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When it comes to smart speakers and smart displays, one of the most recognizable brands on the market is the Amazon Echo lineup. These are the kinds of gadgets that put smart home controls in the palm of your hand, with the Alexa software working hard behind the scenes to adjust your smart lights, stream your music, remind you of the day’s events, and so much more.

Many Echo devices have already been through multiple generations, and the Amazon sub-label has expanded beyond speakers and displays to include products like smart glasses. Whether you’re just starting out with smart home tech or you’re in need of a control hub for a guest room or kitchen, you really can’t go wrong with an Echo smart speaker or smart display. Still, there are a ton of devices to choose from, which is why we went ahead and rounded up our four favorite Echo devices worth buying in 2026.

Echo Dot Max

Serving as the official replacement for the multi-generational Amazon Echo speaker, the $100 Echo Dot Max ditched the cylindrical design for an aesthetic more in line with the Echo Dot. Available in Glacier White, Graphite, and Amethyst, the Dot Max is powered by an AZ3 chip and Amazon’s Alexa+ software. Amazon claims the Dot Max delivers three times as much bass as the 2022 Echo Dot, and that the speaker auto-calibrates to best accommodate your listening space.

With Alexa+ on tap, you’ll be able to stream all your favorite tunes across platforms like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple Music. You’ll also be able to ask the assistant for news and weather updates, event reminders, and to control various smart home devices. The addition of Omnisense technology even means you’ll be able to start Alexa Routines when motion is detected or a change in temperature occurs.

Not only did the Echo Dot Max earn a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon (based on over 2,900 reviews), but industry experts have also praised the speaker’s well-balanced sound, as well as its smart home hub compatibility and Alexa+ access.

Echo Spot (2024)

The bite-sized version of Amazon’s tabletop Echo tech is the $80 Echo Spot (2024). “Great for nightstands, offices and kitchens,” is the descriptor Amazon added right after the product name, and we couldn’t agree more. The Spot costs a bit more than a fifth-gen Echo Dot, but adds a 2.83-inch touchscreen that doubles as a clock face. This makes it a perfect alarm clock, and you’ll even be able to choose between six faces and four alarm sounds in the Alexa app.

More than 41,200 users reviewed the Echo Spot, and it earned 4.6 out of 5 stars. The speaker has been professionally hailed for its boost in overall sound quality over the previous Spot, as well as the removal of its built-in camera. While the Echo Spot doesn’t have the same long list of capabilities as the Echo Dot or Echo Show, it can play music, control smart home devices, provide weather updates, and more.

Sold in Black, Glacier White, and Ocean Blue colors, it’s also a bonus that Amazon decided to keep physical buttons around; the newest Spot features volume up and down keys, as well as an on-off toggle for its microphone.

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)

It’s not every day that a smart display earns a perfect score for its design, audio, and more, but this is very much the case for the $90 Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen). This is a well-made smart display that serves as a nice gateway into the Alexa ecosystem. It’s available in Charcoal, Cloud Blue, and Glacier White colors, and has volume up and down buttons, a mic mute switch, and a slidable privacy shield for the built-in camera.

Speaking of which, the integrated lens allows you to Drop In on other Echo Show devices, and the cam will also show a live feed when you enable Home Monitoring in the Alexa app. As an upgrade to the previous Show 5 generation, Amazon claims the newest model has deeper bass and clearer vocals, which bodes well for those of us looking to stream our favorite albums and artists on the Show 5. The Show 5 has a number of hidden features you shouldn’t ignore, too.

On Amazon, the Echo Show 5 was reviewed by more than 65,500 users and scored a 4.2 out of 5-star rating. Most folks stand behind the sound quality and overall performance of the latest Show 5, but several users mentioned that the software can occasionally be glitchy. Fortunately, this is usually an issue that a quick reset will fix.

Echo Show 21

When money is no object, there’s the $400 Amazon Echo Show 21, which is basically a big, souped-up version of the Echo Show 5 featured in this roundup. The Show 21 comes with wall-mounting hardware, as it’s designed to be an interactive bulletin board the whole family can use. It also has Fire TV built in, so you’ll be able to stream movies and shows through Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and other platforms.

