network, with slower upload speeds, in select areas. Customers will also likely get a better price guarantee with Verizon Fios than Optimum. Finally, Verizon Fios outscored Optimum in customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index in 2023.
Is fiber internet available in Yonkers?
According to recent FCC data, fiber internet is available to more than 80% of Yonkers households. Serviceability is spottiest in the Ludlow, Greystone, Beech Hill and Colonial Heights communities, but fiber internet may be available wherever you are or are moving to in Yonkers. Verizon Fios is the largest fiber internet provider in Yonkers, but Optimum also has a decent fiber presence in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Yonkers?
Optimum has the lowest introductory rate on home internet in Yonkers at $40 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps. Optimum’s 500Mbps plan is also priced lower initially than Verizon Fios at $60 per month versus $75 with Verizon. However, after the introductory pricing period ends, Optimum rates may increase by up to $30 depending on your plan, making Verizon Fios the potentially cheaper provider long-term.
Which internet provider in Yonkers offers the fastest plan?
Optimum offers the fastest internet plan in Yonkers with symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 8,000Mbps starting at $285 per month. In areas where fiber service is unavailable, Optimum offers max speeds of up to 940Mbps down and 50Mbps. The fastest internet plan from Verizon Fios in Yonkers advertises max upload and download speeds of 2,300Mbps starting at $120 per month.
An irreverent, very non-Disney Mickey Mouse video game, previously known only as Mouse, has been retitled Mouse P.I. for Hire, and now has a gameplay trailer that highlights its unique visuals and soundtrack. Its developers, Poland-based Fumi Games and Australian publisher PlaySide Studios Limited, plan to release the game in 2025.
It might not be a tough sell. With its jazz soundtrack and Steamboat Willie-style visuals, seen in the trailer posted by IGN earlier Friday, the game clearly vibes with the popular indie hit Cuphead. But while Cuphead was a side-scrolling platformer, Mouse P.I. for Hire appears to be a violent (cartoon violent, but still) first-person shooter with a variety of deadly weapons and a Popeye-inspired canned spinach power up.
The game is reminiscent of Mickey Mouse’s earliest incarnation, and that’s no accident. The copyright on the character from the Steamboat Willie short entered the public domain earlier this year. Irreverent, genre-shifted takes on iconic characters that age out of copyright are something of a meme; Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a violent horror movie featuring A. A. Milne’s bear of very little brain, was released last year.
The official game description promises a story about a private detective “navigating a noir city teeming with gangs, mobs, and characters from the dark side.”
You can wishlist the game on Steam, where it still appears under its original title Mouse. So far, only a PC version has been announced, though it wouldn’t be surprising if the game showed up on game consoles next year.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
A smart plug lets you turn regular lights and appliances into smart devices, making it possible for you to control your outdoor lights and other appliances remotely. And as your backyard events continue — and become more grand — having to monitor what’s left on or plugged in can constantly become a hassle. This is when the convenience of a smart plug will shine.
The best smart plugs will keep your devices safe and also come with advanced features that bring in a lot of convenience. We’re talking about the ability to run custom schedules automatically and use commands with voice assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant to control your outdoor devices.
While you’re on your hunt, remember that there are a lot of smart plugs designed for indoor use out there, but outdoor smart plugs are designed to be weather-resistant.
Outdoor smart plugs are great to plug in your summer patio lights, bug zappers, outdoor speakers and more without having to hunt for the switch every time. So, whether you have Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri in your home, there’s a smart plug out there that will work for you.
What to consider
There are few things you’ll need to decide when shopping for an outdoor smart plug. Which voice assistant do you use? How many outlets do you want? Some models just have one outlet and some have two. With these questions answered, you’ll be on your way to picking the plug that works best for your setup.
TP-Link’s Kasa app is easy to use and Kasa devices are quick to set up. The Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug offers two outlets that can be controlled individually, and is rated to operate in temperatures from minus 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You can choose from voice commands, schedules, timers, scenes or sunrise/sunset modes, as well as an Away feature that randomizes powering outlets on and off.
Kasa products work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, so you’ll be able to ask your voice assistant of choice to turn on your lighting. At less than $30, it’s a reasonably priced smart plug for your outdoor space. Read our TP-Link Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug review.
If you’re looking for a single outlet option, Braumm’s model works with Google Assistant and Alexa to control one device. The $20 list price is a bit high given that you’re only getting a single outlet to control, but it’s weatherproof and rated for minus 4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, so if a single outdoor outlet is all that you need, it’ll get the job done.
In addition to status, timers, scheduling and scenes, the app also provides weather information, a handy addition for any outdoor device. You can also share control with other users if they also download the Braumm app to their mobile device.
This $18 device from Wyze is about as affordable as outdoor smart plugs get, but it boasts some promising features — especially for the price.
The Wyze Plug Outdoor includes two 15-amp outlets you can control independently. It’s rated IP64 for protection against water and dust at a temperature range of minus 4 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You can control the Plug Outdoor with physical buttons, voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or through the Wyze app.
You can also set the plug to run on various automations, such as dusk-to-dawn sensing, vacation mode, custom schedules and triggers based on other devices. Unlike most smart plugs, the Wyze Plug Outdoor includes energy monitoring. You’ll be able to receive alerts when energy thresholds are exceeded and view consumption history in the app.
WeMo’s Smart Outdoor Plug is a HomeKit compatible option that offers two outlets and voice control for Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant. At about $40, it isn’t the cheapest model you can buy, but WeMo’s app works well and we’ve seen several good plugs and outlets from the brand over the years.
Rated for temperatures from 32 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, this plug might not be the best bet for cold climates. There are two sockets, but unlike the TP-Link model, they cannot be scheduled or controlled individually. That could be a deal breaker, depending on your use case.
Best outdoor smart plug FAQs
Smart plugs are adapters that control the power supply to the appliance plugged into them. They don’t make any changes to your existing outlet. Smart plugs simply disconnect the appliance from power or reconnect it to power when they receive a signal (via app or voice command) to do so.
This isn’t a good idea. Outdoor models are optimized for extreme temperatures and have IP-rated housings that protect them from elements like rain and dust. It’s much safer to use a plug made specifically for the outdoors.
Most smart plugs will work in a limited capacity with Zigbee, Z-Wave or Bluetooth connections. However, to get features like voice commands with Google Assistant, Siri or Alexa and to control your plug when you’re not close by, you’ll need a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection.
What is the best internet provider in Daytona Beach?
With broad coverage and low broadband prices, CNET recommends Spectrum as the best internet service provider for most Daytona Beach households. According to data from the Federal Communications Commission, Spectrum is available to approximately 91% of addresses in Daytona Beach, meaning it’s a likely option for home internet wherever you’re located in the area. Other ISPs, such as AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, also serve Daytona Beach, so the best provider might come down to which is accessible at your location.
Although Daytona Beach’s download speeds won’t conjure up images of the fastest racers on the track, AT&T Fiber does offer symmetrical speeds up to 5,000 megabits per second for $255 monthly — the speediest service available. If you’re looking for the cheapest plan in Daytona Beach, Spectrum Internet costs $30 per month for download speeds of 100Mbps.
Best internet in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
AT&T Internet Air Read full review
Fixed wireless
$55
75-225Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
AT&T Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$55-$255
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Spectrum Read full review
Cable
$30-$40
100-1,000Mbps
Free modem; $7 router (optional)
None
None
7.2
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$55-$75 ($40-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)
50-300Mbps (varies by location)
None
None
None
7.2
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Daytona Beach
EarthLink: While this internet provider offers cable and satellite services, its fiber-optic connection (which uses AT&T Fiber’s network) takes the trophy. EarthLink’s fiber tier features speeds up to 5 gigabits in some areas. That’s not all — plans come with unlimited data and coverage across Florida. Customers should expect a 1-year contract; however, in the second year, they can enter a month-to-month agreement instead. Pricing will vary depending on your location.
Hotwire Communications: This Florida-based internet provider offers fiber-optic services to most Central Florida, Broward County, the Miami-Dade area and more. Pricing will vary depending on your specific address but standard service starts at $170 monthly for 300Mbps in download speeds. Some customers may have access to Hotwire’s top-notch multigigabit speeds, which feature symmetrical download and upload speeds, with select areas reaching up to 5 gigabits. Watch out for additional fees, such as a $30 installation fee.
Wire 3: A local internet provider based in Daytona Beach, Florida, offering fiber coverage in Volusia County into Brevard, Indian River and St. Lucie counties. Coverage is still rising and is not widely available in these counties. The good news is that plans are contract-free, and service starts at $60 a month with download speeds of up to 10 gigabits in some areas.
Satellite internet: Typically, I’d tell anyone to save this for last. You won’t be getting nearly the same speeds as you would from a fiber or cable internet provider, but providers like Hughesnet, Viasat and newcomer Starlink are available almost everywhere. Unlike Hughesnet, Starlink and Viasat customers don’t have to worry about being tied down by a two-year contract. However, Starlink offers the fastest speeds out of the three.
Cheap internet options in Daytona Beach
Most internet options in Daytona Beach start at around $50 per month for standard service. The cheapest internet plan is Spectrum’s $30-a-month plan for 100Mbps in download speeds. Once the promo period ends after 12 months, expect that rate to jump to $50 a month. The next best thing, if it’s available at your address, is a fixed wireless connection from Verizon 5G Home Internet’s $60-a-month plan for 100Mbps. Verizon and T-Mobile also offer lower rates for eligible mobile customers.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Daytona Beach?
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Spectrum Internet Read full review
$30
100Mbps
Free modem; $7 router (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plan)
100Mbps
None
AT&T Internet Air Read full review
$55
225Mbps
None
AT&T Fiber Read full review
$65
300Mbps
None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$55 ($40 with eligible mobile plans)
245Mbps
None
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Daytona Beach
The best internet deals and top promotions in Daytona Beach depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Daytona Beach internet providers, such as Spectrum and T-Mobile, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as AT&T and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Philippe Turpin/Getty Images
How fast is Daytona Beach broadband?
In the latest Ookla speed test data, Daytona Beach came in with a robust fixed median download speed of 328Mbps. That’s better than nearby Orlando, which came in at 302Mbps. Other nearby cities like Palm Coast and Melbourne came in with fixed median download speeds of 366Mbps and 344Mbps, respectively.
Fastest internet plans in Daytona Beach
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review
$255
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review
$125
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review
$90
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review
$40
1,000Mbps
41Mbps
None
Cable
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Daytona Beach
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites, and mapping information from FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We use the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Daytona Beach?
Daytona Beach has several broadband options, but it all depends on what you can get at your address. Cable connections are widely available throughout the city. However, as we usually say here at CNET, if fiber is available at your address, it beats cable almost every time.
Daytona Beach internet provider FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Daytona Beach?
Spectrum offers wide availability and the lowest-priced plan in the area for the first 12 months, making it the best internet provider for most residents living by the World’s Most Famous Beach. Spectrum also places first on CNET’s list of the best cable internet providers, thanks to its straightforward pricing and broad coverage.
Is fiber internet available in Daytona Beach?
AT&T Fiber is the only fiber provider serving Daytona Beach, but availability is sparse, serving 10% of households. The FCC reports that approximately 20% of residents can access fiber connectivity.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Daytona Beach?
Spectrum offers the cheapest plan in Daytona Beach, costing $30 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps. However, fixed wireless providers like Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet have discounts for eligible mobile customers, which can knock $15 to $25 off your monthly bill.
Which internet provider in Daytona Beach offers the fastest plan?
The fastest speed available in Daytona is 5 gigabits — or 5,000Mbps — offered by AT&T Fiber for $255 monthly. Spectrum Internet also offers a gigabit plan for $40 per month for the first 24 months, but it is not nearly as fast as a fiber connection from AT&T.
Dogs really have it made, and nowhere is that more evident than in the plush beds we buy for them to laze around in all day. Finally, there’s a human-dog bed. It’s called the Plufl and it just might be the best place ever to take a nap.
After learning about the Plufl and scanning images of blissed-out owners curled up in the bed-couch-chair’s cozy embrace, I decided I had to have one. Or at least try one — you know, for research. My $299 beige Plufl arrived in a large box with simple instructions for assembly. After stuffing two unwieldy, noodle-shaped side pillows into the plush case and sliding an oval memory foam mattress into place between them.
I zipped up the ends and it was time to Plufl.
The Plufl is a very popular place to be in my house.
David Watsky/CNET
What is the Plufl
The XXL Plufl ($399) could be used as a spare guest bed in a pinch.
Plufl
The Plufl is somewhere between a bean bag chair, a hammock and a plush bed, and it’s the most comfortable piece of furniture I own. The shape is where Plufl gets its edge, providing a built in headrest, footrest and a full circle of crevice to wedge your hands and feet into for that tactile comfort and security.
It’s meant for lounging or napping, but you could easily deploy it as a spare bed for a not-so-tall houseguest. One problem you’ll have with the Plufl is that a quick rest can turn into an hourslong nap without warning — even for me, a historically poor sleeper.
The plush human dog bed comes in two sizes and four colors. It’s made from soft polyester plush fabric that doesn’t itch, irritate and breaths better than most polyester, and sports a medium firm and comfy memory foam bottom. The Plufl cradles you gently but doesn’t swallow you whole.
The plush Plufl is big enough for you and your furry friend to nap for hours.
Plufl
It doesn’t exactly scream chic
As much as I want a Plufl in every room, it doesn’t exactly jive with the rest of my home’s decor. Therein lies the one glaring problem with Plufl: where exactly to put it.
I’m still not sure which room the Plufl will live in, but I know it’s not leaving the house. The bed is fairly heavy — 25 pounds and oddly shaped — but sewn in handles make it easy enough to drag from room to room. Though you wouldn’t want to move it regularly up and down stairs.
You can purchase the human-dog bed for $299 ($399 for the larger size) on Amazon or Plufl’s website.
If you’re seeking the best internet service provider for most Abilene households, you’ll want to consider Optimum. The Federal Communications Commissionreports that Optimum serves over 86% of addresses in the area, meaning this provider’s low prices and reasonably fast speeds are available to most folks. CNET also recommends checking out Vexus Fiber and Rise Broadband for residential internet if Optimum doesn’t serve your location, or if you’re searching for fiber or fixed wireless connectivity.
Vexus Fiber is Abilene’s cheapest ISP, offering its base plan at $30 per month and providing speeds up to 150Mbps. The next best option is Optimum, whose base plan starts at $40 and provides up to 300Mbps speeds, which is a much better deal. The fastest speed available in this west Texas town is 5 gigabits, offered by AT&T Fiber for $255 monthly.
Best internet in Abilene in 2024
Abilene internet providers compared
Provider
Internet technology
Monthly price range
Speed range
Monthly equipment costs
Data cap
Contract
CNET review score
AT&T Home Internet Read full review
DSL hybrid
$55
10-100Mbps
None
1.5TB
None
7.4
AT&T Fiber Read full review
Fiber
$65-$255
300-5,000Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Nextlink
Fixed wireless
$65-$95
50-300Mbps
None
None
2 years
N/A
Optimum Read full review
Cable
$40-$80
300-940Mbps
None
None
None
6.2
Rise Broadband Read full review
Fixed wireless
$45-$55
25-50Mbp
$10 modem; $5-$15 router (optional)
None
None, but required for some promotions
6.2
Taylor Telecom
DSL/fiber
$45-$100
100-1,000Mbps
$12 router (optional)
None
1-2 years (optional)
N/A
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
Fixed wireless
$65-$75 ($50-$70 for eligible mobile customers)
72-245Mbps
None
None
None
7.4
Vexus Fiber
Fiber
$30-$90
150-2,000Mbps
$10 (optional)
None
None
N/A
Show more (4 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Abilene?
