Reviews - page 5

Lost your water bottle again? Journey Reevus Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle could fix that, permanently — if you’re willing to pay for it. It’s pricey because it’s not just another insulated stainless steel bottle, but the first one that integrates with Apple Find My tracking and functions as a MagSafe iPhone stand. So at $90 (or $76.50 with launch discount), it’s kind crazy steep. But this Reevus smart bottle review finds it might actually be worth it, especially if you’re one of those people who carries around water bottles all the time and tends to lose them.

The Espresso 15 Pro offers everything Apple users want in a high-end portable monitor. 4K? Yes. Gorgeous. Oh, yeah. Touchscreen? Got it. USB-C? Check.

It has an all-aluminum body that makes it look great from any angle. And as a bonus, it comes with an innovative stand that lets you position the screen where you want it, even above your notebook.

I used the Espresso 15 Pro display in my home office and when working remotely, and am simply blown away. Here’s why.

Apple makes the best desktop PCs and laptops. But I cannot say the same for its accessories. While I have been using Macs for more than a decade, I rely on these five Mac accessories made by third parties to enhance my experience.

The list ranges from a wireless keyboard to an ergonomic mouse to headphones that will amaze you with their noise cancellation. Read about my five favorite Mac accessories below.

The Plugable USBC-E5000 5 Gbps USB-C Ethernet Adapter is as good as having an Ethernet port on your MacBook. Connect it to your cable, plug it into your Mac, and you no longer need to worry about the vagaries of Wi-Fi — you have a solid and secure wired internet connection.

Even better, it supports very fast internet connections for those with hefty connectivity demands.

I tested the affordable USB-C to Ethernet adapter in my home office and on the road to be sure it’s worth the money.

The EZQuest WorldTravel 65W GaN 5 Port with PD Wall Charger can keep your notebook, phone, tablet and smartwatch powered up in more than 200 countries. It packs four USB-C ports plus a USB-A one for compatibility with a range of electronics.

Of course, the travel adapter includes retractable power prongs for Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and most of Asia. And EZQuest built in some welcome safety features.

I tested the 65W power plug adapter out, and it’ll certainly go on my next international trip. Here’s why.

Apple TV+ comedy The Studio brings a biting perspective to the entertainment industry, pulling back the curtain on Hollywood’s most absurd realities. The series, starring Seth Rogen, takes viewers deep into the chaotic world of a legacy movie studio struggling to survive in modern-day Hollywood, which is decidedly different from classic Tinseltown. So this The Studio review says green-light this one for your watchlist.

Unlike showbiz satires before it, The Studio focuses tightly on the clash between artistic vision and evolving corporate demands in a streaming-media world. And where else are you going to see Martin Scorsese weep and Ron Howard go ballistic? See three reasons to watch it below.

The Plugable PS-10CC 10-port USB-C charger can power up a whole family’s fleet of computers at once. That’s what 10 ports can do for you, as we found while testing the device for our hands-on review.

It can handle up to 100W, and depending on how the devices are plugged in, users can even specify which devices get the most power first.

I tested the PS-10CC in my home office. I like it enough that it’s going to stay.

Apple made the recently launched iPad 11 (A16) with younger users in mind, and the Zagg Tough Keys expands the tablet with a keyboard and trackpad that provides 6.6 feet of drop protection — something any parent can see the advantage of.

I took the rugged iPad keyboard case for a test drive. It adds quite a bit for young students, but there are limitations for anyone older. Read on to learn more.

The Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 charging station stands out in a sea of desktop chargers with its sleek design, an adjustable Qi2 charging pad, and retractable USB-C cable, helping minimize cable clutter.

It is also smart enough to automatically allocate more power to devices low on juice so that they can charge faster. So, is the Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 the charging station to buy? Find out in my review.

Twelve South just launched AirFly Pro 2, which improves on what was already a brilliant AirPods enhancer. Plug it into audio sources that don’t have Bluetooth — like an airliner’s in-seat entertainment system — and you (and a friend!) can listen to them with your AirPods. Alternately, plug it into the AUX port on a car stereo and play music from your iPhone over a wireless connection.

The new version of the Bluetooth audio adapter offers better sound and new controls.

I tested out AirFly Pro 2 with my AirPods, iPhone and other gear. Here’s what I found.

Anyone who constantly moves around with multiple devices knows finding a reliable power bank for laptop charging can be a challenge. After more than a week of using the new Alogic Roam 21,000mAh Power Bank, I’m ready to share my hands-on experience with the premium charger. Is it worth the investment? Yes. Let’s dive in, and I’ll tell you why.

It’s season finale time! In our Severance season 2 episode 10 recap of “Cold Harbor,” we find Mark S. carrying out a wild plan with his allies while his tattered team makes a dangerous last stand against Lumon Industries. At 75 minutes, the episode’s a long one, directed by Ben Stiller. And with the hit show just renewed for a third season, the Severance season two finale actually asks more questions than it answers — before delivering a twist at the end.

Last week’s penultimate episode gave us a slower burn than expected on the way to Friday’s climactic season finale, but it did its job. As the macrodata refiners scattered while Mark and his sister Devon teamed up with company soldier Harmony Cobel to fight Lumon, it felt more like everything was coming apart than coming to a frenzied boil. But that groundwork set the stage for Friday’s outstanding final episode.

The PNY Pro Elite V3 external SSD holds terabytes of files, and can transfer data at up to 1,000MB/s. Another standout feature is cost, with the 2TB variant coming in at just $145 — well below many rival SSDs.

I tested the speed, build and other aspects of the drive with a range of computers to be sure it lives up to expections.

