Author: Eternity Lab

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Snapchat lets you send messages, photos, and videos that disappear after a single view, 24 hours, or, occasionally, up to seven days. If you have been away from the social media app for the past few years, as you have been too busy using Instagram and its perks, you might realize a lot has changed in the meantime. One of the most important questions might be what the purple circle on the app means. The answer is that there’s a new photo or video that your friend, an influencer, or a follower posted that you haven’t seen yet.

If you’ve seen a purple circle with a lock, you’re about to see a Private Story. The person sharing that content is only doing so with a handful of people, which works similarly to Instagram’s Close Friends feature. As long as it’s a purple circle, you should know the app is telling you there’s a Snap ready to be seen. There are other colors that are important to know about when using Snapchat, as they represent different things on the app.

Understanding different colors on Snapchat

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Snapchat uses three main colors you should be aware of: purple, blue, and gray. As already explained, the purple color means you have a new Snap ready to be seen, while a blue circle on your Snapchat means someone sent you something in a chat. The gray circle, on the other hand, means that a person still has content that can be seen, but you’ve already seen it. If you already checked someone’s Snaps that day and they haven’t posted anything new, but they’re still within the 24-hour window, the gray circle will indicate you can tap it to watch the content again.

It’s important to note that while these rings tell the status of some Snapchat content, the colors and icons won’t change based on privacy or friend status. As such, these three colors don’t indicate whether someone took a screenshot of something you shared or whether a person is online. 

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No, you don’t truly own books that you may have purchased on your Kindle. That’s because digital files work differently from physical copies, meaning that when you purchase them from Amazon, you only get a license. You don’t receive a copy of the file that you can fully control, but this distinction isn’t only for Kindle books, and also applies across most digital media today.

When you buy a physical copy of a book, you can lend it to a friend or sell it. You can also store it on a bookshelf for decades without asking for permission. However, a Kindle purchase works differently, and your access to those copies depends on Amazon keeping your account in good standing, honoring its deals with publishers, and maintaining the infrastructure so that you can access the book from your device.

This means that if any of those conditions are removed, your library becomes harder to reach, even if you paid to have access to those books. Additionally, that gap was reinforced when Amazon removed the “Download & Transfer via USB” feature from Kindle. That tool let users back up Kindle books and have control over the files.

No, you do not fully own books on Kindle

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It should be noted that other companies employ this approach when selling their digital products, not just Amazon. For instance, PC gamers who utilize Steam are probably aware of the fact that the company employs this very system. As was highlighted by Valve in October 2024, they decided to include this information on the checkout page, which explicitly states that one doesn’t buy the product but gets a license to use it.

That kind of distinction matters because a license is conditional, which means a platform can revoke it if anything happens. So you need to follow the terms of service to avoid getting banned, but also worry about a publisher pulling a title. Kindle operates in that way, and Amazon has removed purchased books from users’ devices without consent. One example involved George Orwell titles, remotely deleted from Kindles because Amazon didn’t have the rights to sell them.

Per copyright law in the U.S., if you buy a paperback book, you have the right to resell, donate, or lend it to anyone without needing to ask permission. With Kindle books and other digital items, you don’t have the same freedom. This means that you can’t transfer them freely, resell them, or even move those copies to a different Kindle alternative without running into Amazon’s DRM.

Amazon’s DRM change makes Kindle ownership more complicated

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In 2025, Amazon removed the “Download and Transfer via USB” option from its reading platform. That feature lets users download purchased books on Kindle to a computer and manually transfer them to another device. Additionally, before Wi-Fi was introduced in those gadgets, that was the main way to load content into your device. Many users also used this option to have a backup of their libraries in local copies, but that isn’t possible anymore.

Part of what makes that loss significant is how Kindle’s DRM works. Every book you purchase is encrypted and locked to devices registered under your Amazon account. This means you can’t open the same file on another Kindle alternative outside Amazon’s ecosystem. So even if you saved a local copy before the USB option was removed, that file would still be unreadable anywhere else other than Kindle apps or devices.

In the end, the answer to whether you own books on Kindle or not depends on what owning actually means to you. If it means having regular access to a title through your account, then Kindle purchases work like ownership in most situations. But if it means having full control of the file, those digital books never worked like a physical copy, something physical book lovers who switched to Kindle have had to come to terms with.

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Electronic devices can be expensive, especially if you want the best of the best. That said, there are ways to be frugal when buying electronics, and once you get your gadget, you expect it to meet your needs without a fuss. Unfortunately, for some TCL and Roku smart TV owners, that hasn’t been the case, which has resulted in the two companies being sued recently in a class action lawsuit filed by a consumer named Terri Else. The class action lawsuit against Roku Inc. and TTE Technology Inc. (which trades in the U.S. as TCL North America) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. 

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff accuses both companies of selling smart TVs that become unusable due to “software defects”. The lawsuit claims that the software updates released by Roku are “repetitively defective.” It alleges that they materially impair the functionality, “rendering many consumers’ televisions either entirely unusable (‘bricked’), blacked out, or otherwise substantially degraded in terms of device performance.” The reason why the lawsuit targets both companies is because of their partnership, in which some TVs from TCL — a major smart TV brand — run Roku’s smart TV operating system, dubbed Roku OS, which is a major smart TV OS.

The lawsuit mentions several smart TV models that were purchased by users between December 16, 2024, and the present, including the Roku Select Series and Roku Plus Series. It also mentions TCL’s 3, 4, 5, and 6 Series TV models that are powered by Roku’s smart TV software. In the lawsuit, the plaintiff, together with members of the class action, demands a jury trial and seeks compensation for the damages they have suffered. They also request “declaratory and injunctive relief, restitution, and disgorgement of Defendants’ ill-gotten gains.”

