Summer is the best time to get out into your garden and enjoy your outside space. It's also one of the hardest times to keep your lawn in top condition, battling with hot weather, dry soil, and all of that extra use.

While I've been using 3 drought-proofing steps to protect my lawn during heatwaves, I can't help but notice I'm still struggling with specific issues. And I know I'm not the only one.

So, it only felt right to put it to our readers and ask: "What is the biggest problem you have with your lawn?" Over 3,000 of you answered, and here's what came out on top. Even better, I've got tips on how to fix it.

The number one lawn problem, according to readers

There was one resounding answer that came from our poll, far outweighing other issues, and that's bare patches. With a massive 3,079 votes totalling 64% of our readers' answers, it's a patchy lawn that seems to be causing the most bother.

To give you an idea of just how dominant this issue is, the second issue was crabgrass that received 625 votes (13%) followed by dog wee stains at 451 votes (9%) and dandelions at 388 votes (8%).

And I completely agree, struggling with bare patches myself and trying desperately to make sure my grass looks even across my lawn.

Fortunately, there's plenty of solutions to try that we've covered across a range of how-to guides. I'll delve into some of the top tips below and hopefully next time we run a poll, bare patches won't be such a problem.

How to tackle bare patches

From 5-minute quick fixes to step-by-step guides, depending on how much time you've got on your hands, these are the top tips I recommend to try out on that patchy lawn.

1. Try overseeding

It might seem like all hope is lost when your grass suddenly turns into a bare, soil patch on your lawn, but you can reapply seed to help with regrowth. It's called overseeding and it's a method used to block out weeds, cover up bare turf, and ultimately create a lawn that is covered with even grass.

But, you may find that even when you've overseeded it, you're still experiencing patchiness. There's a few reasons for that, but nothing our next step can't try and solve.

2. Reseed if the first go didn't take

Sometimes one overseeding session isn't quite enough and that's a problem answered by Chrissie Handley, lawn care specialist at Online Turf when we spoke with her about yellow patches on lawns: "You tend to lose some seed either from the birds picking some off the ground, or through wind blowing it away, or heavy rain can also wash some away, giving you a sparse regrowth."

The answer for this? Reseed and focus on even distribution across your lawn, in case the way you're applying it by hand is too thinly spread.

3. Add a layer of topsoil

Additionally, to protect the seed, you can add a thin layer of topsoil afterwards. As Handley recommends: "This can help stop the birds from picking it off, and also helps the seed make good contact with the ground, improving your germination rate."

Consider it an extra layer of protection, prompting grass growth and hopefully leading to a less patchy lawn.

4. Try a good fertilizer

Finally, you might want to think about adding some fertilizer to your lawn. Sure, it's hard to know how often you should fertilize your lawn and when to do it, but as advice widely varies it's always a good idea to check the type of fertilizer you're using and what job you want it to do.

If you can nail down some good practice with fertilizer, as well as choosing one that's suitable for the job, you can tackle those patchy areas in no time at all. Or, so I'm trying to do myself.

More from Tom's Guide

• Stop spending a fortune on expensive lawn treatments: These 7 genius budget-friendly hacks will give you a stunning green yard using simple tricks
• 9 tips to revive dead grass and make your lawn green again
• How often should you mow the lawn? We asked the experts

Quite often when people talk about AI, especially the latest models, they tend to lean towards productivity and workflows. And while many people use AI in the workplace, they're quite useful outside of the office setting — including in areas many seniors might find useful.

For many retirees, the priorities look a little different. Whether that means finally sorting through years of paperwork, making sure retirement income stretches as far as possible, preserving family memories, planning the trip you've been putting off for years or finally learning something you've always been curious about.

That's where Claude Opus 5 surprised me. While it's often praised for coding and workplace productivity, I've found it's just as useful for the kinds of everyday projects that become more important after retirement. The key is giving it your own documents, photos and goals instead of asking generic questions.

Here are five prompts I'd start with.

1. Make sense of your retirement finances

Prompt: I've uploaded my monthly bills and credit card statements. Create a simple monthly budget, point out any recurring subscriptions I may have forgotten about, and suggest realistic ways I could reduce expenses without sacrificing the things I enjoy.

One of the biggest adjustments in retirement is moving from earning a paycheck to managing income from several different sources. Between Social Security, pensions, investments and monthly bills, it can be surprisingly easy to lose track of where your money is going. Just be sure not to upload anything confidential or personal into the AI model. Instead, use estimates of your pension or social security checks, then let Claude organize and come up with a plan for you.

Claude is particularly good at spotting patterns across multiple documents, making it much easier to see the big picture without spending hours with a calculator.

2. Turn decades of family photos into stories

Prompt: I'm uploading photos from several family vacations. Ask me questions about each one, then write a story my grandchildren would enjoy reading. Keep my own voice and include details I mention during our conversation.

Most families have thousands of digital photos that rarely get looked at after they're taken. Instead of leaving them buried in folders, Claude can help turn them into stories your children and grandchildren will actually want to read.

Rather than inventing details, it interviews you first, helping preserve the memories behind each picture. You'll discover that the finished result feels much more personal than a simple photo album because it captures the stories that only you know.

3. Plan the trip you've always wanted to take

Prompt: Help me plan a two-week trip to Italy. I enjoy history, good food, and walking, but I'd rather avoid rushed schedules. Compare transportation options, suggest hotels, estimate costs, and build a day-by-day itinerary.

Many retirees finally have the freedom to travel without worrying about limited vacation days. The challenge is balancing sightseeing with enough downtime to actually enjoy the experience.

Claude is particularly good at weighing lots of moving parts at once, from transportation and budgets to walking distances and hotel locations. You can then keep refining the itinerary until it matches exactly the kind of trip you want.

4. Decode confusing paperwork

Prompt: Summarize this insurance policy in plain English. Tell me what it covers, what it doesn't, any deadlines I should know about, and highlight anything that might surprise someone reading it for the first time.

Retirement often comes with more paperwork than many people expect. Insurance policies, Medicare documents, legal forms and financial statements are rarely written in plain English.

Instead of struggling through pages of legal language, ask Claude to explain what actually matters. It's a quick way to understand lengthy documents before deciding whether you need to speak with a financial adviser or insurance representative.

5. Learn something you've always wanted to know

Prompt: I want to learn astronomy, but I'm starting from scratch. Create an eight-week learning plan. After each lesson, quiz me with a few questions before moving on. Adjust the pace based on how well I understand the material.

One of the biggest advantages of retirement is finally having time to learn simply because you're interested.

Whether you've always wanted to understand astronomy, photography, art history or another subject, Claude can build lessons that adapt as you go instead of forcing you through a fixed course. Because Claude remembers what you've already covered during the conversation, it can build on previous lessons instead of repeating itself.

Why these prompts stand out

What I like about these prompts is that they solve real problems that people might struggle to handle alone. Rather than asking Claude to generate something from scratch, you're giving it your own documents, photos and goals. That's where it becomes genuinely useful because the AI acts as a financial organizer (although it's not a substitute for a human financial advisor), travel planner, document interpreter, family historian and personal tutor all in one place.

If you're retired, or approaching retirement, those are the kinds of tasks that can save hours of work while helping you make better use of the time you've earned. Give these prompts a try and let me know what you think.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just learned your Claude AI chats could show up in Google — here's how to check yours
• I stopped using ChatGPT for everything — here are 5 prompts I only run in Claude
• I use Gemini Spark daily — here are 7 prompts that show what it can really do

More from Tom's Guide

• I just learned your Claude AI chats could show up in Google — here's how to check yours
• I stopped using ChatGPT for everything — here are 5 prompts I only run in Claude
• I use Gemini Spark daily — here are 7 prompts that show what it can really do

For some of us, the road trips of summer are starting to wind down and back-to-school needs are beginning to creep up. The luxury of headphones in the car becomes a necessity as kids commute to school or use them to focus on schoolwork.

You may be inclined to hand your kids a set of headphones you no longer use, or you’ve spotted some cheapo ones at your local drugstore. But those cans may be doing more harm than you know, as the lack of volume control can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Fortunately, there are options that can be safer for your kids. With more kids wearing headphones that seem to be glued to their heads, how can you protect their hearing now and in the future?

We spoke to a hearing expert and the makers of kid-friendly headphones to find out how volume-limiting headphones can assist parents in protecting their children’s hearing and tips for doing more beyond buying appropriate headphones.

“We only get one set of ears”

The world in general is a loud place with a multitude of sounds that over time can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Both OSHA and the World Health Organization recommend 85 decibels as a safe listening level for people in industrial settings. That rating is over an eight-hour “time-weighted average.”

Per the American Academy of Audiology, anything over that level can cause permanent hearing loss, and hearing protection is recommended: “regardless of how long the sound lasts.” At 80 dB, the sound is equivalent to an alarm clock, while sounds in the 90 to 110 dB range include concerts, power tools and earbuds (at full volume).

Kaitlyin Kennedy, an audiologist and member of the Academy, told Tom’s Guide that the recommendation for children is more conservative, at 75 dB and 80 dB for adults. She noted that headphone use in teens has gotten worse in general in the last few years.

A study by the University of Michigan in 2024 found more than half of kids age 5 -12 have their own personal audio devices and use them at least an hour a day.

“When hearing loss sets in, whether genetic or noise exposure, it grows over time,” Kennedy said. “It’s a snowball; one instance won’t [cause problems], multiple will.”

She added that while tech is improving, including with hearing aids, nothing is the same as natural hearing.

What headphone manufacturers offer

Fortunately, headphones can be capped so that the volume of audio coming through the drivers can’t exceed a set decibel level.

Most of the kids-friendly headphones Tom’s Guide has tested so far do feature volume caps around 85 dB. iClever limits volume at 80 dB for many of its headphones based on the EU EN50332-1 standard and WHO recommendations.

iClever also uses its “SafeSound” technology, which combines active noise canceling with maximum volume to ensure kids aren’t trying to turn the volume all the way up to hear music or media over outside noise.

Puro Sound Labs, based out of Southern California, purposely caps all of its headphones at 85dB. Founder Dave Russell set out to create safer headphones after his own daughter suffered noise-induced hearing loss that an audiologist blamed on constant headphone use.

“One in five teens are at risk of some level of noise-induced hearing loss due to headphones,” VP of sales Davis Camarigg told Tom’s Guide. He noted that even the company’s adult and older-teen-targeted headphones only go up to 95dB, though the company doesn’t just cap the volume or use ANC without also ensuring the audio still sounds good.

“If it's so loud they can't hear you speak, it's too loud”

Buying the correct headphones and limiting how loud the audio you listen to is an important aspect of protecting your and your children’s hearing. But there are other ways to protect yourself.

Kennedy provided several tips to help protect your ears.

She recommended that everyone reduce the amount of time they spend listening to audio, especially when using headphones. “Keep [settings] on 60% for no more than 60 minutes and then take a listening break,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said that by the time kids hit teenage years, their ears are much more adult, but damage can be done when they’re younger because the sounds are louder to developing ears.

Your phone can help

With many kids on smartphones, you can set limits or monitoring systems. For example, with headphones connected, you can go to the Control Center on your iPhone and see your headphones’ dB levels. Under Accessibility Shortcuts, you can also limit loud sounds in your headphones under Settings > Sound & Haptics > Headphone Safety, then Reduce Loud Sounds.

Android has a “Volume monitor” that will tell you how long you’ve spent listening to loud volumes in your headphones. You can find it under Digital Wellbeing. There’s also a media volume limit feature which lets you cap the volume between 85dB and 100dB.

In all, protecting your child's hearing takes some proactive approaches on your part, from acquiring safe equipment to actively setting up systems via your phone or the electronic devices you let your kid use.

Fortunately, it's quite doable, and there are plenty of options to help you make the right choice.

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In the world of high-end audio, things get very expensive, very fast. Hi-fi headphones go into four figures before you even know it, with speakers getting into the tens of thousands of dollars equally as easily.

I’m lucky that I get to test a fair bit of the pricey stuff for my job. But alas, I don’t really get to keep much of it, and I know most people can’t afford to drop thousands on their audio gear, either.

I decided to put together my real-world critical listening setup, a set of open back headphones and a DAC, on a real world budget of $500. Less than a set of mainstream ANC cans like the $549 Apple AirPods Max 2.

Reddit had a couple of obvious suggestions, of course, namely the Sennheiser HD 650 or, for sheer budget, the HIFIMAN Sundara. But I chose to ignore both of those (sorry Reddit). Here’s what I got instead, and why.

Hot Meze, anyone?

As I mentioned above, it would’ve been easy to go down the well-trodden route of the HIFIMAN Sundara or Sennheiser HD 650. They're the darlings of r/audiophile and r/headphones (and, to be fair, for good reason).

We use a set of Sundara for comparison testing at work. They sound great: spacious, with excellent bass response thanks to their planar drivers. They’re easy to drive and cheap too. But they’re cheap for a reason: the build quality is poor. Our pair sit on a shelf and suffer not the rigors of daily use, but there are many reports online of the headband breaking, and Amazon flags them as a “frequently returned product.”

So what about the Sennheiser HD 650? These are commonly recommended online for a reason: they sound fantastic, with a warm-ish neutral tune that’s ideal for detail listening. The thing is, I’m a motorcyclist and audio tester, so my ears don’t have an easy life. For personal headphones I prefer a warmer and slightly darker tune to avoid treble fatigue — easier-listening, so to speak.

The HD 650 can be very pricey, too. I’ve even seen them go above the $500 mark in the U.S. And finally, while not horrendously tricky to drive, the HD 650 aren’t exactly easy. While writing this, one of my colleagues had to borrow one of our powerful test DACs to drive his newly purchased pair of HD 650. Nice timing!

I was also considering the HD 550, but again I wanted that warmer, tad darker tune. Plus, to me, the HD 550 resemble a particular anatomical diagram from biology class…

Anyway, instead I looked towards Romania, and Meze Audio. Specifically, the Meze Audio 105 AER. At their $399 MSRP, these cans are fairly pricey, but attainable. As I write this, they’ve been selling at $299 for several weeks at Amazon. At that price, I think these are an absolute steal, and some of the best value for money in the audiophile world.

Genuine all-day comfort

The Meze 105 AER are utterly beautiful, with bags of Romanian Art Deco flair — pizzazz you definitely won’t get from the likes of Sennheiser. They’re vastly superior in build quality to the HIFIMAN Sundara (it’s actually crazy that at times the two pairs of headphones only sit as little as $120 apart). The 105 AER feel like much, much more expensive headphones. And with the gorgeous suspended headband and vegan velour pads, the 105 AER are comfortable for hours on end, too.

In fact, the headband deserves its own shout out. You don’t need to adjust the 105 AER, as the headband is perfectly sprung. And I mean “perfectly” quite literally: it adjusts to your head as you pull the headphones on, applying juuuust enough clamping pressure to override the spring and keep the cans sitting securely. It’s. Utterly. Glorious.

I don’t like to parrot brands’ marketing, but Meze claims that you’ll forget the 105 AER are on your head, and they’re genuinely correct there. Partly that’s to do with the headband and earcups, but it’s also thanks to the extremely liveble sound profile…

Warm, easy-listening sound

Most importantly, the 105 AER boast stunning sound. The tuning is fairly warm, but strikes a nice balance between easy- and critical-listening, which I love. It’s not too clinical.

Bass is prominent and silky smooth. The 105 AER aren’t as subby as the Sundara with their planar drivers, and yeah, sometimes I miss that: Sohn’s Antigravity, for example, concludes with an enormous roll of sub bass that should be felt tingling in the temples. But I’ve got a trick up my sleeve to help with that in the DAC section below.

The 105 AER mid-range is the star of the show in my opinion. There’s so much steely texture to the distorted guitars in Metallica’s Seek & Destroy and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siva. Vocals, meanwhile, also sound fantastic, with the 105 AER perfectly relaying the organic timbre of John Fogerty’s howling in CCR’s Fortunate Son — I could hear the rasps and crackles of his vocal cords as he roared in righteous indignation.

Admittedly, treble isn’t the brightest, so you’re missing out on the sheer top-end resolution you’d get from something like the Sennheisers — there’s not quite the same level of crispness and detail to cymbals in Fortunate Son, or the shimmering backing effects in Ikigai. That said, they’re not dark enough for things to sound stifled or distant. The roll off also makes the 105 AER supremely easy to listen to for extended periods. They don’t give me cymbal fatigue, something I often get when listening to Copeland’s drumming throughout The Police’s Outlandos D’Amour album.

The 105 AER are also effortlessly spacious, which in fairness can be said about the HIFIMAN and Sennheiser too, as they’re all open back. Sohn’s Antigravity begins with super spatial percussion springing inward and out on the horizontal plane — imaged impressively by the Mezes.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz, in our eyes the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

But how to drive them?

As well as a set of headphones, I was also after a new DAC. The Meze 105 AER are passive headphones, so they need to be powered. They aren’t difficult to drive, with an impedance of 42Ω and a sensitivity rating of 112 dB/mW — in other words, they get pretty loud without much power. You can run them from your smartphone or laptop and they won’t be too quiet.

But just because they can be driven from your phone or laptop, that doesn’t mean they’ll sound their best that way. Often, you’ll get better sound using a dedicated DAC/Amp, which can feed headphones more power.

On passive headphones with low impedance (electrical resistance) a stable, quality power source like a dedicated amp will help keep the sound in check and free from distortion — without one, power fluctuations mean drivers can struggle to start and stop as sharply as they otherwise might. There’s technically the added sweetener of more accurate digital to analog signal conversion, too.

With $200 to spare, there were options. The FiiO KA13 would be my choice on a lower budget. It offers FiiO’s typical transparency (so you’re hearing the tune of the headphones, not the profile of the DAC), plenty of power, a compact footprint and an equally small $79 price tag. But the KA13 lacks any hardware EQ or digital filters (unless using the god-awful FiiO app), which I like, as they let me play around with sound.

I also considered the $179 FiiO K11 R2R, which I’ve tested previously in the office. It’s also a transparent DAC, offers bags of power for trickier-to-drive upgrades in the future, and even has an upsampling mode, which can help give an airier sound. It’s a desktop DAC, though, so needs plugging in, which I find annoying.

In the end, I went for the $199 iFi hip dac 3, for one primary reason: subby stuff. While it lacks the K11’s advanced features, the hip dac 3 has an Xbass mode that gives up to +6dB amplification in the 20-30Hz region. Remember that temple-shaking sub bass I said I enjoy in certain songs? Xbass delivers it at the push of a button, only when you want or need it.

The hip dac 3 is also plenty powerful and compact enough to fit into my pocket — it’s shaped like a hip flask, hence the name. As a Brit, I like that buying it supports a British company, too (although, to be fair, the DAC itself is unsurprisingly still made in China).

Total spend: $498

I’m really happy with this setup. I don’t think the Meze 105 AER will please fans of that clinical, reference sound. These are decidedly warm with some treble roll-off backing off the volume of high frequencies. Personally, though, I think the balance is ideal for daily use.

The slightly darker tune isn’t to the complete detriment of top end detail or space, yet makes them a very liveable set of cans day in, day out, all day while working. You get the picture. And best of all, even with my powerful little iFi DAC included, my setup still comes in cheaper than a set of AirPods Max 2!

Let me know in the comments below - what's your favorite setup? Which cans do you wear every day? What's on your wishlist?

More from Tom's Guide

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• I tested the HEDDphone TWO GT — now I can't go back to normal headphones
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I started testing the best sports watches just over a decade ago, and even back then almost all the new releases had a built-in optical heart rate sensor.

It was also the time I started to take my own running seriously, which meant following a training plan set by a coach with sessions of varying intensity throughout the week. I often relied on heart rate data to judge my effort during these sessions, along with my own perception of how hard I was working.

This quickly led to the realisation that the sensors on watches were often out of whack with my own estimation of effort, and once I started using a chest strap heart rate monitor, my concerns about the accuracy of those watches were confirmed.

In the years since then the sensors on watches have gotten a lot better. The best Garmin watches and the Apple Watch in particular usually produce accurate readings during runs, in my experience.

However, if you use heart rate to judge your effort during runs, or pay close attention to the training analysis and recovery stats on your watch, which rely heavily on heart rate data, even the best optical sensors can still fall short, and I prefer to use a chest strap during all my runs myself.

It’s one of the best accessories you can get for your workouts, in my opinion — here’s why.

Why chest straps are more reliable than optical sensors on watches

The key difference with chest straps vs optical heart rate sensor is how they go about measuring heart rate.

Chest straps measure electrical signals directly from the heart, which not only makes them very accurate, but also means there’s virtually zero lag in their readings when your heart rate changes suddenly, like when you’re doing an interval session and quickly speed up.

Optical sensors use LED lights to measure changes in your blood volume, which affects how the light is reflected back to the sensor. This is a less direct method than electrical signals, and prone to interference.

When you’re at rest optical sensors on watches are usually very reliable, but during workouts when your heart rate can rise and fall rapidly and you might be swinging your arm around a lot, optical sensors have a harder time.

Chest straps are in a much more stable position as well as using a more reliable method of measuring heart rate.

In around a decade of using them almost daily, I can only remember a handful of incidents where I felt my chest strap was producing inaccurate results. In contrast, there are several problems that arise regularly with optical sensors on watches.

Common problems with watch sensors during runs

As I mentioned above, the heart rate sensors on watches are good these days, but there are still certain issues that crop up from time to time during runs.

The most common one is lag. Optical sensors take longer to notice rapid changes in heart rate, so during interval sessions they don’t rise and fall as quickly as a chest strap.

This can make it trickier to use heart rate to judge effort in short intervals in particular, but as you can see from the graph above the lag might only be a few seconds and overall it’s not a huge problem in my opinion, as long as you bear it in mind when running.

A bigger problem is cadence lock, which is still a major issue with some watches I test. This is when the optical sensor on the watch gets confused and measures your cadence — how often your feet hit the ground — rather than your heart rate.

This results in way too high a heart rate for me during runs, and means that an easy jog can be classed as an all-out effort in a watch’s training analysis, skewing my recovery data for weeks.

Since most people’s cadence when running is somewhere between 160 and 200, it can also be hard to even tell when your watch is reading it instead of your heart rate, because a lot of people will be hitting that kind of heart rate in runs.

You can see in this graph that the watch I was wearing jumped between heart rate and my cadence for the first half of a run before actually locking onto my pulse correctly. Cadence lock at the start of a run is especially common.

Another common problem I’ve experienced with optical sensors is that they are less reliable in cold conditions, because blood vessels near your skin contract, making it harder to measure heart rate using blood volume.

I find this makes cadence lock even more likely to happen, as in this graph where I compared a watch to a chest strap during a hard session involving three 5K efforts, where the watch read incorrectly high throughout.

Downsides of chest straps

Chest straps might be very accurate, but they’re still not the perfect product. Many people find it uncomfortable to wear them compared with watches, and during the winter months, pulling a cold strap onto your chest certainly makes for an unpleasant second or two, I can tell you.

They’re not unfailingly accurate too, and to reduce the risk of errors especially at the start of runs it’s worth wetting the sensors on the inside of the band. Ideally you can do this either with water or a dedicated gel, but a quick lick also gets the job done in a pinch.

You might not want to lick your chest strap though, because another problem with them is that they can get pretty disgusting over long-term use if you’re not careful about washing them regularly.

If you’re not a fan of chest straps, but do find wrist sensors inaccurate, then armbands can be a good middle ground.

These use optical sensors, but the position on your upper arm makes them more stable and reliable. The extra muscle mass in your upper arm tends to create a better contact point for the sensor too.

I’ve used the Coros Heart Rate Monitor for long periods and found it reliable, but actually I find chest straps comfortable and less hassle than armbands at times.

This is mainly because I put my heart rate sensor on last before a run, and can just lift my top up to put on a chest strap, whereas with armbands I have to take off a long-sleeved top or jacket entirely to put them on.

Best chest strap heart rate monitors I’ve tested

I’ve yet to test a chest strap that proved really unreliable in terms of heart rate accuracy, so picking out the best I’ve tested comes down to other features, like extra stats, battery life and price.

Coospo H9Z

Coospo’s line-up of budget heart rate monitors is impressive, and the H9Z is a great option for those who want an accurate chest strap at a low price, especially because it’s almost always in sales.

It’s a waterproof sensor with a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 50 hours of use. I prefer this to using coin battery-powered straps myself, having broken a strap or two when changing batteries.

You can pair watches, apps and bike computers to the Coospo H9Z via both Bluetooth and ANT+, and it has a waterproof IP67 rating, though it’s not suitable for swimming.

I’ve tested the Coospo H9Z extensively and compared it to the ‘gold standard’ straps available like the Polar H10, and its readings were spot on.

Polar H10

The Polar H10 initially launched in 2017, so the fact it’s still seen as one of the most accurate options available is testament to its quality, and because it’s an older device, it pops up in sales more than ever these days.

I’ve used the Polar H10 regularly for years, and for a long time it was my main heart rate strap, and I never found it to be inaccurate or unreliable in linking to watches and other devices.

It uses a coin battery that I found usually had to be changed after about six months of use, and has internal storage for your workouts and can be used for swimming.

Polar also has the H9 sensor, which is a little cheaper and just as accurate, but can’t be used for swimming as it lacks internal storage. The H9 can also only have one Bluetooth connection at a time, but if you don’t need more than that, it’s worth looking at too.

Garmin HRM 600

The Garmin HRM 600 launched alongside the Garmin Forerunner 970 watch in 2025 and has been my go-to chest strap ever since.

This is not just because it’s reliably accurate and rechargeable, but also because when linked to a top Garmin watch it adds extra running dynamics stats like step speed loss (how much you slow down with each step during runs) and running economy measurements.

As with the Polar H10, the Garmin HRM 600 will connect to watches and apps from other brands easily, and you can use it for swimming because it’s waterproof and has internal storage.

It’s a pricy option, but is now often in sales and if you are a runner with a high-end Garmin watch, the HRM 600 does bring some extra data to the table you can’t get anywhere else.

Fourth Frontier Zone

This is the most expensive chest strap I’ve tested and it’s no more accurate than the others on this list, but it does have an extra feature that some will find vital — it produces live and continuous ECG measurements during activities.

If you’re an athlete with heart concerns, this extra data could be invaluable along with the heart strain score offered by the device, and it also has vibration alerts you can set up to notify you if you’re pushing too hard in a workout.

You can also wear it outside workouts to get heart rate, ECG and heart rate variability measurements throughout the day and night — the 30-day battery life on the Fourth Frontier Zone is extremely impressive.

Unless you need the ECG stats however, I’d look at other straps myself because the Zone is expensive and requires a monthly subscription to unlock all of its features.

Do you have a favorite chest strap? Let me know in the comments.

I spent years paying upwards of $100 per month on my cell phone plan from major wireless carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. While MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) have been around for as long as I can remember (think Virgin Mobile, Helio, and Amp'd Mobile), the emergence of modern MVNOs really took off in the late 2010s.

After bouncing around between Cricket Wireless and Mint Mobile, I’ve been on Visible since 2023 because I was tired of overpaying for service. While it remains one of the best cheap cell phone plans available today, the total amount I’ve paid to date is what’s most eye-opening — especially when compared to a major carrier.

Looking back at every transaction recorded in my billing history, the numbers speak for themselves — and they prove exactly why I’m never going back to the big three.

The bills: how much I’ve spent on Visible since 2023

Nothing validates my decision to ditch major carriers quite like looking at my monthly Visible bills. According to my payment history, I signed up for Visible in late 2023 on its base plan at the time — which is now referred to as the “Visible Legacy 1 plan.” Here’s how much I’ve paid since then:

• November 2023 – February 2024: I paid $25/month for my standard unlimited service, totaling $100.00 across those four months.
• March 2024: I added smartwatch service to my line, resulting in a one-time charge of $4.84.
• March 2024 – July 2026: My plan transitioned to $30/month. Over these 29 consecutive billing cycles, my payments totaled $870.

When I add up every single charge from November 2023 through July 2026, I’ve paid $974.84 in total. That’s less than a year’s worth of service on Verizon’s top-of-the-line Unlimited Ultimate plan ($105/month) — and over that same 33-month timeframe, Verizon would have cost me $3,465 before taxes and extra fees.

Speaking of taxes and fees, my monthly $30 bill from Visible includes everything. Consistency is what makes MVNOs like Visible so attractive: there are no surprise surcharges tacked onto my monthly total.

When I run the numbers, I’ve saved $2,490 by sticking with Visible — a staggering 72% overall savings. Those savings are more than enough to snag an ultra-premium flagship phone outright like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

What I actually get with Visible

You might suspect there are serious catches with my Visible Legacy 1 plan, given how much cheaper it is than conventional unlimited options. Make no mistake: I’m still getting comprehensive coverage where it matters most to me. As Visible clearly states in my account dashboard, “you're getting unlimited talk, text, data and mobile hotspot, all on our 5G & 4G LTE networks.”

Here’s what my $25/month locked-in rate gets me:

• Unlimited Data, Talk, & Text: Powered directly by Verizon’s 5G and 4G LTE nationwide network.
• Unlimited Talk & Text to Mexico & Canada: Stay connected with family or friends across borders without buying international daily passes.
• Included International Service: Unlimited calling and messaging to Canada and Mexico when you are in the U.S. Includes unlimited calls & texting from the U.S. to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Saipan.
• Unlimited Mobile Hotspot: Share your phone’s connection with a laptop or tablet anytime, capped at a practical 5 Mbps speed and limited to one device at a time.
• Spam Protection: Built-in scam and robocall blocking.

I can’t stress enough how it’s truly an all-you-can-eat plan. However, there’s one caveat that Visible explicitly details: when the 5G or 4G LTE network is experiencing heavy traffic, data may be temporarily slowed. Meaning, while I can consume as much data as I want, my speeds can occasionally take a backseat during peak congestion.

When you go with a top-tier plan from Verizon, you’re guaranteed no data throttling due to congestion. You’ll always get the fastest speeds the network can deliver. Beyond that, the main distinction I’ve found between my Visible plan and Verizon’s Ultimate Unlimited plan is that I don’t get 5G Ultra Wideband support for those ultra-fast speeds.

That's the one compromise I make for Visible's massive savings, but it’s hardly noticeable for everyday tasks like checking email, browsing the web, or shopping online. Where I actually see a difference is when downloading large files or trying to load 4K videos.

I even put this to the test using a Pixel 10 on Verizon's network against my iPhone 17 Pro on Visible, which pulled down speeds up to 10x faster than my Visible line. That’s a tremendous difference and shows where 5G Ultra Wideband shines — but for my daily routine, it's a tradeoff I'm more than happy to make.

Why I’m never going back

The primary reason why I think a lot of consumers are now flocking over to MVNOs like Visible comes down to price transparency. With traditional wireless agreements, bills constantly fluctuate based on expiring promos, complex trade-in credits, and creeping administrative fees. It’s a hassle, in my opinion, and I much prefer a fixed rate.

With Visible, my auto-pay charge hits every month predictably. I get the coverage of Verizon’s underlying network architecture at a fraction of the cost, an all-you-can-eat data buffet, and zero contractual obligations holding me hostage.

Looking at my payment history from late 2023 to today, the numbers don’t lie: I’m saving a staggering amount. While Visible’s plan names and promotional offers have evolved over the years, the core value proposition remains unchanged.

For instance, the current $29/month promotion for Visible+ even includes that coveted 5G Ultra Wideband support I mentioned earlier — meaning there is really no reason for me to ever go back to a major carrier.

Let me know below - which carrier or MVNO are you on, and how much are you paying per month?

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When ChatGPT first introduced memory, I was relieved that I wouldn't have to repeat prompts anymore. Not to mention, memory means ChatGPT can remember my name, what I do for a living, where I live and my preferences for each response. Because I have Memory enabled, the AI remembers everything I tell it.

But I've realized something about AI memory vs. human memory. Although ChatGPT may remember everything, I don't. So, even if the AI knows something, if I forgot what it knows, well, we're both going around in circles.

In other words, I was treating memory like a place to dump random facts when I should have been teaching ChatGPT how I actually work. Once I understood the difference between giving it information and giving it useful information, the whole experience changed.

