All posts tagged: buying guides

Best Meta Glasses (2026): Ray-Ban, Oakley, AR

Best Meta Glasses (2026): Ray-Ban, Oakley, AR

Published by skeptic

Every time I’ve written about Meta’s AI-enabled glasses, I invariably get asked these questions: Why do you even want these? Why do you want smart glasses that can play music or misidentify native flora in a weirdly cheery voice? I am a lifelong Ray-Ban Wayfarer wearer, and I’m also WIRED’s resident Meta wearer. I grab a pair of Meta glasses whenever I leave the house because I like being able to use one device instead of two or three on a walk. With Meta glasses, I can wear sunglasses and workout headphones in one! Meta sold more than 7 million pairs in 2025. Take a look at any major outdoor or sporting event, and you’ll see more than a few people wearing these to record snippets for Instagram or TikTok. Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica has made smart glasses accessible, stylish, and useful and is undoubtedly the reason why Google, and now Apple, are trying to horn in on the market. After the notable flop that is the Apple Vision Pro, Apple is recalibrating its face-wearable …

The 11 Best Fans to Buy Before It Gets Hot Again (2026)

The 11 Best Fans to Buy Before It Gets Hot Again (2026)

Published by skeptic

Vornado Box Fan Model 80X for $100: While most people who need a box fan are, frankly, going to run out to Walmart or Home Depot and grab one for 20 bucks, you should be aware that there exists a Rolls-Royce of box fans. “It has 99 speeds,” the brand’s rep told me when it came out. “Yeah, right,” I thought. But, sure enough, this thing actually has 99 speeds, accessible via up and down buttons. I have no idea under what circumstances one might need this many speeds, but there they are. It’s also got a kickstand to reduce wobbling, a digital display, and a 1-to-12-hour timer. Plus, the silver-and-black casing looks good—like you meant to have it in your house, not a remnant from that one summer your AC broke during a heat wave. Photograph: Kat Merck Shark TurboBlade (Bladeless) for $250: Though this 2025 blade-less model is billed as a tower fan, it doesn’t look or act like any tower fan I’ve ever seen. It evokes a windmill more than it does …

The Best Smart Home Accessories to Boost Your Curb Appeal (2026)

The Best Smart Home Accessories to Boost Your Curb Appeal (2026)

Published by skeptic

I tried the battery version, which does require you recharge it every couple of weeks, but the wired-in version is the top recommendation on our guide to the Best Video Doorbells. A Better Birdhouse I had a new-to-me problem this spring: bird invasion. A little bird made a nest in my front-door wreath without us noticing. One evening, my sister opened the door, and the bird flew out of the nest and straight into our house. After a 30-minute battle to get it outside again (and keep my cat from eating it), it wasn’t until we saw the bird fly off the door again the next day that we realized it was calling our home its home, too. If this is a common problem at your house, our resident bird-gear tester Kat Merck has a solution: a smart nesting box. Birdfy makes a few different smart bird feeders we like for bird-watching, and the Nest Duo is a birdhouse that lets you watch the birds while they nest inside of it. It’s a slim, attractive …

Where to Shop for Vinyl Records Online (2026): Discogs, Bandcamp, Ebay

Where to Shop for Vinyl Records Online (2026): Discogs, Bandcamp, Ebay

Published by skeptic

For smaller releases, including LPs from midsize indie labels (Drag City, Kranky, Superior Viaduct), check out Midheaven Mailorder. This site is run by the San Francisco distributor Revolver USA, which sells to record stores around the US but also sells direct to consumers. Here you’ll find a ton of independent music, including choice reissues from bigger names like Devo, Sonic Youth, and The Fall. Another great independent record store is Amoeba Music, made famous for its amazing selection at numerous California stores, and its What’s in Your Bag YouTube series. If you want to support a good brick-and-mortar record store and know what you want, we always recommend buying from Amoeba instead of Amazon. Independent Labels Screenshot courtesy of Parker Hall Record labels like Stones Throw, Sub Pop, Secretly Group, Fat Possum, Rough Trade, Daptone, Blue Note, International Anthem, and hundreds more all have websites and sell records directly. If you notice that there is an artist you like signed to a given smaller label, there is a good chance that other artists on the …

Best Bluetooth Speakers (2026): JBL, Sonos, Bose, and More

Best Bluetooth Speakers (2026): JBL, Sonos, Bose, and More

Published by skeptic

Honorable Mentions Here are some other good speakers we’ve tested that didn’t quite make the cut for our top picks: Bose Soundlink Max for $329: The Bose SoundLink Max has quickly become my favorite speaker to drag along to outdoor events. It’s not as big as the boombox that John Cusack held over his head in the ’80s, but this robust, rubberized speaker has bold sound and gets loud enough to woo your sweethearts with a love song. I also like that you can plug in your phone while it plays music, which is nice for those of us who are forgetful on our days off. Bold bass, even when outside, makes this good for dance parties in the middle of nowhere, and the handle is easy to tie up to packs, kayaks, or tents. —Parker Hall Brane Audio Brane X for $499: The Brane X speaker may be shockingly spendy, but this lunchbox-sized bomber has something no other portable we’ve tested has: A true, fully functional subwoofer. Thanks to Brane’s mystifying RAD (Repel Attract …