The lawsuit highlights a variety of issues with Roku and TCL TVs

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The word “software defect” is mentioned in the lawsuit over 30 times. Additionally, the lawsuit didn’t shy away from giving examples of the various issues that some users have run into that have negatively affected the user experience. Some of the bugs mentioned include screen blackouts, the display flashing on and off, and loss of video — all of which “corrupts the user experience to the point of inoperability.” It also mentions repeated restarts, the set entering recovery mode after an update, freezing, and even loss of video while audio continues to work. 

Included in the lawsuit are examples of user complaints posted in Roku’s community forum, where multiple users highlight the various problems they’ve run into as a result of a software update. One says an automatic update was installed on their Roku streaming stick, leading to distorted lines on the image and a cracking sound. Another complaint in the lawsuit concerns a TCL Roku TV user who experienced flickering after turning on the TV, after which it went black while continuing to play audio. The issue persisted despite the person trying different troubleshooting methods.

Lawsuit alleges Roku and TCL failed to fix TV bugs

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The lawsuit claims that both companies are aware of the various alleged software defects that have been highlighted. However, the plaintiff says that the two companies have offered no solution so far despite “persistent complaints of repeated system failures,” which is said to be “inconsistent with representations made in express warranties, which promise to repair, correct, or otherwise remediate the software defect.” The plaintiff also raises concerns about the companies’ failure to disclose these issues to consumers before they purchased their sets.

Instead, Roku-powered TVs have continued to be marketed as “reliable smart TVs” that improve as time goes by due to automatic updates. Tom’s Guide reached out to both TCL and Roku, but only the latter had responded at the time of publication. A Roku spokesperson told the tech site that it believes “the claims are meritless.” The lawsuit was filed on March 27, 2026, so it’s still early in the process, and you’ll probably have to wait for months before a resolution is reached. The two companies will likely fight back as they might have to pay up a good sum if found liable.

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Vertical monitors have seen a steep rise in popularity in recent times. And that makes perfect sense once you consider the benefits of using a monitor in a vertical alignment. They are not only good for working with documents, scrolling through web pages, or running communication apps such as Discord or Slack, but also for editing Reels or other vertical video formats. Moreover, mobile UX designers can more accurately preview the final layout of what they’re building.

Of course, vertical monitors are also widely popular as a secondary display in gaming PC setups. Gamers often use one on the side to keep a cheat sheet, map, Discord, or livestream chat open while playing. While you can technically use a VESA mount to turn almost any compatible monitor into a vertical monitor, it is far more convenient to opt for a monitor with built-in pivot adjustment up to 90 degrees, ideally in both directions.

That said, given that even the best monitors in the industry do not openly advertise themselves as vertical monitors, it can be difficult to single out the right one for your specific needs. To help you out, we’ve done the hard yards, looked through dozens of options and narrowed it down to the five best choices across a wide range of budgets.

Dell UltraSharp U2725QE 27-inch

The Dell UltraSharp U2725QE is hands down one of the best monitors available right now, and the fact that it comes with a full 90-degree pivot adjustment made it an easy pick for the top spot in this guide. Not only does it enjoy a healthy 4.4 rating on Amazon after over 200 reviews, but several expert outlets, including RTINGS and Windows Central, have also praised it. RTINGS ranked it as the best vertical monitor, while testers at Windows Central called it “the single best display for productivity.” Priced at $643, this 27-inch IPS display comes with a full 4K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an anti-reflective screen.

However, easily the biggest perk of this monitor is its built-in USB hub, which, excluding the power port, offers a whopping 15 ports. You get two DisplayPort connections, a Thunderbolt 4 upstream port, a Thunderbolt 4 downstream port, five USB Type-A ports, three USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an Ethernet port. Surely you’ll have a few left to plug in some cool USB gadgets. Even better, the Thunderbolt 4 upstream port is capable of delivering up to 140W of power, meaning you can easily charge your laptop from the monitor itself.

Another feature users love is the monitor’s KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch, which allows you to connect your accessories and peripherals to the monitor and use them across multiple systems, such as your desktop PC and a laptop. You can use the monitor’s USB ports to connect additional 4K displays to the Dell UltraSharp U2725QE. However, the monitor is more than just its USB hub. It’s still an excellent display, with the IPS panel being especially well-suited for vertical work setups, thanks to its better brightness.

Dell 27 Plus 4K S2725QS

If you’re not fully convinced about spending $600+ on the Dell U2725QE, but still want a 4K monitor for work that also pivots into a vertical orientation, the Dell S2725QS, currently priced at just $279.99, is a great choice. Sure, it doesn’t come with a built-in USB hub, but you still get two HDMI ports along with a DisplayPort, so you can easily connect multiple devices to the monitor and switch between them with the click of a button. The monitor has a solid 4.5 rating on Amazon after nearly 800 reviews, with several users highlighting the good value for money it offers.

As you would expect from a high-quality Dell 4K IPS display, the S2725QS offers a crisp, bright screen with great viewing angles. RTINGS says the monitor is sharp and large enough that you can comfortably stack two windows side by side on the 27-inch screen without things feeling cramped. Moreover, its sleek and minimal look has earned some praise as well, with one user saying, “the monitor’s appearance is awesome.”

Plus, thanks to its 99% sRGB color coverage and HDR support, it works just as well for viewing content and visual work such as photo or video editing. Better yet, according to expert reviewers at Creative Bloq, the default color accuracy is more than good enough, so you likely will not need to tweak it. The Dell S2725QS also comes with built-in speakers: two 5W ones. Agreed, they’re not the most powerful, but they can prove handy in a pinch, and you can always turn to your trusted headphones.