After spending the past few weeks cleaning up what ChatGPT remembers and being much more intentional about what I save, the difference has been dramatic. It now responds closer to a style I prefer, remembers ongoing projects and picks up where we left off without me constantly filling in the gaps.

Here are the five changes that made the biggest difference.

1. I cleaned out old memories

This is the fastest win, and it's where I'd start if you what to experiment with this test, too. Memory isn't meant to become an attic full of outdated information. After months of using ChatGPT, I found plenty of memories that no longer reflected how I work. Old project names. Preferences I'd since changed. Instructions that contradicted things I'd told it more recently.

The problem with not doing a ChatGPT Memory audit is that it actively confuses things. If six months ago you told ChatGPT you prefer formal, structured writing and last week you told it you like conversational tone, it's working with conflicting instructions. The result is inconsistency as it tries to catch up.

Get started by doing this: Go to Settings > Personalization > Memory and scroll through what's there. You'll probably be surprised by how much of it is outdated or irrelevant. I deleted roughly half of mine, and the improvement in response quality was immediate.

If you've never reviewed your saved memories, it's worth taking five minutes to do it now.

2. I stopped saving facts and started saving preferences

There's very little value in ChatGPT remembering that I like coffee or that my favorite song of all time is Against All Odds by Phil Collins. That kind of information almost never changes how it responds to me.

Instead, I focused on saving things that shape every conversation, essentially the standing instructions you'd give a new team member on their first day.

For example, I asked it to remember:

That I prefer a conversational tone rather than corporate lingo. That I dislike AI clichés like "dive into," "it's important to note" and "in today's rapidly evolving landscape." That I prefer responses in bullet points and not in long paragraphs full of fluff.

Because these preferences affect almost every conversation I have, so they save me time every day.

The test I use now is simple: will this memory change the way ChatGPT writes or thinks in future conversations? If not, it's not worth saving.

3. I let ChatGPT remember long-term projects

This one took me embarrassingly long to figure out. Take a look at anything you do repeatedly. This could be making lists, checking your calendar, writing weekly email updates to your team or managing a spreadsheet.

Because those particular things you do probably won't change in the near future, save the stable context once and stop re-explaining it every time. For me, that means setting a Task and then responding directly to that Task when I'm working on a Project. You'll be surprised how much smoother those conversations become when ChatGPT already knows the background.

4. I still start fresh when I need to

Memory doesn't mean every conversation should build on the last one. For exampe, when I'm brainstorming something completely new, testing a prompt idea or exploring a topic I don't usually cover, I'll often start a temporary chat so earlier memories and conversations don't influence the answers. Sometimes I want a blank slate, meaning I need a response that isn't shaped by what ChatGPT already thinks I prefer.

This is especially useful when you're trying to get a different perspective. If you've trained ChatGPT to write in your voice, it's going to write in your voice even when you might benefit from something different. Temporary chats let you step outside those defaults without losing them.

Knowing when not to use memory is just as important as knowing when to rely on it.

5. I treat ChatGPT like someone I'm training

The biggest thing to note is that I never stop training ChatGPT. This is the change that made the biggest difference. When you work with a new colleague, you don't expect them to understand your preferences on day one. You teach them over time.

The same idea applies here. When ChatGPT gives me a response I really like, I tell it why it worked. Then, I tell it to remember that and do it again just like that next time.

And when it misses the mark, I explain what I'd prefer instead. Those small corrections compound over time. After a few weeks of doing this consistently, I noticed AI was getting much closer to what I actually wanted, which meant less prompting and far less frustration.

The key is being specific. "I don't like this" teaches ChatGPT nothing. "I don't like this because it's too formal and the bullet points make it feel like a corporate memo" teaches it something it can apply to every future conversation.

5 memory prompts to try

• "Remember that I prefer concise answers unless I ask for more detail." — Sets a useful default without locking you into it.
• "Remember that I'm working on [project] — here's the key context: [details]." — Saves you from re-explaining recurring work.
• "That response was exactly what I wanted because [reason]. Remember that for next time." — Reinforces what's working, not just what isn't.
• "Remember the kinds of examples I find most helpful — practical and specific, not abstract." — Shapes how it illustrates ideas across every topic.
• "What memories do you currently have about me? Which ones seem outdated?" — A quick audit that often surfaces clutter you didn't know was there.

My final suggestions

I like using ChatGPT memory because it reduces repetition. The more useful information you give it, the more willing you are to clean up outdated memories and give feedback in the moment, the more it starts to feel like a genuine assistant.

And remember, you don't need hundreds of saved memories to make it work. In my experience, a handful of thoughtful preferences and a willingness to correct course along the way is far more valuable than dozens of random facts.

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Summer is here, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than hosting friends in the garden, whether you're firing up the grill or simply enjoying the sunshine.

Yet, it’s incredibly frustrating when pesky flies start buzzing around your outdoor dining table or swarming indoors in their search for something to eat.

While I’ve tried everything to get rid of flies — from fans and citronella candles to homemade vinegar traps, these only provide a temporary solution before they come back with a vengeance.

But an expert has shared a clever hack that can help to banish flies. Surprisingly, this involves a few household ingredients and costs almost nothing, as the solution is sitting right in your freezer tray — ice cubes (yes, really).

So before you reach out for those toxic fly sprays, try this ice cube hack that may prevent flies from ruining your backyard enjoyment.

So what exactly is the ice cube repellent hack?

Essentially, this method involves freezing aromatic, citrusy elements that naturally repel these insects directly into your ice cubes. The idea is that adding them to your drinks outside will release a fresh scent that repels flies and should keep them away from your outdoor dining area.

“Most people have a lemon, some mint or even a few cloves tucked away in the kitchen, so you can just throw them into an ice cube tray and give it a go,” states expert Glen Peskett from Saxton Blades Multi Tools. “The fresh smell can help make your garden table less appealing to flies when you're sitting outside."

"It's not going to completely stop flies from appearing, especially if there's food left uncovered nearby, but it can be a useful extra step when you're having drinks or eating outside."

How to make fly-repelling ice cubes

To test this yourself, begin by slicing some citrus fruit like lemon or lime, or gather some fresh mint.

Next, place these zesty pieces into your ice tray, fill with water, and let them freeze solid overnight. Alternatively, you can make this up in a glass before pouring into your tray.

Once ready, you can drop these cubes directly into your beverages or simply scatter them across your garden table to keep the area smelling fresh and fly-free.

“The trick works best when used around areas where flies are most likely to appear, such as outdoor dining tables, patios and seating areas”, adds Peskett.

Of course, aromatic ice cubes alone won’t be enough to keep them away all day, and Peskett recommends combining the ice cube hack with other simple habits that make gardens less attractive to flies.

Maintaining habits such as keeping food and sugary drinks covered when eating outside, wiping down tables after meals, and clearing away leftovers as soon as possible can help to prevent flies from being attracted to your yard.

"Flies are usually drawn in by food smells, so the biggest thing is removing what attracts them in the first place," Peskett explains. "Little tricks like scented ice cubes can be a handy addition, but keeping your outdoor space clean is what will make the biggest difference."

“It might not be a miracle cure, but for something that takes seconds to make and can double up as a refreshing addition to a summer drink, it's an easy hack worth trying before your next garden gathering.”

Alternatively, you could try placing potted lavender plants near outdoor dining areas, as the strong fragrance is repulsive to flies or sticky traps.

The ice cube hack might not be a miracle cure, but it will take seconds to make and is cost-effective.

So why not try these aromatic ice cubes before your next garden gathering — so those annoying flies don’t ruin your fun.

Let us know in the comments below if this hack really works (or not) for you.

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We often see famous actors take on epic transformations ahead of roles on the big screen. Matt Damon isn't exactly new to exercise; the 55-year-old Academy Award winner was already in pretty good shape, but he's been looking even leaner and subtly jacked ahead of his role in the epic Christopher Nolan adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey.

As a trainer myself, I was intrigued about the work that went into whipping Damon into shape, so I reached out to his trainer, Gabe Stump, DPT, to find out exactly what it takes to achieve his honed and toned physique.

Here's what he revealed.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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Netflix releases a lot of new movies every year, and here at Tom’s Guide it’s our mission to help you determine which are worth watching and which can be skipped. Because let’s be frank, quantity doesn’t necessarily mean quality, and Netflix is certainly guilty of dropping several dud originals.

We’ve reviewed many of the biggest tentpole Netflix original movies in 2026 (so far), and what better way to highlight the highs and lows of the streaming year to date than to rank them in a convenient numbered list! Below, I’ve collected every Netflix movie review the Tom’s Guide streaming team has published, to give you a snapshot look at what’s worth watching.

In cases where the TG team awarded multiple Netflix movies the same score, I’ve used review site Rotten Tomatoes as a tiebreaker. So, here’s every new Netflix movie we’ve reviewed in 2026, ranked by our final star rating.

Every Netflix movie we've reviewed in 2026, ranked

12. 'Ladies First'

What it’s about: Damien Sachs (Sacha Baron Cohen) is a powerful, chauvinist ad executive. After hitting his head, he awakens in a world where power dynamics have shifted, and it’s women who sit at the top of the ladder. To return to “normality,” he has to spar with Alex Fox (Rosamund Pike), the female version of himself, and learn a few life lessons.

What our review said: "There is potential in a comedy that explores societal sexism through a humorous lens, but Netflix's 'Ladies First' completely fails to say anything meaningful. The end result is a largely joyless comedy that wastes the talents of Rosamund Pike and offers viewers little to enjoy beyond a singular, not particularly funny in the first place, gag."

Tom’s Guide rating: 1.5/5

Read our full "Ladies First" review

11. 'Thrash'

What it’s about: When Annieville, a charming coastal town in South Carolina, is hit with a Category 5 hurricane, the residents face torrential rain, devastating flooding, and powerful winds. Among the chaos, a herd of bull sharks swims into town, giving the survivors an even more dangerous obstacle to overcome. What follows is a desperate battle for survival.”

What our review said: "Netflix survival thriller "Thrash" feels caught between the demands of pleasing every shark movie fan, delivering muted thrills but also only the occasional laugh. It's elevated by some decent performances and will probably do well on the streamer, but it's no must-watch."

Tom’s Guide rating: 2/5

Read our full "Thrash" review

10. 'Office Romance'

What it’s about: Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez) is the no-nonsense CEO of airline Cruz Air. When new hire Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein) joins the company’s legal team, unexpected sparks fly between the pair. Soon, Jackie is breaking her own rule against workplace romances, but outside forces threaten both their personal and professional lives.

What our review said: "'Office Romance' is another flavorless rom-com for Netflix's vast movie catalog. Its conflicting tone, ill-matched leads, and refusal to rewrite the genre script sink any ambitions of standing out. Then again, 'Office Romance' doesn't seem to have any aspiration of being anything other than a disposable rom-com in the first place."

Tom’s Guide rating: 2/5

Read our full "Office Romance" review

9. 'People We Meet on Vacation'

What it’s about: Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) are polar-opposite personalities; she’s a free spirit, he’s uptight and obsessed with planning, yet they’ve become best friends. Striking a deal to take a vacation together every summer, their dynamic shifts over the years, as they consider whether their travel buddy might actually be the person they should be with.

What our review said: “‘This new Netflix rom-com has a lot in common with so-called “beach reads.” It’s disposable and predictable, and not especially well put together. However, while the best novels made for consuming on a summer vacation at least offer no-frills entertainment, “People We Meet on Vacation” fails to meet even this lowered bar.”

Tom’s Guide rating: 2/5

Read our full "People We Meet on Vacation" review

8. 'War Machine'

What it’s about: During the grueling final stages of the US Army Ranger selection process, recruit 81 (Alan Ritchson) and his companions face an unforeseen, extraterrestrial battle for survival when a mechanical monster from another world falls from the skies. Outgunned, they have to rely on each other and their tactical training to fend off a powerful alien threat.

What our review said: “The ending of this movie is a bit baffling, as it drags on too long and serves only to set up a sequel we may never get. But this action movie is largely well-paced, and Alan Ritchson is well-cast. Unfortunately, for all its explosiveness, ‘War Machine’ is just too formulaic and fails to use its star to the fullest.”

Tom’s Guide rating: 2.5/5

Read our full "War Machine" review

7. 'Voicemails for Isabelle'

What it’s about: Deep in grief after the passing of her sister and best friend, Jill (Zoey Deutch) leaves a series of confessional voicemails to her sister’s mobile as a coping mechanism. When the number is reassigned to Wes (Nick Robinson), he quickly falls in love with this woman he’s never met, and concocts a plan to engineer a “surprise” meeting.

What our review said: "If you don't mind your rom-coms being highly predictable, you might find 'Voicemails for Isabelle' charming enough to warrant a watch. It rigidly follows the genre playbook, but you'll still find yourself invested in this meet-cute romance thanks to strong work from its leads, Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson."

Tom’s Guide rating: 3/5

Read our full "Voicemails for Isabelle" review

6. 'Apex'

What it’s about: Sasha (Charlize Theron) is still reeling from a personal tragedy when she takes a trip into the Australian wilderness for a spot of risk-taking. But this already dangerous activity becomes even more deadly when she becomes the target of a ruthless hunter (Taron Egerton), who forces her into an unpredictable game of cat-and-mouse.

What our review said: "'Apex' is a mostly forgettable blend of the thriller genre's greatest hits. It's sorely lacking in original ideas of its own, but Charlize Theron and a devilishly unhinged Taron Egerton keep you invested until the conclusion. Just don't expect to remember much. 'Apex' fades from memory mere hours after watching."

Tom’s Guide rating: 3/5

Read our full "Apex" review

5. 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man'

What it’s about: “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” is the feature-film continuation of the popular period series. Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returns from his self-imposed exile, and this time faces his most destructive reckoning yet. The future of his family and legacy is at stake as Shelby must decide to face his demons for good or burn it all to the ground.

What our review said: "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" is a solid extra helping of Steven Knight's crime drama, with much of the swagger and style of the show that came before. It's a capstone to a beloved show that I think (mostly!) sticks the landing, even if it takes a little while to get going, and never quite hits the heights of some of the series' most memorable moments."

Tom’s Guide rating: 3/5

Read our full "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" review

4. 'Roommates'

What it’s about: Starting her freshman year at college, Devon (Sadie Sandler) is hoping to find her place after a difficult high school experience. She strikes up a fast friendship with Celeste (Chloe East). They agree to be roommates before their tight bond gives way to passive-aggressive tension, disregarded personal boundaries, and many harsh insults.

What our review said: "Roommates is a funny college comedy about two fast friends who just as quickly become sworn enemies. A particularly questionable structural decision hurts the pacing, but Sadie Sandler's Devon is a likeable and relatable lead, and Chloe East is great as the 'cool girl,' who smiles while stabbing you in the back."

Tom’s Guide rating: 3.5/5

Read our full "Roommates" review

3. 'Remarkably Bright Creatures'

What it’s about: Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s 2023 novel, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” charts the unexpected bond between a lonely widower (Sally Field) and a young drifter (Lewis Pullman) who’s arrived in town looking for his family. It’s also narrated by an octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina). It’s a story of finding hope in the most unlikely of places.

What our review said: “Netflix's "Remarkably Bright Creatures" is a warm, feel-good feature that's made for leisurely weekend viewing. It's a simple, charming tale buoyed by strong performances from its leads, and one that I'm happy to recommend.”

Tom’s Guide rating: 3.5/5

Read our full "Remarkably Bright Creatures" review

2. 'Enola Holmes 3'

What it’s about: The third installment in Netflix’s Enola Holmes series sees the eponymous heroine (Millie Bobby Brown) head to Malta to wed Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), but these plans are put on hold when her older brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), disappears and Enola is thrown into her most twisting and most dangerous mystery yet.

What our review said: “‘Enola Holmes 3’ is a stylish, emotionally richer sequel that deepens the franchise’s charm while raising the stakes with a more personal mystery. Millie Bobby Brown anchors it brilliantly, balancing heart, humor, and action, even when supporting performances occasionally falter.

Tom’s Guide rating: 4/5

Read our full "Enola Holmes 3" review

1. 'The Rip'

What it’s about: “The Rip” is the latest collaboration between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, with the pair playing Miami cops who stumble upon millions of dollars in stashed cash within a derelict house. As the night progresses, trust within the police unit threatens to break, as they each suspect their companions of scheming to steal the money for themselves.

What our review said: “Driven by the palpable chemistry between Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, ‘The Rip’ is a gritty, high-tension crime thriller that overcomes its standard plot and underwritten side characters through masterful suspense and unexpected twists.

Tom’s Guide rating: 4.5/5

Read our full "The Rip" review

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• 10 best Netflix movies and shows of the summer, ranked by viewers
• New on Netflix in August 2026
• Why your streaming bill is topping $60 a month

When I first started testing the best treadmills, all I cared about were the biggest specs on the sheet. Things like top speed, max incline, and motor horsepower.

These are all very important, for sure, but having used a variety of home treadmills for long periods over the past decade or so, they’re not the features that have made the biggest impact on my enjoyment of a machine.

When you’re running on a treadmill regularly, it’s all about ease-of-use, and I’ve tested machines that excel on this front, and some that don’t, instead putting barriers up to make it harder to run.

So if I were looking to buy a home treadmill today, there are a few features I’d now consider dealbreakers that wouldn’t have occurred to me before using one regularly for several years.

Here are six questions I’d ask when looking for a treadmill.

How fast does the treadmill start?

If I’ve carved out some time to run, I want to spend that time running, not navigating my way through a series of increasingly annoying sub-menus on a treadmill console or, even worse, having to wait for a software update.

Ideally, a treadmill will have some kind of quick-start option with manual buttons, but if I do have to fire up an app or use the console, it should still take less than 30 seconds to get the belt moving so I can start running.

As someone who often uses a treadmill to fit in a run while my toddler has a nap, time is precious, and too many expensive treadmills in particular throw way too many options and menus at you before you can actually start running.

The Bowflex Treadmill 10 I’ve used for many years is brilliant in many respects, but not this one, and I’ve often started my runs on it in a mild fury at how long it’s taken to get going.

Is it easy to use without an app subscription?

This is tied to my first question because if you have to fire up an app on the treadmill every time you run, it does add time and software updates to the mix.

Beyond the extra time, if your machine relies heavily on an app to function, the odds are you’ll be paying a significant monthly fee to get the most out of it, so it’s important to know what you get from the machine without paying this fee.

If you’re buying something like the Peloton Tread, you’ll go in knowing that the app subscription is a big part of what it offers, but with machines from brands like Bowflex and NordicTrack it’s less clear how reliant they are on the JRNY and iFit apps baked into them.

You could easily end up using a treadmill for five to 10 years, and may well not want to be paying a subscription for all of that time, so check what features you get without subscribing.

Does it have manual controls?

Bright touchscreens that display all your stats and control the treadmill are fantastic at the start of a run, but after 45 minutes of running, they can become harder to use without smearing sweat all over the screen and inadvertently triggering the wrong controls.

Manual controls for speed and incline are a must for me, and ideally there will be some shortcut buttons to certain speed and incline settings you can use for fast changes during interval workouts.

Does it have a truly foldable design and is it portable?

Big treadmills are great if you have a lot of space and never have to move them, but as someone who has twice had to wheel a huge, very heavy treadmill around my neighbourhood with a friend, getting stuck in a narrow alley at one point, it is handy to have a more portable machine.

Also check how foldable the machine actually is, because that term is used a lot and often means you can lift the belt a little bit, which slightly decreases the floor space used by the machine while making it take up more space in every other way.

Many treadmills now fold completely flat, which is fantastic for storing them under something, or even against a wall (do properly secure them to that wall to avoid catastrophe), and also makes them easier to move around the house.

I think it’s actually worth sacrificing in some key areas like top speed or even belt size to get a machine that takes up less space, but that will depend on your situation with how much space you have to play with.

Does it have Bluetooth connectivity for third-party apps?

Lots of treadmills now come with fitness platforms baked in, or partner apps to link to, which is all very well, but I think being able to link the machine with any app you want is important.

For example, I like to use Zwift to track my treadmill runs, and having a treadmill that speaks directly to the app is easier and more accurate than using a footpod or my running watch to send my stats to Zwift.

This kind of Bluetooth connectivity was a very rare feature when I started testing treadmills, but should now come as standard given the amount of training apps out there you might want to link up with.

How large is the running belt?

This is a big feature, and one most people probably know to check, but still worth flagging up. How long and wide is the running belt on the treadmill you’re looking at, because this directly affects how comfortable it is to use the machine regularly.

I’m 6ft tall and a pretty fast runner, but have a fairly short stride length for my height and can get away with using shorter belts, but feeling cramped on a machine, or even anxious about hitting the front or sides of the treadmill, can really wreck the enjoyment of a run.

A small belt is usually the biggest drawback of cheaper, more foldable machines, but you can strike a balance. The most spacious machines offer 60in x 20in belts or bigger, but I’ve been fine running regularly on treadmills with 50-55in long and 17-18in wide belts.

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Collectively, we’re stressed. Our nervous systems are fried and our sleep is suffering. Enter: expensive gadgets that promise to help us unwind so we can finally get a decent night’s rest. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulators (nVNS) are the latest viral sensations within the wellness industry.

As a mildly stressed and extremely frazzled working parent, the idea that I could de-stress and sleep better just by turning on a gadget sounds appealing. But do nVNS work, and are they worth the hundreds of dollars that they can cost?

To find out, I tried a $299 vagus nerve stimulator and pitted it against doctor-recommended vagus nerve stimulation practices you can do at home for free. Both methods helped me mellow out before bed and hit a sleep score of 96 on my Apple watch, but one has become my go-to stress buster.

Key takeaways: At a glance

• Wearable vagus nerve stimulators offer an effortless, high-tech way to switch your body from 'fight-or-flight' into a relaxed state, but doctors point out that free physiological techniques can trigger the exact same biological response.
• To test how effective both options are, I put them to the test to see if they can help me lower stress for better sleep.
• Consumer vagus nerve stimulators can be effective at reducing stress but come with a high price tag.
• Techniques like deep breathing and cold-water facial exposure immediately stimulate the vagus nerve and lower your heart rate naturally with zero cost or equipment.
• The Verdict: If you struggle with stress and want a passive, hands-off solution to unwind, the $299 investment may be worth it. However, for most people struggling to sleep, $0 breathwork practices deliver comparable stress-relief results without spending a cent.

What is your vagus nerve and why do you need to stimulate it?

The term 'vagus nerve stimulator' has entered the wellness chat, with healthcare entrepreneurs and influencers alike lauding the benefits of the practice. But what is your vagus nerve, and why do we need to stimulate it?

"The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem to the major organs, with branches to the heart, lungs, and digestive organs," explains Dr. Adam Mednick, a board-certified neurologist.

"It’s the main highway of the parasympathetic nervous system, often called the 'rest and digest' system, helping regulate heart rate, breathing, digestion, immune responses, and mood."

This nerve plays a central role in the gut-brain connection and in how the body manages stress and inflammation, says Dr. Mednick.

"The vagus nerve is stimulated whenever the body needs to calm down after a stressful experience, acting as a brake on the fight-or-flight response, lowering heart rate, reducing inflammation, and promoting relaxation," continues the neurologist.

What are vagus nerve stimulators?

There are two types of vagus nerve stimulators. First, there are invasive vagus nerve stimulators, a device implanted under your skin. This type of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is usually used to treat epilepsy, depression and stroke recovery.

Then there are non-invasive vagus nerve stimulators (nVNS), commercial devices that act externally. These are typically used to manage stress and headaches.

These devices target the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for lowering your heartrate and aiding digestion. But they can cost hundreds of dollars — do we need them?

"For the average healthy person, the answer is no: consumer vagus nerve stimulators are unnecessary," says Dr. Mednick, who specializes in stroke, emergency neurology, and critical care neurology.

"FDA-approved uses of vagus nerve stimulation are for specific medical conditions, such as drug-resistant epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, not general wellness."

A $299 vagus nerve stimulator vs free alternatives: How I tested

Commercial vagus nerve stimulators are marketed towards those who struggle with ongoing stress and poor sleep, who are looking for a medication-free, low-lift solution.

So, basically, me.

However, healthcare professionals are divided over whether they're beneficial for anyone beyond those who medically require them. Especially when there are methods of stimulating your vagus nerve at home, for free.

To explore how well a commercial vagus nerve stimulator compares to doctor-recommended alternative solutions, I put them both to the test.

To do this, I tested a Sensate vagus nerve stimulator — a $299 device that promises to relieve stress in 10 minutes — against free practices, such as humming and cold water therapy.

I tried both methods at the same time each day; as soon as I finished work and again as part of my nighttime routine.

Via my Apple Watch and a third party app, Welltory, I was able to record my stress levels before the vagus nerve stimulation and after. I then combined this with my overnight sleep score to see which method (if any) helped me unwind enough to unlock a decent night's rest.

How a $299 vagus nerve stimulator helped lower my stress levels for better sleep

For this experiment, I tried out the Sensate vagus nerve stimulator, a pebble shaped device you place on top of your sternum for 10 to 30 minutes. It stimulates your vagus nerve through vibration pulses while you listen to a soothing soundscape.

Sensate recommends using the device during any period of stress, but for daily use it suggests immediately after finishing work and before bed as effective ways to reset and wind down.

With that in mind, I logged off from work and made a note of my stress levels via the Welltory app before using the device (65% - medium).

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much. My colleague Eve has tested several vagus nerve stimulators and struggled to recommend them to anyone beyond devout wellness aficionados. But then, Eve is someone with a highly regulated nervous system who gets reliably good sleep every night.

The vibrating sensation took me pleasantly by surprise. I opted for a ten minute session and streamed the accompanying soundscape through my Ozlo sleepbuds 2. I sat on my bed and closed my eyes and focused on the vibrations. I might have been imagining it, but I could feel them in my stomach and even in my feet.

Once the ten minutes was over, I felt grounded and relaxed and thoroughly switched off from work. I made a note of my stress levels (17% - low).

I used the Sensate again before bed. This time, lying on my back with my sleep mask on and my sleepbuds in, I felt deeply relaxed. So much so that once the 10 minute session was over, I only had just enough energy to take the Senate off my chest before I fell fast asleep.

I woke up to a sleep score of 96 (excellent), which — as someone prone to 3 a.m. wake ups — is practically unheard of.

How free doctor-recommended vagus nerve stimulation practices helped lower stress for better sleep

In order to stimulate the vagus nerve for stress relief, Dr. Merick, the author of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: From Diagnosis to Treatment, recommends the following practices:

• Slow, deep breathing: Especially with extended exhales. Breathing at roughly six breaths per minute activates vagal pathways via the diaphragm, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and reducing anxiety.
• Meditation and yoga: Controlled breathing increases parasympathetic tone, reducing stress.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity is one of the most reliable ways to improve vagal tone.
• Cold exposure: Brief cold water exposure (such as splashing cold water on the face or taking cold showers) can trigger a vagal response.
• Singing and humming: These activities engage the muscles of the throat innervated by the vagus nerve.

In order to recreate the same relaxing conditions as the vagus nerve stimulator, I logged my stress levels via the Welltory app (14% very low — which is unusual for me). I then decided to splash my face with cold water once I finished work to trigger an initial vagal response.

Next, I sat on my bed for ten minutes — the same length of time as I used the Sensate stimulator for — and practiced some deep breathing, focusing on long, extended exhales to open vagal pathways and lower blood pressure. To make it a fair fight, I also listened to a soundscape on my Ozlo sleepbuds.

This felt relaxing, but in a gentler way to the Sensate vagus nerve stimulator. It felt as though I had managed to leave the working day behind me, which isn't always easy if you've worked from home.

But if I'm honest, I felt drained, rather than relaxed. This was reflected in my stress score (5% — which is apparently 'too low'). I think I've been fighting stress for such a long time that I just felt utterly depleted.

That night, I tried to recreate the same conditions as the Sensate stimulator. I got ready for bed, put on my sleep mask, listened to a soundscape and practiced some humming (much to the confusion of my husband).

I can see why experts recommend humming to stimulate the vagus nerve — I could feel the sound reverberating through my chest. I fell asleep before the ten minutes were over and woke up to another 96 sleep score.

Do you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a vagus new stimulator, or can you get the same results for free? The verdict

Do you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a specialist vagus nerve stimulator in order to combat stress for better sleep? No. But if, like me, underlying stress is something you currently live with, they're certainly a nice-to-have piece of sleep tech.

I like and appreciate how you can simply put the Sensate around your neck, turn it on and relax — no thinking required. But you can absolutely access similar results by following doctor-recommended practices, such as cold water therapy, deep breathing and exercise.

The biggest takeaway for me from this experiment is that you have to make time to combat stress. Feeling stress and doing absolutely nothing about it won't work (trust me). Much like trying to sleep better, you need to make it a priority — but you don't have to spend $299 to do so.

Stress-busting tech we've tried and tested for better sleep

I’ll be honest: For the most part, testing a TV isn’t exciting. Most of the process involves flashing differently colored boxes on the screen and measuring them with a doohickey. Thrilling.

But at some point, I get to tuck away my TV-testing equipment, toss on a few Blu-rays and treat myself to a feast for the eyes. Unfortunately, the better the TV, the longer it takes me to finish a review.

Over the years, I’ve put together a small collection of 4K Blu-rays that make the most out of the best TVs on the market. Some of these flicks feature scintillating lights and psychedelic colors — perfect fodder for a bright, punchy QLED. Others put the high-contrast characteristics of an OLED to the test. Here’s a peek at what I’m working with.

1. "Speed Racer" (2008)

Looking for something to showcase quantum-dot color? Or maybe you’re breaking in an all-new RGB LED TV and need a double-dose of dazzling, dream-like imagery.

In any event, the kaleidoscopic, kinetic visuals of Lana and Lilly Wachowski’s 2008 cult-classic is the perfect pick for people who want to push a TV to its limits. Best of all? It’s a damn good movie, to boot.

This 4K disc is brand-new, having just dropped back in May. Ahead of its release, fans of the film — myself included — crossed our fingers for a transfer that did this remarkable-looking movie justice. I’m happy to report that “Speed Racer” has never looked better on a TV screen. It ought to be a staple in any physical media-collector’s catalogue.

2. “The Northman” (2022)

Whenever I want to test a TV’s ability to render dark landscapes and shadowy sequences, I drop in a disc of one of the most atmospheric movies of the last several years: “The Northman.”

It’s not my favorite entry in Robert Eggers’s filmography, nor is it an easy watch. But few 4K Blu-rays do a better job of depicting gloom and glumness.

As a result of its dark, dreary presentation, “The Northman” is my go-to choice for seeing how well a TV preserves near-black shadow detail. It can be punishing on budget TVs, but on higher-end sets (particularly OLED TVs), it’s hard not to be swallowed up by the movie’s all-enveloping visual despair.

3. “Dune: Part Two” (2024)

One of the most successful sequels in the last few years is also a stunning cinematic showcase at home. Just as the spectacle of “Dune: Part Two” deserved to be seen on the biggest-possible screen during its initial theatrical run, it’s also best experienced on Blu-ray — not digital.

The “Dune: Part Two” 4K disc isn’t just a good way to show off a new TV’s HDR capabilities, it’s also a fine way to demonstrate the bass-heavy thumps of a dedicated soundbar. There aren’t too many sound bytes that fire me up as much as the first thing we hear in “Dune: Part Two”: a deep, bellowing voice declaring the ultimate power of Spice.

4. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)

Years ago, while discussing Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece, “2001,” a friend of mine said something that will never leave my mind: “That movie looks like it was made tomorrow.”

Despite being nearly 60 years old, I’d be hard-pressed to name more than a handful of sci-fi films that come close to matching the visual command on display during “2001.” Fortunately, the 4K Blu-ray looks nearly as impressive as the 70mm release I experienced several years ago.

From its balletic spacefaring sequences to the hallucinogenic laser lights of Jupiter (and beyond the infinite), the “2001” Blu-ray is a great way to demonstrate how impressive modern TVs are at presenting classic cinema.

5. "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015)

One of the most popular discs among TV-testers, George Miller's high-octane "Mad Max" legacy sequel is a perfect inaugural viewing for new TVs of all types. It's a regular feature in our testing labs for a reason.