Compliments have been paid to the Show 21’s large screen, Wi-Fi 6E support, and improved speakers and camera. Similar to the Echo Show 15 (an older, smaller version of the Echo Show 21), widgets are a main part of how you and yours will use the touchscreen, but it also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that you can use to control the Fire TV app.

The Echo Show 21 earned a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, which was based on over 5,200 reviews. It seems that the rollout of Alexa+ has proved troublesome to a handful of users, but the vast majority were pleased with the Show 21, particularly its monstrous screen and wide array of organization tools.

Why we chose these Amazon Echo devices

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The Amazon Echo family is a go-to option for new and existing Alexa households. There really isn’t a “bad” device in the lineup, and Amazon continues to update and improve the hardware/software experience. That said, we wanted to select a handful of Echo products that best represented the entire smart speaker-display collection. Each of our choices is backed by a professional, hands-on review from trusted publications like Wired, and we only chose devices that scored four stars or higher on Amazon.

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Colored noise profiles, such as white noise and brown noise, are types of consistent sound that are characterized by their amplitude and frequency ranges. Extensive research has been conducted on white noise in particular, establishing that this type of noise is beneficial for occupational health. White noise machines are gadgets that can reduce stress, which makes them great for helping you sleep or focus on work. However, studies show that brown noise may actually be better for productivity.

Brown noise emphasizes lower frequencies and contains fewer high frequencies. This profile is named after the scientist Robert Brown, who discovered “Brownian motion,” which is the random movement of particles in nature. Similarly, brown noise is generated by the “random movement” of rainfall, crashing waves, or rolling thunder. Many claim that the low, bass-heavy sound of a brown noise track is perfect for stimulating the brain or calming the mind during a grindy work session.

By comparison, white noise is a harsher sound. It contains all sound frequencies across the audible spectrum, including the high-pitched ones. This makes it effective at drowning out other noises that might disturb you as you drift to sleep or lock in on a work task. However, white noise is well-known for its signature static hissing sound that can sometimes be the opposite of helpful. Many people prefer brown noise for productivity because it is not distracting or grating.

How to make the most of colored noise

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Colored noise works best when you use it to give your brain the stimulation it craves while also preventing it from picking up other forms of stimulation that will distract you from the task at hand. This is exactly why brown noise can be so beneficial for people who struggle with sensory overload, ADHD, or low dopamine levels. 

To make the most of colored noise, consider checking out the best sleep headphones recommended by Consumer Reports. Sleep headphones are designed to block out external sound and sit comfortably in the ear for several straight hours, which makes them equally useful for daytime productivity.

Whether you prefer white noise or brown noise, using a sound machine can be a game-changer for your office workspace. The type of colored noise that will make the most difference for you is a matter of personal preference. Pink noise and green noise can be helpful, too, but health experts are pointing more and more toward brown noise as a solution for focus, work, and overall productivity.

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A travel router, as the name suggests, is one that you use while traveling, and there are several reasons you should travel with one. Typically priced around $50–100, a travel router connects to an available network and expands connectivity across all your devices. This way, you don’t have to individually connect your devices — whether it’s your laptop, smartphone, or gaming console — to a public network, which can sometimes be a hassle, especially in hotels and cafes. This becomes even more frustrating when there’s a limit to the number of devices you can connect. Apart from that, a travel router adds a layer of security, hiding your devices on the network. Modern travel routers also feature built-in VPN connectivity, further boosting security.

Unlike traditional home routers, travel routers are generally more compact. So carrying them is generally not a problem. Some are battery-powered, many rely on USB connections, and others need to be plugged into a wall socket. It goes without saying that battery- and USB-powered routers tend to be better choices for most people, given that these can be used anywhere, even in remote locations. Depending on the battery size, a travel router can last up to a full day of use.

If you have been on the fence about getting a travel router, you probably should go for one for convenience, security, and reliability. And when you are not traveling, you can use the travel router as a Wi-Fi extender to boost signal strength inside the house.

