• Ukraine has been using an old turboprop plane to shoot down Shahed drones in flight.
• Now, it's launching its interceptor drones from the plane, turning it into an airborne carrier.
• Videos show several interceptors being launched in combat from under the wing of an Antonov An-28.

Ukrainian troops have used an Antonov An-28 turboprop aircraft to launch several interceptor drones in combat, turning the civilian plane into an airborne carrier for Shahed-killing quadcopters.

Tymur Fatkullin, a Ukrainian pilot, posted footage on social media of the drones launched from under the wings of an An-28.

"You could call it a cheap air-to-air missile. For us, it is also a step toward technology that will allow drones to operate in zero visibility," Fatkullin wrote in a caption for his Thursday post.

The videos appear to show multiple P1-Sun interceptors, developed by the Ukrainian firm Skyfall, being launched individually from the An-28's wings. Each one is seen tracking down and destroying a Shahed.

Fatkullin's montage included a brief clip of the US-made Merops system firing an AS-3 Surveyor, a winged interceptor drone, from the An-28 during a training mission.

The Wild Hornets, another Ukrainian drone maker, also said that its Sting interceptor drone was recently launched from an An-28 during a combat mission, posting footage of a daytime launch. Earlier this week, it said it had taken part in the world's first interceptor combat launch from an uncrewed surface vessel.

The An-28's modified configuration appears to feature pylons under its wings, allowing the plane to carry at least three interceptor drones per wing.

The light transport turboprop plane, which first flew in 1968, is fast emerging as one of Ukraine's low-cost solutions to Russia's frequent waves of Shahed attack drones. Ukrainian An-28 crews would typically use the plane to position near a flying Shahed, firing a machine gun from a side door to destroy the loitering munition.

Dozens of drone kills with this tactic have now given the An-28, originally intended as a transport or passenger aircraft, a new colloquial reputation as a "Shahed hunter" in Ukraine.

As a platform for interceptor drones, it offers several other advantages that could further extend Ukraine's cheaper air defense.

First, the airborne platform allows an interceptor crew to maneuver into range of Shaheds more quickly; a typical Ukrainian crew, which includes the drone pilot and radar operator, travels in cars or trucks to reach the threat or a designated area of responsibility. The plane is also designed for short take-offs and landings, meaning it doesn't need a conventional airstrip.

Meanwhile, the An-28 can cruise at about 208 mph, which would also allow an interceptor drone to launch at a higher velocity if both aircraft fly in the same direction, making it easier for the drone to catch up to a Shahed.

Some of Ukraine's fastest interceptor drones can fly above 200 mph, with its defense ministry saying one of its small drones set a record speed of 248.5 mph in December.

Local firms continue to upgrade the speeds of these small drones, though there are theoretical limits to their most common designs, which often rely on four propellers and a tear-shaped aerodynamic frame.

The effort to push the speeds of these interceptors comes as Ukraine has warned that Russia is developing arsenals of newer types of loitering munitions that fly much faster. Some, such as the turbojet-powered Geran-3 and Geran-5, can reportedly fly at up to 235 mph or 370 mph.

The Geran-2, the Russian-made version of Iran's Shahed-136, is known to fly at about 115 mph.

• Claude Code's head of product said that AI release frequency is causing user FOMO.
• AI labs are shipping new features rapidly, causing user overwhelm and product overlaps.
• This month, Claude Code faced user criticism for lower-quality output.

Claude Code's head of product said she knows the frequency of AI releases is stressing people out.

On an episode of "Lenny's" podcast published on Thursday, Cat Wu, the head of product for Claude Code and Cowork at Anthropic, said that users are experiencing the fear of missing out on new AI products.

"With these agentic tools, not just Claude Code and Cowork, but across the whole ecosystem, people feel this need to like check Twitter every single day to see what the absolute latest thing is," Wu said. "There's more we can do to help people feel less like they're on this ever increasingly fast treadmill."

Wu, who joined the AI lab in 2024, said that companies usually ship a feature every month or quarter, making it easy for users to check in once a month and stay up to date.

But in the race to build the best AI tools, labs, Big Tech, and startups are shipping faster than ever — and in increasingly overlapping areas.

Wu said she wants to see products that will reduce some of this overwhelm.

"I would love people to feel like they can just open these tools. The tools will educate or teach them what they want to know and that they can just feel more brought along," she said.

On Thursday's podcast, the head of product added that the industry's pace is affecting Anthropic.

"With AI moving so quickly and with so many ideas that we need to test out, we do sometimes have features that overlap with each other," she said.

Over the past few months, the frontier model lab has pushed to strengthen its position in AI coding, with a stream of model releases and product updates to Claude Code and more "agent"- style workflows. Claude Code, which launched in February 2025, started off as a terminal-based coding assistant and has evolved into an AI-powered workspace with features such as plugins, memory, and multiple agents.

A tech blog that tabulates Anthropic's launches said the company shipped over 45 new features in the first three months of the year.

This string of new releases has come with hiccups.

In the last few weeks, users complained that Claude Code's responses had severely deteriorated. The company denied that it had intentionally degraded the tool and said that it identified a trio of issues likely contributing to a worse user experience.

The Anthropic tool competes with Cursor and Codex, made by chief rival OpenAI. It also shares the AI-assisted coding market with startups like Lovable, Bolt, and Emergent.

• Barbara Corcoran, 77, says she became more confident by changing one bad habit.
• Instead of reinforcing her negative thoughts, she worked to reframe how she spoke to herself.
• "By the time I got to be 50, I pretty much believed it, maybe, you know, but it's hard to shake it," she said.

Barbara Corcoran, 77, says she overcame years of self-doubt by changing one bad habit.

On Thursday's episode of "The Burnouts" podcast, Corcoran told hosts Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni that it took her a long time to learn to believe in herself.

"It's just funny what your head can do for you. Most of everything, I think, plays out in your head," Corcoran said. "You know, I wish I told myself as a younger woman, you're a lot more capable than you think you are. But it took years to really learn that."

She founded the Corcoran Group, a real estate brokerage in New York City, in 1973, before selling the company for $66 million in 2001. She has also been an investor on "Shark Tank" since the show's debut in 2009.

Corcoran said she prepares extensively before business meetings, making sure she knows everything inside and out so she can stay in "total control."

"And yet when I walk in, I think that everybody's smarter than me," she said, adding that the feeling stems from her experience as a student who struggled in school.

However, she was determined to push back against those memories, she said.

"In fact, probably till I was, I think, 35, I would have a self-tape that I had to consciously really change. My tape would say, 'Hey, Barb, you should have never been here. You didn't need to come to this meeting. You're better off with your salespeople at home. You'd get more done. You motivate them,'" Corcoran said, recalling her negative self-talk.

Corcoran said she would often tell herself that being in those group settings was a mistake and that she shouldn't have gone.

"And then when I was about 35, I realized that tape was pulling me back. It was old tape, so then I replaced it. I said, 'Barbara, you're a genius. Fuck them all. You're great," she said.

Even though she didn't believe it at first, repeating it eventually helped her internalize it.

"By running it all the time, 35 to 40 to 45. By the time I got to be 50, I pretty much believed it, maybe, you know, but it's hard to shake it," Corcoran said.

Corcoran isn't alone. Other celebrities have also spoken about the role self-talk plays in shaping confidence.

Elizabeth Banks has said that treating herself kindly is key to aging well.

"It's your attitude. Getting rid of negative self-talk and just being positive about how you feel about yourself," Banks said.

Some have also pointed out that those habits can extend beyond themselves.

Zooey Deschanel has said she doesn't let her two kids see her insecure.

"I always want them to think I'm happy with myself and, like, because they get their self-esteem from their parents, you know. So yeah, it's important to me to, like, show up with confidence," she said.

Similarly, Kylie Kelce has said she tries to model self-love in front of her kids.

"I really try my best to make sure that I speak positively about myself, even on the days that I don't necessarily feel it," Kelce said.

• The Iran war has affected businesses across sectors, from retail to advertising.
• Its impacts are starting to show up in earnings calls.
• Here's what top CEOs and execs are saying about the impact of the Iran war on the business world.

More than six weeks have passed since the Iran war began, and the impact of the conflict on businesses is becoming more evident.

The impacts of surging oil prices, supply chain issues, and lower demand from the Middle East are starting to show up in Q1 earnings.

In some sectors, such as investment banking, executives say business activity is in good shape overall.

However, for industries such as luxury goods, which have a strong retail presence in the Middle East, there are concerns about how the ongoing conflict will affect business.

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, said in the company's first-quarter earnings call on April 13 that "the environment for investment banking activity continues to be incredibly robust, particularly M&A activity."

Solomon said that while leaders are "watching what's going on geopolitically," they are also looking at the opportunities that artificial intelligence could bring.

"They are focused on that, and that candidly trumps some of the geopolitical risk," Solomon added.

Arthur Sadoun, CEO of Publicis Groupe

The French advertising giant said on its first-quarter earnings call on April 14 that the conflict in the Middle East had led some clients to delay "large transformation capex projects" due to uncertainty over how the situation might unfold.

CEO Arthur Sadoun said on the call that clients had become resilient in navigating uncertainty, after other major events, including COVID, the war in Ukraine, tariffs, and inflation. Publicis said it hadn't seen brands making significant reductions in their marketing budgets in the first quarter.

"They know that if they cut marketing spend, they will lose market share," Sadoun said. "That will be very expensive and very difficult to win back."

Publicis' Middle East and Africa business posted a 5.1% decline in organic revenue in the quarter, with the United Arab Emirates and Israel most affected, the company said.

Cécile Cabanis, CFO of LVMH

LVMH said in its earnings call on April 13 that its first-quarter performance was negatively affected by the war in Iran.

Cécile Cabanis, CFO of the French luxury conglomerate, said that "demand is very much down" in the Middle East, particularly citing lower foot traffic to malls.

Cabanis said Sephora, one of LVMH's companies, has been able to resist this downward trend better because of its large presence in Saudi Arabia, which she said has been "more resilient" during the conflict.

"What we have not seen yet is repatriation. And what we know is that the wealth has not evaporated," Cabanis said.

She added that if the conflict persists and wealthy people leave the region, they will ensure that they are "there to serve the clients."

Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH

Bernard Arnault, LVMH's CEO, said at an April meeting in Paris that there could be a "world catastrophe" if the Iran conflict continues.

The billionaire told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting that "the world is now in a pretty serious crisis in the Middle East" — one that affected demand for LVMH's products in the first quarter.

"Either it'll be a world catastrophe with very serious and very negative economic impact — in which case, who can say how 2026 will unfold," Arnault said. "Or it will be resolved more rapidly in some shape or form that we all hope for, even if it doesn't seem to be easy, in which case, business will recover and resume their normal course."

Armelle Poulou, CFO of Kering

Gucci parent company Kering said during its first-quarter earnings call on April 14 that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East weighed on its traffic and performance.

"Since the end of February, the situation in the region has remained an area of heightened attention for the group," CFO Armelle Poulou said.

It saw an 11% decline in retail revenue in the region during Q1, which dragged on the overall retail segment.

The Middle East accounts for about 5% of the luxury conglomerate's retail revenue, with about 1,100 employees and 79 stores, the company said. Despite some recent disruptions, it said stores are fully open.

Kering is also feeling the impact of the Iran war on sales outside of the Middle East. Its sales were down 7% in Western Europe in Q1, where "trends remain challenging, particularly due to softer tourist flows, notably from Asia and Middle East," Poulou said.

Eric du Halgouët, CFO of Hermes

Luxury brand Hermes said its sales in the Middle East fell 6% in the first quarter as the conflict in Iran kicked off.

The company also saw its sales in France take a hit, with a "strong decrease" in Middle East customers shopping for its products.

"The impact of the slowdown because of the Middle East is not significant on profitability," its CFO Eric du Halgouët said during the company's earnings call on April 15.

"It remains to be seen whether the events continue for a month or two, but if it's just two months, I think that we can absorb this impact without too many difficulties," he added.

Wendell Huang, CFO of TSMC

Semiconductor powerhouse TSMC reported record profit for the first quarter — but warned that the war in Iran could affect its finances.

Speaking on TSMC's earnings call, CFO Wendell Huang told investors that the prices of certain chemicals and gases the Taiwanese company uses to make chips would likely increase due to the situation in the Middle East.

Huang said that the disruption could impact TSMC's profitability, but told investors the company had sufficient reserves of hydrogen and helium to ride out any shortages.

Helium plays a critical role in semiconductor production. Around one-third of the world's supply is produced by Qatar, and the Iran war has sparked a global shortage of the odorless gas.

Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock

Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, said that his firm has "not seen any changes in behavior" in the investment appetite of massive Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds. Fink, who said he was due to meet two finance ministers in the region this week, hasn't seen any withdrawals from its sovereign wealth funds, and the money keeps flowing. However, so do the questions.

"Our dialogues are probably a little more constant, a little more talking about how they should play all of this and what should they do?" Fink said.

He did warn that "prolonged" uncertainty or violence could change this, but for now, the firm was confident there were still "huge opportunities" and would continue to build out offices across the region.

Rising energy prices could even provide an opportunity for public-private infrastructure investments in parts of Europe and Asia most affected. Their deficits are likely to rise as governments absorb these costs, he said, presenting "bigger and better opportunities."

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said the economy is resilient but warned of an "increasingly complex set of risks," including geopolitical tensions, in a press release. On a call with analysts, CFO Jeremy Barnum said that war in the Middle East could negatively impact the deals pipeline, which has so far been "surprisingly resilient."

Dimon added that, if things in the region begin to get "derailed," he would expect to see an "impact on sentiment and on deal decision-making."

Elena Mariani, head of strategic planning and investor relations at Moncler

Italian luxury fashion brand Moncler said its Middle East sales were down 50% in March.

However, Elena Mariani, head of strategic planning and investor relations at Moncler, said this drop did not have "a meaningful direct impact on the business" on the company's earnings call on April 21.

Moncler, best known for its down-filled puffa jackets, has less exposure to the Middle East than other luxury brands, with the region accounting for less than 2% of sales.

Overall, EMEA revenue was down 1% for the first quarter of 2026.

This dip "was more related to incoming tourism from overseas customers into Europe that was worse in March compared to the previous two months," Mariani said.

Luciano Santel, executive director of Moncler, said that "there was a significant decline in traffic coming from outside the region in Europe due to a decline in flights."

• Donald Trump is considering federal support for Spirit Airlines amid ongoing financial struggles.
• Analysts and aviation experts see market risks in government intervention.
• Senators Warren and Cruz expressed skepticism over a taxpayer-funded bailout for Spirit Airlines.

President Donald Trump signaled openness to the government having a stake in Spirit Airlines, and people have thoughts.

Speaking to CNBC on Monday, Trump said, "Maybe the federal government should help that one out," adding that he had raised the idea to his team.

The struggling budget carrier has spent the past two years grappling with bankruptcy and a failed merger with JetBlue that collapsed after a federal judge blocked the deal on antitrust grounds. Since then, Spirit has struggled to return to profitability.

Here's what politicians, analysts, and some of the industry's smartest people are saying about a potential bailout.

Jamie Baker

Jamie Baker, a JPMorgan analyst specializing in aviation, wrote in an analyst note on April 16 that he hopes a government takeover of Spirit is a "low-probability scenario," because airline investors already have "their share of headaches to contend with."

"Spirit's bankruptcies were not driven by higher oil, nor has the company claimed as much," Baker wrote. "Should the administration afford any sort of cash infusion, we believe JetBlue and Frontier would be inclined to quickly follow Spirit's lead."

"Were that to happen, would American be far behind?" Baker added.

In an April 23 analyst note, Baker said that an avenue "worth exploring" is for the administration to step in and wind down Spirit in an orderly manner that would minimize passenger disruption and to "influence the reallocation of its remaining fleet and assets."

Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Elizabeth Warren questioned whether taxpayers would benefit from a bailout in a post on X on April 22.

"Donald Trump's war with Iran caused the sky-high fuel prices that finally did Spirit Airlines in," Warren wrote.

"What do the American people get out of this taxpayer bailout?" she added. "Will the failed airline executives be held accountable?"

Scott Kirby

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said during the company's April 22 earnings call that he is not concerned about Spirit affecting United and that United does not need a federal bailout.

"Well-run airlines are still solidly profitable, even in this environment," said Kirby. "Whether Spirit fails or keeps flying, I don't think it has much effect on United, one way or another, to be honest."

"I feel bad for the people of Spirit, but it's been pretty obvious that Spirit's business model was fundamentally flawed, and the airline was not going to be able to make it or recover their cash operating costs," Kirby added.

Gary Leff

Gary Leff, a travel and points expert who is the main writer behind View From the Wing, wrote on April 20 that fuel prices aren't the issue.

"This is being framed as an emergency due to the cost of fuel. But this is not because of fuel," Leff wrote. "And the Trump administration isn't going to want to see an airline go under because of its military operation in Iran."

Leff said that he doesn't think fuel is to blame because Spirit spent most of the last two years in bankruptcy, doesn't have a clearly viable business model, and has "a terrible brand with consumers."

"The economy as a whole doesn't benefit when investment decisions get made politically," Leff added. "Socializing losses and privatizing gains doesn't just lead to a cronyist economy, it leads to too much risk-taking because owners don't really risk loss themselves."

Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz called bailing out Spirit Airlines an "absolutely terrible idea" in a post on X on April 22.

"The TARP corporate bailouts were a huge mistake & the government doesn't know a damn thing about running a failed budget airline (that the Biden admin killed)," Cruz wrote.

Ben Schlappig

Ben Schlappig, a travel blogger, consultant, and points expert who founded the One Mile at a Time aviation blog, wrote in an April 21 article that the government taking a stake in individual airlines "seems like a bad idea for competition."

"I don't want to be unsympathetic, but I don't think taxpayer money should go toward keeping one struggling airline alive, essentially just subsidizing airfare for a matter of months," Schlappig wrote.

"The topic of broader industry support is also one that I think will be discussed more in the coming weeks," Schlappig added. "If oil prices stay very high, even the world's most profitable airlines will be losing money, and the industry could be radically reshaped in a short period of time."

Sara Nelson

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents 55,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines, wrote on X on that the union had supported the failed JetBlue-Spirit merger and that the benefits of airline workers should be kept in mind if there is a bailout.

"Now, thousands of Flight Attendants and other frontline workers have their lives, paychecks, healthcare, homes, and retirement hanging in the balance," Nelson said in the April 22 post.

"Let's remember real people are hoping and praying for a lifeline. And no doubt they deserve it!" Nelson added. "But if nothing else, they especially deserve consideration and kindness."

• Trisha Soo is a special ed teacher and small art business owner in Singapore.
• After logging off at 6 p.m., she gears up to work on her art from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily.
• It gives her a creative outlet and a second income stream.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Trisha Soo, a 32-year-old teacher and artist from Singapore. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've been doing calligraphy since I was 10 years old.

I started learning from YouTube tutorials and making cards and calligraphy pieces for friends and family. It started as a hobby and a creative outlet.

Now, it's become a strong financial pillar for me. Still, it comes with many late nights.

After graduation, I worked at a special needs center as a therapist and moved up into a leadership position. But I found that role and the workload intensely stressful.

The last straw was finding myself checking my phone first thing in the morning. I started to have panic attacks because I dreaded waking up and finding out what fires I would have to fight that day.

I quit the job after the pandemic, then took a one-year gap from work to try to monetize my art, selling stickers, calligraphy prints, and stationery, and by offering lettering services for weddings and corporate clients. In December 2022, I officially launched my art business, calling it "Fully Scripted."

12-hour hustle

I've gone back to teaching, which I actually enjoy. I work on my art side hustle at night after my day job as a special education teacher.

I work four days a week for around four to six hours daily — usually starting around noon and ending at 6 p.m. I'm paid 50 Singapore dollars hourly, or around $40.

After wrapping up my work at the center, I come home and walk my dogs, then settle in for the second part of my daily hustle — working on "Fully Scripted."

I start around 9 p.m., either sketching new product ideas on my iPad with Procreate or working on corporate orders. I used to work with pen and paper, but it was too hard and time-consuming to digitize and redraw the lines. So I use Procreate right now for everything except for live calligraphy orders.

I've just landed an order to make 45 hand-foiled purses for a company in a week. Each piece has to be painstakingly measured, its lettering written and rewritten multiple times, and then heat-pressed to bind the gold foil to the fabric.

I value the quiet time I have alone — it's why I'm working in the middle of the night when everyone else is sleeping. Most days, I work until 3 a.m. on my art. This doesn't include weekends, when I often set up booths in art markets around Singapore.

The work is long, and I have a lot more gray hairs than when I started, but it's a different kind of stress compared to my first job. I'm working with my hands and running my own business, rather than sitting at a computer looking at numbers and growth charts.

I've earned about SG$16,500, or about $13,000, a year from my side hustle since I started in 2022, selling on my website, at art markets, and at conventions. The income is quite unpredictable, and I have some slow months.

Trial and error, and being demoralized, are normal

The worst part of the side hustle is the stress of not knowing whether the business will do well. It's only me running it, and I'm not well-versed in business.

I test new products by making 10 pieces of them. For a sticker book I made recently, I couldn't even sell out the 10. I knew I either had to redesign it or maybe it's just too niche.

So I'm figuring things out as I go, like how to launch new products. Sometimes they hit, sometimes they miss, and when they miss, it can be quite demoralizing.

I do wish to do art as a full-time job, hire a team to handle logistics and inventory, and move from my home studio into an actual office space. I'm not there yet.

My advice to anyone starting an art side hustle now: Marketing is everything now, and social media is the key.

The algorithm is very tricky, and each platform has its own, but practice makes perfect. Even if something that you make isn't perfect, don't be afraid to post it.

As artists, we often search for perfection. We make sure that everything looks great before we show the world. But don't be afraid of showing that more vulnerable side.

• Tech job cut announcements have picked up again recently.
• Some factors pressuring tech jobs could be temporary, while others may be permanent.
• How long will this "AI air pocket" for tech jobs last?

Multiple forces have converged to trigger a wave of job cuts across the tech industry. Some of these changes could be temporary, while others could stick and change the character of tech work forever.

The latest news feels bad. Meta is cutting another 8,000 jobs. Microsoft offered buyouts to long-term employees. Oracle shed thousands of roles. Block chopped 40% of staff.

These cuts are painful and stressful for the people involved. However, it pays to put recent numbers in context, gauge how much AI is to blame, and consider how permanent this situation might be.

A recent report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that US tech layoffs were worse in 2023, only three years ago. Compared to the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009, this feels like a blip. I remember. I was there. It was terrifying.

Here are some potentially temporary sources of pressure on tech jobs, along with others that could be permanent.

Temporary pressure points

• Tech companies dramatically over-hired in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic boom. They are still adjusting. Once that process is complete, job cuts could slow or even reverse. There's still demand for tech workers. Job postings for software development roles have risen sharply this year and have been climbing since late 2022, when ChatGPT launched. The supply of software engineers has risen dramatically, though, making the current situation feel worse, especially for some new graduates.
• Some tech giants are investing heavily in data centers and other AI infrastructure to develop new models and related services. That AI capex boom could peak around 2028, according to analyst projections. After that, some of these companies may have more financial flexibility, which could support a pickup in hiring.
• There is also what I'd call a potential "AI air pocket." Companies are experimenting with automation tools and pausing hiring as they evaluate their effectiveness. While AI has been blamed for job losses, it accounted for only about a quarter of cuts this year, according to Challenger estimates. As experiments conclude, some roles could return, especially where automation proves imperfect.
• Tech job losses are "not a result necessarily of AI successes," Gartner senior director analyst Kathy Ross said. "Instead, the layoffs seem to be part of a broader strategy to reinvest funds in AI, hoping for success down the line."

Permanent job market changes

• Some types of jobs could disappear for good, particularly in areas like customer service, where AI systems can handle routine tasks more cheaply and efficiently. If you handled horses when the automobile arrived, then you probably lost your job. Should we have all kept riding horses instead of using cars and continued moving around slowly? Probably not.
• AI also increasingly rewards employees who build, create, and sell, rather than those focused on process and oversight. In Silicon Valley, that shift is showing up in flatter organizations, fewer middle managers, and a growing preference for employees who identify as "builders." AI tools can handle some routine work — analyzing internal data, coordinating workflows, or managing repetitive tasks — reducing the need for roles centered on supervision or process maintenance. By contrast, workers who produce tangible output can potentially use AI to get more things done more quickly. Comfortable roles that relied on maintaining and repeating established processes are being exposed as less essential.
• New kinds of tech jobs will emerge, and some of these may become long-term professions. AI tools like Claude Code are enabling a new "Design Producer" role in Silicon Valley, where senior individual contributors focus on creating, guiding, and elevating work, using judgment and taste to amplify team output, rather than managing people through traditional hierarchies. Then there are "robot wranglers," who move, fix, and train AI-powered robots.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

• Companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Oracle have said they're trimming staff this year.
• Pinterest, for one, cited AI as a factor in its decision to shed less than 15% of its workforce.
• See the list of companies letting workers go in 2026.

The first quarter of 2026 is through, and layoffs are well underway.

Companies, including Block and the popular web tool Tailwind, have cut staff, citing the impact of artificial intelligence among the reasons for the layoffs.

Target, meanwhile, is shifting resources from its supply chain into stores as part of the new CEO's turnaround strategy to improve the shopping experience and return to growth.

More than 100 other companies, from Amazon to Nike to Verizon, have filed legally mandated WARN notices about job cuts to come in 2026, according to WARN Tracker. Some of the cuts are part of previously announced reductions.

This year's cuts follow three years of significant workforce reductions across a broad range of industries, including tech, media, finance, and retail.

The moves come as artificial intelligence, public policy, and broader economic conditions are driving sweeping changes in the business landscape.

A World Economic Forum survey last year found that some 41% of companies worldwide expected to reduce their workforces in the next five years because of the rise of artificial intelligence. The survey also found that jobs in big data, fintech, and AI are expected to double by 2030.

Last year, Business Insider tracked layoffs at around 65 major companies, such as Amazon, Meta, Paramount, and Starbucks. In 2026, we'll continue to track additional job cuts based on company announcements, WARN notices, and our own reporting.

Here are the companies with job cuts underway in 2026, listed in alphabetical order.

Amazon is laying off thousands of employees

Amazon said in January that it is eliminating around 16,000 corporate roles globally.

This marks its second round of mass layoffs since October, when the tech and retail giant shed 14,000 roles.

Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology, described the move in a company memo as part of broader efforts to cut back on bureaucracy inside the company.

Angi is cutting 350 jobs

Angi, the popular contractor listing site once known as Angie's List, said in January that it was cutting around 350 jobs "to reduce operating expenses and optimize the organizational structure in support of long-term growth." The company also said it's making the cuts "in light of AI-driven efficiency improvements."

In a January 7 SEC filing, Angi said that the cuts would save between $70 million and $80 million in annual spending. The layoffs will cost the company between $22 million and $30 million, according to the filing.

Atlassian is cutting 1,600 employees

Atlassian, the enterprise software company and maker of Confluence, said on March 11 that it will be cutting about 10% of its workforce as it invests in AI to reshape its organization.

CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said in a statement that about 1,600 employees will be affected by the cuts.

"We fundamentally believe people and AI create the best outcomes. Our approach is not 'AI replaces people,'" Cannon-Brookes said. "But it would be disingenuous to pretend AI doesn't change the mix of skills we need or the number of roles required in certain areas. It does."

The company expects to incur $225 million and $236 million in restructuring charges, according to an SEC filing.

Citi's job cuts continue this year

Citi will cut more jobs this year as part of its plan to reduce its workforce by 10%, or 20,000 employees.

In a statement on January 13, the bank said that it will continue to reduce head count in 2026.

"These changes reflect adjustments we're making to ensure our staffing levels, locations and expertise align with current business needs," a spokesperson for Citi said.

The plan was detailed in the company's January 2024 earnings report and could save the bank as much as $2.5 billion.

Crypto.com laid off 12% of its workforce

Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek said in March that the company laid off 12% of its workforce, including "roles that do not adapt in our new world."

"Companies that move immediately and pair the best AI tools with top-performers will achieve a level of scale and precision that was previously impossible," Marszalek wrote in a post on X. "This is where we must go."

Dell cut 10% of its workforce

Dell cut its workforce by 10% for the third year in a row, the company said in its annual filing with the SEC.

As of January 31, 2026, the company had 97,000 employees, down 11,000 from the same time last year. The decline includes both layoffs and attrition, Business Insider reported.

eBay is expected to lay off 6% of its employees

eBay is set to eliminate about 800 jobs globally, making up 6% of its workforce. The company told Business Insider that it's taking steps to better align with its strategic priorities.

"We are grateful for the contributions of the employees impacted and are committed to supporting them with care and respect," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

Epic Games is cutting 20% of its workforce

Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, said in March that it would lay off more than 1,000 people — about 20% of its workforce — as engagement with the game declined.

CEO Tim Sweeney said in a memo that the layoffs "aren't related to AI."

"To the extent it improves productivity, we want to have as many awesome developers developing great content and tech as we can," Sweeney said.

Expedia laid off some employees

Expedia confirmed to Business Insider that it had laid off some employees on January 26 and had also posted new job openings. It's unclear how many of its workers were affected by the cuts.

"We are eliminating roles as well as opening some new roles as we remain disciplined about assessing the skills we need for the future," an Expedia Group spokesperson said in a statement. "We are also simplifying our structure and reducing organizational layers to move faster and with more accountability. These are not easy decisions, and we are grateful for the contributions of our colleagues who are impacted."

GoPro is laying off 145 employees

On April 7, GoPro said it would lay off about 145 employees as it tries to cut operating costs and restructure operations.

The layoffs make up 23% of its global headcount of 631 employees, the camera maker said in a regulatory filing.

The cuts will start in the second quarter of the year and will largely be completed by the end of 2026. The restructuring is expected to result in a charge of $11.5 million to $15 million.

The company cut about 15% of its staff in August 2024 to cut costs.

Heineken has a multi-year plan to reduce its workforce

Heineken is cutting 5,000 to 6,000 roles over the next two years to boost productivity and bring down costs, according to its latest full-year earnings report.

The company told Business Insider that the divisions and regions where the layoffs are due to take place are yet to be confirmed.

Heineken said in its 2025 report that it faced "subdued consumer sentiment" in the Americas, alongside a "challenging year" for brewers in Europe.

Kenvue cuts 3.5% of workforce

Consumer healthcare brand Kenvue, which produces Tylenol, plans to cut 3.5% of its staff. Kenvue had about 22,000 employees globally, per its latest annual report.

The company wrote in a mid-February SEC filing that its board aimed to reduce complexity and drive operational efficiencies.

The company's layoffs and restructuring efforts are expected to cost $250 million in 2026, per the filing.

Lululemon laid off 100 part-time employees at its customer service center

The athleisure giant said it laid off 100 part-time employees to "strengthen the business." The affected roles are in the company's North American contact center.

"After careful consideration, we have made the decision to transition our North America GEC to a full-time employee staffing model. As a result, approximately 100 part-time positions in our GEC have been impacted," a Lululemon spokesperson said.

Meta lays off workers at Reality Labs and other divisions

Meta began laying off employees across multiple teams on March 25, including Reality Labs, Facebook, recruiting, sales, and global operations.

The cuts come as the company ramps up spending on AI infrastructure and talent, alongside broader cost-cutting efforts. Meta said the changes are part of ongoing restructuring to better align teams with company goals, while exploring other roles for affected employees where possible.

Meta first began preparing to slash jobs within its Reality Labs division, the unit responsible for Mark Zuckerberg's metaverse ambitions, in January, three people familiar with the matter told Business Insider at the time.

Two employees said that teams working on virtual reality headsets and Horizon Worlds, the company's VR social network, would be disproportionately affected.

Meta has shifted away from virtual reality in recent years in favor of spending hundreds of billions of dollars on beefing up its AI capabilities.

Nike sees a two rounds of layoffs

Nike is cutting roughly 1,400 jobs, mostly from tech, as part of a broader push to streamline operations and revive growth.

In a memo to staff on April 23 obtained by Business Insider, Chief Operating Officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy said the layoffs are tied to the company's "win now" turnaround plan, which focuses on improving culture, product, marketing, marketplace strategy, and in-person retail. He described the effort as entering its "final stretch."

This is Nike's second layoff in 2026. Nike said on January 26 that it planned to lay off 775 employees across Tennessee and Mississippi, citing efforts to "streamline" its distribution center operations.

"We are sharpening our supply chain footprint, accelerating the use of advanced technology and automation, and investing in the skills our teams need for the future," Nike said in a statement to Business Insider.

Oracle is making cuts across regions

Oracle started laying off employees on March 31. The cuts appear to affect employees worldwide.

The company employed around 162,000 full-time employees as of May 2025, according to its most recent 10-K filing.

"After careful consideration of Oracle's current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change. As a result, today is your last working day," the company said in an email to affected employees.

Pinterest is expected to lay off 15% of its workforce

Pinterest announced a global restructuring plan that includes layoffs affecting less than 15% of its workforce, according to a January securities filing. The cuts come with reductions in office space.

"We are making organizational changes to further deliver on our AI-forward strategy, which includes hiring AI-proficient talent," a Pinterest spokesperson said.

"As a result, we've made the difficult decision to say goodbye to some of our team members. We are grateful for their service and supporting them with separation packages and benefits," they added.

Saks said it will lay off 74 employees

Saks will be shutting down a facility in Miramar, Florida, according to a WARN letter. As a result, at least 74 positions will be affected by the closure, per the letter.

Affected employees are expected to be laid off between March 27 and April 30. Saks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January.

"Saks Global made the strategic decision to close operations at the Southeast Service Center (SESC) and shift current SESC capabilities to our stores and alternate Saks Global fulfillment centers, which are well-equipped to manage this additional work," Saks said in a statement to Business Insider.

T-Mobile cut some jobs

T-Mobile cut some staff in early 2026, though the scope of the layoffs is unclear. Some workers posted on LinkedIn saying they'd been affected by the changes in January.

"As the next step in our evolution, we're making some changes while continuing to hire to ensure we have the right focus, structure, and momentum to keep changing the industry through innovation and our long-standing focus on customers," T-Mobile told Business Insider in a statement.

Tailwind cut 3 of its 4 engineers

Tailwind, a popular web tool, said it cut three of its four engineers in January, citing an AI-driven decline in revenue.

"75% of the people on our engineering team lost their jobs here yesterday because of the brutal impact AI has had on our business," CEO Adam Wathan wrote in a GitHub comment on January 6 that made waves in the tech community.

Target is cutting 500 roles from its distribution and regional offices

Target confirmed to Business Insider in February that it would cut 100 district office roles and 400 supply chain positions. It plans to invest instead in additional labor hours at stores to improve the shopping experience and return to growth.

The store improvement effort is a signature priority of the retailer's new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, who started on February 1.

In November, Fiddelke said the company intends to invest an additional $1 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, an increase of 25% from 2025.

UPS said it will eliminate 30,000 jobs

UPS CEO Brian Dykes told analysts during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call that the company plans to reduce its operational workforce by 30,000 in 2026.

"This will be accomplished through attrition, and we expect to offer a second voluntary separation program for full-time drivers," Dykes said.

He told analysts that the company has identified 24 buildings for closure in the first half of 2026 and will continue to evaluate additional buildings for closure.

WiseTech is cutting 30% of its workforce

Logistics software maker Wisetech is cutting 2,000 jobs, or 30% of its staff, citing AI-driven efficiency gains.

In a conference call on February 25, CEO Zubin Appoo embraced AI and said that it means more productivity, in less time, and from fewer employees. The Sydney-based company employed about 7,000 people, according to its annual report released in October.

"I am prepared to say this clearly: the era of manually writing code as the core act of engineering is over," Appoo said. AI is "unlocking levels of efficiency gains across WiseTech that were previously out of reach."

Workday is cutting jobs

Workday is cutting about 400 jobs, and said on February 4 that the move will help the enterprise software company redirect resources toward priority areas.

The layoffs will primarily affect customer-facing roles that are "non-revenue generating," Workday said in a regulatory filing.

The cuts represent roughly 2% of its workforce and are expected to result in about $135 million in charges in the fiscal fourth quarter, which ended in January.

Workday announced a larger round of layoffs about a year ago, citing the need to invest more heavily in strategic areas such as AI. The company reported about 20,600 employees as of late October.

Papa Johns is restructuring

Papa Johns said it is laying off 7% of its corporate staff amid a broader restructuring.