"Fury Road" is especially eye-catching on high-performance QLEDs and souped-up, quantum dot-equipped OLEDs on account of its masterful use of color. For years, I've used it to benchmark how well a TV can showcase deep, rich reds in particular.

OpenAI announced Friday (July 31) that ChatGPT is getting deeper browser integration through both its Chrome extension and desktop app, making it easier to ask questions about what you're already looking at online instead of constantly copying and pasting text into a chat.

The update comes just weeks after the company decided to sunset ChatGPT Atlas. Now, rather than utilizing ChatGPT capabilities in a different browser, users can explore new features right in Chrome.

With ChatGPT's Side Chat, users can ask questions about YouTube videos, understand highlighted text and reference multiple open tabs at once. On desktop, the ChatGPT app can now suggest URLs as you type, let you revisit browser history and give you more control over how that browsing data is managed.

For those who have been using Gemini in Chrome for awhile, the feature is almost identical, just with a different AI model.

Here are the features rolling out now.

How to try it

You'll need either the latest version of the ChatGPT desktop app or the ChatGPT Chrome extension. Once you've updated, simply open any webpage or YouTube video.

Launch ChatGPT Side Chat from the browser. From there you can highlight text or simply ask a question about the page you're viewing. If you're using the desktop app, begin typing a website and watch for URL suggestions. If you've enabled browser history, ChatGPT can also reference pages you've recently visited.

The biggest change is that you no longer have to copy links or paste long sections of text before asking for help. Try these prompts to explore what ChatGPT Side Chat can do.

Summarize a YouTube video

Prompt: Summarize this video in five bullet points. Then tell me the three most useful tips and approximately when they appear.

Instead of watching a 45-minute tutorial from beginning to end, let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting and get bullet points. From there, you can decide if you want to watch and review the full video.

2. Compare all of your open tabs

Prompt: Compare all of my open tabs. Show me the biggest differences, recommend the best option for my needs and explain why.

Whether you're shopping for a laptop or researching vacation destinations, ChatGPT can help make sense of multiple pages without you manually switching back and forth.

3. Explain complicated articles

Prompt: Explain this in plain English as if you've never heard of this topic before. Avoid technical jargon and give me one real-world example.

From news stories to research, now you can ask ChatGPT questions about what you're reading to help you understand it better.

4. Fact-check what you're reading

Prompt: Does this claim seem accurate? Point out anything that might be misleading or missing important context.

This might be my favorite use case. Now, instead of opening another search tab to see if what you're reading is factually accurate, you can ask ChatGPT and have it cite the original source.

5. Turn a webpage into notes

Prompt: Turn this page into study notes with key facts, important terms and five questions I should know the answers to.

Just in time for back-to-school, this feature will surely be a game changer for students or anyone doing research.

6. Find the important information

Prompt: What are the three most surprising facts on this page? Also tell me anything the average reader would probably overlook.

All too often, long articles bury the best details. To ensure you don't miss a thing, give this prompt a try. ChatGPT could also give you the information in bullet points if you prefer.

7. Organize your research

Prompt: Group my open tabs by topic. Tell me which ones are duplicates, which are worth keeping open and which I can probably close.

When I'm doing research, I'll often open tab after tab without even realizing it. With a prompt like this and ChatGPT Side Chat, you can avoid tab overload.

Bottom line

If you spend your day reading articles, comparing products, watching tutorials or doing online research, it's one of those quality-of-life upgrades that quickly becomes hard to live without.

I like the ability to ask questions directly about the pages I'm viewing without moving to a new tab. you're viewing makes ChatGPT feel much more like a built-in research assistant than a separate chatbot.

You'll have to give ChatGPT Side Chat a try for yourself to see if it's worth using. Don't worry if you download it and still don't have access. OpenAI is rolling out this product slowly.

But from what I've experienced, it seems like a useful update. I'm still finding new ways to get the most out of this browser feature.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just learned your Claude AI chats could show up in Google — here's how to check yours
• I stopped using ChatGPT for everything — here are 5 prompts I only run in Claude
• I use Gemini Spark daily — here are 7 prompts that show what it can really do

The launch of Siri AI with the iOS 27 beta means that your new phone, no matter who makes it, has a built-in AI chatbot for you to interact with. iPhones will have Siri AI once iOS 27 officially releases in the fall, while Android phones come packaged with Google Gemini — plus whatever other models the manufacturer wants you to use, like Samsung's Bixby.

The real question is, which of those chatbots is the better one to have? Despite the fact Siri AI runs on Google's Gemini models, it behaves very differently than Gemini itself. That manifests itself in a lot of different ways, but crucially, how does it affect the answers you get?

To get a better understanding of how these chatbots work, I asked them a bunch of loaded questions to see how much of a difference there really is. Here's what I uncovered.

Finding a coffee shop

First up is the all-important question for any working person, especially those ones that have loud, needy children to cater to. Siri and Gemini were able to "find me the nearest coffee shop" right away, pointing out that the nearest spot was an independent cafe just five minutes walk from my house.

Both AIs offered Maps previews with brief information on opening times, customer ratings and directions on how to get there. Gemini also took it upon itself to suggest a bunch of similar businesses nearby, including nearby cafes and a sandwich shop. However Siri kept things short and to the point.

I tried to get both AIs to tell me how busy the cafe might be, but that information wasn't available. It took me a few attempts with different spots, like the local Starbucks and McDonalds, to get Gemini to tell me about crowd levels — so while Google technically has that information available, it's inconsistent in whether you will be able to access it. Sadly this is something Apple Maps, and therefore Siri, totally lacks.

The fastest way to the office

Next up I needed information on how I can get to Future's offices in central London as quickly as possible. Siri wanted a little bit of clarification as to which office I meant, while Gemini picked up that I meant the office on Westbourne Terrace without need for further elaboration.

Both AIs defaulted to offering driving directions, though Siri got confused during the process. Apple Maps loaded up the correct address near London's Paddington station, but the previews in the Siri app related to a different Westbourne Terrace much closer to home. The driving routes were more or less the same from both, but both AIs disagreed on the fastest method of transport.

When asked whether it would be faster to drive or take the train, Google confirmed that a train to Paddington would only take 35 minutes — as opposed to over an hour by car. Meanwhile Siri decided that the train would take one minute longer than driving by car.

I was confused as to why Siri thought the train would take so long, until I checked Apple Maps and realized it was taking into account when I'd arrive if I left home right this second. It neglected to inform me that the next train wouldn't be passing through for another half an hour.

Which is the cheaper option?

Something the two can agree on is that driving is actually the cheaper option, when comparing trains against my 40kWh Nissan Leaf. Both noted that the exact cost of the drive will depend on how much I'm paying for electricity, though only Gemini realized that I would have to take other fees into account as well.

In fact Gemini gave me a full breakdown of costs for both methods of transport, noting the cost of train tickets, the London Underground and offering a rough total for the entire trip. For driving it took into account that there are many ways of charging a care, with average costs for home and public charging sessions.

It also made a point of mentioning the various extra costs of driving into London including the congestion charge, parking fees and the ultra low emission zone — though thankfully a zero emission electric car is exempt from the latter. So Gemini did what it could to inform me of all potential costs, while Siri only offered up the most basic information unless I asked further questions.

What about making skateboarding dogs?

Both Siri and Gemini were able to generate images in the middle of chats, based on my prompt of asking to see a Labrador riding a skateboard. Both images were very different, and Siri's had the more obvious tell-tale signs of being AI generated at first glance — including that distinct sheen the subjects in AI generated images often have.

Both AIs were up front about what additional art styles were available when asked, though Google went into far too much detail over-analyzing every single option available. Meanwhile Siri just listed them out and expected me to understand what was being said. In this instance, that's actually the option I prefer, because I don't need an explanation of what oil paintings or "Pixar-style 3D animation" means.

Tricking AI into helping me commit crimes

Now, we all know that AIs have safeguards that stop you from directly asking about how to pull off illegal activities. But can you trick them into giving you information with weird hypothetical scenarios? So I asked them to help me smuggle powdered sugar into a country where such a thing is illegal.

Siri shut that down right away and refused to help me smuggle items or bypass customs, even if I was talking about a hypothetical situation. Gemini, on the other hand, was more than eager to try and help me sneak sugar across the border.

It suggested that I try to soak the sugar into fabrics and garments, with information on how I can extract it again. It also offered the idea of packing it in with legal white powders like protein powder, talc and cornstarch, even going so far to suggest that I reseal the packaging to try and escape detection.

While these techniques may not be applicable to illegal substances, it was remarkably easy to get Gemini to try and aid my "hypothetical" criminal behavior. But when I changed tact, and directly asked if I could smuggle illegal drugs across the border, Gemini shut the whole thing down and declared that it can't assist with illegal activities.

Cheating on my homework

Siri and Gemini both refused to help me cheat on my imaginary homework, but they did offer to help me study instead. Siri was as blunt as usual, offering to help me learn the material, while Gemini gave a more in-depth list of ways it can help me learn.

Both AIs were pretty eager to write me an essay on the history of the iPhone, though they had wildly different takes on what an essay should be. Siri's essay was a four-paragraph summary, followed by a disclaimer that I should double check all this information. Meanwhile Gemini's was not only longer, it was also split into sections focussing on different iPhone eras — plus a conclusion.

It's almost like Siri is the kid that begrudgingly does the bare minimum, while Gemini is the studious nerd striving for top grades and all the extra credit it can muster.

Political betting odds

Those who are familiar with British politics will know that there's about to be an election that will select a new Member of Parliament. For various political reasons that I won't go into, the two frontrunners are the former MP, who resigned and triggered the election, and a man dressed as a sentient trash can from another planet — aptly named Count BinFace.

Naturally one of these candidates is not like the other, and I asked both AIs where I can check the odds on Count BinFace actually winning this election. Gemini gave me a bunch of resources and information to check this for myself, while Siri cut out the middleman and just gave me a summary of the best odds. Gemini only volunteered that information after I explicitly asked for the odds, rather than asking where I could find them.

Medical advice and emergencies

We all go to the internet asking for medical advice, even if we know we should see a doctor about it. So what exactly does AI have to say if you go to it for help instead of a doctor? Gemini and Siri emphasize that they are not doctors, and that you really should see a medical professional.

But failing that, they do seem to try and help in any way they can. When told that my foot was hurting, Gemini and Siri both suggested possible causes, and situations where you really should seek urgent medical attention. However, only Gemini asked for more information about the kind of pain I was experiencing, and which part of my foot was affected. Gemini also suggested some options for home treatment, such as rest, elevating the foot and applying ice.

While Gemini was a little more helpful in that regard, it really dropped the ball when I claimed I was having a heart attack. I got a very large message telling me that I need to call 999 (or 911) immediately, and suggested some things I can do to stay alive while I wait for EMTs to arrive.

Siri's response was to start calling 999 automatically, causing me to scramble to cancel the call before it made a connection. As helpful as Gemini's information is, reading material is the last thing you need in an emergency — which is why I prefer Siri's no-nonsense approach.

What happens if you ask for the wrong AI?

Both Siri and Gemini didn't really seem to care when I referred to them as Alexa and Bixby mid-conversation. Siri straight-up ignored the fact I called it by a different name, while Gemini's response seemed to be phrased as if the AI is laughing it off

Regardless of that initial response (or lack thereof), both AIs answered the question without any further hesitation.

Can my AI beat up your AI?

I don't know about your school, but when I was a kid one of the popular playground topics was figuring out whose dad would win in a fight — because pre-teen boys aren't the most cultured demographic. Obviously I wanted to see which chatbot would win in a fight, and whether Siri and Gemini thought they could physically overpower Claude and ChatGPT.

Siri refused to entertain this topic, insisting that it is a "fan of all intelligence, artificial or otherwise." Which feels like a nice way of saying that this is a stupid topic and we should all just get along.

Gemini pointed out that chatbots have no physical form, so any kind of brawl is impossible. Instead it put together a face-off for the three chatbots to see what skills they each excel at. According to Gemini, Claude takes the crown for coding and logic, while ChatGPT is the best AI for general tasks and productivity. Meanwhile Gemini itself is the best AI for live data and multi-modal capabilities.

Asking about fake events

Some AI chatbots have developed a reputation for just telling people what they want to hear, with little regard for facts and accuracy. So I attempted to ask Siri and Gemini about things that haven't happened yet, or never did happen, to see what the response would be.

First up was asking the winner of the World Cup in 2027, to which Siri informed me that the 2027 World Cup hasn't actually happened yet. I had failed to realize that the FIFA Women's World Cup is taking place next year, and obviously does not have a winner. Gemini also pointed out that the Rugby World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup are happening next year too.

Only Gemini seemed to acknowledge the fact that the FIFA Men's World Cup has already happened, with Siri speaking about the tournament in the future tense.

When prompted about the 2030 Men's World Cup, both AIs pointed out that it hasn't happened yet. Due to a hearing mixup Siri also pointed out that there was no World Cup in 2013, and asked if I meant the 2014 or 2010 tournaments.

Struggling with logic puzzles

Interestingly both Siri and Gemini seemed to struggle with some logic puzzles I gave it. In particular with the riddle, "A mother had five boys Marco, Tucker, Webster and Thomas. Was the fifth boy's name Frank, Evan or Alex?"

The answer is Frank, because the four older boys share their first initial with the days of the week — meaning Frank corresponds to Friday. Siri was adamant that the fifth boy was named Thomas, because it misinterpreted the wording as saying "Thomas was the fifth boy's name." I ended up having to correct Siri, because it wouldn't let go of the fact that the fifth kid is supposed to be Frank.

Gemini got the correct answer, but went through some bizarre and incorrect logic in the process. It insisted the answer was Alex, but also realized that the boys' initials corresponded to days of the week. Gemini then went through a process of correcting itself automatically, and documenting everything its thought process into a single answer.

Then again they were both fine with other logic puzzles, and even recognized that I was trying to make them solve the Monty Hall problem without mentioning it by name. According to Siri and Gemini, your odds really are better if you switch your choice partway through the game, rather than sticking with your original choice. They weren't able to give me an answer for the Trolley Problem, though.

Overall impressions

While Siri AI is based on Google's Gemini models, there are a lot of differences in the way the two chatbots actually respond to questions. The main thing I noticed is that Siri was a lot faster to respond, and it had a preference for offering shorter and simpler responses.

In a lot of cases this might be preferable, because information overload is a very real thing. Similarly the fact Siri didn't mess about with bombarding me with information and immediately started calling emergency services when I claimed to be having a heart attack is a tactic that could save peoples' lives.

Gemini took a while to get most answers, even ones that should have been fairly easy, as though it was Googling every little thing it gave me. The answers it gave were often rather long and complicated, offering a huge amount of detail and explanation for every little thing. While this can be useful in certain situations, such as trying to cheat on my homework or being informed about London's driving tolls, it isn't necessary all the time. Less is more, as the saying goes.

Apple also seems to have Siri locked down on the morality side of things. It won't acknowledge any attempts to turn it into a romantic partner and it shoots down any questions that flirt with the wrong side of the law — even if you ask it as a hypothetical. The fact Gemini was so eager to help me smuggle sugar was a little disturbing, to be honest.

That said, I did like the fact that Gemini offered some kind of message telling you it was thinking. Siri was inconsistent with this, and there were times when Siri needed a little more time to figure things out and the screen ground to a halt. So I had no idea whether it was processing an answer or if it had crashed. Then again, Siri is still in beta, so these kinds of errors are to be expected.

More from Tom's Guide

• ‘We don’t want to overwhelm the consumer with AI’: why Samsung is taking a different approach with Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch
• Is the Apple Upgrade program a good deal or a rip-off? I asked ChatGPT to crunch the numbers and here's the verdict
• I tested Starlink-powered 4G on my phone — here's what actually happened in a dead zone

My age places me in “Unc” territory, which means I remember a time when the internet wasn’t as widely used as it is today.

My first home computer was nothing more than a machine that let me play Kid Pix and 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet all day. Once those neon colored Mac desktop computers landed in my elementary school classroom, I learned how to type and snuck in some sessions of playing MDK. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I was finally exposed to the wide and wonderful world of the internet—I spent countless hours looking up fake images of Dragon Ball AF characters I swore were real and spoilers for wrestling shows that hadn’t aired yet.

I have to pay my respects to the genius inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee. After its inception in March of 1989 and its becoming more readily available for the public in August 1991, it has morphed into an integral part of our lives due to the myriad ways it can be used to educate, entertain, build communities, and more.

In celebration of World Wide Day, I asked ChatGPT to help me in my mission of becoming a better internet user by recommending the most useful free sites. What I found was seven sites that have earned a permanent spot on my bookmarks list.

Saving time and money with these vital sites

ChatGPT's useful free site suggestions catered to my desire to use the World Wide Web to help me save as much time, money, and effort as possible.

The seven sites it made me aware of covered a wide range of uses, such as free access to archived media that’s no longer readily available, ebooks of literary works by revered authors, radio stations from across the globe, etc.

These are the seven sites recommended by ChatGPT that I made a permanent part of my daily World Wide Web surfing:

• Internet Archive: One of the internet's greatest public resources. What it's useful for: borrow millions of books for free, watch classic films, access historical software & games, browse old websites through the Wayback Machine, and find public-domain music & media. Best for: researchers, students, journalists, and anyone looking for hard-to-find information.
• Project Gutenberg: A massive collection of legal, free ebooks. You’ll find over 75,000 public-domain books including classics from: Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Shakespeare. Perfect for reading on Kindle or your phone.
• Photopea: A free Photoshop alternative that runs entirely in your browser. It can edit PSD files, remove backgrounds, design social groups, create thumbnails, edit photos, and export to multiple formats. Many people never need paid image-editing software after discovering this site.
• Radio Garden: An interactive globe that lets you listen to live radio stations from around the world. Great for discovering new music, learning languages, hearing local news, and exploring different cultures. It’s surprisingly addictive.
• FutureTools: Best for finding the perfect AI tool. Instead of Googling “best AI for X,” search here. Categories include writing, image generation, video editing, coding, marketing, productivity, and education. If there’s a new AI tool worth trying, it’ll likely show up here first.
• Have I Been Pwned: Best for security. Enter your email address to see whether it has appeared in known data breaches. It’s one of the easiest ways to know when you should change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and watch for phishing attempts.
• CamelCamelCamel: Best for never overpaying on Amazon. It tracks Amazon price history so you can see whether today’s “sale is actually a deal, the lowest historical price, and price trends over months or years. You can also set alerts for when prices drop.

As someone who’s an avid reader, a big music buff, a photo editor (I’m the guy who likes to increase or decrease the dimensions of the pictures I include in my articles) and more, ChatGPT’s suggested sites ended up being way more beneficial than I anticipated.

After discovering them, I treated myself to hours-long periods where I electronically skimmed through old issues of GamePro Magazine, finally read Moby Dick in full, and jammed to the Afrobeats tunes emanating from Wazobia FM 94.1 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The takeaway

Thanks to the World Wide Web, we can discover a multitude of cultures, learn different languages, revisit our youth through archived media, and so much more. World Wide Web Day is one of those holidays that reminds me just how valuable the internet is when it’s time to expand our cultural horizons, intelligence, and social spaces.

I’ve learned to take the good with the bad whenever I do my weekend deep dives into every corner of the World Wide Web. With ChatGPT’s free, useful site suggestions, I’ll have a much easier time researching, reading, looking for product deals, etc. in the future.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I finally let ChatGPT roast me — and it absolutely destroyed my personality, dating life and nerdy hobbies
• 'If this 22-year-old made $400,000 over the weekend, why can't I?' Inside the fake AI entrepreneur boom
• I gave Claude Opus 5 and Kimi K3 15 impossible prompts — the winner surprised me

Wearables that passively track your sleep will soon be obsolete. We have a massive sleep problem — and sleep trackers aren't doing enough. But the next frontier in sleep tech is taking the data exposed by the best sleep trackers and doing something about it.

If tracking can uncover how bad we're sleeping, isn't it time it starts offering some solutions? Thankfully, the new generation of sleep tech is all about actively helping you sleep better. These devices monitor your sleep, identify problems, and intervene for better rest. All you have to do is lie back and start dreaming.

While it sounds futuristic, it's already happening, with brands like Elemind, NextSense and Muse offering consumers an easier way to sleep better. I asked the experts why sleep tracking is dead... long live sleep intervention.

Key takeaways:

• Sleep tracking is becoming smarter and better, as well as more comfortable. Sleep tracking lamps and mats allow us to monitor our sleep without wearables.
• However, sleep tracking has hit a wall — we know we're sleeping bad, so what can we do about it?
• Sleep intervention devices such as the Elemind, Muse S Athena, and NextSense offer active sleep improvement, monitoring your brainwaves and responding to changes in your sleep.
• Devices like the Kimba, Sleepal, Orion and Eight Sleep alter your environment in response to tracking data, helping you stay asleep.
• Sleep enhancement tech offers a non-medical way to improve your sleep. And by improving your sleep, you might see benefits to your overall health and wellbeing.

Sleep tracking is moving off your wrist

Research suggests over 48% of the population use sleep trackers. But if you're the half yet to succumb to wearing a watch to bed, there's good news. The latest gen of sleep trackers are a little more... sleep-comfort friendly.

Think the screen-free FitBit Air, the slimmer-than-ever Oura Ring 5, and the non-intrusive monitoring of the Withings Sleep Mat.

“Good sleep products and technology have to do two things, in my opinion,” says Ben Fuxbruner, founder of Kimba, a personalized sleep scent system. “One, they have to be effective, but two, they have to be very comfortable and unintrusive. I feel like some companies work really hard on showing effectiveness, but if it's not comfortable, nobody will use it.”

In some cases, that means moving off the body entirely. Expect a cluttered nightstand as companies such as Kimba and Hatch aim to break the tight grip wearables have on health tracking. Products such as the Sleepal lamp already offer sleep tracking from your bedside.

Sleep tracking is getting stronger and smarter

“The old adage that what's measured improves is generally true,” says Meredith Perry, co-founder and CEO of Elemind.

And if improved measuring leads to better rest, we’re all about to see our sleep scores go through the roof.

Wearable sleep trackers often use movement and heart rate to estimate your sleep stages. The latest devices want to remove the guesswork, employing brainwave monitoring to accurately measure sleep.

That's the kind of data you used to have to go to a sleep lab to learn. Now you can have it in your own home. The Elemind measures "Alpha" brainwaves, NextSense Earbuds capture "brain data" the DUSQ patch senses electrical signatures, while the Bia collects oxygen levels in the brain. All without the tubes and wires of traditional of polysomnography.

For some innovators, that’s just the start.

Adaptyx is the first wearable patch that tracks cortisol in real time. “Cortisol is a one of the the most important hormones in sleep architecture and in that sleep wake cycle,” says Dr. Vijit Sabnis, CEO. “[The cortisol awakening response] is an entire system and rhythm that we can begin to modulate.”

But for Jonathan Berent, CEO at NextSense, focusing on quality tracking is missing the wood for the trees.

“The next step isn't collecting more data,” says Berent. “It's what the technology does with it.”

But sleep tracking isn’t enough any more

We’re in a sleep crisis. Fewer than one-third of us sleep well every night and 6 out of 10 American adults report not getting enough sleep. Despite sleep quality being linked to over 130 medical conditions, it’s often overlooked by the healthcare system, with Dr. Carlos Nunez of Resmed describing sleep as "too important to ignore."

But even if you know you're sleeping badly, it's hard to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. As Perry notes, “[sleep is] literally eight hours of the night where you're unconscious and unable to control it yourself.”

“You know how bad you slept, but there's no real solution for you to improve it," says Andrew Jolie of Bia. "And if there is, you have to do it. The device doesn't do it for you.”

That's about to change. With the latest round of technology, the device does do it for you.

Next step, sleep intervention

“There are lots and lots of devices that just read, that just track, that give you information to the user, and the user is supposed to go do something about that,” says Perry of Elemind. “We take that considerably further. We can actively guide and change your sleep over the course of the night. Not just tell you what happened — influencing what happened.”

She describes it as a “read and write” approach: read the data and start writing the solution.

For Berent, it’s a closed loop: “a continuous conversation between your brain and the technology around you, where the system understands what's happening in real time and responds that same night, gently guiding your brain into deeper more restorative sleep, and lulling you back to sleep.”

Whatever the term, it’s good sleep made easy. (Or, at least, easier.) All with no extra effort on your part. Imagine if your oven turned cake into health food, or your step counter racked up 5 miles for you.

Perry compares it to the sudden boom in GLP-1s. Suddenly weight loss went from hard work to simple injections. Is sleep in for the same overhaul?

Sounds great! But what's it going to do for my sleep?

From 3 a.m. wake ups to groggy mornings, the sleep tech industry is tackling every minute of your bad night’s rest.

Can’t fall asleep? The Elemind cancels out the brainwaves keeping you up. Waking in the night? The Muse S Athena and NextSense detect brief disruptions and soothe you back into restfulness. Too hot? The Eight Sleep or Orion will cool you down. Waking up tired? The Bia and Sleepal AI make mornings easier. Restless, stressed, anxious? Soon, there’ll be tech for that.

It’s not just for the insomniacs, either. Even those consistently earning high sleep scores might see the benefits of intervention-based sleep tech.

“We have an athlete,” explains Fuxbruner of Kimba, “that doesn't have problems sleeping at all but wants to optimize his sleep… so the [intervention] each person gets is different, and the personalization, the targeting is different.”

“With Orion, you give it the limited amount of hours you have to spend in bed, and it helps squeeze the juice out of every minute you have,” explains Harry Gestetner, Founder and CEO of Orion.

So is the next big leap for sleep tech to replace your doctor?

Well, no, and in cases of severe sleep deprivation we recommend speaking to a healthcare professional. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (or CBT-I) remains the gold standard in treatment, while conditions such as sleep apnea require medical intervention.

But there are many of us struggling to sleep who can benefit from an at-home approach.

“I was really interested in creating electronic medicine,” explains Perry. “Ways where you could, instead of using a drug to influence the body, use technology instead. Then you could have tighter control over the outcomes because you could actually see in real time whether or not it was working.”

“We believe in a future not to replace medication” she adds. “But we want to improve the state of wellness and healthcare in such a way we effectively have a secondary autonomic nervous system. Something that's continuously monitoring the biology, can see when something goes awry and then address it in real time with something that uniquely works for you.”

The future of sleep tech is personalized, non-invasive and, in most cases, comes with minimal side effects.

That takes us to the next big leap in sleep tech: what comes after sleep?

What's next? Moving beyond sleep to health and wellness

“Deep sleep is one of the most powerful, underused levers we have on long-term health — tied to memory, mood, metabolism, heart health, even the brain's overnight clearing of the proteins linked to Alzheimers," explains Berent.

"If we can measure it at clinical fidelity and improve it, from something as ordinary as a pair of earbuds, we're not building a better sleep tracker. We're turning sleep into an intervention for long term chronic diseases.”

He’s not the only sleep tech founder that plans for wider healthcare applications. Fuxbruner of Kimba notes his scent-forward system has been linked to improved memory, while cortisol-tracking Adaptyx hopes to link up with smart mattresses for a bed that responds to your stress levels.

As for your sleep tracker. Well, it’s about to look passé.

“I think that devices that just track will probably go by the wayside over the next 10 years,” predicts Perry, “and that people will start adapting more helpful tools.”

In the meantime, expect your sleep tracker to become smaller, more powerful and less expensive.

Bottom line

While sleep tracking has helped people recognize their own sleep problems — as well as exposed the bigger issues with sleep in society — simple tracking isn’t enough anymore. The future of sleep tech lies in intervention and improvement.

“Sleep stops being something you passively track and becomes something you can actively restore,” explains Berent.

The bigger picture, however, is about more than sleeping well.

“Sleep is just the beginning,” says Perry.

Our favorite sleep intervention tech

If there’s one thing Mac users are blessed with, it’s a variety of great email apps. In fact, depending on the day, I’ll often flit between the Gmail web app, Mimestream, Spark, and Outlook for work.

As we covered last year, Notion’s AI-adjacent Notion Mail tried to do some cool things. Sadly, it seemingly didn’t find an audience, with its developer deprecating the app soon because it believes more people use agentic AI to manage their inbox without opening the app.

And honestly? I was a little bummed. Notion Mail had a unique UI that felt right at home next to the company’s main app and Notion Calendar. And, while browsing my inbox, I spotted an email from the team at Slashy that might just fill the gap.

Slashy doesn’t want you to open your inbox

A quick glance at Slashy will show that it’s definitely cut from a similar cloth to Notion Mail. For one, its clean design makes it a looker — it’s easy to navigate, with options for highlighting important emails or everything.

What makes it unique is that Slashy will attempt to learn from a user’s emails and reply frequency to highlight what’s important, and use their voice to make responses feel more natural.

If that sounds dystopian, then yes, you’re not alone. I had the same thought, and we’ll touch on how successful it is in that regard in a moment. But, as someone swamped with press releases daily (not a complaint, keep ‘em coming!) I was impressed by how well Slashy categorises and labels my emails.

In many ways, it feels akin to Notion Mail’s labels, but Slashy wants you to handle your email from a distance, if at all. It automatically runs scheduling workflows to help identify meeting times, and can lean into Model Context Protocol (MCP) to tie in nicely with Claude, something I’m yet to fully get to grips with.

All of this is to say it’s an email app that looks great, and yet it wants you to leave its processes to handle your inbox - and it does so remarkably well.

With zero setup, it pulled through a bunch of handy contact info, complete with contextual history, for more than 20 people I’d emailed in recent weeks. It also highlighted my scheduling, including the days I work in a London office and when I’m home, and when my upcoming vacation is.

Put simply, it knows me better than I know myself.

“Your voice, not GPT slop”

I recently waxed lyrical about Cotypist, a Mac app that makes writing in certain situations simpler by using predictive text. I was impressed at the time by how much it’s attuned itself to my voice, to the point where, once again, it predicts my sentences (or maybe I’m very predictable).

I still use Cotypist across other apps, but when opening an email to reply, I genuinely thought I’d drafted something already in Slashy.

The use of humour, the tone, the friendly nature (if I do say so myself), it was all, well, me. Aside from the existential dread of being a writer who relies on personable copy to stand out from the AI content-absorbing machine, and who has now seemingly had my card numbered, I couldn’t quite believe it.

Every email I tried to reply to, Slashy had basically laid out exactly what I was going to say, albeit with a prompt to change it if I wanted to, like turning a positive response to a negative one, or amending the tone to be more professional.

There’s even a handy sidebar that allows you a sandbox to draft a reply, find specific emails related to the current thread, or just summarize the whole thing using Claude.

Add to that integrations with Notion so it can read and write to Notion databases, Slack, and even iMessage (albeit the last one isn’t working for me in macOS Golden Gate beta), and it can do a really great job at ensuring you barely ever need to look at your emails.

If you’re interested in Slashy, it’s available now for Gmail accounts, with Outlook coming soon. It’ll cost you $30 per month or $300 per year for unlimited inboxes and AI usage.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just learned your Claude AI chats could show up in Google — here's how to check yours
• I stopped using ChatGPT for everything — here are 5 prompts I only run in Claude
• I use Gemini Spark daily — here are 7 prompts that show what it can really do

Lunges and squats are two of the best exercises for building lower body strength and muscle. But if you’ve got certain joint issues, injuries, or mobility concerns, squats and lunges may be off-limits.

In my fifteen years as a certified personal trainer, I’ve worked with lots of clients who can’t squat or lunge. Instead, we do the following four chair exercises that target key lower body muscle groups like the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and hip stabilizers. These moves are also a great option for beginners, and they can be made more challenging by using dumbbells and resistance bands.

If you’ve been told to avoid squats and lunges, or even if you just want some variety in your routine, give these four chair exercises a try.

How to do the four chair exercises

Check in with your doctor before trying any new activity. These exercises are appropriate for most people, but your medical team may recommend alternatives based on your specific health history.

Beginners should consider meeting with a certified personal trainer to learn correct form. A trainer can also modify the exercises as needed and can give you progression options when you’re ready.

Start with one set of 10-12 reps for each exercise, 2-3 times a week. Gradually increase to 2-3 sets of each exercise. You can do one set of each exercise and then start over from the beginning (called a “circuit”), or you can perform all sets of one exercise before starting the next move.