Conveniently connect devices in one go

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Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks or ones in hotel rooms can sometimes be inconvenient. First, you need to connect each device individually. And if you are always on the move, you will have to connect them every time. Additionally, you might need to log into some networks before you can actually access the internet. A travel router eliminates the need for this. You simply connect your travel router to the network, and your smartphones and laptops can effortlessly connect to it, every time, no matter where you are.

Also, with your travel router acting as a central hub for all connected devices, changes you make to the network settings apply across devices. You don’t need to configure things for every device individually. For frequent travelers, this saves a lot of time and effort, especially if they travel with multiple devices. If the router features a USB port, you can connect a flash drive or an HDD/SSD, and every device on the network will be able to access files on it, just like with a Network Attached Storage (NAS).

Improve security on public networks

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For years, experts have been warning about the risks of public Wi-Fi networks available at airports and restaurants. Hackers can intercept the data being transmitted on the network to identify your device, the websites you visit, and the information you share. Public Wi-Fi networks that don’t require a password to connect pose a greater risk. A travel router significantly minimizes this by acting as an intermediary. Since the router is connected to the public network, it will be the only one that is visible, not your individual devices. But this alone doesn’t guarantee complete security.

It’s advised that you use a VPN when connected to a public network. And many modern travel routers come with native VPN functionalities. Keep in mind that there are two types of travel routers in this context — ones that are VPN-compatible and others that support built-in VPN. A VPN-compatible router supports VPN, but you need to manually set it up, often by installing firmware or with other slightly complicated methods. On the other hand, a router with built-in VPN either supports VPN protocols like WireGuard or comes with a pre-loaded VPN service. For regular users, travel routers with built-in VPN are the smarter choice.

Some travel routers also allow you to set up guest networks for untrusted devices, which is particularly helpful when you are sharing a room with someone. Then, there are other security-oriented features like NextDNS and DNS-over-TLS.

Effortlessly bypass device limits

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Sometimes, you come across networks that only allow a limited number of devices to connect. For instance, hotel Wi-Fi can limit the number of connections to two to three per room. And you instantly hit that limit as soon as you connect your laptop and smartphone. To connect more devices, you are typically required to pay an extra charge. If you are traveling with someone, this can be a real challenge and quickly add to the overall expense. But with a travel router, you can easily bypass this limit.

When you use a travel router, it’s the only device connecting to the network, and every other device is connected through it. This means that you can connect as many devices as you want, as long as they are within your router’s device limit. For frequent travelers who often run into these limits and are forced to pay additional charges, a travel router can be a real money-saver.

Boost stability and reliability

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One of the biggest challenges while traveling is finding a decent network, one that’s stable and reliable. Even when you find one, the signal strength plays a major role and you can’t always get closer to the router. That’s where a travel router truly shines. It connects to the network, and then acts as a standalone router, boosting signal strength for all your devices.

If you have an unlimited data SIM, you can also use your phone to create a hotspot and then connect the router to it. This setup is particularly helpful when there are too many devices to connect, because as you add more devices, mobile hotspots tend to become less reliable. Some travel routers also feature a SIM card slot, eliminating the need to use your smartphone altogether. You can simply plug the SIM into the router and create a mobile hotspot anywhere, as long as there’s network coverage.

Apart from that, some modern travel routers use load balancing to automatically handle bandwidth allocation when connected to more than one network. This results in a more stable connection. For example, if the travel router is connected to a mobile hotspot and a public network, it will split traffic from your devices between the two, and even fall back on one if the other is down.

Turn any wired connection into a private Wi-Fi

Sometimes, Wi-Fi is not an option and all you have is an Ethernet cable. For instance, some hotels still have an Ethernet cable in rooms. And while these are fast and reliable, you can only connect your laptop to it, and that too if the laptop features a LAN port or you have a suitable adapter. A travel router can help here too. Some models feature an Ethernet port designed for this use case. All you need to do is plug the cable into the router’s Ethernet port, and it will instantly transform that wired connection into your personal Wi-Fi network. You can then connect all your devices to it.