The pizza chain said it will also close 300 locations in North America through 2027, starting with 200 this year.

"Optimizing our restaurant portfolio and strategically closing underperforming restaurants are among the most impactful actions we can take to improve restaurant profitability and fleet health," Papa Johns CFO Ravi Thanawala said during the company's fourth quarter earnings call on February 26.

Is your company conducting layoffs? Got a tip?

Update: After searching for Abercrombie promo codes and testing various listed options, we've been unable to find any active coupons at the time of writing. We'll continue to hunt for potential coupons and keep this page updated as we find them. In the meantime, you can browse other Abercrombie deals below or return to your cart.

For elevated wardrobe staples that still feel wearable every day, Abercrombie remains a reliable go-to. The brand's lineup covers everything from best-selling denim and polished workwear to cozy loungewear and easy basics, with frequent seasonal markdowns that make it easier to shop on a budget. And when you check out with an Abercrombie promo code or coupon, you can often bring the price down even further on your favorite styles.

Our style editors have tested a wide range of Abercrombie jeans over the years, evaluating fit, comfort, and construction, and the brand consistently ranks among our top denim picks — including in our guide to the best jeans for tall women. Whether you prefer straight-leg, relaxed, flare, or high-rise silhouettes, Abercrombie denim delivers a reliable mix of trend-forward design and everyday wearability. For more details on sizing and how each style fits, check out our full Abercrombie jeans review.

Abercrombie discount codes aren't always available, but they're worth watching for—especially since some can stack with sale prices for bigger savings. To make shopping easier, we've rounded up the best Abercrombie promo codes and current deals below so you can get the lowest price on your next haul.

Today's best Abercrombie promo codes

Previous Abercrombie discount codes

Are there any other Abercrombie sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of sales and markdowns any time on Abercrombie's "Sale" page. As of the time of writing, Abercrombie is running the following promotions.

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides

How to use Abercrombie discount codes

Start by adding qualifying items to your cart. Once you're on the "Shopping Bag" page, you can apply a promo code by clicking the "Promotions" dropdown, pasting the code into the "Promo Code" text box, and clicking "Apply." From there, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Abercrombie promo codes?

Abercrombie does not allow discount codes to be stacked together. Only one code may be applied per purchase.

Abercrombie discount code frequently asked questions

Does Abercrombie offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

At this time, Abercrombie does not offer special discounts for students, teachers, or the military, so your best bet is to take advantage of their other coupons and deals.

If you're a student or educator, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and best teacher discounts to save more from your favorite brands.

Can Abercrombie promo codes be used in-store?

Abercrombie discount codes can be used both online and in-store. To use one in person, simply show the cashier the promotion offer on Abercrombie's website.

Does Abercrombie offer free shipping?

Abercrombie offers free shipping on all orders over $99. However, gift card-only orders ship for free with standard shipping. For other orders that don't hit the $99 threshold, standard shipping costs $7. If you need faster delivery, you can pay higher shipping fees. Learn more about shipping rates and times on Abercrombie's website.

What is Abercrombie's return policy?

Shoppers can return items in-store or by mail within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. VIP members of the myAbercrombie rewards program can return items for a full refund within 60 days of delivery. Learn more about how to make returns and exchanges on Abercrombie's website.

Can I reuse an Abercrombie promo code?

Most Abercrombie promo codes are designed for a single use only. That said, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific promo code you want to use.

Still shopping? Check out our guide to the best work dresses. Also, read our roundup of the best Spanx coupon and promo codes for more style deals.

• US Army soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke was involved in the planning of US action in Venezuela.
• Prosecutors say he used classified information to place trades on Polymarket and win over $400,000.
• Prosecutors announced his indictment on Thursday.

A US Army soldier was indicted Thursday on charges he used classified military information to make bets on the prediction market platform Polymarket, winning more than $400,000.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a Special Forces master sergeant who worked out of Fort Bragg in North Carolina, was charged with felonies including wire fraud and violating the Commodity Exchange Act, federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced.

Van Dyke, prosecutors said in a statement, "was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve," the military operation to capture Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, "and had access to sensitive, nonpublic, classified information about that operation."

Prosecutors say he used that information to place 13 bets between December 27, 2025, and January 2, 2026 — wagering more than $33,000 — in which he had an affirmative position on the question of whether the US would take action in Venezuela or against Maduro.

He withdrew his winnings — a profit of $409,881 — the day of the US raid on Venezuela and deposited them first in a foreign cryptocurrency vault and then an online brokerage account, the indictment alleges. The feds say he also took steps to conceal his identity after speculation about the large, curiously timed trades began circulating, and asked Polymarket to delete his account using a phony excuse.

Asked by a reporter if he was concerned about federal employees betting on prediction markets, President Donald Trump asked if Van Dyke had wagered that the US would get Maduro. When told that was the case, Trump said, "That's like Pete Rose betting on his own team," referring to the Cincinnati Reds manager who was banned from baseball for gambling. "If he bet against his team, that would be no good."

No attorney for Van Dyke, 37, who has been an active-duty soldier since 2008, was listed in the court docket. A family member did not respond to a request for comment.

In a post on X, Polymarket said it tipped off the feds to Van Dyke's trades.

"Last month, we published our enhanced market integrity rules to combat insider trading. When we identified a user trading on classified government information, we referred the matter to the DOJ & cooperated with their investigation," the company wrote. "Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today's arrest is proof the system works."

Insider trading is a major issue for prediction markets, which allow people to buy and sell contracts —in other words, trade — on the outcome of real-world events.

On Wednesday, Polymarket rival Kalshi said it had suspended and fined three candidates for political office for making trades related to their own elections. In February, Kalshi banned and fined a MrBeast editor, who it said had traded on markets related to YouTube streaming.

Van Dyke faces a far harsher penalty if convicted: The most serious charge against him, wire fraud, carries up to 20 years in prison.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates prediction markets, filed a civil complaint against Van Dyke in federal court.

"I have been crystal clear that anyone who engages in fraud, manipulation, or insider trading in any of our markets will face the full force of the law," Chairman Michael Selig said in a statement. "The defendant was entrusted with confidential information about US operations and yet took action that endangered US national security and put the lives of American service members in harm's way."

Selig has defended prediction markets, saying in February, "It's something that I think is valuable to society."

• Nike said it's cutting 1,400 roles in its global operations team, primarily in technology.
• Chief operating officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy announced the cuts in a memo on Thursday.
• The layoffs come as Nike's turnaround plan has taken longer than the company expected.

Nike is benching some of its employees.

The sportswear giant said Thursday that it is cutting about 1,400 roles in its global operations division, mainly in technology. Venkatesh Alagirisamy, who became chief operating officer in December, announced the reductions in a memo to staff detailing several changes "in the coming weeks."

Alagirisamy wrote that the company is in the "final stretch" of the turnaround plan, dubbed its "win now" actions, which focuses on five key areas: culture, product, marketing, marketplace, and in-person presence.

The changes include modernizing manufacturing, reallocating resources, and reshaping Nike's tech team, according to the memo.

The cuts mark Nike's second round of cuts in 2026, following the elimination of 775 distribution center jobs.

CEO Elliott Hill told analysts in a March earnings call that the turnaround plan is taking "longer than I would like."

Read the full memo below:

Team,

NIKE, Inc. is in the final stretch of our Win Now action plan.

Across the company, we have been taking deliberate steps to strengthen our foundation, sharpen how we compete, and build a model designed to deliver long-term profitable growth. Global Operations is critical to that effort.

Today, I am sharing the next phase of that work and doing so with the entire company because of the scope and importance to our collective future.

Over the coming months, we will continue evolving Global Operations to better serve athletes and the business with more speed, simplicity, and precision. Some of that work is happening now and more will continue over time as we align our teams, capabilities, and footprint to the future needs of the company.

This is not a new direction. It is the next phase of the work already underway.

Earlier this year, I outlined four actions we're taking across Operations to help make NIKE, Inc. a more responsive, resilient, responsible, and efficient company: optimizing our supply chain footprint, accelerating technology deployment, investing in upskilling our teams, and strengthening our partner and supplier relationships. The changes we are making now build on that work.

At its core, these shifts are about building a Global Operations organization that is more focused, more integrated with the business, and better built for the pace of sport.

In the coming weeks, several significant changes will take effect across Global Operations. These actions will result in changes to some team structures, work locations, and headcount.

• Technology Modernization. We're reshaping our Technology team to sharpen alignment with the business, build leaner teams, and accelerate what matters most. This means consolidating our technology footprint, streamlining our structure to move with greater speed and focus, and doubling down on the locations where our work gets done with a focus on two strategically important hubs — Philip H. Knight Campus and our Nike India Technology Center. These are deliberate moves to build a leaner, faster, more connected Technology organization — one built to deliver for the consumer, the athlete, and the business.
• Air Manufacturing Modernization. We are modernizing how work gets done across our Air Manufacturing Innovation (Air MI) facilities in Beaverton, Ore.; St. Louis; and Vietnam by increasing resiliency, streamlining processes, and adjusting staffing to match the needs of the business. The changes will help us stay flexible as demand changes, accelerate future innovations and continue to deliver the product quality athletes expect from Nike.
• Converse Ground Game. We are moving some Converse Footwear Manufacturing and Engineering resources closer to our factory partners to enable stronger real-time collaboration and to better support the brand's needs going forward.
• Materials Supply Chain Integration. We are bringing our Materials Supply Chain work more directly into our Footwear and Apparel Supply Chain teams while continuing to build on the valuable capabilities already in place. This strengthens how we operate from raw materials through finished product, enabling faster more synchronized decisions and ground-breaking innovations across our best-in-class manufacturing network.

Collectively, these changes will result in a reduction of approximately 1,400 roles in Global Operations, with the majority in Technology. These reductions are very hard for the teammates directly affected and for the teams around them, too.

Part of doing the right thing is being direct. Another part is making sure people are treated with care. Teammates whose roles are impacted will hear directly from their leaders and HR partners starting today, and we will work to make sure they have clear information and support through this transition.

To teammates whose roles are impacted, thank you. Your contributions have helped build this company, and we are grateful for the work, commitment, and care you have brought to Nike.

To the broader team, moments like this require professionalism, empathy, and a shared commitment to one another. These changes are meant to make the company less complex and more responsive. As we look ahead, that means simplifying parts of how we operate, using more advanced automation where it helps us work better, and building an even stronger end-to-end foundation for future growth. I expect these efforts to continue beyond our Win Now action plan.

The Operations team has played, is playing, and will play an important role in helping NIKE, Inc. strengthen its foundation and it will continue to play a critical role in the company's comeback.

Thank you for your leadership, your dedication to the athletes, and your dedication to each other.

Venkatesh Alagirisamy
EVP, Chief Operating Officer

• Anthropic found issues with Claude Code after complaints that the popular tool had gotten worse.
• The company denied "nerfing" or intentionally degrading the model.
• Users had been complaining for weeks that Claude Code was giving worse responses.

If you were one of the users complaining that Claude Code has sucked lately, Anthropic just confirmed it wasn't all in your head.

The company wrote in a lengthy blog post that after reviewing user complaints about the quality of Claude Code, one of its most popular products, it identified three issues likely contributing to a worse user experience.

"We take reports about degradation very seriously. We never intentionally degrade our models," the Thursday post read. It said the underlying model was not affected; the issues were tweaks made at the product level.

As of April 20, Anthropic said, those issues were fixed and that it had taken steps to avoid similar problems in the future.

The post came after weeks of user complaints that Claude Code's responses had deteriorated. The complaints followed a series of wins for Anthropic, which has been praised for the technical abilities of its tools and earned a $1 trillion valuation on secondary markets.

The issues led some users to speculate that Anthropic had intentionally degraded or "nerfed" the tool, which the company flatly denied.

"Claude has regressed to the point it cannot be trusted to perform complex engineering," a GitHub user identified as Stella Laurenzo, senior director of chipmaker AMD's AI group, wrote in a post from early April.

Similar complaints were shared on Reddit, where one user said Claude Code had become "lazy," "ignorant," and "degraded and myopic."

"Over the past month, some of you reported Claude Code's quality had slipped," Anthropic's developers said in an X post on Thursday. "We investigated, and published a post-mortem on the three issues we found."

The company detailed product changes that led to the reported problems: a change to Claude Code's default thinking level, a cache-optimization tweak that introduced a bug, and a system prompt meant to make the tool less verbose.

Steps taken to solve the problem include having a larger share of staff use the public build of Claude Code, improving its code review tool, and adding tighter controls to system prompt changes.

The company thanked users who submitted feedback and said it is resetting usage limits for all subscribers as of Thursday.

Some Claude users expressed feeling validated after Anthropic's announcement.

"I can't believe we were right," popular X user @levelsio wrote. "Claude was dumbified on March 4, just when we noticed!"

The user reshared their March 4 post — the day Anthropic said it had changed the default thinking level — that said, "Claude Code with Opus 4.6 was so dumb today I finally had to write my own code again."

Anthropic also received some scrutiny on Tuesday when it said it was experimenting with removing Claude Code from the Pro plan, its lower-tier paid subscription. The company said it was a test that affected around 2% of new users.

At this point, I have zero patience for bras that aren't comfortable. At some point in my 30s, my priorities changed: the lift and structure I used to care most about started mattering less than softness, flexibility, and all-day ease. The underwire bras that once felt nonnegotiable now mostly sit untouched, while stretchy bralettes have become the pairs I reach for most.

That said, finding a great bralette is more complicated because I wear a DD cup. There's a reason underwire has long been the default, and most bralettes simply aren't designed to offer the same level of support. I've tested plenty that seemed promising at first but lost me within an hour.

Still, after trying enough of them, I've learned what separates the good ones from the ones that don't make the cut. The best bralettes tend to have the same essentials: a wide, supportive band, adjustable straps, cups with enough depth to prevent spillover, and fabric that offers real hold instead of just stretch. When those elements come together, the result is the sweet spot — a bra that feels barely there but still delivers the support I need.

For more of our recommendations for folks with larger chests, see our articles on the best swimsuits for large busts.

Best overall: Evelyn & Bobbie Evelyn Bra

Executive Editor Sally Kaplan is deeply passionate about Evelyn & Bobbie's smoothing bralettes. We've featured the V-neck Evelyn Bra above, but she loves the whole collection — the Bobbie scoop-neck, the Beyond bra  and the Defy bra. 

"Evelyn & Bobbie's wireless bras are legitimately the most comfortable I've ever worn. They're supportive, structured, not too constrictive, and they actively take weight off my shoulders," says Sally. To hear her full thoughts, see our Evelyn & Bobbie review.

The comfort of the bralettes is down to a support feature called the "EB Core," a patented technology that helps maintain the bra's shape while preventing "pancaking." The bralettes also feature thicker straps that help distribute weight.

The Evelyn Bra, in particular, is fantastic for wearing under lower-cut tops because of the V-neck design. It's smoothing on your back while giving your breasts a lift that doesn't sacrifice comfort. 

Runner-up: Honeylove CrossOver Bra

The Honeylove Crossover Bra has it all: adjustable straps, a smoothing back, and a bonded cradle that offers strong support without uncomfortable wires. The straps can also be crisscrossed, making it versatile enough to pair with a variety of tops and dresses. I especially appreciate the adjustable band — a feature many bralettes still lack.

To be honest, there's not much I don't like about this bralette. It even features removable cups for occasions when I need a little extra coverage — and the mesh and lace detailing add some unexpected sex appeal.

"The bonded underband lifts the bust without the wires for a perky loo, and the rounded shape makes this a great non-wired t-shirt bra," says Katie Weir, the bra fitting expert and founder of Curvy Kate.

See more of our favorite Honeylove products and hear more about the Crossover bra in our Honeylove review.

Best budget: INLYRIC Women's Inbarely Bralette

I bought this bralette on a whim when I was looking for comfy underthings to sleep in — and I'm so glad I did. In fact, I ended up ordering it in several more colors — and luckily, there are a whopping 21 options to choose from. It's lightweight, seamless, incredibly stretchy, and my go-to for lazy Sundays and Friday nights in.

This Amazon-favorite bralette boasts a barely there feel, making it ideal for warmer months since. That said, it is worth noting that because the fabric is so thin and there's no padding, you may want to use nipple covers if you wear it out. (Or don't, you do you!)

I also appreciate that the straps are adjustable on this one. Since the band isn't adjustable, however, size down if you're between sizes to ensure adequate support.

Best triangle cut: Harper Wilde Bliss Triangle Bralette

Despite the fact that this bralette has no cups, underwire, padding, or foam, it offers remarkable lift and separation. Best of all, it's available up to size 6XL, so it accommodates larger band sizes.

"I love the wide back band, and the fact that [larger sizes] have a higher center gore in front to ensure less spillage," says Weir.

The v-neckline gives this bralette some extra points in the versatility department, and the front-adjusting straps make finding your perfect fit so much easier. Did I mention that the fabric feels as soft as silk?

Best with specific sizing: Montelle Intimates Cup-sized Bralette

Buying a bralette in alpha sizing is almost impossible if you have larger breasts. The band is always too tight or too loose, and the cups can create an unflattering squishing effect.

This bralette solves those issues by offering two cup sizes specifically for those with larger breasts: D/E and F/G. In addition, the pieces come in band sizes from 30 to 42.

The Cup-Sized Lace Bralette also has convertible straps and, unlike most bralettes, a hook-and-eye closure at the back. This means that you can keep using the piece even as the elastic stretches over time.

Best lace: Cosabella Paradiso Curvy Bralette

If you're looking for a bralette that's anything but basic, your search is over. This gorgeous little number proves that lingerie doesn't have to be uncomfortable: it's wireless, has plenty of stretch, and offers plenty of support thanks to the longline cut and wide straps. 

This is a great option for larger busts because both the straps and the band are adjustable, making it easier to achieve the perfect fit. Admittedly, it can take some time to fasten all the hook and eye closures in the back, but I like that there are three rows so I can tighten or loosen the band as needed. 

It's the details, though, that really make this bralette stand out — like the scalloped edge tricolor lace and multi-dimensional floral design.

Best cotton: SKIMS Fits Everybody Scoop Bralette

Like so many other SKIMS bralettes, this one is made with buttery soft fabric that's so comfortable you might even forget you're wearing it. I love that it comes in such a wide range of neutrals to accommodate every skin tone, and since it's so lightweight and breathable, you won't have to worry much about that dreaded underboob sweat.

The only caveat is that you can't adjust the band, and as many reviewers noted, it does run a little small.

Best for smaller band sizes: Aerie SMOOTHER Bra-ish Wireless Bralette

As someone with a 32DD bra size, it's supremely difficult to find bralettes that fit just right because most of them don't cup in band/cup sizes. If I buy a size small, the band fits perfectly but I'm spilling out of the cups. If I buy a medium, the cups fit fine but the band is way too big to offer adequate support. So, I was thrilled when I discovered that every size in this bralette (XXS-XXL) comes in a D/DD cup size option. 

But that's not all there is to love about this bra: it feels super soft against the skin, has adjustable straps, and features a four-row hook and eye closure for max adjustability. Not only that, but the floating cups are designed to mold to your unique bust size and shape.

And apparently, I'm not the only one who's a big fan — because this best-selling bralette has garnered hundreds of five-star reviews.

Best on Amazon: Parfait Dalis Bralette

Parfait is a lingerie line that specializes in accommodating larger bust sizes — I've owned several of their bras, and the quality speaks for itself: all of them have lasted at least a couple of years. 

Kaitlin Vachon, a bra fitting expert and founder of Bra Emporium, says this is one of her favorite bralettes for large busts in part because it's available in traditional cup and band sizes. She also notes that the wide band and thick adjustable straps offer ample support, and it's super size-inclusive — in fact, it's available up to a size 42K.

While it doesn't have any underwire in the cups, it does feature some side boning for a bit more structure than many other bralettes. Another perk? It can easily be converted into a racerback style, thanks to the J-hook in the back.

Most comfortable: Negative Underwear The Sieve Non-Wire

I've been enamored with Negative Underwear for a while now — not only because of the minimalist designs, but also because of the brand's focus on sustainability: they only use high-quality fabrics that are free of harmful chemicals, and sourced from OEKO-TEX certified mills.

The Sieve Non-Wire is arguably the line's most supportive bralette, thanks in part to the Belgian micromesh that holds you up like a firm hug. In her Negative Underwear review, Insider Reviews Executive Editor Sally Kaplan raved about this one.

"Bralettes like these are really hard to get right for larger chest sizes, but this one worked incredibly well for my DDs (which are sometimes DDDs depending on the time of the month)," she said. "Of all the bralettes I've tested in my many years covering women's basics for Insider Reviews, this is my favorite. It lifts them up without separating too much or squishing together — plus, it's the perfect silhouette for V-neck sweaters or shirts."

Best everyday: Bombas Ribbed Seamless Bralette

Did you know that a majority of a bra's support comes from the band? I learned this during a bra fitting years ago, and it really stuck with me — I'd always assumed it was the straps or the cups that were holding my girls up. That's what made this Bombas bralette stick out for me: the ribbed band is wider than most, lending ample support and lift without the wires. In fact, it can accommodate up to an F cup size. It's also thoughtfully designed with a tighter knit in the center and around the sides for added support.

I often wear this bra to sleep because the fabric is super stretchy, seamless, and breathable — but it's also great for lounging around the house or running casual errands. Note that this bralette will feel pretty snug when you first put it on, but it stretches out a teeny bit with time.

FAQs

Can bralettes actually support a large bust?

Yes — but with caveats. Traditional bralettes are designed for light support, so not all styles work well for fuller busts. The best options for larger busts include wide bands, structured cups, and supportive fabrics that combine comfort with reliable hold — especially for everyday wear.

How should a bralette fit on a larger bust?

A well-fitting bralette should feel snug around the band without squeezing, and your breasts should feel supported without bulging out of the top or sides. If the band rides up or the straps dig in, it's probably not the right fit.

What should I look for in a bralette if I have a large bust?

Focus on support features:

• Wide, adjustable straps that help distribute weight
• A firm, wide underband for stability
• Structured cups or light molding to prevent spillage
• Side support panels or underwire, if you want extra lift

Do bralettes reduce bounce during exercise?

Most bralettes won't replace a proper sports bra for high-impact workouts. However, some structured bralette styles with strong bands and supportive fabrics can work for low-impact activities like yoga or walking. For running or HIIT, stick with a dedicated sports bra.

• JPMorgan elevated a class of global executives to the rank of managing director this week.
• Among them were 135 people in global banking and markets who handle trading and dealmaking.
• Business Insider obtained the list of execs who got the bump to MD in those groups — see it below.

A small circle of JPMorgan employees is likely having a very, very good week.

JPMorgan Chase promoted a large swathe of executives to managing director, the highest title at the firm outside the C-suite, according to screenshots of the company's intranet announcement seen by Business Insider.

The group spans dealmaking, wealth management, technology, and support roles, reflecting the diverse businesses inside America's biggest bank by assets. The promotions were global, with employees from Switzerland and Luxembourg to Singapore and Hong Kong receiving new titles. JPMorgan declined to comment.

Within the divisions housing the firm's M&A and IPO bankers, as well as the traders who run its high-profile markets business, 135 people scored the bump to MD.

This year's class is larger than last year's, when JPMorgan promoted 118 employees in global banking and markets to MD, as part of its annual springtime promotion ritual.

JPMorgan reported $16.5 billion in net income for the first quarter, up 13% year-over-year. Its commercial and investment bank generated about $9 billion in net income, up 30%, as dealmaking improved across Wall Street. The stronger backdrop comes as the firm names a larger class of managing directors this year, though executives, including CEO Jamie Dimon, warned about the effects of ongoing instability.

Business Insider obtained the list of the 135 new managing directors in global banking and markets — their names are below.

Have a tip? Contact these reporters via email at ralexander@businessinsider.com or SMS/Signal at 561-247-5758 or atecotzky@insider.com or Signal at alicetecotzky.05. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

See the names of the 135 newly promoted banking and markets execs who made the cut.

1. Anand Agarwal — Global Investment Banking
2. Tamo Arends — Global Investment Banking
3. Carlos Aspillaga — Global Corporate Banking
4. Ali Bach — Global Investment Banking
5. Kelly Becker — Global Investment Banking
6. Varun Behl — Global Investment Banking
7. Jeremy Berntsen — Global Investment Banking
8. Hunter Bollman — Global Investment Banking
9. Alessandro Caramanica — Global Investment Banking
10. Anthony Carpentieri — Commercial Banking
11. Chris Cassidy — Commercial Banking
12. Glenn Chernyak — Commercial Banking
13. Casey Chopek — Global Investment Banking
14. Robby Cohenour — Commercial Banking
15. Ryan Conlon — Global Corporate Banking
16. Tim Cornelius — Global Investment Banking
17. Nick Cribb — Global Investment Banking
18. Courtney Culliton — Commercial Banking
19. Kevin Curtin — Global Investment Banking
20. Bridget Dalton — Global Investment Banking
21. Juan De Yeregui Guillen — Global Corporate Banking
22. Michael Esposito — Commercial Banking
23. Julie Farrell — Commercial Banking
24. Khalid Fayez — Global Corporate Banking
25. Joe Ferraiolo — Global Investment Banking
26. Miguel Fornies — Global Investment Banking
27. Atul Garg — Global Investment Banking
28. Derek Robert Garman — Global Corporate Banking
29. Christine Gay — Global Services
30. Raphael Gindre — Global Investment Banking
31. Brandt Matthew Grobeis — Global Corporate Banking
32. Susan Grossman — Global Services
33. Mike Guttilla — Commercial Banking
34. Sam Hallowell — Commercial Banking
35. Boy Hartsuiker — Global Corporate Banking
36. Hiroshi Hattori — Global Corporate Banking
37. Becca Hesser — Global Services
38. Steven Matthew Hodapp — Commercial Banking
39. Will Holyoak — Global Investment Banking
40. Benoit Hourdain — Global Corporate Banking
41. Juan Huertas — Global Investment Banking
42. Michael Janik — Global Investment Banking
43. Henrik Jansen — Global Investment Banking
44. Shawn Jiang — Global Investment Banking
45. Sam Johnson — Global Investment Banking
46. Rohit Kumar — Global Corporate Banking
47. Nigel Kwok — Global Investment Banking
48. Eduardo Landaburu — Global Investment Banking
49. Steven Lau — Product & Experience
50. Jack Levendoski — Global Investment Banking
51. Gissell Lopez E — Global Investment Banking
52. Sherrill Lu — Global Investment Banking
53. Joseph Luna — Commercial Banking
54. Sean MacGregor — Global Investment Banking
55. Mike Manna — Commercial Banking
56. Javier Martinez — Global Investment Banking
57. Natasha Masand — Commercial Banking
58. Georges Massoud — Global Investment Banking
59. Jeff McCullough — Global Services
60. Andrew McEvoy — Commercial Banking
61. Maximilian Meyer — Global Investment Banking
62. Yuval Millet — Global Investment Banking
63. Maryna Muntian — Global Investment Banking
64. Chris Ng — Global Investment Banking
65. Hiroki Ochiai — Global Investment Banking
66. ByungKyu Park — Global Investment Banking
67. Joe Peddicord — Commercial Banking
68. Carlos Perez — Commercial Banking
69. Miles Perkins — Global Investment Banking
70. Florian Plath — Global Investment Banking
71. Jenn Plominski — Commercial Banking
72. Nathalia Ramos — Global Corporate Banking
73. Dennis Regalado — Commercial Banking
74. Dan Rufo — Global Investment Banking
75. Tomiwa Sadipe — Global Investment Banking
76. Anna San Juan — Commercial Banking
77. Michael Schwandt — Global Corporate Banking
78. Antoine Sellam — Global Investment Banking
79. John Shane — Commercial Banking
80. Jeremy Sipzner — Global Investment Banking
81. Brandon Speck — Global Investment Banking
82. Guido Starna — Global Investment Banking
83. Seitaro Tahara — Global Corporate Banking
84. Jon Tarnow — Commercial Banking
85. Raphael Taubenfeld — Global Investment Banking
86. Brad Taylor — Global Investment Banking
87. Michael Tham — Global Investment Banking
88. Stephanie Tubiello — Commercial Banking
89. John Ulrich — Global Investment Banking
90. Bram van Aalten — Global Investment Banking
91. Allie Veselka — Global Corporate Banking
92. Mario Vivancos — Global Investment Banking
93. Ian Walsh — Commercial Banking
94. Connor Wiginton — Commercial Banking
95. Alan Wong — Global Corporate Banking
96. Stella Wong - Global Corporate Banking
97. Angela Wu - Global Investment Banking
98. Ye Xia - Global Investment Banking
99. Melissa Yan - Global Investment Banking
100. Ned Yetten - Commercial Banking

Markets

1. Steve Baker
2. Mohit Bhargava
3. Simon Burce
4. Michael Captain
5. Angelo Carnevali
6. Robert Chambers
7. George Deves
8. Brian Dunlap
9. Drew Engelhardt
10. Valerio Gaspari
11. Elie Gittler
12. Peter Grant
13. Anuj Gupta
14. Terry Harcott
15. Mohamed Hemissi
16. Pierre Jonathan
17. Elie Khalfa
18. Raj Kothari
19. Chun Li
20. Vivian Li
21. Marie Linehan
22. Lily McGettigan
23. James Millard
24. Sam Nian
25. Mark O'Sullivan
26. Rob Palladino
27. Triyog Pandya
28. Kevin Plunkett
29. Ioannis Rallis
30. David Ruso
31. Frederick Salt
32. Jonas Troeber
33. Jonathan Tucker
34. Andrew Wright
35. Peter Yip

The multi-day NFL Draft returns for 2026. We've gathered everything you need to know about where to watch NFL Draft live streams, including global viewing options.

If you don't want to read any further, you can live stream the 2026 NFL Draft through several US streaming services. Our top recommendations include ESPN Unlimited, which costs $30 a month; DirecTV MySports, where you can get $20 a month off your first two months; and Fubo Sports + News, where you can get $10 off your first month. Most other countries (including the UK and Australia) will live stream the event through DAZN's NFL Game Pass.

The three-day NFL Draft event takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will see more than 250 players get drafted to NFL teams. The top prospects for this year's draft include quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who helped lead the Indiana Hoosiers to the National Championship earlier this year, along with Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State's Arvell Reese, and others. The Las Vegas Raiders get the first pick this year, followed by the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants.

Where to watch NFL Draft in the US

The NFL Draft will air across ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network in the US. American cord-cutters have several live streaming services to choose from. ESPN's direct streaming counterpart, ESPN Unlimited, costs $30 a month and offers total live streams of all channels from the ESPN family of networks.

If you'd prefer to go the live TV channel package route, DirecTV and Fubo are two of the best live TV streaming services we've tested. DirecTV MySports offers ESPN, ABC, the NFL Network, and around 20 other sports-centric channels in its lineup. The streamer also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new users can get $20 off their first two months of service after a five-day free trial.

Fubo Sports + News operates in a similar manner. The streamer carries ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network, along with around 25 other live channels. New customers can get $10 off their first month of service after a five-day free trial.

If you're looking for an ultra-budget-friendly option, you can also live-stream the NFL Draft via NFL Plus. Plans start at just $7 a month, but you can upgrade to Premium for $15 a month (both tiers carry NFL Network coverage of the draft). There's a special deal when you opt for an annual plan. You can get one year of NFL Plus for $30 (compared to the standard $50 rate) or one year of NFL Plus Premium for $60 (compared to the standard $100 rate). There's also an option to bundle ESPN Unlimited and NFL Plus Premium together for $40 a month.

Where to watch the NFL Draft in the UK and other regions

DAZN's NFL Game Pass hosts every NFL game and the NFL Draft in most regions outside the US and China. Prices vary based on your location, but in the UK at least, it looks like draft coverage should be available for free as long as you create an account. Several countries also have TV broadcast agreements for the NFL Draft. The UK, for example, will also show the draft on Sky Sports, which is available to watch through a Sky TV plan or stream on a Now Sports plan.

How to watch NFL Draft from anywhere

If you're traveling abroad and still hoping to keep up with your usual watch options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that let you temporarily alter your virtual location, so your favorite websites and apps will work from anywhere in the world. They also instantly boost online privacy and security. The services we've recommended require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home right now.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's user-friendly and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the service in our official NordVPN review.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

Apple Music is one of the best music streaming services available, especially if you're someone who uses an iPhone and other Apple products. Right now, new members can get their first six months of Apple Music for free from Best Buy. That's double the regular trial period that Apple gives subscribers directly.

The service offers access to over 75 million songs, hundreds of curated playlists, radio shows, and more. You can use it to download songs for offline listening, stream music across all your devices, and even find occasional album exclusives. Apple Music usually costs $10 a month for ad-free streaming with advanced features like lossless audio and Dolby Atmos, but eligible college students and Siri users can get specific plans for as little as $5 a month.

If you're new to the service, there's no better way to start than with six free months. We've outlined how to snag your own Apple Music trial, below.

Read more about how the Insider Reviews team evaluates deals and why you should trust us.

How to get 6 free months of Apple Music

1. Go to Best Buy's website and sign up for an account with the store.
2. Add the "Free Apple Music for six months" digital download to your cart.
3. Go to your cart and check out.
4. Wait for a digital code to be sent to the email address linked to your Best Buy account.

Once your trial ends, your Apple Music subscription will auto-renew for $10 a month, which can be cancelled anytime. This deal is only good for new Apple Music members.

It's not clear how long Best Buy's promotion will be available. It started in May 2021, and is still running now. 

• Amazon offers two streaming options: Prime Music and Music Unlimited. 
• Amazon Prime Music is free and included with Prime memberships, while Amazon Music Unlimited is a premium service that costs $7.99 a month for existing Prime members (or $9.99 a month for those who aren't Prime members).
• The main difference is that Prime music has around 2 million songs, whereas Amazon Music Unlimited has over 50 million. If you like to listen to an artist's full album, you'll want Unlimited.
• Right now, as an early Prime Day deal, you can sign up for four months of Amazon Music Unlimited (a service that usually costs $7.99 a month for Prime members) for just $1.

I love listening to music, so I was surprised that it took me so long to discover Amazon Prime's music offerings. I had heard that Amazon had a music selection, but I really never took the time to check it out until a few weeks ago. If you have Amazon Prime, you may already know about Prime Music — a limited but free streaming service that comes with your membership. Then there's Amazon Music Unlimited, the premium streaming service that Prime members can get at a discounted rate of $7.99 a month ($9.99 if you don't have Prime). 

Prime Music and Music Unlimited share many features, so it can be a little confusing to understand what each really offers. To make it easy for you, we're going to give you a quick breakdown of their similarities and differences.

Amazon Music Unlimited vs. Prime Music

Similarities

Amazon Music Unlimited is the souped-up version of Prime Music. But, at the core of it, both of the services share a variety of features.

• Ad-free listening: Whether you have the free version or pay for the premium upgrade, Amazon will always let you listen without ads.
• On demand: Many "freemium" streaming services don't let you listen on demand unless you pay for the service. That means you have to listen in shuffle mode and can only skip a number of songs a day. With both Amazon services, you can skip an unlimited number of songs and listen for as many hours as you'd like. 
• Interface: The interface is the same across both services. You'll find thousands of curated playlists and personalized stations based on your listening history in both models. 
• Alexa interaction: You can use your voice to control music playback through Alexa with both services.
• Offline listening: Both services let you stream music when you're offline, except for the Music Unlimited single-device plan, which is the lowest-cost option that works solely with one Alexa-enabled device — this is understandable as you need internet to power your Alexa device. 

Differences 

• Selection: The most notable difference, in my opinion, is the selection. Prime Music's 2 million songs may sound like a lot, but most streaming services offer tens of millions of songs — making 2 million look pretty meager. Prime Music has a variety of artists, but many of my favorite artists only had one song on the platform. With 50 million songs, Music Unlimited fills all the holes. I was impressed by the selection and did not feel that it was lacking in any way.
• Price: Prime Music is free if you have Amazon Prime. If you're not, this unfortunately isn't a service you can opt into — rather, it's a nice free perk for Prime members. Music Unlimited is $7.99 a month for Prime Members, or $79 a year, a pretty affordable price when it comes to streaming services. If you don't have a Prime membership, Music Unlimited will cost you $9.99 a month, which is around the industry standard. Music Unlimited also offers student discounts and family plans. 
• Voice commands: If you love your Alexa device, Music Unlimited offers even more voice commands. You can ask Alexa to play a specific song or just give a vague request like "Alexa, play upbeat country music" and see what she picks. 
• Exclusive content: Music Unlimited lets you pull back the curtains and go behind the scenes of some of your favorite songs. Side-by-sides, as they're called, offer exclusive artist commentary on their own songs and albums. 