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Monthly equipment fee
Vexus Internet 150
$30
150Mbps
$10 (optional)
Vexus Internet 500
$40
500Mbps
$10 (optional)
Optimum 300Mbps Read full review
$40
300Mbps
None
Rise Broadband 50Mbps Read full review
$45
50Mbps
$5-$15 (optional)
Taylor Telecom 100
$50
100Mbps
$12 (optional)
AT&T Home Internet Read full review
$55
100Mbps
None
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review
$65 ($50 with eligible mobile plan)
245Mbps
None
AT&T Fiber Read full review
$65
300Mbps
None
Nextlink 50
$65
50Mbps
None
Show more (5 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Abilene
The best internet deals and top promotions in Abilene depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Abilene internet providers, such as Optimum, Vexus Fiber, Nextlink and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, such as AT&T, run the same standard pricing year-round.
How many members of your household use the internet?
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Cameron MacPhail/Getty Images
Fastest internet plans in Abilene
Provider
Starting monthly price
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review
$255
5,000Mbps
5,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review
$155
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Vexus Internet 2 Gig
$90
2,000Mbps
2,000Mbps
None
Fiber
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review
$90
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Taylor Telecom 1 Gig
$100
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Vexus Internet 1 Gig
$50
1,000Mbps
1,000Mbps
None
Fiber
Optimum 1 Gig Read full review
$80
940Mbps
35Mbps
None
Cable
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Abilene
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
Though the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Abilene FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Abilene?
The best internet provider in Abilene is Optimum, since it offers wide availability, affordable prices and speeds up to 940Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Abilene?
Over 83% of households can access fiber internet in Abilene. The largest fiber providers in the area are Vexus Fiber and AT&T Fiber, but select addresses may also be serviceable for fiber under Taylor Telecom.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Abilene?
Vexus Fiber offers the cheapest plan in Abilene with speeds up to 150Mbps. Other affordable options include Optimum, which provides fiber services at $40 for speeds up to 300Mbps.
Which internet provider in Abilene offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers 5 gigabits of symmetrical speed for $255 monthly, which is the fastest service available in Abilene.
I test French press brewers much like I test standard drip coffee makers. I begin by hand-washing and hand-drying each product. Then I grind enough coffee beans to meet a specific brewing ratio. For French press brewing, that’s 4 ounces of ground coffee to 32 ounces of water.
We test French press coffee makers the same way we test standard drip machines.
Brian Bennett/CNET
I then add hot water (203 degrees Fahrenheit, 95 degrees Celsius), or nearly boiling water, to the brewing chamber, stir the grounds and let them sit for 4 minutes. After that I drop the coffee plunger for each press and pour a sample cup. Next, I draw a sample of the brewed coffee and measure its percentage of total dissolved solids. I use a pocket reflectometer for this test. From there, I can calculate the extraction percentage for each batch of coffee I brew.
Ideally, the extraction percentage of brewed coffee should be in the range of 19% to 22%. Though this number alone doesn’t guarantee delicious joe, it’s a strong indicator of it. Ultimately, the truth lies in a proper taste test.
Coffee extraction percentage
Bodum Chambord French Press21%Bodum Brazil French Press19%Mueller French Press27%Hamilton Beach French Press23%Coffee Gator French Press19%Veken French Press20%Frieling French Press19%Kona Press17%SterlingPro French Press18%OXO Brew Venture French Press Coffee Maker21%
Disneyland and Walt Disney World still aren’t completed. Per Walt Disney himself, they never will be.
So what’s coming next to the Disney parks in Florida and California? A ton of new rides and experiences, according to the Horizons Disney Experiences Showcase on Saturday, part of Disney’s annual D23 expo. From new rides to new lands to huge park expansions, here’s everything Disney announced over the weekend for Disney Parks and Cruises.
Villains Land was teased during D23 two years ago and confirmed Saturday. It’ll be positioned on the other side of Big Thunder Mountain — aka, the edge of the current Magic Kingdom map — Disney Experiences Chair Josh D’Amaro said, and will stretch around to where the Haunted Mansion is.
A chilling trailer for the chaotic land on Instagram hints at elements in the land representing Maleficent, Dr. Facilier, Ursula, Gaston, Yzma, Queen of Hearts, Hades, the Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, Captain Hook, Jafar, Kaa, Madam Mim, Cruella, Scar, King Magnifico and Mother Gothel.
Two major attractions will be built in Villains Land, as well as dining and shopping “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.” The land is already being constructed, but no word yet on what it’ll open.
Rivers of America is being transformed for Pixar’s Cars
The new Cars rally race ride.
Disney
The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at the Magic Kingdom are being repurposed to insert a new area themed around Pixar’s Cars movies. An expansion of Frontierland, which encompasses Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, will now get a Route 66 companion.
“To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers,” Disney said in a blog post Monday.
The rally race ride will take you through mountains, geysers and trails, Disney said, adding that there will be a second Cars-themed attraction, too. Cars Land, which was added to Disney’s California Adventure back in 2012, remains popular in the west, so it was only a matter of time before it was added to the east. Work is set to begin next year.
Two more Avengers rides at Disneyland
The Avengers Infinity Defense ride.
Disney
Disney’s California Adventure, already home to the Spider-Man Web Slingers and Guardians of the Galaxy attractions in the Avengers Campus area of the park, will be getting another two Marvel attractions.
Avengers Campus will double in size to make room for Avengers Infinity Defense — a King Thanos ride where you’ll travel the multiverse between Asgard, Wakanda and New York City to fight him — and Stark Flight Lab, where you’ll sit in a two-person pod and go on a flight with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.
Construction begins in 2025 on the Avengers Campus additions.
Monsters Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios
Disney’s first suspended roller coaster will take you on a ride through the Monsters Inc. factory.
Disney/Pixar
Disney World is getting another new addition at its Hollywood Studios theme park: a Monsters Inc.-themed area,
Revealed alongside Mike Wazowski himself, Billy Crystal, the land will let you stroll through Monstropolis from the Pixar movies. A new ride will also take you through the Monsters Inc. laugh factory aboard one of the doors to the human world — aka a suspended roller coaster.
“The first time I saw Monsters, Inc., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” D’Amaro said Saturday. “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
Work on the Monsters Inc. land will begin in 2025.
Coco Ride at California Adventure
Concept art for the new Coco ride.
Disney/Pixar
Disney’s California Adventure isn’t just getting more Avengers — it’s also getting more Pixar.
A Coco attraction will be built in a yet-to-be-announced area of the park, but it sounds like it’ll be a dark ride like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, filled with audio animatronics.
“The attraction will be filled with the characters — and music! — you know and love from the beloved movie, as you join Miguel on a trip to the land of the dead,” Disney says.
Work begins on the Coco ride in 2026, so it’s still a far-off dream.
Avatar comes to California
An aerial shot of the Avatar-themed area coming to Disneyland Resort.
Disney
The world of Pandora is expanding from Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando to California Adventure in Anaheim. The area in California will take its design inspiration from the second Avatar film, The Way of Water, as well as the upcoming Avatar sequels.
It’ll likely be part of the enormous Disneyland expansion coming to the theme parks that will push the boundaries past Downtown Disney and the nearby parking lots. While Disney was short on details and dates, the Avatar experience will be “dynamic, intense and emotional,” with a dark boat ride much like Pirates of the Caribbean “taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora.”
Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom
The Tropical Americas area will replace DinoLand USA and feature an Encanto ride, an Indiana Jones ride and a carousel.
Disney
Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World is replacing its DinoLand USA area with Tropical Americas. While this had been previously announced, Disney confirmed a few more details this weekend: Pueblo Esperanza will feel like you’re walking through a real village and will have a huge quick-service dining location, a fountain and a carousel.
Tropical Americas will also have a new Indiana Jones ride through a Maya temple and an Encanto-themed attraction where you’ll explore Antonio’s rainforest room inside the Casita.
Construction begins this fall, and it’ll open in 2027.
Four more Disney Cruise Line ships
Yes, four. In addition to the Disney Wish, which launched two years ago, the Disney Treasure, which sets sail in December this year and the Disney Destiny, which is set to embark next year, Disney is adding four more cruise ships to its ocean vacation lineup.
The ship names and destinations have yet to be revealed, but they’ll be setting sail between 2027 and 2031.
Everything else announced for Disney World and Disneyland
Mando and Grogu are joining in the Millennium Falcon fun.
Disney
Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be opening on Nov. 15, with Critter Country being rethemed to “Bayou Country.” It still includes the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, as well as Pooh Corner and “the newly reimagined Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.” Two merchandise stores called Ray’s Berets and Louis’ Critter Club will also open.
Disneyland and Hollywood Studios will be getting Mandalorian and Grogu missions added to the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run ride in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Epcot will be opening a “Reimagined Test Track” (still sponsored by Chevrolet) in 2025, which will celebrate “the past, present, and future of automation.”
Animal Kingdom will be replacing its old It’s Tough to be a Bug show inside the Tree of Life with a Zootopia-themed show. Zootopia: Better Zoogether will feature Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde taking you through several different areas from the city, and will open next winter.
Magic Kingdom and Epcot are getting two new lounges: A Pirates Lounge and a Spaceship Earth lounge, respectively. They’ll open in 2025.
Magic Kingdom will also be getting a new nighttime parade in 2025.
Disneyland is getting the first ever audio-animatronic of Walt Disney himself, as part of a new “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” show inside the Main Street Opera House in 2025.
Overall, we tested a dozen of the most popular chef’s knives for home cooks, from Mac, Global, Artisan Revere, Victorinox, KitchenAid, Ninja, Cuisinart, Homefavor, Farberware, Zwilling, J.A. Henckels, Aura, Korin, Wüsthof, Material Kitchen, Misen and Mercer. Of these knives, there were a few clear leaders, but most were solidly designed and just one stood out as bad.
The Mac, Wüsthof, Made In and Global knives were standout favorites for quality and performance. If you’re serious about adopting a high-quality chef’s knife, any of these three will work. Mercer, Zwilling and — to a lesser degree — Victorinox offered solid performance and well-balanced products for beginners looking for a bargain buy (Victorinox’s chef knife gets a lot of love online for its value and construction, but it’s pricier than the Mercer and not quite as well balanced).
J.A. Henckels’ Classic Chef’s Knife looks similar to the Wusthof Classic, but its slight differences in balance and design make it a much less enjoyable knife to use regularly.
David Priest/CNET
Cuisinart’s, Material’s and Homefavor’s knives were sturdier than the cheaper competitors, but they didn’t stand out in any single category. The J.A. Henckels classic, which seems like a natural winner given its reasonable price tag and similar design to the more expensive Wüsthof classic, really disappointed me. It’s another workhorse of a knife, but its butt is heavier than it should be, so heavy prep gets tiring and mincing feels awkward.
Farberware’s knife was the worst of the bunch: It’s so poorly balanced that we ended the chicken test midway for safety. The handle is light, which leaves the center of balance for the knife an inch or two down the blade. That makes almost every type of prep, from slicing and dicing to mincing and chicken boning, feel awkward at best and dangerous at worst. In short, don’t buy this knife and if you’re looking for a budget blade.
Just a few of the chef’s knives we tested.
David Priest/CNET
A chef’s knife can be your best friend in the kitchen, especially if you find the right fit. Take your time, figure out exactly what you need from your chef’s knife and make an investment in quality. You could keep buying those generic $10 knives from the store every time your knife gets dull, but if you’re serious about upping your kitchen game, a high-quality chef’s knife is one of the best investments you can make.
CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
Want more game answers? Here’s the Wordle answer for today, and here’s the answer for Strands.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Like the Titanic.
Green group hint: Think Muhammad Ali.
Blue group hint: Relating to.
Purple group hint: Tow is another one.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Large boat.
Green group: All-time great.
Blue group: Regarding.
Purple group: Homophones of body features.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
NYT Connections completed puzzle for Aug. 11, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is large boat. The four answers are barge, craft, ship and vessel.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is all-time great. The four answers are best, champ, GOAT and legend.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is regarding. The four answers are about, concerning, on and toward.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is homophones of body features. The four answers are hare, I, mussel and naval.
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Apple makes some of the best laptops and mobile phones out there, not to mention a host of other top-notch devices. Packed with speed, camera features and user-friendly interfaces, all those perks come with a price tag. So when Apple products go on sale, we take notice. This weekend only, Best Buy’s Apple Sale Event offers you the chance to save hundreds across the entire lineup of Apple products. You’ll need to act fast though, this sale ends on Sunday, Aug. 11.
While it’s a good idea to check out the Best Buy Apple sale in full for yourself, we’re going to highlight a couple of the standout deals below.
First up is one of the best iPad models of recent years, the fifth-gen iPad Air. While a 2024 model was just released, the previous-gen Air still offers impressive processing speeds, an excellent 11-inch display and a thin and light design that makes it easy to tote around on the daily. Not only is it $200 off right now, but it also comes with three months free of Apple TV, Apple Fitness, Apple Music and four months of Apple Arcade. The extras here go a long way to making your first few months with it particularly enjoyable and a good chance to test out some of the subscriptions available to you. There’s also the potential to get up to to $250 in trade-in credit if you have a previous gen iPad or similar device to swap in.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
If you need even more power, the M2 iPad Pro is available with up to $600 off. It has similarly been replaced by a 2024 iPad Pro model, but it still provides ample processing ability and it’s available in an even larger 12.9-inch size with a gorgeous mini-LED screen.
It’s also worth taking a look at some of the best MacBook options, including both the M2 MacBook Air and new M3 MacBook Air at up to $200 off with MacBook Pro models seeing as much as $1,000 in savings for My Best Buy Plus members.
There are plenty of other online word games now, but I still play the New York Times Wordle game every day. These days, it’s not only an old friend, it’s also a nice warm-up for Connections, Strands and the rest. Usually, I can get the Wordle answer in five tries, but sometimes I get stuck and worry that I might lose my streak. If you ever find yourself stumped, check CNET. Our home page always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Here’s the Connections answer for today, and here’s the answer for Strands.
Also, we’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity, if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter M.
Wordle hint No. 4: Movies
Today’s Wordle answer is often a shout heard in war movies.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a person who dispenses medical aid to soldiers.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is MEDIC.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Aug. 9, No. 1147, was OUNCE.
Past Wordle answers
Aug. 5, No. 1143: ENSUE
Aug. 6, No. 1144: ANVIL
Aug. 7, No. 1145: MACAW
Aug. 8, No. 1146: SAUCY
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. If you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
The CNET Sleep editors have tested more beds than the average sleeper. Around 200 different ones, in fact, and we’ve dedicated hundreds of hours to the craft. The main consideration we take into account when we look for the best mattress for side sleepers is firmness and the amount of pressure relief a mattress offers. When testing mattresses, we lay in each sleeping position (including side) and determine how well they accommodate our primary pressure points. When we’re on our side, it’s crucial our hips and joints feel properly cradled. If a bed’s too firm, it can press into your pressure points and cause soreness or pain.
