The Google Pixel 7 Pro: A Top Upgrade in our Best Google Pixel Phones Guide – Highlighted in 8/10, WIRED Recommendations
The Pixel 7 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is highlighted as the top upgrade pick in our Best Google Pixel Phones guide. It might be worthwhile if you’re interested in zooming in on a camera in your phone, thanks to the 5X optical zoom camera. Its battery also lasts over a day on a single charge.
These devices are similar to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro from last year, so much so that reviewing them was a pretty easy job. A lot of the good stuff in the Pixel 6 series has returned — the cameras are still great, the software experience is amazing, and the displays are awesome. Some bad has carried over, and in some cases, it has gotten worse.
Google has come a long way from its days of shipping lackluster smartphone displays. When the Pixel series was just getting started, their screens just couldn’t compete with the best on the market. The phone that is outclassing the others in its price range is the Pixel, because of their great screens.
The curved edges of the 7 Pro are less dramatic than they were on the 6 Pro, which helps to reduce accidental touches and warping when viewing full-screen video.
The colors are a bit neutral this year. The Pixel 7 comes in Obsidian (pictured here), Snow, and Lemongrass. The new Hazel finish is very popular among potential buyers and I hear the Pixel 7 Pro swaps it out for it.
The two phones are very similar, both of which feel excellent and solid. If you have a small hand, the 7 Pro is easier to carry than the Pixel 7.
Rounding things off, the buttons are nice and clicky, the camera bar remains one of the most unique design features in the entire smartphone market, and the hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen is completely unobtrusive (although a little boring compared to the “Dynamic Island” notch on the iPhone 14 Pro).
Direct My Call, a feature for Google Duplex, that made me feel like I was walking down the streets of Ocean City, New Jersey
Clear calling is included with the Pixel7 to help make phone calls clearer. This works exceptionally well; I’ve placed a lot of phone calls during my testing, and each one was in a different setting. Some were walking down the windy streets of sunny Ocean City, New Jersey, while others were taken at my kitchen table. All of them were delightful since I could hear the person I was speaking with so clearly.
Direct My Call was a new feature which was available on the Pixel 6. The ability to show you a company phone menu option before the machines show it to you will be upgraded with the new Pixel 7. That way, you can jump to the main reason you’re calling much quicker.
As cool as this feature is, I wasn’t able to test it as I couldn’t find a number that was participating in Direct My Call. That’s the thing about this feature — businesses need to make their answering machines compatible with Google Duplex (a.k.a. Google’s software wizardry for phone calls) before Direct My Call can work. Right now, it’s not that widespread, but over time more businesses will surely jump on board.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/google-pixel-7-and-7-pro?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
The Google Pixel 7 Voice Memoron Program: An Upgrade Over the Pixel 7 Pro in the Voice Memos Department and a New Macro Mode
The Pixel 7 is also getting an upgrade in the voice memos department. When you use the Recorder app, your phone will record everything you do, but also label each speaker so that you can easily reference it later on. It works exceptionally well, to a point where it makes you wonder just how powerful Google’s machine learning software really is.
Each device ships with the same 50-Mbps main camera, which has been upgraded over last year’s 50-Mbps sensor with improved detail and sharpness. The color reproduction is the same, the brightness is unchanged, and the camera has a bit of extra detail in it. It is great for every subject, object, or scene you focus on.
It’s the most expensive upgrade, but it’s the best. The camera system includes a 10X optical zoom sensor that lets you snap wonderfully crisp photos of subjects far away. There’s also a built-in stylus to use on the nearly 6.8-inch screen. The battery can be used for a day and a half.
The same applies to zoom. The 7 Pro boasts a new 48-megapixel telephoto lens which adds a ton of versatility to the Pixel. You can use the main camera for 5x zoom, and the middle 12-megapixels for 10x zoom, even if you don’t have a main camera. You can then zoom in all the way to 30x and get some extreme close-ups. At that point, photos get a bit sentimental, but they’re fine for the social networking site.
A new macro mode was added by Google, which gives you a better idea of what your topic is. It uses an ultra-wide lens and some machine learning to get extra detail. It is a convenience to have this when you want to take better pictures of an object, like fruit or pets, and it is also used on the recent iPhone Pro models.