Samsung 24-inch Odyssey G30D

The Samsung 24-inch Odyssey G30D is the most affordable option on this list and one of the best budget vertical monitors you can buy right now. Priced at $149.99, it enjoys a solid 4.6 rating on Amazon after nearly 1,700 reviews. Right off the bat, you’ll see that many of this monitor’s features are designed to make it gaming-friendly. This includes a 1-millisecond response time, a high refresh rate of up to 180Hz, and AMD FreeSync. However, both actual user reviews on Amazon and industry experts (for example, testers at Root Nation) have concluded that the monitor is just as excellent for work and productivity purposes as well.

One reviewer on Amazon said that the monitor is “exceptional for general use.” It boasts a full HD 1080p resolution and comes with a dedicated Eye Saver Mode, which reduces the amount of blue light from the monitor’s VA panel, helping to lower eye strain and fatigue. The effectiveness of this built-in eye protection was confirmed by a user who said that the monitor is “easy on the eyes for spreadsheets.”

Also, even though VA panels generally have slower pixel response times, which often cause motion smearing, Root Nation found that the Odyssey G30D has minimal smearing with the Extreme setting turned on. This makes it excellent for text-based tasks such as viewing dark-colored text on a white background. We also like the customizability this monitor offers. It comes with a single control button (at the bottom of the screen), which lets you access just about everything, from the source input (one HDMI input and one DisplayPort), brightness, contrast, refresh rate, sharpness, and more.

Asus ProArt Display PA278QV

The Asus ProArt Display PA278QV, like the entire ProArt lineup, has been built with a clear focus on creative professionals and accurate color output. This WQHD 2560×1440 IPS pivot-friendly monitor boasts an impressive 4.6 rating on Amazon after over 3,000 reviews. It’s currently priced at $199, around $80 less than the PA278CV, which you may prefer if you want USB-C with 65W power delivery. Speaking of ports, this model does not feel lacking. It comes with a full USB hub, including an HDMI port, a DisplayPort, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and a Mini DisplayPort.

While it also has a DVI port, several experts, including those at Photography Life, have pointed out that it misses the Thunderbolt port that would make the monitor more future-proof and ideal for Mac users. Where the monitor really shines, though, is its color accuracy. It comes with 100% sRGB and 100% Rec.709 color gamut coverage right out of the box. Additionally, you get several pre-calibrated presets, as well as advanced image customization tools, which you can access using the five buttons at the bottom of the monitor.

Even general users have praised the screen, with one reviewer highlighting that they experienced “no dead pixels” after more than a year of use, while another remarked that “the screen is very consistent, with no visible glow or bleeding from the edges.” Although the monitor does not compete with the higher refresh rate models mentioned above, the 75Hz refresh rate should be enough for webpages and documents, and even photo/video editing tasks.

Lg 27GL83A-B Ultragear

Agreed, the Lg 27GL83A-B Ultragear is an out-and-out gaming monitor, but its pivot-friendly design, combined with the QHD 2560 x 1440 IPS display, a good bang-for-buck price tag of $266, and near-borderless bezels on three sides, makes it a great option to use as a vertical monitor in your setup. It has been reviewed over 12,500 times on Amazon, where it holds a 4.6-star rating, with heaps of praise for its smooth and lag-free display – courtesy of the 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time.

Although connectivity is not its strongest suit, it’s still decent. You get two HDMI ports as well as a DisplayPort, so you can connect multiple devices. Moreover, hands-on testing at RTINGS found that the monitor’s sRGB mode delivers excellent color accuracy, covering up to 99% of the sRGB color space.

However, if you want to get the best from the panel, you will have to manually calibrate it. Another area where the monitor scores highly is image consistency. A user who has been using the monitor since November 2024 said that it still produces a “solid picture” with little to no color fading. Another reviewer on Amazon highlighted that they have not seen “any backlight bleed or dead pixels.”

How we selected these monitors

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Given that there are no monitors that offer a dedicated vertical-only alignment, we first looked for the best monitors in the industry that offer a full 90-degree pivot adjustment. We only looked at monitors from reputable brands such as Dell, Samsung, Asus, and Lg. We also only considered models that have been highly rated not only by experts such as RTINGS, but also by everyday users on Amazon.

Next, we made sure to include vertical monitors across a wide range of budgets so that there’s something for everyone. That said, you can rest assured that even the more affordable options on this list offer good value in their price bracket. Not only do these monitors offer native vertical alignment, but they also provide crisp, bright images, high refresh rates, plenty of screen real estate, solid connectivity, and useful extra features.

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Let’s cut straight to the chase – charging your iPhone with a 100W charger won’t destroy its battery. However, it’s important to use a certified accessory to ensure everything works appropriately. Besides that, using a 100W charger will not magically charge your iPhone at that power. Unlike some Chinese phones that have the fastest charging smartphone batteries of all time, the latest iPhone 17 Pro supports up to 40W of power, which means that the device will only use up to 40W to charge.

On several support pages, Apple says there’s no issue in using a more powerful charger. As a matter of fact, as long as you’re using a power adapter that complies with the USB-C standard and an equally good cable, like the one that comes with the iPhone, you’re good to go. Since Apple provides a 140W power adapter with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the brand says the adapter can fast-charge an iPhone, it’s safe to say that a 100W charger, even from a different brand, won’t destroy the phone’s battery.

Battery degradation is normal, but you should know this

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Apple says that the iPhone’s battery capacity degrades over time. New iPhones can last for up to 1,000 cycles before you might get a warning that the battery needs to be replaced. With today’s batteries, one charge cycle is when you use the complete 100% of the battery capacity. So you can use 70% in one day, charge it to 100%, and only when you use 30% more will it count as one charge cycle. When you set the battery charging limit to 95%, 90%, or even 80%, it will take longer to complete a full charging cycle, which means you can extend your iPhone’s battery life because you’re not using its full potential all the time.