Other key factors we test are edge support, motion isolation and temperature. Edge support is how strong the bed’s perimeter is, which is important if you sleep with another person or hug the edge of the bed. Motion isolation is how well a mattress dampens movement across the surface. We test this by having two testers roll around and bounce on the bed.
Everything we assess is recorded and compared to our year’s worth of data, allowing us to compare and rank beds accurately.
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read more on how we test mattresses.
Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today’s Connections hints and answers.
Want more game answers? Here’s the Wordle answer for today, and here’s the answer for Strands.
Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: I’m not here.
Green group hint: On your side
Blue group hint: Still rock ‘n’ roll to me.
Purple group hint: ____ the monkey.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Not present
Green group: Supporter
Blue group: Rock genres.
Purple group: Shock ____.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
NYT Connections completed puzzle for Aug. 9, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is not present. The four answers are absent, elsewhere, gone and MIA.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is supporter. The four answers are advocate, champion, cheerleader and exponent.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is rock genres. The four answers are glam, goth, metal and punk.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is shock ____. The four answers are horror, jock, value and wave.
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Whether it’s concentrating on a task or taking a much-needed escape, having a pair of noise-canceling headphones can make a world of difference. While some of the high-end noise-canceling headphones can set you back hundreds, right now, one of our favorites — Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones — can be had for just $56 at Amazon down from the regular Amazon price of $80. That saves you $24 and gets you a pair of top-rated headphones for 30% less than usual. Soundcore prices these same headphones at $86, so technically you’re saving $30 on any of the three color variants: pink, black or blue.
Regardless of the color you choose, the headphones can filter out up to 95% of low-frequency ambient sound while promising up to 40 hours of music listening. Turn the active noise cancellation off and you’ll extend that to 60 hours, while a 5-minute top-up will get you an extra four hours of listening time.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
As CNET’s resident headphone expert David Carnoy found in his testing, “as far as sound, comfort level and build quality go, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 for the money.” The clarity or bass definition isn’t quite on par with premium Bose or Sony models, but these headphones offer balanced sound overall and only really fall short on microphone quality for voice calls.
With the kinds of features you’d expect from headphones costing much, much more, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are a great option for those searching for noise-canceling headphones under $100 — especially when you can get them for even less. Looking for something a little different? No problem, our list of the best headphone deals should have something right up your street.
As parents, we only ever want the best for our kids, and this feeling extends to all aspects of their lives. The amount of sleep our kids need changes as they grow, but making sure they get the best quality of sleep when you tuck them in at night does somewhat depend on the mattress in their bedroom. The best mattress for kids is a soft but supportive mattress offering pressure relief. And if accidents are a concern for your young ones, you may want to consider a waterproof cover.
There are a ton of options to choose from, ranging from memory foam mattresses to hybrid mattresses. You can also get specialized dual-sided beds that can adapt as your children grow. CNET’s team of mattress experts has seen them all, and with years of experience testing mattresses, we know what makes a good mattress. Below are our top picks for the best mattress for kids.
But before we dive in, there are a few other things to know: while you can find dedicated kids’ mattresses, some regular mattresses are also good for your child. Next, a twin bed is the perfect size for a child’s bedroom and usually the size of a bunk bed if you’ve got more than one child you’re shopping for.
What is the best mattress for kids overall?
The Saatva Youth bed is the best mattress for kids thanks to its two-sided construction, which is designed to grow with your child. Saatva is known for its high-quality mattresses and the Youth model is no different.
The first side of the mattress is meant for kids aged three to seven. It has a five-zone support foam layer that is firmer at the center third of the bed to make sure their spines stay aligned all night. Flipping the mattress over gives you the older kid side, which features patented Lumbar Zone Active Spinal wire.
Then there’s a water-resistant finish that will protect the bed as your kid ages. You can’t beat this two-bed-in-one mattress.
Best mattresses for kids in 2024
Our team of experts has been testing mattresses for years. We’ve established testing methods we use across each bed, including assessing edge support, firmness and motion isolation.
For this review, we also considered special features that are important for children, like waterproof materials or a flippable design. As well as third-party certifications that show a mattress has safety testing, including GREENGUARD and CertiPUR-US.
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read more on how we test mattresses.
There are a lot of beds for kids out there, some specifically designed for kids or twin-size options of popular models. Keep these things in mind when shopping for a new mattress for your child.
Age
Your child’s age will help you hone in on what size of mattress they need. While babies need crib mattresses, older kids could use either a twin or twin XL mattress.
Also, remember that some mattresses specifically designed for children also have weight limits, like the Nest Bedding Puffin bed. Your child’s age and weight will help you determine if the mattress you choose has enough room for them to grow with.
Sleeping positions
Your child’s sleeping position will determine how firm or soft their mattress needs to be. Side sleepers need enough pressure relief to combat pressure points at the shoulders, hips and knees. Stomach or back sleepers need a firmer mattress that keeps their spine aligned at night.
Kid-specific features
Common unique features for mattresses for kids are waterproof materials for potty training, zoned support and flippable constructions meant to grow with your child.
You also should keep in mind your child’s specific needs when shopping. For example, if they have allergies, you look for materials like latex foam that are naturally antimicrobial.
Foam mattresses are best for kids because they are quality-made, but typically won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Hybrid mattresses aren’t necessary because they offer more support than your child might need, and they cost more money. Memory foam offers ample pressure relief, while latex foam is breathable and can be made to be organic or natural. Lastly, polyfoam is a breathable and cozy material that’s very affordable. You also want to consider your child’s preferred sleeping position, weight and the length of time they’ll be sleeping on the bed.
You want your kid to have a comfortable mattress, but they’re going to eventually grow out of it. For that reason, you may not want to invest in an expensive mattress you might purchase for yourself. Most kid mattresses are between $200 and $800. Some exceed that price, but then you’re looking at luxury kid mattresses with extra bells and whistles.
We recommend a medium mattress — the smaller you are, the firmer the mattress is going to be. That means a medium-firm mattress will likely feel even firmer for your child. A medium mattress should provide ample support and pressure relief at the same time. If your kid loves sleeping on their side, you should go even softer.
Fortnite FOMO, or fear of missing out, might be decreasing soon. Epic Games, the company behind the popular game, has changed its policy on Battle Pass Skins. Previously, the cosmetic items that change a character’s appearance featured in paid Battle Passes were not available for individual purchase in the Fortnite Store. Now, Epic says, some of those may be available 18 months after a Battle Pass expires.
The item exclusivity change affects timed Battle Passes going forward, making Skins more readily available to players who don’t purchase Battle Passes or may have missed one that included a desired Skin. Unfortunately, the change is not retroactive; we won’t be seeing the return of popular Battle Pass Skins such as Hades or Deadpool. Items that are available as Battle Pass Quests after a Battle Pass has expired may also be made available after 18 months.
Some of the items that could also end up in the store after 18 months include, “Outfits, Back Blings, Pickaxes, Emotes, Instruments, Decals, Wraps, Loading Screens, Banner Icons and more,” Epic says.
Read more: I Was Wrong About Fortnite
Pricing of Battle Passes won’t change, they’ll still be 950 V-Bucks, or $8.49.
Fortnite continues to be hugely popular, with about 650 million users as of the end of 2023, and at least a million and a half active players daily. The game is free to play, but purchasing Battle Passes unlocks special challenges and bonus items.
Even with this opening up of Skins, there’s no promise that they will all show up in the Store, even after 18 months. Epic says that there’s no guarantee every Skin will be offered up for sale, and some alt styles, different versions of Skins, may be different than what users received in the Battle Pass.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
Despite what some people may think, bigger isn’t always better. You don’t have to spend a ton on a huge speaker setup to enjoy an exceptional audio experience. If you don’t have the room or just don’t feel like spending an arm and a leg on speakers, considering investing in a small soundbar makes perfect sense.
If you have a small TV or have only a tiny place to fit an external speaker, a small soundbar can still deliver exceptional sound quality. The best small soundbars can fit into cramped spaces and come with a surprising number of features. For example, the Roku Streambar isn’t only a compact soundbar but also a capable video streamer, making it great for a bedroom setup. If making dialogue easier to understand is your aim, the Polk or Yamaha speakers below could be a great fit.
All the systems here feature single soundbars ranging between 1 and 2 feet long, while the Polk also includes a separate subwoofer.
If there was ever a solid gold bargain, it’s undoubtedly the Roku Streambar, which combines both audio and streaming in one device. This is a two-channel soundbar with a fully-fledged 4K streamer onboard, and even if you don’t use the streaming functions it works well as a standalone soundbar. As a smaller soundbar, it doesn’t have the deepest bass, but it does offer an expressive midrange with a dedicated voice mode for clearer dialog. It’s an unbeatable value and frequently on sale for under $100.
Yamaha is one of the most consistent makers of soundbars, but this also means its designs tend to cost a little more than competitors. The SR-C20A, on the other hand, is affordable and also manages to sound great when paired with your TV. It can connect to any of your Bluetooth-compatible devices easily, as well.
At 13 inches wide, the soundbar part of the Mini fits the moniker, even if you do need somewhere to put the gallon-sized subwoofer. The inclusion of the sub is worthwhile, as the system punches well above its weight with great sound in movies and with music. In addition, having Google’s Chromecast built-in enables a wealth of streaming and multiroom capabilities.
Sonos’ entry-level soundbar features the company’s excellent multiroom music system onboard while being smaller than the Sonos Beam. We were impressed with the sound quality for both music and movies. It delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage through the use of proprietary waveguides. Connection is simple with a single optical connection, while users seeking HDMI or Atmos should look to the step-up Beam Gen 2.
There has been a recent uptick of cases of an illness related to the use of nonstick cookware known as “Teflon flu,” according to The Washington Post. More than 250 cases of Teflon flu, which is a reference to the trademarked chemical compound used to make the popular nonstick coating, were reported in the past year — the most since 2000.
So what is Teflon flu and are nonstick pans safe to use? The answer is mostly yes, as long as your pans were made after a certain year and you use them properly.
Read More: There’s a Very Real Reason Most Air Fryers Don’t Go Above 450 Degrees
What is Teflon flu?
Polymer fume fever, or Teflon flu, has reignited a debate about nonstick cookware safety. The illness occurs when fumes from an overheated Teflon or nonstick pan are inhaled. Nonstick pans are made with polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE). PTFE’s are known as “forever chemicals” since they take decades or sometimes even hundreds of years to break down.
Under normal use, PTFE’s aren’t thought to cause a health risk, but when heated to above 500 degrees F there are increased emissions and the resulting polymer fume fever. Polymer fume fever causes a range of reported symptoms including fever, chills, muscle tension and headache. Symptoms of Teflon flu are temporary and generally start within 12 hours of exposure, but can take up to 24 hours to take hold.
How to avoid Teflon flu
Teflon and nonstick cookware is easy to use, clean and maintain but it should only be used for low to medium heat cooking. Never heat your nonstick cookware over high heat or medium heat for long periods of time. Try to keep the surface temperature 450 degrees F or emissions from the PTFE coating are likely increase.
What is Teflon, and does it cause cancer?
Nonstick or Teflon is a popular choice for home cooks. The big draw is that food won’t stick to pots and pans coated with Teflon the way it does to other metal materials, so it’s easy to flip a pancake or remove a cooked egg. Nonstick is also very easy to clean, generally taking no more than a few seconds to wash by hand.
Teflon is a brand name for a synthetic chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene that’s used in many household products from wire coatings to fabric protectors and kitchen cookware, too. The knock on Teflon is that it’s unsafe if consumed or absorbed into the body and can increase the chances of cancer and other diseases. While studies have shown some connections (more on that below), Teflon still exists and is used to make cookware, but the safety concerns around Teflon are mostly a thing of the past.
And I stress mostly. Here’s why…
While the brand Teflon may be associated with a risk of cancer, it’s actually a chemical formerly used in the making of Teflon called PFOA that’s to blame. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, perfluorooctanoic acid is a manufactured perfluorochemical developed in the 1930s and used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water.
Thanks to a federal ban, all Teflon and nonstick cookware made after 2013 should be free of harmful PFOA. Europe enacted the same ban in 2008.
All-Clad
What are the negative effects of PFOA?
In some studies, PFOA has been linked to cancer, immune deficiency and a host of other medical problems. It has also been shown to affect growth and development and injure the liver in laboratory animals.
As recently as 2017, chemical giant Dupont settled a lawsuit for more than $670 million for its role in contaminating drinking water with PFOA (also referred to as C-8) in the mid-Ohio Valley. A previous class-action suit from 2004 in the same area led to a study that found PFOA was linked to cancer and compromised immune function, even in small doses.
Teflon cookware made before 2013 may be toxic
All that was enough for most manufacturers to halt the production of nonstick coatings using PFOA around 2002. But Teflon using PFOA wasn’t officially banned in the United States until 2014. Europe banned it in 2008. That means if you own Teflon nonstick cookware from 2013 or earlier, there’s a chance it contains PFOA. Nine years is typically longer than the average lifespan of a nonstick pan, but if you’re not sure, it’s probably best to replace any Teflon-coated pots or pans.
If you’re concerned, look for PFOA-free cookware
Because of the ban, all nonstick cookware made in the US should be PFOA-free, but you’d be wise to make sure. Be extra cautious about buying cheap or off-brand cookware, especially if it’s not produced in a country with an active PFOA ban. PFOA is still produced elsewhere, largely in China, and used to make consumer products.
The good news is PFOA-freenonstick cookware is cheap, so there’s no reason to risk it with anything that might contain the chemical. You can nab a 10-inch skillet from a trusted cookware brand like Misen for $33 or Tramontina for around $25. Luxury cookware brand All-Clad makes a two-piece nonstick cookware set for $50.
The Always Pan is a nonstick ceramic alternative to Teflon cookware.
Our Place
The best natural nonstick cookware alternatives
If you’re ready to ditch Teflon and chemical-based nonstick pots and pans altogether, there are plenty of more natural nonstick alternatives.
The most nonstick of the bunch is ceramic cookware, which has seen a boom in popularity since concerns about Teflon first surfaced. A few popular ceramic cookware options include The Always Pan (read my full review here), Caraway and Greenpan.
Cast iron is another cookware material that develops a natural nonstick coating over time, especially if you season it well and care for it properly. It won’t likely ever become as nonstick as Teflon, but cast iron has loads of other culinary benefits that are worthy of a few extra seconds of scrubbing in the sink after use. Lodge is a tried-and-true cast-iron cookware producer: You can scoop up a 10-inch skillet for as little as $24.
Cast iron develops a nonstick patina over time and is a natural alternative to Teflon.
Angela Lang/CNET
Carbon steel is yet another option and functions similarly to cast-iron cookware, although it’s not quite as heavy, slightly more sensitive to corrosion, and typically more expensive. Carbon steel hasn’t really popped off here in the US but is a favorite of professional chefs, as well as yours truly. Cookware startup Made In produces an excellent blue carbon steel skillet for around $80, but there are cheaper options out there.