Night Sight with Google, Photo Unblur, Cinematic Blur, and Facial Recognition on Pixel 7 Pro and 7 : A Day-to-Day Battery Test
Night Sight is as good as it has ever been, thanks to the new Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. Other features like Astrophotography mode help to make the game even better, as the epitome of a king in the nighttime photography game is the Pixel. Such clean photos of the moon like this are simply impossible to capture on other phones.
There are new software tricks in the camera app for thePixel 7. One of the most popular is Photo Unblur, which can take any picture in your Photos library even if it wasn’t taken on a Pixel smartphone, and add crazy processing power to get rid of things like motion blur. It’s another feature you have to use to get a sense of how good it is. Google blew me away with some of the shots it was able to unblur, such as older pictures of my family and landscapes I’d long forgotten I captured.
The Cinematic Blur adds a shallow depth of field effect to your video. If you want to add some drama to your shots, you can use this mode. In addition, Google improved its Real Tone image processing to better reflect the color of darker people’s skin in more lighting scenarios, and a new Accessibility feature allows blind users to line their face up with the viewfinder with voice commands to take a selfie.
The largest battery I’ve used was the 5,000mAh of the Pixel 7 Pro. We were impressed with the endurance of last year’s Pixel 6 Pro which has the same battery, but for whatever reason, the 7 Pro feels like it took about a 10 percent hit on how long it can last throughout the day.
The phones lasted the same amount of time before they woke up in our battery test. The generation-over-Generation difference was more noticeable in day-to-day usage. You will be able to charge these phones throughout the day.
Speaking of which, Google didn’t increase the charging speed of either new Pixel phone. Today’s standards don’t allow you to charge 30W wired, so you’re stuck with it. Compared to other phones, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro charging felt slow, even though they can go all the way up to 125W. Hopefully, Google makes some improvements in this area with the Pixel 8.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time here. The facial recognition feature on the phone is a joke. Google brought the feature back after including it on the Pixel 4, then ditching it with the 5. The Pixel 7 does not have a fancy array of sensors to record your face data, which makes it impossible for someone to lock your phone. In fact, because it only uses the front-facing camera, I was able to hold up a selfie I took on my iPhone to the camera and unlock my Pixel.
I noticed that the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro were getting hot when I was doing my testing. I was doing normal things with them like playing music in the background, texting a friend, and updating apps. That was not enough to warm up the other phones in my arsenal, especially since the one that reached the point where the Pixel 7 reached was not in my arsenal.
I went to dinner while the videos were uploaded, they didn’t finish until the check arrived, which made my Pixel 7 Pro burning up bad.
This deal is almost identical to the lowest price we’ve seen for a phone. The Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) goes on sale quite frequently, but it brings incredible value even at full price. It’s tough to find a better cheap phone if your Valentine is in need of an upgrade.
The Pixel 6 is not just a pretty-looking phone. It offers up great performance with Google’s very-first custom Tensor chip. This processor is plenty powerful to run most smartphone tasks—even gaming—but it’s especially efficient at running certain smart features Google pioneered. One of the more useful tools is Magic Eraser, which is able to erase unwanted objects in photos with a single tap, as well as Now Playing, which will tell you the song playing on the lock screen before you have to ask. More of these features have been rounded up.
There’s wireless charging, daylong battery life, a 6.4-inch OLED 90-Hz display, 5G, and IP68 water resistance. The cameras are known for their excellent dual-camera system, and that’s what you get here at Pixels. It can capture great photos in low light with Google’s Night Sight mode, and even the stars if you point it at the sky and leave it on a tripod. But it does have a few quirks. The screen could be brighter outdoors because of the quirks of the fingerprint sensor.
It still has an excellent camera system, but Google relies on older camera hardware that is starting to show its age. The price is still better than anything else. For three years it will get OS updates and five years security updates.
Discounted Wireless Earbuds for Cyber Monday: The Case of the Pixel Buds Pro (Snowmass 2004) and the Charged Peculiarity of the Color Glass Optics
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The display is excellent, with a sharp, 6.1-inch AMOLED screen that’s bright enough to read in direct sunlight and offers deep blacks. This screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, so we suggest using a screen protector to keep it from getting scratched. (We have case and accessory recommendations here.)