That said, tests conducted by MacRumors show that setting a limit to how much you can charge your iPhone doesn’t have much impact on battery degradation after a few years. What matters the most is using certified accessories, whether from Apple or third-party makers. While theoretically, charging your iPhone with a slower charger could improve battery life in the long term, a test suggests that fast charging doesn’t hurt your phone’s battery life.

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May is here and along with it comes a fresh batch of hot deals. Like Garfield to lasagna, we’re constantly snooping the web for discounts on tech, because we like saving money on gear and accessories as much as anybody. This time around, we’re taking a look at deals from the warehouse retailer Sam’s Club, as the company has some solid offers on items that are worthy of your attention.

From big Bluetooth speakers and earbuds to some tech that may be well-suited for your car or home, we did our best to go with a little variety on our search. Additionally, each of these devices is backed by positive customer reviews, and some of them offer a few additional goodies, including subscriptions to some Apple Service Trials along with product warranties.

If you don’t have a membership, it can be worth thinking about one, as you may not always have access to certain deals. However, you can pick up a guest membership that allows you to buy select online items at a surcharge. You just need to create a guest account during checkout, but your items will not be backed by Sam’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Monster Z6 All-in-One PA Bluetooth Speaker System

Maintaining a 4.3-star rating on the Sam’s Club website, users can snag the Monster Z6 All-in-One PA Bluetooth Speaker System for $169, shaving $30 off its typical listing price. Available until May 31, there’s a couple of cool things about this speaker for blasting sound waves. This includes pairing it with another Monster speaker model to create stereo sound thanks to its True Wireless System (TWS) and Auracast pairing capabilities.

Along with pairing capabilities, there’s also four microphone inputs (two XLR and two quarter-inch), so you can use it for karaoke or performances. Users also have access to echo and gain controls for tweaking vocal effects. For additional controls, users can choose their audio source (including TWS, Bluetooth, FM Radio, USB MP3, and AUX), EQ presets, treble and bass adjustments, and more. Diving into the details, the Z6 includes a 15-inch subwoofer, 650W of output, and there’s all-terrain wheels and side handles for mobility.

Along with the unit, customers will also receive a telescoping tripod speaker stand, wireless microphone, and an AC power cable. Taking a look at what Sam’s Club users have to say about the Z6, users appreciate the Bluetooth connectivity and the device’s ability to push sound. Though some customers were disappointed to learn the speaker is not battery powered and some had issues making wireless connections, many still give it praise for its deep bass. Depending on your space, this may even be a good Bluetooth speaker for your home gym.

Rexing Ultra HD Car Dash Cam with Wi-Fi Bundle

With a hard limit of four units per order, the Rexing Ultra HD Car Dash Cam with Wi-Fi Bundle is available until May 31. Sam’s Club dropped the price to $69 on this one, letting users save $30 on this vehicle safety bundle. The noteworthy thing about this 4.7-star rated gadget is that it’s a 4K dash cam that features a 170-degree wide-angle lens. There’s even Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) for obtaining good image quality within different lighting conditions. Just remember to avoid common mistakes when using a dash cam, such as using a cheap memory card and not checking the dashcam footage regularly.

With Sam’s Club customers giving this one high marks for its easy installation and compact form, it’s got some additional specs under the hood. This includes a parking monitor feature that automatically begins recording if it detects an impact or vibration, and there’s also dual-band 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi support for accessing footage directly through the Rexing Connect app. This dash cam also includes a G-sensor that saves videos when a collision occurs, and the device offers the ability to continuously capture footage.

Along with including an on-board diagnostics (OBD) smart hardware kit for installations, this dash cam also includes a 32GB microSD card (though the device supports up to 128GB). While customers do find the Rexing Ultra HD to be an overall good value, some customers report having issues with installing the device through an OBD port. Nonetheless, the 4K support and parking features can make this one worth checking out.

Shokz OpenFit Air Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds

Available for $30 off its usual price, the Shokz OpenFit Air Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds are $69 through the Sam’s Club website and maintain a 4.2-star rating. Available until May 31, only the pink model is on sale, though members may be able to get special pricing on the white and black models. Designed to be used during a workout, these earbuds feature an open-ear design so users can listen to music while still being aware of their surroundings.

The earbuds tout up to 28 hours of battery life with the charging case, 6 hours for the earbuds on a single charge, and quick charging capabilities through USB-C. Moreover, the OpenFit Airs also include adaptable ear hooks which feature a cut-out design that the company promises makes for comfortable listening sessions while providing a secure fit. With 5.2 Bluetooth connectivity, there’s also multipoint pairing for making multiple connections. The earbuds also feature IP54 water resistance and sweatproof properties, but note that the charging case has no waterproof capabilities.

Along with the earbuds and charging case, there’s also a USB-C cable for charging, and there’s a warranty through the manufacturer. Looking at what Sam’s Club customers have to say, users appreciate the natural sound of these earbuds and good call quality. While many find them comfortable in their ears, some users report Bluetooth connection issues. However, if you’re really looking for sound, you should instead go for the best wireless earbuds for audiophiles from brands like Sony and Bose.

Aura 15-inch Walden Digital Photo Frame

With a purchasing limit of five units, the Aura 15-inch Walden Digital Photo Frame is available until May 31 for $199, shaving $50 off its usual listing price. Touting itself as the largest high definition frame available from the company, the 15-inch dual-orientation frame comes with a 1600 x 1200 display that has a 4:3 aspect ratio. As this is also the default aspect ratio for most smartphone photos, you can send them directly to the frame without needing edits.