Other than general use and impressions, I have three main ways of testing drills. There’s a clearance test, where I determine the tightest space the drill can get into and still drive or drill at a perfect 90-degree angle perpendicular to the drilling surface. Then there are two different types of power/longevity tests; one with a high torque load and one with a lower load.
Examples of the battery/torque testing process for 12-volt brushed cordless drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
For the high-torque test, I use a new 1-inch wood spade bit for each drill. I use the bit to drill a series of holes into standard yellow pine construction-grade lumber. After, I divide the number of holes drilled by the battery capacity which gives a “holes per amp hour” data point for comparison. I like this particular metric method because it negates the ability of a drill to win just by having a larger battery.
On this test, the numbers for the 12-volt drills are pretty low — so if you’re looking to bore a lot of holes, it’s probably best to stick with the 18-volt drills. For the most part, all of the 18-volt drills felt strong starting this test off with a new battery, and although it did score second-to-last here, the Ryobi felt the strongest out of the gate. There’s also the breakthrough feel — how well the spade bits are able to exit the opposite side of the lumber without snagging and seizing. Here, it was Milwaukee that really showed off. Not only did Milwaukee absolutely trounce the competition, but the spade bit moved from one side of the lumber to the other with almost no snags. On the opposite end of the scale, both Bosch and Ridgid seemed to have trouble exiting the boards almost every single time.
Number of holes bored per amp hour for 18-volt brushed drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
Number of holes drilled per amp hour for 12-volt brushed drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
In the low-torque tests I took some screws — a ton of screws — and drove them into standard four-by-four construction lumber. Drive in as many as possible until the drill can no longer completely seat a screw; i.e. flush or slightly below flush with the lumber, then count. I use the same previously described method here, dividing by amp hour to get our final metric. The original tests for 12-volt drills used #8 2 1/2-inch screws, and the 18-volt tests use #9 3-inch screws.
Number of screws driven per amp hour for 18-volt brushed drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
Number of screws driven per amp hour for 12-volt brushed drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
Running the low-torque tests takes longer than the high-torque tests, so there’s more time to get the feel of the tools themselves. Generally speaking, the drills all feel like you’d expect, but there were a couple of features that stood out. On the 18-volt DeWalt, the hand grip feels small. This may actually be a benefit for some people, but for me, it was a little off-putting. I was also not a fan of the trigger on the 18-volt Ridgid. It felt like I had to pull the trigger farther back to reach max power than on other drills. This, over time, leads to a little extra hand cramping. Not ideal if you’re planning on using it for hours at a time.
For the clearance test, I measured the distance from the center of the drill chuck opening to the top of the drill and separately to the side of the drill. The lowest value for each drill you will see is charted below. I converted the measurements to decimals for purposes of the chart, but I did measure these in 1/64-inch increments. The lower the value, the smaller the overall size of the drill is, allowing it to be used in tighter spaces than the drills with larger values.
Clearance results for 18-volt brushed drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
Clearance results for 12-volt brushed drills.
Steve Conaway/CNET
There were a couple of other features worth pointing out that may help if you’re still undecided. Most drills now come with LED lighting to help with visibility in lower lighting settings. These typically activate once you pull the trigger and go off either when you release the trigger or with a small delay. The placement of the LED is either at the base of the tool near the battery, or above the trigger on the main barrel of the tool. I prefer the placement near the battery. The LED light on the barrel creates a hard shadow line above the midpoint of the chuck, while the lower-placed LED offers more available light above the tool — ideal if you’re in a position where you’re looking down at the tool, and not holding it above your sight line. In 18-volt drills, Bauer, Ryobi and Bosch all have the lower-placed LED, and Ridgid is the only model without an LED light.
Battery life indicators can help out when you find yourself in places where switching out batteries isn’t convenient, say, on a ladder, roof or any other less accessible location. One push of the button and you get an estimate of battery power remaining — usually in 25% increments. Bauer, Ridgid, Milwaukee and Craftsman 18-volt drills all have this feature.
18-volt drill battery life indicators.
Steve Conaway/CNET
Another feature, which may not necessarily be a decision-maker for you, is the battery-release mechanism. The front tab has become the standard and works better on some models than others. All of the battery-powered tools I own personally are front-tabs but I’ve grown to really like the side-tab release. It has a more natural feel and tends to be an easier release as well. In the 18-volt drills listed, Ridgid, Milwaukee and Ryobi all have side tab releases. For me, Ridgid’s design feels the most comfortable.
There’s a larger performance variance in 12-volt drills than I expected and probably less of one at the 18-volt level. If you’re in the market, just make sure you have a clear idea of what exactly you’re hoping to get out of your drill, then take a look at the information provided here. It should be easy enough to get a clear picture of performance, price and capabilities to make sure you end up with the best cordless drill for your needs.
After rumors swirled for months, OpenAI finally announced it will bring a search engine to ChatGPT and some 10,000 users are reportedly testing out the prototype.
I’m still on the waitlist myself. (If you’re not on it too, you can join here.) But using sample queries provided by OpenAI, plus the Browse with Bing search functionality that came with OpenAI’s latest flagship model, GPT-4o, I’ve been able to draw some early conclusions about what it’s like. OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment.
As I’ve learned more about SearchGPT, the key question I’m exploring is this: How will be it any different from Google — which owns 90% of internet search activity –and why would anyone prefer to search the web using ChatGPT instead?
In a March interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said his company is focused on the same question. “Maybe there’s just some much better way to help people find and act on and synthesize information,” he said.
OpenAI plans to integrate these features directly into its ChatGPT chatbot someday. Until then, based on my early research, here are five ways SearchGPT stands apart from Google.
Search results
One of the main differences between search with OpenAI and Google is the results page.
When you make a query with SearchGPT, you get an answer summary with links to information sources. The idea is to save time with more direct responses.
A sample SearchGPT query asks for the best tomatoes to grow in Minnesota. The results call out Early Girl, Celebrity, Roma and Cherokee Purple, along with links to the gardening resources that make those recommendations.
OpenAI/Screenshot by Lisa Lacy/CNET
When you make that same query with Google, you get an AI Overview, or an AI-generated summary of results, which is a pretty good parallel to what SearchGPT is doing overall. But you also get the People Also Ask feature with four suggested questions and then some links. If the AI Overview answers your question, you’re in luck. If not, you’ll have to do some scrolling.
Google/Screenshot by Lisa Lacy/CNET
It’s that scrolling that OpenAI hopes to eliminate.
“I feel like a lot of people are kind of sick of going to multiple websites in the hopes that they actually find something,” said Danny Goodwin, editorial director of SEO news site Search Engine Land. “It may be more contained within the SEO industry itself, but there’s been a lot of complaints about the quality of Google search … it’s very hard to find answers to what should be simple questions.”
Ads
Another big distinction: SearchGPT won’t likely have ads. At least for now.
After all, SearchGPT will be available to ChatGPT Plus members, who pay $20 a month for unlimited access to the GPT-4o model.
In the Fridman interview, Altman made it clear he does not like ads.
“I like that people pay for ChatGPT and know that the answers they’re getting are not influenced by advertisers,” he said. “When I go use Twitter or Facebook or Google or any other great but ad-supported product, I don’t love that and I think it gets worse, not better, in a world with AI.”
OpenAI said it plans to eventually integrate search directly into its ChatGPT chatbot.
The result will be a more conversational experience in which SearchGPT retains context to answer follow-up questions.
“Instead of typing a bunch of keywords or phrases into a search box, you’ll ask SearchGPT questions in the same way you’d ask a friend or a known expert to provide answers or overviews in the form of an ongoing dialogue,” said Mike Grehan, CEO of digital marketing agency Chelsea Digital.
One of OpenAI’s sample searches is, “When can I see nudibranchs in Half Moon Bay this weekend?” SearchGPT delivers images of nudibranchs, also known as sea slugs, as well as the exact time for low tide each day. It cites the Pacific Beach Coalition and Tide Forecast as sources. And then the mock user asks, “Will it be hot?” and SearchGPT knows this query is looking for a weather forecast for Half Moon Bay, California.
If I ask Google, “What is there to do in New York next weekend?” and then, “Will it rain?” I get weather results for my current location.
Hallucinations
Both Google and SearchGPT have had hallucinations, which occur when a chatbot delivers false or misleading information.
You may recall Google’s AI Overviews got off to a rocky start, no pun intended. But after scaling back and regrouping, we now see AI Overviews on about 8% of Google searches.
SearchGPT has had its own hiccups, even in promotional materials. In a video in the OpenAI blog post, there’s a search for “music festivals in boone north carolina in august.” However, as The Atlantic pointed out, it delivered the wrong dates for the Appalachian Summer Festival.
ChatGPT comes with the caveat, “ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.” It wasn’t immediately clear if SearchGPT provides a similar warning.
Local search and e-commerce
Not all searches are informational. Sometimes we’re looking for things to buy or places to go. This is where Google still has an advantage.
Google Shopping launched in 2002 as Froogle. (Yes, really.) And the search giant released its first product focused on local businesses in 2005. It’s well-established in both.
In the blog post, OpenAI said it will continue to improve in both of those areas.
When I used ChatGPT to search for “pizza near me,” the chatbot said it needed a city or zip code. When I added my zip code, it came up with three real pizza places in my town. I don’t particularly like one of them, but they all exist.
“Perhaps it’s better to think of SearchGPT as a concierge-style service and Google as an ever-growing encyclopedia-meets-atlas-meets-news-bureau,” Grehan said.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed puzzle for Aug. 5, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Bit of romantic potential. Answer: SPARK
6A clue: One able to pass a Captcha test (hopefully!). Answer: HUMAN
8A clue: Card tricks, disappearing acts, etc. Answer: MAGIC
9A clue: Failed to float. Answer: SANK
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Decorative pillow cover. Answer: SHAM
2D clue: Mountain lions. Answer: PUMAS
3D clue: Female friend, in Spanish. Answer: AMIGA
4D clue: Rushed through the door. Answer: RANIN
5D clue: When repeated, classic kind of joke. Answer: KNOCK
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
You had a late night. You remember tossing your phone on the charger when you got in, but it looks like you didn’t. Your iPhone battery is holding on for dear life at 1%, and you’ve got to be at work in just under 30 minutes. What do you do?
It’s time to charge your iPhone fast. You don’t want to leave the house without your phone, after all. And while you could take a portable power bank, heading out with a full battery is always preferable.
This story is part of 12 Days of Tips, helping you make the most of your tech, home and health during the holiday season.
Charging efficiency isn’t just about the way you charge your phone — wired or wirelessly — you want to keep an eye on multiple things that could be affecting how fast or slow your iPhone is getting powered up.
In the guide below, we’ll let you in on some do’s and don’ts for charging your iPhone to make sure you’re getting the most power and it’s being delivered in the fastest manner. Looking for more charging power? Check out the best power banks for the iPhone in 2024, and if you’re still rocking an iPhone with a Lighting port, here are some of the cheapest fast chargers you can find.
1. Upgrade your old charger
The quickest way to charge your iPhone is with a fast charger: at least a 20-watt power adapter with a USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C cable for iPhone 15 models. As long as you own an iPhone 8 or later, you can fast-charge your phone from dead back up to around 50% battery in about 30 minutes. If you have an hour to spare, you can fully charge it. Even just 10 minutes of fast charging can boost your battery by double digits, so if you’re short on time, always go for the fast charger option
Apple no longer provides power adapters when you buy a new phone, only the cable, but you can purchase Apple’s 20-watt power adapter from Apple and Amazon. According to Apple, you can also use other compatible fast-charging power bricks, but you’ll need at least a 20-watt brick to fast-charge an iPhone 12 and later.
Mkeke makes a 20-watt charger .
Mkeke
2. Wirelessly charge the fastest way with this
The second-fastest way to charge your iPhone is with Apple’s MagSafe charger and a 20-watt power adapter, but for this to work you must own either an iPhone 12 or later to get the faster 15-watt wireless charging. If your iPhone is dead, you should get to around 30% battery in about 30 minutes of wireless charging.
This doesn’t mean you can use any Qi wireless charger (the industry standard) for fast charging. While the MagSafe charger supports 15 watts, a Qi charger only gives you up to 7.5 watts, which is much slower than a MagSafe and only slightly faster than the traditional 5-watt wall charger. Be aware that magnetic wireless chargers that aren’t MagSafe-certified will also charge at the slower 7.5-watt speed.
The MagSafe charger can be fast, but only in certain scenarios.
Patrick Holland/CNET
3. Stop using your computer to charge your iPhone
Your laptop might seem like a convenient way to charge your iPhone, especially if you spend most of your day in front of a computer and want to keep a close eye on any incoming text messages and notifications. Unfortunately, your computer will always charge your phone slower than any wall charger or wireless charger.
Your computer’s USB port, whether it’s a bigger and older USB-A or the newer, smaller USB-C, cannot deliver the same amount of power as any wall outlet can, even a 5-watt power adapter. That’s especially true if you have an older computer with a faulty USB port or an incompatible charging cable, both of which can slow down the charging process further.
Using a MacBook might seem like an easy way to charge your iPhone, but it’s slower than any wall charger.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
4. Also, keep your hands off your iPhone when it’s charging
If you want your iPhone to charge as quickly as possible, try to stay off of it as much as possible. If you’re streaming videos or playing mobile games while charging your iPhone, the battery will charge much slower, so just leave it untouched if you can
5. One easy way to speed up your battery charge
Even if your screen is sleeping, your phone is still working in the background. If you want your iPhone to charge quickly, the best thing to do is to turn it off.
Note that plugging in an iPhone that’s turned off will sometimes power it back on, so plug it in or place it on a wireless charger first, then power it down.
6. If you don’t want to turn off your iPhone, switch to airplane mode
If you don’t want to turn off your iPhone but still want to help it charge faster, you can turn on airplane mode, which disables all wireless transmission functions like cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, all of which consume power. If they’re off, your iPhone can charge quicker. This way, you can also quickly turn airplane mode off to quickly check on any text messages or phone calls you might be waiting on.
Airplane mode will stop notifications from coming in but will preserve battery while you’re charging your iPhone.
Jason Cipriani/CNET
7.Tweak these iPhone settings to charge your battery faster
Do you know all of those tips that help you preserve your battery in the first place? You can use those same features and settings to help your iPhone charge faster if you don’t plan on turning it off.
Low power mode: Turn it on to reduce or affect battery-consuming features like 5G, display brightness, auto-lock, background app refresh and automatic downloads.
Dark mode: The jury is out on exactly how much dark mode actually saves battery life, but turning it on while you’re charging your iPhone doesn’t hurt, especially if every percent matters.
Lower your screen brightness: One of the most power-hungry pieces of any gadget that has one is its display. The brighter your screen, the quicker your battery drains, so turn it all the way down while it charges.
Apple’s low power mode helps conserve iPhone battery life.
