These open-ear buds actually have decent noise reduction
These open-ear buds actually have decent noise reduction

My biggest gripe about open-ear buds is that they’re rotten for loud city commutes. Cue a pedantic audiophile pointing out that the whole premise of open-ear buds is to not block out sound. Yes, yes. But the unfortunate truth is that often means if you want open-ear buds for one situation, you’ll have to buy […]

The taint bandaid has evolved into the taint zapper
The taint bandaid has evolved into the taint zapper

Six years ago, I first laid eyes upon the taint bandaid. It was the first night of CES 2020. In a corner of the inaugural CES Unveiled showcase, there was a lonely booth. Upon a sparse table lay a mannequin with its smooth Ken doll gooch exposed. In that valley of white plastic was a […]

This smart mirror was a menace at CES 2026
This smart mirror was a menace at CES 2026

Imagine walking into CES 2026, sitting down in front of a smart mirror, taking a 30-second selfie, and getting a score for how well you’re aging. Well, last night, a bunch of other tech journalists did just that. I witnessed some journalists take critical damage to their self-esteem. Others wiped their brow in relief. Yours […]

This egg-shaped gadget aims to demystify hormones… with pee
This egg-shaped gadget aims to demystify hormones… with pee

Your urine can tell you a lot about your reproductive health hormones. Unfortunately, at-home testing can be cumbersome, involving collecting samples that are then mailed out to labs. That’s what health startup Mira is trying to simplify with its $249 Ultra4 Hormone Monitor. The pitch is to make highly accurate, readily available hormone testing for […]

Xreal’s entry-level AR glasses get a spec bump and 3D conversion
Xreal’s entry-level AR glasses get a spec bump and 3D conversion

At CES 2026, Xreal announced an upgraded, slightly more affordable version of its entry-level AR glasses: the $449 Xreal 1S. And this time, you can also convert 2D videos to 3D without any extra apps, software, or proprietary players. At a glance, the Xreal 1S don’t look much different from the Xreal One or One […]

Xreal’s Neo is the best-looking mobile dock for AR glasses
Xreal’s Neo is the best-looking mobile dock for AR glasses

When the Nintendo Switch 2 launched in June, AR glasses brand Viture beat Xreal to the punch with its own multi-port battery pack that doubles as a portable video dock for the new console. After several months, Xreal answered with the Neo, a 10,000mAh (38.7Wh) battery pack with DisplayPort Alt video-out. It sure is one […]

This smart home controller is literally a piece of wood
This smart home controller is literally a piece of wood

One of the fun parts of being a tech journalist for over a decade is that occasionally you get to watch a truly unique gadget go from concept to reality – and, eventually, into your living room. That’s the case with the Mui Board, a smart home controller built into a piece of wood. The […]

The Canon EOS R6 Mark III is great, but this lens is amazing
The Canon EOS R6 Mark III is great, but this lens is amazing

Canon’s new EOS R6 Mark III is an excellent camera. It’s not a groundbreaking upgrade to the 3-year-old R6 Mark II, but it takes the same body with great ergonomics and adds more resolution, video that now goes up to 7K with open-gate filming, and improved autofocus performance. If you’re in need of an impeccably […]

Belkin’s camera grip power bank is a few upgrades away from being a must-have
Belkin’s camera grip power bank is a few upgrades away from being a must-have

Belkin’s Stage PowerGrip has shown me that I should be asking more from a wireless magnetic power bank than just boosting battery life while it hangs off the back of my phone. Its clever design adds layers of extra functionality, and the inclusion of a retractable two-way charging cable expands the number of devices you […]

Oh snap, I have a new favorite phone grip
Oh snap, I have a new favorite phone grip

In 2022, we called a simple magnetic ring from Anker the best MagSafe phone grip, but things have evolved dramatically since then! You can buy two or even three magnetic rings joined at the hip these days to wield your iPhone, recent Pixel, or really any phone if you stick a magnetic case or included […]