If that’s not an option but you still have an unlimited data SIM, you can use USB tethering. In case your router has a USB port, connect your phone to it, allow data sharing between the two, and the router will essentially transform that connection into a hotspot. As it is a wired connection, USB tethering is faster than a hotspot in most cases. So, if you are aiming for faster speed, this could make a big difference.

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If you’ve spent much time on TikTok in the past several years, you’ve probably stumbled across the rich vein of “CleanTok” content. It’s rife with hacks for making all the everyday cleaning chores you deal with easier, faster, and more effective, including the best way to keep your TV’s screen clean. As with virtually every other subTok, however, it’s also rife with misinformation or untested hypotheses, some of which can lead to deeply unfortunate consequences.

One of the most common of these involves some combination of lemons, vinegar (or some other acid-based liquid), and/or baking soda. And while vinegar is a great choice for some of the most onerous cleaning tasks, it can also be extremely damaging, particularly to things like sensitive electronics. While TVs are notorious for accruing gunk, and you may be tempted to scrub it away with a little spritz of that white cleaning gold, vinegar can cause permanent damage to your TV panel. You should never apply it to a television screen, but there are alternatives that will get the job done without the risk.

How vinegar can damage your screen

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It’s not just your TV cleaning routine – you should never use vinegar to clean any of your electronics’ screens, including your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The main issue is that vinegar can destroy a screen’s carefully designed anti-glare properties. This is because vinegar is acidic: common household vinegar is typically made with acetic acid, diluted to about 5% with water (industrial cleaning vinegar can reach 10% acetic acid or more). That acid dissolves or wears away the thin anti-glare layer applied across the panel’s surface, without which the screen loses its light-diffusing property, causing cloudiness, streaks, and reduced visual clarity.

Unfortunately, once that coating has been stripped, it can’t be reapplied. It’s even more dangerous to devices with touchscreens. Cleaning them with vinegar can actually reduce sensitivity, making them less responsive. This is in part because the vinegar may eat away at the oleophobic coating on touchscreens designed to resist fingerprints. Also, most touchscreens are capacitive, meaning they detect touch by subtle changes in an electric field through the glass/coating. Damaged or uneven coatings can disrupt this field, making it harder for a device to detect your fingertips.

How you should clean your TV screen

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The above advice applies to “pure” vinegar, which, as it has been established, is diluted acetic acid. Somewhat controversially, laptop manufacturer Acer suggests that using a further dilution of 50% water, 50% vinegar (reducing the acetic acid content to around 2.5% for household vinegar) is perfectly fine to use for cleaning your laptop display. The company does warn against using tap water for this dilution, however: tap water can contain particulates that may end up scratching or otherwise damaging your screen.

If you’d rather avoid the risk of vinegar entirely, start with a simple microfiber cloth (though you should never clean a TV with a microfiber cloth after dropping it). Again, you’ll want to avoid coarser fabrics like a rag or t-shirt, because they can also be rough enough to scratch the surface of your display. If a microfiber cloth alone isn’t enough, try spraying a small amount of purified water onto the cloth and wiping down the surface.

If that still doesn’t do the trick, TV maker Panasonic suggests a tiny bit of dish soap. Mix one part dish soap with 100 parts water, then apply to a microfiber cloth or soft sponge. Wring out the cloth/sponge thoroughly and then wipe down the panel. You’ll then want to immediately dry the display off with, you guessed it, a microfiber cloth, to avoid streaking. Regardless of which method you use (and particularly if you’re cleaning a laptop display), be wary of excess water dripping onto sensitive components like the keyboard deck or into vents on your TV.

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Costco is one of the best places to get your electronics in store or online with a pretty wide selection to choose from as well as great prices, rewards, and warranties. Laptops, sound bars, TVs, headphones, and some fancy useful gadgets are all available for the taking. Electronics get stocked frequently if you’re looking for something new to buy. We combed through the warehouse chain’s new releases and decided to narrow them to a few specific products. Of course, there will be more available throughout the rest of the year, but these are the new ones that may be worth your while so far.