Promising to offer unlimited photos and videos without a subscription fee, users can add media to the frame through the included Aura app. While the digital frame does require a Wi-Fi connection to utilize Aura’s cloud servers, users are able to scan a QR code on the back of the device’s box to preload photos onto it before gifting it to someone. Along with an anti-glare finish, there’s also a built-in speaker for audio, auto-brightness features, and an interactive touch bar.

Holding a 4.7-star rating on Sam’s Club, customers give this one major points for its HD display and straightforward ease of use. Though some customers appreciate the ability for anyone to add photos to the frame, some users do report that the included (and necessary) app can be slow. Lastly, this item also includes complimentary Apple Service Trials through Sam’s Club.

Basic Fun 4-Player WWE Supreme Series Premium Arcade Cabinet

Just because ’80s arcades died out like Pac-Man meeting a ghost, doesn’t mean you still can’t have nostalgia at home. With Sam’s Club knocking $200 off the typical price for the Basic Fun 4-Player WWE Supreme Series Premium Arcade Cabinet, you can get this item for $449 until May 27. Along with simultaneous play for up to four players, this arcade cabinet includes games like “WrestleFest,” “SuperStars,” “Acrobatic Dog-Fight,” and “Super Dodgeball” that the company promises are recreated faithfully from the original games (though some wrestlers are missing from the original games due to licensing issues).

Standing at a height of 67 inches once built, this arcade cabinet includes a 19-inch LCD screen. Moreover, the control deck itself features a rub-resistant coating that protects against wear. This cabinet also includes a 90-day manufacturer warranty, on top of the Sam’s Club Member Satisfaction Guarantee.

Holding a 4.6-star rating at Sam’s, customers appreciate this arcade cabinet for its easy assembly and high nostalgia factor. Complimenting the machine on its old school aesthetics and overall value for the money, it’s worth mentioning that at least one customer found some of the hardware to be on the cheap side. However, considering the price, this can be a good one to pick up if you’re interested in classic wrestling or just looking for an arcade fix.

How we determined these Sam’s Club tech deals

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With discounts being the focus of our attention while curating this list, additional factors were also considered. After all, a product should be worth your money, so we only looked for products rated 4 stars or higher based on actual reviews from Sam’s Club customers. Timeliness was also a factor when creating this list, as Sam’s Club deals don’t always last long. Along with price, timeliness, and user reviews, we also considered products that didn’t include Members-only pricing, though those lacking a membership do need to remember that Sam’s Club may charge a 10% fee when shopping online.

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Owning a house is a huge achievement, equaled only by the responsibility to look after it and the people inside. With the right set of gadgets you can do just that, being prepared for the everyday or the unexpected. These essential devices can help you become more self-sufficient and reduce maintenance costs, emergency calls, and stress.

To aid you in this journey, we’ve picked gadgets and small machines that will improve your life as a new or long-time homeowner. Our list includes versatile tools, some that are waiting for a disaster to strike, and cleaning tools. We based our recommendations on both expert and user reviews, so you can rest assured that they’re the best choices around. They are all readily available on Amazon and other retailers, with an average customer rating above 4.2 stars after hundreds of confirmed reviews. More information on our methodology can be found at the foot of this article. 

ThruNite Archer Rechargeable Flashlight

Your phone flashlight can get you through simple scenarios, but the ThruNite Archer 2A C flashlight is ideal for more serious uses like power outages or going outside at night. It’s a step above the cheap flashlight you may have in a kitchen drawer. After testing 27 models, Wirecutter selected it as a top pick for flashlights, writing that it “boasts a number of features found on more-expensive lights: It doesn’t roll on a flat surface, it stands upright on its rear end, it can survive a 1-meter drop or full immersion in water … and it has a memory function as well as a momentary-on feature that activates the light with a half-press of the rear button.”

The Archer 2A C has dimmer settings for indoor use, as well as a maximum output of 1,018 lumens to illuminate open outdoor spaces, with a maximum beam distance of 547 feet. The light output will drop with use, but it has two options for power: two AA batteries, or a rechargeable cell included in the box. 

The rechargeable cell needs to be removed from the flashlight to charge via a USB-C port, with 1lumen noting that it takes four hours and 11 minutes to charge on average, and lasts for roughly five and a half hours on medium brightness using the lithium ion battery. The flashlight doesn’t get nearly as bright or last as long when using AA batteries, but it’s still nice to have the versatility in case of emergency.

Eaton Tripp Lite Surge Protector Power Strip

A simple surge protector can keep all of the expensive electronics in your home office or theater safe, and the Eaton Tripp Lite TLP1208SAT offers a great combination of price and features for most homeowners. 

It has a whopping 12 outlets, although in its review, TechHive notes that they are fairly cramped on one side, as the reviewer was only able to plug in 11 cords at once. This particular model also has phone, coax, and ethernet ports too. The ethernet passthrough speeds top off at 100 Mbps, which isn’t the fastest given that the average internet speeds in the U.S. are over 200 Mbps in 2026.

One great addition to this particular surge protector is its auto-shutoff feature. This prevents it from providing power at all when it’s no longer able to protect your devices. There’s also an LED to show whether your wall outlet is sufficiently grounded. In the case that disaster does strike, the manufacturer offers lifetime warranty covering up to $250,000 worth of connected devices, as long as it meets the threshold for proper installation and use. 

Midland ER310 Emergency Radio

If you live in an area with regular extreme weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes, or severe thunderstorms, an emergency radio is a must-have gadget to stay connected. The Midland ER310 is a great option, with four means of power: a solar panel, six AA batteries, a rechargeable 2,600 mAh battery, or a hand crank. There is a switch on the device to swap between the rechargeable battery or the AAs for power.

The ER310 takes about five and a half hours to charge via the micro USB port, while only a single hour of sunlight provides about 45 minutes of radio time, and cranking for only one minute powers nine minutes of radio. 