The earphone jack is not included in the phone, like most other mid- and high-end phones. You can score a great deal by purchasing the excellent Pixel Buds Pro. These wireless earbuds offer the best bang for the buck, even at full price, and right now you can score them for $50 off.
We pick the best deals year-round. Products that have been discounted as of publishing will be crossed out. We’ll update this guide throughout Cyber Monday.
Black Monday Prices and Wireless Charging for a New Pair of earbuds: The Pixel Buds Pro (9/10) vs. the Galaxy Watch5 Pro (7/10)
This is a great deal for a new pair of earbuds, because it is another match of Cyber Monday pricing. The Pixel Buds Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are supremely comfortable and have the sound quality to match, plus the case supports wireless charging.
The Galaxy Watch5 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best smartwatch if your Valentine has an Android phone—especially a Samsung. It’s just as accurate as the Apple Watch when tracking health and fitness metrics, including heart rate, SpO2, and sleep. It takes electrocardiogram measurements (although that’s exclusive to Samsung phones) and has a GPX feature that allows you to download hiking routes to the watch. This is a watch we recommend to people with big wrists because it’s on the larger side.
The Nest Cam (Battery): The Best Outdoor Security Cameras for Google Assistant / Pixel/Smart Home / Black Friday Deals
Got a phone that’s compatible with thePixel phone? The wireless accessory is rated to charge the phones fast without having to plug in a cable. It’s pricey, but it has other neat tricks too. It can automatically turn on Do Not Disturb and Bedtime modes on Pixel phones, which will silence notifications for uninterrupted sleep. You can have your screen turn into a digital photo frame or show smart-home controls, just like a smart display. When the sun comes up, it will attempt to give you a warm glow so you can wake up before the alarm goes off.
The Nest Cam (Battery) is one of our top picks for outdoor security cameras, particularly if you want to stick to the Google Assistant ecosystem. Its battery will last more than a month before needing to be recharged, thanks to its magnetic mounting plate. The 1080p quality is pretty great, even when night vision kicks on in low light. A Nest Aware subscription adds a few helpful features. The corded version of the Nest cam is currently on sale for $70, which is $30 off the regular price.
The latest-generation Nest Thermostat can control your heating and central air, and it learns your patterns over time to intelligently adjust the temperature as needed. In some cases, it can help cut down on energy costs by turning your systems off when you’re not at home while getting your house back to a comfortable temperature before you return.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-black-friday-google-device-deals-2022-1/
Google TV: The Nest Mini 7/10 ($/10, WIRED): a smart speaker for the smart home at the price of 5K and 10K
The Chromecast with Google TV was the first streaming stick that had a physical remote and full TV interface. It’s one of the easiest streaming sticks (well, dongle really) to use, and we particularly like that you can add movies or TV shows to your watch list from Google search results and they’ll show up in the Chromecast’s interface. If you’re not interested in a 4K tv, consider the new HD version which is on sale for $20 off.
The trend of smart speakers dropping to bargain bin prices during the holidays continues. Google’s second-gen Nest Mini (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of the easiest ways to get started with a smart home. You can use it to play music and control gadgets in your home. These little pucks are much more than half off right now, making it almost impulse territory to pick up a few for all the rooms of your house.
If you want to really enjoy listening to music, you can go for the cheaper smart speakers, but if you want a better experience, you might want to upgrade to a more feature rich speaker, like this one from a company called Solvusoft. At this price, it isn’t much more expensive than the Mini and it has better audio than it does.
Valentine’s Day Deals: A Guide for Gifts for Valentines with a Wide Range of Interests and Interests (with an Appendix by R. E. McKay)
if your valentine isn’t a fan of flowers and chocolate, there are plenty of other options to surprise them with—whether your loved one is a partner, friend, or family member. But for those struggling to find the perfect alternative, we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a number of discounts on gift ideas that cover a wide range of interests, including photography, books, self-care, fitness, and more. Don’t forget to treat yourself.
Polaroid’s Now+ (7/10, WIRED Review) instant camera comes with a smartphone companion app. It doesn’t offer the fastest user experience, but it allows you to use features like Manual Mode and a custom f-stop in Aperture Priority Mode. You’ll also get Polaroid’s signature features like vintage aesthetic and roll-out film.