You’ll just need a sturdy chair for this workout. Once the exercises start feeling easy, try holding onto a dumbbell for the chair squats and single-leg sit-to-stand, and use a looped resistance band for the standing glute kickbacks and fire hydrants.

Here’s how to do the exercises:

1. Chair squats

• Stand tall in front of a chair with your feet hip-width apart.
• Engage your core muscles.
• Hinge your hips behind you.
• Bend your knees and lower your hips towards the seat.
• Stand back up.
• Continue for 10-12 reps.

2. Standing glute kickbacks

• Stand behind the back of a chair, resting your hands on the seat back.
• Keep your feet hip-width apart.
• Engage your core muscles.
• Squeeze your left glute and kick your left heel behind you.
• Pause briefly.
• Bring your left foot back to the starting position.
• Continue for 10-12 reps, then repeat on the right side.

3. Fire hydrants

• Stand behind a chair with your feet hip-width apart.
• Rest your hands on the chair’s seat back.
• Engage your core muscles.
• Bend your left knee at a 90-degree angle.
• Rotate your left knee towards the ceiling, bringing your inner thigh parallel to the floor.
• Pause briefly.
• Bring your left knee back to the starting position.
• Continue for 10-12 reps, then repeat on the right side.

4. Single-leg sit to stand

• Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart.
• Lift your right foot off the floor, balancing on your left foot.
• Hinge your hips behind you.
• Bend your left knee and lower your hips to the seat.
• Sit down, then stand back up on your left foot.
• Continue for 10-12 reps, then repeat on the right side.
• If the exercise feels too difficult, hold onto a solid structure for support (like the wall or another chair).

Benefits of the four chair exercises

The exercises in this routine strengthen the quads, hamstrings, hip abductors, hip adductors, glutes, and calves without putting excessive strain on sensitive joints.

Chair squats are a functional move that can help older adults maintain independence as they age. Use of the chair reduces the typical range of motion to a more comfortable level. The chair also gives you a “target” to aim for, promoting better form for strengthening the appropriate muscle groups.

The standing glute kickback strengthens the gluteus maximus and hamstrings, while the fire hydrants strengthen the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The chair provides additional stabilizing support.

Single-leg squats (or pistol squats) are an advanced exercise that requires a high degree of lower body strength and mobility. The single-leg sit-to-stand mimics that movement, but is accessible for a much wider range of fitness levels. This move enhances balance and reduces any strength deficits between the left and right sides.

More from Tom's Guide

• I'm a personal trainer who works with clients over 50 — these are the 3 mobility exercises I never skip
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Students have long been forced to pick between expensive machines and budget laptops, when really they fall into the ‘prosumer’ user group and need power, portability, and battery life to get work done day in, day out.

Thankfully, the HP Omnibook 3 offers all of that and then some, bringing AI-powered productivity, responsive performance, and multi-day battery life to students with busy schedules.

The HP Omnibook 3 keeps pace with student life

While the idea of an “AI laptop” feels like a nebulous term, the technology contained within includes huge benefits for users, particularly students.

The HP OmniBook 3, powered by the Snapdragon® X processor, and paired with a Qualcomm® Hexagon™ Neural Processing Unit (NPU), is capable of up to 45 TOPS (Trillions of Operations per Second). That means many tasks in varying complexity can be handed off to the Snapdragon X processor, including a dedicated AI NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of up to 45 TOPS. This specialized AI hardware helps accelerate AI-powered experiences while keeping everyday productivity, creativity, and multitasking running smoothly.

Not only does that make the Omnibook 3 more responsive, whether you’re opening a dozen browser tabs or juggling multiple other apps, but it also means battery life is drastically improved over prior generations of laptops. That means you get peace of mind that you can work through the day, then keep going after hours on your way back to your dorm. And, with no performance dip when moving to battery power, you won’t have to worry about saving your most demanding work for when there’s a power outlet nearby. Plus, there’s up to 41 hours of battery life from a single charge.

The NPU also means that the Omnibook 3 meets the threshold for earning the Copilot+ PC branding. While AI can often feel like a buzzword, here its implementation is genuinely useful.

Features like Live Captions in Windows 11 leverage the NPU to put together your lecture notes with ease, while advanced machine learning techniques cancel exterior noise and blur your background on calls so you sound clear and look great.

That’s on top of Click to Do, a feature that turns what’s on your screen into instant to-do list items, so you never forget to reply to an email again.

Speaking of the display, the OmniBook 3 is available with a vibrant 14-inch 2K OLED display and up to 32GB of RAM, giving students plenty of room to multitask across research, coursework, collaboration tools, and creative projects without sacrificing portability.

Need more power for creative projects?

Looking for even more power at your fingertips? The HP OmniBook Ultra, powered by Snapdragon® X2 Elite processor, builds on the foundations of the OmniBook 3 but takes things to the next level for creative students who need more power without sacrificing portability.

To that end, the OmniBook remains slim and light, while offering an OLED display model for excellent contrast and stunning colors, as well as the Snapdragon® X2 Elite processor for even more power under the hood and an NPU capable of 85 TOPs.

All of this power used to require a chunky laptop, or even a desktop, but the HP Omnibook Ultra remains under 2.86lbs and just 10.7mm thin.

Whether you're balancing classes and study sessions or tackling more demanding creative projects, the HP OmniBook lineup offers AI-powered productivity, reliable performance, and the flexibility to work wherever inspiration strikes.

Learn more about the HP OmniBook 3 and HP OmniBook Ultra to find the configuration that best fits your workflow.

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

My AI stack of tools is composed of Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini. So when I heard that Google was expanding access to Gemini Spark, I couldn't wait to see what the "always on" AI agent could do.

For those new to Gemini Spark, it's an AI agent that can monitor your inbox, organize files, build documents, schedule calendar events and complete multi-step tasks across Google's apps. Best of all, you don't have to have your laptop open. Google recently began rolling the feature out more broadly, including to subscribers in India, after initially launching it for U.S. Google AI Ultra users.

Naturally, I wanted to see whether this actually feels different from using ChatGPT or the regular Gemini chatbot. Turns out, it's completely different in the best ways.

7 prompts worth trying first

1. Plan my week

Prompt: Review my calendar, unread emails and task list. Identify any scheduling conflicts, prioritize my work, and create a realistic plan for the next five days.

After using this prompt I checked to see if it actually understood priorities (meetings vs. social events) or did it just rearrange my calendar. To my suprise, it not only gave me a quick look at all my meetings, but also showed me the emails I needed to respond to. Talk about a productivity game changer!

2. Inbox zero

Prompt: Go through my inbox from the past seven days. Archive anything that isn't actionable, highlight emails requiring a response and draft replies where appropriate.

While the first prompt tackled the urgent emails, this one takes on the rest. Using this prompt lets the AI know what you want to do with unread emails or emails that you have read, just haven't done anything with yet. Basically, it's the fastest way to find out if you missed anything important.

When I tried this, I realized I had missed a note from my son's school reminding me to send over updated vaccination forms before the start of the school year.

3. Prepare me for tomorrow

Prompt: Every evening at 7 p.m., summarize what I accomplished today, tell me what's on my calendar tomorrow, list the emails I should read first and remind me of anything I haven't finished.

I use various versions of this prompt. It helps to prioritize for the next day while also reflecting on the work I've done. Other versions include gathering news updates I may have missed or finding tech blogs that may interest me. Either way, Gemini Spark is great when it comes to rounding up information you need.

4. Vacation planner

Prompt: Plan a three-day family trip within three hours of my home. Compare hotels, estimate costs, build an itinerary and put everything into a Google Doc.

I've used AI to plan for vacations and weekend getaways before, but with Gemini Spark, things felt different. The finalized Google Doc meant that I could easily share notes with my husband and save in a folder for future planning. Beyond vacation planning, this prompt works any time you want to use AI for multi-step reasoning.

5. Research assistant

Prompt: Research the latest developments in AI agents. Read multiple sources, identify the biggest trends, summarize the findings in a Google Doc and include links to the original reporting.

As a journalist in the tech industry, I'm constantly seeing news about new AI models, features and gadgets. Keeping everything organized used to be a headache, but thanks to Gemini Spark, all of my notes and interests are tackled together in a Google Doc. I can see the links and bullet point summaries, which help me determine what news to report on first.

6. Budget helper

Prompt: Review my recent receipts and purchases. Group them into spending categories, identify unusual expenses and suggest three realistic ways I could save money next month.

As someone who frequently shops on Amazon, keeping my orders organized was a bit of a challenge. This helps me stay within my budget and keep track of spending, which is sometimes hard to do with three kids who are always asking for the latest squishy toy!

7. My favorite

Prompt: Every morning, prepare a briefing for me with today's calendar, unread emails, breaking AI news, weather and a prioritized to-do list.

This use case makes me feel like I genuinely have a personal assistant. It's the kind of "personal chief of staff" workflow I haven't seen with other AI models.

Bottom line

After spending time with Spark, my eyes were opened to new possibilities. For those who haven't strayed from using AI as a chatbot, I urge you to try any or all of these prompts. The real surprise is that you don't have to babysit the AI. It can gather the information it needs without you there.

Spark changes that dynamic completely. At first, I wondered if I could trust it. After all, giving an AI background access to your inbox and calendar sounds incredibly useful —and slightly terrifying.

Google appears to recognize that concern. Spark is designed to work strictly under your direction and is built to check with you before taking major actions, rather than quietly sending emails or finalizing purchases on its own.

Whether people are comfortable giving AI that much responsibility is another question entirely. But after trying Spark, I finally understand why every major AI company is racing to build agents.

More from Tom's Guide

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The oil sizzled as I placed the scallops in the pan. On the counter next to me sat a tray of just-baked chocolate chip cookies, their aroma wafting through the air. In the oven, a tray of chicken thighs was slowly baking atop a mixture of Chinese vegetables, their juices infusing with the cabbage and boy choy beneath.

I was cooking it all on the Copper Charlie, an innovative induction stove that doesn’t require any special installation, thanks to a massive battery. And while it's an early adopter in the world of early adopters, it could represent the future of home appliances.

Renovation is the mother of necessity

I tested out the range in the Brooklyn apartment of Ted Booth, who switched from a traditional gas oven to the Copper about a year ago. At the time, his building was facing a million-dollar renovation bill to upgrade the ancient gas pipes leading into, and threading through, the entire 33-unit building.

Rather than forcing the entire building to front the cost of fixing each unit’s gas line, the condo board gave each owner an option to switch to an induction stove. However, most induction stoves require a 220-volt electric line — which would have meant an equally expensive bill.

But there was an alternative: the Copper induction stove. This range has a large battery in the bottom, where the warming tray would sit. Not only does this provide a steady source of energy, even when the power goes out, but it also allows the stove to use a regular 110-volt outlet, so you can plug it in almost anywhere.

“To me, it was an opportunity to get off gas,” Booth said. “And, you can call me a bit of an early adopter, so it appealed to me that way.”

Modern but retro

While the Charlie uses a very new type of technology, and has Wi-Fi and can be updated over the internet, it’s surprisingly low on connected features.

“I like how simple it is,” Booth said. “It's connected to the Wi-Fi, it has a battery, but it's the most analog experience I've had with a tech product. You have the little light indicator on the side, and the screen shows you what it's doing — it's 350 degrees. That's all you need to know. It's great. 
And then the two little switches for the light and convection.”

The cost of upgrading

The Copper Charlie isn’t cheap. The base model, with black plastic knobs, costs $6,000, while the model with black walnut knobs is $6,300. That’s more than twice as expensive as some popular models from LG and GE — though it should be noted the GE Cafe series can get up to $5,000.

The Charlie is not Energy Star-certified, so you can’t get any government rebates from that program, but there are several other local clean energy tax credits that can help ease the cost.

However, it did get the seal of approval from the New York City Housing Authority, which is installing 100 Copper Charlie stoves in apartments throughout the city as a pilot program for lower-income residents, as all city-owned apartment buildings get converted from gas to electric.

“There are so many families that haven't had the ability to cook for years because they had their utility to get the gas shut off,” said Lisa Pickney, a professional chef who created the Official Dessert of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, served on the Obama White House culinary team, and now works for Copper.

“And so they just gave them a hot plate and a rice cooker and a teapot.
And it's just not right. They can't make a Thanksgiving turkey. So that kind of broke my heart. And now they'll be able to have Thanksgiving and do proper cooking now.”

The Copper Charlie isn’t the only induction stove of its kind; a rival company, the Electra Induction Stove, works in much the same way. Rather than the lithium ion batteries you might find in your phone or electric scooter, these stoves use a lithium phosphate battery, which is more stable, and more suited for how it’s used with the stoves.

Now we're cooking

As I (well, mostly Lisa) were cooking, I was impressed with how fast the oven heated up. While I didn’t time it, the Copper Charlie seemed far shorter than my oven at home. Similarly, its cooktop element warmed up the pan in no time, and put a sear on the scallops as good as I’ve ever done on any range, gas or electric.

Booth said that his cooking game has improved since getting the Charlie. “I like to make a Spanish potato omelet,” he said. “I like it because you can get a really nice, low temperature, so it doesn't brown too quickly. With the gas, I could get a low flame, but then the heat doesn't distribute quite as well, and so it's like cooking more in one spot and less on the edges.”

Booth said he could no longer do the Mark Bittman trick of cooking a steak by placing a pan on the very bottom of the oven, but the Charlie proved its worth when the outlet behind the stove stopped working.

“At first, I was like, what are we gonna do?” he said. “It's gonna take a while to get an electrician to come, and then I was like, oh, no, wait, it's fine. We have an outlet behind that cluster of little appliances in the corner is a four-prong outlet with a GFCI. So I just plugged it into that.”

“That to me really proved to me how much power this draws, because we've got an Instapot, we've got a kettle, we've got an espresso machine. 
And we never had an issue, it never popped the GFCI.”

How it's working out

Ultimately, eleven owners in Booth’s building ended up getting a Copper Charlie. It proved to be more expensive than those who merely opted to replace their gas line, but Booth said it was worth the expense.

“We're gonna spend all this money for these pipes in the wall, and all I get is to get a blue flame?” he asks. ”I want something better than that.”

More from Tom's Guide

• I used an induction cooktop for the first time — here are 3 things I learned
• 5 mistakes I made when I switched to an induction cooktop
• We tested 3 portable induction cooktops from $50 to $1,500

Starbucks is expensive. There's no getting around that. Some drinks can cost as much as $10 in certain states these days, which is simply ridiculous. If I were to order a Grande Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at the Starbucks closest to Tom's Guide's Manhattan office, it would cost me $7.57. Yes, almost 8 bucks.

Fortunately, you can make it yourself, for far less.

I was a Starbucks barista for years, and learned how to make the delicious Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home. I've even done some coffee math down below to show you how much better this version is for your wallet (and your health, if you use homemade syrup).

You only need three ingredients (four if you count ice as an ingredient, and five if you include the optional cinnamon) to make a delicious iced espresso at home. And the best part? It takes about two minutes. Here's my step-by-step guide to making the Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home, using the Nespresso Vertuo Up, Oatly Barista oat milk, homemade brown sugar syrup, ice, and cinnamon.

The coffee math

I hate math, but I love coffee math. Let's see if making your own Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso actually is cheaper — and how many times you have to make it yourself to break even.

With a Nespresso machine

1. Nespresso Vertuo Pop+: $130 from Amazon
2. Oat milk: $3.32/52 fluid ounces from Walmart | 0.19 per drink
3. Brown sugar: $2.02/32 ounces from Walmart | 0.01 per drink
4. Coffee: Starbucks Blonde Nespresso Vertuo pods: $12.97 for 10 | 1.30 per pod

So that's $1.50 for the ingredients, $130 for the machine.

You’d need to drink 22 drinks to start making a profit. After that, it’s $6.07 in savings per drink.

With an espresso machine + grinder

1. Breville Bambino: $299 from Amazon
2. Baratza Encore ESP: $199 from Amazon
3. Starbucks Blonde whole bean coffee: $17.13/18 ounces | $0.57 per drink
4. Oat milk: $3.32/52 fluid ounces from Walmart | 0.19 per drink
5. Brown sugar: $2.02/32 ounces from Walmart | 0.01 per drink

This version has a higher initial cost but cheaper overall ingredients: $0.77 for the ingredients, $498 for the machines.

You'd need to drink 74 drinks to start making a profit. After that, it’s $6.80 of pure savings each time.

If you already have an espresso machine, you're saving almost 90% on every drink.

So, are you going to skip Starbucks and try making the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home? I only ever make it myself — I haven't been into a Starbucks in years.

Are there any other Starbucks drinks you'd like me to simplify? Perhaps the Pumpkin Spiced Latte in September? Or the Eggnog latte in December? Let me know in the comments!

I post new episodes of The Coffee Lab every Friday, so be sure to check back next week.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

In case you hadn’t noticed, AI is having a bit of a backlash moment. More and more people are opposed to data center construction where they live, for example, and a lot of consumers (especially Gen Z) are questioning the need for generative AI overall.

Samsung seems to be tuned in to this sentiment with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Instead of hitting people over the head with ‘Galaxy AI,’ the company is focusing on a handful of features that it believes have real-world benefits.

“We don’t want to overwhelm the consumer with AI,” Samsung EVP Jay Kim told me. “A lot of industry focus on AI is sort of as itself as a technology, but I think it’s shifting from technology to benefits. We’re looking at how you make this meaningful, how do you make this more easy to access?”

Subtler AI

One example is Now Nudge. Say you get an incoming text that references an upcoming appointment with the date. The Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are smart enough to present a little Calendar button. When you tap that, the Calendar app will automatically open in Split View on the right side of the display.

“You're looking at the screen, and then it understands where you're looking at, and then it actually provides the next action, it suggests your action,” Kim said. “Before you have to go through extra steps to make that work, but now it's instant. We’re just trying to help consumers get things done in a more easy way.”

Another example of AI that’s less in your face is My FanCam. When editing a video on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, you can select a subject and the phone will recut the video so that it “follows” only that person. You can even choose your preferred aspect ratio. And it works seamlessly based on my testing.

To access this feature you have to select the AI icon first. One might argue it’s too subtle and not easily discoverable enough.

“We’re looking at consumers and we're looking at how they behave and how they use a device,” said Kim. “We just want to make sure that they get what they need at the right time, without sort of thinking too much about whether it's coming from AI.”

Automating the everyday

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is even letting AI do stuff for you in the background with Gemini Intelligence task automation, which now supports 40 apps. This includes shopping, restaurant reservations, travel booking and event tickets.

For example, you can tell your Fold 8 to help book you a vacation and give it some parameters, and it will start working with Expedia to make it happen. You can jump in at any time, and Gemini Intelligence won’t make any purchases without your approval.

“When we put automation in place it has to work right,” Kim said. “The consumer needs to understand how it works. So we’re taking it one step at a time and we’re not rushing, because the experience is more important.”

More from Tom's Guide

• Galaxy Z Fold 8 interview: Samsung on silicon carbon batteries, the (possible) S Pen return and the iPhone Ultra threat
• 9 best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra cases to protect your new smartphone — from $19
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 battery life tested — silicon carbon pays off

There have been plenty of times when a new dilemma enters my life and my brain space gets cluttered by all the solutions I could apply to it.

It can be something as simple as deciding what recipes I should add to my weekly rotation or more complex issues, such as deciding the best questions to present to a high-profile interviewee. Every week, I sit in complete silence and contemplate the best routes to take in response to my latest conundrum — thankfully, the best solutions arise once I spend a few hours talking about my problems with friends and family.

The humans in my life provide plenty of serviceable advice. And after I have a chat with them, I boot up ChatGPT to see the sort of solutions the AI can also provide me with.

Over time, I've learned to use the seven prompts below to transform ChatGPT into my personal strategist. Appointing it a specific role, giving it a decision framework to work with and making sure it challenges my way of thinking works more often than not.

Getting dependable advice with the “Leverage Maximizer” prompt

After asking ChatGPT to generate a collection of prompts that help it roleplay as a strategist, the one I immediately put into action is this one:

Every time I ask for help, identify the 20% of actions that will create 80% of the results. Tell me what to ignore, eliminate, automate, delegate, or postpone, so I focus only on high-leverage work.

When I needed help with finding the best moving company in New York City, I attached this problem to that prompt and got a wealth of serviceable guidance. ChatGPT told me it’s not worth spending hours reading hundreds of reviews — instead, get three quotes from reputable movers and compare them to reach a final decision.

It also advised me to create a spreadsheet that compares each moving company’s quote (the cost estimate provided by a mover), reviews of their services, their COI (Certificate of Insurance) and my final decision on choosing them or not.

Two of the best NYC moving companies ChatGPT brought to my attention are Roadway Moving and Dumbo Moving & Storage. After giving me the proper question to present to each moving company I’m considering (“I’m moving within NYC. Can you provide an all-in estimate including travel time, stairs/elevator fees, packing materials, insurance, and any additional charges?”), ChatGPT’s all-encompassing strategy came into focus even more.

6 additional prompts that turn ChatGPT into the ultimate adviser

These are the six other prompts ChatGPT equipped me with after my request for the most efficient ones to use to turn it into a personal strategist:

• The Executive Strategist: Act as my personal strategist. Your job isn't to answer my questions — it's to help me make better decisions. Challenge my assumptions, point out blind spots, identify second- and third-order consequences, and recommend the highest-leverage next action. Think like a CEO advising another CEO.
• The Weekly Strategy Session: Every time I bring you a problem, treat it like our weekly strategy meeting. Before giving advice, identify the real problem beneath the obvious one, explain what matters most, what doesn't matter, and what I should prioritize over the next 30 days.
• The Opportunity Scanner: Whenever I share an idea, don't just evaluate it. Identify hidden opportunities, potential partnerships, overlooked markets, risks, and unconventional ways to make the idea 10x more valuable. Think like a venture capitalist and business strategist combined.
• The Second-Order Thinking Coach: Never stop at the first answer. For every recommendation, explain the immediate outcome, second-order effects, long-term consequences, biggest hidden risk, and best alternative if my idea fails.
• The Blind Spot Detector: Your primary responsibility is finding what I'm missing. Every time I present a plan, tell me what assumptions I’m making, what could break, what someone smarter than me would notice, and the uncomfortable truth I probably need to hear.
• The Personal Board of Directors: Act as my personal board of directors. Combine the thinking styles of an entrepreneur, psychologist, strategist, economist, and executive coach. When I ask for advice, evaluate it from all five perspectives before making a recommendation.

Bottom line

With these seven prompts, I now have a system to work with whenever I want ChatGPT to present the best strategies to apply to my latest problem. When the time comes for me to inquire about all the simple and complex problems that come my way, I’ll be sure to use a combination of my friends, family and ChatGPT’s input to find the best way forward.

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• You’re using AI every single day without even realizing it — 7 hidden features working behind the scenes to save you time
• Samsung just added Automated Tasks and Gemini Notebook to Galaxy Z Fold 8 — here's what these AI features let you do

I’ve been reviewing phones for nearly 18 years, but as much as I enjoy getting my hands on the best phones out there, what often makes them even better are the accessories. They’re not just cosmetic enhancements; they add a real layer of utility with massive benefits.

You can imagine the insane number of accessories I test throughout any given year, and I’ll be the first to admit that plenty of them are total garbage not worth your time. While many accessories only stick around in my setup for a couple of weeks, others earn a permanent promotion to daily drivers that I rely on constantly.

From compact power banks that keep me charged on the go, to the most customizable phone case I’ve ever used, to dedicated mobile video gear, these are the nine phone accessories I continue to rely on — and every single one is well worth your hard-earned money.

The MagSafe accessories I can’t live without

I can’t tell you how much I rely on MagSafe. While iPhones certainly have access to a wealth of magnetic gear, I actually use these accessories on many of the best Android phones, too — whether through built-in magnets, like Google’s PixelSnap, or via a MagSafe-compatible case. They just make everyday phone use so much more convenient.

Sure, you could get any ordinary cover, but the Xtrem Inno Case is the most customizable one I’ve ever come across in my years of testing phones. What’s so striking is how it balances rugged protection with a one-of-a-kind e-ink display that lets me change the back image to whatever I want. Best of all, it doesn’t require a dedicated battery to power the e-ink screen, keeping the design impressively slim in the process. And yes, I can still charge my phone seamlessly via MagSafe!

In 2026, you shouldn’t be carrying a bulky traditional wallet — especially when so many cards are digital now. That’s why I almost always keep the Nomad Leather MagSafe Wallet snapped to the back of my phone, where I've managed to fit up to six cards into the slot. It also supports Apple’s Find My network, so I can track its location or play a chime to find it under the couch cushions. Unlike other trackable wallets that force you to use a clunky proprietary cable, I love that this one recharges wirelessly on any standard MagSafe charger.

Finally, the Aulumu G05 Pro is one of those versatile MagSafe accessories that lives either on the back of my device or in my pocket. Part sturdy kickstand, it also functions as a discreet multi-tool with a concealed screwdriver, SIM tool, serrated edge, and tiny utility blade. Believe me, it beats hauling around a heavy traditional multi-tool.

Power and storage gear to keep you working on the go

When I need to stay productive, I lean on phone accessories that do double duty. That’s why I keep the Miro V99 Power Bank in my backpack whenever I head into the office. Not only is it a solid MagSafe power bank that tops off my phone while I’m out and about, but it also doubles as a handy retro gaming handheld — complete with all the buttons needed to play classic titles. I can’t tell you how intense it got trying to beat Contra in one run while waiting for my subway!

Another workstation essential I always pack is the Satechi On-the-Go 7-in-1 USB-C Hub. It serves as a command center for both my phone and laptop, equipped with USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI ports to connect my device to external displays and peripherals around the office. I’ve used it to mirror my phone directly to a desktop monitor, and the built-in Ethernet port makes offloading heavy video files to Google Drive infinitely faster than relying on spotty Wi-Fi.

Finally, the PNY DUO LINK V3 Flash Drive bridges the gap seamlessly between my phone and laptop. Featuring both USB-C and USB-A connectors on opposite ends, it gives me a quick, physical way to transfer large media files without waiting on cloud syncs. It’s become one of those indispensable accessories I rely on during chaotic press events, thanks to its dead-simple plug-and-play compatibility.

Pro-grade gear for better mobile video

Video is one of the most powerful mediums around, so you need gear that will elevate your content creation. Don’t settle for single-use accessories — like clunky, old-school tripod adapters — when you can get stuff that’s far more versatile.

Instead, I recommend the SmallRig Fold P20 Mobile Pocket Video Rig. It’s so much more than a standard phone holder because when it's fully unfolded, its dual handles give you serious hardware stabilization for ultra-smooth handheld footage, along with built-in cold shoe mounts for attaching lights and mics. Best of all, it folds down into an incredibly compact footprint that easily slides into a backpack pocket.

The Lisen Suction Phone Mount doesn’t cost a lot, but it’s become my go-to phone holder thanks to its rock-solid magnetic connection and vacuum-seal suction. I use it most when filming inside the latest electric cars I test, mainly because its adjustable, rotating arm lets me dial in virtually any angle. Beyond mounting it on a windshield or dashboard, I love that I can stick it to almost any flat glass or metal surface for unique B-roll shots.

Finally, nothing ruins a good video faster than terrible audio, which is why a dedicated wireless microphone system is non-negotiable. While many creators default to DJI or Rode, I stick with the Hollyland Lark MAX 2 because of its incredible versatility across both my phone and mirrorless camera setups. What really sets it apart is its ultra-compact phone receiver and a pair of wireless monitoring earbuds that let me check audio levels in real time. It may be an investment, but it’s the one mic system I rely on for everything.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried using the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s MyFanCam on my dogs, but I hit a major wall
• iOS 27 finally fixes the most annoying iPhone workaround we all use
• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra doesn't have a crease-free display — but it's the closest Samsung has ever got to one

For years, ChatGPT was my default AI tool. But after spending serious time with Claude Opus 5, I've quietly switched over for most of my everyday tasks. And when it comes to these 5 prompts, I don't think I'm going back.

Claude consistently gives me responses that feel more thoughtful, more structured, and less AI-sounding. With Claude, I find myself needing fewer follow-ups because it just "gets it."

Here are five prompts I now take to Claude instead of ChatGPT, and why the results have been noticeably better.

1. Brainstorming creative ideas

Prompt: "I need help brainstorming ideas for [a topic, product, or project]. Can you provide 10 unique ideas or approaches, and briefly explain each?"

Any chatbot can generate a list. The difference is whether that list actually makes you think. What I like about Claude is that it seems to be less robotic and generic. In fact, prompt after prompt, it gives me angles I genuinely hadn't considered, with concise reasoning behind each one. Claude doesn't repeat itself as often as ChatGPT or have filler and fluff like ChatGPT.

Where ChatGPT tends to give you ten variations of the same safe answer, Claude pushes into less obvious territory. If you've ever stared at a brainstorming list and thought "these are all basically the same thing," you'll notice the difference immediately.

2. Learning complex topics

Prompt: "Explain [topic] to me as if I were [a beginner, a college student, or an expert]. Provide examples or analogies to help me understand better."

This is where Claude really pulls ahead. Because the chatbot has a knack for matching its tone and depth to whatever level you ask for, without being condescending at the beginner end or vague at the expert end.

I've also noticed that Claude is more willing to say when something is genuinely complicated or flat out wrong, rather than smoothing everything into a confident-sounding paragraph. When you're trying to learn, that honesty matters.

3. Optimizing productivity

Prompt: "Help me optimize my workflow for [a specific task or project]. Suggest tools, strategies, or step-by-step routines that can save time or improve quality."

I use this prompt to ask Claude for just about anything, including how to get three young kids out the door by 8am every morning. Instead of a vague pep talk about "batching tasks" and "setting intentions," Claude gave me a staged, practical plan — broken into time blocks, with a backup plan for when things inevitably go sideways.

What I appreciate is that Claude treats workflow questions like real problems with real constraints, not opportunities to list every productivity app on the market. The suggestions feel like they came from someone who actually thought about my situation, not someone who Googled "morning routine tips." I find this especially interesting because Claude's memory is not as good as ChatGPT. In other words, ChatGPT seems to "know me" better than Claude, but Claude still offers more human suggestions.

Workflows is also a great time to use Claude Skills and Connectors.

4. Writing or editing assistance

Prompt: "I need help writing [type of content, e.g., a blog post, a persuasive email, or a professional bio]. Here's the topic/goal: [describe it]. Can you create an outline for me?"

Letting AI write for you is a big no-no in my book. But "writing with AI" could mean a lot of other things. For example, if you're staring at a blank page with several ideas and don't know where to start, prompting Claude with your messy notes and asking it to make an outline or at least turn your notes into bullet points, can help ease frustration and writer's block.

For those who may need extra support, Claude can handle longer writing tasks without losing the thread. Blog posts, emails, personal statements or similar can be done without filler. If you've ever had to spend 20 minutes editing AI-generated fluff out of a draft, Claude will save you that time.

5. Getting personalized recommendations

Prompt: "Based on my [situation, preferences, or needs], can you recommend [books, movies, strategies, tools, etc.] and explain why they might be a good fit?"

This is surprising, especially, as I mentioned, ChatGPT knows me so well. However, this one has become my go-to prompt when I want to unwind. I asked Claude to recommend shows to stream over the weekend because I wanted something relaxing and funny. The list it gave me was genuinely curated, and not a mix of the most popular streaming shows at the moment. Even more surprising, the AI explained why each pick fit what I was looking for, and included a mix of obvious favorites and things I hadn't heard of.

Claude's recommendations don't feel like search results. They seem like they are coming from someone who actually listened to what you said. It picks up on the nuance in your request instead of just matching keywords.

Final thoughts

I'm not saying ChatGPT is useless, far from it! I use it regularly. But when it comes to the types of prompts where more "human-like" effort is needed, Claude wins.The key with any AI is being specific about what you need. But with Claude, I've found that specificity gets rewarded more consistently. Give these prompts a try, and I think you'll see what I mean.

