Brands
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Blog
The Next Game From the Studio Behind ‘The Last of Us’ Imagines a Space Age Full of Brands
What if brands were in space? That seems to be the chief question posed by Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the next game from The Last of Us creators Naughty Dog. In the final reveal from the 10th annual Game Awards, a show that also saw announcements for The Witcher IV, a PC port for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and a…
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Most and Least Loved Car Brands
Some automakers have a model or two that ranks among the most satisfying vehicles while the rest of their lineup falls short in the eyes of owners. But a handful of manufacturers consistently please buyers across all or most of their lineups. Consistency matters because automaker lineups aren’t static. Some models barely change over the years, but many undergo redesigns…
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Which Brands Make the Best Cars?
Every year, Consumer Reports publishes a car brand report card. We rank automakers based on their vehicles’ average Overall Score—a combination of our road-test scores, safety ratings, and predicted reliability and owner satisfaction data. This provides a definitive number to help consumers see which brands shine and which might be best avoided. We also present separate ratings specifically for each…
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Most and Least Reliable Phone Brands
That’s where the reliability and owner satisfaction information from CR’s annual smartphone survey can be a big help. Every year we ask our members about their experience with their phones—the problems they’ve encountered, how long the battery lasts on a single charge, and so on. From 2022 to 2024, CR members shared insights on more than 128,000 smartphones purchased new…
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Most and Least Reliable Snow Blower Brands
We have reliability ratings for 11 major brands of gas snow blowers: Ariens, Briggs & Stratton, Craftsman, Cub Cadet, Honda, Husqvarna, Power Smart, Simplicity, Toro, Troy-Bilt, and Yardmax. We also have reliability ratings for five major brands of corded electric and battery-powered snow blowers: Ego, Greenworks, Ryobi, Toro, and Snow Joe. CR members can read on for some of the…
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Car Brands With the Highest Road-Test Scores
The staff at CR’s 327-acre Auto Test Center study the automotive market, identifying the new models and trim levels that are most relevant to our members. We then spend more than $2 million each year buying examples anonymously to evaluate as soon as they go on sale. By doing this, we know what the car-buying experience is like, and we…
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Car Brands Ranked by Maintenance and Repair Costs Over Time
Knowing the typical ownership costs for each brand can help you save money in the long run by avoiding surprises, either by choosing a less expensive brand to maintain or by budgeting accordingly. “The difference to maintain a car on average between some brands can be thousands over a 10-year time frame,” says Steven Elek, Consumer Reports’ program leader for…
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Best and Worst Cooktop Brands of 2024
What makes a great cooktop? On its highest settings, it should be able to bring a pot of water to a rolling boil in a hurry. Then, on its lowest simmer setting, it should be able to melt chocolate smoothly, without scorching the bottom of the pot. And it should be reliable, because repairs can be both difficult and expensive.…
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What to Know About Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Brands
Price per pair: $699 to $999. Where to buy: Lexie, Best Buy, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart. Preset or self-fitting? Self-fitting. Battery type: B1 and Lumen, replaceable battery; B2 Plus, rechargeable. Return policy: 45 days if purchased from Lexie or Walgreens; 60 days if purchased from Best Buy, CVS, or Walmart. Customer service: Phone support and video call support via app. And…
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Best and Worst Dishwasher Brands of 2024
To find out which brands make the best dishwashers, we created a statistical model that incorporates the Overall Scores of all the dishwashers in our ratings. We looked at how well the dishwashers of a certain brand performed in our lab tests, how reliable and satisfying they were to the CR members we surveyed, and how easy they were to…
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