The focus will be on late 2025 as well as early 2026 releases. It’s worth noting that some of these items come in bundles that aren’t available elsewhere. Also, model numbers may differ from what you find at other outlets since Costco products sometimes get a unique product name — but they are usually identical items. To help narrow down our list, we also consulted with some expert reviews. Here are the 10 new Costco electronics you should look out for in 2026.

1. M5 MacBook Air

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The MacBook Air used to be built for light users who needed a laptop to read or write documents and browse the internet. That’s not the case anymore with the newer versions, including the latest MacBook Air. For this reason, the M5 MacBook Air at Costco should be a strong contender if you’re currently in need of a new laptop. It’s the sweet spot if you live in your browser, office, and apps, and sometimes get into some creative work like heavy video editing — and we’re talking about the base 13-inch model that comes with 16GB unified memory and a 512GB solid-state drive.

The M5 MacBook Air also comes with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, meaning you get a machine that should see you through years of everyday work without showing any signs of sluggishness. The older M1 and M2 models of the MacBook Air still hold their own in 2026, which means you’ll be rocking the new 15-inch M5 for quite a while if you grab one today for under just $1,200 from Costco. Also, we highly recommend you go for this laptop if you’re thinking of moving up from an Intel Mac and you are the kind of person who values getting as many years as you possibly can from your tech investments.

2. Shark ChillPill 2-in-1 Fan and InstaChill Cooling System

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With summer just around the corner, one of the ways you can prepare yourself is by getting a portable fan that you can throw in your bag and take wherever you go. The Shark ChillPill 2-in-1 Fan and Instachill Cooling System is one of the latest Costco additions in this category and comes with a high-speed fan and the InstaChill metal cooling plate. The device is just three inches long, meaning it can fit in most pockets, it comes with a lanyard to help you carry and use it easily, and the battery can last you up to 11 hours.

The ChillPill’s bladeless fan speed tops out at 25 feet per second, and the cooling plate can lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees on contact. It may come in handy for long queues in poorly ventilated areas, all-day festivals, post-workout relief, and hot road trips. One thing that early reviewers have pointed out is that the fan can get as loud as a small hair dryer at maximum speed. Besides that, this $130 summer survival tool works like a charm. Before you buy, it’s worth noting that some retailers may bundle their variants (they cost more) with a misting attachment, which isn’t the case at Costco.

3. Anker Solix C1000X Gen 2 Power Station

One tech device to consider having for power outages, road trips, or camping is a portable power station. Costco’s Anker Solix C1000X Gen 2 that comes bundled with a 200W bifacial solar panel is one of the best deals you can find in 2026. Before we get further into this 1kWh kit, note that the C1000X Gen 2 is a Costco variant but is essentially the same unit as the C1000 Gen 2 you may come across elsewhere with one less power outlet. Other than the difference in the number of outlets, Costco’s C1000X also comes with a portable solar panel and will set you back $600 for the bundle.

The C1000X Gen 2’s standout feature is the fact that you can charge it from 0-100% in under 50 minutes if you use AC (1,600W). That’s 43 minutes to be precise, making it the fastest recharging portable power station in the world, according to Guinness World Records. Of course, the official record involves the more common C1000 Gen 2 model, but they are basically the same thing, as pointed out earlier. Another thing worth highlighting is just how portable the C1000X Gen 2 is. It weighs in at 24.9 pounds. It has a pair of 140W USB-C ports, a 12V car socket, one 12W USB-A port, an extra 15W USB-C port, and 2,000W max AC output. The bundled portable solar panel may only max out 200W, but it really comes in clutch when you’re on the move with the power station.

4. LG OLED evo C6

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If you want to upgrade your current TV, there are some OLED TVs that users swear by. A new model, LG’s evo C6, is also worth a look. We mentioned its predecessor, the C5, to be one of the best-looking TV screens with the highest color accuracy you can buy, but the new C6 is a clear step up, with richer HDR highlights and better processing. The C6 excels at games, comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports, and delivers up to 165Hz refresh rate in 4K when gaming from your computer.