In the crowded market of wireless active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones, EarFun’s new Wave Life cans emerge as an intriguing option. They challenge premium brands with good sound quality and a nice array of features. At a typical sale price of $60, I conclude in my EarFun Wave Life headphones review that they make an excellent choice for budget-conscious listeners or as an affordable gift for someone.

The M3 iPad Air can do it all, as I found while testing Apple’s midrange tablet for this review. At its core, the thin, lightweight device proves perfect for living room reading, watching and browsing. Add the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, and you can get some serious work done. It’s fast, powerful and remarkably capable.

I never previously owned my own personal iPad. I’ve used Windows PCs and Macs since 2002, switching to the Mac full-time in 2012. Between my Mac mini and Vision Pro, I haven’t felt the need for an iPad in my life.

Nonetheless, for this M3 iPad Air review, I went all-in, using the tablet with a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil for as much of my work as I could to see if I was missing out. Here’s what I discovered — keep reading or watch our video review.

The latest addition to Apple TV+’s impressive lineup, Dope Thief brings a fresh perspective to the crime drama genre. Based on Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel of the same name, this gripping series follows two friends who pose as DEA agents to rob Philadelphia drug dealers. But the scheme spirals into chaos when they unknowingly target a major narcotics operation. With its first two episodes now streaming, and six more to go, here are 3 reasons to watch Dope Thief. The compelling show deserves your attention (so far).

The 2025 MacBook Air with Apple’s M4 processor comes as close as you can get to a perfect computer for just about everyone. As I found during testing for this review, Apple crammed tons of power into a svelte, lightweight design. And this combination has never been more affordable.

This latest MacBook Air might look familiar on the outside. But when you get to work, you’ll quickly discover that the M4 is a totally different beast. M3 to M4 is the biggest leap in performance since Apple’s original switch from Intel processors to Apple silicon.

I put the latest MacBook Air through its paces for this hands-on review — read what I learned below or watch our video.

Don’t underestimate the basic iPad. As I learned while testing the iPad 11 for this review, the newly updated tablet with an Apple A16 processor is an almost shockingly good computer when one considers it costs only $349.

I put Apple’s latest low-cost tablet to the test and came away reminded that one doesn’t need an iPad Pro to be productive. Or have fun.

In our Severance season 2 episode 9 recap of “The After Hours,” we find a bit of a letdown instead of the hoped-for hot rush to next week’s finale. Innie Dylan, having fallen for his outie’s wife, gets crushed emotionally and quits Lumon. Burt takes Irving for a ride — and seemingly permanent exile. Innie Helly gets Irving’s map to the mysterious Exports Hall, only to be interrupted by Jame Eagan. And Mark and Devon team with a former foe — former Lumon Industries loyalist Harmony Cobel — to enact a plan against the company. But we still don’t know the plan, with all the bickering going on.

It’s not like it’s a bad episode. It’s just kinda bad for a great show like Severance. It feels like everything is coming apart rather than coming to an explosive boil. Perhaps that’s the groundwork needed for a dramatic finale. We’ll see.

Last week’s episode gave us Lumon and Cobel backstories. Cobel returned to her dying hometown, site of a long-shuttered Lumon ether factory, and came away with proof she invented the Severance procedure. The return to Lumon and the other characters didn’t please me as much as I expected it would.

Early reviews of the 2025 Mac Studio tout the speed boost that comes with the Apple M3 Ultra processor, and the M4 Max version is certainly no slouch. And, as reviewers point out, the new chips build on previous versions that offered an impressive set of features packed into a relatively small casing. For those interested in the latest developments in AI-powered performance, check out the latest Apple AI news.

If you’re interested in Apple’s latest laptops, the MacBook Air M3 is now available for purchase.

Considering the new desktop? This is just what you need to know:

New M4 MacBook Air reviews find it’s one of Apple’s most compelling laptop updates in recent memory — not because of revolutionary changes, but due to thoughtful refinements and a surprising price reduction. Here’s what reviewers said Tuesday about the new M4 MacBook Air.

Early reviews of the upcoming M3 iPad Air note the ho-hum nature of Apple’s update: The midrange tablet gets a speed boost thanks to a new chip and nothing else. Still, the device gets lots of compliments from reviewers.

The consensus remains that the iPad Air continues to be a worthy option for those who want more than the budget iPad but aren’t willing to pay for all the additional features of an iPad Pro.

In our Severance season 2 episode 8 recap of “Sweet Vitriol,” we find a wavering Lumon loyalist — the terminated and nearly reinstated severed floor manager Harmony Cobel — facing old demons while searching for an important missing item. It seems to place her at the center of Lumon Industries’ mysterious technologies, and could be important to her return (or revenge).

Last week’s episode gave us the backstory of Mark S.’s wife Gemma, aka Lumon Industries’ Ms. Casey. With it came a deeper look at what’s really going at the company. This week we see some Lumon backstory, centered in Cobel’s dying hometown, site of a long-shuttered Lumon ether factory.

Apple TV+’s six-part docuseries Vietnam: The War That Changed America offers a profound and multifaceted exploration of one of the most controversial conflicts in American history. In this Vietnam: The War That Changed America review, I’ll tell you why the series is worth watching.

Narrated by actor Ethan Hawke, this series provides viewers with a surprisingly personal look into the Vietnam War and its lasting impact on both American and Vietnamese societies. I felt its biggest impact in the first few episodes, perhaps because that’s when the novelty of the storytelling felt freshest. I’ve been hearing about the Vietnam War for decades, so it’s surprising when a documentary sucks me in, as the first half of this one did.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, keeping your devices charged is crucial — but it isn’t always easy. Enter the Cuktech 30 Power Bank, a high-capacity portable charger that promises to keep your devices powered up no matter where you are. After my testing and research for this Cuktech 30 Power Bank review, I’ll let you know why you should buy it (or not).