Sarah Tew/CNET
8. Optimized Battery Charging may be slowing down the charge rate
Apple has a built-in tool that helps prevent your iPhone battery from degrading as fast, but this same feature also makes your device charge slower. While the feature typically only slows down your iPhone during long periods of charging, and usually overnight, it still might be worth disabling when you’re charging your phone. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and toggle off Optimized Battery Charging to disable this feature.
9. You might just need a new iPhone battery
In the same settings page where you can disable optimized battery charging, you can also check out your battery’s health. If you see a message, like “Your battery’s health is significantly degraded,” you should look into making an appointment with Apple to replace your battery. A degraded battery doesn’t hold charge as well, so it’ll drain more quickly. A new battery will improve your overall battery life.
You can check out how much it will approximately cost to replace your battery on Apple’s iPhone Battery Service website. The price depends on your service coverage and the make and model: for the iPhone 15 series, the estimate is $99.
Go to Settings > Battery to check out your battery health.
Victor DiCarlo/CNET
For more tips, check out 23 more iPhone tips and tricks you should know and how to get more space when your iPhone’s storage is running low.
Strands doesn’t get as much attention as its New York Times game siblings Wordle and Connections, but it can be just as challenging and entertaining. Strands just moved out of beta, so it’s now in the New York Times’ official Games app, which might bring it more fans. I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
Need more answers? Here’s the answer for today’s Wordle, and here are the answers for today’s Connections. And do you solve the NYT Mini Crossword? Here’s today’s answer for that.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: In glove.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Not foot, but…
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
Today’s Strands spangram is ON HAND. To find it, start with the O that’s five letters down on the far left, and wind up and over.
The completed New York Times Strands puzzle for Aug. 4.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
How to play NYT Strands
1. Use today’s theme to look for words relating to that topic. See one? Drag or click the letters in order. Click on the last letter twice to submit your guess. If you’ve found a theme word, it’ll light up in blue and stay that way.
2. Other words you find are considered hint words that give you clues to the theme words. Find three hint words (they must have at least four letters each), and the game will reward you by showing you a theme word. But if you can’t unscramble it, find three more hint words and the game will highlight the theme word’s letters in order.
3. Hunt for the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, though it could flow across or top to bottom. It summarizes the puzzle theme.
4. When you’re done, you’ll have used every letter on the board in either a theme word or spangram. Theme words fill the entire board and do not overlap.
If you have trouble falling asleep because your mind is still racing from the day or worrying about the next, you aren’t alone. There are plenty of tricks that can help you fall asleep (such as reading, drinking a hot cup of herbal tea or journaling). For some of us, those tips don’t work. A popular alternative for relaxation is yoga.
Practicing yoga for sleep calms your nervous system, which helps you relax enough to drift off. Not all poses achieve this goal. It’s best to aim for relaxing movements. We’ve rounded up the top yoga poses you should add to your nightly routine to boost your sleep quality.
For more natural ways to get better sleep, try these seven sleep aids for insomnia, or check out our sleep tips from CNET’s wellness editors.
Read more: Best Mattresses for 2024
How yoga can help you sleep
Yoga, much like any form of exercise, can be a beneficial way to unwind and alleviate stress. Research suggests that engaging in yoga may lead to reduced levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress. The extent of cortisol reduction may vary depending on factors such as the frequency and intensity of yoga practice. Additionally, some studies have shown promising results regarding yoga’s impact on depression symptoms. Yoga can complement traditional treatment approaches and promote overall well-being. So, what does this mean for your sleep? Well, cortisol levels have a significant influence on sleep patterns. Higher cortisol levels are often associated with difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. A study conducted in 2019 found that incorporating yoga into one’s routine can have a positive effect on treating and alleviating symptoms of insomnia. These findings suggest that practicing yoga may offer potential benefits for improving sleep quality and overall sleep health.
9 yoga poses to try before bed
These poses are for any level of experience and are easy enough for beginner yogis. While moving between these poses, remember to pay attention to your breath and where you feel most tension in your body. Breathe and try to relax if you experience any discomfort. Move through these poses for about 20 to 30 minutes before bed.
Read more:Best Yoga Mats for 2024
Cat-cow pose
To get into this pose, start on your hands and knees. Your hands should be shoulder-width apart, and your knees should be below your hips. Take a deep breath and tilt your head towards the ceiling while also sticking up your pelvis — this should mimic a “cow.” Then, on your exhale, arch your back and bring both your head and pelvis down like a “cat.” You can repeat these two motions a few times before moving on.
Forward fold
This pose is as easy as standing up straight and leaning over to reach for your toes. If you are able, place your hands on the ground. If you are unable to touch your toes, you can do a half-forward fold and grab below your knees. Looking for a challenge? Try reaching around your ankles and holding on. Make sure your back is straight and you are taking deep breaths.
Bridge pose
Start by lying down on your back, legs and arms stretched out and on the ground. Take a deep breath, raise your core off the ground and shift your arms closer to your body to balance. Your knees should be at a 90-degree angle. Your hands can lie flat, or you can bring them together underneath your core.
Happy baby
An easy pose to transition into after Bridge — start this pose on your back. Lift your legs to the ceiling and out a little past your shoulders (or however far you can go). Then, grab onto the outside of your feet with both hands. Gently rock left and right to relieve tension in your lower back.
Legs-up-the-wall
You will need to clear a space beside a wall for this pose. Facing the wall, lie on your back and walk your legs up high or lift your hips with your arms. Your hips can be against the wall or a little away. Once you get in a comfortable spot and you feel like you can balance, stretch your arms out beside you. This pose is great for destressing and improving your circulation.
Child’s pose
You can start this pose by kneeling or getting on your hands and knees. Tuck your feet underneath your hips and bring your head close to the ground. Reach your hands out in front of you, stretching your spine. The further you reach, the better the stretch will be for you.
Getty Images/Mapodile/E+
Seated twist
If you are coming out of Child’s pose for this next one, sit back up and extend your legs out in front of you. Cross one leg over the other, pulling the heel of the crossed leg to your outer thigh. With the opposite arm, cross your body and twist yourself, pushing with your elbow on the raised knee. Twist and breathe. Repeat with the other side before moving on.
Butterfly pose
From a seated position, straighten your posture and press the bottom of both your feet together. Placing your hands on your feet, attempt to press your hips as low as you can to the ground. The lower you go, the bigger the stretch. If you are looking for more of a challenge, move your feet closer to your body.
Head-to-knee pose
This is a basic pose. Start in a seated position with your legs out in front of you. Bring one foot to the inner thigh of your opposite leg and extend your hands out over your extended leg. Sit up taller, breathe deeply and grab ahold of your foot in front of you. If you can’t fully reach your foot, no problem: Grab your ankle or the back of your knee. Lean into the stretch and try to bring your forehead to your knee. Repeat on the opposite side.
Still want more? Learn how getting some sun can improve your sleep, which foods to eat for a happiness boost and how the Scandinavian sleep method might save your relationship.
All-foam and hybrid options to accommodate all body types
Comfy memory foam feel
Machine washable cover that’s easy to clean
Don’t like
Uncomfortable if you don’t like the memory foam feel
The softer models are more expensive
Edge support isn’t great on the foam models
Product details
Type
Memory foam hybrid mattress
Firmness
1-2 or soft
Trial
100 nights
Warranty
20-year limited warranty
Price scale
$$$
Are you looking for a new mattress? One with a classic, pressure-relieving memory foam feel? If that’s the case, Amerisleep mattresses believe they have the solution for you. I’ve found this brand to be a combination of its competitors, offering a range of firmness like Helix Sleep and a hint of premium that resembles Tempur-Pedic. This review will focus on the different memory foam mattress options and why I do — or don’t — think you should buy them.
Amerisleep even offers an organic mattress if you’re looking for a bed made with sustainable materials.
Amerisleep
First Impressions
There are three main all-foam Amerisleep mattresses: AS2, AS3 and AS5. They all have the same contouring, hugging memory foam feel thanks to the company’s Bio-Pur memory foam.
The AS3 and AS5 are also available as hybrid models. They feel almost exactly the same as the foam Amerisleep mattresses, but they’re just a little bouncier and more supportive since they have a pocketed coil layer in the base. They’re better for people who have back pain, weigh over 230 pounds or generally want more durability and support than foam beds can provide.
Video: Amerisleep Mattress Review
Watch our very own CNET Video Producer, Owen Poole, review the Amerisleep mattress.
Amerisleep mattress construction
Amerisleep foam mattresses
AS1 is 10 inches thick to achieve a firmer feel. AS2, AS3 and AS4 are 12 inches, and AS5 is 14 inches with an extra soft layer to give it its ultra-plush profile. Below, I break down the most popular AS3 model, but the one you choose will look similar.
The first layer is 7 inches of thick, dense polyurethane foam for the bed’s foundation.
A 2-inch transition layer made with basic poly foam softens up the dense feel of the first layer.
A 3-inch layer of Amerisleep’s Bio-Pur memory foam tops off the bed. It includes plant-based oils and helps regulate temperature better than traditional memory foam.
There is a machine-washable cover that you can zip off to clean. It’s also infused with Celliant, a performance material that’s meant to absorb heat and transfer it back to your body as infrared energy — an attempt to help you feel more refreshed and energized in the morning.
I was impressed that Amerisleep features a machine-washable cover. While it seems simple, you have to spot clean the covers on most of the mattresses I’ve tested.
Amerisleep Hybrid mattress
The AS3 and AS5 hybrids have pocketed-coil base layers with firm coils around the edges for better edge support. They include the same Bio-Pur memory foam found in the original Amerisleep mattresses. AS5, however, contains an extra layer at the top to make it feel more firm or more soft, depending on the mattress you choose. Below is a breakdown of the popular AS3 Hybrid:
A thin layer of foam gives the coils a solid foundation, and adds a little extra comfort.
A layer of pocketed coils offers extra support, especially around the edges to ensure you don’t feel like you’re going to fall off the mattress.
A layer of Bio-Pur memory foam includes plant-based materials and is open-celled for extra airflow.
Amerisleep Hybrid mattresses also come with a machine-washable cover.
Amerisleep Organica
Natural and organic mattresses have antimicrobial properties; they’re also hypoallergenic and are made more sustainably, making them better for the environment. The Amerisleep Organica mattress is 13 inches thick and is stacked as follows:
The base layer is 1 inch of natural Dunlop latex foam to support the pocketed coil layer.
The next layer is a thick 8-inch pocketed coil system with firmer coils around the perimeter to promote edge support.
The comfort layer is 3 inches of natural Talalay Latex that feels bouncy, dense and supportive.
To top off the mattress, there’s 1 inch of fluffy premium wool from New Zealand.
The bed is wrapped in a soft, tufted organic cotton cover that’s Global Organic Textile Standard certified.
The eco-friendly offering from Amerisleep is a certified organic and natural mattress.
Amerisleep
What do Amerisleep mattresses feel like?
The foam Amerisleep mattress options feel dense, and more like traditional memory foam than the Amerisleep Hybrid mattresses. The foam takes longer to bounce back once you switch positions, and the soft Amerisleep mattresses will especially hug the curves of your body. AS3 through AS5 are particularly pressure-relieving for side sleepers and contour around your hips and shoulders.
Hybrid Amerisleep mattresses still have a pressure-relieving memory foam feel, but they are bouncier and more responsive than the foam models. This is partly due to the springy coils that sit on the bottom of the mattress. It’s almost more of a mix between a neutral foam and memory-foam feel.
The Amerisleep Organica mattress takes responsive and bouncy up a level by combining pocketed coils and springy latex. If your kids like a bouncy mattress, this would be a fun one. It bounces back immediately to pressure, making it really easy to switch positions. It’s also supportive, and you don’t sink into the foam like you do on the original Amerisleep mattress models. I also think the wool in the top layer helps contribute to pressure relief, which isn’t as common when it comes to latex foam mattresses.
How firm are the Amerisleep mattresses?
The AS5 is the most plush (I’d rate it at a medium-soft or 3 out of 10, with 10 being the firmest) and it’s made with one additional layer that I’ll get into below. This is what gives it the extra-cushy feeling. You can also get the AS5 in a hybrid construction.
AS2 is on the opposite end of the spectrum as the firmest of the pack, around a medium-firm or 7. I sit more on top of this mattress rather than sinking into it because it’s so firm. However, you do still feel that memory foam molding to your body, and I think it will be pleasant for folks interested in a firmer mattress. The AS2 was previously available as a hybrid, but that model was discontinued, and it’s now available only as an all-foam bed.
AS3 is right in the middle and offers a balanced firmness profile around a 5 out of 10. It’s also the most popular option, which doesn’t surprise me since it accommodates the widest range of sleeping positions. The AS3 is also available in a hybrid construction.
Amerisleep Organica mattress competes with the likes of Avocado and Birch. It’s a hybrid mattress that incorporates natural and organic materials. It’s softer than other organic mattresses I’ve tested, which is a big plus. I rated itaround a medium to medium-firm, while many other organic mattresses with latex are firmer.
Amerisleep mattress performance
Motion isolation
Memory foam is great at isolating motion, and the foam Amerisleep mattresses take the crown here. However, that isn’t to say the hybrid Amerisleep mattress models have poor motion-isolating capabilities. If you need the extra support they provide, the slightly lesser-performing motion isolation is easy to look past. As far as the Organica Amerisleep mattress goes, you might feel some movement due to the nature of the materials.
Testing out the edge support ability on the AS3 Hybrid mattress.
My Slumber Yard
Edge support
The Amerisleep beds with the strongest edges were the hybrid mattress models, including the Amerisleep Organica. They all have firmer, stronger coils around the perimeter to help with edge support. I could definitely tell the difference between them and the foam models. You don’t feel wobbly or unsupported on the Amerisleep memory foam mattresses, but there is more give around the edges.
Temperature
Although the memory foam in the Amerisleep mattresses and Amerisleep Hybrids doesn’t retain heat like the classic material, the beds sleep temperature neutral. I think the Amerisleep Organica sleeps the coolest, just because it’s more breathable. Latex foam is perforated, meaning there are tiny holes all throughout the foam, promoting better airflow. That said, the Organica mattress isn’t cool to the touch like other cooling mattresses I’ve tested.
Off gassing
Amerisleep mattresses will give off a funky smell once you take them out of the box, but it’s not a cause for concern unless you have an extra-sensitive nose. The smell will disappear in about a day or so. It’s kind of like a new-car smell, but it’s a new-mattress smell. That said, the Amerisleep Organica mattress is an exception because it smells more earthy than anything else. Due to its natural, organic materials, you shouldn’t get any unpleasant odor when you unbox it.
Who is it best for?
Your perfect Amerisleep mattress will depend on your body type and favorite sleeping position. I liked AS3 because it offers a good middle-ground firmness level for when I sleep on my side or my stomach.
Body type
People under 230 pounds will be comfortable on just about any Amerisleep mattress. Keep in mind that the more you weigh, the softer a mattress is going to feel. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you might find these beds firmer than I described.
If you’re over 230 pounds, I recommend one of the hybrid mattresses from Amerisleep. They’ll be more comfortable in the long run and last you longer than a foam mattress, which is important when you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a product.
Position
Side sleepers: AS3, AS4 and AS5 will probably be the best options for side sleepers. Folks over 230 pounds who favor their side may also like the Amerisleep Organica mattress, but petite side sleepers will want to stay away from that one.