Bottom line

If you have Amazon Prime, congrats — you already have Prime Music. This is definitely a nice added perk to the Prime membership, especially since it's at no extra cost to you. If you like listening to music in discovery mode, and aren't too particular about what you're listening too, then Prime Music may be enough for you. But, if you like to listen to the songs you want, when you want them, you may feel let down by Prime Music's small selection. 

Amazon Music Unlimited comes at an added cost, but it may be worth it for some listeners. If you're someone who loves to use your Alexa devices, and are particularly involved in the Amazon sphere, a service like Music Unlimited will probably serve you well — it has a large catalog of songs, integrates well with Alexa, and account management and payments are simplified with your existing Amazon login. If you already have Amazon Prime, this is one of the most affordable streaming services around. If you don't, you can try the service for free for 30 days. 

If you don't have Amazon Prime already, sign up for a free trial now so you can experience Prime Music. 

If you have Amazon Prime, listen to Prime Music for free now

Try Amazon Music Unlimited free for 30 days (then pay $9.99 a month, or $7.99 a month with Prime)

• According to the FBI, property crimes rates have steadily decreased over the last 15 years, but burglaries still account for more than $15 billion in losses per year.
• A good home security system will not stop a determined burglar, but it does an excellent job of scaring away the vast majority of thieves.
• SimpliSafe is considered one of the best home security systems by experts and buyers alike. Many reviews highlight its easy installation, endless customization options, and 24/7 professional monitoring.
• Starting at $221 on SimpliSafe for the home protection system plus $14.99 per month for monitoring and police dispatch, SimpliSafe is relatively inexpensive and doesn't require you to sign a contract.
• Based on my experience, the third-generation of SimpliSafe's wireless home security system is everything it claims to be. I strongly recommend it for monitoring your home.

I live in Lansing, Michigan. My city has some of the highest violent and property crime rates in the United States. And, my neighborhood is among the worst in town. All of my neighbors have a story or three of someone breaking into their house and stealing whatever valuables they could grab quickly. In fact, a neighbor tells me that before I moved in, there were several burglaries in my house.

So, when I came to town five months ago, I knew I'd need to take some protective measures to scare off ne'er-do-wells. Fortunately, SimpliSafe was game to send me a review unit of their all-new third-generation home security system to test out. Below are my experiences with it.

My first experiences with SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe's system uses Wi-Fi and cellular connections to send alerts. Each of the devices is also powered by batteries. This means that if the power is knocked out or your landline is cut, the monitoring stations will still get your signal. They have even made the keypad and base station "smash safe."

The review set included 10 pieces of security equipment:

• Base station — This is the brains of the operation. It also features the on-location siren that will hopefully chase off intruders. The base station communicates with all of the sensors, your smartphone, and the professional monitoring. SimpliSafe recommends installing this in a central spot in your home.
• Keypad — The keypad is installed next to your main entrance so you can easily enter your PIN to turn it off when you get home. It also tells you if the alarm has been triggered and if there are any software updates.
• Entry sensors (3) — These two-piece units go on doors and windows. They let you know when a potential point of entry is opened or closed.
• Motion sensor — This uses infrared technology to tell if someone enters a room.
• Glassbreak sensor — Installed on a wall or shelf within 30 feet of windows that are most likely to be broken into, the glassbreak sensor is triggered when it "hears" the specific frequency of glass breaking.
• Panic button — I put this by my bed — you just push it if there is a threat that the other sensors didn't pick up.
• Freeze sensor — This sensor monitors the temperature in your house and sends an alert if it gets too cold or too hot.
• Water sensor — If your basement is flooding, you want to know right away. The water sensor will alert you.

Installation of these units took a total of 45 minutes. This included reading the manual, installing the app, installing the sensors, and testing. There were no tools needed. All of the devices have adhesives on them that make it easy to stick them to the walls. They also come with screws if you want to mount them that way.

Read more: The best security cameras you can buy for your home

How SimpliSafe performed

With SimpliSafe, you can self-monitor or pay $14.99 per month (no contract required) for 24/7 professional monitoring. If you choose to self-monitor, the onus is on you to assess the threat and contact the police when you receive an alert. Self-monitoring fails when you are in a compromised position and cannot contact the police.

With SimpliSafe's professional monitoring and police dispatch, they call you when the alarm is triggered. If you don't answer, they contact the backup number. If the secondary contact doesn't answer, then a SimpliSafe representative calls 911. Because of false alarms tying up police resources, different municipalities have different processes for these calls. For instance, in order for a third-party to contact police on your behalf, some cities require you to register your security system and also provide some sort of audio or video proof of a crime in progress.

I set off the alarm a couple of times. Within about 10 minutes of leaving the house after first arming the system, I got a call from SimpliSafe asking if I had an emergency event because the motion sensor had been triggered by my dog. I gave the representative my safe word, and there was no need for a police dispatch.

The setup guide directs you on how to place the motion sensor if you have cats or dogs but not both. I have two cats and a dog. I emailed SimpliSafe's customer service on a Sunday evening for help on the correct placement of the motion sensor, and they got back to me the next morning. The service rep recommended installing the motion sensor upside down about four feet above the floor. This is because the sensor doesn't monitor upwards. So, people four feet tall and taller will set it off. Four-legged creatures will not. Once I resolved this, I didn't have any other false alarms from the motion sensor.

The app is incredibly easy to use and makes it effortless to customize your experience. You can choose to get push notifications, SMS texts, or emails when any of your sensors are triggered. There is also an option to instantly sound the alarm. I set this up for when the glassbreak sensor is triggered.

Read more: The best home security products you can buy

Some concerns about the home security system

At 95 decibels, the alarm is quite loud, but it may not reach all parts of your home. SimpliSafe instructs you to install the base station in a central location in your home. At first, we figured that would be the second floor of our three-story home. But, from the first floor, where intruders will likely enter, the sound of the siren was not as intense as we would have liked. So, we moved the siren to the first floor. It would be nice if SimpliSafe offered a few sirens throughout the home. For $60, SimpliSafe offer an extra-loud 105-decibel siren that can be used inside the home or outside to alert neighbors.

I wanted to keep the key fob on my keychain for easy access, but I accidentally armed the system while it was in my pocket. At the time, I was next door talking to my neighbor and didn't have my phone on me. I faintly heard an alarm-like sound, but I assumed it was coming from elsewhere. Well, it turns out it was our system and my wife got a call from the SimpliSafe rep. Now, I just keep the key fob next to my bed to arm the system when I go to bed. I use the keypad when leaving the house.

Lastly, there's a reported hack that can disarm the second-generation SimpliSafe system. The signals for the new third-gen system are encrypted and should protect against this hack. If you are concerned about this, I recommend not advertising that you are using a SimpliSafe system. Instead, consider purchasing generic signs off Amazon or elsewhere. Either way, it's important that you advertise that you have a security system. That should be enough to deter most scofflaws.

The bottom line

Even the best security system won't stop a determined burglar. But, when it comes to opportunistic crimes, a security system should be enough to ward off most criminals. In the five months we've lived here, we haven't had any security issues. And, my wife and I sleep easier at night knowing that our home is being monitored 24/7.

Based on my experience, the third-generation of SimpliSafe's wireless home security system is everything it claims to be. I strongly recommend it for safeguarding your home.

Buy The Essentials 6-piece SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security System for $221 on SimpliSafe

Buy the SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security System starting at $249.99 on Amazon

Update 10/30/18: After this review was published, SimpliSafe contacted us to let us know about their video alarm verification. If you have the SimpliSafe Camera, the monitoring center will receive a short clip of what triggered the alarm and use it to verify the alarm for the police. They never have access to your camera so your privacy is protected. SimpliSafe says this reduces false alarms and often leads to faster dispatch and higher arrest rates.

• The Sega Genesis Mini 2 launched on October 27 exclusively at Amazon.
• The retro gaming console features 60 games from the Sega Genesis and Sega CD.
• Consoles are now available for $100, plus an extra $22.30 delivery fee for orders shipping to the US.

The Sega Genesis Mini 2, a miniature replica of the classic gaming console, launched on October 27. The system is currently exclusive to Amazon and costs $100 plus $22.30 for shipping to the US. The console ships from Japan, and unfortunately a Prime delivery option isn't available.

The first Genesis Mini model was released in 2019 for $80, and this new edition offers a completely different set of games and an upgraded controller.

Like the earlier model, the Genesis Mini 2 is designed to let buyers play retro Sega games on their TV. Sixty games come installed on the system, including titles that were originally released on the Sega CD.

What's different about the Genesis Mini 2?

The Sega Genesis Mini 2 is a miniature replica of the second Genesis model that was released in 1993, while the first Genesis Mini was a replica of the console's original design from 1988. The Mini 2 also comes with a new version of the six-button gamepad that eventually became the Genesis standard, while the original Genesis Mini came with a three-button controller.

The Genesis Mini 2 has 60 games, while the original Genesis Mini had 42. Like the earlier model, the new Mini 2 also incorporates features like save states and widescreen support.

You can check out our impressions of the original Genesis Mini for more info on the console.

What games are available on Sega Genesis Mini 2?

Sega has released the full list of games that are available on the Genesis Mini 2, along with a trailer showcasing gameplay footage from the catalog. You can find cover art for each game on Sega's official website.

Here's the full list of games on Sega Genesis Mini 2:

• Mansion of Hidden Souls (Sega CD)
• Night Striker (Sega CD)
• The Ninja Warriors (Sega CD)
• Echo the Dolphin (Sega CD)
• Ecco The Tides of Time (Sega CD)
• Final Fight (Sega CD)
• Night Trap (Sega CD)
• Robo Aleste (Sega CD)
• Shining Force CD (Sega CD)
• Silpheed (Sega CD)
• Sonic CD (Sega CD)
• The Ninja Warriors (Sega CD)
• Alien Soldier
• After Burner II
• Atomic Runner
• Bonanza Brothers
• ClayFighter
• Crusader of Centy
• Desert Strike
• Earthworm Jim 2
• Elemental Master
• Fatal Fury 2
• Gain Ground
• Golden Axe II
• Granada
• Hellfire
• Herzon Zwei
• Lightening Force
• Midnight Resistance
• OutRun
• OutRunners
• Phantasy Star II
• Populous
• Rainbow Islands Extra
• Ranger X
• Ristar
• Rolling Thunder 2
• Shadow Dancer
• Shining Force II
• Shining in the Darkness
• Sonic 3D Blast
• Splatterhouse 2
• Streets of Rage 3
• Super Hang On
• Super Street Fighter II
• The Ooze
• The Revenge of Shinobi
• Toe Jam and Earl in Panic on Funkotron
• Truxton
• Vectorman 2
• Viewpoint
• Virtua Racing
• Warsong
• Fantasy Zone
• Star Mobile
• Spatter
• Super Locomotive
• Devi & Pii
• Puyo Puyo Sun
• Space Harrier II

The game list varies greatly from the original Genesis Mini, incorporating more sequels and games that were released later in the Genesis' lifespan. Classics from the first Genesis Mini, like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, are replaced by sequels like Sonic CD and Super Street Fighter II. 

While Genesis Mini 2 features more games and doesn't rehash titles from the first Genesis Mini, gamers who missed out on the original mini console might be disappointed by the new model's more eclectic catalog.

Are there other ways to play classic Sega Genesis games?

If you're looking to play Genesis games without investing in a retro console, you should check out the Sega Genesis Classics Collection, which features more than 50 Genesis games on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The Nintendo Switch Online service also offers more than 30 Sega Genesis games if you buy an expansion pack, which costs $80 per year and can only be purchased annually.

• Apple has released a more affordable, smaller version of its flagship smart speaker known as the HomePod Mini.
• The HomePod Mini brings all of the features from its larger predecessor into a smaller frame that looks a lot like the latest Amazon Echo for just $99.00.
• The speaker was released to the public on November 16, and you can order it now from Apple, Best Buy, and other retailers.
• You can read our full HomePod Mini review here.

Not one to go down without a fight, Apple has revealed its second smart speaker to date in order to draw you away from the Echoes and Nest speakers of the world: HomePod Mini. Naturally, this HomePod is much smaller and more affordable than Apple's first HomePod speaker.

That said, it doesn't appear to lose any of the features found within the previous version, coming with full Siri digital assistant integration, smart home control, Find My, and voice-based web search to name a few.

The speaker also brings with it some new features, however, namely a new intercom feature that allows users to speak to one another through multiple HomePod units as well from a HomePod to an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, or CarPlay device. Finally, the speaker sports an admittedly gorgeous, colorful touch display up top for physical playback and Siri controls.

Apple HomePod Mini release date and price

Apple made the HomePod Mini available for preorder on November 6, with a full release following 10 days later on November 16. Again, the speaker costs $99.00, making it awfully competitive with the leading smart speakers out there.

For instance, the latest Amazon Echo (4th Gen) goes for the exact same price: $99.99 – and Apple's speaker just so happens to look a whole lot like it. Meanwhile, the Google Nest Audio announced this year also asks for $99.99. No longer is Apple HomePod limited by its previously unapproachable price.

How to buy Apple HomePod Mini

Preorders for Apple HomePod Mini began on November 6 on Apple's retail website, and the device is now available for shipment. With that said, current orders are not estimated to arrive until December 9 at the earliest.

The HomePod Mini is also available through other retailers, including Best Buy. 

For detailed impressions on the HomePod Mini, be sure to read our full HomePod Mini review here.

• The Dynamic Island is an interactive notch that surrounds the iPhone's front camera and FaceID sensor. 
• It doubles as a hub for alerts, notifications, and app shortcuts, and can change in appearance. 
• Dynamic Island is exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models. 

Among several new and notable features Apple announced during the iPhone 14 Pro unveil is the Dynamic Island. 

Calling it a redesigned notch wouldn't be accurate, but it is a new and creative way for the space at the top of the iPhone's screen to be used. The feature is exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

"Dynamic" refers to its interactive nature. Unlike the notch, which is static and takes up space, the Dynamic Island can not only display basic information and notifications, but it can also appear to expand in size to show more information. Users can tap on it, giving them a new way to interact with their iPhone. 

Here's everything to know about Apple's Dynamic Island. 

What is Apple's Dynamic Island?

Dynamic Island is Apple's newly designed "notch" for the iPhone Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The oval-shaped cutout sits at the top of the screen, and hides the front camera and FaceID sensors. Instead of a "dead space" at the top of the device, the Dynamic Island can show notifications, alerts, or real-time information. 

The Dynamic Island appears whenever your phone is unlocked. Through on-screen animations, the cutout appears to expand and shrink, depending on whatever information it's displaying. It also serves as a hub for shortcuts you can tap to bring you directly to apps you're using running in the background, like a music-streaming app and a timer.  

It shows when your iPhone 14 Pro is locked or unlocked

By expanding slightly and showing a simple lock/unlock animation, the Dynamic Island lets you know that your phone has unlocked. 

It displays the charging status of your iPhone

When you plug your iPhone in to charge, the Dynamic Island expands to offer a subtle notification that you're charging your phone and shows your battery level.

You can control phone calls

You'll get a typical notification on the Dynamic Island when you're receiving a call, which lets you hang up or pick up. The Dynamic Island makes it easier to disconnect a call after you're done, as you simply need to tap the Island and tap the hang-up button without switching away from an app you're using. In the past, you had to tap the phone call alert on the top left of the screen to return to the phone call screen to hang up. 

It shows you when you connect to AirPods

The connected AirPods notification is moving to the Dynamic Island, which has become a central hub for alerts and notifications rather than freestanding notifications that appeared in different places in iOS. Tapping on the Dynamic Island shows you which pair of AirPods are connected, as well as the battery percentage.

It can display music you're listening to and media controls

Album art displays on the Dynamic Island while you're playing music, and you can tap on the Dynamic Island to bring up music controls, like play/pause/previous/next. It also includes the option for enabling AirPlay. 

It means you don't need to reopen your music streaming app, or swipe from the top-right of the screen to open the control center, for basic audio controls. And if you use a widget for music controls now, the Dynamic Island lets you reclaim that screen space. 

You can get travel alerts 

Useful, dynamic info and updates from apps can be shown on the Dynamic Island instead of a notification that leads you to the app itself. Tapping on the Dynamic Island for travel information expands the notification to show you the flight number, whether the flight is on time, and how many bags the traveler has checked in. 

It can give you turn-by-turn directions 

To further centralize where you'll find useful information, you'll get an alert for an upcoming driving direction step from the Dynamic Island when the Maps app is in the background. The alert will expand when it comes time to take the next step, which helps catch your attention.

It shows you AirDrop notifications and status

The new AirDrop notification on the Dynamic Island shows you the progress of the download or upload. You can tap the Dynamic Island to get a bigger and clearer view of the AirDrop's progress. 

It shows the status of ride share services like Lyft

The Dynamic Island will persistently show you how many minutes your ride share car will take to get to you. You can tap on the Island to get more information, like the name and photo of the driver, the driver rating, make of the car, and the license plate information. 

It shows when FaceID is being used

The FaceID animation expands from the Dynamic Island in a move that further consolidates alerts and notifications to the top of the iPhone.

It can show you multiple shortcuts for things you're doing on your iPhone

The Dynamic Island can show you what's running in the background, and you can tap on the relevant icons as a shortcut that brings you straight to the relevant app.

For example, the Island will show a timer icon when you have a timer going alongside playing music. Tapping on either icon will bring you to their apps.

Sony and Microsoft have both invested heavily in gaming subscription services for their PS5 and Xbox consoles. These Netflix-style memberships bring more value to customers, letting players pay a monthly fee to gain access to hundreds of games.

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox consoles and PC, and even has an option to stream games to mobile devices. Members get access to tons of popular titles, including all of Microsoft Studio's brand-new games the same day they hit stores. Sony's PlayStation Plus service offers similar features for PlayStation console owners, but lacks consistent day-one releases and mobile streaming support.

Gamers playing directly on either console can only use the service that matches their machine, but PC owners can use either service's cloud gaming feature to stream titles. If you're torn between a PlayStation or Xbox system, understanding the pros and cons of each service might help steer you toward one or the other. Here's how Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus stack up when it comes to plans, pricing, and features.

Xbox Game Pass vs. PlayStation Plus: Pricing and plans

Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus both have multiple tiers of service, with plans starting at $10 a month. 

Plan	Price
Xbox Game Pass Core	$10 a month, $60 per year
Xbox Game Pass for Console	$11 a month
Xbox Game Pass for PC	$10 a month
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate	$17 a month
PlayStation Plus Essential	$10 a month, $25 quarterly, $60 per year
PlayStation Plus Extra	$15 a month, $40 quarterly, $100 a year
PlayStation Plus Premium	$18 a month, $50 quarterly, $120 a year

Xbox Games Pass currently offers Console, PC, and Ultimate plans. A new entry-level plan, called "Xbox Game Pass Core," launches on September 14.

Xbox Game Pass Core will replace a separate service called Xbox Live Gold, and will give members access to online multiplayer on Xbox consoles along with a library of about 25 games. Xbox Game Pass Core will cost $10 a month or $60 per year, and existing Xbox Live Gold members will automatically be enrolled in the service.

Xbox Game Pass plans for Console or PC let members download hundreds of Game Pass titles to play on each respective platform. PC Game Pass is $10 a month while Game Pass for Console is $11 a month.

For $17 a month, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan combines Xbox Live Core with the PC and Console memberships, and adds the option to stream many Game Pass titles to your console, PC, mobile device, and even some of the best Samsung TVs. 

PlayStation Plus, meanwhile, has three pricing tiers, but unlike Game Pass, every plan includes online multiplayer support. PlayStation Plus Essential is the entry-level tier which lets members claim a small selection of games every month for $10 a month. This selection typically includes three titles per month. 

PlayStation Plus Extra costs $15 a month, and adds access to a library of more than 400 downloadable PS5 and PS4 games. The top tier, PlayStation Plus Premium, costs $18 a month, and adds game streaming support for PlayStation consoles and PCs. Premium also includes access to a collection of retro PlayStation games going back to the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP.

In addition to monthly pricing options, PlayStation Plus offers big discounts if you're willing to pay for an annual or quarterly membership. The more expensive tiers of Game Pass, however, don't offer multi-month discounts, unless you can find a specific retailer deal.

Xbox Game Pass vs. PlayStation Plus: Online multiplayer and saves

All PlayStation Plus memberships include support for online multiplayer, while Xbox requires Xbox Game Pass Core or the highest tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, to get online play.

PlayStation Plus plans also unlock support for backing up PlayStation game saves to the cloud. Meanwhile, cloud saving support is actually included for free for all Xbox owners, so you don't need Game Pass or any other subscription to use that feature.

Unlike Xbox Game Pass, all PlayStation Plus members also get the ability to share their screen with other PlayStation console owners online with a feature called Share Play. This lets you play multiplayer games as if you were playing offline, and share games with friends who may not have their own copy.

Xbox Game Pass vs. PlayStation Plus: Games

The main draw of Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus is their Netflix-style library of downloadable games. Both platforms include access to hundreds of titles, but they each take different approaches with their catalogs, especially when it comes to new releases.

Microsoft has committed to adding every new Xbox Studios game to Game Pass the same day they're released in stores, while Sony waits several months to add its own high-profile releases, like Horizon: Forbidden West and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.

Xbox Game Pass' recent day-one releases include the cooperative shooter Redfall, and the rhythm-based action game Hi-Fi Rush. PlayStation Plus has started to add a few indie games to its catalog the same day they're released, like Tchia and Meet Your Maker, but there are fewer brand-new titles coming to the service.

Because Game Pass is also available on Windows PCs, certain games offer cross-platform play and shared cloud saves. But, there are a handful of Game Pass titles that are only available on console or PC, not both.

Both PlayStation Plus and Game Pass have partnerships with other industry publishers. Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass PC subscribers get access to EA Play, a subscription from Electronic Arts that includes franchises like Madden 23, Need for Speed, The Sims, and Star Wars. Game Pass also gives benefits to fans of Riot Games, like unlocking all of the champions in the popular PC game League of Legends.

Meanwhile, PlayStation Plus members have access to the Ubisoft+ Classics catalog, a subscription service that includes games from the Assassin's Creed series, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy franchise.

Games will occasionally leave the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus catalogs, but the amount of time they're available depends on the publisher. First-party games published by Microsoft and PlayStation tend to remain in the subscription library permanently, while games published by third-party developers, like Square Enix and 2K Games, are more likely to rotate out. 

Classic titles from older consoles are rarely removed from either collection, while newer releases usually have a set timeframe before they leave. In general, most games will be on Game Pass for at least six months before you have to worry about them being removed. PlayStation Plus hasn't had many games leave the collection so far, but Sony only launched the full library in 2022.

Game Pass members get a 10% discount when buying games that are already on Game Pass, so you can always get a deal before a game leaves the service entirely. That 10% discount also applies to downloadable content and add-ons for Game Pass games, which aren't always included with the base version.

Xbox Game Pass vs. PlayStation Plus: Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming support is included with the top tiers of Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. If you have a good internet connection, this feature lets you stream games to other devices so you can play select titles even if you don't own an actual Xbox or PlayStation console. 

Of the two platforms, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers a much more robust streaming experience with the option to stream games to Xbox consoles, PCs, phones, tablets, and even some Samsung smart TVs. Many games on mobile also offer touch controls, so you don't need to worry about carrying a controller on the go.

On the other hand, PlayStation Plus Premium offers streaming directly to PS4 and PS5 consoles or PCs, but there's no feature to stream your collection to mobile devices or smart TVs. Furthermore, you need a PlayStation 4 controller to stream games, and games designed for PlayStation 5 can't be streamed yet.

If you're planning to take advantage of either service's cloud gaming feature to stream games on a computer, be sure to check out our guides to the best gaming laptops, best gaming PCs, and best PC controller for gaming to see some of our top gaming gear recommendations.

Xbox Game Pass vs. PlayStation Plus benefits at a glance

Features and benefits	PlayStation Plus	Xbox Game Pass
Library of downloadable games	Yes	Yes
Online multiplayer	Yes (all plans)	Yes, (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate only)
New first-party games on release day	No	All Xbox Game Studios releases and more with Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass for Console
Free monthly games	Yes (all plans)	Only with Game Pass Ultimate (Program ends September 1)
Cloud gaming device support	PC, PS4, and PS5 (PlayStation Plus Premium)	Xbox, PC, phones, tablets, Samsung TVs (Game Pass Ultimate)
Member deals and discounts	Extra savings in PlayStation Store	10% off Xbox Game Pass games and DLC, offers from partners like Disney Plus, Discord, and Riot Games
Partner memberships	Ubisoft+ Classics (PS Plus Extra or Premium)	Riot Games and EA Play (Game Pass Ultimate or PC)
Cloud saving	Yes	Available for free
Share-play (Online screen sharing)	Yes	Not available

The bottom line

PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass both bring tons of value to their respective consoles, and even have benefits for gamers who don't own an Xbox or PlayStation. However, Xbox Game Pass has had more time to develop a better overall experience for its members.

Game Pass offers more new games than PlayStation Plus, gives members discounts when buying games or investing in DLC add-ons, and works across both console and PC with few hassles.

From a technological standpoint, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's cloud streaming and accessibility go beyond what PlayStation Plus Premium offers for members. Mobile streaming support even makes Game Pass a viable service for customers who just want to play games on their phones.

PlayStation Plus does include lots of critically acclaimed exclusive titles and an impressive catalog of classic games, but it still needs to expand its offerings and device support if it hopes to match the value of Xbox Game Pass in the future.

For now, Sony's gaming service shows promise, but Microsoft's membership is still the gold standard.

FAQs

How can I get a discount on Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus?

Sony occasionally offers deals on quarterly and annual PlayStation Plus subscriptions in the PlayStation store, while discounts on Game Pass are sometimes available at separate retailers through sales on three-month subscriptions.

Is buying an annual subscription to Game Pass or PlayStation Plus worth it?

PlayStation Plus is discounted by up to 50% if you're willing to pay for a year of the service upfront, which makes an annual plan the best value for your money. Xbox Game Pass only offers monthly subscriptions for the console, PC, and Ultimate plans at the moment, but some retailers occasionally sell gift cards for three-months of Game Pass Ultimate at a discount. However, Xbox Game Pass Core will be available for $60 a year when it launches on September 14, which means you can get a 50% discount if you pay for an annual membership versus going with a monthly plan.

In recent years, Sony has made and continues to make a splash with its Alpha full-frame mirrorless cameras that are geared toward advanced and professional photographers. But, it also makes a line of terrific APS-C cropped-sensor mirrorless cameras that deserve just as much praise. Compact and lightweight, they are designed with travel, amateur, and other photographers who don't need the power and feature set of Sony's higher-end options. However, Sony's APS-C cameras aren't any lesser of a product.

With Sony's A6400 mirrorless digital camera — its latest APS-C model — reviewing it is less about why it's an ideal camera specifically and more about why it's a good choice among a sea of good choices. For the sake of this review, I look at it stemming from the basis of one question: "Is this a good camera for the average person looking to use more than their cell phone?"

Design

Sony took pointers from its higher-end cameras when they designed the A6400, and that's most obvious in the physical button arrangement and interface. If you were to go from the A6400 and jump immediately to its highest-end professional camera, you would know exactly how to operate it.

The only other company that has successfully done this repeatedly is Canon, and there is a reason they dominated the DSLR market for years. Having a single straightforward and simple system resonates with users. 

The A6400 is also small without feeling like it's fragile. Sony has always done a good job of keeping its cameras compact, and the A6400 is no exception. That said, if you have larger hands you might find the camera too small to hold comfortably.

When downsizing, many camera manufacturers will sacrifice a command dial, which is a knob that controls either shutter speed or aperture and can also be used in other menus to navigate.

Sony maintains the professional photographer's necessity for a minimum of two command dials on the A6400, meaning if you eventually choose to push the A6400 beyond beginner Program limits, you will not find controlling multiple functions difficult. This is in contrast to other consumer-level cameras that try and compress all functions into one dial, which can be slow and very frustrating to operate.

One command dial is unlabeled and lives on the top of the camera, on the far right. The other is on the rear of the camera, below the Fn button, and also includes multi-directional input.

Part of compacting the camera so small involved finding a place for everything, and the A6400 makes use of every nook and cranny pretty effectively. On the left side of the camera you will find a compartment that houses the charging port, microphone jack and HDMI. The SD card port shares the same bottom compartment as the battery.

The only downside when it comes to usability is the menu system used to access most of the A6400's features, and all of its advanced functionality. In short, it's not very good. Confusing, clunky, poorly organized and badly labeled in many places, Sony's menu is one of the more frustrating on the market.

Unfortunately, this is a problem Sony has had with its cameras for years and is proving a challenge for it to address. So while Sony have done a very good job synchronizing its interfaces across cameras, that comes with the downside of that menu coming along for that ride.

Gratefully, once you set the camera up the first time, it is unlikely you need to spend much time in the convoluted menu. So as much of a pain as it is, I am willing to look past it since most won't encounter it for more than the first hour of use.

Viewfinder and LCD

Likely to keep the price of the A6400 approachable, the electronic viewfinder, or EVF, isn't anything to write home about as far as resolution and image quality. It's certainly just fine for everyday use, just don't expect images to look super sharp or have a realistic level of contrast. 

Conversely, the rear LCD is great. Not only do images look great on it, it is a tilt-screen design, and can even flip fully upwards to act as a "selfie" screen, if that's something you're into. For me, I like it more for shooting at unconventional angles, such as close to the ground or if I choose to lift the camera above my head. 

The rear LCD is also technically a touch screen, but Sony still has not added full touch support to any of its cameras, the A6400 included. 

There are features that require touch in order to use (such as autofocus tracking, specifically in video), but many other features that cannot utilize touch no matter what (such as navigating the menu). It is honestly the strangest implementation of touch out there, and is as if Sony wasn't sure if it really wanted to offer it but felt simultaneously like it had to, giving us this kind of half-baked touch experience. If a touch screen is an absolute must for you as a shooter, you're going to be disappointed with the A6400, unfortunately. 

Performance and features

Part of what makes Sony cameras so great despite the few niggling details I've mentioned is that the actual shooting experience with any Sony camera is just top-tier, outstanding, and honestly unmatched. Sony's autofocus system is the best on the market, and the feedback to you as the shooter is constant and supportive in ways no one else has managed to match. 

Starting with autofocus, the A6400 uses what is known as a "hybrid" autofocus system, which is a combination of two technologies: phase detection and contrast detection. I won't go too deep into the weeds on this, only stating that the result is 425 autofocus points that cover 84% of the image frame. Trust me when I say that is exceedingly impressive, especially for a camera at this price point. Each of those points is capable of working with each other to follow and track moving objects, people and animals. 

Using AI, Sony is able to latch on to the eye of any person as well as certain animals like birds, dogs and cats. When using this technology, called Eye-AF, the camera all but assures that the most important part of a photo, the eye, is always perfectly sharp. Many manufacturers have made some kind of eye autofocus technology, but Sony's is far and away the most accurate and reliable. 

Thanks to Eye-AF, you can always be sure that your photos will be crisply in focus.

Building on top of that technology, Sony also has created an Object Detection algorithm. So in addition to being able to track faces and eyes, the camera can latch on to a specific object and track it if eyes or faces are not available. This kind of object recognition and tracking is unique to Sony right now and it is capable of working both in still and photo mode.

The best part of the experience, however, is when both these technologies are working together and in tandem. The A6400 can track faces, eyes, and bodies all at the same time and back and forth, allowing you to follow a person as they look at the camera, turn its head, and even if they move in between objects with its back facing the camera. It's a truly masterful autofocus experience that is thus far unmatched. 

If all that sounds way too complicated, the standard wide autofocus is also excellent. No matter what, the camera will tell you what it is focused on, with how many points, and in what way the entire time you are looking through the viewfinder. Using green squares that are constantly blinking and locking focus tells you, the photographer, what the camera is seeing and how it plans to capture an image. It is an extremely gratifying shooting experience that feels like the camera is working together with you as a unit, instead of just being a tool you happen to be holding. 

The A6400 battery is the only real negative I can mention about the shooting experience: it's not very good. It's by no means bad, but it you can't expect to be shooting for a full day on one battery. Shooting video especially will quickly drain the battery. Additionally, the A6400 doesn't come with an external charger, which means even if you could swap to a second battery, you can't keep using the camera while trying to charge the first without buying an additional battery charger. To charge the battery, you have to plug the entire camera into a wall.

Image quality

I think, in the end, the one thing that really matters above all else is how the photos look. I'm happy to report that Sony's 24.2-megapixel (MP) APS-C image sensor is very nice, and is able to capture a wide range of photos with excellent color fidelity and detail.

Even using what would be considered by most photographers as a "low-end" lens, the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, images look excellent. Colors pop and details are sharp. It's hard to ask for more. 

Because the camera is so compact, it's easy to take the A6400 with you everywhere. 

24.2MP is a lot to work with, more than enough for online sharing and plenty even if you plan to print the photos. 

Greens are especially beautiful with Sony cameras, with a realistic vibrancy that jumps off the screen.

Low-light images, if you're using above ISO 1600, can start to look a bit noisy/grainy, so try and keep your ISO lower if possible. You can either set it manually, or from the menu you can set a limit of how high the Auto ISO will go. ISO 2000 is about the limits of where I am happy with the noise level, but you may find that up to ISO 6400 is useable.

If you stay around ISO 100 to 800, you'll get the best image quality this camera is capable of producing. The first photo above of the flower is one of the most vibrant and colorful I've ever captured, and that was shot at ISO 640.

The Sony A6400 doesn't have any kind of on-sensor image stabilization, which is a bit of a bummer since Sony was one of the first companies to put stabilization into most of its cameras. Likely in a bid to lower the cost of the A6400, it was left out. This makes shooting in low light harder, and video will be shakier. This isn't a deal-breaker, but it is disappointing.

The bottom line

When I look at the A6400, I see a camera that can be nearly anything to anyone who wants to capture photos and videos. It can shoot up to 4K video with high-end options like S-Log and slow motion in Full HD. It can also shoot up to 11 frames per second with autofocus tracking, which means it's actually quite a competent sports camera, or a camera capable of freezing important action.

When you look at its capabilities in full, the A6400 will work just as well for a family looking to photograph its children as it would be a workhorse of a camera for any small business looking to generate content for distribution online. It really can do just about anything for anyone, and that's what makes it so valuable in today's crowded camera market.

Pros: Great image quality and high-resolution video capture, 11 frames per second photo capture and up to 120 frames per second slow motion video, compact size, compatible with all Sony E-mount lenses, affordable especially given the feature set

Cons: Doesn't come with an external battery charger (you have to charge it plugged in), battery life is mediocre at best, doesn't have any image stabilization on the sensor

• Oculus Link lets you connect your Meta Quest 2 to a PC to run PC VR apps and games.
• For best results, use a USB 3 cable, though Oculus Link should also work with slower USB 2 cables.
• For a fully wireless experience, you can use the Oculus Air Link setting as well

Oculus Link is a feature built into Quest 2, the Meta VR headset that allows you to connect your Quest to a PC. While the Meta Quest 2 is a completely self-contained wireless VR headset that can run games and apps from the large Quest library, Oculus Link adds an additional dimension, letting you use your computer's substantially higher processing power to run more complex PC VR games. 

Here is what you need to know about Oculus Link, including how to use it with the Meta Quest 2.

Is Oculus Link worth it?

Most VR headsets are either standalone devices that run their own software or tethered to a PC and able to run a library of more powerful VR apps. Oculus Link lets you do either or both. That means that Oculus Link gives you, as a Meta Quest 2 user, a set of tools and capabilities unlike any other VR headset for almost no cost beyond the investment in the headset. 

While Oculus Link is an entirely optional part of the Quest VR experience, if your computer is powerful enough, using it can give you access to far more engaging VR apps with better graphics, more realistic physics, and dramatically richer gameplay or simulations. Essentially, that means you get the best of both worlds. And because you might already have the only accessory you need to run Oculus Link — a USB-C cable — that means it's definitely worth it. 

Is Oculus Link just USB-C?

You should be able to use most USB-C cables with Oculus Link to connect your headset to a PC. Oculus sells its own Link Cable, a 16-foot cable with a USB-C connection at both ends. It costs $80 and should deliver the best, smoothest, and most reliable connection. 