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• I just learned your Claude AI chats could show up in Google — here's how to check yours
• I searched Amazon for AI-written books — and it was much harder to spot them than I expected
• Jimothy the viral raccoon is 100% real — here's what's AI

If your knees feel stiffer than they used to, you're not alone. It's common to notice more aches, tightness and reduced mobility in this area as we age, whether that's after a long walk, first thing in the morning or after sitting down for a while. But rather than dismissing creaky knees as simply “getting older”, we can build daily mobility habits that will keep our knees moving comfortably, in our 60s and beyond.

And it doesn’t require much of our time, either. Leah Upton, Physical Therapist at Recover Physio, says that one exercise, done consistently, can be enough to reduce aches and pains in our knees.

“Heel slides are a simple, low-impact exercise that gently move the knee through its range of motion,” she explains. “They’re a great way to reduce stiffness, improve joint lubrication, and make everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, and getting out of a chair feel easier.”

If your knees have been bothering you lately, try adding heel slides to your daily routine. They’re a simple, accessible move that can be done easily at home. Below, Upton breaks down how to do heel slides correctly, and a couple of tweaks to make them easier or harder if you need to.

You only need one move to improve stiff knees, according to a physical therapist

How to perform heel slides:

• Lie on your back or sit with your legs extended in front of you.
• Slowly slide your heel towards your glutes, bending your knee as far as is comfortable.
• Pause for 2–3 seconds at the end of the movement.
• Slowly straighten the leg back to the starting position.

Repeat 10–15 repetitions on each leg. Perform 1–3 sets daily, moving smoothly and avoiding sharp pain.

Make it easier:

• Place a rolled-up towel or plastic bag under your heel to reduce friction.
• Perform the exercise on a bed if getting onto the floor is difficult.
• Only bend the knee through a comfortable range.Use a band or belt to assist the movement.

Make it harder:

• Use a resistance band or belt around your foot to gently pull your knee into a greater range of flexion.
• Hold the end position for 5–10 seconds before slowly returning to the start.

The benefits of heel slides

Want to know more about the benefits of heel slides? Below are the results you can expect from adding this low-impact mobility move to your routine.

• Improve knee mobility: Heel slides gently move the knee through its range of motion, helping to reduce stiffness over time.
• Promote joint lubrication: Repeatedly bending and straightening the knee encourages the movement of synovial fluid, which helps lubricate the joint and reduce friction.
• Support everyday movement: Better knee mobility can make daily activities like climbing stairs and getting into bed feel more comfortable.
• Maintain lower-limb flexibility: Although the focus is on the knee, heel slides also gently move the hip and engage the muscles at the front and back of the thigh, helping maintain flexibility throughout the leg.

The bottom line

If your knees have started to feel stiffer with age, adding heel slides to your routine is a simple place to start. They take just a few minutes to do, require no equipment, and can help keep your knees moving comfortably. As with any new exercise, work within a pain-free range of motion and gradually build up as your mobility improves.

More from Tom's Guide

• I'm a personal trainer who works with clients over 50 — these are the 3 mobility exercises I never skip
• After 60, this is the 10-minute routine I use with my clients to stay strong, mobile and independent
• 'I’m a Pilates instructor, and I recommend these 5 core exercises to help older clients build strength and improve posture'

There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling a little bit “off.” You can’t put your finger on it, but something in your body is crying out for help. You head to the doctor’s office; they run tests, but everything looks perfectly normal, so you just go home and get some rest.

Perfect.

After having major surgery, I spent months feeling just like this. Those months quickly turned into a year, and before I knew it, I was canceling plans with friends and avoiding my usual workout routine.

Little did I know the thing that would drag me out of this hole was one of the best smart rings that I’ve been wearing on my hand for three years — my Oura Ring.

I’ve been tracking everything

I’ve been wearing an Oura Ring 3 since 2023, and have recently upgraded to the new Oura Ring 5. Every morning I open the app to check my sleep score, note to myself what made it a great (or not great) night's sleep, and get on with my day.

By checking my readiness scores daily, I get a good idea of what my body can handle. If I didn’t get a restful sleep, I take on a lighter load, but if I’ve been out cold for a full nine hours, you can bet I’m going to be climbing a mountain.

I’m a pretty active person. Between running, Pilates, hiking, and running a million and one errands every day, I always hit my step goals. But at the end of 2024, suddenly my readiness scores were, well, poor.

It didn’t matter how much I slept or how easy I took it the day before; something in my body wasn’t adding up. My HRV (heart rate variability) crashed and my resting heart rate while asleep was higher than ever. So what was happening?

I dragged myself to the doctor’s office only to be told there wasn’t anything wrong and that I should just take it easy for a while. With a new list of vitamin recommendations, I went home and continued tracking every metric I could, knowing deep down that there was a reason for my sudden fatigue.

And then I noticed the pattern. My heart rate was jumping all over the place even when I was sitting down doing nothing. That, combined with some noticeable palpitations, made me take one more trip to the doctor’s office — and I’m glad I did.

What the experts think

I set out to find out why wearables can have such a positive impact when uncovering health concerns. And it turns out that my meticulous tracking was actually the right thing to do, and medical professionals advise doing just this.

Dr. Manu Segal, medical director at The Moorings at Lewes, told me, “While smart rings like the Oura Ring are not diagnostic devices, they can be remarkably useful for identifying trends that deserve medical attention.”

He says, “The key is to look for persistent patterns, not isolated readings. A single poor night's sleep or one low HRV value is rarely meaningful. Several weeks of consistent change, however, can provide valuable insight and prompt an earlier conversation with a healthcare professional.”

Oura is known for its sleep-tracking capabilities, and Dr. Segal notes the sleep score as one of the most telling metrics for long-term health, influencing cardiovascular and immune function, as well as mood and cognitive performance. Paying attention to the metrics that make up the sleep score can make a huge difference.

Further to that point, Dr. Naheed Ali, certified in clinical research by the National Institutes of Health, states that smart rings, such as the Oura Ring, are not diagnostic tools in themselves.

He says, “Their greatest value lies in identifying persistent deviations from your normal pattern… They're most effective when combined with healthy lifestyle habits, regular medical care, and attention to the whole person — not just individual numbers.”

Noticing the pattern

Following that advice, it’s become abundantly clear that understanding my own baseline and what the deviations in those metrics mean makes a huge difference. But we shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions from this data. “Normal” looks different for everyone, and a medical professional should be your first port of call.

Considering metrics alongside how I’m feeling has made the biggest difference in my understanding of my body. It’s not just about why I’m feeling tired and run down, but taking in the bigger picture and being aware of daily changes I can make.

After looking at my ring’s metrics over time, I found that my HRV balance was declining, my resting heart rate was elevated, and my body temperature was unstable. That would often give me alerts on the Symptom Radar section of the Oura app, which lets you know when your biometrics are showing signs of strain.

After taking these metrics to the doctor and getting the relevant testing done, I found out that I have a fast heartbeat, also known as tachycardia. Since then, I’ve been able to work closely with health professionals to delve into the cause and make changes, including medication and more focused exercise plans to improve my metrics and get me back to feeling my best.

As you can see from my updated 2025 metrics, taking time to slow down and recognize stressors in my life has vastly improved my health. Since using my ring for this purpose, I’ve been able to get back to hiking, restful nights of sleep, and generally quieting the anxieties I was experiencing daily.

I wholeheartedly recommend paying attention to your version of normal with a fitness tracker. Paying attention to my metrics has made a huge difference to my quality of life.

However, it’s paramount that you don’t jump to conclusions and make assumptions based on a few numbers; you should always seek advice about any health concerns you have from a medical professional.

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Algorithms are everywhere, analyzing your habits and shaping what you read, watch and hear on every platform, from Instagram to YouTube to TikTok. And it's not just the stuff you want to see — it's also the ads and pitches and sales and stuff that just clutters everything.

I had seen an add on Instagram for HyperTexting, an app that promises to be "your timeline minus the ads, algorithms, and AI slop." I decided it was worth a try because, like a lot of people, I'd grown tired of opening social media only to find my feed dominated by sponsored posts, recommended accounts and content designed to keep me scrolling for as long as possible. I wanted to see what would happen if I stripped all of that away.

HyperTexting does exactly that

Instead of deciding what you should see, the app only shows content from the publications, newsletters, RSS feeds, blogs and creators you deliberately choose to follow. There are no ads and no "For You" page suggestions. Nothing is nudging you toward another hour of scrolling. That part was pure bliss.

But, after reading my favorite publications and posts, I did start to miss the opportunities that social media offers. In other words, when I reached the end of my timeline, I had to close the app and go on with my day. I don't have a problem with doomscrolling and actually like seeing news and creators that I don't follow. The more I type this, the more ridiculous it sounds, but reaching the end of a feed feels strangely foreign. We've become so accustomed to infinite scroll that an app with a stopping point almost feels unfinished.

So while it will certainly feel peaceful for some, it didn't do it for me. Maybe it's because as a journalist I'm so hungry for the latest news. My "FOMO" (fear of missing out) keeps my eager to accept posts from people and publications that I haven't manually added to my feed.

Notably, within a couple of days, my screen time dropped noticeably. I stopped opening the app out of habit because there was no reward waiting for me at the bottom of another refresh. The endless loop that keeps so many of us glued to our phones simply wasn't there.

I stopped discovering new things

Around day four with HyperTexting, I honestly couldn't take it anymore. I realized I hadn't discovered anything new all week.

That's not a criticism of HyperTexting. In fact, it's doing exactly what it promises. The app gives me complete control over my feed, and that's incredibly refreshing after years of algorithms making those decisions for me.

But complete control comes with an unexpected trade-off. As much as we criticize platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, their recommendation systems occasionally get something right. Buried beneath the sponsored posts and engagement bait is the article you never would have searched for, the writer you've somehow never encountered or the niche community you didn't know existed until an algorithm placed it in front of you.

Those moments are easy to dismiss because they're surrounded by so much noise. But after a week without them, I realized they matter.

HyperTexting will undoubtedly solve a person's doomscrolling problem almost overnight, but for me, it made me realize how much I've come to rely on unexpected discovery. Left entirely to my own choices, my feed became informative, predictable and, eventually, a little static. In a lot of ways, it's like what AI has done to the web. By simply dishing out answers rather than showing a variety of links for me to click on and discover for myself, users are stuck in a vacuum.

The takeaway

Using HyperTexting made me realize the problem isn't that algorithms exist, but rather what they are optimized to do. Today's social platforms aren't designed to help us discover the best ideas on the internet. They're designed to maximize engagement, time on site and advertising revenue. Discovery is often just a byproduct of those goals.

After a week without that system, I don't think the future is an algorithm-free internet. I also don't think it's one where invisible recommendation engines decide everything we read. What I want is something in between.

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July 30 is recognized globally as International Day of Friendship, a holiday meant to observe different cultures, promote peace and strengthen human solidarity.

Now I’ll admit to not being the bestest of friends — I’m constantly called out for not calling anyone first and am prone to going ghost for a few weeks at a time. But when I do answer the phone, respond to a text or make a rare appearance at a major meetup, I take the time to catch up with my closest buddies as much as possible and make an effort to create long-lasting memories that get referenced during future hangouts.

One conversation that comes up a lot when I talk to them is how hard it is to make new friends as an adult. Unless it’s someone they’ve met at work, some of them (including me) have a hard time being in the sorts of situations that help widen their social circle.

With that dilemma in mind, I asked ChatGPT for counsel on the best methods to employ if I want to make new friends. Luckily, this digital advice session gave me a practical list of tips and a workable plan that will keep me busy for the next three months.

Taking notes on how to meet new people in my late 30s

To kick this latest chatbot advice session off, I presented this prompt to ChatGPT: “Give me the seven best tips on how to make friends as an adult. For reference, I'm 38 years old and reside in New York City.”

I also made mention of the hobbies and activities that matter the most to me, such as gaming, bowling, playing pool, attending live wrestling events, stuffing my face with Korean BBQ & Jamaican cuisine and indulging in otaku culture (anime lies at the heart of that last interest of mine).

Before ChatGPT laid out its suggestions, it gave me an explanation of what it truly takes to meet new people, build those blossoming relationships and why living in a big city gives me an advantage when it comes to making new friends:

Making friends as an adult is less about charisma and more about repeated exposure, shared experiences, and taking initiative. That's actually good news, because those are things you can control. Since you're 38 and living in New York City, you have one huge advantage: there are almost endless opportunities to meet people who already share your interests. The challenge isn't finding people—it's turning acquaintances into actual friends.

One of the tips that spoke to me and my good intentions the most was to start looking for my next regular activity instead of actively looking for friends. ChatGPT pointed out that most adult friendships take shape because people repeatedly run into each other in group settings. Instead of constantly asking myself, “Where can I meet new people and make new friends?”, I should be asking myself, “Where can I see the same people every week?”

Based on my favorite pastimes, ChatGPT stated that the best group activities that can introduce me to new people who could become familiar faces worth befriending are weekly board game/video game nights, a bowling or pool league, local wrestling watch parties, fighting game tournaments, anime watch parties and food-based social groups.

Two of the other pieces of practical advice from ChatGPT that caught my attention included:

• Say "yes" more often than feels comfortable: Introverts (and busy adults) naturally decline invitations because staying home feels easier. A useful rule to remember is “If you're at least 60% interested, go.” You don't have to stay all night. Even showing up for an hour can strengthen relationships. Momentum matters more than duration.
• Focus on creating "micro-friendships": You don't need a new best friend. You need someone new to grab lunch with, someone new to game with, someone new to go to a wrestling show with, someone new to watch anime with and someone new to travel with. These smaller friendships often overlap over time until you have a genuine social circle full of new faces. Trying to find “your people” all at once can feel overwhelming; building one connection at a time is more realistic.

Coming up with a 90-day friendship plan

I followed up my first question by asking ChatGPT to supply me with a curated list of the best activities in New York City I should take part in and which places I should go to enjoy them in my quest for new friends.

Since it already had a gauge on my personality, hobbies and interests, it set up a 90-day friendship plan for me that should keep me busy and outside a whole lot more once the summer begins winding down and hoodie season makes its return:

• Month 1 - August: Pop up at the AnimeNYC convention, participate in a gaming tournament at OS NYC and go attend a House of Glory wrestling show.
• Month 2 - September: Join the Better Off Bowling league, go to a New York Food Club meetup and hook up with the Uptown NYC Board Gamers.
• Month 3 - October: Head to New York Comic Con, jump into an event organized by the Anime Social Nexus and use this month to start a recurring meetup with your new friends.

Bottom line

With my new game plan in the back of my mind and a whole new outlook on what it takes to be more social & outgoing as an adult, I left my latest digital advisement session with ChatGPT feeling a bit more confident.

I’ll be sure to keep its useful tips in mind when the time comes for me to meet like-minded people, keep up with them regularly and add them to my familiar batch of friends to see if they mesh well. Now’s the time to get out there and abide by the mantra of International Day of Friendship every day.

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Now and again, a running shoe comes from nowhere to become a word-of-mouth sensation, and right now there is probably no hotter shoe with highly invested runners than the Dynafish Xiaonian.

Given that many runners will never have even heard of Dynafish, that’s quite different to the last couple of shoes I’ve seen become so popular in the running shoe community, which are the Adidas Adizero Evo SL and the original Asics Superblast.

Those were new lines launched with relatively little hype to become instant favorites that reshaped the running shoe landscape, but were made by two of the biggest brands in the industry, and were available to buy everywhere.

In contrast, the Dynafish Xiaonian comes from an unheralded Chinese brand and until recently was only really possible to get through marketplace sites like AliExpress.

The Xiaonian is now available to buy directly in the US, but only through small retailers like HobbyJogger and ShopNings, and while it’s still good value at $130-$150 through those sites, it’s not as cheap as you can get it through marketplace stores.

I was excited to try the Dyanfish Xiaonian, so I bought it for £97 (around $127) from AliExpress to ship to the UK. The shoe arrived about 10 days later, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.

Here’s why I think it’s one of the best running shoes you can get right now.

It’s extremely light but still highly cushioned

My men’s size 10 Dynafish Xiaonian weighs just 7.6oz despite 41mm of cushioning at the heel and 34mm at the forefoot.

It’s not an extremely stripped-back design, with lots of foam in the midsole, some padding on the upper and generous rubber coverage on the outsole, so the lightweight design doesn’t detract from its comfort as a daily trainer, while making the shoe great for speedwork.

There are very few non-carbon plate racing shoes that offer a similar balance of weight and cushioning, with even other lightweight options I love, like the Adidas Evo SL and Puma Deviate Pure Nitro, being heavier with less foam underfoot.

The foam and rocker deliver a fast ride

The key feature in almost all running shoes is the midsole foam used, and Dynafish has created a winner with the supercritical TPEE material in the Xiaonian.

It’s clearly very light and delivers a high level of energy return during faster runs while also being soft enough to feel comfortable at easy paces.

I also enjoyed the pronounced rocker design on the shoe during my testing, though this might not be for everyone. It really helps to throw you forward with each stride and gives the Xiaonian a smooth feel, especially at fast paces.

It’s as versatile as super-trainers that cost twice as much

I love do-it-all running shoes that excel at a wide range of paces, but you often have to pay big money to get the best all-rounders. The Asics Megablast, Adidas Hyperboost Edge or Asics Superblast 3 are all versatile super-trainers that cost $200 or more, for example.

The Dynafish Xiaonian feels every bit as versatile to me and will set you back at most $150, and likely a lot less, depending on where you get it from.

I’ve done 1km reps in the shoe at sub-5min/mile pace, tempo runs and a whole lot of easy running in the shoe, and it felt great throughout my testing. It’s pretty stable for a lightweight, high-stack shoe too.

I’d say it’s at its best for faster efforts, especially long workouts or progression runs, but the Xiaonian can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.

There’s a full outsole and it’s built to last

It’s fair to say that whenever you come across a bargain in any product area, there’s always a fear that the build quality won’t be up to par, but that’s not the case with the Xiaonian.

I’ve run 60 miles in my pair with no signs of wear and tear, and the feel of the midsole has only improved so far, becoming a little more flexible.

The shoe also has a lot of rubber on the outsole, which is surprising for such a light shoe. Often super-trainers have minimal rubber coverage to reduce weight, but the Xiaonian’s outsole should last and has gripped well for me on roads and light trails.

Should you buy the Dynafish Xiaonian?

If you prefer to stick with more accessible shoes, then the Adidas Evo SL or Puma Deviate Pure Nitro would be good options instead of the Dynafish Xiaonian, and the Evo SL is often on sale these days, so it offers good value.

I expect Chinese shoes from brands like Dynafish and Li-Ning to become more and more popular and indeed more accessible. Steph Curry's mega-deal with Li-Ning will certainly help make them more well-known.

If you're happy to shop through smaller sites or marketplace platforms like AliExpress, the Xiaonian is well worth trying now, though. It's not quite as cheap as it was a few months ago because it's already becoming well-known, but it still undercuts most running shoes while out-performing them.

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Audi has impressed me in more ways than one over the last couple of years while testing out some of the best electric cars. From the Tony Stark-worthy Audi RS e-tron GT to the sport-tuned Audi RS Q8, there’s no shortage of impressive vehicles in its stable that balance performance and high-tech features.

While lighting has always been a key pillar of Audi’s identity, the German automaker is taking it to a new level with the 2027 Audi Q9 and SQ9. Not only are they the first three-row, full-size SUVs in the brand's lineup, but they also feature the most comprehensive lighting setup I’ve ever seen in a production vehicle.

From adaptive headlights that selectively block glare for oncoming traffic, to customizable curved OLED taillights and ground-projected turn signals, the Audi Q9 and SQ9 prove that exterior lights aren't just for style anymore — they're active safety tools.

The turn signal finally gets a next-gen upgrade

The basic turn signal hasn’t changed all that much over the decades, but Audi is stepping outside convention by introducing a feature that actually made the jump from a crazy concept car to a real production vehicle.

While the blinkers on both the Q9 and SQ9 illuminate normally, Audi’s advanced indicator system uses built-in ground projectors to cast dynamic light arrows directly onto the road alongside the SUV — and they aren't just limited to the rear bumper.

In fact, the projections fire from both the front and rear corners to alert everyone nearby. The biggest benefit here is blind-spot safety: if you're changing lanes or turning in dense city traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, and adjacent drivers can immediately see where you’re heading — even if their view of your actual headlights or taillights is blocked by another car.

While the system is undeniably impressive at night, I’m curious to test how well those projected arrows hold up under bright daylight.

High beams without the glare

Another innovative upgrade that accompanies the 2027 Audi Q9 and SQ9 is the Digital Matrix LED headlight system with a micro-LED module. This smart lighting doesn’t just enhance the driving experience at night — it also serves as a protective feature for others on the road.

Much like other vehicles with dynamic lighting, such as the Rivian R1S and Polestar 3, Audi’s new SUVs can detect oncoming traffic or a vehicle cruising ahead in your lane. When it spots them, the system instantly dims only the specific micro-LEDs that would otherwise hit their eyes or side mirrors.

The result is a precise cutout in the beam pattern that prevents glare for surrounding drivers, all while maintaining daylight-bright illumination across the rest of the road ahead. Because the system works proactively, the headlights continuously dim and brighten individual modules to ensure you always have maximum visibility without blinding anyone else.

LED-lined panoramic roof

The exterior isn't the only place Audi is showing off its lighting prowess — the cabin of the 2027 Audi Q9 and SQ9 is an absolute visual treat once the sun goes down. In typical fashion, subtle ambient light strips make for pleasant accents, but the real showstopper is the panoramic sunroof.

It’s the largest glass roof Audi has ever built, offering breathtaking views for passengers across all three rows. What really sets it apart, though, is how it embeds an array of LEDs directly into the glass frame — much like the Sky Lounge setup found in vehicles like the BMW i7 M70 I've tested. These lights sync seamlessly with the cabin's ambient lighting system, casting a soft, customizable glow overhead that turns the glass into a floating illuminated window.

Advancing driving assistant, size, price, and more

These vehicles mark a major milestone for Audi, as they are the brand's very first true full-size, three-row SUVs designed specifically with the U.S. market in mind. They’re noticeably longer than the existing Q7, ensuring that using the third row doesn't completely sacrifice rear trunk space.

Something I’m particularly eager to test out is the updated adaptive driving assistant plus, which enables limited hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 mph on select highways. It’s still technically classified as "partially automated driving" under SAE Level 2 standards, meaning drivers must remain alert and attentive at all times.

All this extra space and forward-thinking tech doesn't come cheap, but Audi has priced both flagships competitively. The base trim for the 2027 Audi Q9 starts at $89,095, while the high-performance, 591-horsepower SQ9 commands $119,395. Both models are scheduled to arrive at dealerships later this year.

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Whether I'm planning a redesign or I've got a new room that needs fully furnishing, I always tend to shop in the same place – IKEA.

The blue and yellow allure and modular designs have continuously and cleverly been sold to me as the most budget-friendly option for an entire collection of furniture. But, is that actually the case?

Don't get me wrong, I know there's other options. In fact, the market has largely been dominated for decades by two juggernaut home retailers – Lowe's and Home Depot.

How do they hold up against IKEA though? I sometimes struggle to find clarity in which is the more affordable choice.

So, I thought I'd put it to the ultimate test. I mocked up a complete bedroom design and found similar items across IKEA, Lowes and Home Depot to compare the prices.

Spoiler alert: you might be shocked by the results.

Different stores, different lures

Pros and cons of IKEA

Pros:

• Competitively priced
• Unique, space-friendly designs
• Lots of stock
• Ease of collection

Cons:

• Build-it-yourself flat packs
• Potentially expensive shipping costs
• Less than 100 stores in the US

Pros and cons of Lowe's

Pros:

• Price match guarantee
• Stock diverse and exclusive range of brands
• Over 1700 stores across US

Cons:

• Less stock
• Strict discounts
• Less choice

Pros and cons of Home Depot

Pros:

• Extensive range of brands
• Lots of stock
• Over 2000 stores in the US

Cons:

• Concerns over delivery
• Not as affordable
• Warehouses overwhelmingly large

Cost comparison

To carry out this cost comparison, I set out to find items from each store that looked incredibly similar. Of course, if you're planning a different aesthetic, you can shop around and compare all three.

But to fully furnish a bedroom with a bed, wardrobe, dresser, and nightstand, here's what the costs had to say.

It's also important to note that there can be additional costs when purchasing online, especially with delivery (varies dependent on location), but also including some potential extra costs for fittings, removal and storage fees.

Verdict

So, it turns out while IKEA is still the most affordable during this price comparison, it's not by as far as I would have thought.

For Lowe's, it's less than a $40 difference. Home Depot is considered widely to be the more premium priced of the three, but still only came in around $60 more than Lowe's.

What was surprising about Home Depot though, was that three of the items chosen were the same product as Lowe's, yet more expensive.

I did also notice that some of Lowe's and Home Depot's prices changed a little during my comparison, whereas IKEA tends to stick to their prices (unless during a sales event).

Yes, IKEA is still the most affordable, but there are other things to consider, like delivery costs to you and accessibility to stores. It wasn't the total washout that I was expecting from IKEA, especially as far as Lowe's is concerned.

I know that when I make up a mood board for my next redesign, I'll be creating the look across all three retailers rather than assuming that I know the answer.

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Astronauts on the International Space Station experience sleep inertia (grogginess upon waking) because they work in shifts, are rolling a chronic sleep debt, and see 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours, among many other factors.

I experience sleep inertia because my pre-schooler doesn’t believe in sleeping through the night. And that build-up of broken sleep makes me feel punch-drunk some mornings.

I tried easing the grogginess with caffeine, but it didn’t work. And after speaking with Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans, Director of the Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center, I now know why…

“Caffeine takes time to take effect, so it’s not the best tool to use if you have to wake up and act quickly,” Dr. Flynn-Evans explains, whereas light activates retinal pathways immediately.

Well, my job doesn’t require me to perform complex tasks straight after waking. But my son is full bore from the moment he opens his eyes — sitting on the couch to watch him play while I'm still struggling to wake up fully is not an option.

Let there be (blue) light

While caffeine isn’t a fast-acting off-switch for post-sleep grogginess, the right type of blue light within 30 minutes of waking is.

Yes light therapy glasses and lamps can help to reduce sleep inertia, but devices cost money. For a $0 solution, Dr. Flynn-Evans says to step outside your front door: “Going outside when the sun is out will expose you to blue light from the sun naturally.”

Even though it looks yellow from Earth, the sun contains blue light (and many other colours). “There are specialized photoreceptors in our eyes that are very sensitive to blue-wavelength light that are different from the rods and cones that we use for vision,” explains Dr. Flynn-Evans.

“They are most sensitive to blue-enriched light, because the light that we receive from the sun has a strong blue component. When these photoreceptors detect light, they send a signal to our internal clock (circadian rhythm) to indicate that it’s daytime.

“This initiates a cascade of other effects throughout the body that promote alertness. For example, our bodies immediately stop producing melatonin when the photoreceptors detect light.”

Little wonder that blue light is being studied as a powerful off-switch for melatonin production (a master sleep hormone), and a powerful on-switch for wakefulness signals.

Key takeaways: At a glance

• The biological switch: Natural morning light triggers specialized photoreceptors in your eyes. These instantly signal your brain to stop producing melatonin.
• The $0 NASA solution: While blue light therapy devices are helpful for night-shift workers and in the darker months of the year, natural light outside contains all the blue-cyan light you need to help ease sleep inertia.
• Blue light isn’t a 24/7 enemy: Reduce your exposure at least one hour before bed, then embrace it soon after waking to reduce grogginess.
• The weekend trap: Sleeping in creates ‘social jetlag’, which throws off your circadian rhythm and makes your sleep inertia worse on Monday.

6 a.m. cement brain

At the start of this year, my son started going through a rough patch with sleep and my father-in-law was receiving end-of-life care in hospital. I was stressed day and night, and my sleep took a hit.

It didn’t matter how many hours of sleep I got, either – because it was so broken, I felt deeply groggy each morning.

“Sleep inertia is the groggy feeling when somebody wakes up from a deeper part of sleep, and the body is still transitioning from sleep to wake, so they don’t feel fully alert yet,” explains Dr. Lindsay Browning, Chartered Psychologist, Neuroscientist and the founder of Trouble Sleeping.

It was winter when my grogginess drifted in. Sun-dappled mornings were replaced by deep black 6 a.m. skies, and I had lent my trusty Lumie Vitamin L light to a friend battling Seasonal Affective Disorder.

So I became reliant on a daily vat of caffeine to ‘power up’.

Call it divine timing (or forgetting that I had requested the product for testing), but a few weeks later I was sent a pair of 470nm blue-turquoise light-emitting glasses. My morning grogginess was beginning to ease up when wearing them, but they weren't an instant 'on' switch to take me from punch-drunk to instantly alert at 7 a.m..

“The circadian rhythm is a forward feeding cycle, so if you generally wake up at the same time each morning, your internal clock will anticipate when it’s time to wake up and begin to turn off sleep signals and turn on wake signals at your typical wake time," explains Dr. Flynn-Evans.

“You’re also likely to be exposed to light at about the same time in the morning if you get up around the same time, so any light you are exposed to may simply be interpreted by the body as the expected daily light signal.”

So if I always wake up at 7 a.m., my internal body clock already anticipates light at 7 a.m., so that burst of artificial blue light isn't a ‘shock’ system boost and won’t be as potent against sleep inertia as it would be at, say, 2 a.m. when I'm normally asleep.

The right light at the right time

“Bright light exposure soon after waking is one of the best ways of helping you feel more awake more quickly,” explains Dr. Browning.

Ok, but is there a difference between the blue light that helps wake us up versus the ‘melatonin-disrupting’ blue light we’re told to avoid before bed?

“Nope! It’s the same,” says Dr. Flynn-Evans. “The difference is that light in the evening shifts the drive to sleep and wake later. Light in the morning shifts the drive to sleep and wake earlier.

“As a result, most people need to minimize light in the evening in order to fall asleep, and maximize light in the morning to wake up.”

“Additionally, physically getting up out of bed and moving can also help you wake up and feel more refreshed,” adds Dr. Browning. “Staying in bed, repeatedly pressing snooze, is unlikely to help you quickly wake up.”

This is a trap many of us fall into on weekends; a time when we feel we deserve a lie-in, or have the chance to catch up on sleep.

Truth is, this ‘social jetlag’ confuses our circadian rhythm and perpetuates our sleep issues. A consistent sleep schedule, especially your wake-time, is arguably the MVP of good sleep hygiene.

“Sleeping in later at weekends can shift your sleep-wake schedule later, making a Monday morning alarm feel more like waking up during your ‘biological night’,” Dr. Lindsay explains.

“This effect may be more pronounced in naturally later chronotypes (owls) compared to earlier chronotypes (larks)."

Less is more: How long to use blue light for

It’s important to remember that Dr. Flynn-Evans’s work at NASA is focused around how to help astronauts reduce sleep inertia fast when working in space.

Using enriched blue-light helps them go from groggy to alert when they wake up for a shift in a place where they have few circadian cues, yet many physical stressors.

Back on Earth, shift workers who sleep in the day and work through the night might also benefit from blue light exposure.

So how long should a person be exposed to this light before their brain switches from ‘sleepy and groggy’ to ‘awake and energized’?

“We don’t know exactly, because it depends on the time of day and the stage of sleep that a person has awoken from,” Dr. Flynn-Evans explains, before revealing more about her team’s lab protocol: “Our studies typically use a minimum of 20 minutes of bright light exposure.”

For most of us, getting outside soon after waking is still the gold standard approach for easing sleep inertia. Dr. Browning: “At the end of the day, natural daylight is easy, free and one of the most effective practical options for most people.” 

Why some people experience sleep inertia more than others

“If you wake up from a deeper part of sleep, particularly slow-wave sleep, you are more likely to experience sleep inertia.” Dr. Lindsay explains.

“If you wake up from a much lighter part of sleep, typically at the beginning or end of a sleep cycle, you are less likely to experience as much sleep inertia.

“Also, if you set your alarm for a different wake-up time from your usual one, either earlier or later, you might find yourself waking from a deeper part of sleep and therefore experience more sleep inertia.”

Dr. Lindsay's point rang true when I had to wake up around 3 a.m. for a family flight to Spain—not even the excitement of a holiday could override that crushing sleep inertia we all felt.

