Category: Technologies

Though the best wireless earbuds usually come with silicone ear tips, not everyone likes the feeling of having ear tips jammed in their ears. It can cause ear fatigue and other discomforts. A lot of people prefer tip-free earbuds, which comfortably nestle in your ears or rest on top of them. With no tip covering the earbuds’ speaker driver, these earbuds are called “open” buds. The most popular open earbuds are Apple’s standard AirPods, now on their third generation (Apple also still sells the second-gen AirPods).

Open earbuds also have a safety benefit. Because they don’t seal off your ear canal, they let ambient sound in so you can hear what’s going on around you. That can be an important feature for some people, including runners and bikers who want to hear cars approaching. However, the downside to their openness is that if you’re in a noisy environment, the ambient sound will make it harder to hear what you’re listening to. Also, open earbuds have a harder time producing strong bass, which affects sound quality.

Here’s a look at the top open-style buds. I’ll update this list as I test more worthy candidates.

Read more: The 22 Best True Wireless Earbuds for 2023

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS

Best cheap open earbuds

$30 at Amazon

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What makes these Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open earbuds — they’re pretty close to what you get from Apple’s AirPods 3 for sound. On top of that, they support Sony’s LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open earbuds have good sound but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They’re also good for making calls and have a low-latency gaming mode.

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AirPods (3rd Gen)

Best sound

$200 at Amazon

$179 at Apple

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Battery Life

Rated up to 6 hours

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

Take one look at the new design of the third-gen AirPods ($179), and the first thing you’ll probably think is: “Those look like the AirPods Pro without ear tips.” You wouldn’t be wrong. While they’re more fraternal than identical twins, the third-gen AirPods are shaped like the AirPods Pro, with the same shorter stems and same pinch controls as those of the Pro. Aside from the design change, which should fit most ears better than the second-gen AirPods (though not very small ears), the biggest change is to the sound quality: It’s much improved. Also, battery life is better, and the AirPods 3 are officially water-resistant and support Apple’s spatial audio virtual surround feature (for Apple users only).

Read our Apple AirPods 3 review.

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Sony LinkBuds

Most innovative design

$148 at Amazon

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Battery Life

5.5 hours

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice-calling performance.

Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world — that’s what the ring is all about. That makes them a good choice for folks who want to hear what’s going around them for safety reasons or just don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears. They also have a few distinguishing extra features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, just in front of your ear, to control playback.

They’re IPX4 splash-proof and thanks to their fins — Sony calls them Arc Supporters — they lock in your ears securely and work well for running and other sporting activities.

Read our Sony LinkBuds review.

Amazon

1More ComfoBuds 2

Good for kids and those with small ears

$40 at Amazon

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Battery Life

Rated up to 4 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)

1More has a slightly different take on the standard AirPods for those who have trouble keeping them in their ears. The ComfoBuds 2 have mini ear tips on them that help secure them in your ear. This second-gen version offers improved sound from the originals with better bass (it’s still not great sound, but it’s good for the money). As their name implies, they’re lightweight, comfortable to wear and work well for making calls.

It’s worth noting that their charging case is remarkably narrow and compact. It looks like a tiny hot-dog bun. They’re IPX5 splashproof and also available in black.

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AirPods (2nd Gen)

Apple’s most affordable AirPods

$99 at Amazon

$100 at Best Buy

$149 at Crutchfield

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Battery Life

Rated up to 5 hours

Noise Canceling

No

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

The new AirPods (third gen) are a nice upgrade over the second-gen AirPods. That said, the AirPods 2, which came out in 2019, are now selling for around $100 and sometimes a little less. While they don’t sound as good as the AirPods 3 and have a longer stem, they fit some people’s ears better. Those with smaller ears may prefer these older AirPods due to their slightly smaller design.