Even so, you can find other high-quality USB-C cables at a significantly lower cost. There's no harm in trying alternative cables and seeing if they get the job done. For best results, use a USB 3.0 cable, which features USB-C connectors at both ends. The Quest headset is also compatible with USB 2.0 cables as well — though performance may not be as good. 

All that said, you might not need to use a USB-C cable at all. The Quest 2 also supports Oculus Air Link, which lets you connect your Quest 2 headset to your PC wirelessly. Like any wireless technology, you might find some latency, hiccups, and stuttery video, which can add up to a bad VR experience. You can try Air Link and revert to a Link Cable instead if it doesn't meet your needs. 

How to get started with Oculus Link

Using Oculus Link is pretty straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. To begin, ensure you have a USB-C cable. You can try the wireless Oculus Air Link, but if you have any difficulties, start with the USB-C cable setup. 
2. Install the Oculus desktop app onto your PC. Log in with your Meta account credentials.   
3. Start the Oculus desktop app and turn on your Quest 2 headset. 
4. Connect your Oculus Link cable to the headset and a USB port on your PC. 
5. If you see a message requesting access to data inside the headset, choose Deny.
6. Within the headset, start Settings and choose System.
7. Choose Quest Link.
8. On the Quest Link page, make sure Quest Link is enabled (the button should be swiped to the right) and then choose Launch Quest Link. 
9. If you want to try the Air Link wireless option, turn on Use Air Link. Otherwise, make sure it's disabled and then choose Launch. 

What are the requirements for Oculus Link?

Depending on what processor and video card you have, you might find that your PC doesn't meet the requirements to run Oculus Link — for example, does an NVidia RTX 3050 work with Oculus Link? While the supported CPU and graphics cards might change over time as Meta updates the software, here is what you need to run an Oculus Link connection right now:

• CPU: Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater
• Memory: 8GB or more
• Operating system: Windows 10 or higher
• Graphics Card – the following graphics cards are supported:
• NVIDIA Titan X
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 TI
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series
• AMD 400 Series
• AMD 500 Series
• AMD 5000 Series
• AMD 6000 Series (except the Radeon RX 6500)
• AMD Vega Series
• Graphics Cards – the following cards are not supported at this time:

• NVIDIA  3050ti
• NVIDIA 3050 (laptop) 
• NVIDIA Titan Z
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Desktop
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060M
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
• AMD 200 Series
• AMD 300 Series

Do I need the Oculus app for Oculus Link?

You don't need the Meta Quest app on a mobile device, but in order to use Oculus Link with your PC, you do need to install and set up the Windows desktop Oculus app. When you enable Oculus Link, the app communicates with your headset.

With prices ranging from $200 to $500, buying a new video game system is an investment, and figuring out which platform to go with can be tricky. The best gaming consoles all deliver a fun experience, but they each offer a different assortment of exclusive games, and they can vary a lot when it comes to price and multimedia capabilities.

If you're looking for blockbuster exclusives and top-notch visuals, the Sony PS5 is our pick for the best gaming console overall. But if you grew up with classic games like Super Mario and the Legend of Zelda, the portable Nintendo Switch might be a better option. And if you want extensive media features and the option to try a bunch of new games for a monthly fee, an Xbox Series X could be a game changer.

I've had years of experience with all of the latest consoles and have been testing them all since their releases. Below, I've detailed what each of the major systems is best at to help you decide which gaming console is the right fit for you.

Our top picks for the best gaming consoles

Best overall: PlayStation 5 - See at Amazon
The PS5's library of blockbuster-exclusive games and unique DualSense controller make it the best gaming console for most gamers.

Best portable system: Nintendo Switch OLED - See at Amazon
The Switch's ability to seamlessly transition between handheld and docked gameplay remains impressive, and its lower price makes it a great choice for casual players.

Best for multimedia: Xbox Series X - See at Amazon
Microsoft's Xbox Series X is the ideal centerpiece for any home entertainment setup, slightly besting the PS5 in power while offering extra media features and cool perks like Xbox Game Pass.

Best on a budget: Xbox Series S - See at Amazon
The Xbox Series S is an excellent console for its price point, but it does lack a disc drive and can't match the graphical capabilities of the Series X or PS5.

Best overall: PS5

PS5 Slim (With Disc Drive)

PS5 Slim (Digital Edition)

Pros: Fast solid-state drive, powerful graphics, unique DualSense controller, lots of popular exclusive games

Cons: Even newer slim models are big, PlayStation Plus lags behind Xbox Game Pass

Released in November 2020, the PS5 helped set a new standard for video game consoles with its speedy M.2 solid-state drive (SSD), DualSense controller, and support for 4K at a 120Hz refresh rate. In 2023, Sony refreshed the console's design with a slimmer form factor that takes up 30% less space and has a slightly larger 1TB SSD. 

The PlayStation 5 now comes in two versions: the standard PS5 slim ($500) and the digital-edition PS5 slim ($450). The digital edition doesn't include a 4K Blu-ray drive, but the consoles otherwise offer the same performance. We recommend picking up a PS5 with a disc drive if you want to buy and borrow physical PS5 games or if you have a collection of old PS4 discs. However, the slim digital-edition PS5 does allow you to add a disc drive later on for $80. You can learn more about how the two models stack up in our PS5 digital vs. disc comparison. 

The PS5's popularity is largely fueled by PlayStation's exclusive game franchises like Spider-Man, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, The Last of Us, and Gran Turismo. Many of these exclusives use the unique features of the console's DualSense controller, like haptic vibration feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone. These hit games and controller features help give the PS5 a slight edge over the Xbox Series X and make the console hard to skip for gamers who want to play the latest blockbuster releases. 

However, Sony still has work to do to make the PS5's PlayStation Plus gaming subscription service a true rival to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass. PlayStation Plus Premium launched in June 2022 and lets players subscribe to a library of about 400 downloadable games, but it doesn't include newly released games the way Microsoft's service does. 

The standard PS5 can also work well as a media device thanks to its 4K Blu-ray drive and support for most streaming apps. However, if you think you'll be using your console a lot as a media center, you might want to consider the Xbox Series X instead since it has a true digital movie store and Dolby Vision streaming support. The PS5 is limited to HDR10 streaming, and its store only lets you buy movies produced by Sony.

But when judged purely as a gaming console, we think the PS5 simply has the stronger lineup of exclusive games right now. Especially since most high-profile Xbox releases can also be played on a gaming PC.  

Read our PS5 review.

Note: Current slim PS5 bundles include a copy of Spider-Man 2 for no extra cost. 

Best portable system: Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch

Pros: Great value, includes two Joy-Cons controllers out of the box, popular Nintendo titles, portable and docked modes

Cons: Online play is limited compared to Xbox and PlayStation, Joy-Con drift issues, aging hardware

The Nintendo Switch's hybrid portable design has made it wildly popular; you can take it on the go and play games in 720p on the small screen or connect it to your TV with the included dock for a full 1080p experience. The $350 Switch OLED is the latest version of the console, incorporating a larger, high-contrast OLED screen, an improved kickstand, and slightly better audio for $50 more than the original device. Check out our Nintendo Switch vs. Switch OLED comparison for full details on how they stack up. 

Both Switch OLED and the $300 standard Switch come with two removable Joy-Cons that can be used as individual motion controllers, making it ideal for playing with a friend while on the go. Nintendo Switch games come in durable cartridges rather than on Blu-ray discs, making them easy to store and travel with. The console also has expandable storage via a MicroSD slot, so you can boost the fairly small 64GB (OLED) or 32GB (standard model) internal storage by up to 2TB to hold more digital games.

If you don't care about playing on your TV, there's also the $200 Switch Lite to consider. This option is ideal for solo portable play, but it can't be docked and doesn't have removable Joy-Con controllers. The portable screen is only 13% smaller than the standard Switch, and the Lite is thinner and easier to hold. The Switch Lite battery lasts about seven hours, while the standard and OLED Switch models can last up to nine hours.

Though the Switch's hardware is showing its age and pales in comparison to the capabilities of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, it remains a capable console with a large library that's especially great for families. Popular franchises, like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon, can only be found on the Switch, and lots of classic games have been remastered for Nintendo's system.

Thanks to its incredible game library and overall value, the Switch is still the best gaming console you can buy for portability.

Read our Nintendo Switch review, Nintendo Switch Lite review, and Nintendo Switch OLED review.

Best for multimedia: Xbox Series X

Pros: Powerful gaming hardware, Dolby Vision HDR for streaming, digital movie and TV store, supports Game Pass for tons of downloadable titles

Cons: Dolby Vision doesn't work with Blu-ray discs, controller lacks haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, most games are also available on PC

The Xbox Series X is a multimedia powerhouse, with support for 4K Blu-rays and many of the best streaming services. And unlike the PS5, the Series X offers movies and TV shows from every popular studio through Microsoft's digital storefront, and you can stream and share media with Windows PCs.

Xbox Series X also supports Dolby Vision, an advanced high dynamic range (HDR) format that helps compatible TVs enhance image quality with improved color accuracy and contrast. The feature can be used with video games as well as streaming apps like Disney Plus. Unfortunately, Blu-ray discs played on the Xbox Series X can't use Dolby Vision but can use the more common HDR10 format, which the PS5 also supports. 

The Xbox Series X is arguably more powerful than the PS5 in terms of performance because of its slightly faster CPU and stronger graphics processor. However, in practice, Series X games haven't shown big visual benefits over PS5 titles. On the downside, the Xbox controller lacks the PS5 DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which can add an extra sense of immersion to gameplay. 

The Series X has a handful of excellent exclusive releases like Starfield, Forza Motorsport, and Halo Infinite, but these titles are all available on PC as well. As it stands, we think the PS5's exclusive library is just a bit more substantial. However, this comes down to personal preference, so some gamers may be more drawn to Microsoft's catalog. 

But no matter how you look at it, the Xbox Series X is an excellent centerpiece for any home entertainment setup and can deliver an incredible experience for games and movies. The console is a no-brainer if you're a big fan of Microsoft's exclusive franchises. Its value also grows greatly if you sign up for an Xbox Game Pass membership, which gives you access to a big library of titles that you can download for a monthly fee. And unlike the PS5's competing service, Game Pass even offers access to many brand-new games on the same day they hit stores. 

Read our Xbox Series X review.

Best on a budget: Xbox Series S

Xbox Series S (Carbon Black, 1TB)

Xbox Series S (White, 512GB)

Pros: Great price for current hardware, support for Xbox Game Pass

Cons: No disc drive for games or Blu-rays, not as powerful as Series X or PS5 

This more budget-friendly Xbox console can play all the same games as the more powerful Xbox Series X but with a few significant trade-offs. For starters, the Series S doesn't have a Blu-ray disc drive, so you're limited to digital games on the console's solid-state storage. And its hardware is less powerful than Series X, so games are designed with 1080p or 1440p in mind rather than 4K.

The original white Xbox Series S model released in 2020 came with a 512GB drive, which we felt was limited considering that many popular games like Call of Duty" and NBA 2K can take up as much as 150 GB. Thankfully, Microsoft released a new carbon black Xbox Series S in September 2023 that has a more satisfying 1TB drive, but it costs a bit more than the original.

Some retailers have dropped the price of the 512GB Series S to $250 until the current stock runs out. Meanwhile, the 1TB Series S costs $350. It's possible to increase the Xbox Series S storage space with an expansion card, but they're pricey at about $150 for 1TB.

The carbon black Xbox Series S and Switch OLED share the same price, but budget-focused gamers will get more value out of the Xbox's multimedia features and other benefits, particularly Xbox Game Pass. For $10 a month, Game Pass gives subscribers a library of more than 100 games, including access to new Microsoft releases, like Halo: Infinite and Starfield, the same day they're released.

The Xbox Series S doesn't have the same level of graphics performance as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, so it's best to save for those consoles if you're worried you won't have the best visual quality. But if you want to play high-profile games on a budget, the Series S is the best gaming console for your needs.

Read our review of the Xbox Series S (512GB) review.

Gaming console FAQs

Which is better, PS5 or Xbox Series X?

The PS5 and Xbox Series X are direct competitors and two of the best gaming consoles you can buy, but the better choice largely comes down to personal preference. The two consoles offer similar performance in terms of hardware; the biggest differences come with the game libraries and overall user experience.

We feel that the PS5 has a more impressive library of exclusive games so far, and its unique DualSense controller can make gameplay more immersive. However, Xbox owners can benefit from a better ecosystem that includes Xbox Game Pass and more multimedia support. Check out our PS5 vs. Xbox Series X comparison for more details on how the two consoles stack up. 

Is Sony working on a PS5 Pro?

Sony hasn't indicated directly that a more powerful PlayStation 5 console is on the way. The updated slim PS5 released in 2023 matches the original's specs, but at least one report suggests that a PS5 Pro or similarly updated hardware could launch in late 2024.

Is there an update coming to the Xbox Series X?

Leaked documents revealed that Microsoft is working on an update to the Xbox Series X console in the future. The leaks show that the new console will be all digital like the Xbox Series S, so it won't have a Blu-ray drive, but it will have 2TB of internal storage and other improvements. The console, codenamed Brooklin, would have a new controller that's closer to the PS5's DualSense. A potential update to the Xbox Series S was leaked as well.

The documents showed that the updated Xbox Series X could launch as soon as November of 2024, but there's no guarantee that Microsoft will meet that timeline. Microsoft acknowledged the leaks in a public statement and said the documents were more than a year old, so plans for the updated consoles could shift dramatically.

Is Nintendo working on a new Switch?

The Switch is the oldest of our picks for the best gaming console, leading to constant speculation that an updated model is on the way. Nintendo has denied rumors, but there have been several reports that developers have been shown an early version of new Switch hardware, and it will likely launch in late 2024 or beyond.

That said, there's no guarantee that it's a completely new console or just a more powerful version of the current Switch.

• Lego Education has officially rolled out Spike Prime, a STEAM-based teaching tool that combines Lego bricks with coding.
• After students build their projects, they can then use a drag-and-drop coding app to program their toys to perform a variety of functions.
• Lego's education division is celebrating its 40th birthday. Spike Prime continues the company's education endeavors for the 21st-century classroom.
• It costs $329.95 and is available to buy now from Lego.

Lego bricks are fun to play with, making them a favorite toy among kids as well as adults. But they are also educational and can help develop a child's motor skills, analytical thinking, and creative expression. Lego has been aware of this, establishing its Lego Education division to bring its products into the classroom. To celebrate its 40th year, Lego Education launched its latest product, Spike Prime, which bridges Lego's analog brick with digital STEAM education.

Spike Prime takes Lego's traditional product into today's classrooms (it's designed for grades six to eight, or middle school), which center around STEAM learning — short for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. A big component to STEAM is a drag-and-drop, computer-based coding language, which forms the backbone of Spike Prime. In addition to building objects and robots with bricks, students can then program their creations to perform a variety of functions.

Announced last year in April but now officially available to both schools and consumers ($329.95), Lego Education provided us a follow-up demo during CES 2020 (Lego was not an official exhibitor but was in town to demo the product to the media). Here's a look at what it is, how it works, and our first impressions.

What is Spike Prime?

Spike Prime is a STEAM-based education tool from Lego that involves a kit of 528 Lego and Technic bricks — most will be familiar to Lego fans, while others are custom to Spike Prime, including sensors, motors, and wires. At the heart of everything is the Hub, a programmable control box that the user attaches all the bricks and wires onto. With the hub, you can create a break-dancing robot, a weather station, a hopping frog, or any of the other projects — there are 32 of them at launch. All components come in a box with dedicated compartments for easy sorting; ensuring the pieces go back in the right place is also an educational lesson, as it teaches organization.

To program the Hub and the accompanying motors and sensors, you'd need to launch the Spike Prime app on a Mac, Windows, or Chromebook laptop, or an iOS or Android device; the Hub connects wirelessly using Bluetooth. At first launch, the app has a quick tutorial that guides you through the basics. The programming language is based on the Scratch coding platform, which is already taught in schools

The 32 lessons start with something as simple as programming an emoji on the Hub's display, to more sophisticated builds like the aforementioned breakdancing robot. Each lesson guides you through the build — similar to the instruction booklet that comes with a Lego set. However, should the user get stuck, there is a troubleshoot panel.

After the build, you can start programming. Scratch is a drag-and-drop system that lets you build a set of instructions. For example, you can determine how long and how fast to spin a motor that's connected to a particular port. Students who have experience with this type of coding will find it familiar and a breeze, while teachers and parents may need to spend some time getting acquainted. Yes, Spike Prime isn't just an educational tool for kids, but it can also teach adults about STEAM concepts.

Playing with Spike Prime

Admittedly, I don't have extensive experience with drag-and-drop coding platforms, but after an hour of tinkering and creating a couple builds, I got the hang of it. While the hunting-and-pecking for parts is part of the Lego building experience, I appreciate that the Spike Prime components are easy to find in their respective bins — that is, if they were put back correctly. The reason Lego created this organization system is to be mindful of classroom time, since some projects can last around 45 minutes, depending on the student.

I will be experimenting more with Spike Prime in the coming weeks and will update this review accordingly, but through the tutorials, I was able to get my mind around it quickly within an hour. Building the projects is straightforward for anyone who's played with Legos, but that's just half the "fun", since you'd still need to program it. Unlike computer programming languages that I grew up with, such as BASIC, CSS, and HTML, the drag-and-drop is much easier to grasp; although it can get complex, as I am looking forward to learning with more difficult projects down the line (note: you don't need prior experience with coding). And, it's fun to see your creations come alive.

Because Spike Prime utilizes existing Lego and Technics blocks, I can imagine kids, after they've exhausted the projects, branching out on their own with new creations. In fact, Lego Education even offers an expansion pack ($99.95) of 603 additional components that are designed to prepare kids for robotics competitions, like the First Lego League and World Robot Olympiad. Everything starts with the Hub, but you can easily build on top of it by using your own bricks. As I continue my STEAM education, I am interested in seeing how open the coding platform is for new creations.

Continuing education

Although Spike Prime's target audience is middle school kids, it's also a great tool for parents to become involved with their children's curriculum and learn a bit about coding and STEAM education. I can also see Spike Prime being a fun toy for geeks, Lego fans, or anyone who likes to tinker with tech. It's expensive, which is why Lego Education considers Spike Prime a classroom tool rather than a consumer product.

Spike Prime isn't Lego Education's first STEAM or robotics toy, but it's definitely the first that taps into today's classrooms. It also bridges education and fun, and judging from the kids' reactions I saw during Spike Prime's announcement last year, kids will be naturally drawn to it.

• Playdate is a handheld gaming console with a retro aesthetic and a unique control style.
• The console uses a metal crank as an additional control method, opening up lots of new ways to play.
• While relatively pricey at $180, that includes a "season" of original games by independent developers.

As a life-long fan of video games and game design, I've purchased — or at least played with — just about every game console out there of the past 40 years. I've also been reviewing games and gaming hardware for a decade now. With this new handheld game console known as Playdate, playing games finally feels like something truly new and unique again.

Playdate, available now for preorder at $180, is a retro-themed handheld that fits in the palm of your hand with classic-style, black-and-white pixel graphics. However, this product focuses around a unique control method used by game creators with a shocking amount of ingenuity and a knack for fun.

The metal crank featured on the right side (which also supports left-handers by using an "upside down" mode) does not charge the console, but instead is used as part of its controls.

I liken the crank, a control method I've only seen before on fishing game controllers, to the Nintendo Wii remote controller in its level of inspiration for new, more interesting kinds of gameplay. 

The first game I played on the Playdate just so happens to be my favorite of the lineup: Whitewater Wipeout. It's a surfing game that tasks you with stringing a combo of sweet spinning jumps off a wave that's consistently pushing you to the left, using the crank almost like a rudder to steer the surfer and pull off those spins.

 Perhaps it's a gimmick, but it hasn't worn off on me yet after a few weeks of testing the console. There are more games like this that are also entertaining, like Lost Your Marbles, a physics puzzle game with a hilarious premise and plot that has you guiding a marble across various stages using the crank to rotate the stage's position.

However, not every game is beholden to this new control mechanism, and some games that ignore it entirely are just as fun.

One such game is Saturday Edition, which blends a detective noir aesthetic with a plot all about alien abductions in a fictional '80s US city as a point-and-click adventure game. Having been a fan of the mystery point-and-click genre since the days of games like The Secret of Monkey Island and Myst, this game was particularly engrossing. 

Another hit in a similar story-focused vein is DemonQuest '85, which crosses a friendship/romance simulator with a tale of summoning demons from an ancient tome.

In fact, I find the Playdate hard to put down, and have barely picked up my Nintendo Switch OLED in the past few weeks.

When the Playdate arrived at my home, I had been progressing through the sublime Pokemon Legends: Arceus. That Switch game has been an absolute breath of fresh air for a lapsed lover of the Pokemon franchise, but the Playdate is just so interesting and engrossing that I basically forgot about my pocket monster adventure. 

This may have been helped by the way in which I received games to the console over those two weeks.

Playdate doesn't use cartridges, but instead will wirelessly receive new games on a weekly basis, as part of what are known as 'seasons', through a Wi-Fi connection.

For the general public, these games will be delivered to consoles for no additional cost. The first "season" will feature two games issued per week for a total of 12 weeks and 24 games. It's unknown what plans Panic — the console's independent creator and distributor — has for its second season.

The press, however, received two new games each day over 12 days, so as to be able to evaluate everything the console has to offer in its first season in time for a review. If I weren't able to receive these games in such quick succession, would it have engrossed me in the same way? Perhaps not, but I will say that I have spent the majority of my time with Playdate improving my skills in Whitewater Wipeout, so that point may be moot.

To fill in the gaps between seasons, Playdate's browser-based game development tools are available to everyone, and sharing or side-loading those homemade games is easy.

Pulp, Panic's browser-based game development engine and interface, is available for anyone to use. The development software features "drawing tools, animation, [a] level editor, custom font, chip tune music, and sound effects" for easier use, but direct coding access is also available.

Users can then export games they've made to either their own Playdate console, via its USB-C port connected to a computer, or to a friend by sharing their game files digitally.

How widely will these features be used? It's tough to say, but if Panic is able to somehow curate and list these independently made games within the console's interface, it could have success similar to what's been seen in recent developer tools disguised as games, such as the Mario Maker and LittleBig Planet game series.

As for the Playdate hardware's other particulars, I'm generally impressed with its sound from such a tiny speaker, and the console has decent battery life.

The Playdate is rated for up to eight hours of battery life in use and 14 days of standby battery life. That generally checked out in my experience over the past few weeks, and it charges awfully quickly, like from near-zero to full in less than an hour.

Being a retro-themed device, the speaker does well to play the familiar bleeps and bloops arranged into music similar to that of classic games. The main Whitewater Wipeout theme is particularly catchy.

However, the Playdate's screen is going to be a make-or-break aspect of the device for potential buyers.

I'll be upfront: the Playdate's 400 x 240-pixel, 1-bit resolution display is neither backlit nor frontlit. Like the Game Boy that so clearly inspired the console, albeit released in 1989, the Playdate needs to be played under a source of light.

Yes, the screen is basically the Game Boy taken to its logical conclusion in terms of sharpness and coloration, but that might not be enough for some players at a $180 price. Both my wife and my nephew scoffed at having to angle the device just-so to be able to play the games when I showed it to them. (That said, my nephew thoroughly enjoyed his time with it, asking his mother for one short after.)

Personally, I don't mind the screen all that much, as I find the display to be quite forgiving in its viewability under limited lighting. Unlike my Game Boy as a kid, I won't be seeking out some sort of "worm light" accessory for the Playdate.

The bottom line

At $180, just $20 shy of a Nintendo Switch Lite, the Playdate is quite pricey for what it is ultimately: a niche product for particularly deep fans of video games.

As someone who owns far too many retro-revival game consoles — from the Super Nintendo Classic Mini to the TurboGrafx-16 Mini — I'm more than willing to pay the asking price for such an interesting product. I've been deeply into video games since the early '90s, and so I'm part of Playdate's target audience.

The group that the Playdate is not for is those simply looking for either their first handheld game console ever or their first in a long time. The Playdate is for intense fans of the hobby who are either into the retro aesthetic (or classic games in general) or lovers of independent (i.e. "indie") games. Being one of them, I'm excited to see where Playdate goes in its second season and beyond.

Unfortunately, Playdate preorders made right now will not be fulfilled until 2023, as demand appears to have outstripped Panic's supply and its ability to keep up with orders. However, something this unique and entertaining, for the retro and indie gaming nuts out there, is well worth the wait.

• Madden NFL 23 will be available on August 19 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.
• Customers who preorder the All Madden Edition ($100) get access to the game three days early.
• Additions to this year's game include an overhauled passing system and Face of the Franchise mode.

Madden NFL 23, the latest entry in the long-running football video game series, will arrive on August 19 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. Madden is an annual bestseller, with a player base that steadily increases. 

Madden 23 is the first game in the series to launch after the death of its namesake, John Madden, in late 2021. The Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster is celebrated on the cover of the new game. Madden last provided color commentary for the series in 2009. He was replaced by Sunday Night Football commentator Cris Collinsworth both in-game and in the broadcast booth.

Like last year's Madden, Madden 23 will feature an upgraded AI and physics engine called FieldSense on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. FieldSense impacts nearly every on-field interaction, from tackles and collisions at the line of scrimmage, to touch passes and matchups between receivers and defensive backs.

The Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC versions of the game won't use field sense, but will benefit from quality of life changes to the game's AI, animations, and playbooks.

Madden 23 release date and price

Madden 23 will be released on August 19 and you can preorder it now. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S editions are priced at $70. PS4, Xbox One, and PC editions cost $60. Players who buy the Xbox One or PS4 editions can upgrade to the current-gen version for $10 after purchase.

How to get early access to Madden 23 with the All Madden Edition

A special digital version of Madden 23, called the All Madden Edition, is available to preorder for $100 and includes dual entitlement for both the current- and last-gen versions of the game. 

All Madden Edition preorders also include three days of early access, meaning you can start playing the game on August 16 instead of waiting for the official release date. The All Madden Edition also includes 4,600 Madden points to spend on customizing your avatar or Ultimate Team mode.

Are there other preorder bonuses with Madden 23?

Customers who preorder Madden 23 can get a few bonuses for buying the game early. Preorders for both the standard and All Madden Editions of the game include All Madden Gear to outfit your avatar, a Madden Strategy item for use in the Ultimate Team mode, and two elite Ultimate Team players from your favorite NFL squad.

Walmart is also offering an exclusive steelbook case to players who preorder.

• Amazon's Halo fitness tracker can analyze the tone of your voice and measure body fat percentage.
• But it's difficult to put this data into context to make actionable changes.
• You also have to pay $3.99 per month to get the Halo's best features.
• Visit Insider Reviews for more reviews, buying guides, and deals.

Like many people, the list of things I check when picking up my phone throughout the day has become pretty long. Email, Slack, Twitter, and Instagram are just a few of the apps I find myself compulsively refreshing out of habit. 

I recently added another metric to that list: the way my voice sounds. That's because I've been wearing Amazon's Halo band, a fitness tracker that analyzes the tone of your voice in addition to gathering other more traditional health data points. The Halo band includes a microphone for listening to your voice and uses machine learning to assess whether you sound positive, energetic, tired, or annoyed among other moods.  

It's interesting to see a company like Amazon bring something new to the health and fitness space. And there are plenty of things Amazon gets right with the Halo when it comes to basic fitness tracking. But the features it developed to differentiate its fitness offering from those made by rivals like Apple and Fitbit — such as the tone analysis function — make me feel insecure rather than motivated.

You can always choose not to use the voice analysis feature and just wear the Halo as a regular fitness tracker, of course. But that doesn't address the Halo's biggest drawback, in my opinion, which is that you need to pay $3.99 per month after your first six months to get most of the Halo's features.That makes it hard to recommend over trackers like the Fitbit Inspire 2, which is less expensive and in some ways offers more functionality. 

Here's a closer look at what it's been like to use the Amazon Halo.

Tone

One of the Amazon Halo's marquee features is its ability to analyze the tone of your voice. The capability, appropriately called Tone, can passively listen to your speech throughout the day and flag any notable moments at which you sounded particularly positive or negative. 

You can also choose to have it evaluate your voice in real time, or turn the feature off entirely by shutting off the band's microphone. Tone is designed to only recognize your voice and not those of the people around you. And you must set up the feature before using it, so it's completely voluntary. 

During the course of my review, I left the microphone on and allowed the band to monitor the tone of my voice throughout the day. Since the Halo band doesn't have a screen, the app serves as your window into your health metrics, including how you sound. The app's home screen greets you with a dashboard showing tiles for activity progress, sleep data, your tone, and body fat measurements. 

Tapping into those tiles lets you view more information about that metric, such as notable moments at which you sounded particularly positive or energetic as it applies to Tone. While it was insightful on some level to see how I sounded during different conversations, it also made me a bit paranoid. 

Now that I've been wearing the Halo, I often find myself checking the app after a work meeting or a social call with friends to see how I came across during the conversation. Apparently, I tend to sound more positive and energetic during work meetings (Halo uses words like "warm," "appreciative," and "proud" to describe my tone), while at times I sound irritated or dismissive in other conversations with friends or my husband.

I couldn't help but question any interaction that Amazon had labeled as sounding irritated or tired. Who was I speaking to? What were we talking about? Is that what people think I sound like?

Amazon says the point behind Tone is to help you be more mindful in how you sound when speaking to others to improve your personal relationships. Dr. Don Cole, clinical director for The Gottman Institute, which specializes in research-based relationship counseling, says there's value in understanding how you sound to others if there's something to be learned from it. 

The first three minutes of a conversation are especially important because they often dictate how the rest of the conversation could play out, Dr. Cole said to Insider. As such, understanding how your tone comes across in the beginning of a conversation could be helpful, especially for couples going through conflict, according to Dr. Cole. 

But it's important not to get too hung up on the results. Doing so could make it hard to establish a personal connection in the moment. "I think you can spend a lot of time worrying about, or thinking about, those moments rather than just experiencing the interactions," Dr. Cole said. "And I think when we take ourselves out of the moment, sometimes there's loss there."   

Amazon also has wellness programs and workouts that can help you improve certain metrics and stay healthy. For the Tone metric, it has corresponding video programs that are meant to help you improve conversation and listening skills. 

But for me, it was unclear how watching a short seminar on how to be a better listener would help me sound more positive and less irritated during conversations when I don't even know why my voice sounded that way to begin with. 

Body fat

The Halo's other headlining feature is its ability to measure and track your body fat. Amazon does this by taking a scan of your body through your smartphone's camera and then generating a 3D avatar of your body and a body fat percentage through machine learning and computer vision. 

Amazon says it's nearly twice as accurate as leading smart home scales and comparable to methods a doctor would use in terms of accuracy.

To take a scan, you must first change into minimal clothing. And by minimal clothing. I mean practically nothing. For women, Amazon suggests wearing a bikini top and bottom or compression shorts with a bra or sports bra. After positioning the camera in the right place, the app will tell you to turn around a few times so that it can capture your full body.

Once the scan is complete, Amazon generates a percentage and 3D avatar in seconds. For privacy purposes, Amazon deletes body scans from the cloud by default after they've been processed unless you choose to save them. You can also delete body scan data anytime on the Settings menu (which I did immediately). 

The ability to take a body fat scan from home on your smartphone is useful because it makes it easy to monitor changes in your body on a regular basis. That's according to Dr. Amy Lee, head of nutrition at dietary supplement maker Nucific, who specializes in weight control methods and recently spoke to Insider about the Halo's body scan technology.  

But Dr. Lee also said Halo users should take the results with a grain of salt, especially since it can be difficult for a system like this to fully understand nuanced differences in body composition. 

The results also depend on how carefully the user follows Amazon's directions when taking the scans. And data like this is only helpful if the user understands that it should be factored in with other data points, research, and conversations with your doctor, according to Dr. Lee.

In other words, don't read too deeply into the single body fat percentage number that Amazon provides.

"If you're doing this at home, and you have no baseline and education in nutrition, and you're focusing everything you're doing for the past week on the change of a number . . . you might find yourself going down [a] rabbit hole," Dr. Lee said. 

I'm exactly the type of person Dr. Lee described. When I saw my scan results, I immediately panicked and wondered why my doctor had never flagged my weight or body fat percentage to me as being problematic in the past. 

I became fixated on the results, which was frustrating because I felt totally fine about my personal progress when it came to eating healthy and exercising regularly before taking the scan. Overall, the body fat percentage scan and Tone features left me feeling somewhat paranoid and a little insecure instead of motivating me. 

As long as you're paying for the subscription, there are tools in the app to help you manage your exercise, diet, and mental wellbeing. But maintaining a healthy body weight and fat percentage is a complex task. 

And without more guidance about which programs to start with and how to contextualize these results, it's hard to find this data to be useful or actionable. 

For example, what I've learned from wearing the Halo is that I'm not in the healthy range of body fat percentage, but I'm a highly active person based on my Activity Score (more on that below). That felt like a confusing message to me, so I wish I had more information about why that might be the case or what to do next.  

Fitness tracking and other features

There is one way Amazon has improved the fitness tracking experience: the way it tallies activity points. Rather than setting goals on a daily basis for calories burned, the Halo monitors your activity on a weekly basis. You earn points for every minute you move, with intense activity counting for two points per minute while moderate and light activity will get you one point per minute. It also deducts points when you're too sedentary for long periods of time. 

The weekly goal is set at 150 activity points, which Amazon says is the right range for maintaining a healthy heart citing the American Heart Association. If you hit 300 points, you're considered to be very active. 

I like this system because in some ways, it feels more encouraging than living by daily goals. I'm usually a religious Apple Watch wearer, and it's made me obsessed with closing at least two of my rings every day if not all three. If I don't have time for a full workout, sometimes I find that I won't be active at all because I know that any hope of closing my Move Ring — the circular meter that fills up with calories burned from daily activity — is totally gone. 

But the Halo's weekly goals motivate me to move at least a little bit every day even when I'm not committing to a full workout. Taking a brisk 20-minute walk feels more productive when I know it's going to contribute to my weekly goal compared to the Apple Watch, where it feels like that activity just falls into a black hole if it doesn't get me to my daily goal.

The Halo also works well as a sleep tracker since it's light and comfortable enough to wear overnight. But more importantly, it provides a relatively comprehensive set of data about your sleep, even scoring the quality of your sleep much like Fitbit does. 

After wearing the watch to bed, the Halo app will issue a score that indicates the quality of your sleep as well as how much time you spent asleep, how long it took you to fall asleep, the time you spent awake, and how much time you spent in REM, light, and deep sleep. That's much more thorough than the Apple Watch's sleep metrics, which basically just tell you the duration of your sleep. 

Amazon also offers a series of health programs under the Discover tab on the Halo app, which features videos based on partnerships with Exhale, Orangetheory, and many others that make it easy to jump into a workout or wellness exercise straight from your phone. You can filter these videos based on the type of workout, duration, difficulty, and the content provider. Unfortunately, though, you can't filter these workouts by whether or not they require equipment, which is particularly important now that many people are exercising at home. 

And since Amazon encrypts your health data, which is great for privacy, you must factory reset and re-pair your band with a new device anytime you want to access your account elsewhere. While I'm glad Amazon is taking the appropriate steps to secure your health data, this also makes it difficult to access these workout videos since I need to re-pair my band with a different device each time I want to view a workout on a larger screen. 

Instead, I wish Amazon would at least make its Discover programs accessible on other devices upon logging in without carrying over the rest of your health data. Amazon suggests wirelessly casting workouts to a larger screen from your phone via AirPlay as a workaround. 

But most of these features require Amazon's $3.99 monthly subscription. Without that, you only get access to features like steps, heart rate data, calories burned, and the ability to log activity through the activity sessions feature. You also only get basic sleep data like the time you've spent asleep and awake, and your temperature while sleeping. 

You lose the Activity Score, which was one of my favorite things about the Halo, as well as features like Tone, Body Fat, Activity Intensity (which rates the intensity of your activity), Sleep Score, Sleep Stages, and Insights, which highlight trends and patterns in your health and fitness data over time. Discover programs are also limited without a subscription. 

There's also no way to manage or cancel your membership from within the app. Instead, the app says you should visit the Your Membership & Subscriptions section of the Amazon app. A company spokesperson told Insider in February when this review was originally published that it planned to add a link that takes customers to the appropriate page for managing their membership.

