Any gaming laptop that costs thousands of dollars should be able to play the newest, most taxing games smoothly and consistently on high graphics settings. But you don’t need to shell out more than $1,500 to get a great laptop capable of playing your favorite games, and higher price tags do not guarantee better performance….
Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter A karaoke machine to belt out the hits With everything needed to get a party going, our top-pick karaoke machine offers the most complete all-in-one setup we’ve tested. It has a tablet for pulling up lyrics, self-charging mic storage, versatile audio inputs, and decent speakers. Other things to know: Multiple audio inputs,…
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Top pick This pot has only one purpose, but it makes the crunchiest corn. It has a stirring wire, to keep kernels from burning, and a vented lid, to keep kernels from getting damp with steam. We’ve found that the tastiest popcorn is made on the stove. And if you don’t mind…
Despite their limited market, lockboxes come in a bewildering variety of forms and are sold under multiple brand names. To cut through the tangle, we first spoke with locksmiths and realtors for advice. Our conversations revealed a consensus: The most secure lockboxes are wall-mounted models made of solid metal and attached by concealed screws. A…
Lightning cables for USB-C ports If you want a USB-C–to–Lightning cable with a tangle-proof silicone sheath that comes in six colors: Get the Anker 641 Flow Silicone USB-C to Lightning Cable. Its rubber sheath is silky-smooth and extremely flexible — to the point that you don’t really need a cable tie anyway, since it doesn’t…
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter A great grater Top pick This wider version of the popular Microplane grater with a nonslip foot gives kids a safer introduction to knifework. For years I’ve used the Microplane Professional Fine Grater to grate parmesan, citrus, ginger, and cinnamon sticks — all foods with big flavor, even in tiny form. When…
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter Upgrade pick This customizable option lets you cherry-pick your knife set. We chose the magnetic block and Oliva Elite knives, which look as good as they perform. Building your own set gets you a 20% discount. If you’re looking for a truly superior knife set, we recommend the customizable Messermeister Build Your…
The principle is similar if you’re using multiple hair products, like dry shampoo, hair spray, pomade, thick oils, or gels. The first lather rinses away the product, and the second wash focuses on actually cleaning your scalp and hair. Your hair strands will also benefit from a good cleaning, Kikam said. That’s because residue left…
KEVIN: I rely on Wirecutter before I buy anything. And I am desperate for someone to tell me which language models are good for which things, because otherwise I am spending so much god-damn money on these things and I’m spending all this time trying to figure out what is good for what. And I…
Pluto’s quiz, which takes just a few minutes, asks you a handful of details about your preferred sleep position and body measurements. The Pluto process starts with a three-part quiz consisting of roughly a dozen questions, which took me a breezy three minutes to complete. It includes fairly straightforward questions about your sleeping position, mattress…