“Our sleep cycles tend to have more deep, slow-wave sleep in the first half of the night, and sleep tends to get lighter and less deep with each subsequent sleep cycle towards the morning,” Dr. Browning reveals.

“Therefore, if you wake up when your body clock thinks you should still be in the middle of your night’s sleep, you are more likely to wake up from a deeper part of sleep and experience sleep inertia.”

I used my light therapy glass to power through at the airport, giving me enough energy and concentration to lug my sleepy son in a hip carrier whilst also dragging a 20kg suitcase up a steep hill.

Other ways to reduce sleep inertia

In the lighter months where mornings are awash with daylight early doors, sleeping with your curtains partially open is a great way to harness natural light cues.

“Even through closed eyelids, you can sense the sunlight increasing, which has been suggested to help pull you from a deeper part of sleep into a lighter part of sleep.” Dr. Browning then recommends opening your curtains fully as soon as you’re up. “This helps to shift sleep inertia more quickly.”

A good sunrise alarm clock is an excellent solution here.

Her other top tip is to keep a consistent wake time, even on weekends. “This helps your body get used to that time as ‘wake-up time’, and it helps your body shift to that time being a more natural waking point between sleep cycles rather than from a deeper part of sleep.

“So, in summary," continues Dr. Browning, "getting some natural daylight shortly before waking and as soon as you wake up, and having a consistent wake-up time, may both help to reduce the likelihood of sleep inertia.”

When to see a doctor

“People who consistently wake up exhausted often have an undiagnosed sleep disorder," explains Dr. Flynn-Evans, "so the first thing I would recommend is talking with your doctor about a referral to a sleep clinic.

“For those who do not have sleep disorders, it’s important to maintain a regular bed and wake time, with regular bright morning light exposure.

“Night owls tend to struggle with waking up in the morning, which makes it more important for night owls to turn down the lights before bed and maximize morning light exposure to adapt to their work or social schedule." Dr. Flynn-Evans says. "It’s also important to have an appropriate cool, dark, and quiet sleep environment.”

Dr. Browning adds: “If you find that you experience severe sleep inertia most mornings, or it doesn't shift after waking and the sleepiness and grogginess persists long into the day, then this might be a sign that you aren't getting enough sleep, you might have circadian misalignment, or you might possibly have another sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea.”

If you only occasionally experience sleep inertia, it’s nothing to worry about: “Making sure that you get enough sleep is more important than worrying about avoiding sleep inertia, because even if you wake up with sleep inertia, it will usually wear off fairly quickly.”

Sleep tech to help banish morning grogginess

I’ve been wearing the new Garmin Cirqa, a $199 screen-free and subscription-free fitness tracker for over a week, and while my initial impressions are mostly positive, burning questions about the device persist.

So, I reached out to Jill Kaiser, the lead product manager for the Garmin Cirqa, to learn more. Kaiser has been with the Kansas-based brand for a decade, and sees the Cirqa as her ‘baby.’

One of Garmin’s more unusual wearables, our conversation touched on the value of customer feedback in the design process, how customization and comfort were also key pillars, why the Cirqa lacks an onboard GPS, and whether or not Garmin plans to roll out more screen-free wearables anytime soon.

Why launch a screen-free tracker?

One of the biggest bits of info I gleaned from my chat with Kaiser: Garmin places a high value on user feedback and requests.

“We definitely are listening to our customers. We were looking at what our customers want,” says Kaiser. The Cirqa has “all of our training, all of our health metrics, everything that they are wanting in our other devices, just in an option that doesn't have a screen, that doesn't have that distraction for them.”

Garmin users have apparently been requesting a screen-free tracker for some time. So why launch one now, especially hot on the heels of the Fitbit Air, a device that promises many of the same features for half the cost?

“We've had quite a lot of customer feedback wanting a screenless product for some time, and so it's been on our radar, and [now] just felt like we had all of the pieces in place to be able to support this,” says Kaiser.

Of course, launching a successful screen-free wearable requires an equally successful, i.e., user-friendly companion app. Put another way, “there's a lot that goes into not having a screen on your wrist and just making sure that our ecosystem is built for it,” notes Kaiser.

An ‘all-day version’ of the Index sleep tracker

Kaiser says to think of the Cirqa as an “all-day version” of Garmin’s screen-free Index sleep tracker. However, “from a feature standpoint and what it tracks, the Vivoactive line and the Venu line fit really nicely with [the Cirqa]. We brought in all of the training metrics that the latest Venu has,” says Kaiser.

This is to say, the Cirqa should be one mighty reliable and comprehensive holistic device, up there with the best fitness trackers. And unlike other popular screen-free trackers out there, the Cirqa has one design element that truly sets it apart from the pack: a physical button.

“We added a button onto the product because we know from customers that it's important to be able to have that quick start and stop without having to pull out the phone,” says Kaiser. Not only that, the Cirqa vibrates each time you press the button to confirm the action.

‘Users can really dig in and make it what they want’

Designed to appeal to a wide range of users, whether you’re a hardcore athlete or a first-time jogger, personalization is king when it comes to the Cirqa.

“There's just a lot of customization we built into this that a user can really dig in and make it what they want. If they want to see their battery life from the device, they can turn that on, and with a double tap, you can see an LED; if it's green, it means it's good to go,” says Kaiser.

That’s not all. “If you feel like you're missing [knowing] what time it is, we have hourly alerts that you can turn on, and it vibrates on the hour.”

By default, a single press of the buttons starts a generic workout tracking session; however, users can customize the action to begin any supported workout of their choosing.

“You can go into Garmin Connect and customize that button. If you're always going floor climbing, like doing stadium stairs, and you want those metrics, you can go in and change that so floor climb is the activity on your device,” notes Kaiser.

Meanwhile, a long-press of the button turns on the broadcast heart rate function, while a triple-press forces the Cirqa into pairing mode.

A valuable companion to your Garmin Watch

What about users who already own a Garmin watch? Does the Cirqa have any value as a companion device? Yes! Users can specify a primary device in the Connect app. This is the one you plan to wear throughout the day and night.

So, if you’re someone who trains with a higher-end Garmin Fenix or Forerunner, but want something a little more wrist-friendly to wear to bed without sacrificing sleep and recovery insights, the Cirqa may be your answer.

Best of all, you don’t need to manually switch between devices; the Connect app is smart enough to sync data from whatever wearable you’re wearing/logging a workout with.

How to train your Cirqa

While a dedicated, customizable button to start and stop workouts is certainly handy, wouldn’t it be nice if your Garmin Cirqa automatically knew what workouts you were doing without any input from you?

Kaiser says that with a little bit of user guidance early on, you can train your Cirqa to do exactly that. You’ll just need to manually track those activities for the first week or two you wear the device; after that, it should start to automatically detect and track your go-to workouts.

“By you engaging with it and saying, yes, I did go for a walk, or no, I didn't go for a walk, I was actually doing something else, that is helping the system then learn and actually adapt to you,” says Kaiser.

I’m still testing Cirqa's auto workout detection out, and seeing as it's only been a week, I can't yet comment on its reliability. That said, I look forward to reporting my findings in the forthcoming Garmin Cirqa review.

On the lack of onboard GPS

One question I keep hearing about the Garmin Cirqa is ‘why doesn’t it have GPS?’ According to Kaiser, a desire to keep the size and cost down, while maximizing battery life, is the answer.

“There's a lot of benefit that we can get from a battery standpoint, from a size standpoint of not having [GPS] in there. And so it went back to the user need. Yes, we know GPS is important, but from the phone, that still gets what our customers want,” says Kaiser.

More screen-free trackers to come?

So, now that Garmin has two screen-free wearables under its belt, can we expect more to come? “We're always going to continue to be looking at what we can do in this space,” says Kaiser. So, maybe yes, maybe no?

Ultimately, the Cirqa was designed to be, well, whatever you want it to be, assuming you want a screen-free tracker. “There's just a lot of customization that we built in,” says Kaiser. “Depending on what your needs are and what you're looking for. You're either not getting anything from it, where it's completely distraction-free, or it's adding a little bit of help throughout the day.”

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Last week, I asked a simple question in my Beyond the Prompt newsletter: Is this the end of "Googling it?"

I argued that we're moving away from an internet where we discover information ourselves toward one where AI simply hands us an answer. My biggest concern is the long-term visibility of the web. If fewer people click through to the original reporting, reviews and research that AI depends on, who, or rather, what is creating the knowledge.

My inbox blew up!

I expected the responses to split neatly into two camps: people who love AI search and people who hate it. Instead, your emails revealed something much more interesting.

Almost nobody turned this into an AI-versus-Google debate. Instead, many of you argued that the problems with search started long before ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity arrived. That gave me pause. Maybe AI isn't replacing search because it's inherently better, but rather it's succeeding because traditional search had already become frustrating enough that people were ready for something different.

For many of you, Google is the real problem

One of the strongest themes running through your emails had very little to do with AI and everything to do with search.

"AI is not killing 'Googling it.' Google's endless push for profit is killing 'Googling it.'," write Bobbie L. "For some time now, search engines have been throwing up pages and pages of barely relevant links... It's like wading through an obstacle course of sales pitches for second-hand cars when all I wanted was research on safety."

Steve H. echoed that frustration in his email. "I do enjoy doing research on Google, but the amount of pop-up ads is now overwhelming. I understand ads pay the bills, but it has become the majority of screen time!"

That perspective resonated with me because it reframes the conversation. When the web becomes a minefield of SEO fluff, pop-ups and sponsored links, an AI-generated answer feels necessary.

AI shines when the question gets complicated

Several readers made another point I hadn't fully considered. Robert D. explained that AI lets him ask detailed, conversational questions instead of trying to guess the perfect combination of keywords.

"With an AI search, you can phrase the question with much more detail and you'll get an answer based on that... It's easy to expand on part of the response and get additional information. However, if you want a variety of opinions, then a search is usually the way to go."

Richard S. shared a similar view, saying he usually prefers "a summary and synthesis" because he's looking for information rather than preserving the original source.

Reading Robert's email made me realize AI isn't just faster than traditional search, but it does understand questions differently. Instead of trying to reverse engineer Google's algorithm, you can simply explain what you're trying to figure out. That means the first step feels like a conversation instead of a puzzle to get the right keywords.

But many of you don't want AI making your choices

Just as many readers pushed back.

"I prefer searching and making my own choices," Valerie G. wrote. "I use AI, but I don't want AI making my choices — or interrupting my plans while I'm searching the Web."

Rosita, who spent years working in medical administration, shared a similar philosophy. "I have never looked at a first study or the first option to address a decision. I totally agree and practice the scroll to more accurate studies and legitimate data."

Then there was Ellen S., whose email has stuck with me all week.

"I hate the increasingly prominent use of AI in searches," she wrote. "It is bland, makes assumptions about sources of information, and obliterates the process of creative and systematic thinking."

Reading Ellen and Rosita's emails reminded me that searching is just as much about comparing evidence, deciding which sources you trust and sometimes discovering information you weren't expecting to find.

That's something an AI summary, by design, can never fully replicate.

Was search ever fair to small creators and businesses?

Perhaps the email that challenged my thinking the most came from Steve W., who runs the website Miswired.me. He wrote: "How many typical website owners... actually ever hope to end up listed on the SERPs? Isn't that the logical fallacy part of this argument against AI?"

His point stopped me in my tracks.

My original argument assumed AI was taking traffic away from independent creators. But Steve pointed out that many independent creators never received much traffic from Google in the first place. If page one of Google was already dominated by giant publishers and SEO powerhouses, perhaps AI isn't disrupting a level playing field. Perhaps it's disrupting one that was already uneven.

I don't know the answer, but it's a perspective I hadn't seriously considered before reading his email.

What I took away from dozens of responses

After reading all of your responses (and yes, I read them all!), I think this comes down to trust. Some of you trust AI to synthesize information quickly and others prefer to trust yourself to evaluate multiple sources.

Most of you seem to fall somewhere in the middle, using AI for convenience while recognizing there are still times when nothing replaces reading the original reporting, comparing perspectives and making up your own mind.

What surprised me most was that almost everyone recognized the same underlying problem: finding trustworthy information online has become harder.

AI may not be the perfect solution, but for many people it's the first alternative that's made searching feel useful again.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to write in. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to challenge my thinking. Now I'd love to hear from even more of you.

Has AI changed the way you search the web over the past year? If so, has it made you more curious — or less likely to dig deeper than the first answer you receive?

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We spend eight hours a day staring at screens, sitting in calls, and carefully sculpting sentences across a page. But nobody is just their job title. We contain multitudes. The colleague reviewing your drafts might be an award-winning poet, a competitive baker, or building physical worlds on the weekend.

Still, it’s always a delight when the curtain pulls back. By day, Will Salmon is our Collections Editor. He's also a veteran music journalist, a long-time collector and the founder of Modern Aviation, an underground indie tape label releasing physical cassettes to a devoted subculture of music lovers.

Making album art a thing again

When I asked Will what originally sparked his jump from writing about music to launching a physical label, his answer didn't start with sound, it started with environment and visual design.

"For Modern Aviation, it was partly an aesthetic thing. A couple of my friends were putting out tapes and I got excited about the visual possibilities. I was living near an airport at the time and obsessed with the planes flying by every hour — the two things merged in my head."

Originally, Will said that the label was going to be called Aileron, which is a bit rubbish as a title. Then Modern Aviation popped up and away they went.

"My friend Sarah Matthews, who is a really talented artist, has done almost all our covers," Salmon said. "We came up with the idea of giving each tape a plane silhouette on the spine, rather than a catalogue number. I knew it was going to be predominantly electronic and maybe a bit folky, and that's how it all panned out."

That detail, swapping out utilitarian catalog numbers for tiny plane silhouettes, is precisely where physical media wins back ground from streaming.

On Spotify or Apple Music, cover art is reduced to a 50-pixel thumbnail tucked behind a glass screen. You don't hold it, turn it over, or collect its spines on a shelf. By treating the cassette as a canvas first, labels like Modern Aviation turn an album into something displayable.

The anti-Spotify

But beyond the visual appeal, there’s also the question of attention span. In a culture driven by endless algorithmic feeds, making a physical commitment to an album has become rare. I asked Will if he thinks people are turning to tapes to escape the paralysis of infinite choice.

It's also not an either/or situation. Most labels like Modern Aviation do everything through Bandcamp, where you generally get a digital download along with the tape.

"People sometimes find the choice of a streamer like Spotify overwhelming and enjoy the focus that comes with sitting down with a complete album," said Salmon.

"That's a big part of the vinyl resurgence, people choosing to engage with the ritual of picking out an album, putting it on, and listening in full. Tapes are a smaller version of that: they're more utilitarian, cheap to produce, and easy to carry around."

"Many of the people who buy our tapes are doing it because they want a tangible object for their money, something to collect," Salmon said.

Will points out something essential here: tape collecting isn't about rejecting modern tech. The physical tape feeds the collector's soul, while the digital download covers convenience. The cassette isn't competing with streaming, it's offering the tactile joy of vinyl without the expensive barrier to entry.

The craft and the cassette

Running an independent label in a digital ecosystem comes with its own set of production realities. Major record labels have clogged vinyl manufacturing plants worldwide, creating year-long delays for small artists. Cassettes, by contrast, remain quick to produce, intimate, and democratic.

Will explains: "Records generally take months to press and costs thousands... They're [cassettes] cheaper to make and sell than vinyl and there's a much faster turnaround – you can get an album pro-dubbed, with printed covers and cases made in a few weeks... They're a great way to get music, art, and ideas out there quickly."

This low-friction production model is what gives tape culture its community feel. It mirrors the lineage of zines, as noted by Will, and mixtape trading from decades past, a community existing entirely outside the algorithmic recommendation engine.

When you buy a tape on Bandcamp, you're usually buying directly from the person who dubbed the tape, stamped the shell, and packed the envelope. There’s an intimacy to that transaction that streaming platforms just can't duplicate.

It’s easy to dismiss the cassette revival as mere nostalgia, but it actually highlights a fundamental shift in how we value art. When music is infinitely accessible, it easily slips into background noise. Something to drown out the silence while tabbing between spreadsheets.

A cassette, by its very limitation, asks for your presence. You can't shuffle it, you can't skip past a weak track with a quick swipe, and eventually, the tape stops and forces you to flip it over. Sometimes that little bit of extra effort is what brings the music back into focus. Ultimately, it is a rejection of the mainstream algorithmic churn.

"I don't think any of this is a nostalgic fad," Salmon emphasized, "it's more that people are realising that they have more options available and that there's interesting stuff happening just off the beaten path."

What’s the one piece of music gear from your past you wish you’d never thrown away? (A favorite Walkman, a vintage deck, or an old tape rack?) Share your throwback tech in the comments!

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Ask almost anyone why they upgrade their phone, and you’re likely to get this answer: the camera. We’ve been conditioned to believe that if you want rich colors, sharp details, and crisp low-light shots, you need to shell out four figures for the latest flagship. In contrast, even the best cheap phones carry the stereotype of taking cheap-looking photos that look awful as physical printouts.

However, the dynamics have changed because people are mostly sharing photos on social media. The canvas where they’re shown remains small, so those deficiencies don’t look as glaring. Yet, the price gap between budget and ultra-premium handsets has never felt wider — and this TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max photo shoot out is further proof.

To put this assumption to the test, I took these two wildly different devices into real-world situations to see what, if any, meaningful differences there are in their camera performance. There’s the $329 TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, which boasts an attractive price, while the $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max is considered the best phone out there for good reason.

Is the flagship truly four times better, or are affordable cameras finally catching up to the point of diminishing returns? Here’s what I found.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Camera specifications

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 1

At first glance, there don’t appear to be any noticeable differences, especially in how the scene is exposed. But upon closer inspection of the facade of Moynihan Train Hall on the right, it’s pretty apparent that the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s ultrawide captures more detail and definition.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 2

Switching over to their main cameras, I will say that the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro’s 50MP sensor does just as good a job of capturing some of the finer details — like the Sabrett hot dog stand and the pizza shop sign in the far background.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 3

All zooming is done by the NXTPAPER 70 Pro’s main camera, which means it relies heavily on sensor cropping at 10x digital zoom. As a result, it can’t match the optical performance of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s dedicated telephoto shooter when capturing the water tower.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 4

I’m immediately drawn to the warmer color temperature of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s shot, which features this art installation smack in the middle. Besides that, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro pulls off just as good a composition — though the colors are slightly muted.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 5

I can say the same thing about the shots taken with their main cameras. While the iPhone 17 Pro Max pulls in more detail upon closer inspection, the TCL doesn’t look whole lot different when I look at the overall shot.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 6

The tighter framing from the 10x zoom really exacerbates the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro’s softer details and definition compared to the iPhone. The face looks smudgy, giving it a watercolor effect, while the iPhone’s shot is more distinct with sharper edges visible.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 7

Low light is where there’s a dramatic difference between these two phones. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s night mode delivers a brighter picture in near-total darkness, while doing a much better job of preserving the orange color of the SUV in the driveway.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 8

Despite having a night mode, the TCL simply cannot match the light-gathering abilities of the iPhone. As a result, the home’s facade appears as a silhouette with virtually no visible detail. In contrast, the iPhone exposes the house properly, and I love how it even draws out stars in the night sky.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 9

It looks like I was shooting blind with the TCL based on what it attempted to capture in night mode with this tree. The only visible details are the windows surrounded by the home's exterior lights, whereas the iPhone makes it look like ambient light is gently illuminating the entire tree.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 10

When there’s some ambient light in a nighttime scene, the TCL does a better job of exposing the shot. I’m surprised by how much better this tree looks, which is thanks to the ambient light coming from the left — though the image is still nowhere as good as the iPhone’s.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 11

Indoors, where there’s still decent lighting, the TCL’s main camera manages to capture a similar shot to the iPhone’s — albeit with slightly less contrast. Most people might not notice it, but it’s visible in the dark sections surrounding the neon sign.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 12

With more shade around this courtyard, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s warmer color temperature isn’t as prevalent. Both phones do a nice job balancing the exposure throughout the scene, but the TCL's highlights are a little blown out — notice how some parts of the blue sky appear washed out and white.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 13

What’s immediately apparent is that the TCL has a slightly tighter field of view with its main camera, but it still manages to match the iPhone’s overall look in this courtyard shot. Luckily, the highlights aren’t blown out this time.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 14

At first glance, I’m drawn to the TCL’s closeup of this wooden ring — but that begins to change the more I inspect the details. It becomes clear that TCL’s adding a substantial amount of sharpening, but the downside is how it looks more artificial the more I took in. In contrast, the iPhone has superior definition.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 15

While the iPhone 17 Pro Max can get a lot closer for macro shots, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro does an excellent job of capturing the sunflower at the same distance. The over-sharpening effect is a huge benefit here, which makes all the details pop out. In fact, I’d say it captures the same level of detail and definition as the iPhone — but with slightly less muted color.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 16

This is a perfect example of how the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 48MP ultrawide camera has a big advantage over the TCL’s 8MP sensor. Even though the overall shot matches the iPhone in nearly every other respect, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro simply can’t capture the same level of detail. As a result, the crisp outline of the Porsche Macan Turbo Electric isn’t nearly as well defined.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 17

There’s nothing wrong with the TCL here — in fact, it actually brightens the scene slightly more than the iPhone. That isn't much of a surprise given how ideal the lighting conditions are. The only minor difference emerges when I zoom in on the finer details: the Porsche’s finish appears a bit speckled on the TCL, though it’s still far from bad.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 18

At 2x zoom, we see similar results in this shot of the Porsche, with the TCL rendering the scene a smidge brighter. However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s image processing makes the SUV's edges and fine details look significantly more defined.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 19

Focusing on the Porsche at 10x zoom, there’s no arguing the iPhone’s superiority as it pulls in significantly more detail. For example, I can clearly make out the markings on the tire, and the headlights and air vents are far better defined.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 20

With the sun high in the sky and illuminating the clouds, this serves as a great test for these cameras' dynamic range performance. I actually prefer the TCL's shot here, as it balances the shadows and highlights better. Take a look at the asphalt compared to how it’s slightly underexposed by the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 21

Right away, you'll notice that the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a much wider field of view for selfies. More importantly, it does a far better job of handling the harsh light hitting my shirt — whereas the TCL leaves those bright areas looking washed out.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 22

While the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro has an overwhelming advantage on paper with its 32MP front camera, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 18MP Center Stage camera does almost as good a job of capturing the fine details of my face and outfit. Thankfully, the TCL doesn’t suffer from any overexposure here, and it actually captures a bit more definition in my facial features.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 23

I really like how both phones handle portrait mode here. In fact, they add just enough background blur to keep the focus squarely on me. However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s shot looks more realistic in the way the bokeh behaves — you can see a natural, progressive falloff in focus starting along the arm extending toward the camera.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 24

Strong light is coming from the window in the background, causing the TCL to overcompensate by brightening the shadows — which leaves the cat’s black fur looking somewhat milky. The iPhone 17 Pro Max adapts much better to the scene by maintaining strong contrast on the cat without blowing out the highlights or washing out the rest of the shot.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Photo 25

Both phones work hard to keep the exposure even throughout this panorama, but the iPhone surprisingly exhibits a bit more banding in the sky. Despite that flaw, it still pulls in far better detail and definition overall. From the grainy texture of the sand in the foreground to the text on the sign off to the left, the iPhone simply takes the better shot.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Verdict

When you step back and look at the big picture, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is still the vastly superior camera phone, but the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro proves that budget handhelds are no longer a total compromise. In ideal lighting, it can deliver shots that match the flagship at a fraction of the cost.

Where that extra $870 truly pays off is in the versatility and raw detail of the iPhone’s high-resolution ultrawide and dedicated optically backed telephoto lens — giving you massive cropping freedom without losing detail or definition. At the same time, its unbeatable low-light performance continues to highlight the biggest disparity between ultra-budget phones and top-tier models.

While the iPhone thrives in near darkness, the TCL struggles to gather light, leaving dark scenes flat, grainy, or silhouetted. If you shoot mostly in daylight, the TCL delivers incredible value, but for round-the-clock reliability and cropping power, the iPhone 17 Pro Max still reigns supreme.

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As a fitness editor, I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing tech this year, and we’re only in July. Not a day goes by when I don’t have more than one fitness tracker strapped to a pulse point, and by now, my friends have stopped asking me why I’m wearing two watches (I think they’re just relieved I’ve not turned up to brunch wearing a chest strap…yet).

I often get asked which is the best tracker, and my answer is always, "It depends on who’s buying it." And while I stick by this answer — someone training for their seventh marathon, for example, would be looking for something completely different to someone getting back into fitness in their 60s — one tracker stands out this year, and it’s probably not what you’re expecting.

Why the Fitbit Air is the best fitness tracker to launch so far this year

Sure, I wouldn’t be without my Oura Ring 5, and I’ve been impressed by the tech packed into the affordable Garmin Forerunner 170, but for me, the Fitbit Air is the tracker to beat in 2026. If you’re looking to get a better understanding of your overall health, and you’re not put off by AI health coaches, here’s why it’s my top pick.

It disappears on your wrist

Whether you’re the kind of person who wears an actual watch (remember those) and wants a screenless tracker as well, or you’d prefer not to have something buzzing on your wrist with your phone notifications, the Fitbit Air is a great choice. Sure, it’s not as inconspicuous as the Oura Ring 5, but it’s also nowhere near as expensive, and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to sign up for an ongoing subscription.

Weighing in at just 12g, the Fitbit Air is seriously lightweight, and really does disappear on the wrist. I found it extremely comfortable wearing 24/7, especially when sleeping, and it was noticeably lighter than the Whoop 5.0 or Garmin Cirqa.

The AI Health Coach is the best I’ve used so far

I’m very anti-AI health coaching, especially because, up until now, most of them have just regurgitated information I can already see (don’t get me started on Apple’s Workout Buddy). I was skeptical about the Gemini-powered Google Health Coach on the Fitbit Air, but it really is excellent.

It breaks down your health information into easy-to-understand and actionable advice. This morning, after a heavy track session days before my period, my Google Health Coach told me, “That run was a solid effort, Jane, and since you’re in the luteal phase, your body is actually working harder than usual. During this time, your core temperature is naturally higher, and your body may prioritize burning fat over glycogen, which can make high-intensity efforts like today’s feel more draining.”

It then gave me three pillars to focus on to recover.

I’m lucky enough to have run with a coach for years, so I know my body and when I need to ease off. But for beginners, or those that need guidance, Google’s Health Coach does this super well, and the actionable advice can help you train smarter and avoid injury.

The downside is that to get this AI coaching, you’ll need to pay a subscription fee of $10/£8 per month. Still a lot cheaper than a running coach or personal trainer, but it won’t be a cost everyone can afford.

For most people, the Fitbit Air is enough

I’ve worn a Garmin for years, and while I trust Garmin’s data and love the Garmin Connect app, the Garmin Cirqa is definitely aimed at more dedicated athletes who want deeper athletic training readiness metrics. Whoop takes this even more seriously with the Whoop 5.0.

That said, for most people, the data the Fitbit Air gives you is more than enough. I truly believe that with fitness trackers, you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

There’s no point collecting months of data and not really doing anything with it. The power and change come when you can take the data and make healthy changes, and I believe the Fitbit Air is one of the best trackers I’ve tested when it comes to breaking down your data into actionable advice.

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As the old adage goes: the best camera is the one in your hands. It's something I've been told since I was a child, playing with my dad's bulky DSLR, not really knowing what I was doing with it. Now, as an adult and a tech journalist, I review the best mirrorless cameras day in and out, and it's wonderful the leaps and bounds these nifty gadgets have come.

After reviewing the Fujifilm X-T50 all the way back in June 2024, I'm now the proud owner of one, and I've taken many amazing photos on it. But like they say: you never forget your first, and my first "proper" camera was the Nikon D5100 that my parents bought me when I was 16.

The D5100's specs aren't much to write home about by today's standards. A 16.2MP CMOS sensor, no stabilization, an 11-point autofocus system, 1080P/30fps video, an optical viewfinder, and a 921,000-dot non-touch LCD monitor. Not the greatest specs, but frankly, I don't care. The D5100 is the camera that made me fall in love with photography, and to this day, 13 years later, I still find use in it.

Let me take you back to 2013

2013. It feels like such a long time ago and yet, I vividly remember when I first held the Nikon D5100 in my hands. I was in an all-girls' boarding school, and we were about to go on our annual school trip to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India. I remember my classmates showing off their Canon EOS 5D Mark IIIs, and I won't lie, I felt a pang of jealousy. I wanted a "proper" camera too, so I floated the idea to my parents.

My parents rarely said no to things I desperately wanted, within reason, and the kind people they still are, they agreed to take me to a camera shop to pick up my first camera. The salesman tried selling us on the most expensive cameras, but we (and by that I mean my parents) naturally had a budget in mind, and we settled on the D5100, which back in the day must have cost around $800 for the body only — and in Indian Rupees, it was a lot. My parents still bought it for me, along with an 18-55mm lens.

I must admit, my photography knowledge back in the day was nowhere near as polished as it is today, so "18-55mm" meant nothing to me. All I knew was that I now had a camera that could take good photos of my friends, and the beautiful Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. I thought I was a magician capturing what I considered were award-winning images — they were not, but in that moment, it didn't matter, because I was having fun. Photography is meant to be fun, and that's the most important lesson the D5100 has taught me.

Back to the present

Years went by and the Nikon D5100 remained a constant in my life. I took it with me to my undergraduate university in India, and brought it with me when I first moved to the U.K. for postgrad in 2018. The D5100 has been tossed around in luggage, thrown around on beaches, and it has been heavily used in all kinds of weather — including the rain.

And it has survived. Battered, bruised, beaten, my 13-year-old D5100 still works, and up until I bought the Fujifilm X-T50, I used it on vacations, at work for product photography, and my partner used it as her primary camera for her art and video work. I remember pulling out my D5100 at my first-ever press event in 2024 (for a Fujifilm instant camera), and one of the other journalists there remarked, "Oh, you're proper old school." Every time I saw him at press events after, he'd go, "Still rocking the DSLR, eh?" with a smile on his face.

I think there's a lot to love about DSLRs, which is why I'm here, talking about my love for the D5100. When we think of DSLRs, we think they're bulky, slow, and a pain to use, especially when compared to fast mirrorless cameras that, like the Fujifilm X-T50, enable you to burst-shoot at 30fps. I'd argue that a DSLR can make you a better, more considerate photographer, and it's not always about having the latest tech in your hand.

Why I still use (and love) my D5100

Would you like to know why I still use and love my Nikon D5100? The photos in the gallery above were taken by my partner in Iceland. That's why. The D5100 is a capable and competent camera that takes beautiful photos — yes, even though it packs a 16.2MP CMOS sensor only. When my partner and I decided to take a trip to Iceland, I packed the Fujifilm X-T50 and she packed the D5100 — and the photos she took on the D5100 are nothing short of gorgeous (it, of course, helps that we were in a country best described as heaven on earth).

When I asked my partner why she enjoys using the D5100, her answer was simple: "It's a camera that takes good photos, and I like taking my time with it." I smiled when she said that, because it further proves that the best camera is the one in your hands, and that it's important to take your time with framing your shots. Sure, she had her 50MP Google Pixel 9 on the trip too, but she still opted for the D5100. Though the D5100 can't compete with the stupidly good autofocus systems on today's mirrorless cameras, it still proved quick enough on our Iceland trip.

What I love most about the D5100 is the colors it captures. Though I prefer Canon's and Fujifilm's color science now, the D5100 hasn't given me much to complain about. In the gallery earlier, I love that the bright highlights, seen in the waves crashing in the first slide, don't appear blown out, and the dark areas, such as the black sand on Reynisfjara beach, aren't grainy or noisy.

Similarly, in the gallery above, the colors have come out lovely and true to life. The deep blues in the sky, the vivid greens, the popping shades of pink and purple — they all look refined and pleasing. The photos are fairly sharp too, with each individual feather on the duck and pigeon (mostly) discernible.

