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Blend-Off: Vitamix vs. Blendtec
By Lesley Stockton This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full Vitamix vs. Blendtec guide here. Vitamix and Blendtec are the two biggest names in high-powered home blenders. In our testing, we've always preferred Vitamix. We still get asked about Blendtec, though, maybe thanks to its popular "Will It Blend?" campaign, which features a Blendtec pulverizing iPhones and other objects that would taste bad in smoothies. The image of a phone turned to dust is a compelling demonstration of raw power, but pulverizing a phone and making a good smoothie are two very different tasks. To prove it, we pitted the Blendtec Designer 675 against the Vitamix 5200 (our top-pick blender) in a series of tests, and the Vitamix won every time. The Vitamix was much better at smoothies, soups, nut butters—the things you'd need a kitchen blender for, in other words. We chose to compare those two models because they offered roughly similar features and control schemes. The 5200 is Vitamix's original variable-speed model, and it offers the power and performance Vitamix blenders are known for. Vitamix blenders with preset blending programs are more expensive, and we don't think they're worth the extra cost. Meanwhile, lower-end Blendtec machines have only preset blending programs, and the Designer 675 is the lowest-priced model that offers manual speed control in addition to those settings.
The best USB-C hubs and docks
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full USB-C hubs and docks guide here. After spending 20 hours testing 22 USB-C hubs and five USB-C docks, we think Vava's VA-UC006 USB-C Hub is the best option for connecting older peripherals and external storage devices to a new laptop or MacBook. It has an ideal range of ports that all transfer data at full speed, it's sturdily built, it's small and light enough to throw in a bag, and it's reasonably priced. With three USB-A ports plus HDMI (with 4K support), Ethernet, SD, microSD, and power passthrough, the Vava VA-UC006 offers the connectors most people need most of the time. It's powerful enough to leave at your desk full-time as a docking station but small enough to slip in your laptop bag and use on the go. The only downside is that the Ethernet port hinges open, a design that saves space but is more likely to break than a standard Ethernet port. For about half the price of the Vava, Dodocool's 6-in-1 Multifunction USB-C Hub offers performance similar to that of our top pick as well as an extra USB-A port, but it lacks SD and microSD card readers and an Ethernet port. We think the Vava's more versatile port selection, smaller size, and better build quality are worth paying for, but the Dodocool is a good option if you need something less expensive. If you just need more USB 3.0 ports for flash drives, keyboards, mice, and other low-power accessories, Aukey's USB C to 4-Port USB 3.1 Gen 1 Hub (CB-C64) is the best option we tested, and the least expensive. It's a straightforward plastic adapter with four full-speed USB 3.0 ports. But its lack of passthrough power makes it a poor choice if your computer has only one or two USB-C ports, as the MacBook does. If you need only an Ethernet connection, we like the Cable Matters USB Type-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. It delivers full Gigabit speed, it comes from a reputable company, and it's inexpensive. It did get warm when we used it, which is to be expected with USB-C Ethernet adapters, but it reached the same temperature as a more expensive model we tested. Docks are larger and usually equipped with more ports than hubs, and they can provide power on their own, making them a better fit if you're looking for something to set on your desk permanently. Among the five USB-C docks we tested, Dell's D6000 Universal Dock is the best, with four USB-A ports, a USB-C port, HDMI and two DisplayPort video ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm audio connector. It worked equally well with a PC and a Mac in our testing. It also delivers 65 watts—the most charging power of any dock we measured—and it's the least expensive dock option (though it's still more than twice as expensive as the Vava hub).
The best iPhone cases
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full iPhone cases guide here. A good case is a wise investment for your iPhone. Even the least expensive iPhone is pricey, and the right case will offer protection against scratches, dings, and cracks—and allow you to personalize your phone—without adding much extra bulk or changing how you use your phone. We've tested hundreds of cases for every iPhone back to the iPhone 5, and we think the Silk Base Grip (available for iPhone X, iPhone 7, and iPhone 8 models) is the best case for current iPhones, offering solid everyday protection at a low price. But we have recommendations for older phones, too.
