If your Wi-Fi cuts out when you’re streaming a movie, it’s a bummer. But if it happens while you’re talking to your boss over Skype or giving a presentation via Zoom, it can feel like a calamity. Working from home means you may have to be your own IT department and manage your Internet connection so that you can access company resources, connect with colleagues, and prove you’re not slacking off. You can fix some problems without spending a dime, but some issues require buying new hardware. Dismiss ..read more

It all started on a surreal summer day, when I was called in to see our editor-in-chief. He told me that Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate and former presidential candidate, had reached out to Wirecutter with a problem. And I was tasked with investigating it. Nader told us that his longtime favorite pens, Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens Medium Point (0.7 mm), had started drying out too quickly. He wanted to know why. Nader needed answers. Dismiss ..read more

Ask Wirecutter, an advice column written by Annemarie Conte, explores the best approaches to buying, using, and maintaining stuff. Dear Wirecutter, My spouse is the loudest chewer. There’s lip smacking and all sorts of mouth noises that drive me crazy. What can I do to help block out these annoying noises? M.P. Dismiss ..read more

Outdoor entertaining season is upon us, so a spring spruce-up to your lawn, garden, or patio might be in order. With the help of these deals on our expert-approved picks, you’ll be able to enjoy your backyard to the fullest this spring, summer, and fall. Dismiss ..read more

You may have noticed a line that appears at the top of every Wirecutter article. “We independently review everything we recommend,” it says. “When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.” But what, exactly, does that mean? It means we make recommendations of products solely based on our evaluation of their quality. Our journalists make every editorial decision—such as which products to test and which products to recommend—totally independent of business considerations. Wirecutter does often make money when you buy our picks. But any discussions about business, partnerships, licen ..read more

I was giddy with excitement when the brand-new Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum arrived on my New York doorstep. Priced at $1,200 and advertised as being "the world’s most powerful robot vacuum", the bot sashayed (video) into the US market as if it already owned it. I’ve tested over a dozen robot vacuums over the past year and a half, but exactly zero from Dyson. In fact, the company, known for making vacuums sexy, hasn’t released a robot vacuum in the US since 2016. Sure, we described an earlier model, the Dyson 360 Eye, as "deeply flawed," but who hasn’t engaged in a little selective percepti ..read more

Lacing up my shoes only takes about three minutes, but it feels like a mental eternity. As a result, I used to shuffle out of the house in slip-ons, my adored but abandoned Chucks and Dr. Martens left behind in the closet. That was November 2023, and I haven’t worn Crocs to the grocery store since. I knew I had to try the streetwear-friendly Bread Elastic Shoelaces after seeing scores of TikTok creators deftly pull on even the most finicky high-tops without unlacing them. Dismiss ..read more

Though I love soaking in the beauty of the great outdoors, I wouldn’t call myself an outdoorsy person. Rather, I identify as an “outsidey” person: someone who appreciates nature wholeheartedly but ultimately craves the creature comforts (and safety) of my home. Dismiss ..read more

Want to shop more sustainably on an individual level? Curbing impulse buys and repairing items you already own are good steps. Buying certified refurbished kitchen gear, tech, and small appliances can help, too, plus save you cash. Dismiss ..read more

Next to a trusty knife, decent cookware, and a reliable stove, lighting is the key component in creating a kitchen that is as comfortable to hang out in as it is to cook. In many homes today, kitchens aren’t just a place to prep a meal—they’re multifunctional spaces where people variously eat, socialize, organize, play, work, and relax. But many of these activities are best served by different types of lighting. This is where smart lighting excels. Smart bulbs and fixtures are far more versatile than standard lights. Not only can you set them to dim automatically, but you can also tune many o ..read more