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Seeing the Light: When to Use a Smart Bulb, Switch, or Plug

by Rachel Cericola

Smart lighting is easy. Picking out the best smart lighting for your needs isn’t. We show you when it’s best to choose smart bulbs, plugs, or in-wall switches.

Deals We Love

Price drops on products we already love

Thanksgiving prep starts now

Thanksgiving may fall late this year, but it’ll still be here before you know it. Time to preorder the turkey, finalize the guest list, and take stock of what you need, whether it’s a bigger roasting pan, a better apron, or just a lot more plates.

Electronics

  • The Best Laptops for College Students

    The Best Laptops for College Students

    by Justin Krajeski

    We found that the Asus ZenBook 13 is the best laptop for most college students because it’s inexpensive, has all-day battery life, and is thin and light.

  • The Best Laptops

    The Best Laptops

    by Wirecutter Staff

    From budget-friendly options to thin-and-light ultrabooks to powerful gaming laptops, we’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best laptops for most people.

  • The Best Wireless Earbuds

    The Best Wireless Earbuds

    by Lauren Dragan

    Offering great sound, comfort, and convenience in a true wireless design, the Jabra Elite 65t is our pick for the best wireless earbuds.

Home & Garden

The Best Robot Vacuums

The Best Robot Vacuums

by Liam McCabe

We tested more than 20 popular robot vacuums in 2019 and recommend the versatile iRobot Roomba 614 and Roomba 675 for their durability and repairability.

Kitchen & Dining

Money

The Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

The Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

by Sally French

Foreign transaction fees typically add about 3% to purchases made abroad. Luckily, these credit cards don’t charge them.

  • Platinum Card from American Express Review

    Platinum Card from American Express Review

    by Louis DeNicola

    The Platinum Card from American Express sits at the top of the luxury travel credit card pile—and we love it for frequent flyers and lounge enthusiasts.

  • How to Find Black Friday Smart Home Deals

    How to Find Black Friday Smart Home Deals

    by Grant Clauser and Elissa Sanci

    Black Friday will bring tons of great deals for anyone turning their house into a smart home. Here’s the advice you need to find the best stuff.

  • The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

    The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

    by Taylor Tepper

    Our travel rewards credit card picks reward big flyers, folks who can get big value out of an annual-fee card, and those who want rewards with no annual fee.

Travel

  • The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

    The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

    by Taylor Tepper

    Our travel rewards credit card picks reward big flyers, folks who can get big value out of an annual-fee card, and those who want rewards with no annual fee.

  • The Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

    The Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

    by Sally French

    Credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve can reimburse the fees you pay to apply for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓.

  • Traveling With Only a Carry-On

    Traveling With Only a Carry-On

    by Kit Dillon

    If there’s one thing our staff has learned working remotely all over the world, it’s “Don’t check a bag unless you have to.” Here’s how to avoid it.

Office

The Best Business Credit Cards

The Best Business Credit Cards

by Taylor Tepper

Our business credit card picks can help a small-business owner access an all-important line of credit, good customer service, and even rewards.

Appliances

Health & Fitness

The Best Smartwatches, Fitness Trackers, and Running Watches

The Best Smartwatches, Fitness Trackers, and Running Watches

by Kevin Purdy

We’ve tested dozens of wearables to help you find the best one for your lifestyle, whether it’s an everyday smartwatch, a fitness tracker, or a running watch.

  • The Best GPS Running Watch

    The Best GPS Running Watch

    by Amy Roberts

    After running about 350 miles over 15 weeks wearing eight watches, we conclude that the Garmin Forerunner 645 is the GPS watch that will delight most runners.

  • The Best Fitness Trackers

    The Best Fitness Trackers

    by Amy Roberts

    After wearing 13 fitness trackers to walk, run, cycle, and move day and night, we’ve concluded that the Fitbit Charge 3 is the one we want on our wrists.

  • 10 Gifts for the Skin-Care Obsessed

    10 Gifts for the Skin-Care Obsessed

    by Justin Krajeski

    We spoke with experts from Goop and Men’s Health to find the best skin-care gifts for skin-thusiasts, from a 93-year-old cream to a rose-quartz face massager.

Baby & Kid

  • The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

    The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

    by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

    Many of the best gifts for 3-year-olds encourage role-play and make-believe—or help teach cooperative play.

  • The Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

    The Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

    by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

    The best gifts for 2-year-olds challenge their fine motor skills and let them bounce, scoot, and wiggle out their abundant energy.

  • The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds

    The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds

    by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

    The best gifts for 1-year-olds encourage open-ended play. And embrace the unwrapping as part of the joy of gift-giving.

Outdoors

The Best Rain Pants

The Best Rain Pants

by Anna Perling

After testing rain pants in a rain forest and in Portland, Oregon, we determined that the men’s and women’s Marmot PreCip Pants are the best for most people.

  • The Best Ski Socks

    The Best Ski Socks

    by Colin Rosemont

    We spent 40 hours researching and testing 12 pairs of ski socks, and chose the men’s and women’s Smartwool PhD Ski Light socks as the best for most people.

  • The Best Bike Basket

    The Best Bike Basket

    by Eve O'Neill

    After considering 15 baskets and testing four of them on our everyday errands, we recommend the Wald Multi-Fit Front Basket for most recreational cyclists.

  • Great Gear for Picnics and Grilling

    Great Gear for Picnics and Grilling

    by Wirecutter Staff

    We spent over 85 hours researching and testing—and selected our favorite tools and gadgets from past guides—to bring you the best gear for picnics and cookouts.

Pets

Hobby & Crafts

The Best Record Player Setup for Beginners

The Best Record Player Setup for Beginners

by Adrienne Maxwell

Start your vinyl music journey here with our picks for turntable, receiver, speakers, and more.

  • Board Games We Love

    Board Games We Love

    by Wirecutter Staff

    Thousands of board games are released each year—we share some staff favorites that require more strategy, have deeper narratives, or are particularly beautiful.

  • The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories

    The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories

    by Wirecutter Staff

    We’ve researched and tested dozens of cases, controllers, stands, docks, and other accessories for the Nintendo Switch to separate the good ones from the junk.

  • The Best Ukulele for Beginners

    The Best Ukulele for Beginners

    by Brent Butterworth

    The Alvarez RU22C is the best ukulele for beginners because it has great sound and styling, and its concert-size body is good for kids and adults alike.

Gifts

  • Easy Gifts for $30, $50, $100, and $200

    Easy Gifts for $30, $50, $100, and $200

    by Wirecutter Staff

    Skip the gift card—we’ve made choosing a real gift just as easy. This list, taken from our favorite guides, has great gifts for almost any price.

  • The Gifts We Want to Give in 2019

    The Gifts We Want to Give in 2019

    by Daniela Gorny and Wirecutter Staff

    We asked our staff for their favorite gift recommendations for this holiday season. Here are 17 gift ideas, vetted by our staff, that everyone loved.

  • The Best Plant Gifts for New Plant Parents and Green Thumbs

    The Best Plant Gifts for New Plant Parents and Green Thumbs

    by Sarah Witman

    We found 13 gifts for aspiring plant lovers—the best hardy houseplants they’re less likely to kill, and the tools necessary to keep plants thriving.