The best electric toothbrush
By Casey Johnston, Tracy Vence and Shannon Palus This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full electric toothbrush guide here. (image-01) To find the best electric toothbrush, we put in almost 100 total hours of research, interviewing experts, evaluating every model on the market, and testing 12 toothbrushes ourselves in hundreds of trials at the bathroom sink. We found that the best toothbrush for most people is a simple model called the Oral-B Pro 1000. It has the fewest fancy features of the models we tested, but it does have the most important things experts recommend—a built-in two-minute timer and access to one of the most extensive and affordable lines of replaceable toothbrush heads available—for the lowest price. That, according to the experts we spoke to, is as much as an electric toothbrush can or should do for you. The extras available in electric toothbrushes that cost $150 more don't make them any more effective than the Pro 1000. The Oral-B Pro 1000 brush comes with a minimal charging pedestal that simply requires dropping the brush onto a peg. Fully charged, it lasts for at least a week of twice-daily two-minute brushing sessions before needing a recharge, which is on a par with the other toothbrushes we tested in this price range and plenty for most people. If you can't find the Oral-B Pro 1000, get the runner-up, the Philips Sonicare 2 Series. Like the Pro 1000, the 2 Series is not trumped up with unproven features and includes everything you need in an electric toothbrush. The 2 Series runs much more quietly, but unlike the Pro 1000, it comes to a full stop after two minutes of brushing (rather than restarting the cycle as the Pro 1000 does) and has a less diverse, more expensive range of brush heads, giving you fewer options for texture and shape. If a subscription service will help you replace your brush heads regularly, Goby has all the features we look for in a brush: a 30-second quadrant timer that stops after two minutes and a rechargeable battery. The Goby has only one type of brush head available (rotating), so if you like to customize your brush this service may not be for you.
Ben Heck's Pocket Beagle drum sequencer
Felix takes his hand to the soldering iron, picks up Beagleboard.org's Pocket Beagle and assembles a drum sequencer with the help of the Bela Mini audio cape. With a laser-engraved case, hands-on assistance from S. Astrid Bin and a custom-designed input-output matrix for driving the LEDs, Felix puts it all together with C++. Have you made an electronics audio device, or a project with the Pocket Beagle? Let the team know on the element14 Community.
The best PS4 headset
By Dennis Burger This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full PS4 headset guide here. If you're looking for a gaming headset for PlayStation 4 that delivers the best balance of performance, comfort, and bang for your buck, we think the Kingston HyperX Cloud Alpha is the one to get. It's beautifully built, based on a proven design, and features a punchy, bass-forward sound that works great with the low-powered output of the DualShock 4 controller.
The best Bluetooth headset
By Marianne Schultz and Daniel Varghese This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full bluetooth headset guide here. After 80-plus hours of researching headsets and testing more than 18 models over the past few years, including testing three new models over 20 hours for the latest update, we've determined that the Plantronics Voyager 5200 is the best mono Bluetooth headset for making and taking calls, whether you're in a quiet office or a noisy coffee shop. The Voyager 5200 offers the most comfortable and secure fit and the best dedicated call-management controls of the headsets we tested. It also has better mic quality than stock earbuds or most Bluetooth earbuds, plus battery life that can last most of a workday. In our tests, the Plantronics Voyager 5200 provided the most consistently clear incoming and outgoing audio in a variety of settings. Its earhook design sometimes requires two hands to put on, but it's easily adjustable and comfortable enough to wear all day; its earpiece also provides a secure seal for optimal sound quality, and its battery gives you about 5 hours, 40 minutes of talk time. It's the complete package, unlike any other model we tested. The Voyager 5200 also has all of the software features that have made Plantronics headsets some of our favorites throughout the years, such as the capability to accept and reject calls with your voice. We recommend the Plantronics Voyager 3200 only if the Voyager 5200 is not available, or if the idea of possibly having to use two hands to put the 5200 on is a dealbreaker for you. The Voyager 3200 has a more conventional in-ear design that doesn't fit as securely as our top pick. Its audio—both incoming and outgoing—isn't as consistently good as that of our top pick, but the sound is clear enough in quieter environments. And although this model has longer battery life, it's only by 20 minutes or so. The Jabra Talk 2 isn't nearly as comfortable as our top picks, and its incoming audio quality isn't as good, but it's acceptable on both counts if you're on a budget. It also gives you much better mic quality for calls than you'd get from stereo Bluetooth earbuds that cost roughly $100. In our battery test, it offered almost 7 hours of talk time, lasting over an hour longer than our top pick.