Back and stomach sleepers: The best Amerisleep mattresses for back and stomach sleepers are the firmer beds. Go with AS1, AS2, AS3 or the Organica bed. They all offer ample spinal support to keep your back from sagging into the memory foam.
Combination sleepers: Honestly, AS3 was made for people like you (and me). It’s Amerisleep’s most popular option, and appeals to just about any sleeping position. Amerisleep Organica is also perfectly fine if you like the sound of a natural and organic mattress. It’s a hair on the firmer side, but I don’t think you’ll mind if you don’t spend a significant amount of time on your side.
Amerisleep mattress pricing
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Twin
Twin XL
Full
Queen
King
Cal King
Split king
AS2
$1,299
$1,349
$1,499
$1,549
$1,849
$1,849
$2,248
AS3
$1,499
$1,549
$1,699
$1,749
$2,049
$2,049
$2,648
AS3 Hybrid
$1,699
$1,749
$1,899
$1,949
$2,149
$2,149
$3,048
AS5
$2,099
$2,149
$2,299
$2,349
$2,649
$2,649
$3,848
AS5 Hybrid
$2,399
$2,449
$2,599
$2,649
$2,849
$2,849
$4,448
Organica
$1,499
$1,549
$1,699
$1,749
$2,049
$2,049
$2,798
The price for your Amerisleep mattress will vary depending on the model you choose. In this case, the softer the model, the more expensive the mattress. The hybrid models cost more than the foam models and are a little expensive if you pay full price. However, it’s not unusual to see promos for these hybrid beds, which can bring the price down.
Since Amerisleep Organica is a natural and organic mattress, it is a bit more expensive than regular bed-in-a-box mattresses. Prices start at $1,499 for a twin and max out around $2,789 for a split king. As you might have guessed, there are also promos on this mattress.
Trial and warranty
If you’ve never purchased a bed-in-a-box mattress online, the process might seem a little strange. Essentially, Amerisleep will ship you your mattress for free in a cardboard box. You’ll have 100 nights to test it and see if you like it. If you don’t, you can contact customer service to start the refund process. Customers who keep the mattress get a 20-year warranty.
The final verdict
Amerisleep has quite the mattress catalog, offering soft, firm and everything in between. I love how the company covers all the bases with a mattress option for almost every sleeper — even environmentally friendly ones. There are a lot of pros and few cons, unless you hate memory foam or you’re on a limited budget. If you’re on the fence, I say give Amerisleep a go and fall back on its 100-night trial policy if you end up unimpressed.
You might like Amerisleep if:
You love memory foam
You want an easy-to-clean cover (removable and machine washable)
You sleep on your side, back, stomach or a combination
You weigh under or over 230 pounds (foam and hybrid options)
You suffer from allergies (Organica mattress)
You value eco-friendly and sustainable products (Organica mattress)
You want a bed with great edge support (Amerisleep Hybrid mattresses)
You might not like Amerisleep if:
You don’t like the hugging, contouring feel of memory foam
You want to spend less than $800 on a new mattress
With all of the TVs available today, and all of the technical terms and jargon associated with television technology, it can be tough to figure out what’s important. Here’s a quick guide to help cut through the confusion.
Screen size: Bigger is better in our book. We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV — and 65 inches or larger is best. More than any other “feature,” stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from people who didn’t go big enough. And we rarely hear people complain that their TV is too large.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to more than $2,000. Smaller screens are cheaper, well-known brands are more expensive and spending more money can also get you better image quality. Most entry-level TVs have a good enough picture for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it might be worth spending more to get a better picture. It’s also best to shop for a TV in the fall when prices are lower.
Capability: Among entry-level TVs the most important feature is what kind of smart TV system the TV uses. Among midrange models, look for a feature including full-array local dimming, mini-LED and 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) do help improve the picture in our experience. Among high-end TVs, OLED technology is your best bet.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
New York Times Mini Crossword completed puzzle for August 2, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Orion’s ___ (giant waist of space?) Answer: BELT
5A clue: Sides in a historic tennis “battle.” Answer: SEXES
6A clue: You might really feel this in your core. Answer: PLANK
7A clue: “___ well that ends well!.” Answer: ALLS
8A clue: W.S.J. or WaPo competitor. Answer: NYT
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: What’s visible when wearing a crop top. Answer: BELLY
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed for August 1, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Score 100% on. Answer: ACE
4A clue: Word that, in German, translates directly to “hand shoe.” Answer: GLOVE
6A clue: Its showers bring “May flowers.” Answer: APRIL
7A clue: Hut. Answer: SHACK
8A clue: Not mainstream, in genre names. Answer: ALT
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: First letter of the Greek alphabet. Answer: ALPHA
2D clue: Reef builder. Answer: CORAL
3D clue: Kick out. Answer: EVICT
4D clue: Bad thing to run out of in the middle of nowhere. Answer: GAS
5D clue: Antlered mammal in the Rockies. Answer: ELK
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for an eighth time, so don’t expect any relief from your credit card’s APR.
Credit card delinquencies are on the rise, as high APRs can pile on the interest and make it harder to dig out of debt.
There are steps you can take to get your credit card debt under control, regardless of the current economic challenges.
With the Fed voting to hold the federal benchmark interest rate steady once again, we’re likely stuck with sky-high credit card APRs. And while your APR may not go up further, the average credit card charges over 20% interest, which can quickly cause a balance to balloon.
A high interest rate can also make it hard to keep up with payments and is likely contributing to credit card delinquencies, which Fed data shows are on the rise.
Credit card delinquencies increased to 6.86% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 4.57% in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“An increasing number of borrowers missed credit card payments, revealing worsening financial distress among some households,” Joelle Scally, regional economic principal within the Household and Public Policy Research Division at the New York Fed, said in a statement.
Missing a credit card payment can hurt your finances in a myriad ways. You can be charged late fees and even higher interest rates, plus your credit score could take a serious hit.
It’s easy to say, “Pay off your credit cards,” but the act itself is rarely so cut and dried. Here are some tips to help you get back on track if you’re having trouble managing your debt.
If you’re struggling with credit card debt, there are steps you can take
With rates paused, your card’s APR won’t be changing much anytime soon. Here are eight steps you can take to pay your credit card balance and save money.
1. Pay at least the minimum monthly payment on time
Even if you can’t pay your full balance, making the minimum payment will help to keep you out of hot water.
“At the very least, you should be paying the minimums on your cards to avoid late fees and damage to your credit,” said credit expert Leslie Tayne. “However, it should be a priority to eliminate this debt completely, even if that means slowing progress on savings and other goals.”
If you miss a payment, not only could you damage your credit, but you might be on the hook for costly late fees.
2. Pay off, or at least down, existing credit card debt
If you’re looking for a way to pay down high-interest credit card debt, these strategies could help lower your balance.
The first option for paying off your debt is simple, if you’re able to do it: Apply your disposable income to credit card debt. (Don’t panic if you don’t have enough disposable income.)
The average US consumer has around three credit cards, so your credit card debt might be spread across multiple balances of accounts.
There are two popular methods for paying down multiple balances: the snowball method and the avalanche method.
The snowball method suggests paying off your smallest debt first, regardless of its interest rate, while making minimum payments on the other cards. This “small wins” strategy lets your initial success carry you until you pay the debt with the highest balance.
The avalanche method, on the other hand, proposes that you start with the debt with the highest interest rate. Once you’ve paid off that high-interest balance, you move on to the balance with the next highest interest rate, and so on.
But which method is better?
Avalanche method proponents — and many personal finance experts — will tell you that paying off high-interest debt first makes more sense from the financial standpoint. If you pay down the debts with the highest interest rates first, you’ll spend less overall on interest charges.
But if paying off that debt will take you years, it can be discouraging to see minimal progress for maximum effort. You might end up throwing in the towel and continue accruing debt.
My advice is to go with the method that’ll keep you going, whether it’s snowball, avalanche or a combination of both. In the end, what’s important is to save money by avoiding interest charges.
3. Transfer your balance to a 0% APR credit card
If you have a good credit score, you may be eligible to apply for a balance transfer credit card. The best balance transfer cards let you transfer a balance from another card — as long as it’s from a different bank — and pay it with no interest for a set period of time, usually between 12 and 21 months.
“My top tip for anyone carrying a balance is to sign up for a 0% balance transfer card,” said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate.
“You can move your existing, high-cost debt from one or more cards over to one of these cards and potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest charges.”
The trick is to pay off your balance within the introductory period. And don’t make new purchases while paying down the transferred balance.
Rather, hatch a plan. Divide the transferred balance — say $3,000 — by the promotional period, 18 months.
With these numbers, you’d need to pay at least $167 monthly to pay it down within the given time frame. However, if you can, pay more. If you’re unable to pay down the balance in time, you could be stuck with a substantial APR.
Consider fees when shopping for a balance transfer card. Most cards charge a balance transfer fee, usually 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, though some cards charge no balance transfer fees. (Though, these cards generally are hard to come by and have shorter promotional periods.)
For a balance of $3,000 with a 3% balance transfer fee (the industry standard), you’d pay an extra $90. But that cost will typically be far less expensive than paying interest charges during the same period on a card with a regular APR.
4. If you need more time than a 0% APR card can provide, consider a personal loan
If you need more time than a balance transfer offer allows, personal loans might make more sense, Rossman said.
Personal loans have lower fixed interest rates than credit cards, especially if you have good credit. It won’t be as low as 0%, but it could be relatively close.
Personal loans could provide five to seven years for you to pay down the balance. Apply for the loan and use the funds to pay off your credit card.
For people with poor or limited credit, consider a reputable nonprofit credit counseling agency, Rossman said. They provide helpful strategies for reducing debt with low fees.
5. Focus on paying down card debt, not on earning points or cash back
Every savvy cardholder’s dream is earning cash back, points and miles on everyday purchases and redeeming them for free trips or the newest smartphone.
But if you’re carrying a balance on your credit cards and keep charging expenses you can’t pay at the end of the month for the sake of earning points, you should stop immediately.
Here’s why.
The current average interest rate is above 20%.
Some of the best credit cards earn up to 6% back in rewards per dollar spent on specific categories, like grocery store purchases or airline tickets. Most of the best flat-rate cash-back cards earn no more than 2%.
So any cash back, points or miles earned will be easily wiped out by interest charges if you don’t pay for your purchases in full when your statement is due.
Set aside your cards while you work to pay off the balance. Rewards can be used to lower your overall balance through statement credits, though likely not as fast as interest charges can accumulate.
6. Consider additional sources of income to pay off credit card debt
But what if you don’t have any additional cash at the end of the day, or the month, to pay down card debt?
That might be why you got into debt to begin with — and that’s OK. We’ve all been there. But adding an extra source of income can help you tackle any debt faster.
Here are a few ideas to try to earn more disposable income and pay down credit card debt:
Take on a side hustle. Are you good at math or fluent in a foreign language? Tutoring can be a viable option for a side job. Do you have free time during the week and a car in good condition? You might want to consider Uber, Lyft or DoorDash. Many successful Etsy stores started as a side hustle. Rover, a dog walking app, lets you walk local pets, for a price. Consider an activity you enjoy and make sure to follow these tips, since taking on a side gig might have tax implications.
Rein in your expenses. It may sound obvious, but it’s not always that simple. According to the Federal Reserve, 47% of Americans don’t have $400 in emergency cash. Whether this is your case or not, it might be time to align your expenses with your income, create a budget and stick to it. The good news is that you can add paying down card debt as one of your ongoing expenses, and you don’t have to create a budget from scratch or manage it all on your own. The best budgeting apps can help keep track of your spending and identify expenses to cut back.
Sell stuff you don’t use that’s just sitting around the house. From that dress you wore only once at a wedding to the portable sauna you got for your birthday that’s collecting dust, selling items both used and new online can help you earn the extra cash you might need to pay off credit card debt. There are plenty of places to do that, including Facebook Marketplace.
7. Stop using your credit card and switch to cash or a debit card
Credit cards are great financial instruments to pay for large or unexpected purchases over time, improve your credit, earn points or cash back for trips or dream buys, or even give you access to generous travel benefits, like airport lounges or priority security access. But they can also tempt you to overspend and incur debt quickly if you don’t manage them responsibly.
If you find yourself spending more when using a credit card, maybe it’s time to give plastic a break.
Studies suggest that paying with a credit card might lead to overspending because the “pay pain” is removed from the transaction.
In other words, when you charge a purchase on your credit card, the money doesn’t leave your wallet or bank account right away, which may mislead you into thinking you can afford whatever you’re buying.
Switching to cash might be more difficult than before, especially since many businesses during the pandemic switched to contactless payments or stopped accepting cash for safety reasons.
However, you could use a P2P payment app, such as Venmo or Zelle, or your debit card. That way, the moment you make a purchase or pay a bill, the money gets instantly withdrawn from your bank account, helping you see how much you’re spending.
If you’re looking for rewards, there are debit cards that offer cash back on purchases without the need for credit.
8. Leverage your credit with an intro 0% credit card
If you don’t carry a balance on your credit card right now, congratulations! But if you have good credit, you might still want to consider applying for a no-interest credit card.
Even if you pay your balance in full every month, there may be some benefits in the midst of rising (or in this case, stalling) interest rates. You can pay for a big-ticket purchase interest-free or have an intro 0% APR credit card on hand in case of emergency.
Lowering your credit utilization ratio may improve your credit score too, which a new line of credit could help with.
This simple move could be beneficial for you in the long run, particularly if you plan to finance a home, auto or other big purchase in the future.
How the Fed’s decision affects your credit cards
The Fed opted to hold interest rates steady at this month’s meeting, which means the benchmark interest rate will remain at 5.25% to 5.5%. Most experts don’t expect more than one rate cut this year, if any, so don’t hold your breath for lower interest rates on your cards.
Even if the Fed votes to lower interest rates in September, as some experts predict, a single rate cut would likely have minimal impact on your APR.
In the meantime, try out any of the above tips to try to lower your credit card debt. And if there’s one thing you do, make sure it’s at least paying the minimum required payment on time.
The impact of the Federal Reserve on credit cards
The Federal Reserve is in charge of setting the monetary policy for the US. It aims to bolster labor and stabilize the country’s economy. When inflation is high, the Fed’s main course of action is raising the federal interest rate, or the rate at which banks can borrow and lend funds.
By raising or lowering the federal funds rate — the overnight interest rate between banks — a domino effect can lead credit card issuers to increase or decrease their APR. Though the federal funds rate only directly dictates lending between banks, this affects the banks’ costs, which are in turn passed on to consumers, affecting interest rates on consumer products, like loans and credit cards.
The prime rate, which is the basis for all borrowing rates for bank customers, is derived from the federal funds rate. Premiums are tacked onto it depending on an applicant’s creditworthiness and institutional factors. This yields effective interest rates, such as credit card annual percentage rates.
But how soon after the Feds change benchmark interest rates should you expect your credit card rates to rise or fall? Credit card APRs are usually adjusted within a billing cycle or two. You’ve probably already been subject to new APRs from previous rate hikes, maybe without even realizing it.
