We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Mesh Wi-Fi systems get a lot of noise these days, but you can still get fast, reliable network performance with a traditional single-unit router. Brands like TP-Link, Netgear, and Belkin are just a few of the manufacturers making standalone routers that we can get behind, and our friends at Consumer Reports (CR) share similar trends. But none of these brands have been able to secure CR’s biggest seal of approval for a single-unit router; that honor goes to the $389.99 Asus ROG Strix GS-BE12000.…
Author: Amelia Scott
Lazy_Bear/Shutterstock There’s a lot of noise around the audio formats you choose, whether it’s listening to music or surround audio from your favorite movies and shows. But there are plenty of options, even if you’re considering a proprietary format like Dolby Digital. From Dolby Technologies only, we have Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus. If you’re wondering what the big difference is, you’re not alone. Dolby Digital, in general, is an audio compression technology used for multi-channel immersive and surround audio. In order to efficiently fit digital audio…
photojon/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Headphones are a popular choice when it’s time to listen to music or an audiobook, or stream a video without disturbing those around you. The term can be used to generally describe all headphones that go in your ear, but this is not always the case. There are also in-ear monitors, or IEMs. They are also inserted into the ear, or rather more precisely into the inner part of the ear. On the other hand, headphones tend to be…
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Google’s Fitbit Air is a solid choice for a personal fitness tracker, emphasizing seamless comfort with its compact, low-profile design. While it might seem superfluous to add any type of accessories to such a simple device, the simplicity of the Fitbit Air actually makes it ideal for homebrew modifications. All you need is a 3D printer and some designs from a site like MakerWorld to create all sorts of useful gadgets like charging stands and strap adapters. The Fitbit Air itself is a very…
Andrew Burton/Getty Images When it comes to streaming devices and smart TVs, Amazon’s Fire TV hardware is one of the most popular options on the market. Brands like Hisense and TCL allow the use of Amazon’s Fire TV operating system for everything apps, smart home, and UI, but there are also plenty of Amazon-branded TVs to choose from. Whether you’re using the much-loved Amazon Fire TV Stick or a bright and bold Ember Mini LED TV, if the Amazon name is on it, the product comes with a Fire TV…
Blue Blue/Shutterstock Many apps – or at least digital devices – come with a dark mode (a lighting mode that uses light text in front of a dark background). Since many people grew up reading dark text on a white background, you may be wondering why this seemingly sudden obsession with this method of lighting. Blame the people who grew up with computers, or at least the companies that advertise them. According to web design agency Digital Silk, brands focused on Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) have…
Viktor Bondarenko/Shutterstock Audio hissing, buzzing, buzzing, and other types of hearing defects can be irritating to say the least. It’s never a welcome experience to suddenly be disturbed by disturbing buzzing or screeching noises while you’re listening to music through your headphones (or, even worse, while you’re recording your own audio). However, there are several factors that cause the speaker to hiss. Older speakers were frequently affected by electromagnetic interference from cell phones in the early 2000s, but this problem has become exceptionally rare. A source of hiss in your…
Sergei Klopotov/Shutterstock Once a USB cable starts to fray, it’s on its way out. Fraying occurs when the cable’s internal wires, braiding, or shielding begins to show because the jacket is broken. These cords typically fray where the cable and connector meet, which is a major weak point due to the amount of tension that typically occurs here. After prolonged bending, twisting and pulling, it can easily begin to break, especially when there is nothing to relieve the tension at the connection point. USB cables fray for a variety of…
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Audiophiles have no shortage of options when shopping for new headphones. Besides the different brands and models available, they also have different styles to consider. For example, some audiophiles may wonder if they should upgrade to clip-on headphones. Not all clip-on headphones have the same design. However, most essentially work by hugging the outside of the ear with a cuff-like feature. Unlike other styles of headphones, this allows them to rest in the ear without sitting as close to the ear canal, which could…
Kjekol/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. While ultrawides are generally the benchmark for large gaming monitors you can buy in 2026, they’re not the only option. Although they are less popular, you can still find screens larger than 40 inches in 16:9, which is very suitable for anyone who wants to enjoy every visual detail of their games. All this without giving up universal compatibility, since this format works with almost everything and avoids the drawbacks of buying an ultra-wide monitor, such as manual…