The best website builder for small businesses
By Kevin Purdy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full website builder guide here. After researching 17 of the top website-building services and hosts, building 20 websites with seven of the most promising ones, and changing hundreds of little things on each page, we believe Wix is the best way for a small business to put up a professional-looking website. Its templates, setup interview, and editing tools create modern, clean-looking sites that you can easily customize, and adding crucial tools like contact forms or restaurant menus is easier than with other website-building tools. Wix's customer support is reliable, its free trial is generous, and its pricing is clear and fair for small businesses. Beyond the basics of site editing, Wix offers a wealth of plug-ins for adding Google Maps, OpenTable, appointment booking, and other tools to your website. Its search engine optimization tools are easy to understand and use, and thanks to Wix's size and scale, your site should remain reliable and available even under heavy traffic. Weebly lacks the variety of templates that Wix provides, and it can't automatically build you a site by asking you about your business. But Weebly's editing interface is simpler and provides less room for error with its drag-and-drop boxes. Weebly also (paradoxically) offers deeper access to the code behind your site, but has fewer useful plug-ins and forms from the start. You should try Weebly if you can't find a template or generated site you like on Wix, if you want to make some specific changes to your site using code (or a code-savvy helper), or if price is the most important factor for you, as the Starter package for Weebly costs one-third less than Wix's comparable Combo package. Every designer we spoke with specifically recommended Shopify for any business that's looking to sell goods online. Although our top picks have built-in ecommerce tools, it makes more sense for most businesses to use Shopify, or at least its Lite version, and embed Shopify's tools into their websites—Shopify works with both of our top picks, and you won't be locked in if you decide to change your site later.
Wirecutter deals: The best Prime Day deals so far
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commissions. that support its work. Read Wirecutter's continuously updated list of Prime Day deals here.
The best AV receiver
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After over 50 hours testing eight new receivers hands-on, we're confident the best receiver for most people is the Denon AVR-S730H. In its price range, every receiver sounds indistinguishable until you turn on its room-correction software; the software makes a big difference in sound quality, and Denon's is the best affordable version we tested.
What's the best blender for smoothies?
By Lesley Stockton This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. A thick and velvety smoothie is one of the most difficult things you can demand from a blender. You're expecting four tiny blades powered by a motor no bigger than a coffee mug to make frozen fruit, ice, fibrous greens, and gloppy peanut butter into soft serve in a minute. So rather than asking about the best blender for smoothies, the better question to ask is: What's the best blender? And that's because if a blender can turn out juice-bar-quality smoothies day after day, it will most likely liquefy almost anything else you'd want to with ease.
The best alarm clock
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending more than 60 hours setting alarms, swatting snooze buttons, tuning radio stations, and talking to potential shoppers, we've decided that the RCA RCD30 is the best alarm clock for most people. This is the textbook definition of an alarm clock, delivering a reliable, hassle-free wake-up for people who don't want to rely on a smartphone.