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This article includes some material that was previously published on NextAdvisor, a CNET Money sister site that was also owned by Red Ventures and which has merged with CNET Money. It has been edited and updated by CNET Money editors.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
We test electric lawnmowers by running each through a battery of tests (no pun intended, since we do run actual battery tests) and yes, we also mow stuff. There are certain product categories where we collect, at the time, tons of data, but despite our best efforts, data alone cannot give us the entire picture about which product performs the best. Taking these to the yard is the best way to help filter through and decipher the data we have.
Battery tests
Let’s begin with those battery tests. This one isn’t too complicated, but it can get a bit tricky to physically set up. To measure the voltage and amps the mower pulls during operation, we have to insert our measurement devices between the battery and mower. The physical process varies a bit from mower to mower, but once set up, we get a measure of the DC voltage and amps moving between the battery and mower, which gives us an idea of the mower’s motor power (in watts).
We take these measurements at zero load, meaning we aren’t cutting grass at the time or otherwise providing any resistance against the blades, which would change the numbers, making them higher to calculate the higher limits of the motor’s power. Our next round of testing updates will include those upper power limits as well.
RPM tests
Yes, we absolutely measure blade RPMs in electric mowers. The eagle-eyed lab staff at CNET has developed the ability to count dozens of revolutions per second in a super accurate fashion. I’m kidding, although we do have a meter for that. In reality, we take a bit of reflective tape and position that onto the mower blade, then aim the measurement tool so that the laser light overlaps that tape and we get a precise reading on blade RPM.
You can see our test meter in blue in the center beneath the safety glass.
Bryan Adams/CNET
Now, if we combine those numbers with others such as blade lengths and weights and throw in some of our motor power calculations, we can estimate things like the amount of force, in Newtons, the blade is exerting on grass. Those numbers aren’t exceedingly helpful. Most people won’t have much of an idea what 5 Newtons of force is comparable to. We prefer to take the route of comparing the power outputs to something people are more familiar with; in this case, horsepower.
Gas-powered push mowers vary in horsepower, but the majority of them land in the 3 to 5-hp range. We will have upper limit numbers added for our next update, but you can see that the lower limit in horsepower for the electric mowers we tested ranged from about 0.1 to 0.6hp. That is, not much. Generally, you should expect to see electric mowers triple that number toward their upper limits, so we’re looking in the 1.75hp ballpark. You’ll be hard-pressed to find retail gas-powered push mowers operating below 2hp.
Noise level
We talk about sound level often, especially with outdoor-type tools. Historically these outdoor gas-powered tools have been quite loud. (Try to sleep in when all your neighbors are mowing early on the weekends.) With the advent of electric power tool platforms, that’s all changing. Your neighbor can obsess over lawn care while you snooze the day away.
We tested the decibel level for the mowers from the point of view of a person operating it. We stationary-mount a decibel meter and take the measurement. The results weren’t too surprising, with our quietest mower being the smallest, the 13-inch Litheli at 68.6dB, and the loudest was also the most powerful mower, the Ego, at 86.7dB.
Speed tests
You might normally think of mowers moving at a certain rate, specifically, at whatever rate you happen to be pushing it. An increasing number of mowers are now coming with self-propelled options. Many of these electric-powered mowers allow you to use that function even when the blades aren’t running.
We measure how fast mowers move in miles per hour. You won’t be visiting any on-ramps with these, but if you plan to use this mode, this may help you decide which one to pick up or pass on. The Ryobi had the widest range of speeds to choose from but fell slightly short of being the fastest mower. Ryobi topped out at 3.03mph and the Greenworks Pro at 3.33mph.
Some mowers, like this Kobalt model, can get bogged down by grass clippings.
These days, internet speeds need to be lightning fast. Who has the patience for painfully slow page loads and status bars that don’t seem to move? Especially when you’re trying to submit last-minute schoolwork or email your boss. One way to avoid the endlessly spinning status wheel is to strengthen your Wi-Fi connection by investing in a mesh router system. With a mesh setup, you place several routers around the house to create comprehensive coverage wherever you are. This is especially helpful if you find yourself dealing with dead zones without any connectivity or areas with a spotty Wi-Fi signal that can cause instability and slow-loading speeds.
If it’s been more than five years since you last bought a router, it’s probably time for an upgrade, more so if you have only one router in your home or business. By placing mesh routers around your home, your wireless connection can be extended over a much larger area than a single router can offer, so even the outer reaches of your home can get a signal boost, eliminating those pesky dead spots. Each mesh router relays wireless traffic back to your modem, and your devices will seamlessly switch between different mesh routers as you move around for the best possible connection. Plus, most of the latest mesh router models support super fast speeds for seamless browsing, streaming and gaming.
Below we’ve rounded up some of the best online deals on mesh systems to help you find the perfect setup for your home and budget. If you’re on the hunt for a good deal on a great mesh router, check out our regularly updated list below and score yourself some savings.
Best mesh router deals
TP-Link/CNET
TP-Link Deco S4 (3-pack): $115
The Deco S4 is an affordable Wi-Fi 5 mesh networking system, down to just $115 right now. The three-piece kit offers up to 5,500 square feet of coverage and AC1200 speeds. Each Deco S4 unit has two gigabit Ethernet ports with support for wired Ethernet backhaul for improved speeds. If you don’t have an abundance of Wi-Fi 6 devices in your home, it’s a good option for those looking to spend as little as possible for whole-home coverage.
…Read more
Deco/CNET
TP-Link Deco X55 (3-pack): $170
The Deco X55 is a great budget Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that can cover an impressive 6500 square feet. That’s probably more than you need, but having some overlap can be useful, so it’s a great option even for a smaller home. It can hit a maximum of 3,000 Mbps across its antenna, and each unit has 3 gigabit ethernet ports for more flexibility.
…Read more
Ry Crist/CNET
TP-Link Deco XE75 (2-pack): $189
Here’s another mesh system with full support for Wi-Fi 6E that’s on sale right now — the TP-Link Deco XE75.
We were impressed with the system’s fast, consistent performance when we tested it last year, and we love the way the extenders automatically pair with the mesh as soon as you plug them in, which makes setup an absolute breeze. At $189, this is definitely an upgrade pick worth considering.
…Read more
Netgear
Netgear Nighthawk AXE5700 (3-pack): $358
This three-piece tri-band mesh system from Netgear comes with one base router and two satellites and provides a strong signal for an area of up to 6,750 square feet. It boasts impressive speeds of up to 3.6Gbps and Wi-Fi 6E support, as well as backward compatibility with Wi-Fi 5 devices. It also takes just minutes to set up, and you can add even more satellites if you need wider coverage. You can save almost $200 right now for a limited time.
…Read more
Asus/CNET
Asus ROG Rapture GT6 (2-pack): $429
The Asus ROG Rapture AX10000 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 gaming mesh system that has a third 160MHz channel and provides up to 5,800 square feet of coverage. It tops out at a whopping 10,000Mbps and offers LAN aggregation and a 2.5Gbps WAN port.
…Read more
Netgear/CNET
Netgear Orbi AX6000 (2-pack): $288
This tri-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 system includes a router and one satellite extender. The system reaches speeds of up to 6Gbps and can handle up to 100 connected devices. Plus, it provides up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. You can add additional satellites to extend coverage by up to 2,500 square feet per satellite, but those are sold separately.
…Read more
How do I know if I need a mesh network?
The main benefit of upgrading to a mesh network is to rid your home of dead zones. Since mesh systems offer a greater coverage area than a stand-alone router, they’re well-suited to medium or large homes. If your home is spread across over 1,500 square feet, you likely have some harder-to-reach spots for a traditional router.
Smaller properties may be serviced just fine by a regular router. Still, if you find internet speeds plummeting in the rooms farthest from your router, it might make sense to upgrade to a mesh system.
Will a mesh network replace my existing router?
Yes, your new mesh network will replace your current router. A mesh router will connect directly to your modem via Ethernet, like your existing router does, with any other mesh devices being connected to power at other spots in your home.
Importantly, you’ll see just one network in your home and phones, tablets and other devices will automatically switch between the various mesh devices in the background as you move around so you’re always connected to the optimum mesh device.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword completed puzzle for July 30, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: “Style, charm or attractiveness,” per a modern coinage. Answer: RIZZ
5A clue: Close bud. Answer: HOMIE
6A clue: Black cats and red moons, supposedly. Answer: OMENS
7A clue: Make a face, say. Answer: REACT
8A clue: Prefix with fat or fiction. Answer: NON
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Title Shakespeare role for a young DiCaprio. Answer: ROMEO
2D clue: “That is to say …” Answer: IMEAN
3D clue: Chemical element found in many immune-boosting supplements. Answer: ZINC
4D clue: Finely grate, as a lemon peel. Answer: ZEST
5D clue: Car’s noisemaker. Answer: HORN
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Warner Bros. Games dropped an official trailer for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions on Monday, revealing some of the customizations available in the upcoming and showing off gameplay. It’s made by Unbroken Studios, which also co-developed Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
In the two-minute trailer, venues on the road to the Quidditch World Cup are spotlighted, as are the different game modes, including a single-player career mode, player-versus-player modes and online co-op. You can play as characters from the franchise including Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasely and Cho Chang, all featured in the trailer, or customize your own character with different costumes, hairstyles and brooms.
Up to three players can play together on each team with online mode, and players can choose from the four Quidditch positions: chaser, seeker, keeper or beater. Skill points allow players to level up their brooms and competitors can change their flight style to suit their play. The game’s description promises that some of the gameplay venues will include “legendary Quidditch arenas, as well as maps that showcase never-before-seen areas of the wizarding world.”
The Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Windows PC game is out digitally in $30 standard and $40 deluxe editions on Sept. 3. PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to get the game for PlayStation 4 or 5 at no charge until Sept. 30. A retail Deluxe Edition release is scheduled for Nov. 8. A Nintendo Switch release is due sometime over the holiday season, but has no set release date yet.
The deluxe edition includes House Packs for each of the four Hogwarts Houses and 2,000 Gold of in-game currency. Preorders for both editions on Xbox, Steam or the Epic Game Store include a Firebolt Supreme Broom Skin.
PC requirements for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions are below.
Minimum:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
Memory: 8GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960, 4GB or AMD Radeon HD 7950, 3GB or Intel Arc A380, 6GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 15GB available space
Additional notes: Should enable 1080p @ 60 fps with settings on Low
Recommended:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Memory: 8GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, 3GB or AMD Radeon R9 290X, 4GB or Intel Arc A750, 8GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 15GB available space
Additional notes: Should enable 1080p @ 60 fps with settings on High
US adults who have already shopped for back-to-school or plan to will spend an average of $662.
A surprising 44% of respondents said they’ve already set aside the money they’ll need for back-to-school shopping.
90% of back-to-school shoppers are using at least one type of savings method to cut costs, with the majority (41%) turning to sales, discounts and coupons.
Nearly three in 10 (29%) shoppers will consider taking on credit card debt or using payment plans such as Buy Now, Pay Later.
Back-to-school season is one of my favorite times of the year. It might seem too early to talk about buying school uniforms and laptops for your child, but one in four US adults have already started shopping for supplies or plan to as of early July, according to CNET’s latest survey. And I’m one of them.
I’ve been reporting on rising costs on everything from energy bills to groceries for the past few months. I’m also a mom who’s expecting to pay more for school supplies this year, so I got a jump start on my back-to-school shopping. I budgeted $300 for supplies, and I’m already chipping away at that. Truthfully, I will likely go over by $100 to cover the costs of uniform shirts for my kids, but I’m OK with that since it won’t hit my pockets all at once.
Like me, 90% of Americans have a method to help them save money this back-to-school season. I loved seeing that this year, more US adults (44%) put aside money for school shopping. Planning in advance can help you avoid overspending and accumulating debt, especially when coupled with sales and state tax-free weekends.
Dasha Kennedy, a millennial financial coach, CNET Money expert review board member and founder of The Broke Black Girl, loves that more families have budgeted for school supplies this year. “It’s encouraging to see families using money they’ve set aside for back-to-school shopping,” said Kennedy. “This trend shows a proactive approach to financial planning.”
Here’s what our latest CNET Money survey found about back-to-school shopping, how parents are affording it and expert recommendations for reducing your costs.
How much are Americans spending on back-to-school supplies?
Parents and students are spending an average of $662 on back-to-school supplies this year, according to CNET’s survey. I’m not surprised by that, especially when you factor in scenarios such as multiple children, grade levels and higher costs.
Kennedy pointed out another factor that could raise costs even higher: back-to-school tech devices.
“With the increasing use of technology in schools, there’s a higher demand for tech products,” said Kennedy. Beyond computers and tablets, there are headphones, chargers, accessories and apps, which are more expensive than pencil and paper. Still, shoppers are planning to spend 11% less than last year, according to a survey from Deloitte, a financial consulting firm.
$662 isn’t a small amount. So how are Americans paying for it all?
Alexandra Wagner/Getty Images
Most shoppers are taking steps to save on school supplies
Most survey respondents (41%) said they are using sales, discounts, and coupons to save money to better afford steep back-to-school costs. I know I am. I purchased uniform bottoms for my son during Target’s Circle Week, which saved me $15 all-in. And I just snagged more supplies on sale, including markers and plastic folders that were 50% off at Target, too.
Other savings methods shoppers are using include price comparison shopping (39%), taking advantage of major sales like Prime Day and buying fewer items (33%).
Tip: You can also save on back-to-school clothes and uniforms by shopping at second-hand stores like Once Upon a Child. You can sell your child’s gently used clothes and items, such as book bags and shoes, and buy items for a fraction of the price of new clothes.
If you’re looking for deals, Kennedy recommends starting now. She also recommends seeing if your state offers tax-free weekends to help you avoid sales tax when shopping for big-ticket items like laptops and clothing. According to our survey, 22% of US adults are shopping for tax-free holidays this year to pocket some savings.
Keep a look out for sales from retailers, too. Even though Target Circle Week and Amazon Prime Day are over, you may still find some good deals on some back-to-school items you need now. And there’s a chance for more sales and clearance items later this year that can yield more savings if you don’t want to buy everything now.
How Americans are covering back-to-school costs
The majority of respondents (44%) are using money they’ve already budgeted for back-to-school shopping — and experts love that.
“More families are becoming financially aware and planning ahead to avoid debt,” Kennedy said. Between inflation and the changing school supply needs, like more tech products, Kennedy said shoppers are making more informed decisions on what they need for the school year without breaking the bank.
Kennedy is a big supporter of breaking the cost of large purchases into smaller, manageable increments because it lightens the burden of spending a significant amount from one paycheck. Since back-to-school shopping happens every year, saving for the costs throughout the year can help you plan in advance, without jeopardizing other everyday expenses or goals, she added.
While it may be too late to plan for this year, consider opening a separate high-yield savings account for next year’s costs. Moving $25 into it each pay period (assuming you’re paid bi-weekly) can save $650 in one year.
Fewer shoppers are borrowing with BNPL and credit cards
There is some good news. Most shoppers are planning not to finance their back-to-school purchases this year. Additionally, 14% are still using credit cards, but not as financing tools. They’re using them as part of a bigger payment strategy or to earn rewards. These respondents say they plan to pay their balances off in full.