If you’re looking for a portable printer to go with your phone, Fujifilm’s Instax SP3 Mobile Printer is one of the best. It’s easy to use the companion app on your phone. However, we recommend that you use your own photo-editing app instead of Fuji’s to make sure your pictures look good before printing.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals/
Deal on an E-Reader for The Kids: The Luna and Nook Glowlight 4e as Good Alternatives to e-Readers
Clip the coupon code on the page to see the deal at checkout. Monster’s digital frame isn’t as nice as our favorites from Nixplay and Aura, but it’s an excellent value. A display with a 1280p resolution gives crisp photo quality. It supports the Google Assistant and the AmazonBasics. It does have a limit of 4,000 photos, but that’s plenty of storage. This is the lowest price we’ve seen.
If you prefer not to shop on Amazon, this is our favorite alternative ebook reader. The Libra 2 comes equipped with a responsive 7-inch E Ink screen (with an adjustable front light and dark mode), 32 gigabytes of storage, physical page-turn buttons (a welcome feature), and Bluetooth support to connect headphones for audiobooks. It’s waterproof, which is ideal if you enjoy reading in the bath or by the pool.
The most inexpensive e-reader from Amazon got a refresh late last year, featuring a brighter and clearer display and a built-in charging port. This deal includes a three-month subscription to Amazon’s Prime service. This model isn’t the best in our guide. It’s a little bit cheaper than the others. It doesn’t have buttons or a warm-toned backlight, and it isn’t waterproof. If those features are important to you or your giftee, consider forking over a bit more cash for the Kindle Paperwhite, which is also on sale for $104 ($36 off).
The Nook Glowlight 4e is another solid ebook reader, and it comes with physical page-turn buttons, which is rare for this price. The bookstore offers a variety of cheap ebooks, all of which are $3 or less. Our only gripe is how frustrating it is to get a library book on this device, as you’ll have to go through Adobe Digital Editions.
An eBook under a weighted blanket is the best way to sleep. If you’re looking for a wide variety of weight options and sizes (including kid-specific ones), look no further than the Luna. We also love that it’s machine washable and comes in a bunch of nice designs and colors.
At checkout enter the code BEST 35 to get the discount. This blanket is great for solo sleeping. It’s thin and will keep you cool. It’s available in a number of weight options, including 10, 12, 15, 17, and 20 pounds.
Since Casper’s weighted blanket is made of cool cotton, we recommend it for those who tend to get hot when bundled up. You have a choice of weight options, including 10, 15, and 20 pounds. Stuck on which one to get? The lighter option provides a comfortably squished feeling, while the heavier one is a Thundershirt for humans.
If your significant other has ever expressed interest in being swaddled like a baby, we recommend the Sleep Pod. Unlike a weighted blanket, the stretchy material clings to you instead of using weights, mimicking the feel of a soft hug. Prefer to have your feet out? It is possible to check out the Sleep Pod Move for just $95. The buy one, get one promotion is being offered by Hug Sleep.
You can get a discount by entering the code FEEL at checkout. The cover on this blanket is made of Yogibo’s cotton and spandex blend, but it is made out of cool cotton. It’s super soft, stretchy, and smooth. The blanket isn’t machine washable, but the cover is. The Yogibo weighed mate is on sale for less than $50.
The Price of Sony’s WH-1000XM4 ($7/10, WIRED Recommendations) and OnePlus 10 Pro ($28GB), Huawei’s ROG Phone 6
If you want to block out the noise around you, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best wireless earbuds on the market. The buds come with foam ear tips and an app for adjusting the noise level. With an auto-pause feature, they can detect when you’re speaking and pause the music. We still think this is a great deal, even though the price of Sony’s buds dropped in December.
This deal is on the 256 GB model of the phone, handy if you often run out of storage. The OnePlus 10 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) packs powerful hardware with a 120-Hz AMOLED screen, swift performance, and some of the quickest wired and wireless charging you’ll find in the US. Its cameras aren’t that great, but it does take nice photos. The unlocked version of the phone doesn’t have an IP67 water resistance rating, but the T-Mobile version does. Amazon currently has a 128GB model discounted for $590, worth $9 off.