Read our Apple AirPods 2019 review.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

Unique design

$50 at Amazon

$100 at Best Buy

$90 at eBay

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Battery Life

Rated up to 8 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes (ANC)

Multipoint

No

Headphone Type

Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant

Yes (IPX2 — sweat-resistant and protection against light splashes)

Say what you will about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live’s bean-shaped design, but it’s certainly innovative. Like the standard AirPods, they have an open design, so you don’t jam an ear tip into your ear. They’re comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than the AirPods. These wireless buds are discreet and basically sit flush with your ear, which reduces wind-noise while biking. I regularly use them for running and biking, and they’re great for sporting activities if they fit your ears well. But one warning: Some people won’t get a secure fit, so buy them from a retailer that has a good return policy.

They deliver good sound and work well as a headset for making calls, with good background noise reduction so callers can hear you clearly even when you’re in noisier environments. While they feature active noise canceling, it’s mild compared to the noise canceling in earbuds that have a noise-isolating design. In other words, buy them for their design and sound, not their noise-canceling features.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review.

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Cleer Arc

Best open sport earbuds with ear hooks

$110 at Amazon

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Cleer’s Epic Arc buds are similar to Bose’s Open Sport Earbuds (see below) but are actually a little more comfortable to wear thanks to their swiveling hinge. Like the Bose buds, they rest on the top of your ear just above the ear canal and fire sound into your ears. They’re open so they let ambient sound in (that’s a plus if you’re a runner or biker and want to hear traffic), but their 16.2 mm drivers provide ample bass and volume. They don’t sound quite as good as the Bose Open Sport Earbuds but they’re pretty close.

I liked the case, which is a little big but pretty thin. While it has an integrated USB charging cable (that’s nice), like the Bose Open Sport Earbuds case it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery so it’s basically a dock for charging the earbuds, which are also available in black. Battery life is rated at up to 7 hours and they’re IPX5 splash-proof.

Some of these types of ear-hook-style earbuds have physical control buttons but these have touch controls. I found they worked pretty well but not great. The buds do have a companion app that allows you to upgrade the firmware and tweak the sound profile.

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Fiil CC2

Value open earbuds with an open case (No longer available)

$18 at Amazon

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Battery Life

Rated up to 6 hours

Noise Canceling

Yes

Headphone Type

Wireless earbud

Water-Resistant

No IP rating, advertised as sweat-proof

I never tried the original Fiil CC earbuds, but the next-generation CC2 improves on the performance of the originals, with better battery life (they’re rated at five hours on a single charge) and no audio latency issues when watching videos. They list for $30 but sometimes sell for even less, which makes them a very good value.

These did stay in my ears better than the standard AirPods. They pair quickly — they’re equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 — there’s a Fiil companion app for tweaking settings and they sound quite decent for open-style buds, with just enough bass to keep you from feeling they’re bass shy. They’re also decent for making calls and have touch controls.

One of their distinguishing features is their open case, which makes it easy to access the buds and put them back in their case. Thanks to some integrated magnets, they stay in the case securely — you can turn it upside down and the buds won’t come out. Unlike the AirPods, these have square not rounded stems, which seems a little weird at first, and they do fit in your ears slightly differently to AirPods as a result.

Pretty much everyone knows how to take a screenshot on the iPhone. For the unfamiliar, all you have to do is press the volume up and side buttons at the same time to capture exactly what’s on your screen — nothing more, nothing less.

If you want to capture more, like what’s above or below what you see on your screen, there is another way to take screenshots that you may not know about.

Hidden within iOS is a scrolling screenshot feature that allows you to snap multiple pages with only a single screenshot. There are third-party apps you can use to stitch together individual screenshots and create a longer one, but a scrolling screenshot makes the process easier.

Read more: 14 Hidden iOS 16 Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

If you want to save a film script in Safari or a long PDF in your email, here’s what you need to know to take scrolling screenshots on your iPhone.

And if you’re interested in learning about other hidden iOS features, check out this sneaky way to secretly message someone else on iOS and the hidden trackpad that lives in your iOS keyboard.

Apple Pro Tip – Protect your device’s precious screen

The Belkin UltraGlass screen protector helps safeguard your iPhone screen from scratches, cracks and breaks. It’s twice as strong than your average tempered glass protector and can survive drops from twice the height too.

$40 at Apple

What is a scrolling screenshot?