If you’re using a credit card to finance back-to-school purchases you can’t afford right now, consider a 0% APR card which will give you more time to pay off your balance without incurring interest. If you opt for a Buy Now Pay Later plan, make sure you build the installments into your budget so you don’t miss a payment, get hit with a late fee or hurt your credit score.
You can also use layaway services like Amazon Layaway to spread out your payments over time. This option differs from BNPL plans because you don’t get the items until you make your final payment. And if you decide you can’t afford a purchase, you can have your money fully refunded. Amazon Layaway isn’t available in all states or on all items, so check what’s eligible before leaning on this option.
How to lower costs on big-ticket tech products for school
School-related technology, such as computers and accessories, is one of the more expensive items on supply lists, especially for college. A good laptop, for example, can cost between $700 and $1,000, said CNET’s tech expert and managing editor, Josh Goldman. Here are a few ways Goldman suggests you can spend less on back-to-school tech.
Laptops are always on sale, so it’s best to hold off on paying full price, said Goldman. You can cut back on the expense by checking your local wholesale club, like Costco. Your school or college probably offers discounts or special offers on select tech brands, too. Check with your school’s bookstore or technology services.
You may also find the laptop or headphones you need refurbished. And that’s OK, but only buy used tech from a reputable source. Goldman, who’s been covering computer tech for over a decade, recommends Back Market, Apple, Best Buy, eBay’s Refurbished Market — which offers an additional $20 discount for students. Tech brands, like Dell, also offer refurbished options. Regardless of where you buy from, be aware of the return policy and warranties in case you’re not satisfied. eBay’s refurbished store has a 30-day return policy and a minimum one-year warranty.
However, finding a used product doesn’t always mean it’s the best bargain, said Goldman. “I recommend doing a quick web search for the model you’re interested in to find its age and, if it’s more than a year old, find the price of the new version,” he said. “It’s not unusual to find a deep discount on a new laptop that’s actually less than the refurb price.”
Be skeptical of tech dupes, too. CNET’s video producer Jessica Fierro and senior editor Corinne Reichert recently reported that knock-off tech products are usually of poor quality and usually not worth the cheap price tag.
More ways to score savings on back-to-school supplies this year
We could all stand to save some money. Here are a few of Kennedy’s top tips to save on school supply costs.
Make a list and set a budget: Write down everything you need to buy and prioritize the essentials. Then, decide how much you can afford to spend and stick to it.
Compare prices: Check prices online and in stores to find the best deals. Don’t assume the dollar store always has the lowest prices; sometimes, major department stores offer items for less. Download store apps to compare prices and find coupons online that aren’t available in-store.
Avoid impulsive spending: If it’s not on your list, don’t buy it. If you’re shopping in person, consider using cash to avoid overspending.
Shop your home first: Look through last year’s supplies to see what you can reuse. Even small items can offset your total spending.
Buy in phases: You may start by only buying what your child needs to get started, then buy more supplies as they go on clearance over the next month.
What to do if you can’t afford school supplies right now
If you can’t cover the costs of school supplies, taking up the matter with your child’s school is usually a good first step.
Alaina Fingal, an accountant, money coach and CNET Money expert review board member, highly recommends talking to your child’s school and teachers.
“Many schools send out uniform coupons and many uniform shops have layaway plans to help you spread out the expense for back to school,” said Fingal.
Schools can also connect you with nonprofit organizations and local donation drives that help you get the supplies you need at no or low cost.
Fingal also suggests contacting your child’s teacher to see what items are required. “We discovered a couple of years ago that many of the school supply lists are county-mandated and many teachers won’t use many of the supplies listed,” said Fingal. “We started reaching out to the teachers prior to the beginning of the school year and it has saved us hundreds.”
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,457 adults, including 621 back-to-school shoppers. Fieldwork was undertaken between July 3-8, 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).
The Olympic Games, streaming from Paris now until Aug. 11, bring on a lot of questions on how regular folk watching from home can emulate the speculator performances of professional athletes, from how they eat, how they sleep and how they train.
How do Olympians harness focus to accomplish their goals in the first place?
According to John Heil, there are two mindsets an Olympic fencer toggles between: One is staying focused and reacting to your opponent, and the other is all about what you’re doing “between touches,” when weapons are down. Heil, a clinical and sports psychologist, has worked with USA Fencing Olympians during three separate games going back to Atlanta in 1996. While the mental reset from “actionable” to “analytic” is important for fencers, it may not be so different from the task-switching our every day, notification-bombarded environment requires.
“Surprises come our way, and we have to move from one mindset to another,” Heil said. “You need to adjust.”
Olympians are renowned for their physical performance, but much of being a top-tier athlete hinges on mental performance, and the ability to harness focus in a split second. Just ahead of the summer 2024 Olympic Games, CNET spoke with four psychologists who’ve had experience working with professional athletes and getting into the minds of Olympians.
Here’s what they have to say, and the tips they offer for bringing Olympian-level focus into everyday living.
David Madison/Stone via Getty Images
Practice a minute of mindfulness each day
“I believe focus is the most important mental skill for athletes and performers,” Mark Aoyagi said in an email. Aoyagi is co-director of Sport & Performance Psychology and a professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver. He’s worked with professional and Olympic teams but says that focus is key for everyone, no matter the size of the stage they’re on. The best way to start learning focus, Aoyagi said, is to practice mindfulness.
“As cliche as it has almost become, mindfulness meditation is an excellent tool for teaching focus, as it does three things simultaneously,” he said. The first is that it trains “meta-attention,” or the ability to pay attention to your attention. The second is that it trains narrow focus, which is what we typically think of when we’re centering our attention on one thing. And the third thing mindfulness does is train vigilance or “attentional endurance,” which Aoyagi describes as the ability to stay focused over time.
This lays the bricks for having a mental routine, which Aoyagi describes as the “best way to establish a game day mindset.”
So, how can you dip into the mindful magic? Aoyagi recommends starting with the “smallest amount of time” you can commit to daily, even if it’s just a single minute.
“It is much more effective to practice small training daily than to try to do longer training but less frequently,” he said.
For tips on getting started with mindfulness, you can read CNET’s guide for beginners, or try an app.
The iPhone trick that could spark Olympian-level focus
At CNET, we talk a lot about smartphones. What if we told you that simply opening up your phone could be the easiest way to train your focus like a professional athlete?
Ross Flowers is a clinical, sport and performance psychologist who served as a senior sport psychologist for the US Olympic Committee from 2008 to 2012. He’s also worked with professional sports teams, including the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Lakers, Rams and Clippers.
When asked for a hack anyone can do to start harnessing focus like a professional athlete, Flowers said a “quick and easy one that everyone can do” is to build up attention. To get started, he says, pick up your phone and stare at the grid of apps before you.
“Give yourself 10 seconds” to memorize as many apps as you can on the screen, Flowers said. “Write them down,” he said, as a test for yourself to see how many you can remember. Then, once you get good at remembering them, move to a different screen or “go to something larger.”
This is a play on a similar basketball exercise Flowers gave. A player could pick up a basketball and memorize any and all details about it: the color, the pattern of the lines, the name on the ball, the way it smells and more. It’s a good exercise in attention, but it also helps you narrow in on what you say you want to focus on.
“It helps you lock in the moment to what you say you’re committed to,” Flowers said.
Identify one (or two) specific skills you need in the moment
Flowers, who ran hurdles at the post-collegiate level before becoming a psychologist, said to focus specifically on what skills serve the moment.
For himself in a hurdles race, one example might be focusing on “exploding” when he hears the gun. For someone in a team sport, it might be focusing on your role specifically.
Although what this will look like in your life varies depending on the event or discipline, the basic idea is to have a general awareness of what you require to achieve your goal. Then, simplify it for yourself.
Caspar Benson/fStop via Getty Images
Remember to breathe and connect to your body
When it comes to mind and body, “there’s more of an overlap than we think,” Heil said. By manipulating our body and its position, including our line of sight, we can shift our focus and mental state.
When a soccer player is stressed out while playing, for example, Heil advises them to follow the ball with their eyes.
“Your thinking tends to follow what your eyes are looking at in an action environment,” Heil said.
Although this advice is more for athletes, you can try it outside the sports arena, at your desk. If something is causing you stress and you notice yourself hunched over and staring at your screen, try straightening your posture and looking out the window. Make a mental note of what you see.
An age-old trick to calm the nerves, according to the experts we spoke with, is breathing. Taking deep breaths and focusing on the breath in your body is a great way to steady yourself and connect to the moment. Check out our beginning guide on how to breathe to relieve stress.
Make time each day for one thing around the house you don’t like doing
Cody Commander is a clinical and sports psychologist who was the Olympic mental health officer for the 2020 Tokyo Games. One major difference between people who make it to the top in terms of athletic performance (or any other type of performance) is simply their discipline in actually doing what needs to be done to meet their goal, in following the tips and using the tricks, according to Commander.
“I think a misperception a lot of people have is that for high performers, there are groundbreaking techniques that people are using that separates them from everyone else,” Commander said. “And it’s not really that the techniques are novel or new, it’s just that they actually do them.”
Commander added that one of the biggest differences he sees in people who achieve a lot of success in any field is their choice to do something they don’t want to do but know they need to do to accomplish their goal.
An exercise he’s given people to practice is to pick a chore each day around the house that you really don’t like doing and just do it. This will get you in the habit of making time for less-than-pleasurable activities. (Who knows, maybe your judgment or your distaste for the task will melt away as the chore becomes part of a new routine or your perspective shifts.)
Tara Moore/Stone via Getty Images
Keep exactly what you want in mind — always
Flowers has an email signature that says, “Greatness is an appreciation for maximizing the details. So make sure you know how.”
When I asked him what that original quote means, he said it boils down to “verifying what you want — what decisions will you make and the energy and effort you’re going to put toward that.”
We’ve written about why it’s important to identify your want (not your parents’ want, or your boss’ want, or what you think you should want, based on your life trajectory so far), but the same thread proves to be crucial to professional athletic performance, too. Performance in any other realm of life, it seems.
In other words: What’s setting your soul on fire?
“You have to know what you’re actually working toward,” Flowers said.
Alien: Romulus brought the facehugging terror to Friday’s San Diego Comic-Con panel in Hall H. To promote the upcoming installment of the celebrated horror franchise, Disney and 20th Century Studios pulled out the stops — and unleashed a horde of facehuggers into the crowd — to make for a memorable hour of horror.
Director Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead) was on hand with cast members Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, and Spike Fearn to show the packed room what’s in store for moviegoers once the movie premieres on Aug. 16.
The events of Alien: Romulus take place between Alien and Aliens. Though the movie exists as a standalone story — meaning audiences won’t need to see Ridley Scott’s classic or James Cameron’s epic follow-up — Alvarez revealed there will be “member berries” (aka Easter Eggs) sprinkled throughout for the fans.
Read more: ‘Alien: Romulus’ Trailer Brings the Chest-Bursting Horror Back to Space
“I mean, it is its own story, right?” Álvarez said. “You really don’t need to have seen the other ones to really understand or enjoy this film.”
Álvarez called his movie “two hours of insanity” inspired by the works of Scott, Cameron, David Fincher (who directed Alien 3) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (who helmed Alien: Resurrection). Paying homage to the directors who came before him, he revealed that each artist’s style informed his direction with Romulus, which he acknowledged as a period piece.
Three separate first-look clips were played throughout the panel to whet the proverbial whistles of every fan in attendance, and they were glorious.
In the first preview clip, the Hall H fans got a closer look at the facehuggers and chestbursters, and there were hordes of them. Alan Seeger’s haunting poem I Have a Rendezvous With Death was recited over the beginning visuals as the group of colonists work to make sense of the abandoned ship they’ve boarded. As they clamor to fix a ripped-apart synthetic, a collection of alien pods begin hatching in the adjacent room and pick off members of the crew.
What was remarkable about this first look was the kinetic nature that Álvarez’s crew gave the creatures. They’ve always been fast, but as I watched them move underwater, they took on an amphibious quality. It was refreshing to see team members bat the creatures away from their faces with weapons instead of immediately perishing. Álvarez did assure the room that many people would indeed die. So that’s a nice confirmation of the bleak thrill ride to come.
The second clip gave a closer, jarring — and surprisingly intimate — perspective of a chest-bursting alien birth. It was a refreshing take on the familiar sequence, which raised the stakes while also slowing things down at the right moment to allow the audience to fully take in the majesty of this god-awful childbirth.
During the question-and-answer portion of the panel, Hall H suddenly went dark. Red lights began to flash, and sirens wailed throughout the room. Suddenly, a barrage of motorized face-huggers overtook Hall H and the stage. Bodies lay on the floor with creatures smothering their faces, and an actor took the stage and went through the final stages of death before a chestburster tore through his shirt.
The third and final clip found Spaeny’s Rain attempting an escape through the hallway of the abandoned ship, only to witness the hatching of an adult Xenomorph. It was a glorious sight.
Facehuggers stormed Hall H and claimed their victims at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.
Getty Images
Capping off the event in style, Disney and 20th Century Studios treated everyone in the crowd to facehugger masks and then had the masked-up crowd pose in a grandiose Hall H selfie with Álvarez and the cast.
A number of directors have helmed movies within the Alien franchise — and yes, I am including Prometheus, Alien: Covenant and the Alien vs. Predator movies. The quality of these releases varies from epic classics to box-office calamities. For Álvarez, the risk of making a crappy movie is worth it when there’s also a chance of creating a celebrated work of art.
“For me, when you sit down in the theater — the logo shows up and the lights go down; I feel that this is it: This is the one that is going to change my life,” he said. “It’s kind of crazy, because most movies are shit. Five minutes in, you go, ‘This is not going to change my life.’ But for the first five seconds, you do feel that way, because it did happen to you. And we all keep looking for that moment.”
Alien: Romulus is poised to bring some old-school glory to the franchise. The passion and dedication of the cast and their trusted director make this release sound like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all involved.
“We could really trust him,” Spaeny told the audience. “He wanted to do something for the fans as a fan. He was very vocal.” According to Álvarez, they all gave 200 percent to “give you the movie you deserve.” And really, that’s all I could ask for.
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
New York Times Mini Crossword completed for July 27, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Breed of sled dog. Answer: HUSKY
6A clue: Ante establishment? Answer: CASINO
7A clue: Golden-brown drizzle on an ice cream sundae. Answer: CARAMEL
8A clue: Guitarist’s accessory. Answer: AMP
9A clue: Tree that makes acorns. Answer: OAK
10A clue: Shoot off again, as an email. Answer: RESEND
12A clue: Unmanned aircraft. Answer: DRONE
13A clue: Castle material that’s not very sturdy. Answer: SAND
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Talks persistently about.Answer: HARPSON
2D clue: Olympic women’s gymnastics powerhouse.Answer: USA
3D clue: Biles who represents 2-Down.Answer: SIMONE
4D clue: Work with the hands, as dough.Answer: KNEAD
5D clue: Egg’s center.Answer: YOLK
6A clue: Backup ___ (modern auto feature). Answer: CAMERA
7A clue: Birthday messages may be written on them Answer: CARDS
11D clue: Fitting final Down answerAnswer: END
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