Of course, this is an emergency radio, so temper your expectations when it comes to sound quality — although a review from The Gadgeteer noted the sound to be of good quality for voices, which is all you really need for an emergency radio. It also has a 130-lumen flashlight and an ultrasonic dog whistle to help rescue teams find you when things are really dire.

DeWalt Stealthsonic Wet Dry Shop Vac

Despite the name, a shop vac is very useful outside the workshop, and it’s a great gadget for any homeowner’s toolkit. It can reach into corners like a normal stick vacuum, but it can also do so much more, like clean up your garage or car interior. Also called dry/wet vacs, they can be used to clean up all sorts of messes that would otherwise destroy a normal vacuum, such as gravel, broken glass, nails, or even small puddles. For most homeowners, it’s the perfect companion to a robot vacuum, which simply can’t handle such demanding tasks.

The trade-off is that they are typically very loud, but the DeWalt Stealthsonic series is designed to keep noise at a more reasonable level. Independent reviewers have confirmed the company’s claims of 60-65 decibels, which is well within the safe zone for noise-induced hearing loss — meaning you can safely and comfortably use the shop vac without ear protection. In fact, buyers are often surprised by just how quiet it is, with one user writing on Reddit, “however quiet you think it is, it’s probably quieter.” It comes in 6-gallon and 12-gallon sizes on Amazon, with additional 9 and 16-gallon options at Lowe’s and other retailers.

eufy Robot Vacuum E25

To keep your house floors clean, a robot vacuum is an absolutely essential gadget for homeowners in 2026. These have been around for years, with more options to try than only Roomba. The most convenient models for anyone with hardwood floors are combination vacuum/mop robots. These can run to thousands of dollars, but the eufy Robot Vacuum E25 model is a solid mid-range option that’s hard to beat in its price range.

This model performed well above average in Vacuum Wars’ ratings, with great results both when deep cleaning carpet and mopping. The only place it disappointed in testing was maximum sucking power, which may be an issue in houses with deep grout lines or seams between flooring. Still, it’s a hugely convenient gadget, since it automatically empties dust into a three-liter bag that can be emptied roughly every 75 days. It also self-washes the floor mops and refills water from the dock. Just be aware that like most hybrid robot vacuums, the dock takes up quite a lot of space, measuring 14.6 x 19.1 x 17.3 inches, so it’s not so easy to keep hidden away.

Karcher Cube Electric Pressure Washer

If your home has a lot of outdoor space, a pressure washer is a quick and convenient way to keep your driveway, sidewalk, or patio tidy. You can also use them to wash outdoor furniture, the exterior walls of your home, or even vehicles like your car or motorbike. They can be much more effective than a standard garden hose, especially if paired with the right amount of pressure and attachments. You’ll also use less water than a garden hose, which can help keep your bills down.

The Karcher K1800PS Cube is a great pick for most homeowners. It’s powerful, with a maximum pressure of 1,800 psi, but small, measuring just 15.1 x 12.6 x 11.8 inches. This makes it easy to stow away in the off season in your garage or storage shed. Just don’t forget to run the water out before you stow it, or it runs the risk of cracking. 

Also be aware that using non-Karcher soaps and cleaning products will likely void your warranty. This particular model doesn’t have wheels, but it’s light and compact enough to move around without issue. The convenient foot pedal lets you turn it on and off without bending over, and it comes with three different nozzles: turbo, 15 degrees, and a wide soap option.

Kidde Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, but it’s easy to avoid with this simple gadget. Smoke detectors have been required in U.S. homes since 1976, and most states adopted building codes that require CO detectors in one- and two-story homes 15 years ago, and for good reason. Unlike smoke, carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause everything from dizziness and confusion to outright death. If you want to stay up to code and, more importantly, keep your family safe, you should have CO detectors installed in your home.

Thankfully, there are plenty of combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on the market. Some, like the Kidde Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector, can also connect to smart home systems like Google Home and Alexa for peace of mind when outside the house. This model also works with other non-smart Kidde alarms in your home, so that if any one of them triggers, the smart model will ping you a notification on your phone. There are both hardwired and AA battery-powered models available. The battery-powered model is easier to install, but check your local codes to see whether or not a hardwired model is required by law in your area.

Casper Glow Night Light

Night lights have a reputation for being just for kids, and most models on the market have an aesthetic to match. But if you’ve ever needed to run to the bathroom in the middle of the night, sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack, or just walk down a dark hallway without stubbing your toe, a decent night light can help. The Casper Sleep Glow Night Light, from the popular Casper mattress company, solves all of these problems at once, with a sleek, minimal design that won’t look out of place in a modern home.

Once plugged in, it automatically turns on and off depending on the ambient light in the room, or if it detects motion. These two separate modes are selected via a toggle on the device itself. The night light is designed so that the light is reflected off the wall, giving it a soft, warm glow. 

The biggest downside is that the bulb isn’t replaceable, so you’ll need to buy a new light when it burns out. Casper claims they have a lifespan of one-to-two years, with the official warranty lasting for 12 months. However, Wirecutter found that they can last for three years or more. It’s more expensive than a cheap, ugly night light, but you can save a little by buying a two-pack.

Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 3rd Gen)

Doorbell cameras are an essential gadget for modern homeowners to keep control over their front porch, combining the traditional doorbell with a connected security camera. Unlike old-school peep holes, they allow you to see who is at your door from anywhere you can access the internet, and most can record activity to catch porch pirates and other vandals in the act. Ring is one of the most popular brands in the space, but there are some uncomfortable truths about Ring cameras that have pushed many buyers to seek out reliable Ring alternatives.