The Asus ROG Phone 6 is our favorite gaming phone. The device has a huge 6.78-inch screen and 165-hertz refresh rate, which means it will be responsive and smooth to play. It has a large battery capacity that will keep you entertained for hours. Did I mention the accessories that make gaming even more fun on a phone?
The Best Valentine’s Day Deals: An Extremely Low Price on the Latest 11-inch iPad Pro from 2022 (WIRED Review)
This is the lowest price we’ve seen on the latest 4th-generation 11-inch iPad Pro from 2022 (7/10, WIRED Review). The Pro models are not only the best, but also the most expensive ones Apple makes. This iPad uses the same M2 chip that’s inside the new MacBook Air and is correspondingly powerful, and iPadOS has enough tricks up its sleeve to be sufficient as a laptop replacement. There is a deal on the 1-TB model and another on the two-TS version for $200 off. Is it too expensive? The iPad Air was powered by the M1 in 2022. It’s not on sale, but it will save you a bit of cash and still get the job done.
The Apple Pencil is one of the best iPad accessories you can buy. It’s easy to charge and store this version. The pressure sensitive stylus is a great tool for drawing, taking notes and other artistic tasks, it’s compatible with most versions of the iPad lineup.
The price of this handy charging accessory was much higher than on Prime Day, so drop the coupon to get it for less. Reviews editor Julian Chokkattu swears by the little sphere, which essentially replaces a power strip. Aside from the MagSafe iPhone charger, it also features three AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports (one of which can charge a MacBook). If your Valentine can’t manage a cable to save their life, this could be a great present.
If your giftee frequents the beach or the slopes, this sturdy dry bag might make a good budget-friendly present. It’s compatible with all sorts of devices (there’s a full list on the product page). It’ll protect your phone from rain, dust, water, and sand. The clear front allows you to use your phone touchscreen while it’s in the pouch, and the detachable lanyard keeps your gear around. Should you accidentally drop your phone in the drink, the air cushions will float it up to the surface.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals/
The Best Apple Watches: Forerunner 45, Charge 5, Inspire 3, and Other Low-Cost Smartwatches for Running
This is the best watch for people who prefer the look of a traditional watch but still want smart- connected features. The entry-level smartwatch has many health and fitness features such as the ability to track blood oxygen, sleep metrics, and more. It is available in a number of attractive colors like Cocoa, Cool Mint, and Peach Gold.
We recommend the Forerunner 45 to partners and family members who are dedicated runners. It comes with advanced features like satellite tracking to help determine your distance, pace, and stride length more precisely than an entry level tracker can, making it easier to figure out where you need improvement. It comes with Incident Detection, which sends your real-time location to emergency contacts for peace of mind when running alone.
We think the Apple Watch Series 7 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a good option when it’s on sale for under $300, like the Green color is right now at Walmart. That’s especially true for models with the option for cellular connectivity. Series 7 has the same features and price tag as Series 8 does, with an appealing price tag. You can get a more in-depth comparison in our Best Apple Watches guide.
The Inspire 3 is the best budget tracker we have. It tracks the basics like steps and sleep with the help of a SpO2 sensor. It connects to your wristwatch and you’ll get notifications for incoming calls, texts, and more. If you just want to keep an eye on your metrics, we believe it’s a solid and affordable fitness tracker, even though we experienced some issues with the device, such as overestimating the amount of sleep we got.
The Charge 5 is easy to use and it’s affordable. It also has a variety of other features, such as tracking calories burned throughout the day, an onboard and connected gps system, and an SpO2 sensor to record blood oxygen levels during the night.
To get the discount at checkout, go to the coupon button. This Wear OS smartwatch doesn’t have the most impressive battery life (you’ll most likely have to charge it in the morning after tracking sleep), and it feels a bit cheap. If you’re mainly interested in checking notifications and monitoring your fitness, it’s an affordable watch that logs metrics. In the future, it will receive Wear OS 3.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals/
The best massage guns out there: comparing the Lairlux, Sila, Lelo, Sona, and Percussive
The best massage guns were ranked and Sportneer’s Percussive Massage Gun was honorable mention. You’ll get six attachments (two of which are metal-topped to use with massage oil) and six intensity levels—though the last two or three were a bit too intense for us.