A full-page screenshot, or scrolling screenshot, captures an entire page — webpage, document or email — without you having to take multiple screenshots and then stitch them together. For example, if you wanted to screenshot a 116-page document in Safari, you would only have to take a single screenshot to capture the entire thing.

How to take a scrolling screenshot on your iPhone

To take a scrolling screenshot, do the following:

1. First, take a regular screenshot on your iPhone. If you have Face ID, quickly press the side button + volume up button. With Touch ID, it’s side/top button + home button.

2. Tap the screenshot preview that appears in the bottom-left corner. It appears for about five seconds, so you must be somewhat swift.

3. Next, go to the Full Page option. Underneath Full Page, you’ll see a preview of the entire scrolling screenshot on the right side, along with a larger preview in the middle. You also have tools to crop the scrolling screenshot, in case it’s too long.

4. Once you’re finished editing the scrolling screenshot, hit Done. You’ll see two options: one to save the scrolling screenshot and another to delete it.

5. Finally, tap Save PDF to Files to save the scrolling screenshot.

You must choose a folder to save the scrolling screenshot in. By default, the Files app will select the last folder you saved something to or the Downloads folder.

How to view scrolling screenshots on your iPhone

All scrolling screenshots are converted to PDFs, so they’re saved to the native Files app. To view your scrolling screenshot, open the Files app, go to the folder in which your screenshot was saved and tap the screenshot.

Here you can rename the file, draw on it, leave comments and more. You can also share the scrolling screenshot, but the other person must have Files or another PDF-reader to view it.

Also, check out 13 new iPhone features you’re missing out on without iOS 16.4 and our iOS 16 cheat sheet.

Microsoft 365 is the most recent version of the Microsoft Office set of tools, and it includes programs you already use at home, school or work. Some of the programs include Word, Outlook and Powerpoint, and buying a Microsoft 365 membership is still the most popular way to access these tools and more.

On Jan. 11, Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft 365 Basic which costs $2 a month, or $20 for a yearly subscription. However, you can snag Microsoft 365 at no cost under some circumstances.

Microsoft’s suite of productivity software consists of classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, as well as newer apps like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint.

The suite typically costs $20 to $100 a year for subscription access across devices and family members. Microsoft also has a standalone version of Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac, called Office Home and Student 2021, for a flat $150 — no subscription required.

Here are the versions of Office 365, Microsoft 365 and their apps that you can find online for free.

Get Microsoft Office 365 Education free if you’re a student or a teacher

If you’re a student, teacher or faculty member with an active school email address, you’re likely eligible to get access to Office 365 for free through Microsoft, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Teams, plus other classroom tools.

All you have to do is enter your school email address on this page on Microsoft’s website: Office 365 Education. In many cases, you’ll be instantly granted access thanks to an automated verification process. If you attend an institution that needs to be verified, it might take up to a month to confirm your eligibility.

College students can also get Microsoft 365 Personal for $3 a month with a valid school email address.

Best Laptops of 2023

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How to get Microsoft Office suite free if you’re anyone else

Anyone can get a one-month free trial of Microsoft 365. However, it does require you to enter a credit card number. If you don’t cancel your subscription before the month is up, you’ll be charged $100 for a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Family (formerly called Office 365 Home).

The good news is if you don’t need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar, My Content, Skype, Designer and Clipchamp. Here’s how to get them:

1. Go to Microsoft365.com.

2. Click Sign up for the free version of Office under the “Sign in” button.

3. Log in to your Microsoft account or create one for free. If you already have a Windows, Skype or Xbox Live login, you have an active Microsoft account.

4. Select the app you want to use and save your work in the cloud with OneDrive.

So what’s the catch for the free version?

You might be saying, “Wait a minute, if I can get all of those apps for free, why pay for Microsoft 365 in the first place?” The functionality of the free apps is limited, so they only run in your web browser and you can only use them while you’re actively connected to the internet. They also have fewer features than the full Microsoft 365 versions.

There are still benefits to the free version, including the ability to share links to your work and collaborate in real time, similar to what the Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) productivity tools allow. If you’re looking for basic versions of each of these apps, the free version should work well for you.