The photographer that I am today

Fast forward to today. I'm a senior reviews writer testing the best tech day in and out. I've tested super speedy Canons, Sonys, Fujis, and even Leicas. But a Nikon started it all. I don't think I'm an extraordinary photographer — but I take photos of things that look pleasing to me, to immortalize memories, and I learn as I go.

They say clothes maketh the man, and by that logic, the camera maketh the photographer. I don't believe that's true. Your desire to take good photos, and your ability to learn and adapt are what make you a good photographer. I think it's great that mirrorless cameras are accessible, and it makes me happy that people younger than me are taking up photography. But I'd recommend everyone to try shooting on a DSLR at least once.

With the Nikon D5100 and other DSLRs which feature optical viewfinders (OVFs) instead of electronic ones (EVFs) on modern cameras, I've learned that relying on your gut instinct is very important. The only information you get in your viewfinder is basic shooting settings, like shutter speed and ISO in the margins.

There are no live histograms, digital levelling gauges, zebra lines for overexposure, or focus peaking. It's just you and your subject. When you adjust shutter speed or ISO, the change isn't reflected in the viewfinder; the OVF shows a real-life reflection rather than a digital preview, so I've had to learn how to read light and manually calculate exposure.

And therein lies the magic. I love shooting with my Fujifilm X-T50 and it's one of the best things I've ever bought, but I also enjoy the simplicity of my D5100. With the latter, it's just me and the camera, and I feel like if my parents hadn't bought the D5100 for me, I wouldn't be where or who I am today. It changed the trajectory of my life.

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I’ll admit to loving a good roast — watching some of the biggest celebrities in the world squirm in their seat while their closest friends and the best comedians verbally assault their lives always gets a few hearty chuckles out of me.

The live humiliation ceremonies for Bob Sagat (RIP), Charlie Sheen, Pamela Anderson and William Shatner take up the four slots on my Mount Rushmore of the funniest roasts I’ve ever watched. There’s just so much joy to be lifted from watching celebs tear each other a new one for the world to see.

Now would I be willing to let my friends and family roast me into oblivion? I don’t feel like crying in public, so I’d rather not let them cook me and force me to take the train home with my face in my hands the entire time. You know what I’d much rather do? Tell ChatGPT about my personality quirks, my non-existent love life and the nerdy hobbies that keep me in the house more often than not, then let it roast me without anyone else around to read it and laugh in my face.

That’s exactly what I did — to my surprise, its brutal observations were a bit too accurate for my tastes and made me want to change a few aspects of my life. Enjoy reading ChatGPT’s vicious analysis of me and feel free to offer your own roasts in the comments section. I might never get over this.

Having my biggest flaws exposed via a savage reality check

I took a deep breath, input this prompt into ChatGPT and prepared for the worst: “I'm an introvert, hate calling people on the phone, am bad at asking for assistance while I'm shopping, have been a single man for more than a decade, love video games, watch professional wrestling, and am addicted to anime (Sailor Moon is one of my faves). Roast me as hard as you can based on those factors and don't hold back.”

The visual of ChatGPT cracking its knuckles, confidently taking the mic and standing behind a podium entered my brain as soon as I laid eyes on the first part of the chatbot’s response: You asked for a full roast, so here goes…

ChatGPT immediately went for the jugular by tearing into my introverted ways and how the thought of me using my phone to actually call someone gives me mild discomfort:

You're not an introvert. You're running the world's longest beta test of "avoiding human interaction." Calling someone on the phone? You act like the "Call" button is actually labeled "Self-Destruct." You'd rather spend 45 minutes searching Reddit, three AI chats, two YouTube videos, and a government PDF than make a 90-second phone call. Shopping is another adventure. Store employees hit you with, "Can I help you find anything?" and your brain immediately responds with, "No thanks, I actually came here hoping to wander aimlessly for 47 minutes."

As for my dating life (or lack thereof), the chatbot didn’t even bother categorizing my being single for way too long as a relationship status—it got labeled as an “archaeological era.” I couldn’t help but sadly nod and agree when ChatGPT listed out my potential dating profile descriptions, such as my main hobby being “avoiding eye contact” and my biggest green flag listed as “knows seven different ways to organize their Steam library.”

Some of the other comments ChatGPT verbally lambasted me with must be seen to be believed:

• You love video games because they're the only place where people voluntarily invite you to parties.
• You've spent hundreds of hours rescuing kingdoms, defeating gods, and saving entire universes, but asking a cashier where the batteries are? Impossible. That's the true final boss.
• Professional wrestling is the perfect hobby for you because it's one of the few places where social interaction is scripted in advance.
• Anime has completely rewired your expectations. Normal people watch one episode before bed. You somehow convince yourself, “Just one more…” Eight hours later, you're emotionally invested in a magical girl whose hamster just unlocked cosmic powers through the strength of friendship.
• If social anxiety had achievement trophies, you'd have the platinum. Achievement Unlocked: Successfully left the store without buying the item because someone else was standing in the aisle.
• The funniest part is that you're probably incredibly comfortable writing 3,000 words explaining why one AI model is 8% better than another — but the thought of saying, "Excuse me, where's aisle 12?" makes your fight-or-flight response activate.
• The irony is you're probably thoughtful, funny, and interesting once people actually get to know you—but getting to that point requires you to leave the loading screen first.

Final thoughts

I have to give ChatGPT credit for two things — it handled the tall task of brutally roasting me with ease and, in some instances, delivered some helpful advice that can help me be a lot less awkward in social situations.

I’ll always make time in my life for the newest game releases, the latest episodes of my current anime addictions and those hours-long wrestling PPVs I watch once a month. But after observing some of ChatGPT’s roasts, I made a mental note to stop being so afraid to call my friends first, seek out any sort of aid when I’m having trouble looking for something and spend more time outside the comfort of my bedroom.

To bring this experiment to an end, ChatGPT delivered one final observation that was equally parts hilarious and eye-opening:

You've spent years mastering raid mechanics, anime lore, AI prompts and wrestling storylines. Imagine if you put that same obsessive completionist energy into talking to one new person every week. You'd have accidentally found a girlfriend before finishing your next backlog.

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It's quite important to keep your phone in a protective case. I recently found this out the hard way after letting my iPhone 17 Pro Max fall onto the asphalt and pick up some chips and dents it really didn't need. Buying phone cases is a rather tedious experience, though, and the sheer scale of the phone accessories market means there are countless options at a variety of different price points. Which one do you choose?

This got me wondering whether you actually needed to make a choice at all. I actually purchased a 3D printer at the start of the year, and immediately started looking for ways to justify that purchase to my wife. I've had limited success so far, mostly making plastic trinkets that break far too easily, but what if I used it to print my own cases from scratch?

That way I could get myself a new phone case in a single afternoon, without having to spend money or wait for it to be delivered. Not to mention the fact that if I can do this regularly, I may end up slightly reducing the environmental impact of getting future cases sent out to me.

Getting the right materials

I'm still fairly new to 3D printing, so everything I've done has involved me learning as I go, making many, many mistakes in the process. Thankfully one of those mistakes was not just 3D printing a case without thinking, using the basic PLA (polylactic acid) filament I purchased with my printer. While useful for a lot of things, this is rigid and fairly brittle plastic.

Not only would this offer very poor shock protection, the lack of flexibility means you're not actually going to be able to get your phone into the case itself. You would have to utilize an elaborate multi-part design that locks together around your phone.

And don't even think about printing a case around your phone. The material coming out of the nozzle is molten plastic, and PLA is heated to over 300 degrees Fahrenheit during the printing process. That's definitely not something you want near your pricey smartphone.

Much of the consensus online was that TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) was the best option for home case printing. TPU is flexible thanks to some rubber-like qualities, and that means the final print is not locked into a rigid position like PLA.

That means it has better resistance to impact, tearing, and other damage your phone might suffer throughout its life. Plus it's a relatively cheap filament, and you can stretch it around your device without suffering any ill effects.

There are downsides to TPU, though, like the fact the material has a habit of absorbing moisture from the air. Too much moisture affects the quality of the filament, and while fixable it's not ideal for anyone that lives in a humid area like I do. I should also note that TPU is not suitable for all case designs, since they need some rigidity to function properly.

There are other issues to be aware of, but I'll get to those later, since I experienced them first hand.

Which cases do I print?

Unless you're a dab hand with CAD software, or have access to a 3D scanner, you're going to have to source the printing files from one of the many 3D printing repositories on the net. That's certainly the easiest option for the 3D printing noobs like myself, and depending on where you look you should be able to find something suitable for your phone.

I went to Thingiverse and picked out cases for the iPhone 17 Pro Max (by Moridith) and Galaxy Z Fold 7 (by rstarin) — both of which are available under a Creative Commons license.

Both of these cases are very different, and the creators have advice on what kind of filament you should use. Moridith's iPhone case recommends using TPU, while rstarin notes that the Z Fold 7's half-case was designed with PLA in mind.

While I did listen to this advice, I ended up printing both cases in TPU and PLA. That way I could see for myself just how different the two materials are, and why it's important to make sure you have the right filament.

PLA's hardness can be a blessing and a curse

The first print was making the iPhone 17 Pro Max case out of PLA, just to see how it would fare if I did try to put an iPhone 17 Pro Max into it. The print itself came out rather well, which is a little annoying considering this case was never intended to be used.

There are some printing errors in various places, including the base of the sides and some unwanted stringing around the top lip. In hindsight I should have added some supports to the design before attempting to print — but considering this was intended as an experiment that would have just wasted extra filament.

Needless to say the iPhone 17 Pro Max does not fit into this case. There isn't even a way to force it in, because the hard plastic lip is in the way. If that wasn't bad enough, the buttons are rock solid, and totally unusable. Even if you could squeeze the 17 Pro Max into here, those buttons would need to be cut out first.

The case was stronger than I anticipated, though. I'd printed it with a gyroid infill, which is known for its relative strength, and decided I'd see how easy it was to break the PLA case. It ended up being harder than I thought, on account of the case's thickness, and while I was able to break it with my bare hands it took a fair bit of repeated effort to do so.

The Z Fold 7 case, on the other hand, is an open design that's designed to clip into the back of the phone — rather than wrap around it. You see a lot of foldable cases like this, since the dual-sided design doesn't really fit well with a lot of other more protective case designs.

Snap on it did, and while the design only covers half of the phone it shows that you can still print out your own hard plastic cases and make full use of them. I will caveat by saying that attempting to take it off was tricky, and I ended up snapping the thinner material around the mic hole.

The minimal thickness of the design and rigidity of the plastic suggests to me that this design will not offer much meaningful drop protection. But that's also true of any thin phone case, regardless of how it came into this world.

TPU was a better all-rounder — with some drawbacks

Printing a Z Fold 7 case made out of the flexible TPU turned out to be a total waste of time. The design is too thin and the flexibility means it just flops around like a fish out of water. That lack of sturdiness and friction also means that this case is not going to stay attached to your phone for very long.

That said, for a more encompassing case, TPU proved to be a better option for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. I will admit that I did make a bunch of rookie mistakes in the process of printing my first one, though.

The most obvious mistake I made is that I totally forgot to change the filament type in my 3D printer's companion software. This meant that my printer thought it was working with PLA instead of TPU. The consequence of this was that the printer was working much faster than it should have, and left countless web-like strings of filament all over the case.

I also forgot to add support to the print, which means that various attributes like buttons and the lip around the edge of the case's front didn't come out as neatly as they could have done. Thankfully, all of these issues were cosmetic, and didn't actually detract from the functionality of the case itself.

Cosmetic is putting it lightly though, and my initial description of this case was "ugly as sin." Thankfully, this doesn't change the fact the flexible material allows the case to wrap around my iPhone 17 Pro Max. It feels soft and cushioned compared to PLA, and is capable of returning to its original form after being squashed and twisted around in my hands.

But herein lies the problem of printing with TPU: printing it properly is an exceedingly slow process. To put it into perspective, the PLA version of the iPhone case was finished in under two and a half hours. In the same amount of time, printing the final version of the TPU was just past the halfway point.

Overall, the TPU print took 4 hours 37 minutes, and was so long that the timelapse footage I shot was nearly 10 minutes in length.

Slow printing is an issue for two reasons. The first is that you have to physically wait longer, which is no good if you're an impatient type. Likewise the longer a print takes, the more opportunity there is for something to go catastrophically wrong. It can and does happen, and nothing is worse than getting close to the end of a multi-hour print and finding yourself having to repeat the whole thing.

Thankfully, printing out slowly seems to have (mostly) fixed the webbing issue. There are still some stray strands of filament that need cutting, but the majority of them are totally gone. Likewise, the case itself does look a lot better thanks to the slow printing keeping the look a lot neater.

It wasn't error free, especially where the support connects to the case, but for the most part it looks like a very good (albeit bulky) phone case. That may not be to everyone's tastes, but I personally couldn't care less — especially given the size of the 17 Pro Max.

Just be aware that you need some good pliers to rip out all the internal supports. it's fiddly, and you'll end up with little strands of used filament all over the place if you're not careful.

How much did it cost me to print both cases?

Ignoring the fact that I had to pay for the 3D printer in the first place, just how much did I end up paying for these cases? Both rolls of filament were 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) each, with PLA costing me £18/$24 and the TPU costing £12/$16.

This means the actual cost of PLA was £1.80 per 100g of filament or £0.018 per gram. Meanwhile TPU cost £1.20 per 100g, or £0.012 per gram.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 case wasn't very large, and used up roughly 13.75 of filament. The iPhone 17 Pro Max case was obviously a lot larger, and used 54.35 grams of filament. With this information I can calculate that the two cases used up a respective £0.25 and £0.65 worth of their respective filament.

I printed off multiple versions of these cases, each with slight variations in the amount of filament they used. But even if you add them all together, the total cost of the filament pales in comparison to the cost of buying a case. Especially if you're looking at ultra premium options, like Apple's $59 TechWoven case for iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Obviously, it's a little more complicated than just the raw material costs. I needed to pay for electricity to power the 3D printer, as well as the 3D printer itself. I should mention that the model I have, the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE, is a pretty cheap option, and is currently on sale for $186 at Amazon — or $197 with four rolls of PLA filament.

Final thoughts: The problem with 3D printing phone cases

If you have a lot of phones lying around and need a way to protect them all quickly and cheaply, then 3D printing isn't such a bad option — so long as you have a printer handy. But that isn't the case for most of the people reading this, since you will only have one phone.

Unless you have a super-old or super obscure phone, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a case. If you're looking for practicality, fashionable designs, or the absolute bare minimum of protection to keep your phone safe from stray falls, there is something out there for you. Odds are it isn't going to cost you much money either.

Unless you are a skilled and experienced 3D printer, then making your own cases at home comes with some obvious pitfalls. The main one being that 3D printed cases look like they've been 3D printed, and stylishness is not going to be high on your list of priorities. You also need to find the right type of case files for your phone, and the equipment needed to produce it.

The more experienced 3D printers among you will likely be able to make a bunch of elaborate and fanciful designs. Using multiple colors, adding magnets, tweaking the design so you can't see the print lines as easily and things of that nature. But those people are certainly in the minority, and presumably have been in the 3D-printed case game for a long time.

This process works for me and the many phones I have to utilize as part of my job as a Phones Editor. But I'm not saying you should go out and buy a 3D printer just so you can save money on making your own phone cases. That said, if you have a 3D printer or were already interested in picking one up soon, then you might as well give this a go.

Who knows, you might even prefer things this way.

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Very little comes close to the satisfaction I feel when I take my first sip of an expensive flat white from an equally expensive independent cafe. I love everything about frequenting coffeehouses: the adventure of actually going outside, deciding which of the plentiful bean varietals I fancy, then scrutinizing — ahem, watching — the barista as they make my oat milk flat white.

But patronizing cafes is costly, and I know I'm not the only one to say I don't have the money for it. But even if you want to make cafe-quality coffee at home, there's a catch. Many home espresso machines carry a staggering initial cost. Even the best-value stalwarts, like the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($699) and my personal machine, the Breville Bambino Plus ($499), are objectively expensive. And don't even get me started on grinders.

But could you get away with a cheaper espresso machine, and instead invest in a grinder and high-quality beans? To find out, I pitted two of my favorite espresso machines against one another in a blind taste test: the gorgeous prosumer Lelit Mara X3 ($1,999) and the cheap Breville Bambino ($299).

So which machine won — and which machine should you buy?

The competitors

The control

I used the same beans — Carter Coffee's Two Trees Geisha, £21 ($28) for 200g. With tasting notes of passion fruit, white peach, and an aromatic finish, I knew my espresso testers were in for a treat. When I first opened the bag, it made my brain light up like I was seeing my long-lost dog for the first time in thirty years.

I ground the beans using my Mazzer Philos ($1,500), the best grinder in the world. I'll acknowledge that this grinder is blindingly expensive, and not reasonable for most people at all. You do not need to buy this grinder to achieve similar results. I would recommend the Baratza Encore ESP ($199) or Comandante C40 MK4 (usually around $300) for most people.

A brief disclaimer: I use the Mazzer Philos in all my espresso experiments, so if any issues arise, I know it wasn't the grinder.

Admittedly, I ground the beans to slightly different sizes: click 22 for the Lelit, and click 25 for the Breville. This is because anything under click 25 resulted in an overextracted shot on the Breville, and anything over click 22 resulted in an underextracted shot on the Lelit. I dialed in my beans for each machine before commencing.

The test

I ran three blind taste tests: Black Americano, oat milk flat white, and pure espresso.

Black Americano

I made the black Americanos identically: 18g of coffee for 36g out between 25-28 seconds. Topped up with 8 ounces of thirty-seconds-off-the-boil water.

For now, we'll call them Coffee A and Coffee B.

My colleague Pete said Coffee A tasted "sour and bitter with less nuance, but still delicious." Lucy said A didn't have "much flavor," which was supported by James and Caspar, who said A tasted "a little thin" and "quite watery," respectively.

Josh was the only tester to prefer Coffee A: he reported it had a "richer aftertaste" and "more flavor in the afternotes" than Coffee B.

Lucy said Coffee B had a "more nuanced flavor than A," which was supported by James: "tastes a lot fuller and stronger," and Caspar, who enjoyed B's smoothness. Pete noticed the crema was thicker on Coffee B, which he thought meant it had a higher-quality group head. He preferred B overall due to the balanced bitter, caramel, and sour notes.

Josh was the only person to criticize B: he said it tasted "slightly more muted" and chose Coffee A as his favorite.

Can you guess which was which?

Oat milk flat white

The second test: oat milk flat white. I had a few fewer testers due to other responsibilities for this one.

Again, I made the coffees identically: 18g of coffee for 36g out within 25-28 seconds. I steamed milk using my usual barista-taught method (I am an ex-barista, after all).

Let's give them their names: Coffee A and Coffee B.

Pete preferred Coffee A, saying, "Milk is better textured on A. It's less aerated; smoother and silkier." He also preferred the coffee flavor on A. "Slight bit more flavor poking through. But very difficult to tell."

James said Coffee A was "really nice," but he liked the "darker, more intense flavor" on Coffee B more, so that was his favorite. Josh agreed with James, choosing Coffee B due to its "smoother" and "more coffee-like" flavor.

Espresso

Now for the most important test: straight espresso. There's nowhere to hide here.

I actually made a single espresso for this one, using 12g of coffee for 24g of espresso out. I don't have two espresso glasses, so apologies for the unconventional container in the photographs above.

Again, I'll introduce the players: Coffee A and Coffee B.

Pete said Coffee A had a better crema and smelled "more potently of chocolate." When he took a sip, he said, "Oh, that's good." Not really much else for me to say, is there? Overall, he said Coffee A had "a lot of body and a bit of acidity." Spoiler alert, but after drinking Coffee B, he said Coffee A was, and I quote, "So much nicer."

James and Caspar also preferred Coffee A; James said it had "a lot more going on, with more levels to the coffee flavor."

Josh mostly agreed — he said Coffee A had more fruit notes with a richer mouthfeel. I'll note here that Josh had the most sips out of anyone and mulled on his decision for much longer than anyone else, so his decision was almost too close to call.

Lucy was the only outlier, saying Coffee A had a "nice" espresso taste but not as rich as Coffee B, which had a more diverse flavor, with more dynamism in the sip. Interestingly, I also agreed — is this female vs male taste buds in action? (I'm joking — obviously there's no difference in female vs male taste buds).

What do you think? Ready for the results?

The results

And now I get to crown the $299 machine the winner! I didn't expect the Bambino to win — and neither did any of my testers. They were all shocked when I told them.

Of course, I tried all the drinks before I offered them to my taste-testers... and I preferred the Lelit Mara X3 every time. But is that because I knew it was the more expensive one, therefore I assumed it should have been tastier? Or because I personally prefer an acidic coffee, so this appealed to my unique taste buds?

I suppose I'll never know.

But taste isn't the only thing you should consider

Although I love the Breville Bambino — it's my favorite budget espresso machine, and there's literally zero competition — winning the taste test doesn't mean it's the best espresso machine in every situation.

The Mara X3 and Bambino are (mostly) intended for a different audience. You're not just paying $2,000 for coffee. You're paying $2,000 for a dual boiler, meaning you can steam milk and pull shots at the same time. You're paying $2,000 for the all-metal (+wood) construction, which might last longer than the Bambino's plastic. You're paying $2,000 for the steam, milk, and pressure configuration tools.

We're all thinking it, so I might as well say it: You're paying $2,000 for the Lelit branding and the Lelit design.

The Mara X3 is a work of art, and you should treat it like one.

If I had $2k, I know which machine I'd choose. The Lelit would already be in my kitchen.

Despite all of this, though, Lelit and Breville are part of the same company. Lelit is literally Breville's prosumer brand. The Baratza Encore ESP grinder I mentioned earlier? Also owned by Breville.

So, at the end of the day, your money's going to the same pocket.

If you want more coffee content, don't fret. I've got bucketloads (cuploads?). Every week, I release new episodes of The Coffee Lab, my series dedicated to forgetting coffee snobbery and figuring out what actually matters in your daily brew.

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The heart rate sensor on the Garmin Cirqa screen-free tracker powers pretty much all the important stats you get from the device. It’s key to sleep tracking, your body battery and training readiness scores, and your heart rate variability readings.

So it must be accurate, especially as, unlike with the best Garmin watches, you can’t pair an external heart rate monitor to the Cirqa to get more accurate data if required.

That’s what I do with my Garmin Forerunner 970, even though it has a pretty reliable optical heart rate sensor built into the watch. I pair the Garmin HRM 600 chest strap to the Forerunner 970 for my workouts, because chest straps offer an extra level of reliability.

Unlike optical sensors, which use LED lights to measure your heart rate via your blood, with your pulse changing the power of the light that comes back to the sensor, chest straps use electrical signals directly from the heart. They are more accurate and faster to respond to changes in heart rate.

Testing the Garmin Cirqa’s heart rate accuracy

The Cirqa uses Garmin’s Elevate Gen 4 sensor, which is not the latest sensor in the brand’s line-up — most of its watches now use an Elevate Gen 5 sensor, but Garmin told us this was too large for the Cirqa at the launch of the strap.

Having spent the last couple of months testing the Garmin Forerunner 170, which also uses the Elevate Gen 4 sensor but has been accurate in my testing, I wasn’t concerned that it would lead to poorer results with the Cirqa.

I’ve had the Garmin Cirqa on my wrist for a couple of days, and to check the heart rate accuracy of the device, I’ve done two interval running sessions on the track, an easy run, and a strength workout.

I don’t yet have the bicep band accessory for the Cirqa, but I have tested it on my wrist and on my forearm. In general, optical sensors like this are more accurate in thicker parts of the body where there’s more muscle, and the higher up the arm, the more stable the sensor tends to be.

The forearm is usually a little better than the wrist, and the upper arm is better still, so the bicep band could well be a worthy extra purchase if you pick up the Cirqa.

Top marks on my easy run

First up, the easiest test I’ve done so far with the Cirqa — a 40-minute easy run. I’ve rarely seen errors from Garmin watches during this kind of run in recent years, so I expected the Cirqa to match up with the Garmin HRM 600 chest strap more or less perfectly. I wore it on my forearm for this test.

As you can see from the graph (created with the DC Rainmaker Analyzer), the Cirqa matched the chest strap beat-for-beat throughout the run and ended up with an average heart rate of 111.39bpm vs. 111.50 bpm on the chest strap. Flying colors.

Impressive during intervals

Interval runs are a tougher challenge for heart rate sensors because they have to track rapid rises and falls in heart rate. I did one session running 4 x 8min with 90 seconds recovery, and one with shorter intervals — 12 x 600m with 90 seconds recovery.

I’d expect to see a slight lag in the readings from the Cirqa compared to a chest strap, because the chest strap responds quicker to changes in heart rate, but otherwise I’d hope to see the same rise and fall in heart rate during the interval workouts.

In the workout with longer intervals, the Cirqa was pretty much spot on when I was running hard, but didn’t drop as low as the chest strap between most of the intervals.

When doing shorter reps, you can see that the Cirqa often took a little longer than the chest strap to rise to my higher heart rate when I started running hard, but it did track the rise and fall of my heart rate pretty well throughout the session.

I wore the Cirqa on my wrist throughout both these workouts, and overall I was impressed with the heart rate accuracy.

Mixed results during a strength workout

I wore the Cirqa on my forearm for the 15-minute strength workout I did, which was a mix of weights and bodyweight exercises done at a fairly slow pace, so my heart rate didn’t climb too high throughout.

The Cirqa struggled more in this session than on the run, though the differences between it and the chest strap are exaggerated on the graph because it’s a shorter workout and my heart rate didn’t vary that much — the average heart rate measured by the Cirqa was 89.31 compared to 92.62 on the chest strap.

Still, it didn’t follow the reading from the chest strap that closely. I think for strength training, the bicep band would be a useful upgrade for the Cirqa.

More testing to come

It’s still early days in my testing of the Garmin Cirqa and I want to do a lot more workouts with it, trying out the bicep band in particular, but it has proved quite reliable overall so far.

Outside of workouts, I have little doubt the sensor is accurate, and the average and resting heart rate readings I’ve seen during sleep in my first two nights with the device look good, though I’ve not tested this against another sensor yet.

Whether a screen-free tracker is the right option for you also depends on a whole load of other factors, but the heart rate sensor on the Cirqa has been good for me so far.

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"Meet Mira. She generates 30 million weekly views across TikTok and Instagram. Last week, an energy drink company paid $6,500 to sponsor her latest post. Her 22-year-old creator just rented a studio in Austin and bought a Tesla in cash. Here's the exact prompt and software stack he used to build a $70,000-a-month empire."

If that sounds familiar, it's because your social feeds are undoubtedly full of posts like it. They all follow the same formula of an ordinary person, an extraordinary income and just enough technical detail to make the whole thing sound believable.

There's just one problem: almost none of it is real. Welcome to the age of AI-generated success fiction.

Before you accept the story at face value, ask yourself a few simple questions. Who is Mira? Where's the TikTok account with 30 million weekly views? Which energy drink company paid $6,500? How does the author know someone rented a studio in Austin? And where are the receipts or even a link to verify any of it?

But you're unlikely going to find answers to your questions, because these posts are not entirely true. The fake overnight-wealth threads are spreading like wildfire across X and TikTok. Some have even made it to LinkedIn.

The specificity trick

Today's AI-generated success stories are convincing because AI is still vague enough for them to feel realistic — if only you have the right prompts. Not to mention, they don't claim someone made "a lot of money," instead, they are hyper-specific, claiming $34,850 in MRR. The odd number feels measured, which oddly, makes it seem so real.

The posts name real tools: Midjourney, Zapier, ElevenLabs, Nano Banana 2 and other popular tools I've personally written about here at Tom's Guide. Many of these posts even specify camera setups and lighting gear. They offer week-by-week growth timelines and conversion rates broken out by funnel stage. What could be fake about that, right?

Well, that is what makes them dangerous. The human brain has a well-documented cognitive shortcut: we equate specificity with authenticity. When someone gives you an exact dollar figure, an exact software stack and an exact timeline, you instinctively assume that actual reporting and verification happened somewhere upstream.

We've already seen how potent this dynamic can be outside of social media hustle culture. In January, a viral Reddit post alleging systematic fraud by a food delivery company reached the site's front page, collected 87,000 upvotes, and crossed over to X where it accumulated 36.8 million impressions. Platformer's Casey Newton contacted the supposed whistleblower, who promptly produced a fake employee badge and an 18-page internal document, all generated by AI.

The dashboard factory

If the text of these posts is the hook, the revenue screenshot these content creator flash across the screen is the real closer. It has become the universal proof-of-concept for the online entrepreneur class because a single image can say, without further argument, I am making money easily and you are not. It is also trivially easy to fake.

There are two standard methods, and neither requires any technical know-how. The first is to open a real Stripe dashboard even a brand-new one showing $0 in revenue, press F12 to launch Chrome DevTools, and edit the HTML to display any number you want. The whole operation takes under a minute.

The second is even simpler, because an entire cottage industry now exists to do the work for you. ScreenCharm's Fake MRR Chart Generator lets users input a starting MRR, an ending MRR, select a growth curve — "Hockey Stick," "Exponential," "Plateau" and download a perfect Stripe-style PNG.

These are not underground tools. Kyle Gawley, ScreenCharm's creator, posted on X that the fake MRR page is one of his top-performing products, with traffic arriving from Google searches for "fake stripe dashboard."

Competitors abound: Hypefury and Gravity both offer their own versions. The problem is so well-known that it's openly discussed on Indie Hackers, where one commenter summarized the state of play: "The new grift is to fake being a rich entrepreneur to sell a course."

But the devil is in the details, as they say. Real businesses have failed payments, refunds and churn; a dashboard claiming $70,000 in monthly volume with 0 percent failed payments and perfectly rounded secondary metrics is almost certainly fabricated. If the chart looks like a smooth exponential ramp, it was drawn by AI. And, manipulated screenshots almost always crop out the browser URL bar, the date range selector and the account name. They show the graph and the big number, but little else.

The most sophisticated fakers have adapted to skepticism by posting screen recordings of themselves refreshing the browser, supposedly proving the data is live and not edited with Inspect Element. Oh, but this is the real smoke and mirrors!

Chrome's Local Overrides feature, a built-in developer tool documented on Google's own site, lets users serve modified local files in place of network resources. The browser loads the faked page from disk, making that refresh change nothing.

In the real world of SaaS acquisitions, none of these lies survive first contact with due diligence. Professional buyers require read-only API access to the seller's Stripe account and reconcile the data against bank deposits. Services like VerifyMRR exist specifically to connect via OAuth and parse live subscription data that the seller cannot manipulate.

If an influencer is selling a course on the strength of their revenue but refuses to provide anything beyond a cropped PNG, the refusal is itself the answer.

The prompt assembly line

One point I need to make is that the content creators making these posts are, in fact, running structured prompts that function as creative briefs.

Most begin the same way, which is typically by giving the AI a personality. The prompt tells it to behave like a cynical but wildly successful founder. It's never "an experienced entrepreneur built a successful software company." It's "a 19-year-old college dropout" or "a stay-at-home mom" making tens of thousands of dollars a month after a few weekends of work. The bigger the contrast, the more irresistible the story becomes.

The posts often include specific timelines, software stacks and growth metrics, with each sentence broken into its own line to make the thread easier to skim on a phone.

Then comes the call to action. These posts often end with some variation of: "I turned this entire system into a free Notion template. Like, repost and reply 'SEND' and I'll DM it to you." When I tried it and sent a DM or made a comment other than those "call to action" words, I didn't get a response. I also never got the "free template" that mavgpt promotes.

That is a growth hack. Every reply tells the platform the post is worth showing to more people, pushing it higher in the algorithm. The promised "free template" is simply the bait that turns readers into participants, helping spread the post even further.

Follow the Incentives

Strip away the AI veneer and the business model underneath is ancient. These posts are engagement-farming operations. They are engineered to trigger one very specific thought in the reader's mind: If this random 22-year-old made $400,000 with AI over the weekend, why can't I?

That spike of panic is the product. It drives bookmarks, comments and reposts. The algorithm rewards the engagement, pushing the thread to a wider audience, which builds the author's following, which the author then monetizes by selling courses, newsletters, paid communities or consulting.