Click the coupon button on the page to see the discount at checkout. The Lairlux was hard to figure out in our testing. Its attachments were only fine compared to other massage guns we’ve used. But if you’re interested in one with digital controls that allow you to set an exact intensity level (this one goes from one to 20), it’s a solid affordable option.
With gentle vibrations and soft suction, we suggest the Sila if you’re looking for a slow build. It has eight settings, the lowest being less intense than you’re used to. The wide mouth focuses more on surrounding erogenous zones than similar sex toys out there, leading to a deeper and longer-lasting orgasm.
The Sona 2 Cruise is the best toy we’ve tested. It’s also our number one recommendation for those who want to try something new. The body fits perfectly in the hand, the buttons are intuitive, and it offers a variety of intensities that’ll suit almost any preference. When pressed hard against the body, Lelo’s Cruise Control technology will increase intensity.
The G-spot and clintons are stimulated by the Enigma. But rather than relying on vibration, its clitoral stimulation arm features a powerful air pulse mechanism with suction that mimics the sensation of receiving oral sex. Meanwhile, the bigger, rounder end of the toy is home to the vibration motor. Its body is flexible, allowing you to use one end or the other, or both simultaneously.
The lubrication is important. But squeezing a bottle until the cold goop squirts out isn’t arousing. The Pulse dispenser makes the task a lot easier. All you have to do is plug it in, add the lube, and hold your hand underneath the sensor to dispense warmed lube. It’s also a great option if you or your partner have dexterity issues and have difficulty pumping a bottle of lube. The standard option is more expensive than Pulse’s proprietary lube Pods, and we have only one grip on that.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals/
Atlas: A Valentine’s Day Deal with a Shop of Locally-Owned Coffee Beans in Central and South America
Enter code FIFTY-OFF to see the discount at checkout. The weight in which coffee beans are bought and sold in South America makes sense for this service because it works directly with growers and roasters in some of Central and South America’s most acclaimed coffee-growing regions. Since it ships straight from the origin within one to three days of roasting, your coffee is going to arrive as fresh as possible. It’s a great subscription for the coffee lover in your life.
Atlas is one of our favorite services, particularly because it brings you coffee from around the world. You can choose between light-to-medium, medium-to-dark, or both. In our experience, each arrived on time, was nicely packaged, and came with notes about the country of origin. This coffee subscription is great for the adventurous type, though, since you might get beans you’re not a fan of. In honor of Valentine’s Day, you’ll get your first bag free.
We love this box from sips By if you are a tea drinker. Each box contains four different types of tea, with the option to choose between bagging, loose leaf, and filters. You’ll learn how to properly steep tea. You are able to choose the number of boxes you want to send with a gift card.
Enter code FEBFLASH to see the discount at checkout. The meal kit has many soups, noodles, grain bowls, and shots. It is for a person who likes a lot of natural flavors in their food. All meals are made with plant-based ingredients and are free of genetically modified organisms. You can schedule deliveries every once in a while. The deal applies to the first three boxes on plans that cost at least $100.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals/
The Stanley stein for ice cold drinks: Best Valentines Day Deals for Cellular Phones and Macroscopic Streaming Devices
This little companion is interesting and we like it. It goes on sale pretty often, and it’s a good pick for cord-cutters who prefer to stream from their phone. The 4K version is on sale for $10 off. Read more about them in our Best Streaming Devices guide.
We generally like Stanley gear. The price flip-flops between $15 and $25 on a regular basis. For gift recipients with an addiction to icy cold drinks, this stein might make a great gift. It has a two-can capacity and a big ol’ handle, and the insulation keeps drinks cold for up to five hours and chilled for up to 20.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals/
Osprey products for Valentine’s day: a backpack for the bathroom, and an option for a breakfast at a bedside table
We like Osprey products in general. This bag is lightweight and sturdy. It’s great for a quick day trip. I use a similar bag while visiting garage sales. This bag is made with recycled materials and has all sorts of pockets for handy organization. Check out our Best Backpacks guide for additional picks.
TheFully Alani was a honorable mention in the Best Office Chair guide because it was a little pricier than the top pick, and didn’t offer much more. It’s a good option if you want to upgrade your seat without spending a lot of money.