For more productivity coverage, check out what Microsoft 365 Basic offers customers, all of the best features in Windows 11 and how to take screenshots in Windows 10 or 11. You can also take a look at CNET’s list of the best Windows laptops.

Check out Microsoft 365

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Google I/O is a little over a month away, and we’re starting to see more hints of what could be unveiled at the search giant’s big event. Pictures of the rumored Pixel 7A were posted to Twitter by mysmartprice and OnLeaks on Sunday, showing the phone in a new pale blue color along with the more traditional black and white options.

The pictures showcase the front, back and sides of the phone in each color and appear to be official renders used for marketing purposes. Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

If these are indeed images of the Pixel 7A, the phone’s design has been tweaked slightly from the Pixel 6A. The metal bar with the camera cutout appears to match the one found on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It’s possible the change in the camera cutout could mean that we’ll see a larger camera sensor on the Pixel 7A.

Google’s Pixel A series typically functions as a smaller and cheaper version of Google’s flagship phones. Last year’s Pixel 6A, for instance, offered the same processor and design of the Pixel 6, but in a smaller package and with a $499 price tag. It lacked some of the Pixel 6’s advanced camera features, but still performed admirably with its 12-megapixel lens.

While still unannounced, the Pixel 7A will likely face steep competition in the midrange phone market, including from Samsung’s new $450 Galaxy A54 5G. CNET Senior Editor Lisa Eadicicco hopes the rumored Pixel 7A will improve on the 6A by offering more premium features, like wireless charging, face unlock and a brighter screen.

For more, check out the best phone to buy for 2023 and whether the Pixel 7 Pro is worth buying in 2023.

It could be confusing to choose the best gifts for readers in your life. If you’re looking for a gift for readers, you may be surprised to hear that what you’re looking for isn’t a single book. Why buy someone just one book for the holidays when you could get them a whole digital library instead?

When you give a friend or loved one a book-reading device, they have access to a trove of titles. I especially appreciate how E Ink readers have remained largely single-function devices, focusing on reading (and occasionally note-taking), rather than branching out into games, video chats or work apps.

The most well-known digital book reader is Amazon’s Kindle line, which uses E Ink displays and supports Amazon’s ebook storefront. Current models offer self-illuminated touchscreens, eliminating the need for an external book light. But beyond Kindle’s hardware, the Kindle app works on smartphones, iPads and other devices.

If you don’t want to buy through Amazon, other alternatives exist. For instance, Rakuten’s Kobo ebook readers work with most third-party vendors using the ePub book standard. And both Kobo and Kindle let you freely read loaner books from your local library.

We’ve also rounded up even more ebook readers here, and tested several big-screen multifunction E Ink devices that are more tabletlike and add stylus support.

My biggest overall shopping tip is that most Kindle devices are frequently on sale and sometimes offer stacking trade-in deals on top of that, so you can often expect to pay less than the official retail price.

Amazon

Amazon Kindle (2022)

Best-value e-reader

Amazon has released a baseline Kindle E Ink e-reader for $100 that no longer seems so entry-level. While its 6-inch screen makes it a smaller and lighter e-reader than the step-up Kindle Paperwhite ($140), its display has the same 300-ppi resolution as the Paperwhite. However, the Paperwhite model adds waterproofing and incorporates a more sophisticated front lighting scheme, with 17 LEDs compared with the basic Kindle 2022’s four LEDs.

In the past, we’ve recommended stepping up to the Paperwhite if you could afford it, mainly because it had a higher resolution display than the entry-level Kindle, which allowed text to appear more crisp. But with both models now featuring similar displays (at least as far as resolution goes), we may have to revise that recommendation.

The Kindle (2022) is available in black or denim blue.

Read our Kindle (2022) review.

$80 at Amazon

$80 at Best Buy

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Kindle Oasis

The luxury e-reader

Yes, Amazon’s top-end Kindle is too expensive for what it is, but when I upgraded from a Kindle Paperwhite to the Oasis a few years ago, I was knocked out by how much better the Oasis is in terms of book readability and responsiveness.

It’s got a bigger screen, and I find the physical page-turn buttons are so much better than swiping. The latest version can adjust the color temperature of the (monochromatic) screen, for better nighttime reading.

