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6 Best Espresso Machines of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
But buying an espresso maker can still be very expensive, and with a wealth of options on the market, it can be hard to know where to start. To get a better sense of what some of the options offer, we evaluated nine popular home espresso machines that cost anywhere from $90 to almost $2,000. They each operate a little…
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I just tested the new iOS 18.2 Apple Intelligence features — and I’m surprisingly underwhelmed
When talking about Apple Intelligence, it’s important to remember that Apple’s efforts to bring more artificial intelligence to its mobile device is a work in progress. Where we are today is not where we’re going to be a year from now — or even in a few months, given the pace at which Apple is rolling out updates to iOS…
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I just tested three sets of smart Christmas tree lights — here’s the winner
There’s nothing more festive than a Christmas tree adorned with lights and decorations, but a set of smart string lights can turn your tree into a shining, twinkling showcase. But which should you buy? To find out, I set up my Christmas tree this year with three sets of smart lights — Philips Hue, Govee, and Nanoleaf — to see…
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I tested ChatGPT Search vs Google with 7 prompts — here’s the winner
With so many AI learning tools, it can be hard to choose the right one as your go-to assistant for exploring new topics. That’s why I decided to put two of my favorites to the test. Google’s Learn About is a free tool built to encourage curiosity and inspire learning. The landing page has numerous topic suggestions for users to…
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Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators of 2024, Tested by Our Expe
Counter-depth refrigerators are less obtrusive. They sit almost flush with kitchen counters (like built-in refrigerators do), but they cost thousands less and get pretty close—much closer than standard-depth refrigerators. With a depth of less than 30 inches (and some all the way down to just 24), most counter-depth models stick out a mere few inches past the countertop or sometimes…
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10 Best Battery Lawn Mowers of 2024, Tested by Our Experts
Run times have improved. Several battery and self-propelled mowers in our ratings offer impressive run times of 70 or more minutes. (The average run time of battery mowers in our tests is 45 to 50 minutes.) Some manufacturers are designing new models with multiple battery slots. When one battery is spent, another can take over, a feature CR’s expert testers…
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I Tested Four AI Essay-Writing Tools, and Here’s What I Found
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Writing essays can be draining, tedious, and difficult, even for me—and I write all day long for a living. If writing isn’t your special skill, it’s even harder, which is why there are so many sites and products out there that are designed to help you get your homework done.…
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Best Smartwatches of 2024, Tested by Our Experts
These top models from Apple, Fitbit, Google, and Samsung offer great performance and a variety of useful features Smartwatches that do well in Consumer Reports’ testing include models from (left to right) Amazfit, Google, Samsung, and Apple. By Allen St. John, Courtney Lindwall Smartwatches can do plenty of things, from answering texts to checking the weather forecast. But increasingly, smartwatches…
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We Tested Best Wood Stains of 2024 (and a Few of the Worst)
Decks take a bigger beating than any other outdoor wood surface. They must withstand serious foot traffic and hold heavy items, like grills and outdoor furniture. Snow, salt, leaves, and rain can all easily collect on a deck, breaking down the protective layer of wood stain in the process. While any stain recommended by CR may do, it’s best to…
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6 Best Front-Load Washers of 2024, Tested by Our Experts
Front-loaders represent 32 percent of the washing machine market, based on units sold through July, according to OpenBrand, a market intelligence platform. They also make up the majority of Green Choice washers in our ratings, the most eco-friendly machines designated by a green leaf icon. One major reason that front-loaders may not be more popular is that some consumers are turned off…
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