This isn’t a huge discount, but we love this kit, and if your partner loves a Bloody Mary brunch, they’ll appreciate it. Toma’s Bloody Mary mix is delicious, and this set comes with two of Haand’s Chemist Cups (they’re handcrafted in the US). There are other kits for more money that add plates and a cheese tray. Toma has a 10 percent off sale on the mix if you just want it.
Enter code LOVE20 to see the discount at checkout. Sendable bouquets from Bouq are beautiful if you are going the traditional route. It has classic Valentine’s Day bouquets like red roses, but I personally love the other options, like ones that add succulents, or even a dried bouquet of purple orchard grass and eucalyptus.
You can spend less on the original mini waffle maker that we like, but this one makes a heart-shaped breakfast—what better way to surprise your significant other than with Valentine’s Day–themed breakfast in bed? If you didn’t know, waffle makers can be used for more than their namesake. Any batter, like eggs or even hashbrowns, will work.
The Best Valentine’s Day Deal: A Kitchen Aid Mixer for a Newly Ordered, Low-Rate Potty Garden
Not all of us can have green thumbs or space for an outdoor garden. We tried a slightly different version of this garden, which makes it easy to grow your own herbs. They are not perfect, but they can add a nice flair to home-cooked meals. This is $10 less than the one we saw on Black Friday.
I know what you’re thinking: “A knife? What a romantic thing to do. If your loved one is a budding cook, they’ll understand the sentiment, because this is our favorite chef’s knife. It stays sharp, and its nonstick finish is a lifesaver when you’re chopping up sticky foods like cilantro. If taken care of, it should last several years.
Buying a loved one appliance is dicey, but a KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a coveted piece of equipment. This is a great gift for your partner who loves cooking and baking. We usually see it slightly cheaper during Black Friday, at around $250, but this is still a good deal. This price is also available at Best Buy.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals-1/
A Valentine’s Day Deal on a Heart-shaped Bissell Purifier for the Birder’s Companion: SAVENATE: An Essential Gift for the Earth
Of every odd gift on this list, an air purifier may be the least romantic. But what says “I love you” more than clean air for their precious lungs? Attach a heart-shaped balloon to it and put a box of their favorite candy in it to make it safe. This Bissell purifier is one of our favorites. It looks elegant, cleans air quickly and efficiently, and can be controlled with a dial or with an app.
The birder spouses enjoy Wingspan. You play as bird enthusiasts who want to attract birds to your preserves. It’s fun to play together as a couple, but this game also works for just one person when you’re not around.
This gift also gives. Satechi is donating 10 percent of its sales from February 10 to February 17 to the Turkey earthquake relief fund, and you can get 20 percent off any product with the code DONATE. We like its Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-valentines-day-deals-1/
TheraFace for cats: Introducing the Theraguns for a pampering look at your skincare drawer and window seat for cats
The TheraFace pro is a costly tool, but we love it. The heads are interchangeable for cleansing and massaging. Hot and cold items can be included for another $99. If you know that your partner is about to want an update to their skincare drawer, you may be surprised.
You may not know about the TheraFace, but you’ve probably heard of Theraguns. The Elite is our favorite of Therabody’s percussive massage devices. It’s powerful enough to ease sore muscles, but it’s also among the quietest. Most people can get to the back with the help of the triangle handle.
On a day like February 14th, it would be great to get spoiled for whiskers. One of our favorite cat accessories is the window seat. It’s easy to fit on most window windows with glue or tape, and it’s sturdy enough to hold even big cats in the afternoon sun.
Saving $50 on the latest MacBook Air: The perfect laptop for a busy week in the life of a computer, with a battery and a monitor
Spring is officially here, and retailers are celebrating by holding seasonal sales. These types of sale events often have themes tied to the warmer weather, but are not limited to outdoor gear or fitness equipment. There are price drops on everything from camera bags to headphones. You have to check them out!
Over the past few months we have seen the deal come and go and it has dipped slightly lower, but there’s still time to save $50 on the latest MacBook Air. The new M2 chip has helped refresh the display in this model. The Air is light, portable, and perfect for anyone who needs to work on the go, but it’s not a MacBook Pro.