Amazon runs a lot of deals on this, and also watch out for trade-in bonuses on older Kindles to get it for a reasonable price.

Read our Kindle Oasis review.

$250 at Amazon

$250 at Best Buy

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Kindle Paperwhite

The default choice gets even better

The Paperwhite is Amazon’s middle-of-the-road Kindle, between the base model and the Oasis. Last year, it received a big upgrade in the form of a larger 6.8-inch screen and better battery life, which makes it my go-to choice, as it’s almost as good as the fancier Oasis now.

While the Paperwhite is waterproof and can adjust its display color temperature, it lacks the Oasis’ physical page-turn buttons.

There’s also an upgraded model, the Signature Edition ($190), with 32GB of storage (versus 8GB) and an auto-adjusting front light. More importantly, it also works with the same wireless charging Qi pads as your phone. Again, hold out for a sale or a good trade-in deal on these.

Read our Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review.

$100 at Amazon

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iPad Mini

The iPad for book lovers

The iPad Mini received a great makeover last year, with a bigger, better screen (now 8.3 inches), new processor, optional 5G and a thinner, lighter design. It’s the perfect size for ebooks, and the color screen makes it a great choice for reading digital comics (ahem, graphic novels). At $500, it’s more expensive than the fanciest Kindle reader, but you get a full-fledged iPadOS device that can serve as a streaming video player or game machine as well.

Read our iPad Mini (2021) review.

$469 at Amazon

$449 at Apple

$500 at Best Buy

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Kobo Elipsa

Big-screen Kindle alternative

Amazon has long (until this year) ignored the need for bigger e-ink screens, leaving the doors open for brands like Kobo. This 10.3-inch display has stylus support for note-taking and includes 32GB of storage, a resolution of 227 dpi and a front light for nighttime reading.

No, it doesn’t officially support Amazon’s Kindle book format, but it does read key formats like PDF, ePub, MOBI and CBR, and it works with OverDrive, which is the ebook lending service most libraries use.

We’ve also rounded up a few more big-screen E Ink readers here.

$400 at Walmart

$396 at Amazon

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Kindle Scribe

The big-screen wildcard.

Amazon’s latest E Ink reader isn’t on sale yet, but it’s preorderable for an expected Nov. 30 launch. I’m very interested in the Scribe because it’s the first big-screen Kindle since the discontinued Kindle DX. It also adds stylus support and has a 10.2-inch display at 300 dpi (which is the same dpi as on the other Kindles).

It’s a hefty $329 to start, or up to $419 with an upgraded premium stylus and larger storage options. That’s a lot for a product we haven’t tested or reviewed yet, but it’s also — on paper — the bigger-screen Kindle I’ve been hoping for for years.

Read more about the Kindle Scribe.

$420 at Amazon

$420 at Best Buy

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And once you have an ebook reader, why not fill it up with some books written by CNET authors? Here’s a few to get started:

• The Tetris Effect by Dan Ackerman
• Lucidity by David Carnoy
• Undersea by Geoffrey Morrison

Have you downloaded iOS 16.4 yet? If so, you might’ve noticed that Apple’s software update brings a collection of new features to your iPhone, from voice isolation for calls to support for PlayStation 5 controllers. The update also brings a batch of 31 new emoji.

Among the new emoji are a shaking-head smiley; animals like a donkey, moose and goose; and additional heart colors, such as plain pink and light blue. The plain pink heart has been a long-sought emoji, according to Emojipedia, which named it one of the site’s top emoji requests in 2015. Last year’s significant emoji drop in iOS 15.4 included a melting face, a lip being bitten and a pregnant man, with 37 new designs in total.

Emojipedia said the new emoji came from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.

You can start using all the latest emoji and other new features by downloading iOS 16.4 now.

For more, check out how to decipher each emoji, and take a look at the emoji you may have missed with the release of iOS 15.4.