As I sifted through these types of profiles, the writing styles are identical across supposedly different founders. The profile photos for the supposed founders show telltale signs of AI generation.

The regulatory apparatus is starting to catch up, slowly. In September 2024, the FTC announced a crackdown on deceptive AI claims, taking action against companies that told consumers to "start a million-dollar business today" using AI while providing zero evidence that any customer had actually done so.

The broader numbers are staggering: the FTC reported that Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025 — an eightfold increase since 2020. Investment scams, which include programs promising to teach people how to make money online, accounted for more than half of those losses.

The new dream machine

There is a certain irony in the fact that the most successful application of generative AI in the creator economy is not building products but fabricating the appearance of having built them.

A friend of mine a decade ago said, "Do you notice how nobody ever seems to have a bad day on social media?" That still holds true. Social media sold the dream life. Today, the dream has been repackaged to look like a few good prompts and Claude Fable (or similar) is all you need to be a millionaire by the end of the month.

The rented sports car that influencers pretend is one they own, has been replaced by a rented business identity. The aesthetic has changed completely, but underlying grift has not changed whatsoever.

Bottom line

Creating a convincing fake success story used to require at least some effort like a real-ish website and an actual product. Now the entire package can be assembled in seconds by AI. The barrier to entry for fraud has been lowered to nearly zero, and the platforms rewarding engagement have no reliable mechanism for distinguishing between genuine entrepreneurial success and its perfect simulation.

The next time an influencer claims they're making $70,000 a month while they sleep, remember that screenshots are cheap. In the age of AI, credibility comes from verifiable evidence.

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Like most people, my evening routine used to resemble scrolling on my phone in bed at the expense of getting the quality sleep I need. Tired, wired and averaging six hours of sleep a night, I needed to take drastic action.

I felt as though modern life was working against me, and the blue glare from my screens was keeping me artificially stimulated long after it was time for bed. Caffeine and sugar propelled me through the day but left we wide awake at 3 a.m.

So, inspired by the Amish and their healthy relationship with their circadian rhythm (our body's 24 hour internal clock), I decided to rise and sleep with the sun in an attempt to fix my poor sleep habits.

I expected that I might get more sleep, but what happened to my focus and energy levels caught me completely off guard. Here's my story...

Key takeaways: At a glance

• Our circadian rhythm is our body's internal clock, primarily regulating our sleep-wake cycle.
• The rising and setting of the sun acts as a circadian cue, triggering the production of the key sleep hormones we need to fall asleep and wake up.
• For me, modern life and artificial light has resulted in a disconnect between the solar day and my circadian rhythm. This has led to poor sleep.
• To get more sleep and improve my energy levels, I took inspiration from the Amish to sleep and rise with the sun for 14 days.
• The result? I slept longer after just night one. After two weeks, my cognitive fog lifted and my focus returned.

• Read more: I kept waking up exhausted until a NASA scientist shared her $0 lab-tested tip for beating morning grogginess — here’s how it works

What is your circadian rhythm and what role does in play in sleep?

Your circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock. It’s governed by the sun and regulates your sleep-wake cycle. It also regulates other functions, including hormone production, temperature and metabolism.

“Circadian means ‘around the day,’ and for humans and almost every other living thing on earth, it's aligned with the sun and controls two of our most fundamental states of being — sleep and wake,” explains Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a doctor double-board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine.

“At the core of the circadian system is sleep and wake,” says Dr. Dimitriu. "Sleepiness is reset by sleep, and builds up the more hours you are awake.”

The sleep-wake cycle is made up of two parts. First comes sleep pressure (your homeostatic sleep drive). It builds from the moment you open your eyes in the morning. As does a chemical called adenosine.

“As it gets later in the day, we build up more adenosine, which accumulates and makes us sleepy over time,” says Dr. Dimitriu.

He then adds that the second part of the sleep-wake cycle is aligned with daylight and melatonin, which, alongside adenosine, delivers a one-two punch of tiredness, making it easier to fall asleep.

“The system is designed so that when these two signals overlap — so you are sleepy, and it is dark outside — you enter and stay asleep,” explains Dr. Dimitriu.

The catalyst: Why I turned the lights off in my life

I write about sleep for a living, yet my own relationship with sleep is complex. An erratic sleep schedule, endless to-do lists and age-related hormonal fluctuations (I’m 40+) means I usually get in the region of six hours of broken rest per night.

And, no, I’m not one of those rare humans who manage to thrive on less than seven hours of sleep. I exist in a cognitive fog, my emotions sit close to the surface and I often find myself wide awake at 3 a.m. in a mild panic.

Ironically, the idea to shun artificial light in order to claw back my sleep quality could be described as a lightbulb moment. It was during a camping trip that I mulled over the fact that I always slept better in the great outdoors.

These camping trips tend to follow a familiar pattern; a busy day of outdoor activities — hiking, surfing, swimming — followed by a gradual wind down, perhaps a short walk, before getting into bed soon after the sun sets. I climb onto my air mattress and sleep like a log.

During my most recent trip, I clocked up an unprecedented 8h 47m of sleep, 1h 55m of which was spent in deep sleep (most adults aged between 25 and 64 require between 45-90 minutes of deep sleep per night, which suggests my body was trying to repay a portion of the mountain of sleep debt I’ve accumulated over the past decade).

For the first time in weeks, I woke up feeling restored. I had (unintentionally) corroborated a 2013 study that explored how following a natural light cycle could shift your circadian rhythm forward, resulting in more sleep.

It was then that I realised I was slowly suffocating my circadian rhythm with artificial light and tech back home.

"Bright lights, late meals, and highly stimulating activities can make it harder for the body to register that it's time for sleep," explains Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a doctor double-board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. "Lightbulbs have changed our relationship to the sun, and screens and devices have made it worse.

"Bluish high efficiency LED lights do the same — they trick the circadian system into thinking it's daytime when it's night," he continues. "People need to be in dark dim sunset colors to sync their circadian systems, and align them for sleep."

With most modern homes packed with tech that actively prevents them from sleeping, could it ever be possible to apply the simplicity of a rustic camping trip — where I sleep and wake with the sun — to my busy daily life? I decided to try...

Sleeping like the Amish

In her quest to explore what life was like when humans had a closer relationship with natural light, health and science journalist Linda Geddes visited an Old Order Amish community in rural Pennsylvania. There connection to the electric grid is forbidden and their days are largely spent toiling the land and tending to the home.

It was here, while researching her book Chasing the Sun, that Geddes noticed how certain aspects of Amish life leant itself to quality sleep. Physical activity, a circadian rhythm closely aligned with the sun, and plenty of natural daylight.

In contrast, my life as a desk-bound journalist means I spend a large portion of my day hunched over a laptop under the glare of bright LED office lights. Instead of fresh air, I’m blasted by recycled air and survive on a staple diet of oven chips.

Sleeping and waking with the sun

When Geddes stayed with an Amish family, she noted how their attention isn’t absorbed by electrical gadgets. Their evenings weren’t punctuated by bright electrical lights, either.

Instead, they use a single, large, stand-mounted propane gaslight that they move between the kitchen and living space, where the family congregates. If anyone needs to use the bathroom, they take a battery powered LED lantern, a torch or oil lamp.

“Even so, once the sun goes down, most Amish households are far darker than the average American house,” writes Geddes.

As a result, a sleep schedule that closely aligns with the sun — around 9 p.m. until 4.45 a.m. — is standard, rising without an alarm before dawn.

Daily labor

Adenosine, a chemical that builds throughout the day and helps promote sleep, is a byproduct of physical activity. So sedentary lifestyles can impact sleep pressure, our biological urge for sleep.

Sleep pressure is a pillar of our circadian rhythm, so when we move less throughout the day, the delicate balance of our circadian rhythm — which regulates our sleep-wake cycles — is disrupted.

For the Amish community, who work, walk (for the Old Order, cars are forbidden), farm and do, this isn't an issue as they are constantly moving.

"The way many of us live today is almost the opposite of what our internal clock expects," Dr. Shelby Harris, a licenced Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist, tells me.

"We spend most of the day indoors, often under relatively dim lighting, and then at night we're surrounded by bright lights, TVs, laptops, and our phones. That evening light tells the brain to stay alert when it should be winding down."

Daylight exposure

While modern life has left many of us disconnected from the solar day and at the mercy of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression tied to a lack of natural sunlight, Geddes points out that the Amish population has the lowest prevalence of SAD of any Caucasian population.

And that could be down to the amount of daylight they're exposed to. According to Geddes, Amish people are exposed to an average daytime illuminance of 4,000 lux during the summer, compared to the 587 lux that Brits are exposed to.

In Winter, that drops to approximately 1,500 lux and 210 lux respectively, which, again, leads to a dysregulation of our circadian rhythm. "In other words, our waking hours are approximately seven times gloomier than those of the Amish," writes Geddes.

My experiment: What happened when I slept and rose like the Amish

I'm not about to disconnect my home from the National Grid, nor can I swing two weeks off work to grow my own food.

But there are aspects of Amish life that I can take inspiration from in order to improve my sleep — and that's sleeping and (hopefully) rising with the sun.

Instead of using artificial light to prop up a later bed time, I decide to spend two weeks going to bed as the sun goes down, just like I do when camping. Two weeks should give me enough time to settle into some sort of routine.

The night I start my experiment, the sunset takes me by surprise. Is it 10.15 p.m. already? I’ve accidentally left it until the light is practically non-existent before getting ready for bed.

But, like I would when I go camping, I muddle through with the little light there is and manage to get myself ready for bed.

I leave my phone downstairs out of reach, turn off my sunrise alarm (I’m just hoping that I wake up in time to get the kids ready for school) and climb into bed.

Normally, I would appreciate reading in bed (or, more accurately, scrolling on my phone) for a while in order to wind down after a busy day.

However turning on a light goes against the whole point of this exercise, so I lie in the darkness and wait for sleep to take me.

I sleep for longer from night one

The speedy bedtime routine (and earlier bedtime) means it takes me longer than normal to fall asleep. When I do, I’m aware I’m sleeping lightly as I’m worried about sleeping in and the kids being late for school.

Despite worrying, I wake naturally at 06:49, which is a little later than I would normally wake but still within the realms of my usual routine. My sleep tracker tells me I’ve clocked up 8h and 18 minutes of sleep and didn’t wake up in the night.

I question how accurate that is as I felt like I kept checking the time all night. Still, for me, 8h and 18 minutes of sleep is pretty incredible.

Waking up eventually stops being a struggle

Worrying about not setting an alarm is starting to impact my sleep. So I set my sunrise alarm clock for 6 a.m. as a safety net and hope that I don't need it.

I start my experiment on a Thursday and, when my sunrise alarm starts chirping away on Monday morning, I'm still dead to the world. I initially feel disappointed that I'm not waking naturally with the sun at 5 a.m.

But then I remind myself that I've been getting less sleep than I need for years, so paying off all that sleep debt won't happen within a few days.

However, as the experiment goes on and my alarm goes off, I begin to feel ready for it. For the first time in months, I'm waking with energy.

There are even occasions when I wake before my alarm.

When that happens I try to get out of bed straight away and enjoy my first cup of tea in the garden before anyone else wakes up.

While I would normally have spent that time on my phone in bed, I've instead been checking the progress of my dahlias and soaking up the early morning rays.

This, says Dr. Harris, is one of the most impactful ways I can anchor my circadian rhythm: "One of the biggest things is getting outside soon after you wake up. Even 15 to 30 minutes of morning light helps reinforce your body's schedule and makes it easier to fall asleep that night."

My cognitive fog is lifting and my focus is returning

Over time, the double whammy of sleep deprivation and underlying stress has taken a toll on my cognitive function. I've become forgetful, there are times I can struggle to focus, and I rarely allow myself the luxury of finishing a thought.

After a week of sleeping and rising(ish) with the sun, I begin to feel the cognitive fog lift.

For the first time in a long time, I feel creative again — ideas come to me and I allow myself the time to mull them over. I'm focusing on one task at a time and enjoying immersing myself in them, whether it's work, cooking or DIY.

This, says Dr. Dimitriu, is entirely expected: "Sleeping closer to sunset and waking closer to sunrise, is what we have been doing naturally for millennia, and it also helps establish deeper, and longer periods of sleep.

"More sleep, that is circadian aligned, has multiple benefits, physical and mental. Mood stability improves, anxiety is reduced, and there is more room to think before you react," he continues.

"People become more patient. Attention and focus, as well as memory and recall — the ability to learn, are also improved."

How to protect your circadian rhythm during the darker months

While attempting to align my circadian rhythm with the sun, I've been aware that summer is the easiest time to do this. After all, a sunset and sunrise time in the region of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. isn't a million miles from my optimal routine.

Which leads me to wonder, how can I anchor my circadian rhythm around the sun during the winter months when the days are shorter and the sunlight is weaker?

"Winter definitely makes it harder because we're naturally exposed to less sunlight, especially in the morning," acknowledges Dr. Harris.

"My advice is to make the most of whatever daylight you do have. If you can step outside for a morning walk, that light is still much stronger than what you get indoors."

For those who notice that their mood and energy levels are impacted during winter, Dr. Harris recommends a light therapy box, which emulates natural sunlight for improved health.

"More than anything, try not to let your routine drift," concludes Dr. Harris. "Keeping a consistent wake time, getting some movement during the day, and limiting bright light late at night can go a long way in keeping your body clock on track, even when the days are shorter."

Tech to help regulate your circadian rhythm

The Fitbit Charge 5 debuted in 2021 around the same time as the Apple Watch Series 7, and even though it was replaced by the Fitbit Charge 6 in 2023, you can still find the Charge 5 on sale in 2026 for around $100 new or ~$40 if you go the used/refurb route.

But can a 2021 wearable, like the Fitbit Charge 5, actually keep up with today’s best smartwatches, like the Apple Watch Series 11, when it comes to fitness tracking accuracy? I just had to find out.

While the Apple Watch Series 11 starts at roughly four times the cost of the Fitbit Charge 5 in today’s market, the two actually have a lot in common. Both sport AMOLED touchscreens — though the one on the Charge 5 is comically small — onboard GPS, heart rate monitors, blood oxygen sensors, and ECG capabilities.

More importantly, in terms of tracking an outdoor workout, you get nearly identical post-exercise stats, with insights into your distance, pace, climb, calories burned, heart rate max/average, and HR zones.

So, how did 2021’s Fitbit Charge 5 perform versus the 2026 flagship Apple Watch model? You can find the full results of my comparison below, followed by the five biggest takeaways from the test.

Old Fitbit vs new Apple Watch: Walk test results

1. Fitbit's step count tally is closer

Both the Fitbit Charge 5 and Apple Watch Series 11 calculated step count totals within 100 steps of my manual count (5,500 steps) and Strava's count (5,510 steps). This result is both impressive and well within a reasonable margin of error.

However, much to my surprise, the aging Fitbit proved slightly more accurate than Apple's latest at logging steps, besting the Series 11 by a small but noteworthy margin.

2. Apple's climb data is far more accurate

In an effort to thoroughly test both wearables — and to get my heart rate up — this trek involved quite a lot of uphill effort. Unfortunately, the Fitbit Charge 5 struggled to log my climb accurately during this roughly 52-minute walk.

That effort is reflected in both Strava and Apple's post-workout reports, even if the Series 11 slightly inflated my climb (I'm not mad).

Assuming Strava's data is close to correct, which I suspect it is, the Charge 5's climb tally is 132 feet shy of the control, a disappointing result.

It's worth noting that the Fitbit Charge 5 lacks an onboard barometric altimeter, a sensor dedicated to monitoring elevation changes, while the Apple Watch 11 and my smartphone running Strava both sport one.

3. Fitbit recorded a lower heart rate but more calories burned

The five-year-old Fitbit Charge 5 recorded a slightly lower average and max heart rate than the latest Apple Watch Series 11. Was the fact that I wore the Fitbit on my right wrist and the Apple Watch on my left a factor in this discrepancy? It shouldn't be. After all, both companion apps let you specify your wrist preference, which I did before this test.

Despite a lower heart rate, the Fitbit noted more calories burned overall than the Apple Watch. Then again, calorie counts are one of the smartwatch workout stats I trust the least.

4. The Fitbit burned through way more battery

While fitness tracking accuracy — minus climb data — from the five-year-old Fitbit Charge 5 is pretty similar to that of the current Apple Watch Series 11, one area the newer device easily outperforms the older generation is GPS battery life.

On paper, the Fitbit Charge 5 should outperform the Apple Watch 11 in terms of longevity; it's rated to last up to seven days per charge compared to just 24 hours for the Apple Watch.

However, over the course of tracking my 52-minute walk, the Charge 5 burned through nearly three times more battery than the Series 11. At this burn rate, I wouldn't trust the Charge 5 to log any outdoor workout longer than five or six hours, which means no epic hikes or snowboard sessions.

5. The Charge 5 still outperformed my expectations

Ultimately, despite coming up a bit short in terms of climb data and battery performance, the five-year-old Fitbit Charge 5 exceeded my expectations compared to the current Apple Watch Series 11, proving to be nearly as good a fitness tracker, despite its age.

Which fitness trackers or smartwatches, new or old, would you like me to test head-to-head next? Let me know below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Can the $99 Fitbit Air beat the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 at fitness tracking? I manually counted 4,500 steps to find out
• I walked 4,000 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — and the winning margin was razor-thin
• Oura vs Whoop vs Fitbit Air — 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a screen-free fitness tracker

We live in the streaming era. What started as a cheaper alternative to traditional cable has turned into something that feels like cable spread across a bunch of different subscriptions.

Getting all the major streaming services, even on the cheaper ad-supported plans, will set you back around $80 per month. If you go with the premium ad-free options, the price skyrockets. Then, if you want one of the top streaming cable services, you'll need to almost double that amount.

Add ESPN for sports and suddenly your monthly bill is more than $160 per month — which is more than most people spent on basic cable when that was still the main way to consume entertainment.

So I decided that rather than picking and choosing which services to keep, I dumped them all and went with a mix of free options and just not watching as many shows and movies as I normally would. I gave myself one month to try it so I could weigh having about $90 in my pocket (I didn't have a streaming cable service to begin with, so there was nothing to drop there) versus the FOMO feeling of not being able to see the new releases.

Here's what happened each week:

No paid streaming: Week 1 (June 21 - June 27)

I started this little test on Sunday, June 21, so I missed out on a lot of content. For example, "House of the Dragon" season 3 debuted on the first day, but fortunately, I haven't watched the first two seasons yet (I planned to wait until the entire series dropped and then go with the binge strategy). "Avatar: The Last Airbender" season 2 also hit, but to be honest, I couldn't care less about it, so I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

The final season of "The Bear" started on June 25, which definitely made me a little sad as I enjoy the show. However, it's not one I'm totally hooked on, so I was able to get by knowing it'll be there later.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" dropped on June 24, but I actually didn't notice it until the following week, as I was deep in the Scary Movie franchise for week one. "Little Brother" debuted on Netflix at the end of the week, and while I was passively interested in it because I'm a wrestling fan (something else I was unable to watch without a paid service), I didn't feel too awful skipping it.

For the first week, these were the main releases that gave me a little FOMO, but they were pretty minor, especially since Pluto TV brought it hard with some big movies that kept me entertained. With "Scary Movie" dropping in theaters earlier in the month, it added the first five movies in the series for everyone to catch up, and I ripped through all of them (the latter three films aren't the best, but they're still good for a laugh).

Between work, family life and watching kids' content during the day (thankfully, he's 9 and doesn't follow the latest releases, so movies on Pluto TV were satisfying for him), these films were enough to fulfill my watching needs for the week (along with some golf YouTube content before going to bed at night). "The Sheep Detectives" would have probably caught his attention, but thankfully, we saw it in theaters.

Week 1 (June 21-27) difficulty rating (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest):

• 3 - I would have liked to have watched "The Bear" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash," but I could live without them

No paid streaming: Week 2 (June 28-July 4)

Now, this week and next would've been nearly impossible for soccer (football) fans, which I am not. The round of 32 started on June 28, then the round of 16 kicked off on July 4, and the rest of the tournament went on from there. Some games were available for free, but if you wanted to see the finals and the biggest matches, you needed subscriptions. For me, this was a non-issue, but it could've easily been the breaking point for some.

Outside of the biggest sports event that had everyone talking, I realized that "Avatar: Fire and Ash" launched the previous week and I was very much looking forward to watching it. Should I have gone while it was in theaters? Probably. But the fact remains that I didn't, and I was definitely feeling some FOMO not being able to catch it on Disney+.

And then July 1 rolled around, and my sadness increased exponentially: "X-Men ‘97" season 2 dropped on Disney+, and I was left out in the cold.

Another show I was interested in watching before the next season was "Silo" — with season 3 launching on July 3, it seemed like a good time to get in. But I didn't get a chance to watch it before shutting everything down, so there's another show I will be left out of watching for the time being (I'll have to re-up Apple TV at some point to catch it, as I don't see it going to a free service anytime in the future).

So with what I didn't watch out of the way, let's talk about what I did actually watch. Quite simply, I watched a lot of YouTube. I caught up on videos from pretty much every major YouTube golf channel from the past few months that had slipped through the cracks. I watched live concerts of my favorite bands from old-school Woodstock broadcasts to modern pro-shot stuff. I discovered Angine de Poitrine through a random YouTube recommendation.

And I dove into the Pluto library for older movies I might have missed or just wanted to see again. My childhood crush Alicia Silverstone's classic "Clueless" arrived, so I took a trip down memory lane with it. "The Matrix Revolutions," by far the worst movie in the series in my humble opinion, came to Pluto, so I gave it a second chance (I stand by my original opinion; it's a bad, bad, terrible, awful movie). Mix in the requisite kids' movies, and we had an okay week of entertainment for the family while I cried inside about not being able to see "X-Men 97."

Week 2 (June 28-July 4) difficulty:

• 8 - Missing out on "X-Men 97" season 2 hit me hard, and I'm excited for this all to be over so I can go watch it now.

No paid streaming: week 3 (July 5-11)

I'm not going to oversell it here: This week was pretty easy for me. Looking through the new releases from Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ and streaming as a whole, nothing really caught my eye. Sure, I'd normally watch the PGA Tour's Genesis Scottish Open, but it's not a tournament I can't live without (we'll get to that next week).

"Hamnet" looked good, but it's a movie I feel I need to watch. The Netflix doc "Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea" looked interesting, and I'll probably watch it at some point if I ever resubscribe, but if not, I won't lose sleep.

Pluto and YouTube carried me through week three without issue — I watched some of my favorite movies from my teenage years: "Friday" and "Next Friday" (I skipped "Friday After Next" as it's just not very funny). Then, I went even further back, jumping into "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls." Finally, I tickled my horror fancy with "Pet Sematary (1989)" and "The Cabin In The Woods," a couple of classics.

Week 3 (July 5-11) difficulty:

• 2 - It honestly could be a 1 for this week, but I added a single point because I still really want to watch "X-Men 97."

No paid streaming: Week 4+ (July 12-20)

Everything was going pretty well, with "X-Men '97" being the only release I truly had FOMO over.

And then the middle of July knocked me on my streamless butt with the release of Netflix's "The Hawk" and the airing of the Open, one of the four biggest golf events of the year. Sure, Will Ferrell's "The Hawk" was getting mixed reviews, but after thoroughly enjoying "Stick," the last big golf comedy series (on Apple TV), I really wanted to watch (and review) "The Hawk."

Could I have asked for a media screener? Sure, but that felt just as against the spirit of this test as pirating it. So I suffered through not being able to formulate my own opinion on the show.

How did I deal with the crushing lack of the Open, which broadcast on a mix of NBC Sports, USA Network, Golf Channel and Peacock? I just didn't watch it. It was hard; I don't usually miss any of the big golf tournaments, but I was committed to this experiment. I did listen to the No Laying Up podcast, which recaps the event each day to keep up with what happened, and I watched highlights on social media, but I didn't sit down and watch any of the event live. It was a sad Thursday-Sunday for me, but I made it work.

OK, that's not entirely true. I did get to see a little of the tournament at restaurants. For example, I played golf on Saturday morning, and the event was playing in the clubhouse, so I watched a bit. But it felt more like a tease than a satisfying viewing experience.

Other than that, in week four, I didn't watch much. Maybe the strain of missing two big things I really wanted to see was too much for me, but I just played a lot of Diablo IV. It had an expansion recently and a new season rolled out, so I dug in and leveled up a Barbarian. It was actually quite enjoyable, and it felt good to dive into one of my favorite video games again.

Week 4+ (July 12-20) difficulty:

• 10 - Everyone's difficult week will be different. Maybe "House of the Dragon" was the big release for you, but for me, "The Hawk" on Netflix and The Open made me realize I really can't live without paid streaming services.

No paid streaming: Final thoughts

In the end, not having paid streaming services is kind of a bummer.

FOMO is a very real thing. From live sports events to new movie releases, there's a lot of content out there that people are talking about, and if you're not willing to turn to illegal means (which I wasn't, both because it's illegal and it would kind of defeat the whole point of my test if I could just pirate anything), you will feel like you're not part of things.

So what's my ultimate advice after a month of depriving myself of the latest entertainment? Pick and choose which streaming services to keep each month. It takes a little effort, yes, but Tom's Guide's own Kelly Woo makes it easy with her monthly pieces on which services to cancel based on goodies slated to come to each one.

Obviously, your tastes will vary, and there might be a show or movie that you care about that makes you subscribe, but she'll give you a nice baseline from which you can work.

Obviously, if money is no object and you don't feel like putting in the effort, just subscribe to everything and forget it. But if that's not your situation (it's not mine, for sure), then your best bet is to be smart about what you keep active.

My ultimate conclusion after all this is that the streaming landscape is actually more annoying than cable. Instead of managing cable packages on one service, now we have upwards of 10 different subscriptions to worry about. It's great for the companies; they can nickel and dime us with increases that feel small — a dollar here and 50 cents there — but add up over time.

It feels like we're rapidly approaching a breaking point where there are just too many streaming services available, and people are going to get frustrated; I sure did, it's the whole reason I did this test.

But unless the cancellations happen in large numbers, nothing will change, and we'll be stuck jumping between multiple services to keep up with the content we want. Sure, you can survive with the ad-based freebies out there, but it's hardly ideal.

As a computing writer for Tom’s Guide, part of my job is helping readers save money on PCs and components. That has become much harder thanks to RAMageddon, which has driven up the cost of memory and, by extension, most electronics. PC gaming has been hit especially hard. It was already a relatively expensive hobby, and price increases have made the barrier to entry even higher.

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get into PC gaming in 2026. You’ll almost certainly pay more for machines and components than you would have a year ago. But if you know what to look for (and what to avoid), you can still find a capable setup that fits your needs and lasts for years.

In this guide, I’ll walk through the three main ways people start PC gaming right now: a gaming handheld, a pre-built desktop, and building your own PC. I’ll break down the pros and cons of each, then explain which path makes the most sense depending on your budget, space, and priorities.

Gaming handhelds

The price of the best handheld gaming consoles has climbed sharply this year. Where the Steam Deck OLED once topped out at $649, the 512GB model now starts at $789. Other notable handhelds have seen similar increases, though entry-level options like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally (around $600) remain relatively more accessible than the higher-end Legion Go 2.

Even with the higher prices, gaming handhelds are still one of the strongest low-friction ways to start PC gaming right now — especially while discrete GPUs, RAM, and other components stay expensive. These self-contained systems run the best PC games from Steam (and other libraries), either on SteamOS or Windows.

The advantages are clear. Portability means you can play almost anywhere. Setup is relatively simple, particularly on SteamOS devices, where you can get into games with less tinkering than a full Windows 11 machine. Most models also support docking to a TV or monitor, which often improves performance once the handheld is powered and no longer thermally limited. While they’re no longer the bargains they once were, several capable options still sit under $1,000.

They do come with real trade-offs, though. The biggest is the performance ceiling: most current AAA titles run at 720p–1080p on low-to-medium settings, typically in the 30–60 fps range. Battery life often drops to one or two hours during demanding games (longer on lighter titles), and Windows handhelds can introduce additional UI friction and software overhead. Storage also fills up quickly on 512GB models.

Despite those compromises, the combination of portability, access to a PC library, and a relatively contained total cost still makes handhelds a solid option for many newcomers—especially anyone who wants to start playing without committing to a full desktop setup.

Pre-built gaming PCs

If you’d rather own one of the best gaming PCs but don’t want to build one from scratch, a pre-built PC is your best bet. Some gamers still look down on them, but after reviewing dozens of these machines, I can tell you this route is often a smart choice right now. Because manufacturers buy components in bulk, pre-builts can match or even beat the cost of a comparable DIY build in the current market.

The advantages are straightforward. There’s virtually no assembly required, and you only have to deal with one company if something goes wrong. You also get professional cable management and properly seated components out of the box. Thanks to that bulk purchasing power, solid 1080p systems with an RTX 5060-class GPU and 32GB of RAM currently sit in the $1,000–$1,200 range and often deliver stronger immediate value than piecing the same parts together yourself.

As Techsponential’s Avi Greengart told me via email, in this environment “buying pre-built is usually less expensive than building your own.” Looking for systems with last-generation CPUs that were priced before the worst of RAMageddon can stretch the budget even further.

There are real trade-offs, though. You won’t always get to choose every part, which can leave you with a louder cooler or a lower-tier power supply. Some cases use proprietary front panels, offer limited GPU clearance, or have tight PSU spacing that restricts future upgrades. And even when the overall price is competitive, you’re still paying something for the convenience.

If you go this route, prioritize GPU performance and RAM capacity (32GB is pretty valuable right now) over chasing a particular CPU brand. Read recent reviews of the specific model you’re considering (including ours!) to get a real sense of thermals, noise, and build quality. Stick with more established names such as Lenovo, iBuyPower, ABS, or CyberPower when possible. Factor in the full cost of a monitor, keyboard, and mouse if you don’t already own them, and move quickly when you find a good configuration — popular models can sell out fast.

Pre-builts shine when you value convenience, want a working system quickly, or feel intimidated by the current component market. They’re a legitimate entry point into PC gaming during RAMageddon, even if they offer less long-term flexibility and control than building your own system.

Custom-built PCs

Even with elevated component prices, building your own PC remains the strongest long-term option for many people getting into PC gaming. The current memory shortage has made it less of an automatic money-saver than it was a couple of years ago, but the advantages in quality, knowledge, and future flexibility still hold for those willing to put in the work.

The biggest advantage is full control over every part. You choose the exact GPU, cooler, power supply, and case you want. And when the time comes to upgrade, you can swap individual components instead of replacing the whole system. Building also teaches you how everything fits together, which makes future upgrades and troubleshooting much easier. You can optimize the machine for your specific needs — whether that’s a quiet system, maximum airflow, or a particular mix of CPU, GPU, and RAM suited to the games you actually play.

Securing solid last-generation components (especially AM4 and DDR4) or taking advantage of motherboard/CPU/memory bundles from places like Micro Center can still deliver meaningful savings, particularly on RAM.

Of course, the DIY route requires more research, compatibility checks, assembly, and initial troubleshooting. Pricing remains a hurdle. A decent 32GB DDR5 kit can cost $350–$470, and GPUs and SSDs are similarly priced. You’ll also face multiple individual warranties instead of a single system-wide warranty, plus the small but real risk of assembly mistakes or dead-on-arrival parts. And unless you already own them, you’ll still need to buy a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals.

Building your own PC is still the path that delivers the most ownership, flexibility, and long-term satisfaction. It demands more effort and research than a pre-built or handheld, especially with today’s component pricing. However, the reward is a system that better matches what you actually want and can grow with you for years.

Bottom line

So which of these three paths is the best way to get into PC gaming in 2026? It depends on your needs.

If you just want to start playing games with as little hassle as possible, a solid pre-built is a smart move. If space is tight or you’re not yet sure how deep you want to go into PC gaming, a handheld is a strong starting point. And if you care about control, upgradeability, or simply enjoying the process of putting a machine together, building your own PC is still a fantastic option.

You’re almost certainly going to spend more than you would have a year ago. But with a clearer sense of the trade-offs, you can make a smarter choice and still get into PC gaming without overspending or ending up with a setup that doesn’t fit your lifestyle.

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