The Best MagSafe Accessories (for Android, Too!): Chargers, Wallets, and More

The Best MagSafe Accessories (for Android, Too!): Chargers, Wallets, and More

Published by skeptic

Other Good MagSafe Accessories The accessories below aren’t as great as the top picks in this guide, but they’re still good options if you’re looking for more MagSafe gadgets. Belkin iPhone Mount With MagSafe. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Belkin iPhone Mount With MagSafe: Using Apple’s Continuity Camera feature, you can wirelessly use your iPhone as a webcam for a MacBook. It supports various video calling apps too, from FaceTime to Zoom. This circular silicone puck magnetically sticks to the back of your iPhone and can be used as a phone grip or kickstand, but you need to keep your screen close to a 90-degree angle, or else the weight of the iPhone will drag the screen back or forward. There’s also a mount for external displays, in case you want one for your home desk setup. STM Goods MagPod Smarter Phone Stand: I’ve been carrying this mini tripod from STM Goods all over my apartment. When I’m not using it to see notifications at a glance at my desk, I’ll place it on my kitchen counter …

The 10 Best MagSafe Phone Grips for Your Butter Fingers (2026)

The 10 Best MagSafe Phone Grips for Your Butter Fingers (2026)

Published by skeptic

Other MagSafe Grips We’ve Tested Spigen OM104 MagSafe Phone Grip: The OM104 is a phone/grip combo accessory for MagSafe and Qi2 devices that comes with a flexible nylon strap to slide your finger through while holding your phone. Dual magnets and a robust metal construction make the OM104 feel like money well spent, and even after hours of sliding my finger in and out of the strap, it still feels soft, flexible, and most importantly, comfortable. It has one annoying design oversight. As you slide your phone in and out of your pocket, the nylon strap will start to droop down. The strap is longer than the grip itself, so when you close the kickstand, it’ll get pinched inside and won’t allow the stand to fully close. It’s comfortable to use, but that quibble knocks it down. Casely MagRing: Unlike other metal grips we’ve tested, Casely’s MagRing is made of soft silicone. We find it more comfortable on the fingers. It also has a 360-degree swivel, so you can position the grip at virtually any …

Best MacBook Accessories (2026): Chargers, Covers, Keyboards, and More

Best MacBook Accessories (2026): Chargers, Covers, Keyboards, and More

Published by skeptic

More Good MacBook Accessories We’ve tested a lot of MacBook accessories. Here are 10 more solid options if you’re hunting for something more specific. Harbor London Sleeve for $159: Prefer a more luxe laptop sleeve? WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu has had a good experience with Harber London’s full-grain leather sleeve. The inside is lined with wool felt to keep your machine scratch-free, and the black or tan leather exudes luxury. It fits a variety of MacBook models, including the largest 16-inch model. The flap stays shut thanks to magnets, so your MacBook won’t easily slip out. You can even charge the laptop while it’s in the sleeve.—Brenda Stoylar CalDigit TS5 Plus. Photograph: Luke Larsen CalDigit TS5 Plus for $500: Many of the accessories on this list appeal to the average MacBook user, who probably uses a MacBook Air or Neo. But there are people out there who are looking to base an entire workstation setup around their MacBook Pro, and that’s who the CalDigit TS5 Plus is for. This is an absolutely decked-out Thunderbolt 5 …

The Best Pillows for Neck Pain, Recommended by a Sleep Science Coach (2026)

The Best Pillows for Neck Pain, Recommended by a Sleep Science Coach (2026)

Published by skeptic

Since your mattress also plays a role in supporting the rest of your body, it has to complement your pillow. For example, Schneider says that a firmer mattress will likely require a more supportive, higher-loft pillow, whereas a softer mattress will require a lower-loft pillow. As a mattress tester, I agree. When it comes to firm mattresses, your body weight is evenly distributed as there isn’t much “sinking in” to be had. To keep your neck in the same plane as the rest of your spine, a higher, firmer pillow helps maintain that alignment. If you have a softer bed, you’re getting plenty of cushion to sink into. You do not want a taller pillow that pushes your neck upward while the rest of your back sinks down. A lower loft and softer feel is the better fit. One point from Schneider stood out to me, not only as a veteran tester with neck pain but also as someone always in pursuit of better sleep in general: Your sleep is always changing. Schneider says that …

Best Smart Smoke Detector (and Why You Still Need a Dumb One)

Best Smart Smoke Detector (and Why You Still Need a Dumb One)

Published by skeptic

Adding Wi-Fi doesn’t always turn out to be as smart as it sounds. A smart smoke detector turns out to be dumber than I thought, even with Wi-Fi added. Smart smoke detectors will let you know if a fire breaks out when you aren’t home, but other than that they don’t offer any extra benefits over a “dumb” model. And these devices introduce a problem: Most smart smoke detectors exclude one of two sensors to alert you about a fire. Every smart model I tested had only a photoelectric sensor, which picks up smoldering fires, while ionization sensors that pick up fast-burning fires were left behind. Ionization sensors are more likely to have nuisance alarms go off (while you’re cooking, for example), but it’s still a sensor you should have somewhere in your home, especially since modern building materials have shortened your window of time to escape a home fire. It’s not to say smart smoke detectors are useless, since what matters most is having a working smoke detector at all. A photoelectric-only smoke detector …