Here’s the complete list of new emoji in iOS 16.4

1. Shaking Face
2. Pink Heart
3. Light Blue Heart
4. Grey Heart
5. Donkey
6. Moose
7. Goose
8. Wing
9. Jellyfish
10. Hyacinth
11. Pea Pod
12. Ginger
13. Folding Hand Fan
14. Hair Pick
15. Flute
16. Maracas
17. Khanda
18. Wireless
19. Rightward Pushing Hand
20. Leftward Pushing Hand
21. Black Bird
22. Rightward Pushing Hand: Light Skin Tone
23. Rightward Pushing Hand: Medium-Light Skin Tone
24. Rightward Pushing Hand: Medium Skin Tone
25. Rightward Pushing Hand: Medium-Dark Skin Tone
26. Rightward Pushing Hand: Dark Skin Tone
27. Leftward Pushing Hand: Light Skin Tone
28. Leftward Pushing Hand: Medium-Light Skin Tone
29. Leftward Pushing Hand: Medium Skin Tone
30. Leftward Pushing Hand: Medium-Dark Skin Tone
31. Leftward Pushing Hand: Dark Skin Tone

AT&T sells some of the best smartphones available right now. These include the likes of Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra and Google’s great all-round flagship Pixel 7 Pro.

But it isn’t just the flashiest, most expensive phones you can get, as AT&T also offers a great lineup of more affordable devices, including the Google Pixel 6A and the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G — both of which are 5G-enabled for taking advantage of those superfast data speeds.

Read on to learn more about the best AT&T phone for meeting your particular smartphone needs, and check out our tips for how to buy a new phone.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro

All-around best phone

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduce sweeping changes like the Dynamic Island, a new 48-megapixel camera system and Apple’s new A16 Bionic processor. All of these upgrades come together to make for an experience that feels fresh and fast compared to older generations.

Read our Apple iPhone 14 Pro review.

$999 at Apple

Google

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Google’s best gets better

Google’s Pixel 7 Pro packs great cameras and slick software into a refreshed design that makes it one of the best phones launched in the last couple of years. We liked it so much we awarded it a CNET Editors’ Choice award for its combination of excellent all-round performance and slightly more affordable price.

Read our Google Pixel 7 Pro review.

$839 at Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best premium Android phone

The Galaxy S23 is a lot, but in a good way. It’s more than most people need in a phone, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Samsung made improvements to the camera’s resolution (200 megapixels compared with 108 megapixels), color tones and dynamic range, while retaining the same edgy design and massive 6.8-inch screen as its predecessor. There’s also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that’s been optimized specifically for Samsung’s phones, which brings faster performance compared with the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Starting at $1,200, it may be an understatement to call this phone expensive. But those willing to pay more for a giant screen and a high-quality, versatile camera won’t be disappointed. Read our full review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

$1,200 at Samsung

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Google Pixel 6A

Best affordable Android phone

Google’s Pixel 6A punches above its weight when it comes to camera quality, design and screen size. It’s the best under-$500 Android phone you can get, and though it’s not Google’s flagship, the 6A is all most people need in a phone.

$299 at Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

A great affordable Samsung Galaxy phone

The Galaxy A53 gets you an abundance of Samsung features and power at a fraction of the S-series price. It boasts a far larger screen and more versatile camera cluster than the iPhone SE, though Apple’s budget model delivers snappier performance.

Still, Samsung fans will appreciate what they’re getting here considering the affordable price. The Galaxy A53 5G has an ultrawide lens for taking photos with a broader field of view and also supports night-mode photography. Image quality isn’t as good as what you’d get on a more expensive Samsung phone like the Galaxy S21 FE or Galaxy S22, but it’s certainly clear and colorful enough for basic shots. Other highlights include a long-lasting battery, four guaranteed generations of Android operating system updates and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

Overall, the Galaxy A53 5G is a suitable choice for those who prioritize having a large screen and long battery life for less than $500. Just keep in mind, you might have to deal with some occasional lag, and the camera isn’t as advanced as those found on pricier phones. Read our Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review.

$450 at Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Best compact folding phone

With a candy-bar design that folds down on itself to become a smaller square, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a much more compact footprint than the Z Fold 4. It makes it easier to slide into a tight pocket when not in use, but it still folds out to offer a sizable 6.7-inch display when you need it.