The best drip coffee maker
By Cale Guthrie Weissman and Liz Clayton This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. Since 2014, we've spent 71 hours brewing in 19 coffee makers to find our top home brewer. After tasting hundreds of pots of coffee, we think the OXO On 9-Cup Coffee Maker is the best automatic drip coffee maker for most people. It's fast and convenient, with a programmable start time and a well-insulated carafe, and it makes a good pot of coffee. We love the features of the OXO On 9-Cup Coffee Maker, like its timer function and automatic pre-infusion cycle (which briefly wets the coffee before brewing for better extraction). The machine has a handsome design, with a well-made thermal carafe that pours easily and keeps coffee hot for hours. We found the coffee from the OXO a little less reliably nuanced than brews from our runner-up, the Bonavita Connoisseur. But it still makes coffee far better than the average machine, and unlike the Connoisseur, allows you to wake up to a fresh pot in the morning or pour yourself a cup while the machine is still brewing. The Bonavita BV1901TS Connoisseur brewed the best-tasting coffee of any machine we tried, with minimal (read: zero) bells and whistles and an uber-simple interface. Like the OXO, it has a pre-infusion cycle (though it's not automatic) and can still brew fast, making a six-cup pot in less than 5 minutes. It also has an improved design over older Bonavitas, with a brew basket that slides right into the machine instead of resting awkwardly on top of the carafe. As a bonus, it sits on the low end of the price spectrum for the high-end coffee makers, costing about $160. We love the simplicity of the Bonavita and think it's a great choice if flavor is your number one priority. But unlike our top pick, it has only an on/off switch, so you can't program it to brew at a set time. And the carafe is clunky: You have to brew into it with the lid off, but can pour only with the lid on. It also didn't keep coffee hot for as long as the OXO did.
The best webcams
By Andrew Cunningham and Kimber Streams This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After researching 19 top webcams and testing six, we think that if you need a webcam for video calls, streaming, or recording, you should get the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. It takes better pictures and video than any of the other models we tested, beating even newer and more expensive models. It has sharp, 1080p video at 30 frames per second with fast autofocus and quick, accurate auto white balance; it's simple to install and use; and at around $60 it doesn't cost much more than lesser budget webcams.
The best cordless stick vacuum
By Liam McCabe and Michelle Ma This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. Power cords got you wound up? If you want a cordless vacuum that can clean your entire home, the Dyson V7 Motorhead is probably your best bet. It's as powerful as cordless vacuums get, with the best handling, quietest operation, and easiest to empty dustbin for the price. We've done more than 125 hours of research and testing on cordless vacuums over the past three years, and this was an easy choice to make. We found in our testing that the V7 Motorhead is particularly good at getting dust and hair out of carpets, compared with most other cordless models. It works well on bare floors, too. The battery can last 28 minutes with the cleaning head attached, which is plenty for most apartments or townhouses, and even a lot of single-family houses if you work fast. It can also convert into a handheld vacuum, and comes with two snap-on tools. On the downside, the V7 is a very expensive vacuum. But if you want a cordless vacuum that can clean your whole home as thoroughly as a good plug-in model, this is how much it costs. Our runner-up is the only model that comes close to matching the cleaning performance, but we think paying the extra amount for the V7 is worth doing because this model is easier to use. The Shark IonFlex DuoClean Cordless Ultra-Light isn't our main pick because it's noticeably heavier and louder than the Dyson V7 Motorhead. It's not quite as strong of a carpet cleaner, either, and the battery lasts for only 20 minutes. But it's better at cleaning upholstery and picking up big crumbs off bare floors, and has a longer warranty. The battery pack is also removable and charges in a separate dock, which could help the IonFlex DuoClean have a longer life span than the V7. If those upsides seem more important to you, grab this Shark instead of the Dyson. The Dirt Devil Reach Max Multi Cordless Stick (BD22522) is a more affordable vacuum that works fine for tidying a small space. Like other cordless vacuums at this price, it's not powerful enough to suck all the dust out of your carpets, and it's not great with stuck-on pet hair. But for surface-level crumbs, our tests showed it does the job better than other budget-friendly models. It also has a respectable 20-minute battery life and several useful accessories, and it's lighter than our other picks. The Dyson V8 Absolute is the best cordless vacuum overall. It's essentially the same vacuum as the V7, with a little more suction, six minutes of extra battery life, and some tools that help it clean upholstery and bare floors better—useful but mostly marginal advantages over our main pick, for a whole lot more money. It is a great machine, though the price is way steep.