It's not unusual for companies to put some fitness tracking features behind a subscription paywall. Fitbit does this too through its Fitbit Premium service. But Fitbit still offers analysis of sleep and REM sleep in its free tier, and it just recently made its Health Metrics dashboard available to non-Premium subscribers. And since Fitbit's trackers include a screen and can deliver smartphone notifications, they still offer more functionality for the price comparatively. 

Ease of use and battery life

The Amazon Halo is easy to get started with, and the setup process is very similar to that of other smartwatches and fitness bands. Just download the Halo app, put the band on its charger, and follow the instructions.

My biggest concern about the Halo's usability is the intentional design decision Amazon made to not include a screen on its fitness band. Amazon says this to prevent the band from becoming a distraction and taking away from the Halo's primary purpose of serving as a discrete, comfortable health monitoring device. 

But I feel like Amazon could have achieved this goal without omitting a screen entirely. Wearing a device on your wrist that doesn't even tell the time feels like a missed opportunity. I would have preferred if the Halo had a small screen that only displayed the time and how many activity points you've achieved for the week without any notifications. 

I'd even argue that requiring me to check my phone to see my stats is more distracting, since I'm likely to fall down the rabbit hole of check email and Twitter when picking up my phone.

Amazon does have an alternative if you don't want to check your phone: Just ask Alexa. The company launched Alexa integration for the Halo in March, meaning you can ask Amazon's digital helper for information about your activity, tone, sleep, and more. The feature is off by default, and you can choose to protect any health-related questions with a PIN.

Alexa's usefulness depends on how comfortable you are with Amazon's virtual assistant having access to your health data. But Amazon isn't the only tech giant offering this type of integration; the Google Assistant on Google's new sleep-sensing Nest Hub can also tell you information about your sleep when asked.

I've used Alexa to check in on my activity progress for the day. But I'd much rather have Alexa built into the band itself so that I could use it to set timers and alarms during workouts like I do with the Apple Watch. 

Amazon's fitness tracker can last for a decently long time on a single charge, which makes it great for sleep tracking. I got a little more than two days worth of battery life out of the Halo, but it would probably last longer if you have the microphone turned off and aren't using the Tone feature.

Should you buy it?

Regardless of your opinion on the Halo's Tone feature and its body fat measurements, there are more capable options out there for those in search of a simple and affordable fitness tracker. Although I like Amazon's approach to activity tracking and appreciate the Halo's comprehensive sleep tracking capabilities, there are too many drawbacks to consider. 

The Halo's lack of a screen and the fact that you have to pay $3.99 per month after the first six months to get the best features, like Activity Score, make it tough to recommend. Yes, Fitbit also requires a subscription to access advanced features, but it still offers more detailed sleep data in its free tier compared to Amazon. 

What are your alternatives?

Fitbit's Inspire 2, which is currently available for $69.95, is a solid choice if you're looking for an inexpensive and basic fitness tracker. It monitors metrics like sleep, calorie burn, activity, and heart rate, lasts for more than a week on a single charge, and reminds you to move when you're too sedentary. 

It also comes with a free one-year trial for Fitbit Premium, whereas the Amazon Halo only comes with a six-month trial. But if you choose to stick with Premium, you should note that Fitbit's service is noticeably more expensive than Amazon's at $9.99 per month. 

If you're more interested in training and recovery, the Whoop band is a screen-free fitness tracker that focuses on how your body recovers from workouts, in addition to other metrics. It's gotten positive reviews from critics at CNET and PCMag, but it's pricey at $30 per month. 

The bottom line

Amazon tried to do something different with the Halo by making a simple, distraction-free fitness band that still manages to offer deeper health and wellness insights through a subscription. 

The problem, though, is that I didn't feel like the Halo's most unique features — its ability to analyze the tone of your voice and calculate body fat percentage — were all that helpful. Instead, they just made me feel paranoid and insecure. 

The one aspect of the Halo that I benefited from the most, its Activity Score, successfully motivated me to get moving every single day, regardless of my schedule. But that feature alone isn't enough to justify a $3.99 monthly subscription on top of the $99.99 price.  

Pros: Weekly activity goals are helpful, long battery life, works well as a sleep tracker

Cons: Features like Tone and Body Fat aren't helpful, many features require a subscription, no screen for even telling the time

• I'm a huge board game fan with a collection in the dozens, but I always come back to Carcassonne.
• It's one of those board games that's simple to learn while being a fun challenge to master.
• Even when not on sale, Carcassonne should be a staple on your shelf aside Monopoly and Scrabble.

If you're really into board games, I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one, but for the uninitiated, Carcassonne is an instant recommendation if you're looking for something innovative. It's an incredibly simple game to get into and master, but feels fresh with every play session.

Carcassonne is ideal for folks who aren't into board games, or find the family room staples of Monopoly and Scrabble monotonous.

This territory-building, tile-based game with a French medieval theme has players competing to expand their landholdings. Carcassonne isn't new: While it has sold more than 12 million copies since its first release 21 years ago, it remains relatively unknown.

Carcassonne is one of those quirky European games with the multicolor pieces and strangely-shaped game boards, like the popular Catan.

However, in my opinion this is far easier to get into than Catan and more immediately interesting when play begins. The instructions are admittedly a little daunting, more so than most board games I've played. However, the rules and systems reveal themselves to be incredibly simple as you play.

The game requires at least two players to play, up to five.

There is no elimination mechanic in Carcassonne, meaning that every player is in the game until the end when scoring is tallied. 

There are no elements of chance, either, with no dice or goofy spinners – only the five colored groups of "meeples".

Meeples are tiny, person-shaped wooden figurines that represent each player's citizens, who are in service of carving out territories in the historical-fictional founding of the ancient French city of Carcassonne — a real place that still exists.

Even more interesting, you'll quickly notice there is no traditional game board.

This is because you build the game board as you go from a randomized set of tiles featuring illustrations of country roads, castle cities, and green fields, drawing one at the start of each player's turn. (There is a scoring board that's separated from the main game area to track players' scores.)

However, the board tiles can only be placed against other tiles and in such a way that makes sense next to the tile you intend to place it down against.

For instance, you cannot place the imagery of a field on a tile directly against the interior of a city.

This is where the core strategy and the object of the game comes into play.

During a player's next round, they can lay another tile or place one meeple on the tile that was last placed, provided that the tile has an image of a road or city; this is how a player builds control of a territory.

As turns pass, you can build out that road or city with tile placements that make sense.

Once complete, you'll earn points for the amount of tiles used: roads are worth one point per tile, cities are worth two (cities with a crest icon are worth four), and fields are worth no points.

Here's where things get challenging: All players have the option of placing their own drawn tiles next to tiles other players have already claimed.

This action contests the other player's claim for either a city or a road. The winner of the tile points is the player with the most meeples on the city or road being scored.

This, of course, drives the strategy of the game, and I've seen many archetypes of players since playing Carcassonne for at least five years now.

There are aggressive players who try to challenge every territory feature in progress that they come across. There are passive players who just try to complete their little fiefdoms unnoticed — and there are players, like myself, who go for massive wins with multi-tile mega-structures.

The game ends when there are no more board tiles to be drawn.

The remaining road and city tiles still in progress are scored to determine the winner.

What I love about Carcassonne is how fresh every game session feels, thanks to the randomized board.

I also enjoy how many options are available in each turn just from two actions, drawing a tile and placing a meeple, and all of the strategic decisions that are possible with just those two options per turn.

Even better is that the core game box includes an expansion set of tiles that include a river feature that narrows the game's strategy in on the river tiles.

This enhanced element mixes up the decisions players can make as they now have to consider this river. Then, when you get bored of that, you can purchase additional expansion sets that build upon the core game, such as The Princess and the Dragon, which sees players staving off a dragon attack and rescuing a princess.

There is indisputably an incredible amount of game here that should make a convert out of anyone who plays with an open mind. Carcassonne is available at the time of writing for just $26.99 on Amazon, but normally retails for $40.

• Fujifilm's Instax Square SQ1 is its new analog instant camera with square-format film.
• On the SQ1, Fujifilm removed some of the manual controls found on the previous model, the SQ6, and created a point-and-shoot instant camera that's super easy to use.
• Although the controls are more limited, the improved auto-exposure system in the new Instax Square SQ1 delivers better-looking instant photos than the previous model.
• Despite some drawbacks, the Instax SQ1 is a fun camera to use, and we enjoyed taking pictures with it for our tests.
• It's a great instant camera for anyone who enjoys instant film photography and wants a fool-proof camera that's user friendly.
• The camera goes on sale in the US in mid-October, for $120. 

The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is the newest member of the wildly popular Instax family of instant film products. Like all Instax cameras, this analog point-and-shoot is fun to use and comes in bright colors. It also uses the square variant of Instax instant film, which has a larger image area that lets you capture more in the shot, whether it's landscapes or group selfies. 

What's notable with the SQ1 is that it's entirely automatic. Unlike its predecessor, there are no modes to choose — just press the shutter button and out pops the photo. To compensate, the auto-exposure system has been improved, delivering better-looking images, no adjustments needed.

Easier to use, better exposure

The Instax SQ1 is the second Instax analog camera that uses square film, after the SQ6. In comparison, the SQ1 and SQ6 share a nearly identical boxy form-factor, but the SQ1 is slightly thicker. The SQ1 comes in white, blue, and orange. Some people may prefer these fun colors to the darker metallic options used in the SQ6.

Fujifilm removed the on/off switch and powered retractable lens mechanism of the SQ6 in favor of a manual process on its new camera. To power on the SQ1, you simply rotate the outer part of the lens.

The SQ6 is already easy to use, but Fujifilm made the SQ1 fool-proof. It's completely automatic. With the SQ6, you could select the mode setting — selfie, macro, and landscape. The SQ1 streamlines the process: Rotate the lens once for normal shooting, turn it again for selfies and close-up (macro) photography.

Like the SQ6, the camera exposes automatically, and the flash is enabled always. To frame a shot, there's a small viewfinder; for selfies, there's a small mirror on the front. The film cartridge is easy to load, and there is a counter that shows you how much film is left.

Although Fujifilm's instant film technology hasn't changed, the company does tweak its auto-exposure system with each new camera, to deliver improved picture quality while using the same film.

I've always liked the richer colors of Instax, and while I wouldn't say the SQ1's image quality is dramatically different than the SQ6's in terms of coloring, the SQ1 does deliver more details and contrast. Photos aren't as overexposed, which could result in darker areas depending on the lighting situation. The SQ1 does shoot surprisingly decent photos in low light.

In terms of use, I like the simplicity of having to just press the button. I appreciate the new bump on the front, which provides a better grip on the camera, especially when taking a selfie. It's still not the most comfortable camera to hold, however. I recommend using the included hand strap if you're prone to dropping things.

For power, the SQ1 uses two CR2 disposable lithium batteries (included). It's not a common battery type, but it has a longer lifespan than alkaline AA or AAA. For reference, I'm using the same CR2 batteries that came with my SQ6, which I received in 2018.

Some drawbacks

The improved autoexposure system, ease of use, and ergonomics make the SQ1 a fun camera to use, but because I like having some manual controls, I miss some of the features from the SQ6. While I usually keep the SQ6 in Auto mode, I enjoy the double-exposure function as well as the ability to decrease or increase the exposure.

With the SQ6, I also liked the option of disabling the flash for bright conditions (although the flash is useful for bringing out details in portraits, even when it's very sunny) and a self-timer. Also missing in the SQ1 is a tripod mount, although honestly, I rarely used it with the SQ6, but it is handy when using the self-timer.

The SQ1's build quality is about the same as the SQ6: It's plastic, and it's highly likely it could break if dropped from high up. Fujifilm's products tend to be well-made, although this is not an experiment I intend to try. The battery cover also seems more flimsy than the SQ6's.

My biggest complaint about the SQ1 is its shutter button. Its soft press makes it too easy to accidentally fire a shot, which I did many times. Remember, this is film photography and there are only 10 shots per Instax cartridge, so you need to put some thought into the shot before shooting. The SQ6's shutter button requires a hard press, which prevents any misfires.

Pricing and availability

The Instax SQ1 will be available in mid-October 2020 for $120, in Terracotta Orange, Glacier Blue, and Chalk White. Note that the SQ6 can be found for less than $100, which suggests it's being phased out.

It's hip to be square

The more common Instax instant film you'll see is the Instax Mini, which measures 2.1 by 3.4 inches — roughly the size of a standard business card — with an image area of 1.8 by 2.4 inches, and is used by most Instax cameras.

However, in 2017, Fujifilm launched its first square film, measuring 2.8 by 3.4 inches with an image area of 2.4 by 2.4 inches. While the instant technology is the same, the square film lets you capture more in the picture and create more background blur. It is also reminiscent of Polaroid instant film, albeit smaller (Polaroid is 3 by 3 inches). In my opinion, the square film looks better when framed or stuck to a wall.

The SQ1 is the fourth Instax camera to use the square film (besides the SQ6, there are two digital-analog hybrid models, the SQ10 and SQ20). Despite the larger dimensions of the film, the overall size of the camera isn't that much bigger than Instax Mini cameras.

With the launch of the SQ1, Fujifilm is introducing two new film options, one with a rainbow border and a monochrome film. If you're into black-and-white photography, the monochrome film is one to watch. Unfortunately, it wasn't available during my review period.

Film is where things get costly. A twin-pack of 10 Instax square film is approximately $20, while specialty film cost around $15 for just 10. Instant photography is fun, but there is a high cost of ownership if you're trigger-happy.

It's not a nostalgia product

The first consumer instant camera dates back to the late 1940s, with the introduction of Polaroid's Land Camera. While instant photography has often been thought of as legacy technology from a bygone era, the Instax SQ1 — and most Instax cameras from the past few years —is actually designed to be a new product for millennials and Gen-Z in particular.

Fujifilm has had success with Instax thanks to newfound interest from the millennial generation. Like vinyl records, analog instant photography is decidedly "new," original, physically shareable, and cool, as compared to the sameness of digital photography and social media. This is also attributed to the success of Zink instant film technology and the revival of the original Polaroid.

In fact, Fujifilm's Instax business has become more profitable than its digital cameras, thanks to the company's early reinvestment in the technology and marketing it as a toy camera for a new generation. Fujifilm claims Instax sales in 2019 were strong, and it's now looking to capture the Gen-Z market.

This is evident in the SQ1's colors. As mentioned earlier, the body colors pop and are more expressive, and it's as easy to use as a smartphone camera. In comparison, the previous SQ6 comes in darker, metallic colors that can be considered more sophisticated and, perhaps, adult.

The bottom line

The SQ1 may be targeted toward younger generations, but it's also a fun camera for anyone who appreciates film photography. Those of us who grew up with a Polaroid camera probably remember the thrill of taking pictures and seeing them developed in front of our eyes. The SQ1 certainly brings back some of that nostalgia while introducing the medium to a new group of users.

Although I wish Fujifilm retained some of the user-adjustable settings, the improved autoexposure system and ease of use are big improvements over the previous SQ6.

Should you buy it

For what it is, it's a pricey camera that's also costly to maintain in terms of film. But it's unique and offers a more intimate experience that your smartphone can't produce. It lets you share photos physically, and it forces you to offload a photo rather than hiding it away in some digital graveyard. Whether you buy it will depend on your photography needs, but it does make a fun gift.

If price is a concern, check out the older SQ6. You won't get the improved autoexposure system, but it's just as easy to use and you'll get some useful settings not found in the SQ1.

What are your alternatives?

Polaroid is back and its newest instant camera is the Polaroid Now i-Type ($99). This modern remake of a classic is just as fun as the SQ1, but it offers a rechargeable battery, self-timer, and double-exposure mode. The film is also larger and while image quality is good, I prefer the exposure and colors produced with Instax. Polaroid film is also thicker than Instax, and they take slightly longer to expose. If capturing a moment is more important to you than image quality, put the i-Type on your shortlist.

If you like the concept of instant photography but are digital at heart, check out Fujifilm's Instax Share SP-3 printer ($160-$200). Designed to pair with smartphones, the SP-3 lets you print your digital photos onto Instax square film. Unlike the Instax analog cameras, the SP-3 uses a different print engine, and what you get are photos with superb image quality on the same instant film. Through the Instax app, you can also create borders or write notes.

And if square prints don't matter to you, but sharing physical prints does, you may like the new Instax Mini 11 ($70). It's similar to the SQ1 but it uses the smaller Instax Mini film.

Pros: Easy and fun to use, good autoexposure system, nice-quality prints, selfie mirror

Cons: Pricey to maintain, shutter button too easy to press, no user-adjustable settings, flimsy battery door

• Apple now sells a $19 polishing cloth to clean your Apple device screens.
• It's not necessary for most Apple devices, except for those with nano-texture glass screens.
• For most of your Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and even Mac laptop screens, a good and inexpensive microfiber cloth will do just fine.

When Apple launched its new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, it also quietly added a new product in its accessories lineup — a $19 polishing cloth.

Apple says the polishing cloth is "made with soft, nonabrasive material," and it "cleans any Apple display, including nano-texture glass, safely and effectively." Somewhat comically, it also shows a list of "compatible devices," which includes anything with a screen that Apple makes or has made in the last few years. 

For the majority of Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Mac laptops and screens, a suitable and significantly cheaper microfiber cloth will do just fine. In fact, you can get a 24-pack of microfiber cloth pads for less than Apple's.

Indeed, I've used a variety of microfiber cloths, paper towels, t-shirts, and even my jeans to wipe the iPhone 12 Pro Max's screen, and the phone's ceramic glass has held up without any sign of scratches. And that's without a screen protector. 

I'm more careful with my MacBook Pro's screen, however, and I limit cleaning duties to one of the dozens of microfiber cloths I have laying around. So far, so good. 

The company is known for making expensive products, including mundane accessories like the cloth itself, or the $700 Mac Pro wheel kit.

However, Apple's polishing cloth is actually a requirement for certain devices, including the company's $6,000 nano-texture glass Pro Display XDR or 27-inch iMacs with the optional $500 nano-texture glass upgrade.

Apple's special polishing cloth comes included with these nano-texture glassed devices, and the company strongly warns against using anything else. Presumably, cleaning a nano-texture glass device with a standard microfiber cloth could damage or negatively affect the glare-reducing properties of Apple's nano-scale etching on the glass.

Apple urged owners of these nano-texture glass devices to buy a replacement polishing cloth in the past if it was lost, but the price of the replacement cloth was never disclosed. Now, we know it costs $19.

• HBO Max is an on-demand streaming service with access to HBO original series, newly released Warner Bros films, and a growing collection of additional WarnerMedia titles.
• The service costs $15 a month, and people who already subscribe to the HBO cable channel might be eligible for free access to the app.
• HBO Max is a bit expensive, but it has one of the best movie libraries of any streaming platform, and the added perk of newly released Warner Bros. films makes it a must-have for moviegoers.

HBO Max is the latest contender in a growing field of on-demand video streaming services, combining the HBO cable channel's prestige television with a vast collection of movies and shows from WarnerMedia. The new service launched on May 27, effectively replacing HBO's previous streaming platform, HBO Now, at the same $15 per month price.

Like Netflix and Hulu, HBO Max offers more than 10,000 hours worth of TV and movies. WarnerMedia has spent years preparing the service for launch by acquiring the exclusive streaming rights to popular shows, like "Friends" and "South Park," and developing a slate of new original series for HBO Max. The platform will even offer access to several new Warner Bros. movies at the same time they debut in theaters. 

Streaming was once considered an alternative to costly and confusing cable packages, but the proliferation of different streaming options, like HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Peacock, is forcing viewers to consider which subscriptions they want to keep for the long term.

We spent a week checking out HBO Max to see what it has to offer when compared to the competition.

Updated on 1/4/2021 by Kevin Webb: We've updated this review to reflect HBO Max's improvements since its launch in May 2020.

HBO Max shows and movies

HBO Max's greatest strength is its library — the service supplements HBO's highly regarded prestige TV series with more than 1,300 movies and popular TV comfort food for binge watchers. This means you'll find shows like "Friends," "Big Bang Theory," and "Rick and Morty" alongside HBO's "Westworld" and "Game of Thrones."

The movie catalog includes blockbuster franchises, like "The Lord of the Rings," as well as critically acclaimed classics from the Criterion collection and Turner Classic movies. There's also a selection of films from Japan's Studio Ghibli, which are available for streaming for the first time in the US, along with specialty collections from Adult Swim, DC Comics and the Crunchyroll anime streaming service.

If you have kids or just want to get nostalgic, HBO Max has decades' worth of Sesame Street, Scooby Doo, and Cartoon Network shows at the ready as well.

A casual scroll through Netflix will bring up dozens of lesser known films, but nearly every movie in the HBO Max selection will be recognizable to cinephiles.

It would appear that HBO also wants to generate interest by cycling the platform's titles relatively quickly. There's a "Last Chance" section on HBO Max showing movies that will leave the service soon, and a "Coming Soon" section for new movies and premieres arriving in the next few weeks. 

While other services, like Netflix, regularly refresh their film lineups as well, seeing highly touted HBO Max exclusive movies, like "Wonder Woman 1984," cycling out of the library after a month is a bit disappointing.

HBO Max exclusives and originals

HBO Max will be the exclusive home to more than a dozen newly released movies from Warner Bros in 2021, and subscribers will be able to stream them the same day they hit theaters. That includes films like "Wonder Woman 1984," "Tom & Jerry," and "The Matrix 4." However, these movies will only be available to HBO Max subscribers for one month after they're released.

HBO Max also features a mixed bag of exclusive shows, including the Anna Kendrick-led anthology series "Love Life" and the sci-fi show "Raised by Wolves." There's also "On the Record," a feature-length documentary about the sexual assault allegations against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and an all-ages late-night show starring Elmo from Sesame Street.

"Craftopia" is a children's crafting competition hosted by YouTube star LaurDIY, while "Legendary" is an adult voguing competition show focused on members of the Black and Latinx LGBTQ community with celebrity hosts Law Roach, Megan Thee Stallion, Jameela Jamil, and Leiomy Maldonado. A reboot of the short-form "Looney Tunes Cartoons" can also be found on HBO Max, with 10 episodes that run about 12 minutes each.

The original series available so far all seem to be targeted towards very different audiences with a mix of scripted and reality programming, making it hard to judge the overall direction of HBO Max's content. While these HBO Max originals offer some value to their respective crowds, they mostly feel like window dressing designed to add something fresh to the platform's massive library of classic shows and movies.

Pricing and plans

HBO Max offers a single monthly subscription plan for $15 a month, and you can stream ad-free on up to three devices at the same time with a single account. The service is effectively an upgrade and replacement for the older HBO Now and HBO Go apps. HBO Max offers a ton of iconic shows and movies for a relatively low price, but it's a bit more expensive than its primary competitors.

In comparison, Disney Plus costs $7 per month with support for up to four devices and no extra cost for 4K (Ultra HD) playback. Hulu's basic streaming package costs $6 for a single device, with no additional charge for 4K, and ad-free Hulu costs $12.

Meanwhile, Netflix's basic plan costs $9 per month for standard definition streaming on a single device. With that said, a premium Netflix subscription actually costs a bit more than HBO Max, coming in at $18 per month for viewing on four devices and support for 4K quality.

If you already subscribe to the HBO cable channel via AT&T TV, DirecTV, AT&T U-Verse, Hulu, Comcast, or Spectrum you can get access to HBO Max for no extra cost. AT&T is working to offer HBO Max to HBO subscribers using other cable providers in the future. You can view a full list of providers that are eligible for HBO Max here.

For a limited time, new and returning HBO Max subscribers can save over 20% when they prepay for six months of service. This brings the price down to $70 for six months versus the full cost of $90. The discount will be available until January 15.

Setup

HBO Max is easy to access via the official website and a variety of devices. You can find the HBO Max app on Apple and Android mobile devices, Roku, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Chromecast, and Samsung smart TVs.

When visiting the HBO Max website or opening the app, you'll be able to browse the streaming selection immediately, but once you choose something to watch you'll be prompted to sign in to an account or create an HBO login. If you've used HBO Now or HBO Go in the past, you can sign in with your existing account. Once your account and subscription are active, you'll be able to watch the full HBO Max catalog and start building your own watch list.

As an upgrade from HBO Now, account holders can create up to five different viewer profiles for different family members on HBO Max. Each profile can create their own personal watch list that will carry over between multiple devices.

Adults can create kid profiles with age-based content restrictions for different children in the household too. Parents can choose appropriate movie and TV ratings for kid profiles and children will need to enter a pin number if they want to switch to an adult profile while viewing.

Unsurprisingly, setup seems to be easiest on a computer, but you can download HBO Max and sign up through the app on your mobile device too.

Interface

The HBO Max interface is similar across all devices, giving you a large listing of movies and shows to choose from with a sidebar containing categories. In addition to categories for each genre, HBO Max has several different hubs for high profile collections, like HBO originals, Turner Classic Movies, Studio Ghibli films from Japan, and DC Comics productions. Blockbuster movie series, like "Godzilla" and "The Lord of the Rings," are grouped together as well, highlighting HBO Max's focus on movie franchises.

The large thumbnails and clean design make the app easy to browse. Managing the watch list is straightforward too, allowing you to add individual episodes from your favorite TV shows and edit the list on the fly within the HBO Max app. When viewing on a mobile device, you can store up to 30 downloads to view while offline. However, downloads expire within 30 days, and only last for 48 hours after you've started watching. After that, you'll have to re-download a title.

The interface is largely the same between the iPad app, the website, and the Xbox One app, and I had no issues downloading episodes or organizing multiple profiles.

Performance and features

HBO Max is a bit behind the competition when it comes to video quality, as it lacks the robust 4K playback and high dynamic range (HDR) support offered by Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. You need a compatible TV to make the most of those visual features, but so far "Wonder Woman 1984" is the only movie on HBO Max with 4K HDR support.

The lack of 4K HDR is a shame, especially given the number of big blockbuster movies that are available in 4K HDR on Blu-ray, like "Joker," "La La Land," and "Hobbs & Shaw." Disney Plus' support for 4K has made it the premium choice for streaming several big franchises, like "Star Wars" and "Avengers," but fans of "The Dark Knight" will have to invest in a 4K Blu-ray or 4K digital purchase for the best possible resolution, since HBO Max's stream is limited to 1080p.

In terms of audio, HBO Max offers Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Digital Plus on supported devices. "Wonder Woman 1984" also supports Dolby Atmos through compatible devices, but it's the only HBO Max movie so far with that feature. Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video all offer Dolby Atmos audio on a larger selection of titles. Dolby Atmos enables expanded surround sound performance with overhead audio effects on compatible home theater systems. 

Though HBO Max's 1080p video playback and Dolby Digital audio will satisfy most casual streaming fans, enthusiasts may be a bit disappointed by the platform's streaming quality compared to some of the competition. 

The bottom line

Though there's a lot to like about HBO Max's lineup and interface, the service is more expensive than most competing streaming platforms. With the exception of one 4K  movie, it's also limited to 1080p quality. These factors all make it hard to recommend as a first choice when compared to a more flexible or cheaper service, like Hulu or Disney Plus.

Given more than year of buildup to the launch of HBO Max and the known limits of the HBO Now app, it's disappointing that WarnerMedia is still behind the competition in terms of technology.

However, HBO Max does have one of the most robust collections of movies I've seen on a streaming platform to date, and that collection will only improve as more brand-new Warner Bros. movies debut on the service throughout 2021. If your streaming habits lean more towards movies than binge watching TV, HBO Max could offer more value than the competition. 

Even if you're simply a fan of "Friends" or "The Big Bang Theory," and you're signing up just to binge your favorite show, there will still be plenty of other content to watch on HBO Max if you do ever get bored.

Ultimately, HBO Max has built a strong foundation with its current library of hits, and the promise of upcoming blockbuster films add a ton of value for subscribers. But as a competitor to Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, HBO Max's lack of 4K support, limited app features, and handful of Max Originals make the $15 price feel a bit steep

Pros: Impressive catalog of films and HBO original series, new movies from WarnerMedia, tons of kids content, easy to navigate app

Cons: A bit more expensive than other streaming services, lack of 4K playback is disappointing for new releases, only a small assortment of Max Originals so far

• The Google Nest Hub Max is the larger version of the second-generation Nest Hub. 
• The smart display's 6.5-megapixel camera can act like a remote home security camera.
• The Nest Hub Max also offers the best sound out of any smart display on the market.

The Google Nest Hub Max is an excellent smart display that should be even more enticing if you're already familiar with Google's smart-home ecosystem.

The camera-equipped smart display offers access to everything you'd expect from a Google device, including smart home device control and access to apps like Spotify and Netflix. Because of its built-in camera, the Max has a few other tricks up its sleeve, like remote video monitoring, Face Match, and gestures. 

Although we find the camera quality lacking overall, the sizable display and souped-up sound quality make the Google Hub Max a worthy miniature entertainment center for the kitchen or wherever families congregate. And if home monitoring is important to you, the Max offers plenty of bang for your buck.

A large display for many uses 

The Nest Hub Max offers a spacious 10-inch LCD touchscreen, which is much larger than the 7-inch screen of the second-gen Nest Hub. Even though the display's 1200x800 resolution won't blow you away (most smartphones have higher resolution these days), the large size increases the overall practicality of the device.

The Nest Hub Max's 10-inch screen size makes it a good fit for streaming video, where your options include YouTube, TikTok, Google TV, and Netflix. It's also better than the second-gen Nest Hub when it comes to following recipes. The increased screen size means you can view more recipe steps at once without squinting to see things clearly. 

The sizable display provides a better view of home controls, calendar alerts, and media. And, at its size, it makes an especially great digital photo frame thanks to seamless integration with Google Photos. You can easily add photos from your desktop or your phone via the Google Photos app. 

At 9.85 inches wide, 7.19 inches in height, and 3.99 inches in depth, the Max is compact enough to fit almost anywhere, but it's a most convenient assistant in the kitchen. Like other Google devices, the Hub Max is compatible with thousands of smart devices, including kitchen appliances from brands like Anova, LG, Frigidaire, and more.

Lastly, Google's AmbientEQ light sensor feature also stands out as an excellent display feature. It automatically adjusts the screen's brightness and color levels so everything always looks clear. At night, when you dim or shut off the kitchen lights, the screen does the same.

Improved sound quality thanks to a new subwoofer 

A pair of 0.7-inch tweeters and a 3-inch subwoofer at the back of the Google Hub Max provide better sound quality than other smart displays. In testing, we appreciated the ability to crank out quality, room-filling sound from Spotify and YouTube playlists. 

Two fair-field microphones mean the Max can hear you when you talk to it, whether you're right nearby or across the room. And during video calls, people had no trouble hearing us on the other end. Another neat feature is the ability to talk to whoever is in the room via the Nest app. Even when miles away, people still at home could clearly hear us from afar.

We did experience some intermittent garbled sound issues and connectivity cut-outs. However, this isn't a widespread complaint among Hub users, so it's possible it was an iPhone or app issue.

A home security camera in a pinch

Perhaps the biggest draw of the Google Nest Hub Max is the built-in Nest Cam that allows you to keep an eye on your home remotely using the Nest app. While you can use the Hub as a solo indoor security camera, you can also purchase bundles that include compatible Nest doorbells and cameras to create a home monitoring system, using the Hub as a security dashboard.

The 127-degree wide field view camera provides a decent view of a room, but placement can be an issue. In testing, placing the Nest Hub Max next to the stove made it a handy sous-chef but impossible to see the entire room when away. If you're purchasing the Max primarily for remote monitoring, ensure you have a plug in the optimal placement area. 

While it's a great option for monitoring pets when away, it's not a replacement for a security camera because of pitfalls like placement and lack of night vision capabilities. And keep in mind that you'll need a Nest Aware subscription (starting at $6 a month) for features like continuous video recording, video storage, and face alerts.

The multipurpose camera shows the device's age

The 6.5-megapixel wide-field camera comes with some features that may have been impressive a few years ago, but not so much today. For one, the video quality is OK for video calls, but it's not on par with competitors like the Amazon Echo 8, which has a more impressive 13-megapixel camera. 

We do, however, appreciate the auto framing feature, which tracks your movement and automatically pans and zooms to keep you within center view. While you can use the Google Hub Max for Zoom calls, the wide field view isn't ideal for maintaining privacy during remote work meetings.

Aside from remote monitoring, the device's camera-specific features leave something to be desired. Face Match, which uses the camera to detect your face and display personalized content, was unreliable in testing. Google also points out that it's not a security feature, so the device may not always be able to tell the difference between your face (or a photo of your face) and others in your household.

The device's Face Match technology also powers the Look and Talk feature, which allows you to command the device with just a glance and without the typically required "Hey Google or OK Google" preamble. But you need to be very close to the camera to use this feature, and more often than not, it doesn't work at all. 

There's another area where the camera falls short. The Max utilizes the camera to detect gestures, whereas the newer second-gen Nest Hub uses Google's Soli chip. The Soli sensor can detect objects and estimate their distance and size using radar technology. Soli tech powers the second-gen Nest Hub's Motion Sense features like Gestures and Sleep Sensing. 

Unfortunately, the Nest Hub Max's camera is incredibly bad at detecting gestures, even when up close and personal. And, oddly, the camera-ready hub is only capable of recognizing a single gesture (raising your hand) to pause and play media, stop an alarm, or get the assistant to stop talking.

A quick note on camera privacy: You don't have to have the camera turned on at all times (a small green light lets you know it's on). You can adjust privacy controls within the Google Home and Nest apps. And there's a switch on the hardware itself that turns off both the camera and mic.

Should you buy the Google Nest Hub Max?

It's been almost three years since the Google Nest Hub Max launched, and there's a chance that Google could be gearing up for some updates this year. So it may make sense to wait to see what Google has in store for 2023.  

Still, the Google Nest Hub Max offers a solid experience with its built-in Nest Cam and trio of speakers, making it worth the price tag. For those who want a multitasking assistant with the perk of remote home monitoring, the Max is a worthy option among a sea of largely subpar competitors. 

But if home monitoring isn't a huge priority for you, the price bump over the second-gen Nest Hub might not be worth the slightly bigger screen size. If you're looking for a smart display for more casual use and as a smart-home hub, the Nest Hub is a better choice.

There are a lot of excuses for not learning a second language, especially as an adult. Many of us know the oft-repeated adage that children under the age of 7 are best-equipped to pick up a new one.

But before you lead your whole life believing that you’ve missed your window, you might want to take a glance at the 2010 study that found adults were, in fact, the superior language learners. And after watching multiple TED talks given by polyglots on language learning, it seems most of the road blocks in the way of learning are mental.

The resounding advice is simple: Approach learning with a playful, fun state of mind (like a child), make mistakes, and try to really live the language — listen to music, watch foreign movies, play video games.

Just like with anything, making a habit out of it certainly helps. If you can spend as little as 30 minutes a day (which we all have — on the subway, waiting on line, before bed) you’ll make great headway. Like Matthew Youlden, a polyglot and Babbel language ambassador, explained in his TED talk, almost no one who speaks English knows all of the words in the English Oxford Dictionary. Fit the language to your life, and make it relevant to you.

Polyglot Benny Lewis said he never successfully learned a second language, even after six months in Spain, until he approached learning like a passionate, fun project. Most speakers agree on this. 

The fact of the matter is that unless you experience some miracle, you could very easily live your whole life without ever learning another language unless you make the decision to. It’s not something you’re likely to learn just by switching your iPhone’s language to Spanish or labeling your kitchen appliances with translations, so you might need (and want) supplements like language apps or the well-trusted Rosetta Stone set.

This article was originally published on 8/8/2017.

Below are eight ways to learn a new language that incorporate a fun mentality:

Watch a film with subtitles

One way to make the language fun, naturally integrated, and let you "live it" is by listening to it in a movie with or without subtitles of your native language. You'll get a feel for the sounds, patterns, and rhythms of the language as well as learn something about the culture, or, at the very least, a couple directors. It's a nice way to turn a relaxing activity into a broadening of horizons and vocabulary. 

Amélie, multi-format, $7.99

Download a really fun app

There's a reason this was Apple's iPhone App of the Year. It makes language learning fun, and many features are free (even though there are in-app purchases). I personally use this app (it alone helped prepare me for a semester abroad), and I love that I've found a productive and low-key way to pass spare time that I might otherwise do nothing useful with. 

Duolingo, free to download

Play a game

Learning should be fun. This popular game will help you learn Spanish in a setting that encourages mistakes and engagement. Studying isn't always exciting, but besting your friends in KLOO might be much more appealing. 

KLOO's Learn to Speak Spanish Language Card Games Pack 1 (Decks 1 & 2), $18.99

Learn by watching music videos, movie trailers, and more

Speaking of fun — here's how you can learn a language with music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks.