One great option is the Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 3rd Gen), which offers 2K video and audio in an attractive package. It goes beyond simple motion detection, with added AI smarts helping to detect if it’s a human, vehicle, package, or pet. Wirecutter says that it does this accurately and also “consistently restricts alerts as intended when you use activity zones to monitor specific areas.” 

This particular model is wired, which means it’s more difficult to install but offers more reliable coverage. It works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but for the best coverage, you’ll need to upgrade to Google Home Premium, which starts at $10 a month or $100 a year.

Sensi ST55 Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat makes it easy to monitor your home’s temperature and make immediate or scheduled adjustments to keep your family as comfortable as possible. It can also help you save money on energy bills in unexpected weather. Essentially, all it does is connect your HVAC and climate control systems to your home Wi-Fi, but different smart thermostat brands offer various features at at a range of prices. Some also require a monthly subscription, which can cut into savings on energy bills.

For a simple, no-fuss setup, the Sensi ST55 Smart Thermostat is a great pick. It drops the modern touchscreens and puck designs of more expensive smart thermostats for a reliable LCD panel and physical buttons. PCMag notes that, “Despite its smallish size, the LCD offers a wealth of information.” That includes basics like room temperature and battery levels, a simple toggle to change the mode to heating, cooling, or off, plus fan setting, time, and schedule. 

The ST55 supports voice commands to control home temperatures via Alexa, Google, and Siri, as well as geofencing to automatically reduce energy consumption when you’re not at home. This thermostat can work with HVAC systems without a c-wire, but make sure you check compatibility for your specific model before buying.

How we chose these essential gadgets for homeowners

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These products were chosen after considering some of the most common and time-consuming tasks and concerns for homeowners. That includes maintenance and cleaning, as well as other topics like safety and disaster preparedness. Rather than handyman’s tools, in this list we focused on gadgets.

For our recommendations, we considered both user and expert reviews from reputable websites and YouTube channels, plus how well each product’s features meet the needs of most homeowners. All products have a 4.2 or higher rating based on hundreds or thousands of reviews on Amazon.

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Traveling can be incredibly stressful, which is why there’s always room for new innovations that make it easier. Over the years, “Shark Tank” has featured various travel-related inventions like the Trippie app and Trunkster. Another memorable product was Coolpeds, an electric briefcase scooter that provides a quick and easy way to get around with a large bag. According to creator Tony Chan, the scooter itself was foldable, weighed only 11 pounds, and could reach speeds up to 15 miles per hour.

Coolpeds appeared in “Shark Tank” Season 9, Episode 23, which aired in April 2018. Chan came in asking for $250,000 in exchange for 5% of the company, reporting $500,000 in sales over 18 months. Right away, the Sharks were intrigued by the product itself. Kevin O’Leary even took it for a ride around the set. But the scooter wasn’t the only product Chan was trying to sell the Sharks — he also unveiled the Ampere, an electric sports car, which he assured the Sharks was a groundbreaking automobile.

Quickly, though, the Sharks began to see issues with Coolpeds, including skepticism over airlines allowing the device and confusion over combining the scooter and sports car into one business, leading Robert Herjavec (a car collector and racer) to tell Chan he needed to pick one. In the end, Coolpeds rolled away without any offers, unlike another scooter, Sway Motorsports, which did land a deal on Season 6 (though it appears it never closed).

What happened to Coolpeds after Shark Tank?

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Coolpeds didn’t get a deal on “Shark Tank,” and based on everything that has happened since, that might have been the right call on the Sharks’ part. At the time of his appearance, Chan did not disclose that he had multiple incomplete Indiegogo projects, including two for an e-scooter and one for an electric bike. The pages are still up and full of unsatisfied customers, including over 1,000 comments for Coolpeds iBike, 2 with many asking for updates, refunds, or any information on the company itself.

Judging by those comments, it seems many Indiegogo backers didn’t receive the products they paid for, and some of those who did reported issues with quality and customer service. This includes at least one person whose e-bike arrived with a broken pedal that rendered it unusable. Chan hasn’t commented on any of the pages since 2019.

Even after all that, Coolpeds’ website and shop page are still up. However, while you can add the Coolpeds Briefcase Electric Scooter and a $399 reservation for the Ampere sports car to your cart, the website cannot accept online payments. Additionally, clicking Buy Now on the homepage takes you to the website for Zoom e-scooters. Those scooters were originally sold by Ampere Motors, though it doesn’t mention the company or Tony Chan anywhere on its website. The Zoom and Bloom e-scooters are currently available to purchase, though some users have reported similar quality and customer service issues to those of Coolpeds.

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One of the key considerations when buying an electric vehicle (EV) is the range, which simply refers to the distance a given model can travel on a full charge. Range is important, and that’s why car companies typically use each EV’s estimated range in marketing materials as one of the key selling points. If you’re worried about range and you’re considering buying your first-ever EV or want to upgrade an old one that has been your daily for years, many EVs offer impressive range in 2026. Buying one with the longest range possible should give you peace of mind and the confidence to hit the road for long trips without regular stops for recharging. While the estimated range is a key metric to consider when shopping, it’s important to keep in mind that there are different factors that affect the range of an EV. 

If you’re looking for the EV with the absolute best range on the market, as of this writing, the answer to that is the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring. The 2026 variant of the Lucid Air Grand Touring is a sedan that offers an impressive range of up to 512 miles based on the EPA’s test cycle, which is used as a reference standard for EV range in the United States. In Europe’s optimistic WLTP test cycle, the Lucid Air Grand Touring offers up to 597 miles, according to Lucid Motors. That WLTP figure blows the 575-mile range of the 2026 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ out of the water and makes the Lucid Air Grand Touring the longest-range EV that you can buy in 2026.

