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.
’Tis the season for deals
Here’s how to prepare:
1. Bookmark our Black Friday page.
2. Follow @wirecutterdeals.
3. Sign up for our deals newsletter.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
The Best Bed Pillows
by Autumn Whitefield-Madrano and Jackie Reeve
Our favorite pillow for side- and back-sleepers is the supportive Nest Easy Breather. Stomach-sleepers should try the Sleep Number PlushComfort Ultimate.
Kitchen & Dining
The Best Skillet
by Michael Zhao, Lesley Stockton, and Michael Sullivan
After over 70 hours of research and testing since 2014, we still think the All-Clad Stainless 12″ Covered Fry Pan is the best skillet for most cooks.
The Best Pie Plate
by Christine Cyr Clisset and Marguerite Preston
After nearly 50 hours baking dozens of pies since 2013, we’re confident that the Emile Henry 9-Inch Pie Dish is the best pie plate for most people.
The Gear You Need to Start Sous Vide Cooking
by Nick Guy
We’ve been testing sous vide gear for over four years now, and here's what we think you need to get started.
Money
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
The Best Home-Office Setup Under $1,000
by Mark Smirniotis
You can put together a high-quality home work space on a modest budget.
The Best Office Chair
by Thorin Klosowski and Melanie Pinola
After a fresh round of testing, we still think the Steelcase Gesture is the best office chair for most people. It’s been our favorite since 2015.
The Essential Ergonomic Gear for Your Home Office
by Erica Ogg
We’ve spent over a thousand hours testing more than 100 pieces of gear that encourage ergonomically healthy posture.
Appliances
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.
Every Dyson Product We’ve Tested, Ranked
by Harry Sawyers
Our take on Dyson’s gear, and how essential (or unnecessary) all of it is.
The Best Electric Pressure Cooker
by Lesley Stockton
After 60 hours of research and testing, we’re confident the Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart is the best electric pressure cooker you can get.
Health & Fitness
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
by Anna Perling
The Best Ski Socks
by Colin Rosemont
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
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
Gifts for Good Dogs (and for Cats)
by Christine Ryan
We’ve gathered the best pet gifts worthy of your favorite cat or dog, because the holidays aren’t just for human friends and family members.
What to Buy Before Adopting a Cat
by Kaitlyn Wells
If you’re adopting a cat, you’ll need more than just a litter box and some food—here are the things you should have before you bring your kitty home.
The Best Winter Jackets and Raincoats for Dogs
by Rebekah Valentine
We took 10 dog jackets on dozens of walks. The WeatherBeeta 300D Deluxe Reflective Parka is the best for keeping your dog warm and dry this winter.
Hobby & Crafts
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.