FluentU, free to download

Cook with recipes in the second language

Find a new, engaging way to learn and get acquainted with the cuisine by picking up a cookbook entirely in a new language. The compilation of images, repeated words, and active engagement will likely be a memorable experience.

Cocina en casa con chef James: Ingredientes simples para una cocina extraordinaria (Spanish Edition), $15.53

Use labels to naturally integrate new vocabulary into your everyday life

Even though it's likely not enough on its own, I've always found labeling objects in my house (or car) with new vocabulary words has helped to more naturally integrate a new language into my life. 

Avery Removable Writable Rectangular Labels, $8.47

Use apps with speech comparisons

Babbel will help you to focus on relevant aspects of the language — not the entire dictionary. Interactive dialogues will give you the feedback you don't get with a lot of other apps/methods, and their speech recognition technology will help keep you on track, so you don't learn how to read but neglect speech or pronunciation. 

Many of the TED talks I watched in preparation emphasized the importance of finding an honest, detailed critic to continuously point out when we mispronounce/speak. After all, that is one reason people think adults can't learn languages as well (there's an unnecessary component of embarrassment to being corrected as an adult). Since many of us are limited, then, to our bilingual friends' help or being outgoing enough to attend bilingual meetings, it's crucial that an app can accurately correct your speech.

Babbel, $6.95 - $12.95/month

Grab a comprehensive, tried-and-true language set

Another great source for speech correction, Rosetta Stone is a household name when it comes to language learning for a reason.

Proprietary speech-recognition technology compares your voice to a native speaker 100 times per second. If you're still afraid of making mistakes with native speakers, this is one way to start without the hangups. And unlike some of your other options, you can add access for up to five family members, which helps offset the high cost. 

You'll also get access to their award-winning mobile app for three months when you get the set. If you only want the app, you can download it here. It's free for download, but similar rates as the boxed set apply within the app itself. 

Rosetta Stone app, free to download

Rosetta Stone Language Set, various languages, $249

• Genderless body care line Nécessaire makes daily necessities, like body wash and body lotion, that appeal to everyone of every gender. They're fragrance-free, feature gender-neutral packaging, and just plain work.
• Nécessaire wants you to "treat your body like your face," so its formulas are filled with nourishing ingredients that are usually found in facial-care products like peptides, hyaluronic acid, and marula oil.
• The brand doesn't formulate with harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, or phthalates — so you can feel good about what you're putting on your body.

Years ago, as my husband and I unpacked in our new shared apartment, I thought the box he'd marked "bathroom" felt suspiciously light — which is how I discovered he didn't own a single skincare product. Not even a cleanser! He used the same bar of soap on his body and his face (oh, the horror). In contrast, my bathroom cabinet held at least 50 products with various beautifying benefits. Opposites attract, I guess.

Over the years, we've rubbed off on each other: He's realized the importance of taking care of his skin, I've realized most of my "essentials" are anything but, and we've both realized that self-care has nothing to do with gender. In fact, the personal-care products that now dominate our bathrooms are largely unisex (or genderless, or agender, or gender-neutral),  including the one body care line we can't stop fighting over — Nécessaire.

"We didn't set out to be genderless," Nick Axelrod, the co-founder of both Nécessaire and iconic beauty site Into the Gloss, tells Business Insider. "We set out to create a brand and conversation that everyone can join." After all, regardless of gender, everyone needs to get clean. "I like the idea [of creating] a movement around even the most mundane daily essentials," he says. 

Founded on the idea that you should "treat your body like your face," you'll find its main products, The Body Wash ($25) and The Body Lotion ($25), packed with skincare-level actives like hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-strengthening peptides.

Read more: The skincare industry often treats body products as an afterthought — this startup is out to change that

"We started with body care because [the] body has historically been an afterthought, never the first thought," Randi Christiansen, the brand's co-founder and a former Estée Lauder Companies executive, tells Business Insider. "Body products go on our largest organ — the skin — and I guess, put simply, I felt I could design a better product than what is offered today."

Let me just say: She totally did.

What Nécessaire products are like to use

The Body Wash in Sandalwood (my personal favorite scent, but there's also a fragrance-free option and a more energizing Eucalyptus version) is the sudsy-but-not-too-sudsy body wash dreams are made of. "We wanted to create a gel-oil hybrid texture to deliver skin-beneficial ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants to the skin," Christiansen says. "The texture feels rich and it's non-drying and non-irritating." It feels so luxe, I even use this in place of my usual bubble bath. It delivers all the bubbles I need with plant-based surfactants and leaves my skin feeling silky-smooth, not stripped.

Then there's The Body Lotion, which is Christiansen's favorite product in the line. It's nothing short of perfect. It sinks right in and keeps my dry elbows moisturized all day long — like a lightweight moisturizer that just happens to be used all over your skin. "It's like a daily multi-vitamin for skin health," she says. "There are several vitamins and nutrients coming from the three oils we're using in the formula: marula, cacay, and meadowfoam oil."

Despite the inclusion of oils, the product absorbs almost instantly. You know how you usually have to wait 15 minutes between slathering on a typical body lotion and pulling on your skinny jeans? (Just me?) There's zero downtime with Nécessaire.

The Body Lotion also features a healthy dose of skin-strengthening peptides, which skincare enthusiasts will recognize as a facial-care ingredient. "Peptides are predominantly used in facial skincare," Christiansen agrees, "but we felt it was worth it. They firm and tone skin over time." And firm, toned skin is something everyone — male, female, and beyond — can appreciate.

A focus on safe, sustainable products

Nécessaire's other admirable mission is making sure its products are 100% safe to use — which, I admit, seems like it should be a no-brainer, right? But since the personal-care industry isn't regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, products are often made with probable or proven carcinogens (like phthalates and formaldehyde) and "endocrine disruptors," which are known to interfere with hormone production (like pesticides and the preservative BHA).

"We speak a lot about being clean, which is a fancy word for non-toxic ingredients that we deliver with our No List," Christiansen explains. The No List is essentially the brand's public call-out of potentially toxic ingredients it vows to never use in its products, including common offenders like parabens, sulfates, and silicones. 

Read more: The best moisturizers you can buy to keep your skin happy and healthy

"We say 'no' to synthetic fragrance of any kind," she adds. Besides typically being gender-specific (why do all women's body washes smell of flowers and candy while men's products boast scent names like "Steel" and "Anarchy"?), fragrance can also irritate the skin. "We offer a scent-free option for those of us with sensitive skin or for those who simply prefer to layer on their own scent," Christiansen says. "I am a scent-free girl, so this option is personal to me."

Of course, we can't talk about a skincare product without talking about #shelfie appeal. It was, after all, the packaging that convinced my husband to give the products a try in the first place. But what's even better? The packaging is sustainable too.

"We set out to reimagine personal care using clean, effective ingredients and with transparency and sustainability at our core — that is our mission," Christiansen states. To this end, Nécessaire's shipping materials include boxes made from 85% post-consumer waste and paper that's 100% recyclable. The company works with Forest Stewardship Council-certified vendors and doesn't use virgin forest materials.

The co-founders acknowledge that there's always room for improvement when it comes to environmental responsibility, which is why they foster open conversation with customers around the company's eco-friendly practices and keep the community updated with improvements. For example, Axelrod and Christiansen note that one of Nécessaire's future goals is sourcing primary packaging that's 100% repurposed; in other words, no virgin plastic.  

As a consumer, I appreciate this transparency. It's something there's not enough of in the beauty industry. So many brands tend to exaggerate their highs and hide their lows, but with Nécessaire, there's none of that. There's no marketing hype. The ingredients are safe. The bottles are chic. The products are good. So good that they're worth fighting my husband for.

Shop all  Nécessaire products here.

• Old gadgets you don't use anymore can be worth some money or trade in credit at a store.
• I never throw away old tech I don't use anymore in the trash because it's bad for the environment.
• If my old tech isn't worth anything, I donate it, or dispose of it properly at e-waste facilities.

Old tech that's been replaced with new models or simply not used anymore might actually be worth some decent money. And the longer you wait to do something about it, the less valuable it becomes.

Dated gadgets can be pretty much anything that runs on power and has processing chips. The list includes, phones, tablets, computers, monitors, TVs, printers, audio devices, smart home devices, cameras, gaming consoles and accessories, etcetera and so on. 

As I write this, there are three old Mac laptops cluttering my home — that's probably a few hundred dollars just collecting dust. One of them is literally on my desk, taking up actual valuable space. And if no one wants to pay for them, so be it! While they may not perform well enough for me, they still work, and I guarantee that someone out there can get much better use out of them. 

Having reviewed technology for eight years, I have found five ways you can get rid of older tech to make some cash or simply declutter. However, I want to start with the one thing you shouldn't do.

Don't throw out your old tech in the trash!

I like the Earth, and throwing away old tech in the trash is a sure way to pollute it. 

Electronics are full of toxic materials that are harmful to the environment and have no place in a landfill, where those toxins can leach into the surrounding nature.

You can make money from your old tech by selling it.

There's always the chance that someone out there may actually want your old tech, no matter how ancient or defunct it may seem to you. The easiest way to reach those people is online via online marketplaces like Decluttr, Sella, or Gazelle.

You could also try selling your old tech through eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, where you'll be negotiating directly with a buyer. There's a possibility that you might get a little more money this way, but it can involve more work and time on your part, like compiling the listing, taking photos for the listing, and shipping or meeting up with the person, whereas the options above are quick and hassle-free.

I haven't tried selling on Decluttr, Sella, or Gazelle, but I used to sell my old gadgets I didn't need anymore on eBay and Craigslist quite often. Nowadays, I'd personally rather do the following.

Trade in your old tech to get store credit and help pay for shiny new tech.

Trading in old devices has boomed in popularity recently, as popular companies like Amazon, Apple, Samsung, and Best Buy have developed their trade-in programs. Your mobile carrier also offers trade-ins, but their programs are likely limited to phones and tablets. Trading in is even easier than listing your old tech on online marketplaces.

The caveat is that you usually get store credit for the specific store you trade in with, so it's a good idea to trade in your old tech with a store you usually shop at. Trading in might also mean that trade-in credit can only be applied directly to a newer model of the device you're selling, which can either be limiting or exactly what you're after.

The other caveat is that you might not get as much as selling a device yourself — you're basically sacrificing a little profit for the convenience of trading in. I've personally opted for trading in for the convenience factor. 

Turn your old tech into art.

If you've held on to old tech for nostalgic reasons, you can pay them homage by turning them into art rather than collecting dust in storage. A company called Xreart sells kits to disassemble your old tech, tastefully lay out individual components, and frame them into beautiful, nerdy pieces of art. 

This can also be a great gift idea. The Xreart's $60 DIY kits cover the very first iPhone to the iPhone X, the Nintendo Gameboys, and Apple Watches.

I haven't tried this yet, but it looks like a fun option regardless. I have some old iPhones and other devices laying around that I plan on testing this out with.

Donate your old tech if you can't get money from it, as long as it still works.

As long as it's still functional, old tech that doesn't meet your demands can meet the needs of those who are less fortunate or incapable of buying tech. Some older devices that aren't worth any money or trade-in value that can still perform simple-yet-essential tasks like web browsing are good for donating. 

For example, a local organization in my area had a donation drive specifically for old functional tech to give to senior citizens. The organization would refurbish the devices and repair them if needed or possible, and it would teach its beneficiaries how to use them. I plan on donating a first-generation iPad that's not worth much money or trade-in value to the organization during its next drive. While some apps may not be compatible with it anymore, it can still connect to the internet and browse the web. 

And don't forget your own family and friends, too. Ask them if they want an older phone, tablet, TV, computer, or anything else with chips inside of it.

Recycle your old, broken tech that won't get you any sort of compensation.

If it's clearly broken, and it's not worth anything in marketplaces or for trade-in, the best thing to do is dispose of it properly. You can find local places online that will take in your e-waste for free, and some organizations even offer pickup. 

My local waste facility, affectionately known as "the dump," has an e-waste program that I can go to any day of the week.

Your local Best Buy will also gladly take in most common gadgets for responsible disposal or recycling free of charge.

There's one very important thing you should do before selling, donating, or disposing of your old gadgets.

If possible, perform a factory reset before selling, donating, or disposing of your old tech to wipe the devices' storage. That applies especially to devices like phones, tablets, and computers. The storage of those devices needs to be completely erased to prevent anyone else from accessing your personal or professional data that you've stored during your ownership of the device. 

If your device is broken and you can't perform a factory reset, you might consider bringing the device to a local tech repair shop, like uBreakiFix, that might be able to help you erase your data before you dispose of it properly.  

• How you plan to use your computer mouse will dictate which one you should buy.
• At higher prices, you can find mice with programmable buttons and different speed settings.
• Using a mouse for long hours can fatigue your wrist, so you may want an ergonomic choice.

The best computer mice do more than point and click; they offer accurate, quick cursor movement without creating wrist strain. Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, and Anker produce some of the most recommended mice.

"The number one thing to consider when buying any computer hardware is 'What will you be using the device for?'" says Tom Gilmore, the technology education coordinator at Free Geek, a nonprofit that refurbishes computer hardware. "This single question dictates exactly what you need and can help guide you to either cheaper or more premium options, and help you to narrow down the vast number of options to just a few."

A poorly designed mouse can increase the strain on your wrist and hands. Weak connectivity can lead to slow performance (and losing that computer game). Some won't roll over rugged surfaces.

As a freelance writer and photographer for nearly a decade, I've been working from home since before 2020 made it the norm. I consulted a certified ergonomics expert and spent hours digging through expert mouse reviews. I've rounded up nine of the most recommended computer mice, from budget options to fully-featured stand-out products. 

Here are the best computer mice you can buy

• Best computer mouse overall: Logitech MX Master 3
• Best mouse for precision use: Razer Pro Click
• Best ergonomic mouse: Logitech MX Ergo
• Best budget ergonomic mouse: Logitech Ergo M575
• Best portable mouse: Logitech MX Anywhere 3
• Best budget portable mouse: Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse
• Best gaming mouse: Razer DeathAdder V2
• Best customizable gaming mouse: SteelSeries Rival 600
• Best budget gaming mouse: Logitech G502 Hero

The best computer mouse overall

The Logitech MX Master 3 is great for professionals who spend a lot of time mousing and need both comfort and superior performance.

With reviewer nods from Wirecutter to PC Mag, the Logitech MX Master 3 is lauded for its large but ergonomic shape. The mouse has a curve designed to fit your right hand, with a wheel and gesture pad near the thumb. A scroll wheel and forward and back buttons are also built into the mouse.

The control scheme offers app-specific shortcuts for programs from Zoom to Photoshop. Using controls built into the mouse may mean less back and forth between the mouse and keyboard.

That scroll wheel is capable of rolling through 1,000 lines per second, Logitech says. Slow the spin, and the wheel goes from line-to-line for more precision. The laser mouse offers 4,000 DPI for more sensitivity and is capable of tracking on difficult surfaces such as glass. (Higher DPI, like the Razer Pro Click's, make for a faster mouse.) The downside? It's pricey. The $100 price tag makes the mouse best for power users that are using a mouse for several hours a day.

The best mouse for precision use

With a 16,000 DPI optical sensor, the Razer Pro Click is ideal for long-haul users that need the most precision for detailed mousing.

The Razer Pro Click has one of the best optical sensors for a mouse, with four times more dots per inch than the Logitech MX 3. That superior sensor combined with the optical design (that doesn't fall victim to the occasional jitter of a laser) makes the mouse good for detailed work, such as precise adjustments in Photoshop.

The mouse is designed with a large curve that Razer says prevents your wrist from resting on the desk. TechRadar's review says that the mouse is so well designed that "you'll barely notice you're using a mouse at all." The curve does prevent left-handed use, however. 

The mouse houses eight different buttons that you can customize to your liking. The mouse can connect to multiple devices through wireless. For twice the battery life at 400 hours, it also connects through Bluetooth. The charger isn't the more modern USB-C, however.

The best ergonomic mouse

For power users that need to reduce wrist pain, the Logitech MX Ergo's trackball design means your hand rests comfortably in one spot.

The Logitech MX Ergo offers a custom tilt angle designed to better fit the shape of your hand, plus a lot of other features geared towards minimizing wrist strain. It's a trackball mouse, which means you can keep your wrist in one position and use the trackball that sits near the thumb to navigate, instead. Trackball mice are not for everyone — using one requires reprogramming years of using a traditional mouse — but they can be more comfortable.

The MX Ergo's plentiful buttons can also be programmed for different functions based on what app you are using. A mode button near the trackball allows you to switch between fast or more precise tracking. The mouse requires little power; Logitech says it lasts 70 days on a full charge, and plugging it in for just a minute will power another 24 hours of use.

Trackball mice are innately different, and not everyone will love this pricey option. The MX Ergo is also not made for lefties.

The best budget ergonomic mouse

The Logitech Ergo M575 is for everyday users who want a comfortable trackball mouse but don't need the extra buttons and custom tilt of pricier models.

The Logitech Ergo M575 is a good compromise when the $100 Logitech MX Ergo is too much. While the M575 lacks the custom tilt, extra buttons, and precision mode switch of the MX Ergo, it still offers some of the same ergonomic features. Despite selling for about $50, the M575 still has a custom DPI from 400 to 2,000.

The Ergo M575 is a trackball mouse; you don't move the mouse around the desk, you move a trackball with your thumb. That design will take some getting used to, but keeping your hand in a stationary position is much more friendly on the wrist. The mouse is curved to fit better in the right hand.

Besides the typical mouse buttons, scroll wheel, and trackball, the mouse also houses back and forward buttons that you can reprogram with Logitech's software. Connecting with Bluetooth, the mouse can run up to twenty months on one AA battery, according to Logitech. Used as a wireless mouse with the USB dongle, the battery life bumps up to two years.

The best portable mouse

Logitech's MX Anywhere 3 is geared towards on-the-go computer users that demand more from a mouse. It's also good for those with smaller hands.

The Logitech MX Anywhere 3 takes some of the features in the flagship MX Master 3 and adapts them to mobile users. The Mac version can even be used on iPads. The mouse still offers customizable buttons but in a travel-friendly size.

Logitech says that the mouse has a quick, 1,000-lines-per-minute scroll wheel with the ability to get down to pixel-level details. It's made to withstand the typical bumps from riding in a laptop bag. Despite the smaller size, there is a slight curve made for a better fit in your hand.

The fast scrolling and 200 to 4,000 DPI sensitivity range mean the MX Anywhere 3 isn't a budget travel mouse. A full charge will last 70 days, which is good but not as good as the Microsoft Surface Mobile.

The best budget portable mouse

Laptop users who want a portable, ambidextrous mouse for not much cash may want to consider the $35 Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse.

Designed specifically for laptops, the Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse is made for portability. The mouse uses a slimmer design that's easy to tuck into a laptop bag. The Bluetooth mouse lasts up to a year on one charge, so you shouldn't need to bring the charger with you.

The Surface Mobile has a symmetrical shape that's suitable for left or right-handed users. But besides being lefty friendly, the symmetrical shape means you can use either hand to reduce strain on a single wrist. The base isn't smaller than a typical mouse, and PC Magazine's review says it tends to be more comfortable than smaller travel mice. 

The portable design doesn't curve to the shape of your hands as well as with ergonomically-focused mice, however. At around $35, it also won't deliver the extreme speed and precision of a high-end mouse.

The best gaming mouse

Gamers who prioritize comfort, as well as speed and accuracy, will appreciate what the Razer DeathAdder V2 has to offer. 

The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a favorite among gamers because the computer mouse offers speed, precision, and a comfortable grip. With up to 20,000 DPI, the wired customizable gaming mouse has plenty of speed and accuracy.

Beyond just the high-precision hardware, the mouse has a large arched grip and a comfortable thumb rest, which earned it a recommendation from The Verge. The mouse is also outfitted with several different buttons. Both the buttons and DPI settings can be adjusted using Razer's software. A switch on the bottom allows the mouse to store up to five different setting combinations, which is ideal for different games or moving from gaming to web browsing.

While the $70 mouse is fast, some of that speed comes from the fact that it's wired. That's preferred by many gamers but can still be an inconvenience.

The best customizable gaming mouse

The SteelSeries Rival 600 has two sensors and custom weights for gamers that want ultimate customization, all for an affordable price.

The SteelSeries Rival 600 has two optical sensors that create a mouse with excellent tracking, including detecting when you pick it up. While SteelSeries says the mouse is best for esports, Tom's Guide calls it one of the best all-purpose gaming mice.

The 12,000-DPI mouse offers custom sensitivity settings as well as custom weights. Four weights can be configured into slots on both sides of the mouse to customize the feel and balance. The lift-off distance can also be configured between 0.5 and 2 mm.

The mouse is made from reinforced plastic and has seven buttons. The buttons use mechanical switches that have been tested to 60 million clicks. The downside is that the button placement isn't quite perfect, according to PC Gamer.

The best budget gaming mouse

The Logitech G502 Hero is good for gamers that balk at the higher price points of most gaming mice.

Gaming mice tend to be higher in price, but the Logitech G502 Hero is around $50 and still offers the features most gamers look for. 

The Logitech G502 allows gamers to customize the weights as well as the RGB lights. With DPI from 100 to 16,000, the mouse can easily be customized depending on if speed or accuracy is most important to the game. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Wirecutter's biggest complaint is that the many buttons can limit where you place your hand.

 The G502 is a wired mouse, which is better for speed, but it is also available in wireless as the pricier Logitech G502 Hero Lightspeed.

How to find the best computer mouse for you

Buying computer peripherals is seldom a one-size-fits-all scenario. Both the shape of your hand and your primary use will change your definition of a great mouse. When choosing a computer mouse, consider the following:

Optical or Laser? Optical and laser mice are quite similar, says Free Geek's Gilmore. Both use a camera-like sensor to look for changes in the surface to tell the computer how to move the cursor. A laser mouse uses a laser to light that sensor and tends to do a bit better on glossy surfaces. Some can even work on glass. But on a typical wood desk, most users won't notice a difference.

DPI or CPI: The dots-per-inch (or counts-per-inch) specification on a mouse is similar to the resolution of the sensor. A higher DPI means a faster mouse, Gilmore says, which is even more important when using a high-resolution monitor. A lower DPI mouse can be more precise. Some high-end mice allow you to choose different DPI settings, so you can switch based on whether you want speed or precision.

Connectivity: A wireless mouse eliminates the cord but uses a USB dongle to connect to the computer. A Bluetooth mouse is similarly wireless but doesn't need that dongle to connect with a Bluetooth-compatible device. You might want to consider that option if you have limited ports. Take a look at wireless and Bluetooth mice's battery lives so you'll get a sense of how often you'll be charging them. Wired mice still have their place, particularly for gaming. Wireless and Bluetooth mice may introduce some lag that's noticeable in fast-paced games.

Weight: Lighter mice are typically easier to move around. Fast-paced gamers tend to consider the weight of a mouse.

Comfort: How a computer mouse feels will depend on the size of your hand, says Kevin Weaver, a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy at New York University. He is also certified by the Board of Certified Professional Ergonomists and the Oxford Institute.

He suggests using both hands with an ambidextrous mouse to halve the time spent on a mouse. "As best as you can, centralize your mouse," he said. "If you look at most laptops, the touchpad is built into the base, right under the space key, in a centralized position. That's a best-case scenario because you can use your left or your right and have half the frequency."

If using your non-dominant hand feels too odd, he suggests choosing a contoured mouse that fits with your dominant hand. "[I]t's important to go test these out in a showroom or store. One size does not fit all, one rule does not fit all," he said.

What else we considered

We like the Anker Ergonomic Vertical Mouse and the Logitech M720 Triathlon, but both are being discontinued by their respective manufacturers. You can still find the Anker model for around $21 and the Logitech for about $39.

What we're currently testing

While the mice above come with excellent reviews from reputable publications, we're testing all the mice to determine what's the best for different applications. In addition to the mice above, we're also testing two more.

The Logitech MX Vertical: This vertical mouse is recommended by several publications. Using a vertical mouse takes some getting used to. We'll try it out to see if that learning curve may be worth the effort for users with wrist pain.

The Apple Magic Mouse 2: Apple's mouse uses gesture controls on the surface, much like the trackpad on a MacBook. The mouse is slimmer, however, and doesn't fit into your hand like a contoured mouse.

Working from home? Check out our other home office guides

The best standing desks

So many jobs involve sitting at a desk for hours each day, and it can be hard to break away to incorporate more standing without sacrificing productivity. If you have a standing desk, you can convert your space to a much more active one, improving your health and energy levels. These are the best standing desks.

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The best active seating for your office

Active seating promotes movement, improves posture, and activates your core while sitting, and some models can work in tandem with a standing desk, so you can find the perfect combination of sitting and standing throughout the day. These are our top picks for the best active seating.

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The best office chairs

If you spend the majority of your day parked in your office chair, you owe it to your body to choose a chair that gets an A+ for ergonomics. Our top picks will help improve your posture and may even help relieve back pain.

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The best desk lamps for your office

If you have a home office, it's important to have good lighting so you don't strain your eyes while typing away on your computer or going over documents. There are dozens of different desk lamps to choose from in all kinds of styles. These are the best desk lamps you can buy to light up your workspace in style.

• With barbershops and salons currently closed, people are trying their hand at cutting their hair at home. 
• Rather than an act of desperation, an at-home haircut can be an opportunity to pick up a new skill that might stick with you even when barbershops open back up.
• We spoke with a professional barber to provide you with tips and tricks on how to cut your hair (or someone else's hair) at home.
• Also, check out our guide on the best hair clippers.  

Editor's note: Many of the products recommended in this article are in high demand and may be out of stock at times. We're doing our best to keep articles updated with available items, but if what you're looking for is out of stock, we recommend searching for similar products from the same brand.

Maintaining a regular grooming routine might keep you looking your best, but whether you realize it or not, it also plays a major role in morale. Getting a haircut can boost your confidence and improve your attitude, but with barbershops and salons closed all around, achieving that fresh look isn't as easy as booking an appointment or walking in.

As we continue to practice social distancing, many people are long overdue for their scheduled haircuts. Rather than roughing it out until barbershops open back up, some are taking matters into their own hands by grabbing the clippers. 

To help you achieve a haircut you'll be proud to show off, we talked to professional barber Sydney Shlakman of Hairrari Hair Salon in Brooklyn, New York for a few tips, tricks, and guidelines.

Even though attempting an at-home haircut might seem like an act of desperation, it doesn't have to be.

"It's an opportunity to get creative and try different things because we aren't going out and seeing people as much," says Shlakman. "Since most people have never cut their own hair before or even another person's hair, it's best to go slow and just get an understanding of the tools, hair, and head shape."

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about cutting short hair at home.

To get started, you'll just need hair clippers. Here are the ones we recommend:

• Best overall: Wahl Cordless Magic Clip Clippers
• Best for detailing: Andis Go Professional Outliner II Trimmer
• Best on a budget: Remington Virtually Indestructible Barbershop Clipper Kit
• Best for buzz cuts: Remington Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit
• Best beard trimmer: Philips Norelco Series 3000 Multigroom

What are the most important parts of a haircut?

You've got a set of clippers and you're ready to go, but before you start haphazardly cutting into hair, there are a few key factors that you'll want to keep in mind. 

1. Achieving your desired length 

Unless you're going for a baldie or a buzz cut, you'll want to pay attention to the clipper guards being used. Clipper guards are numbered to signify the length of hair left in eighths of an inch. A 1 guard will cut the hair to a 1/8" length, a 2 guard will cut the hair to 2/8" (or 1/4"), and a 3 guard will cut the hair to a 3/8" length, and so on. Not using a guard at all will give you the closest cut.

If you don't already have a set of good clippers and guards, we recommend the Wahl Magic Clip Clippers because they're professional-grade, wireless, and come with guard attachments. 

2. Fading/tapering and blending 

Most people with short haircuts have some form of fading or tapering on the back and sides of their heads. Regardless of the style of fade or taper, properly blending the hair is imperative to avoid a "bowl cut" look.

When doing a fade, you want to first start by cutting with a longer length. For example, if you want to fade your sides down to a 2, start by using a 5 or 6 guard. Then use the 2 guard to the desired height depending on your style preference (if you want to do a high, mid, or low fade). Using a longer length first allows you to make sure the 2 is creating a clean and visible line to fade out. It also makes it easier to cut the hair off cleanly.

3. Edging up the hairline

No matter what style or length you like to wear your hair, a sharp line can clean up your appearance. Keep a steady hand and follow the natural lines of your hair, and just clean up the stragglers. You can use the clippers you have on-hand to do this, but if you're interested in clippers specifically for line ups, we recommend the Andis Outliner II or the Andis T-Outliner.

Frequently Asked Questions answered by a professional barber

• Should I cut with the grain or against the grain of my hair?

Starting out, you should cut against the natural grain of the hair as it is the most effective way. If you are only cutting the sides and back with the clipper, just go against the grain, but go over it a few times to make sure it's even. For people with curly hair, you should go both with and against the grain. If someone is giving themselves a complete buzz cut, I suggest they go against the grain everywhere (top and sides) and then with the grain everywhere to make sure it's even. 

• I'm cutting my own hair with no help. What's the best way to cut the hard-to-see areas?

If someone is cutting their own hair I suggest, if possible, doing a double mirror technique, so they can see the back and sides better. If you don't have a second mirror on-hand, you can also use the selfie camera on your phone for this. 

• In addition to clippers, what else should I have on-hand while cutting hair?

Barbers usually have an array of extra tools to use at their convenience, and you can likely collect similar items from around your home: Combs and hairbrushes for making sure the hair is laying properly, hair clips for keeping long hairs out of the way while fading or lining up, and a brush to clean up cut hair along the neckline are all useful. Most people don't have barber capes at home, but a towel or an old sheet can make cleaning up easier.

Using other resources

It goes without saying that reading this how-to (or any other guide online) won't automatically give you the skills that professional barbers have gained from years of cutting hair, but there is tons of useful information online that can help you along the way.

Whether you're looking for a guide to a specific haircut style, best practices for cutting your hair texture, or visual aid for techniques like fading, you'll likely find it on YouTube. There are plenty of professional barbers, hairstylists, and everyday people who groom their hair at home who have shared their knowledge online.

The video above is just one of many helpful videos you can find on the internet.

The bottom line

With the right tools, a bit of preparation, and patience, the most novice home barbers can give themselves or others a decent haircut. Who knows, you might become skilled enough to continue cutting your own hair even when barbershops open back up.

Choosing an excellent keyboard that meets your gaming demands isn't as easy as you may think. There are a lot of them out there to sift through, from big-name offerings to bargain-basement alternatives you'll only find on Amazon. That's not to mention the different types and sizes you must choose from. You have your work cut out for you, especially if you don't already know the kind of keyboard you need.

Luckily, we are here to help you narrow down your choices. The final decision is still yours, but we'll make it easier by testing them ourselves and highlighting the best gaming keyboards we found on this list. We've also included a short yet detailed guide to choosing the right gaming keyboard just below to help you figure out exactly the kind of keyboard that's best for the kinds of games you play.

Our top picks for gaming keyboards

Best overall: Corsair K100 RGB - See at Amazon
If you're looking for a premium experience, the Corsair K100 RGB brings sheer performance that is only surpassed by its feature set.

Best mechanical: Razer BlackWidow V3 - See at Amazon
Touting premium features without the premium price, the Razer BlackWidow V3 is a terrific and affordably priced mechanical keyboard.

Best optical: Roccat Vulcan Pro - See at Amazon
The Roccat Vulcan Pro packs robust performance and solid build in a beautiful and elegant design. If you're looking for an optical option, you'll fall in love with this one.

Best customizable: Razer Huntsman V2 Analog - See at Amazon
Perhaps the most feature-rich and most customizable gaming keyboard we've ever tested, the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog makes gaming incredibly seamless and easy.

Best TKL: Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro - See at Amazon
The Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro stands out by combining elegance and style with sheer performance and durability, making it our tenkeyless champion.

Best mini: Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed Phantom Edition - See at Razer
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed Phantom Edition earns our highest regard for a mini gaming keyboard because of its high polling rate and ability to store up to 50 custom key profiles for use with several games.

Best wireless: Logitech G915 Lightspeed Wireless - See at Amazon
Beautiful and incredibly thin, the Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB is the best wireless gaming keyboard for its impressive wireless features and performance.

Best for less than $50: Corsair K55 RGB - See at Amazon
The Corsair K55 RGB may cost less than $50, but it still looks like a fully-featured gaming keyboard and boasts many of the same features.

Best overall: Corsair K100 RGB - See at Amazon

Pros: Solid construction, top-notch performance, a host of great features

Cons: More expensive than most, takes up space, bulkier than others

Competitive gamers want the best, and the Corsair K100 RGB is the best. But, even if you're more about getting the most features for your money, this gaming keyboard is also a win. 

We've used it on games like Marvel Avengers, Death Stranding, and Cyberpunk 2077 – and it really delivers on performance. Touting Corsair's impressive OPX switches and Axon Hyper-Processing technology, it boasts a 4,000 polling rate, 1 millimeter (mm) actuation point, and the N-key rollover with anti-ghosting. That means that it's as fast as it is responsive, which matters in games where every fraction of a second and every key press count. 

The Corsair K100 RGB is also one of the most robust and premium feeling gaming keyboards we've ever tested. You just know it's going to survive years of button-mashing and pounding, as well as resist everyday wear and tear, swimmingly while staying elegant-looking and comfortable to use. 

What gives the Corsair K100 RGB even more value, however, is its host of incredible features. Corsair really took advantage of its sizable footprint by stuffing it with a whole bunch of useful features. 

There are extra media keys and six dedicated macro keys on top of its already fully-programmable design. There's also a very accessible control dial that lets you cycle through five different functions and adjust their settings.

Passthrough charging via its USB port allows you to attach another device to your rig. And, its RGB lighting is also grouped into 44 zones, so you can get as creative as you'd like without spending too much time on customizations.

To really make it worth your money, Corsair also gave it an 8MB onboard memory so you can create up to 200 key remap, macro and RGB lighting profiles that you can take with you.

Best mechanical: Razer BlackWidow V3

Pros: Great value, solid build, a whole lot of customization options

Cons: Sizable form factor, wrist rest is not comfortable, minimal keycap curvature

If there's one thing the Razer BlackWidow V3 proves, it's that those features we don't pay much attention to really do matter. The minimal curvature in its keycaps and lack of foam on its wrist rest make this keyboard an adjustment to use, especially if you're upgrading from something that keeps your fingers and wrist resting nice and comfortable.

Still, this full-sized keyboard is much-lauded and for good reason. Those green or yellow mechanical switches are not only very precise and solid with a rating of 80 million keystrokes, but they're also extremely satisfying to use. In fact, we love typing on this keyboard as much as we love gaming on it. Of course, it's in gaming where it really shines, boasting a 1,000Hz polling rate and N-key rollover that allows its performance to be as responsive and accurate as its pricier rivals. 

There aren't as many features here, sadly, with Razer putting its focus on making it among the best mechanical keyboards out there. However, it's not bare-bones either – at that price, it better not be. You're getting onboard memory for up to five profiles, a multifunction media button, a multifunction roller wheel, and a handy cable routing solution in the back.

Plus, as much as this keyboard belongs in the entry-level category of gaming keyboards due to its more stripped-down approach, it still has a robust set of customization options to match its excellent performance. Via the Razer Synapse software, you can personalize its RGB lighting (though not per-key), program per-key remaps and macros, and take full advantage of Razer's Hypershift feature that basically gives you a whole new set of shortcuts and key reassignments.

Razer then rounds those out with the BlackWidow V3's keycaps and matte aluminum body, both of which feel like they can take their share of beating. Speaking of those keycaps, they're labeled using a doubleshot molding process, which means you'll never wear those letters off no matter how much button-mashing you do.

Best optical: Roccat Vulcan Pro

Pros: Aircraft-grade aluminum body, thin and light, excellent performance

Cons: Hard wrist rest, keypresses may take some getting used to

We cannot deny that we're big fans of Roccat's gaming accessories. The manufacturer has a knack for producing luxurious peripherals that masterfully combine robust performance and rugged build with sexier aesthetics. 

The Roccat Vulcan Pro certainly doesn't fall far from that high-class tree, and is the best performing and best feeling optical gaming keyboard we've ever used.

Optical keyboards are generally considered to be faster and more durable than the traditional mechanical ones. However, they tend to also have a bit more resistance. If you're unfamiliar with optical switches, you should do your due diligence before buying. 