The Lucid Air Grand Touring is packed with power, space, and comfort

The impressive range of the Lucid Air Grand Touring is not the only thing this EV has going for it. It also charges fast, with Lucid promising an additional 200-mile range from just 12 minutes of charging when connected to a 350 kW DC fast charger. The only catch when it comes to charging is that you won’t be able to access Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network unless you get a North American Charging Standard adapter that Lucid sells for $220, excluding sales tax. Powered by a dual-motor configuration, the Grand Touring trim sends power to all four wheels and produces a maximum output of 819 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque. It can go from a stop to 60 mph in 3 seconds and can run at a top speed of 168 mph. 

The Lucid Air Grand Touring is a luxury sedan that can seat up to five people. It’s not a car that you would consider when you’re working with a tight budget, but, befitting a car of its caliber, the Air is built with luxury in mind. In fact, the Lucid Air ranks as one of the best luxury EVs on the market according to experts. Car and Driver says the Air has a “handsome interior” that is “fitted with rich-looking materials and cutting-edge technology.” Additionally, you get plenty of space in the cabin, both for passengers and for storage. Lucid didn’t miss the opportunity to make a good first impression from the outside with the Air Grand Touring, as The Drive describes the exterior as “breathtaking.”

Reviewers praise the Lucid Air Grand Touring for its range

Since there are various factors that affect the range of an EV, you might be skeptical of official range figures from companies. It’s a valid concern, as we’ve seen certain EVs fall short of their advertised range by 50 miles or more. But for this EV, even reviewers have been left impressed by the range they were able to achieve in their independent tests. Car and Driver praised the vehicle for being “unmatched when it comes to EV road-tripping.” In the site’s independent highway range test, the Lucid Air Grand Touring traveled for a total of 410 miles. 

The Drive called it a “range king,” and Motor Trend’s review says it has “industry-leading range.” Lastly, Autoblog says the car does a great job at balancing “high performance and long-range efficiency.” In other words, this is the EV to buy if you want to get rid of range anxiety for good. The Lucid Air Grand Touring is available to buy in the U.S. starting at $114,900 without any extra options (such as a glass canopy sunroof, custom colors, and wheels), plus a destination charge of $1,500.

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Amazon offers four different smart speakers as part of its Echo lineup that you can use to leverage its Alexa voice assistant in your home. A fifth smart speaker called the Echo Pop isn’t officially discontinued, but can sometimes be relatively harder to find new. These smart speakers target different price segments and usage needs. As expected, with different price points, the performance and quality of each Echo speaker vary. You may think that the Echo Dot Max, which is one of the more expensive smart speakers in Amazon’s portfolio with a $100 price tag, would actually be one of its best ones. However, the testing done by Consumer Reports (CR) suggests that it is, in fact, the worst Amazon Echo speaker.

Consumer Reports is a trusted source that’s known for its unbiased testing of devices and services. CR’s testing of a wide range of other speakers also shows that the Echo Dot Max, which was unveiled in October 2025, performed the worst among all the Bluetooth and wireless speakers, and not just the Echo devices. Let’s find out why the Amazon Echo Dot Max performed so poorly in CR’s testing and what other reviewers are saying about it.

The Echo Dot Max isn’t a very good speaker

Besides talking to Alexa to get information or control smart home devices, playing music is one of the biggest use cases for any Echo smart speaker. Unfortunately, CR’s testing reveals that while the Echo Dot Max is fine for listening to content with dialog, it’s not a great speaker for music playback. The included 0.8-inch tweeter and the 2.5-inch woofer are said to deliver a mediocre sound quality, with subdued bass and treble. It also provides an overall congested sound, and its room adaptation technology to tweak the sound depending on the ambient conditions isn’t very good. While it’s okay for listening to music sitting next to it or using another Echo Dot Max to clear a stereo pair for a wider soundstage, the overall experience leaves a lot to be desired.

CR isn’t the only one to be disappointed in Echo Dot Max’s audio performance. Several other experts also find its sound to be mushy, lacking sharpness, and feeling like a downgrade from the fifth-generation Echo Dot, which you can buy for significantly less. That said, some experts do believe it’s okay for casual listening and can be loud enough to fill a medium-sized room, despite its shortcomings. But if you are hoping to get an above-average speaker in the Echo Dot Max, you may end up disappointed.

If you want a better Echo speaker than the Echo Dot Max and are willing to spend more money, the Echo Studio (2025) is more suitable as it offers the best sound among Amazon’s Echo speakers. But if you’re on a tighter budget, it’s better to get an Echo Dot (or two for stereo pairing), which is one of the top-rated gadgets on Amazon. 

The Echo Dot Max isn’t all bad

Although the Echo Dot Max isn’t a shining example of solid sound quality in Amazon’s smart speaker portfolio, it offers the same ease of use and versatility as the other Echo speakers. You can get access to regular Alexa as well as Alexa+ with generative AI. The latter is particularly capable as it leverages a large language model to deliver a more conversational and natural AI experience. Experts say the Echo Dot Max is great for voice assistant usage, as the built-in mic array picks up commands easily, even in relatively noisy environments.

One highlight of the Echo Dot Max, which you don’t have in the cheaper Echo models, is its ability to function as a Zigbee hub. As a result, you can connect all the Zigbee-compatible smart devices in your home without shelling out for a dedicated hub. It can also function as a Thread Border router, allowing it to bridge your Thread-enabled Matter devices with each other and to the internet. Echo Dot Max can also work as a node to extend your Wi-Fi coverage area if you use Amazon’s Eero mesh networking systems. So while you will get the same voice assistant features as the Echo Dot Max on other Echo speakers, it offers some extras, particularly on the smart home front, that can be helpful and make it a decent smart speaker purchase if you aren’t worried about its mediocre audio performance.

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