The best extension cords
By Mark Smirniotis This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.
The best smart LED light bulbs
By Grant Clauser This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. We considered more than 20 smart-light-bulb systems and then spent eight weeks testing 10 contenders, confounding a family of four by constantly changing how their lights worked. After all that, we determined that the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 is the best all-around smart LED bulb. Hue lets you change your lighting color easily and does everything other smart light bulbs do, and it's also part of a larger product and app ecosystem, allowing for more flexibility and creativity than any other smart bulb we tested. Plus, it's compatible with the widest variety of smart-home systems, including Apple's HomeKit, Samsung's SmartThings hub, Amazon's Alexa, and Google Home. It's not the cheapest bulb we tested, but its reliable performance and wide compatibility make it a solid choice for any smart-home enthusiast or newbie.
The best air conditioner
By Liam McCabe This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After six summers of researching, testing, and recommending window air conditioners, we've learned that quiet and affordable ACs make most people the happiest—and we think the LG LW8016ER will fit the bill in most rooms. This 8,000 Btu unit cools as efficiently and effectively as any model with an equal Btu rating, and runs at a lower volume and deeper pitch than others at this price. Little extra features like a fresh-air vent, two-axis fan blades, and a removable drain plug help set it apart, too. The LG LW8016ERis a top choice for an office or den, and some people will find it quiet enough for a bedroom, too. If our main pick is sold out, grab the Frigidaire FFRE0833S1. It's a little bit louder and higher-pitched than our new pick, but it's an equally capable performer that's usually around the same price. The Frigidaire is also a little bit easier to install because it's smaller and lighter. If you're buying an air conditioner for your bedroom and don't mind paying a little extra, treat yourself to the Frigidaire Gallery FGRQ08L3T1. It's the quietest window AC we've tested over the past few years. It's also easy to install, and it comes with plenty of extra foam for insulation. In cooling performance, it's on a par with our pick and runner-up; in price, it's usually higher than our pick by as much as $100. By June 2017, this model had sold out for the season, so you may need to act fast if you're interested in it this year. We're also recommending the Frigidaire FGRQ0833U1 as a backup in case the L3T1 goes out of stock. The 33U1 is more expensive, and we haven't tested it ourselves, but Frigidaire confirmed to us that the two models are essentially the same. Both are 8,000 Btu rated, have Energy Efficiency Ratios of 12, and are designed to cool rooms up to 350 square feet. We think this model's a decent option if our other picks are unavailable—it beats sweating through the summer with a subpar model. The Haier Serenity Series ESAQ406T, our former upgrade pick for the latter part of summer 2017, is a pretty good option if our other picks go out of stock. It's a 6,000 Btu model, so it's meant for small rooms, and it's a lot pricier than our other picks—but it's so quiet that you should be able to sleep easier all summer. This guide also includes our current thoughts on "smart," Wi-Fi–controllable air conditioners (and a smart AC accessory), plus recommendations for other kinds of air conditioners, including portable ACs (in a separate guide), through-the-wall units, and casement-window models.
The best stand mixer
By Lesley Stockton This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.
Tesla Autopilot was engaged during 60 MPH crash, driver tells police
By Mary Papenfuss The Tesla Autopilot system was engaged when a Tesla Model S sedan was crushed as it rammed into a stopped truck at 60 MPH in Utah last week, the driver has told police. The driver luckily escaped with only a broken foot, though the car suffered extensive damage.