If, however, you are a fan, then the Roccat Vulcan Pro is the one to get. We love the bounce its keys offer, as much as we do the curvature of those keycaps that are incredibly effective in keeping our fingers in place.

Gaming on this thing is a pleasure, which isn't surprising. After all, it boasts an actuation point of 1.4mm, which is much shorter than other premium keyboards, a 1,000Hz polling rate, and a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 based processor for incredibly fast responses. And, its Titan optical switches are rated at 100 million keystrokes.

As far as features, you're getting an onboard memory to save five profiles in, a set of mixer-style audio controls, and a detachable wrist rest that magnetically snaps onto the keyboard.

It's beauty and brains in one, and there's certainly a lot of beauty here. The floating keys on an aluminum plate aesthetic are designed to let that customizable RGB light up like the Rockefeller Christmas tree. And, even though it is a full-sized keyboard, its 3.20cm-thin profile makes it feel less in your face. So much so you won't be embarrassed to use this at the office, especially because those keys are also elegantly quiet.

Best customizable: Razer Huntsman V2 Analog

Pros: Adjustable actuation, dual-step actuation, comfortable wrist rest

Cons: Pricey, a bit of a learning curve with some features, heavy

The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog isn't what most would call cheap, but it's also among the best value gaming keyboards out there thanks to its treasure trove of features. 

We're not just referring to its unbelievably plush wrist rest that magnetically snaps onto the keyboard and makes your wrists feel like they're resting on clouds or the USB passthrough that offers another port to which you can connect other peripherals or the underglow RGB lighting that extends to the wrist rest. Although those do add to this keyboard's appeal.

Most importantly for gamers, the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is incredibly customizable, offering per-key adjustments and remapping like you've never seen on other keyboards. Via the Razer Synapse software, you can toggle each key's actuation point from 1.5mm, which is the default, to 3.6mm, so the keyboard responds to your presses exactly how you want it.

That's nothing, however, next to the keyboard's dual-step actuation function, which actually lets you assign two different functions at two different actuation points on the same key. It's an incredibly nifty feature to have, as it gives you the ability to press fewer keys for similar game actions. 

A great, if basic, example of this would be to keep the W key's default forward action at 1.5mm actuation point while assigning the run action as its secondary function at 3.5mm in games like Valheim. It essentially eliminates the need for extra key presses and makes your gaming experience much more seamless, mimicking the dynamism of analog gamepads.

Of course, essentials like customizable RGB lighting, macro recording – which can be done on-the-fly, onboard memory for up to five profiles, media keys, and robust doubleshot PBT keycaps are on hand as well. That's not to mention its super responsive and accurate performance thanks to its 1,000Hz polling rate, optical switches and N-key roll-over with anti-ghosting.

Best TKL: Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro

Pros: Compact form factor, quiet operation, short actuation distance

Cons: Pricey, FN shortcuts take a bit of adjustment, bouncy feedback not for everyone

If you want the best tenkeyless (TKL; lacking a number pad) gaming keyboard, take a look at the Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro, which is among our favorite gaming keyboards at the moment.

This optical option takes the classy route with its elegant and stunning aesthetic that features a floating keys approach on a brushed gunmetal finish. The whole thing seems to be designed to allow its customizable RGB lighting to shine brilliantly, which it does even in broad daylight.

Don't let that elegant exterior fool you. The Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro is as robust as they come, boasting aircraft-grade aluminum and optical switches that are rated at 100 million keystrokes.

Speaking of those optical switches, they are Roccat's Titan optical switches, renowned for not just being durable but also for being extremely responsive. With an actuation distance of 1.4mm, you don't have to press those keys all the way for them to register — and accurately, we might add. In fact, we've typed up a song verse on this keyboard with very light presses, and it did not miss a single key. Combined with its 1,000Hz polling rate, you'll find this keyboard a huge advantage when gaming.

Because it's incredibly quiet, you'll also have the peace of mind knowing that you can game late at night and not piss off your roommate with all the button-mashing. 

Don't worry about the more compact form factor, either. Its Function (FN) key shortcuts allow for quick access to media controls, settings, or RGB lighting presets, while the Roccat Swarm software lets you adjust keyboard settings, program key remaps and macros, and fine-tune the RGB lighting. There might just be an adjustment period — it's the price you pay for compactness. However, you definitely won't be missing out on full keyboard functionalities.

Best mini: Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed Phantom Edition

Pros: Very small form factor, fast performance, multiple connectivity options, robust build, floating keys appearance

Cons: No dedicated arrow keys, steep learning curve

The Corsair K65 RGB Mini was our previous top choice for a mini keyboard, but it's been since toppled by the extremely versatile Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed Phantom Edition. The Corsair K65 RGB Mini remainsan impressive piece of kit, especially to hardcore and pro gamers who need its ultrafast polling rate of 8,000Hz and onboard memory that stores up to 50 profiles. However, the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed Phantom Edition is the mini keyboard for the rest of us who need versatility and comfort just as much as we do power. This 60% gaming keyboard boasts a 1,000Hz polling rate and on-board memory that lets you store up to 5 profiles, which is more than enough for most non-pro gamers. 

It combines those capabilities with the versatility of having three different modes of connectivity, something that the fully-wired K65 doesn't offer. What that means is that this mini gaming keyboard will let you connect it to your gaming PC or laptop via the Razer HyperSpeed Wireless (2.4 Ghz) dongle, Bluetooth, or the detachable USB-C cable. And, all of them are almost equally reliable for gaming.

There's also a solid-keycap version of this keyboard, but we do adore the version with  Phantom keycaps, which gives it the illusion of having low-profile floating keys and, in effect, letting that gorgeous RGB shine even brighter. For comfort, there's a tapered design that angles down towards your hands as well as an incredibly plush, mini ergonomic wrist rest. Though this wrist rest is sold separately, it's more than worth its $20 price, so much so this author uses it for all her keyboards, even the non-gaming ones.

Rounding all that out are the keyboard's fully programmable keys, on-the-fly macro recording capabilities, and an 80-million-keystroke lifespan.

Best wireless: Logitech G915 Lightspeed Wireless

Pros: Great performance, incredibly thin profile, long battery life

Cons: Expensive, no numeric pad, not all keys are programmable

The Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB is one good looking keyboard, with its thin floating keycaps, brushed aluminum alloy top, round multimedia buttons, and beautiful RGB lighting. 

It doesn't just go by looks alone, however. Despite being one of the thinnest gaming keyboards out there, it also feels robust, its aluminum alloy top case supported by a steel-reinforced base. Meanwhile, its GL switches feel like they can take their share of button mashing.

There are a lot of other things to love here. Though it may not have an expansive feature set, it does come with its share. Those dedicated media keys, all round in shape, as well as the volume dial, are definitely useful additions. Meanwhile, the dedicated wireless, Bluetooth, game mode, and RGB brightness buttons are a boon to multitaskers who either use two devices at once or want to go from being productive to gaming in seconds.

Because, honestly, you'll love using this keyboard for typing up documents and writing those work emails as much as you would gaming with it. Combining a 1 millisecond response time and 1.5mm actuation distance with its satisfying tactile feedback, it's just as comfortable to use for work as it is responsive and accurate for gaming.

Of course, being our top wireless contender, there are a few noteworthy things here. It has two connectivity options — one via its Lightspeed USB receiver, the other via Bluetooth. This is something we often see with Logitech's wireless keyboards, but it isn't something we often see with wireless gaming keyboards.

While Logitech didn't specify its Lightspeed USB receiver's range, we've used this keyboard six to seven meters away from the laptop it's connected to in another room with the door closed, and it didn't miss a single keypress.

Best for less than $50: Corsair K55 RGB

Pros: Cheap, RGB lighting, customizable keys

Cons: Keys aren't mechanical, not fully programmable, 

This is the third time Corsair has featured on this list, though for good reason. Not only does the company build excellent top-tier keyboards, it also builds great affordable keyboards for the gamer on a budget. The best of those is the Corsair K55 RGB, which comes in at less than $50.

The Corsair K55 RGB, as the name suggests, offers full RGB lighting, making it look much more expensive than it really is. It also boasts a total of six programmable buttons, which can be programmed through the same great software you'll get with the K95 Platinum. It also has dedicated media controls, and well-built keys.

So why is the keyboard so cheap? Well, those keys may be well-built, but they're not mechanical keys, and as such, they may not be as satisfying to press or durable as other gaming keyboards. 

Still, that doesn't make this a bad keyboard, it's just something to keep in mind.

How we test gaming keyboards

When it comes to buying computer peripherals, gamers often need something a little higher quality than everyone else. After all, when you're gaming, every millisecond counts, and the feel of a keyboard and mouse can have a pretty major effect on a gamer's performance. Those are the things we test when deciding whether or not a particular gaming keyboard is a worthy addition to this list.

In terms of performance, we typically see what a gaming keyboard does in the face of the latest popular games, playing a good mix of game genres on it. For example, we tested our most current picks above on AAA games, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Resident Evil Village, as well as lower-budget but equally popular titles, like Valheim and It Takes Two. Of course, since most people often just use the same keyboard for productivity as they do for gaming, we've done our fair share of typing up emails and articles on these picks as well, which also helped us gauge each one's comfort level, tactile feedback, and overall typing experience.

We also make sure to test the software every keyboard utilizes for customizations, especially when it comes to macros, remaps, and RGB lighting. After all, many gamers rely on those supporting apps to improve their gaming experience. Naturally, if a gaming keyboard is wireless, we test its range and amount of latency as well, typically by taking it as far as we can from the PC it's connected to or in another room and using it like we normally would. Finally, we test specific features as well — for example, if a keyboard has some specifically for MMORPG and MOBA, we make sure to utilize such features for such online multiplayer games.

What to look for in a gaming keyboard

More so than gaming PCs or laptops, the ideal gaming keyboard for one person isn't necessarily going to be the same for another. It highly depends on a number of factors, including gaming preferences, budget, space, and comfort. So, let's try to narrow yours down for you:

Type of switches

Most high-quality gaming keyboards opt for mechanical switches, of which there are also several subtypes: linear, tactile, and clicky. Do bear in mind that different manufacturers have their own names for these subtypes – Razer, for example, calls its own mechanical switches Green (tactile and clicky), Yellow (linear and silent) and Orange (tactile and silent). This means that choosing the mechanical switch you like most is actually a bit more involved, and for that, you should check out our Guide to Mechanical Switches. 

But, then there are keyboards that use optical switches, which tend to have faster actuation and longer lifespans in general. Of course, with these two types of switches competing against one another, this isn't necessarily a hard and fast rule. There are mechanical switches out there that now have just as long of a lifespan as optical ones, for example. And, while most people prefer the feel and feedback that mechanical switches offer, some optical switches have managed to deliver that same satisfying feel.

Finally, some gaming keyboards – usually the budget ones – come with membrane switches, which have very little tactile feedback but tend to be cheaper and can allow the keyboards to be waterproof.

Size, layout and form factor

There are a lot of full-sized gaming keyboards out there, which is likely the type of keyboard most gamers have. But, in recent years, manufacturers have come to realize the value of smaller ones. 

TKL, or TenKeyLess, gaming keyboards were the first to really hit the mainstream, abandoning the number pad and other miscellaneous keys most people don't need for gaming use to save space.

Then mini – or 60%, 65% and 75% – keyboards hit the shelves, offering that extremely compact and portable form factor to gamers with smaller spaces and setups. These are definitely ideal if you have a small or already overcrowded desk. However, these have really steep learning curves. You will be sacrificing small luxuries like having easy access to your arrow keys, which means you'll have to take time to program or learn shortcuts before diving into your games.

Whichever size/layout you choose, you'll find some thick ones and some with very thin profiles. These come with their own advantages and disadvantages as well, which means that the right one for you greatly depends on your comfort level and, to an extent, the size of your hands.

Connectivity

For most gamers, a wired connection is still king, which is true in some ways. You don't have to worry about battery life or your connection getting cut in the middle of a pivotal game moment.

However, wireless gaming keyboards have come a long way in terms of performance, accuracy, and connectivity. Choose one of the best wireless options out there, and you're pretty much guaranteed the same quality as their wired counterparts. And, these tend to also have very long battery lives. The only thing is that you do have to remember to charge it once in a while.

Performance

When it comes to gaming keyboards, performance is key, no matter the type of games you typically play. However, there are also different levels of performance ideal for different types of games. An 8,000Hz polling rate might be the dream, for example, but realistically, a 1,000Hz one should be more than enough for gamers not playing at pro levels. And, keyboards with 1,000Hz polling rates tend to be cheaper.

Make sure to get something with N-key rollover and anti-ghosting features if the games you play tend to require a lot of button-mashing, fast presses, or macros, as these ensure that the keyboard registers every single key your press, no matter how fast in succession you do them.

Features

The most basic keyboards tend to be minimal in features, but pricier ones come kitted out with things like onboard memory to store profiles and macros in, dedicated media controls, fully programmable keys, and an included wrist rest. Before you hit buy, make sure you know which features are vital to you so you can choose the gaming keyboard that offers them.

What else we considered

There are so many excellent gaming keyboards out there that narrowing them down to eight has been tough. We've considered models like the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition, the SteelSeries Apex 3, and the HyperX Alloy Origins 60, all of which are incredible in their own right. It's just that our picks above simply did it better.

It was also hard to knock off previous picks like the Corsair K65 RGB Mini and the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum, but for varying reasons, we've had to give them up to make space for newer and perhaps slightly better entries.

• I have a lot of hair, and it usually takes five to six hours to air dry completely. 
• Rather than aggressively dry it with a bath towel, risking hair breakage and frizziness, I wrap it up in the Volo Hero Hair Towel ($39). 
• It's a large towel that absorbs 10 times its weight in water and cuts my hair-drying time in half. Because it's made from soft and plush microfiber, it doesn't damage my hair.  

As my hairstylist likes to remind me with an astonished voice every time she grabs a handful of my hair, I have a lot of hair. I know it, she knows it, and my poor roommate who has to deal with blocked shower drains and a floor perpetually covered in a layer of long brown hair knows it. 

It takes about five to six hours for my hair to completely air dry after a shower, and I would often go to bed with still-damp hair. A $39 towel that I've been using for the last six months has cut that time in half. 

Volo Beauty's Hero Hair Towel will seriously be the hero of your post-shower routine if you have thick hair. The towel is made from soft microfiber that's gentle on your hair but is also very absorbent — it absorbs 10 times its weight in water. 

The towel is a large rectangle measuring 39.4 inches x 23.5 inches, which is a generous size that should accommodate most head sizes and hair lengths. Wrap your hair into it, twist it, and tuck the end into the stretchy loop in the back. 

It holds my hair securely, even if I shake my head around or bend over. I often put my hair up, then do other tasks such as brush my teeth or make a meal, so it's important that my hair doesn't get in the way. 

I don't usually leave my hair in the towel for too long — maybe half an hour, maximum — but even this short amount of time has made a significant difference in drying time. When I take my hair out of the Volo towel, it feels like it had been out in the air drying for three hours already.

Since the towel is so soft and plush, my hair doesn't come out frizzy. Traditional bath towels can be too rough, tugging at and breaking your hair and ruining all the hard work your conditioner just put in during your shower. The Volo towel, on the other hand, absorbs water and dries my hair efficiently without damaging it. 

Read more: This $10 hair towel is deceptively simple — it's literally just a towel with some small design tweaks, but I swear by it for drying my hair quickly

The bottom line

All this means I spend less time drying my hair and my hair is less damaged. The payoff of making it to bed or to an event with smooth, dry hair every time is well worth the $39 upfront cost. 

The second-generation Google Nest Hub is one of the best smart displays for anyone set up with Google's ecosystem. The compact, cameraless display can act as a hub for your smart home devices and give you access to Google Photos and Google Assistant, and offers a few more tricks that make it worth its price tag, especially when it's on sale.

In addition to upgrading the speaker, Google added automatic sleep tracking, which works extremely well. Those same sensors also support hands-free gesture controls, which, while limited, is a convenient feature for basic functions. 

While we found the display too cramped for working through recipes, making the unit generally too small for kitchen use, it's perfect for a nightstand. It feels like that's what Google was going for: A camera-free smart screen that can act as the alarm clock of your dreams. After many weeks of testing, we can confidently say it's worth the buy if you're looking for a smart alarm clock.

The same sleek design with some important upgrades

The second-generation Google Nest Hub looks pretty similar to its predecessor, with just a few minor tweaks that make it more aesthetically pleasing. Namely, there's no more outdated-looking outer bezel, and the newer unit is a smidge taller.

Another change is that it's made from 54% recycled plastic, a sustainability move we greatly appreciate. A new third microphone also helps the device pick up sound better. 

The 7-inch HD touchscreen offers the same vibrant, clear picture as the first-gen Hub. And you can use the multitasking display as a photo frame (by syncing with Google Photos), clock, or the charming Google weather frog background. A quick flick to the left switches your screen view, giving you access to various functions like smart home controls and detailed weather data. 

Watching videos is a fluid, pleasant experience, and that's in big part to the gorgeous display that automatically adjusts brightness and color levels via an Ambient EQ light sensor, also present in the original unit. 

In terms of smart home integration, Google has you covered with thousands of compatible devices. Smart-home controls differ depending on the device, but brightness and color options were available for Philips Hue and LE LampUX bulbs. If you have a compatible camera, you can view a video feed. 

Better sound thanks to improved bass 

According to Google, the second-gen device boasts 50% more bass than the original. In testing, podcasts and Spotify playlists sounded great on the new full-range, 43.5-millimeter diameter speaker.

But while it's an improvement over Google's first-gen Hub, don't expect the sound of the Nest Hub to compete with premium speakers from Sonos or Bose. You can also still connect your favorite apps to the device (e.g., Netflix, Spotify, and Hulu).

That said, if you're having trouble falling or staying asleep, you can ask Google Assistant to play ambient or white noise or other sounds like fireplace crackling, ocean waves crashing, and forest noises. You can do the same for waking up in the morning. 

Quick Gestures are a pleasure to use but need some work

The biggest upgrade the second-gen Nest Hub has over the prior model is the use of Google's Soli chip, a miniature radar sensor that can be used for gesture sensing. The Soli sensor's ability to detect motion and proximity is quite convenient. Using quick gestures to play or pause media, snooze alarms, or stop timers is fluid, fun, and a neat party trick. 

Tapping the air in front of the unit when music is playing will stop it, and swiping does away with timers and alarms once they go off. Your hand needs to be pretty close for the gestures to work.

But while gestures are great for controlling media, alarms, and timers, we wish for more functionality. Working through a recipe when your hands are full of egg wash seems like the perfect opportunity to use gestures. Voice control isn't as quick and intuitive as glancing at a screen, especially when juggling multiple ingredients.

A scrolling gesture would greatly improve the overall kitchen experience with the Nest Hub. It's more user-friendly than with the screenless Google Home, but the process is still a bit clunky.

Sleep Sensing is an outstanding feature 

You can use the second-gen Nest Hub in any room of your home. But this compact smart device was really built with bedroom use in mind.  

It makes a great morning assistant, helping you wake up by slowly brightening the screen (you can also opt for an audible alarm to sound) and giving you the rundown of the day ahead, including weather data and any appointments you've set up in your Google calendar. Deep sleepers may not wake up with the screen lighting up alone, which doesn't seem as bright as traditional sunrise alarm clocks. 

The new Hub also comes with sleep sensing. The Soli-powered feature tracks your sleep, detects your breathing, and keeps tabs on disturbances like snoring. Setup takes mere seconds. Just lie in bed on top of any blankets, breathing normally, making sure to place the device as indicated on your nightstand, and you're all set for sleep tracking.  

During testing, the device performed about on par with a sleep-tracking Garmin Fenix 6s, guessing sleep and wake times within minutes of the wearable device. Like most sleep devices, the longer you use it, the more accurate the data, but we were shocked at how quickly it got things right. On one of the first nights of testing, it detected reading on a Kindle as time in bed but not asleep. 

Unlike a wearable, the hub picks up sounds like coughing and snoring, factors that might impact your sleep quality. If both you and your partner snore, the device might not be sophisticated enough to tell the difference. Google notes that if you have kids, pets, or other family members who wind up in your sleeping space, that can affect the data, too. 

While we still trust the Garmin Fenix 6s more for its sleep insights and appreciate that it uses sleep data to provide training recs, the hub offers impressively accurate sleep tracking for a device that's not on your wrist. 

Overall, sleep sensing is an impressive addition, especially for those who've never thought much about their sleep before, but there's a catch. Google notes that this feature won't be free forever. In 2024, users should expect to pay extra for sleep sensing as the brand integrates it into its Fitbit ecosystem. 

Privacy features

Since the Google Nest Hub is geared towards bedside use, there isn't a camera like with many other smart displays. That means you can't use it to video chat, but it might make you more comfortable than having to remember to close a camera shutter on the device. 

For those worried about privacy with the sleep tracking, Google says that audio picked up during the night stays local to the device and never gets sent to the company. You also have the ability to customize your sleep settings for more privacy. You can also manually turn off the mic on the device itself. There's a physical button on the back of the device, and a glowing light on the front lets you know it's off. 

We like that Google Assistant doesn't automatically keep your voice recordings. You can also enable "guest mode," which will automatically delete recordings and activity. If you want to delete your past questions and requests, you can do that in your Google account or ask the Assistant to delete the last thing you said. 

Should you buy it?

Typically on sale for less than $100, the second-generation Google Nest Hub is worth buying for the original slew of features alone, but the improved sound and addition of gestures and sleep sensing make it even more worthwhile. 

That said, if you already have a first-gen Hub, you might not want to scramble to buy the newer version unless you don't mind paying a premium for sleep sensing. And if you prefer a kitchen assistant to a bedroom one, consider the Google Nest Hub Max, which boasts a bigger display and built-in cameras. 

• NBA 2K23 launches on September 9 for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms.
• New features include updated animations, classic NBA eras in franchise mode, and The Jordan Challenge.
• Gamers who buy the $150 Championship Edition will also get one year of NBA League Pass.

NBA 2K23 is the latest iteration of the hit basketball simulator. The game launches September 9 on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. Buyers can choose between multiple editions with special preorder bonuses and different in-game rewards.

NBA 2K23 introduces lots of new features, including new animations and controls for contact layups, dunks, and dribble moves. There's also a new option to play through classic NBA eras in the MyNBA franchise mode. Playable time periods include the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era starting in 1983, the Michael Jordan era beginning in 1991, and the Kobe Bryant era starting in 2002.

A new mode called The Jordan Challenge will let players experience 15 of Michael Jordan's most inspiring career moments, starting with the 1982 NCAA Championship game and continuing through his final championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. NBA 2K23 will also expand its support of the WNBA, adding the WNBA All-Star game and Commissioner's Cup tournament.

Most of the new additions are exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. PC and last-gen consoles, including Xbox One, PS4, and Switch, will see improvements too, but they won't have access to all of the new animations or the MyNBA era mode, for example. The Jordan Challenge will be available on all consoles.

NBA 2K23 release date and price

NBA 2K23 will be released on September 9. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game cost $70, while the Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC versions cost $60. You can preorder the game now through all major retailers.

What do you get for preordering NBA 2K23?

Everyone who preorders NBA 2K23 will receive the following in-game bonuses and rewards: 

• 5,000 virtual currency (VC) 
• 5,000 MyTeam Points 
• Ten MyTeam promo packs delivered over 10 weeks 
• Multiple boosts for MyCareer mode 
• A Devin Booker jersey to wear in game
• A 95-rated Devin Booker MyTeam card

What's included with each NBA 2K23 special edition release? 

In addition to regular versions of the game, buyers can choose between a few different special edition copies of NBA 2K23 to snag extra bonuses. Here's a full rundown of what each special edition includes. 

NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition

The WNBA Edition costs the same as the standard game but features stars Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi on the cover and includes:

• Bird and Taurasi's jerseys to wear in MyCareer mode

NBA 2K23 Michael Jordan Edition

The Michael Jordan Edition costs $100 and includes:

• Both the current- and next-gen versions of the game 
• An additional 100,000 in VC 
• 10,000 MyTeam points 
• Ten MyTeam tokens 
• Special Booker and Jordan MyTeam cards 
• Twenty-three MyTeam Promo packs delivered over six weeks 
• Several special MyTeam cards
• Ten boosts for each MyCareer skill type 
• Ten Gatorade Boosts
• In-game t-shirts for Jordan, Booker, Taurasi, and Bird
• A backpack, arm sleeve, and custom skateboard for your MyPlayer 
• A coin for double experience in MyCareer mode

NBA 2K23 Championship Edition

The Championship Edition is priced at $150 and includes all of the Jordan Edition bonuses, plus the following extras:

• A Jordan themed go-kart in game 
• A 10% experience boost for MyTeam and MyCareer 
• A 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass, allowing you to stream out-of-market NBA games live throughout the season

Can you upgrade to PS5 or Xbox Series versions of NBA 2K23?

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that gamers will be able to upgrade a PS4 or Xbox One copy of NBA 2K23 to a PS5 or Xbox Series version. The developer has not announced an upgrade option, and it did not offer one for NBA 2K22.

If you're planning to buy a new console over the next year, we recommend investing in the $80 Digital Deluxe Edition to secure both versions of the game.

The more expensive Michael Jordan Edition ($100) and Championship Edition ($150) copies of NBA 2K23 will also include both versions of the game.

• For people with curly hair patterns, there are a huge variety of methods for cleansing, conditioning, and styling.
• We talked to some curly influencers to get the rundown on how they care for their crowns.
• Check out their routines, and the products they swear by, below.

Taking care of curly and coily hair requires a lot more attention than straight hair. In a world that's just starting to learn how to appreciate curly and coily hair, it's helpful to see how others celebrate and take care of their crowns.

We spoke to a handful of curly hair influencers who are sharing their knowledge and experiences with their followings across the internet. Each of them shares their wash day routine, styling steps, and some of their favorite products to cleanse, moisturize, and define their hair.

Here's how they do it:

Bianca Renee, an OG curly YouTuber

With her first YouTube uploads in the early 2010s, Bianca Renee is one of the early curly YouTubers paving the way for naturals. As of now, she's a self-proclaimed wash-n-go girl who likes to keep her routine quick and simple. She's really big on knowing what's in her products and only uses products that are sulfate, paraben, and silicone free.

Bianca's routine: Cleansing

I clean my hair and clarify my scalp using Curlsmith's Wash & Scrub Detox Probiotic shampoo, focusing more on the scalp than the lengths of my hair. I use this time to give myself a scalp massage, which promotes hair growth. The shampoo gives me a nice clean feeling without stripping my hair of its natural oils. The scrub texture is super fine so it's a great exfoliate that isn't too harsh.

Bianca's routine: Conditioning

Then, I condition and finger detangle with the Not Your Mother's Apple Matcha Green Tea & Wild Apple Blossom Butter Masque, leaving that on under a shower cap or heated cap for 15 minutes. The conditioner is my absolute favorite hair mask. It smells amazing, is super moisturizing, and if affordable.

Bianca's routine: Styling

To style my hair, I first apply the Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream to my damp hair. I smooth in the products using the "praying hands method" to smooth down frizz, then scrunch upwards for definition. The defining cream is from a woman-owned and Latina-owned brand. It works great even on its own and gives a soft, bouncy yet defined look. It's a perfect styler if you don't like that "crunch" feeling.

Bianca's routine: Styling

Then I apply the Pattern Beauty Strong Hold Gel to create a cast that will keep my curls defined and frizz-free all week long. I smooth and scrunch this in as well. The gel has great hold and keeps my curls defined. I always recommend using a gel for a wash-n-go style to assure that it will be easy to refresh all week long, especially if you live in a humid area. I also love that this gel comes in a huge jar and is Black-owned by the amazing Tracee Ellis Ross.

I let my hair air dry to about 85% or until a light cast is formed, then diffuse my hair upside down for a quicker dry and maximum volume.

Lacy Redway, Unilever global haircare brand ambassador & celebrity hairstylist

Lacy Redway is one of the top celebrity hairstylists, who has worked with talent like Naomi Campbell, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shadidi, and Amanda Gorman. She started braiding classmates' hair in middle school, kept a love for doing hair, and eventually became a professional stylist. For Redway's wash day, she focuses on using the right shampoos and conditioners to help lock in moisture. After all, wash day is so important because it's a change to create the best foundation to help styles last longer.

Lacy's routine: Pre-wash

On my wash day, I like to finger detangle before applying the product.  My first step is using Nexxus Curl Define Ultra-8 Pre-wash Treatment before I shampoo. I apply the Pre-wash Treatment right out of the jar, applying it all over my strands to help soften my hair up before shampooing. The new Nexxus Curl Define range is specifically designed to restore your hair from within and is infused with a blend of silk protein.

Pro tip: Wear a shower cap over your strands for 15 minutes with the Pre-wash Treatment in your hair – the natural heat from your scalp will really help soften strands and make your following steps much smoother!

Lacy's routine: Cleansing and conditioning

After washing out the Pre-wash Treatment—depending on my mood or the needs I have for my hair that week—I will grab a shampoo and conditioner or co-wash next. I use The Nexxus Curl Define range to complete my weekly wash process. I use the Shampoo and Conditioner. When the conditioner is on, I typically like to finger detangle again before rinsing it out.

Lacy's routine: Styling

Once I've rinsed out the conditioner, I use TRESemmé Effortless Styling Repair & Smooth Multi-Tasking Styler to help with frizz. I don't apply a lot because I typically don't mind little imperfections in my hair once it's dry, but I add a little just to help my strands with the elements outside (like wind) from expanding too much. I then use my fingers and massage the product into my strands and finger coil in areas that may appear straighter than others. I typically air dry, but if I'm in a rush I'll grab my diffuser to help set the product into my strands. 

Nia Pettitt (aka Nia the Light), a London-based author & curly salon owner

Nia, who goes by Nia the Light, is a curly hair influencer and executive. She runs a salon in London that specializes in wavy, curly, and coily hair. And she just published a self-love-themed book. Nia keeps her hair routine very simple. Ever since a huge chop three years ago, she has become more mindful of what products she uses and how she works them into her routine. 

Nia's routine: Cleansing

I always start with a shampoo to thoroughly cleanse my hair. Usually I do a double cleanse to remove any build up. Currently, I'm using Aveda's Nutriplenish Shampoo.

Nia's routine: Conditioning

Then I use a conditioner, like Aveda's Botanical Intensive Repair Mask, to detangle with my fingers. I love to use a brush to get any tangles I might have missed in the back while letting the conditioner work it's magic for 2-3 minutes.

Nia's routine: Styling

For styling, I typically style whilst I'm in the shower. That way, my hair is soaking wet as I rake and scrunch products in my hair, including Living Proof's Curl Cream and Evo Hair Foam. I then diffuse till my hair is big and fluffy!

Joyjah Estrada, beauty & haircare influencer

Joyjah is a Belize-based curly influencer and YouTuber who practices self-love by celebrating her freckles and curly hair. She likes her wash-n-go routine to be quick and effective. Depending how oily her hair is, she sometimes uses a gentle cleanser or starts with a conditioner. At the end, she loves to style her baby hairs, which she considers an art form.

Joyjah's routine: Cleansing

If I decide to use a cleanser, I wet my hair then apply the Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-toFoam Shampoo on my roots. It has micellar technology that gently attracts and lifts away build up without stripping your hair. I use my fingertips to activate the foam as I massage my scalp. Then, I rinse and let the lather run out of my hair.

Joyjah's routine: Conditioning

Next, I detangle my curls using a conditioner and a wide tooth comb. I cycle between my favorite conditioners, including the Suave Naturals Moisturizing Curl Conditioner and Not Your Mothers Tahitian Gardenia Flower & Mango Butter Conditioner. They both are super moisturizing with amazing slip, making detangling super easy.

Joyjah's routine: Leave-in conditioner

Carol's Daughter4-in-1 Combing Creme

For styling, I always start by distributing a leave-in conditioner all over my soaking wet hair. Water based leave-in conditioners are my favorite because they're lightweight. This means no matter how much product I use, my hair will not feel oily or weighed down. I cycle between the Carol's Daughter 4-in-1 Combing Creme and Garnier Curl Nourish Leave-in Treatment.

Joyjah's routine: Styling

After a leave-in, I freeze my curls in place using a gel or custard. Right now I really love using Carol's Daughter Curl Shaping Cream Gel. Before drying, I wrap my hair with a cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel and gently squeeze all the excess water. This saves a lot of air dry time. To finish, I let my hair dry in front of a fan. Very occasionally, I use a diffuser. 

The Dell S2721QS is the best computer monitor overall in 2021. It's a bright, brilliant, sharp 4K monitor with outstanding image quality by any measure, but its mid-range pricing makes it more approachable than most monitors with similar performance. It even has a high adjustable stand and an attractive, modern design.

I considered dozens of monitors for the top spot, comparing them to a database of monitor testing results I've compiled since 2012. While the Dell S2721QS is clearly the best value among the monitors I tested, it's not the only monitor that should be on your radar. I've selected several alternatives for a wide range of buyers, from home office users who desire a reliable budget pick, to content creators who need excellent image quality. 

Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and recommends tech products.

Here are the best computer monitors

Best overall: Dell S2721QS - See at Dell
Dell's affordable S2721QS 4K monitor delivers a sharp, vibrant picture with decent color accuracy and ergonomics.

Best under $200: Samsung LC27F398 - See at Samsung
Samsung's C27F398 27-inch punches way above its weight in image quality and color for an incredible price.

Best ultrawide: Dell Ultrasharp U3421WE - See at Walmart
The Dell Ultrasharp U3421WE marries premium image quality with outstanding USB-C connectivity and durability.

Best for USB-C: Viewsonic VG2455 - See at Amazon
Viewsonic's VG2455 is among the most affordable USB-C monitors, yet doesn't compromise on image quality or ergonomics.

Best for professional use: BenQ PD3220U - See at Adorama
BenQ's PD3220U has best-in-class color accuracy and tons of useful features for quick settings changes that creative professionals need.

Best overall: Dell S2721QS

Pros: Sharp 4K resolution, respectable color accuracy, stand offers ergonomic adjustments, attractive design

Cons: HDR support is poor

The Dell S2721QS is easily the best deal in today's monitor market. Although technically sold at an MSRP of $489.99, this monitor is nearly always "on sale" for $359.99 or less, and occasionally dips to $300 on Amazon. That's very reasonable. Yet the Dell S2721QS sacrifices nothing for affordability.

Its quality is obvious out of the box. It's built from simple but study silver plastic that resists flex when handled. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2. Speakers are included and provide adequate quality for a small home office. The monitor is bordered by thin bezels on three sides, giving it a modern look. 

An ergonomically adjustable stand is included and provides 150mm of height adjustment, 60 degrees of swivel, and 25 degrees of tilt. The monitor can also pivot 90 degrees and be used in a vertical orientation. That's not unusual for a $300 monitor, but it ticks off all the right boxes. You'll easily find a comfortable position that works with your desk.

Dell really delivers in image quality. The S2721QS crams in 163 pixels per inch, twice that of a 27-inch, 1080p monitor. It also scores well in color tests, covering 100% of the sRGB color gamut and serving color accuracy that's just a hair worse than professional grade monitors. It has a respectable contrast ratio of 1,150:1, which provides a realistic sense of depth in photos and movies. 

The S2721QS is technically an HDR monitor, and its measured peak brightness of 438 nits is extremely high for a monitor in this price range. However, it lacks local backlight dimming, a key feature in HDR televisions. As a result, HDR content differs little from SDR. This flaw exists in every monitor solid at this price point, however, and many that are much more expensive, so I'm willing to give the S2721QS a pass.

This monitor is often sold out at online retailers. Consider Dell's S2721Q if you need an alternative. The display panel is identical, but the stand only adjusts for tilt. Fortunately, it has a VESA mount, so you can attach it to a VESA-compatible ergonomic stand from a third-party company or an older monitor.

Best under $200: Samsung LC27F398

Pros: Good contrast ratio, vibrant color, realistic image quality

Cons: Stand only adjusts for tilt, feels cheap, mediocre maximum brightness

Buying a budget monitor is overwhelming. Hundreds of models sell under $200, and most are nearly identical. However, one monitor stands out from the rest: Samsung's C27F398.

The key to this monitor's success is its use of VA panel technology, which achieves a better contrast ratio than the IPS or TN panel technology found in most budget monitors. The result? Samsung's C27F398 has a punchy, attractive image that dominates most competitors. 