Like the Z Fold 4, the Flip line has seen revisions over the years with improvements to its hinge system and reduction in crease marks in its display. It’s got a new camera system too, along with a larger outer display that shows incoming notifications.

It’s pricey, sure, and its battery life could be better but it’s a fun phone and one we’ve enjoyed using.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review.

$835 at Samsung

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Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G

Best budget phone with a stylus

If you’re looking for a good budget phone that comes with a basic stylus and support for 5G, then the Moto G Stylus 5 is a great pick. The cell phone features a stylus that you can store inside the phone along with a built-in Notes app to help with productivity. This phone also offers a triple-rear camera, 128GB of internal storage and a robust 4,000-mAh battery.

Read our Moto G Stylus 5G review.

$265 at Amazon

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With a Microsoft Surface Pro, you don’t have to sacrifice the power and versatility of a laptop for the convenience and portability of a tablet. These two-in-ones are some of the most popular hybrid devices out there, and right now, you can snag the latest model in the lineup at a discount. Microsoft is currently offering up to $200 off select Surface Pro 9 configurations at its spring sale, which drops the starting price to just $900. This deal is available through April 23, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

The Surface Pro 9 is the latest model in Microsoft’s lineup, and is an upgraded version of the Surface Pro 8 that made our list of the best two-in-one laptops. The basic configuration, which is $100 off right now, comes equipped with a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of solid-state storage for $900. Or you can upgrade to a cellular-enabled 5G model with a Microsoft SQ 3 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,700, saving you $200. There are plenty of other discounted configurations, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find the specs you’re looking for on sale.

All configurations feature a vibrant 13-inch, 2,880×1,920-pixel touchscreen display and support Dolby Vision, making great for content creation and video editing. Plus, the Surface Pro 9 weighs in at just 32 ounces and has an impressive 15-hour battery life, so it’s perfect for taking with you on the go. It’s powered by Windows 11 and can even be used for cloud gaming if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber.

After season 2 of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba wrapped in February last year, anime fans expected a wait to see where Tanjiro and crew would head next. Fortunately, viewers were treated to a theatrical event that launched in North America this past March and in Japan in February. The anime film, Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village, took a unique approach by blending the last two episodes of season 2 and the first episode from the upcoming season 3 into a cinematic feature. Now what?

Demon Slayer season 3 is hitting the small screen. Tanjiro’s journey has him seeking the aid of Hotaru Haganezuka to fix his wrecked sword, but enemies are always on the prowl. While his blade is out of commission, new demons close in on him, his sister Nezuko and buddies Inosuke and Zenitsu and give them a run for their money. Prepare to meet two villainous Upper Moon demons: Hantengu and Gyokko.

Along with a new theme song for season 3 of the series, you’ll get to see Love and Mist Hashiras joining the fray with their own fantastic sword styles — and breathwork. Here’s how to watch Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc.

Read more: Best Anime Streaming Services for 2023

Release dates for Demon Slayer season 3

After closing out the Entertainment District Arc in the manga and TV series, this Swordsmith storyline in Demon Slayer picks up where the story left off, placing Tanjiro on a path to find a mysterious, ancient weapon while his sword is being repaired. The first episode will be released as a one-hour special on Fuji TV in Japan on April 9 at 11:15 p.m. JST.

Fans in the US and 200 other countries can stream the series on Crunchyroll beginning Sunday, April 9.

Crunchyroll will simulcast the first episode of Demon Slayer season 3 on Sunday, April 9, from 10:45-11:30 a.m. PT (1:45-2:30 p.m. ET) in the US with subtitles in English, Spanish, Castilian, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Russian and Hindi. New episodes will be simulcast exclusively in North America, Central America, South America and Europe.

Demon Slayer season 3 is exclusive to Crunchyroll for now. It will not be coming to Hulu this weekend, a company representative confirmed to CNET via email. The rep did not reveal when or if it would become available.

If you’re looking to catch up and don’t want to subscribe to Crunchyroll, Hulu and Netflix have earlier seasons of the show.

Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2023: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and More

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll

Carries Demon Slayer Season 3

$8 at Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is home to thousands of anime titles, including simulcasts, on-demand releases and originals. You can sign up for a free account to stream ad-supported content on the service. Just note that not all titles are available with the free version, and there is a wait for new releases. However, anime fans who want immediate access to new episodes should opt for Crunchyroll’s basic $8 ad-free subscription. There’s a free 14-day trial for new subscribers.

How to watch Demon Slayer season 3 from anywhere with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Crunchyroll while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the anime series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.

A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list such as Surfshark or NordVPN.

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ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

See at ExpressVPN

If you’re looking for a secure and dependable VPN, our Editors’ Choice is ExpressVPN. It’s fast, works on multiple devices and provides stable streams. It’s normally $13 per month, but you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our review of ExpressVPN.

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where Demon Slayer season 3 will be streaming on Crunchyroll. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you are connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the special episode on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you are signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Crunchyroll to stream.

If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.

Resin 3D printing is a little different from what you might think of as normal 3D printing. Most of the best 3D printers use a material called filament to produce prints, but some use reactive resin to create stunningly detailed models.

These printers use a special type of UV resin that comes in a variety of colors and chemical compositions, each of which can create a different type of end result. A lot of them are specialty resins that you aren’t likely to need every day, but it can get complicated when you’re searching for the right material. We’ve put together this helpful list of the best resins for you to choose from. The list will get updated as more resins are tested by our team.

Siraya Tech

Siraya Tech Fast

Best all-around resin you can buy

Siraya Tech Fast is the perfect balance of price per gallon and functionality. There are cheaper resins, but a lot of them tend to split or become sticky if handled improperly. Fast has been my go-to for the last few years and never lets me down when it comes to reliability.

I also use it for all of my resin 3D printer reviews so I know what each printer can handle. The smoky gray color is my favorite, but there are some amazing colors to choose from.

$37 at Amazon

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Anycubic

Anycubic High Clear resin

Almost glass-like quality

The holy grail of clear resin is to stay clear after curing. When you add UV light to clear resin, it tends to turn slightly yellow, making it look more like nicotine-stained glass rather than freshly made. Anycubic’s high clear resin resists the yellowing of other clear resins and, as long as you don’t over-cure it, will maintain the clear look of crystal.

Pro tip: After you’ve cured the model, spray it with several coats of high gloss clear coat to really make it shine.

$40 at Anycubic

Sunlu

Sunlu 3D printer resin (4-pack)

A great bulk buy

When you’re just starting out it’s helpful to buy a bulk batch of inexpensive resins to get your collection started. This four-pack of 500 gram bottles of resin can be mixed and matched so you can have four different colors, perfect for creating different effects on your models.

$49 at Amazon

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Elegoo

Elegoo plant-based resin

A great budget option

While Elegoo touts its plant-based resin as a nonirritant and safe, it is much better than any other resins in that regard. It should still be handled with gloves, respirator and goggles until it is fully cured.

It is, however, cheap, easy to use and gives reliable results for the price. I also like that the smell of resin is almost nonexistent with plant-based resins.

$15 at Amazon

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Anycubic

Anycubic tough resin

Make your models shatter-resistant

Resin can be quite brittle, and if you’re building parts that need to have stress exerted on them, a resin like the tough resin from Anycubic might help with its longevity.

The tough resin works the same as other resins but allows for some flexibility in the final model. This reduces the chances of it shattering into pieces like dry spaghetti.

$56 at Amazon

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Siraya Tech

Siraya Tech Cast

For jewelry-makers

One of the coolest things I’ve ever done with a resin printer is to make a cast for jewelry. I used some of this resin to print a Green Lantern ring, then took it to a friend of mine with a kiln. She wrapped it in plaster and fired it. The resin has a high wax content that helps it melt away, leaving a perfect mold behind for pouring silver.

This resin is not cheap, but if you’re interested in making your own jewelry and have access to a kiln, this may be for you.

$75 at Amazon

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3D printing resin FAQ

Resin 3D printing is a lot different from other types of additive manufacturing. It can be hazardous, but it is incredibly rewarding if you can get it right. Here are some of the frequently asked questions I get asked about the process.