The 13 inch svelte model is popular in the press but I think the real laptop is the one in Dell’s lineup. The extra screen real estate and added power of the dedicated graphics card put the XPS 15 in a different league. The 15-inch model suffers from less battery life than previous models, the main downside being that I haven’t tested this model. Use the savings to grab a nice portable charger.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/midweek-deals-022223/
A reclining camp chair that packs down super-comfortable, warm clothing for the camping camperman’s needs and when you’re going camping
The Shield was recently updated to include the new four tb model. Right now you can pick it up for the same price as the 2-TB version. It’s okay in the rain and doesn’t get dust or sand because it has an Intellectual Property 65 rating, but that’s because it lacks a fingerprint reader. It is a good choice for your bag.
Only one color is on sale, but so long as you don’t mind the blue-brown theme, this chair is the coziest way to hang out around camp. It might be huge, heavy, and awkward to fold, but it’s all worth it once you cram everyone you love on it in front of a fire.
This chair was tested when it was released and I like it, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to recommend it at full price. It’s still not cheap even half off, but if you’re looking for a very comfortable reclining camp chair that still packs down reasonably compact, this is the best I’ve tried.
This synthetic-filled puffy vest stuffs down like a feathered jacket and is impressively warm. There’s a good selection for this deal, but the size and price don’t always match. The men’s sizing is on sale as well, though the discount isn’t quite as good and sizes are limited.
It’s one of the top picks from our guide. This jacket is 100 percent merino and incredibly warm despite not being all that thick. It’s warm enough for cold mornings but won’t be a burden on your pack the rest of the day.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/midweek-deals-022223/
Why is the AeroPress a Bench? Why does it make a great camp coffee machine and where to take it? An Insight from Best Binoculars
If I had space I’d write a whole ode to the simple foam pad and why you need one. I know, I know inflatable pads are tiny and light, but do they double as a chair at lunch? It’s light and accordion-folding design makes it easy to strap to your pack where you need it.
You don’t have to be outdoors to use the AeroPress, but it does make great camp coffee. It’s one of the most reliable, simple methods of brewing coffee wherever you are. If you’re just getting started upgrading your coffee experience, the AeroPress is a great way to go. It’s also more capable than most people realize—it can even brew something very close to espresso.
The entry-level Prostaff binoculars are on sale for a good price. I find 10×30 an ideal size for hiking—it’s high-powered enough to see well, with a wider field of view than very compact bins (like 7×25 for example), but still light enough that I don’t mind wearing them all day. See more options in our Best Binoculars guide.
Aside from an assortment of deals on its own gear, Moment is currently offering 15 percent off Wandrd gear. There is a sale happening at Wandrd, too.
The Best Camera Bags of the Year: Spring Sales of the Mini-XMM-Newton S23 ($999.99$ eta)
Featured in our Best Camera Bags guide, this sling is a runner-up pick for camera enthusiasts on the go. The bag is comfortable, modular, and durable. For a camera, the 10-liter size is enough. I’m not sure what liters mean. We have an explainer.
The bag has its own story and we love it. A roomy bag that is durable and elegant is worth the investment. There are other sizes of the bundle on sale. The camera cube and accessory straps are included in all of them.
We’ve seen these earbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) drop to $64 in the past, but $79 is still a decent discount. These headphones are as good as (if not better than) Apple’s basic accessory.
Most people agree that the best version of the S23 is this one. It’s the smallest and least expensive option in the lineup, but you still get a really bright AMOLED screen, powerful performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and daylong battery life.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/spring-sales-2023/
Spring Sale: A Survey of Deals and Spectroscopy with Steam, Steam, and the Bootstrap Steam Deck to celebrate its First Birthday
During checkout, use coupon code SPRING to get 20 percent off orders over $100 and 25 percent off orders over $150. This discount stacks with items that are already on sale. The men’s Nike Air Force 1 sneaks drop to $88 after the code. You will get free shipping if you join the Nike rewards program. This sale ends on March 26.
We gave this sale its own roundup! You can save money on video doorbells, outdoor cameras, and other home tech. Find the highlights here.
Now is a good time to peruse your wish list for discounts. Steam’s Spring Sale doesn’t have a great list of every discounted game, but suffice it to say there are hundreds of price cuts on various titles. To celebrate its first birthday, you can save 10% on the steam deck. These deals end on March 23.