Samsung goes above and beyond elsewhere, too. The C27F398's color covers 97% of the sRGB color gamut and is accurate for the price, though it falls far short of the best monitor, Dell's S2721QS. 

On the downside, Samsung puts all its money in the monitor's display. The surrounding plastic feels fragile and the featherweight stand only adjusts for tilt. Luckily, the monitor has a standard VESA mount, so you can attach it to a more robust stand. The monitor only has one HDMI and one VGA input.

While I recommend the Samsung C27F398 27-inch, Samsung offers many similar monitors in the CF300 series. They're all good options, so choose whichever has the most attractive pricing when you buy.

Best ultrawide: Dell Ultrasharp U3421WE

Pros: Outstanding image quality, attractive and durable, with 3-year warranty, USB-C hub with 90 watts of power delivery

Cons: Very expensive for its size

Ultrawide monitor pricing plunged throughout 2019 and 2020. If you want the best, however, you'll need to spend a small fortune on Dell's Ultrasharp U3421WE. It's a luxurious ultrawide with outstanding image quality that can also remove tangled wires on your desk. 

Dell's Ultrasharp line is designed for professional, color critical work. As a result, the Dell U3421WE has nearly perfect color accuracy out of the box. It also has a color gamut that spans 99% of sRGB, 99% of Rec. 709, and 95% of DCI-P3. If those figures don't mean anything to you, here's the short-and-simple. The U3421WE can display far more colors than less expensive monitors, and it can display colors as they were intended. This, combined with its sharp 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, provides visual punch few monitors can match. 

The monitor works as a USB-C hub. It has multiple ports, including four USB Type-A ports and Ethernet, and it supports up to 90 watts of power delivery over USB-C. A laptop that supports USB-C can use the monitor as a hub, reducing clutter on your desk. The monitor will even charge the laptop if it supports that feature.

While expensive, the U3421WE is built to last. It has robust, durable construction and a hefty ergonomic stand that can be adjusted for height, tilt, and swivel. Dell backs the monitor with a three-year warranty, while many competitors only include one year of coverage. 

Best for USB-C: Viewsonic VG2455

Pros: USB-C with 60 watts power delivery, sturdy ergonomic stand, solid image quality for the price

Cons: More expensive than monitors without USB-C

A USB-C monitor is a true game-changer for anyone who owns a compatible laptop. It eliminates the hassle of using multiple cables for charging, video, and peripherals. Instead, it's all handled by a single USB-C connection with the monitor. The only problem? Most USB-C monitors are expensive. 

Viewsonic's VG2455 solves that problem without giving up features. This 24-inch, 1080p monitor can deliver 60 watts of power over USB-C, which is enough to charge most laptops. It also includes three USB 3.0 Type-A ports and a USB 3.0 Type B upstream port, so the monitor can act as a USB hub. 

Though it offers USB-C at a low price, the VG2455 doesn't cut back in design or build quality. It's an attractive monitor with slim bezels on three sides and a simple, sturdy feel. The included VESA compatible monitor stand offers 130mm of height adjustment, 45 degrees of tilt, 120 degrees of swivel, and 180 degrees of pivot. That's far more than typical in this price range. 

The VG2455 even has solid image quality with good color accuracy, respectable contrast, and excellent viewing angles. It won't blow you away, but the visuals are better than average for a monitor below $250. 

While I recommend the affordable VG2455, Viewsonic offers several upgrades. You can buy the VG2455-2K if you'd like 1440p resolution with even better image quality. Need a larger monitor? Viewsonic also sells the 27-inch VG2755 and VG2755-2K, which have 1080p and 1440p resolution, respectively. They're all great value and all have USB-C with 60 watts of power delivery.

Best for professional use: BenQ PD3220U

Pros: Sharp 4K image, excellent color gamut and accuracy, useful "hotkey puck" control, outstanding connectivity

Cons: Mediocre contrast ratio, modest maximum brightness

Professionals seeking a do-it-all monitor need look no further than BenQ'S PD3220U. This 32-inch, 4K monitor has everything required for color-critical work in a professional setting.

The PD3220U has a color gamut covering 100% of the sRGB space and Rec. 709 color space, and 95% of DCI-P3. It has a 4K panel for outstanding clarity. It achieves an average measured color error below 1 in its DCI-P3 color mode, and just above that in its sRGB mode, prior to any calibration. The monitor even has true 10-bit color. The PD3220U's results aren't superior to the competition because most high-end professional monitors score well in these areas. Still, this monitor has all the image quality highlights a professional user will require.

This monitor has a Thunderbolt 3 port with 85 watts of power delivery and a DisplayPort alternate mode. Laptops that support Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, like the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and Dell XPS 15, can connect to the BenQ with a single cable. The monitor will display video while also charging the laptop. Aside from that, the monitor has two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and three USB 3.1 Type-A ports that can be used for USB peripherals. 

Speaking of peripherals, the BenQ PD3220U has a unique puck controller that's used to access the monitor's menu. It's fast, intuitive, and a useful feature if you frequently switch between display modes for different projects. There's still a joystick on the rear of the monitor, though, so you can change settings if you happen to lose the puck.

The BenQ PD3220U has a sturdy stand, too. It provides 150mm of height adjustment, 60 degrees of swivel, 25 degrees of tilt, and can pivot the monitor 90 degrees into a vertical orientation. The monitor uses a standard VESA mount, so you can easily attach a third-party monitor arm if desired.

While it's a wonderful monitor, the PD3220U isn't perfect. Its modest maximum brightness of 300 nits contributes to a mediocre overall contrast ratio. The monitor is bright enough to use in a corporate or home office, but not bright enough to properly display HDR, despite its compatibility with that standard. These problems make the PD3220U look less impressive than its specifications suggest in movies and games. 

Still, the BenQ PD3220U is a great all-around pick for professionals. It provides everything a professional will need, and goes the extra mile to make its advanced features accessible and easy to use.

What else we considered

The monitors that made this list are far from the only options tested. I've tested hundreds of PC monitors or laptop displays over the past decade and keep results for every display I've handled. This extensive database provides insight into not just how particular monitors perform, but also overall trends for any given brand, panel technology, or price range. Here are the other monitors considered.

• HP VH240a: The HP VH240a is extremely popular on Amazon, thanks to its low price and ergonomic stand. It's functional but suffers poor maximum brightness and an extremely low contrast ratio. Still, it's the best choice if you absolutely can't spend more than $125.
• Dell S2721HSX: The S2721HSX looks like a 1080p version of the top pick, but it performed much worse in testing. It fell short in brightness, contrast ratio, and image uniformity. The Samsung LC27F398 is a far better value.
• Samsung Odyssey G9: This 49-inch super-ultrawide is a flagship monitor that dwarfs the top ultrawide, the Dell U3421WE. However, the Odyssey G9 has inconsistent performance and poor connectivity. It only works as a gaming monitor, and even then, only with specific games.
• BenQ EX2780Q: This 27-inch, 1440p monitor is popular thanks to its high refresh rate, which makes it excellent for fast-paced games. However, its pricing and quality relative to the top pick, the Dell S2721QS, makes it an inferior choice for most buyers.
• LG 27GL83A-B: Another 27-inch, 1440p monitor that's popular thanks to its high refresh rate, this LG can't compete with the Dell S2721QS on image quality. It is more affordable than the BenQ EX2780Q, however.
• LG 34WN80C-B: Though it can't match the Dell U3421WE on image quality or overall connectivity, this LG ultrawide delivers USB-C at a much lower price. Its image quality is acceptable for most owners, as well. This is a solid choice for buyers craving an ultrawide at a more reasonable price.

Our testing methodology

I benchmark the quality of monitors received for testing with a professional calibration tool that generates a detailed, objective report on monitor quality. My testing covers all critical elements of image quality including contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, brightness, black level, gamma accuracy, and uniformity. 

These objective results are filtered through over a decade of experience testing computer monitors and other displays, including laptops and smartphones. I pay close attention to a monitor's contrast, color accuracy, and gamma accuracy, as these have the most dramatic impact on image quality in normal, day-to-day use. 

There's more to a monitor than image quality, however. The best monitors include a solid, VESA compatible stand with significant height and tilt adjustments. This lets you adjust the monitor to a comfortable position or, if you'd prefer, use a third-party stand for even greater adjustment.

Connectivity is key, as well. A great monitor is no use if it can't connect to your devices. I prefer monitors with both HDMI and DisplayPort. I also prefer monitors with multiple USB ports, which makes them useful as a hub for your wired keyboard, mouse, or any other USB device you might use with a PC. USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, though still a rare feature, carries significant weight in my rankings. It's the most convenient way to connect a Windows or MacOS laptop to a monitor.

What we look forward to testing

I don't expect the monitor market will change significantly through 2021. HDR will become more common, but most monitors will still struggle to display HDR properly. Monitors with a high refresh rate will continue to surge and may become the norm by the end of 2021. 

• Asus ProArt PA34VC Professional Curved Monitor: This monitor, which is currently available, could be a strong alternative to the best ultrawide. It's less expensive and offers a larger screen. It's currently available, although stock can be difficult to find.
• Alienware AW3821DW: This 38-inch ultrawide is built for gamers, but its advanced feature set makes it attractive for a wide variety of owners. I've received this monitor for testing and will evaluate it soon. 
• Acer XB323U GX: The Predator XB323U GX is a gaming monitor that promises effective HDR with local backlight dimming and a 270Hz refresh rate. Although meant for gaming, it could be an outstanding general-use monitor if its quality lives up to expectations. It will be released in January 20201.
• Philips 329M1RV: Philips is looking to prove its relevance in the monitor market with this 32-inch, 4K, high-refresh panel. The monitor's price and availability remain a mystery, however.

What's the difference between TN, IPS, and VA panel technology?

You'll frequently see the terms TN, IPS, and VA while shopping for a monitor. These terms describe the basic panel technology a monitor uses. All monitors using a specific panel technology share strengths and weaknesses.

TN stands for Twisted Nematic, and it's the oldest type of LCD panel technology still used today. Although inexpensive, TN panel technology struggles with color accuracy, color gamut, contrast, viewing angles, and maximum brightness. The falling price of newer technology has crowded TN panel technology out of the market. I recommend avoiding any monitor that still uses a TN panel.

IPS, or In-Plane Switching, surged in popularity after the turn of the millennium and is now the most common option in PC monitors and PC laptop displays. IPS panels have a solid color gamut and good color accuracy, and some are very bright. However, they can't display deep, inky blacks and instead depict dark scenes as a hazy gray. This is called "IPS glow." It's a problem if you intend to watch movies on a monitor, but much less noticeable in other situations.

VA, or Vertical Alignment, has surged in popularity over the past five years. VA panel technology is roughly equal to IPS in color gamut and accuracy but far superior in contrast ratio. A monitor using this technology can offer darker, more convincing black levels, eliminating the "IPS glow" problem. VA panels have a limited viewing angle, however, which can be a problem if the monitor is not always viewed straight-on.

Most monitors on this list use IPS panel technology. That doesn't mean IPS is superior, however. In general, IPS panel is best for productivity and general use, while VA is best for gaming and entertainment, though there's significant overlap.  

I think VA panels are the best bet for affordable monitors, which is why my pick for best monitor under $200, the Samsung CF27L398, has a VA panel. Inexpensive IPS monitors score poorly in brightness and contrast ratio.

Do you really need a 4K display?

Our pick for best computer monitor, the Dell S2721QS, has 4K resolution. To be precise, it provides a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160. This is identical to any 4K television. 

4K resolution is not necessary for a good experience. Computer monitors are much smaller than televisions, so even 1080p resolution is acceptable on a 27-inch display. A 4K monitor is far superior in sharpness, however, which does improve day-to-day use.

You might expect this only matters for movies or games, but the opposite is true. A sharp, clear image is most important for day-to-day use. A 4K monitor can display details, like small fonts or tiny interface buttons, without losing clarity. The result is a more versatile display. You can decrease the size of fonts or windows to fit more on your monitor or blow them up to make them more readable. Either way, the results will look better than at 1080p or 1440p.

4K still carries a bit of a premium, so it's not an absolute necessity. Still, I recommend it if your budget allows.

Do you really need HDR?

HDR, or high dynamic range, is a standard designed to improve the contrast visible in movies, games, and other content. It helps to make bright areas of a scene brighter, and dark areas darker, creating a more dramatic and brilliant image.

Unfortunately, the computer monitor market is struggling to embrace HDR. Even the best monitors achieve a peak brightness level below budget HDR televisions. Computer monitors also rarely offer effective local backlight dimming, a feature that lets an LCD display selectively turn off portions of its backlight. 

HDR content is also more difficult to find and use on a computer. The PC versions of popular streaming apps often have limitations on HDR, and graphics hardware that's more than a few years old may not support the standard.

These problems make HDR less relevant to monitors, which is why I don't give it much weight in this list. Even monitors the best HDR monitors struggle because of inconsistent software support. Until that changes, HDR shouldn't be on your list of priorities.

• I've been using Olaplex No. 3 on and off for a year to keep my hair strong and healthy.
• After not using it for two months, I was impressed with how well it worked after just one wash.
• It took my dry and frizzy hair and turned it into shiny locks within 20 minutes.

After seeing countless friends, influencers, and even my hairstylists tout the wonders of Olaplex No. 3, I decided I had to try it. Though it works on just about any hair type, it's especially hailed by those who dye their hair as a way to keep locks healthy. As someone who has been highlighting their hair for four years, this made it especially appealing since my ends can definitely feel damaged and my hair can start to break between cuts.

Olaplex has an entire hair line that includes shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioners, hair masks, oils, and more. Though I've heard good things about all of Olaplex's products, I only use the No. 3, which is essentially a mask that you put on wet hair and then rinse out during your normal shower routine.

I've used Olaplex No. 3 off and on for about a year now and have been shocked at how incredible the results are. 

The ingredients

Olaplex No. 1 and No. 2 are salon-level products that work to treat hair and keep it from being damaged as it's getting dyed or highlighted. Olaplex No. 3 uses the same active ingredients as these professional products and was formulated specifically to help strengthen hair, especially color-treated hair. One of the key patented active ingredients in Olaplex is bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which is known as a "bond builder." 

Coloring your hair, as well as just general brushing and styling, breaks down the bonds that hold together keratin fibers and leads to damaged strands. Olaplex No. 3 works to repair these broken bonds so hair is stronger and stays healthier. Olaplex No. 3 is also free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

My review of Olaplex No. 3

I first started using Olaplex No. 3 after a haircut to try to keep my hair from ever getting too damaged and frizzy between cuts. I typically get balayage highlights that are easy to grow out, and I often go six to eight months between seeing my stylist. Amidst the pandemic, I was acutely aware that it would likely be even longer.

Typically, my hair is pretty frizzy and the ends start to show signs of breakage after a couple of months. However, my hair definitely felt better for much longer with the Olaplex No. 3. Even after four or five months, it was feeling like I had just walked out of the salon. 

One of the only downsides to Olaplex No. 3, if you happen to be rather lazy like me, is that it's not a leave-in conditioner. Instead, you have to wet your hair, comb a quarter size amount of the mask through, leave it on for a minimum of 10 minutes, and then wash it out. I typically use Olaplex No. 3 just once a week and leave it in for about 20 to 25 minutes because my hair is long and thick. However, when you're in a rush or just not feeling like taking the extra time, it can be easy to end up skipping the treatment and just doing your normal wash. I ended up falling off the wagon and stopped using my Olaplex for about two months. 

This is when I realized just how much it really had been working before. My hair was suddenly far drier and frizzier and lacked any luster. I decided to get back into my routine and was honestly shocked at the results of using the Olaplex No. 3 again after just one wash.

The before and after photos can practically do the talking, but suffice it to say I was more impressed than ever when after just one use, my blow-dried hair was suddenly shiny, soft, and frizz-free again.

Ever since, I've been continuing to use Olaplex roughly once a week. It's been about 10 months now since my last haircut. While my hair isn't perfect, it's far healthier, stronger, and shinier than it's ever been when I've gone this long between seeing my stylist.

Cons to consider

As previously noted, one con when you're extra busy is that the mask does take a bit of time. You have to be willing to tack on an extra 10 to 20 minutes to your shower to let the Olaplex No. 3 soak in before rinsing it out and showering as normal. Because of this, I've found it's best to do once a week either at night or on the weekends. However, if your hair is particularly damaged, you may benefit from leaving it in even longer or doing it twice a week at first.

The other downside is the price. At $28 for 3.3 ounces, it's not terrible, but there are also certainly cheaper masks on the market. Using it once a week for about 8 months has just about used up my bottle, so it does last a relatively long time. 

The bottom line

Olaplex No. 3 is known as the "Hair Perfector" within the Olaplex haircare line, and I would honestly say it lives up to the name. I can go longer between visits to my stylist, and I've noticed that my hair is much softer and has less breakage than normal. 

I've also been impressed with how well it works after just one wash — the results are immediate and obvious. Once I finish up my bottle I will be restocking immediately.

Overclocking a component in your computer – usually the CPU, and occasionally the graphics card — makes your computer run faster than it was originally intended. This can improve your computer's performance without spending money to upgrade or enhance your PC. 

Overclocking is particularly popular among enthusiasts and gamers that want to get the most out of their high-end rigs or squeeze a bit more power out of an older system. Even some of the best gaming PCs can potentially benefit from overclocking their components, but the advantages of this practice on modern hardware aren't as dramatic as they used to be.

It's also important to remember that not every computer can be overclocked; the process requires specific hardware to be effective. And users should be aware that overclocking can push your computer to its limits and potentially shorten its lifespan. Here's everything you need to know about the risks and benefits of overclocking, and how to see if your computer can be overclocked.

What is overclocking?

Different computer processor chips run at different speeds — this is known at their "clock speed." A higher clock speed means a CPU can run more operations per second, and thus run your computer faster.

But even processors with different speeds are made with common components on the assembly line. It's only after the processors are built that companies test them for defects, take out the lower performing CPUs, and manually limit the clock speed of those chips to make them run slower in a computer.

That means that in theory, even these slower chips have the potential to run at faster speeds. This is where overclocking comes in. Overclocking lets you undo the throttling and run that slower chip at a faster speed, as if it were a less defective model.

To do this, you need to increase the processor's "multiplier," which can be found in your computer's UEFI or BIOS menu, causing the chip's clock speed to increase.

The pros and cons of overclocking

Overclocking is incredibly popular among computer enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who regularly needs to run programs that take a lot of CPU power. This can include graphic design apps, 3D modeling programs, and more. Done right, it can increase your computer's performance essentially for free.

When you join discussions about building computers or buying graphics cards, you'll often find people talking about how easily their computers can be overclocked. Buying a less expensive graphics card that can be overclocked can save money, while still ensuring excellent performance.

In recent years, however, there's been some evidence that overclocking isn't as useful as it used to be. Modern CPUs already run so fast that overclocking can have little effect. And more important, improving your processor performance can be useless if the rest of your computer isn't fast enough to keep up. This is called "bottlenecking." 

For example, if you have a slow hard disk drive (HDD), overclocking your CPU won't improve your loading times. Likewise, games and other programs that use your graphics card more than the processor will see few benefits from an overclocked CPU. In those instances, you might see more improvements by overclocking your GPU.

Overclocking comes with some inherent risks. Companies don't throttle down processor chips for fun — they do it because the chip has defects, and running it too fast can cause issues with your computer.

Too much overclocking can lead to instability and crashing apps, as well as the occasional Blue Screen of Death, when Windows completely freezes and must restart to run safely. Frequent crashes can cause data loss and frustration. In some cases, overclocking can even damage your CPU or graphics card permanently.

You need to weigh the sometimes-marginal performance improvements that come from overclocking against these risks.

How to overclock your processor

If you want to overclock your computer, first assess if your processor supports overclocking – not all do.

Intel adds a "K" to model numbers of the Intel Core CPUs that can be overclocked. For example, the Intel Core i9-13900K can be overclocked, but the Intel Core i9-13900F cannot.

If you have an AMD CPU, the news is better – any "Ryzen" CPU can be overclocked.

Your CPU should have enhanced cooling if you plan to run it at a higher than normal clock speed. This means buying a heavy duty heatsink and multiple cooling fans. You might even want to use a liquid cooling system to deal with the extra heat generated by your faster CPU. 

To overclock the CPU, restart your computer and enter the startup menu in the computer's UEFI or BIOS. Usually you'll need to press F2, F12, or the Delete key at startup to enter BIOS or UEFI setup mode. These BIOS menus vary dramatically from one manufacturer to another, so you'll need to find the overclocking controls.

It's a good idea to increase the multiplier by a small amount, reboot the computer, and test it. You can increase the clock speed in increments to get to the speed you are interested in. Make sure to note your processor's original clock speed in case you need to return to that number.

Every time you increase the clock speed, spend a few hours "stress testing" the computer. You can use an app like Prime95 to temporarily run the CPU at 100% load and test your RAM to make sure there are no problems with the PC. The app Core Temp can help you make sure your CPU doesn't reach damaging temperatures while overclocking.

If your computer crashes, you get a Blue Screen of Death, or your programs won't open, return to the UEFI or BIOS menu and revert to a slower clock speed, or your original speed. 

It's also possible to overclock your graphics card's GPU, though you can't do that from the UEFI or BIOS menu. To speed up your GPU, you'll need to use an overclocking utility — one of the most common is MSI Afterburner.

• Hair masks are an affordable and easy way to strengthen, deep condition, and nourish without going to a salon — especially in the winter when all the cold air is drying out your hair.
• You can use one in the shower to treat your hair weekly, or if you have really damaged hair, every few days. 
• Our top pick is the It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Hair Mask, but we also like ones from Brigeo, Function of Beauty, Living Proof, and Olaplex.

Between blow-drying, heat-styling, color processing, skipping hair cuts, and more, your hair can incur some serious damage. Thankfully, at-home hair masks are one of the easiest ways to give your strands a little TLC without leaving your house or breaking the bank.

Whether you want to repair, strengthen, add shine, or protect your hair from future damage, the right hair mask can help transform your hair and even improve its overall health. But with so many on the market, working out which one is right for you can be overwhelming.

So we did the research and put our own hair to the test to find the best hair masks. 

Here are the best hair masks:

• Best hair mask overall: It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Hair Mask
• Best deep conditioning hair mask: Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Mask
• Best personalized hair mask: Function of Beauty Customized Hair Mask
• Best overnight hair mask: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector
• Best hair mask for strengthening: Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3

Updated 10/20/20 by Maria Del Russo: Updated links and prices. Replaced "best overnight hair mask" because our previous mask was no longer available. We are currently re-testing products for this guide, including hair masks for natural hair. 

The best hair mask overall

It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Hair Mask transforms dry, damaged hair into super-soft and smooth strands while also restoring elasticity.

It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Hair Mask is a sulfate-free conditioning treatment that was made to treat many types of hair. The mask contains linseed and apricot extracts, which help soothe and repair your scalp while leaving you tangle-free.  

The mask also features almond extract to promote healthy and shiny hair, and oat extract, which strengthens and restructures hair to make it smooth and soft. The lightweight mask is versatile enough to be used as an everyday conditioner for hair, or as a periodic treatment.

Plenty of members of the Insider Reviews team have tried this mask and love it. Editor Maria Del Russo calls this mask her go-to winter hair mask because it effectively nixes the static that tends to plague her mane when the temperature dips.

"I use it twice a week instead of my conditioner, and it cures any dry hair fuzz that pops up," she says. The only drawback? "It's very easy to use too much, and when you do, it can really weigh your hair down," she says. So make sure to start with less than you think and add little by little if you feel you need more. 

Pros: Leaves hair tangle-free and super soft, soothes and repairs scalp, treats damaged hair, can be used daily

Cons: Can weigh your hair down if you use too much

Best deep conditioning hair mask

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Mask deep conditions for an extra boost of hydration and moisture.

The Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask is formulated with a host of ingredients to help restore hydration and transform lackluster hair into shiny, healthy locks. Rosehip oil delivers fatty acids, which work to add hydration while removing frizz, while algae extract delivers a rush of amino acids and antioxidants to strengthen.

Vitamin B, on the other hand, actually works to improve the texture of the hair, leaving you with softer, more elastic strands over time. Vitamin B is especially great for folks who have suffered damage because of chemical or heat treatments. It helps to repair the brittle texture you get from over-styling. 

The mask works on all types of hair including chemically-treated, relaxed, and keratin-treated hair. It is also cruelty-free and made without any silicones, parabens, sulfates, and artificial dyes. In a blind clinical trial run by the brand, 80% of women said they saw a "noticeable improvement in hydration".

Pros: Makes hair super soft and silky, deeply hydrating, cruelty-free, makes hair shiny

Cons: Customers have claimed the formula used to be thicker, and that the thinner formula isn't as effective

Best personalized hair mask

If you're looking for a customized formula that addresses one or many concerns, try Function of Beauty.

Function of Beauty develops personalized hair-care products, including a hair mask. At $19 for a 7.5 oz jar, it's not cheap. But it's also a weekly deep-conditioning treatment that's catered specifically to your needs, so I think the price is justified. There's also an option to subscribe to regular deliveries of each product, so you'd never run out.

To create your custom formula, you'd have to take a short online quiz and indicate your concerns and needs. I said that I wanted to hydrate and repair my dry, heat-damaged hair, but wanted to make sure the formula wouldn't be too heavy and weigh my fine hair down. 

A few weeks later, the mask arrived at my door. Since I've been using it, I've noticed that my hair definitely feels stronger and healthier, and it has a lot more shine than before. While each formula is made specifically for your particular hair needs, it generally contains hydrating Japanese sake extract, as well as argan and jojoba oils.

The Insider Reviews team has tested and reviewed other Function of Beauty hair-care products, here's the full review.

Pros: Personalized formula for your specific hair needs, has one-time or subscription option for flexibility 

Cons: Is only available online 

The best overnight hair mask

Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Night Cap helps add shine and tame frizz overnight, and the results last for multiple shampoos. 

If the idea of applying a hair mask in the shower sounds a little too time-intensive for you, then look for a mask that does the work while you snooze. Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Mask helps to soften and add shine to your strands overnight, so you wake up with more hydrated hair than you fell asleep with. 

Living Proof's hair mask is made with the brand's patented healthy hair molecule OFPMA. This molecule seals the hair cuticle, which is what makes the hair look frizzy. Your hair cuticle lays like shingles on a roof, and when they're dry or damaged, they fray. This is what makes your hair look frizzy. But by sealing the cuticle, your strands look smoother — and it also helps protect pigment fading if you color-treat your hair. 

I like to use this mask when my hair is going through a particularly rough patch, like in the dead of winter, or after I've been using my dryer for a while. I'll shower at night, towel-dry my hair until it's damp, and then rake two pumps through my hair from ear-length down. I try to avoid the crown of my hair, so it doesn't look oily in the morning. 

When I wake up, my hair is air-dried, soft, and much more manageable than before, making this a clutch option to use before a party or another event where your hair needs to look its best. Just be forewarned, it can take some trial and error to get the correct amount for your hair type just right. The first few times I tried it, I used too much, and had to wash my hair again in the morning because all of the product didn't absorb, which made my strands greasy. — Maria Del Russo, style & beauty guides editor

Pros: Works while you sleep, seals the hair cuticle, leaves hair feeling soft and frizz-free

Cons: Might be a little too heavy for finer hair types

Best hair mask for strengthening

If color-treating and heat-styling have weakened your hair, then you need Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3, which is a favorite of professional hairstylists

Hair-care brand Olaplex is used in top salons, but the Hair Perfector No. 3 was created for general retail when the brand realized how many of its clients wanted to use it at home.

The mask is made with Olaplex's patented bond-building technology, which relinks the broken parts of hair caused by chemical, thermal, and mechanical damage. It's not a conditioning mask for that reason — it actually works to rebuild the bonds in your hair. Olaplex works on many hair types and is formulated without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

If you have color-treated hair or regularly heat-style, Hair Perfector No. 3 is a great restorative treatment that will bring softness and shine back to your hair. Some users with particularly damaged hair recommend leaving it in for a bit longer than the instructed ten minutes.

You can have too much of a good thing, though. "You should only use it once a week," says Lucille Javier, a color specialist at Mark Ryan Salon in NYC. "It's a bonding treatment, so it can only do so much. The hair can only absorb so much. Using it more than once a week is wasteful." Instead, she recommends alternating between Olaplex and a conditioning mask if you want to use a hair mask more than once a week. 

Pros: Repairs and strengthens hair, leaves it feeling soft and bouncy, professional-grade treatment at home

Cons: Not as strong as the in-salon treatment, you should only use it once a week

Check out our other hair-care buying guides

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• Diablo IV will be released on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms on June 6, 2023.
• Multiple editions are available for preorder with bonuses like early access to the game.
• The game feels like a fresh starting point for new and veteran players, with an emphasis on horror.

Diablo IV, the next entry in Activision Blizzard's classic role-playing franchise, is set to arrive on June 6, 2023. Blizzard confirmed the game's release date with an announcement at The Game Awards 2022, along with a new trailer.

For those unfamiliar, Diablo is an action RPG franchise with an isometric camera and an emphasis on dungeon-crawling. While the game isn't an MMORPG like Blizzard's World of Warcraft, you can encounter other players online in the open world and gamers can team up to play together in small groups.

Check out the Diablo 4 trailer

Diablo IV will be the first game in the franchise to launch on computers and consoles at the same time and allow cross-platform play. Diablo III was on PC for more than a year before console versions were released and players remained separated by platform throughout the game's lifespan.

Diablo IV is set to be one of the largest game launches in years for Blizzard. The previous game in the series managed to amass more than 65 million players over its 10-year lifespan. Activision Blizzard is one of America's largest video game publishers and is currently in the process of being acquired by Microsoft.

Below, we've gathered everything you need to know about Diablo IV's upcoming release, including preorder details and a breakdown of what you get with each edition. We've also included some impressions based on an early build of the game we got to play at a media event. 

Diablo 4 release date and price

Diablo IV will launch on June 6, 2023 for Windows PCs, PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One. The standard edition costs $70 on each platform.

While players can transfer their game progress between consoles, like PlayStation and Xbox, they must purchase the game on each platform they wish to play on. Purchases for Xbox and PlayStation systems includes dual entitlement for both older and current generation consoles.

Diablo 4 preorder bonuses, early access, and special editions

Players who preorder any version of Diablo IV digitally via Battle.net, the Microsoft Store, or the PlayStation Store will get first access to an open beta before the game's release, and earn in-game rewards for World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and Diablo Immortal.

In addition to the standard edition of the game, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox customers can also opt for a Deluxe or Ultimate Edition.  

The $90 Deluxe Edition offers up to four days of early access prior to the game's launch, a seasonal battle pass, and special in-game mount and armor. The $100 Ultimate Edition includes the same rewards as the Deluxe Edition, plus 20 free tier skips for the battle pass, a cosmetic, and an additional emote.

Beyond the game itself, Blizzard is also selling a limited edition collector's box for $96.66 that includes special items like an electric candle of creation, a cloth map, a mouse pad, two art prints, a pin, and an art book. Keep in mind, however, this package does not include a copy of the actual game. This will only be available from the Blizzard Gear Store, starting December 15.

Diablo 4 story details

Diablo IV is set decades after Diablo III but establishes a new story set in the world of Sanctuary. It focuses on the return of the demon Lilith, one of Sanctuary's creators, and her conflict against Inarius, a rogue angel who helped her create Sanctuary to escape the war between Heaven and Hell.

The developers of Diablo IV have said one of their primary goals was to return to the franchise's roots of darkness and horror. As a result, the game has a greater emphasis on cinematic storytelling and building a haunting environment.

Diablo 4 multiplayer and cloud-save features

Diablo IV will feature online multiplayer as well as offline cooperative play for players on Xbox and PlayStation. Diablo IV can connect between platforms, so players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox should have no issues playing together.

You can encounter dozens of other players while exploring the game online, or team up with a group of friends to progress through story missions and dungeons. Cooperative play is typically designed for up to four players, but major events can allow up to eight players to team up. 

A Battle.net account is required for online play, but will also provide cloud saves, so you can transfer your progress between different platforms.

Diablo 4 first-look impressions

We got to try the first few hours of Diablo IV during a hands-on media event. We have some light experience playing Diablo II and III, so the gameplay immediately felt familiar on PC, letting us guide our character through the overworld of Sanctuary while fighting enemies and exploring early-game dungeons, all with a few clicks of the mouse.

Players can choose between one of five classes: druid, rogue, sorceress, barbarian, and necromancer (though necromancer and druid were unavailable in the hands-on test). While there is a core campaign with clear-cut missions, players are also encouraged to adventure to unknown areas for rare rewards and side quests. As players progress, the content shifts from pre-planned story set-pieces to more challenging, procedurally-generated content

Beyond the obvious improvements to graphics, we immediately noticed some key changes in presentation compared to the series' previous games. There are more cutscenes to help immerse players in the world as soon as the game starts, and the entire atmosphere feels significantly darker and more threatening than the setting of Diablo III.

While we didn't get to try much multiplayer, we were thoroughly impressed with our short time spent exploring Sanctuary and becoming familiar with the game's larger overworld. So far, Diablo IV feels like a great starting point for players who are new to the franchise, and veteran players should also feel right at home.

Diablo games are designed to continue challenging players for hundreds of hours after the story is completed, and Diablo IV should be no different with Blizzard promising years worth of support and updates. With cross-platform play, Diablo IV is assured to have a vibrant online community; that along with the revamped story campaign should make the game well worth buying at launch.

• Love Beauty and Planet makes personal care products like shampoo and body wash for under $10 each.
• I tried the coconut and jasmine shampoo and conditioner and the rose and murumuru butter body wash.
• They hydrated my skin and hair exceptionally well. They're also good for the planet and smell great.

I was on the hunt for a new shampoo, conditioner, and body wash when I first read about Love Beauty and Planet.

The claims that its products were made from sustainable, high-performance natural ingredients, all at an under-$10 price point, seemed almost too good to be true. To be honest, I was skeptical that a company could deliver on all of these promises at such a low cost — but after incorporating their products into my routine, I'm a believer.

Love Beauty and Planet's line includes many types of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash for a wide variety of skin and hair concerns. Color-treated hair? Check. Dryness? Check. Clarifying shampoo for buildup? Check. Dullness? You get the picture.

My hair is wavy to curly (I'm a 2B, for those who know all the different curl types), and definitely dryness- and frizz-prone. It never looks good on the second day, and whenever I can get my curl to form, it undoes itself throughout the day. So I was interested to see if Love Beauty and Planet's curly hair products would work for me. 

My experience with Love Beauty and Planet

I decided to try the Divine Definition Coconut Milk & White Jasmine Shampoo and Conditioner, along with the Murumuru Butter & Rose Bountiful Moisture Body Wash.

When I looked at the back of the packaging, I was happy that all the products were cruelty free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, dye-free, and formulated without phthalates. Sulfates can strip the hair and scalp of their natural oils, making my dry hair worse. And, I've always had clogged pores after I use anything with silicones. They make your hair and skin feel smooth but that's because they create a layer over each strand, which can trap bacteria in your hair and on your scalp.

In terms of the good ingredients, the coconut milk and jasmine shampoo and conditioner that I opted for both contain, well, coconut milk, which helps to moisturize hair. The formulas feel soft and creamy without being too oily, and they really do rinse out fast — less than 30 seconds by my count. They don't really lather a lot, as sulfates are often what create lather, but that didn't make me feel like my hair was any less clean. When they do rinse out my hair is touchably smooth.

After using the shampoo and conditioner, my hair does feel moisturized and there is less frizz than I experience with other shampoos and conditioners. While I do have to add a styling product to get curlier hair, my hair is very easy to comb out and other products can be layered nicely. The top part of my hair still frizzes a little bit (I have some baby hairs that will always fly away regardless), but the bottom part of my hair stays defined and soft.

But what about the "and planet" part of the company's title? The products are encased in bottles that are made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. They also developed special "fast rinse" technology that can cut down on water use, and the company is working to reduce its carbon impact by donating to programs that reduce carbon emissions and landfill waste.

The bottom line

All in all, I've been really happy with these products, especially considering that they're each under $10. I haven't experienced any skin problems when using these, and I really appreciate that they're widely available at CVS, Walgreens, Target, or Ulta.

I will probably repurchase, though I'd be excited to try the other types of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in their line — I'm particularly excited that they put out a bar version of their shampoo because it's more environmentally friendly. 

Shop all Love Beauty and Planet products at Ulta, CVS, Walgreens, or Target