Being OLED, the C6 will deliver deep blacks with zero haloing around bright highlights while also giving you a decent wide-viewing angle. It’s an OLED TV that just works. It comes in 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch variants. The last two sizes use a different and newer OLED panel than the rest. However, only three sizes are available at Costco at the time of writing, the 48-, 55-, and 65-inch ones, with prices starting at $1,600 for the smallest of the bunch. The main drawback you’ll get with the C6 is a bit of stutter when watching content – one of the main reasons upgrading to an OLED TV might not be worth it.

5. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

If you’re looking to get a new pair of headphones in 2026, the $400 second generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones from Costco might be the best noise-canceling headphones yet, according to a review from Aaron X Loud and Wireless. Besides being outstandingly comfortable, they come with top-of-the-line noise blocking, spatial audio, USB-C audio, and up to 30 hours’ worth of listening time with active noise cancellation turned on. They are also ultra-portable thanks to their foldable design that you can use during daily commutes or long flights.

One good thing about USB-C headphones is that you can charge them while still enjoying lossless audio, a definite plus if this is your primary listening mode. The QC Ultra headphones also come with spatial audio with head tracking. Head tracking ensures the dialogue or music you’re listening to remains in a fixed position in space rather than moving with your head, making it more immersive. The new QC Ultra ticks all the right boxes and is future-proof if you’re looking for comfortable headphones to kill the noise in your commutes while sounding great.

6. TCL Q6CH 5.1 Ch Soundbar

Once you grab a new TV, especially a mid-range or below, we recommend bundling it with one of the best soundbars you can buy in 2026 to get the best possible audio experience. The good thing is that you don’t have to break the bank if you go for one like the $240 TCL Q6CH 5.1 Ch soundbar. This is the Costco variant, with the only difference being the SKU name — elsewhere you will find this unit identified as TCL Q65H.

The Q6CH is powerful and immersive for the price, with the subwoofer packing quite a punch and the surround sound convincingly good for movies as well as sports. It doesn’t really match up to a true separate system, but it’s a huge jump from whatever most built-in TV speakers have to offer. What makes this soundbar an even better deal is that Costco’s pricing undercuts rivals such as Amazon, thus saving you a few bucks. If you don’t care about getting the highest-end brands or overengineered designs, the Q6CH should be in your cart. It sounds good enough, and that’s what really matters, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

7. Roborock QX Revo Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop

Costco is one of the best places to shop when it comes to top-of-the-line robot vacuum brands that aren’t Roombas, and one of the best deals you can find in 2026 is the $800 Roborock QX Revo Ultra — especially useful if you own pets. It’s Costco exclusive and comes with a powerful vacuum (up to 18,500Pa of suction) and a multifunctional docking station with hot mop wash, auto-refill, and auto-empty. Most robot vacuums with all these features will set you back over a thousand bucks, making this Costco listing a great deal.

In real-world testing, the QX Revo Ultra shows strong performance when cleaning up mixed debris and embedded pet hair on both carpets and hard floors. The docking station’s hot-water mop washing plus heated drying is associated with flagship cleaners and nice to have. The QX Revo Ultra also comes with Costco’s lifetime satisfaction guarantee, which isn’t something you may get from other big-box retailers.

The only real catch with this unit is how it handles obstacle avoidance. The QX Revo Ultra’s sensors do a pretty good job for walls and furniture but may struggle if you have tiny objects such as cables and toys lying around or pets it may encounter. Other than a relatively small dustbin that you have to manually trigger to empty when full, this robot vacuum would be a great addition if your floors are generally tidy.

8. Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal Robot Cleaner

The new Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is another new Costco addition worth a look — especially if you’re keen on automatic vacuuming. It’s the best robot Shark has released so far, according to Vacuum Wars, and shows excellent abilities in pet-hair removal and debris pickup and has the highest ever obstacle avoidance score for the brand. What really sells the PowerDetect UV Reveal is the UV light feature that triggers extra mop passes when it detects hard-to-see stains.

The PowerDetect UV Reveal also comes with an advanced docking station with washable filters to save you money, 185-degree Fahrenheit hot-water mop, heated drying, and a bagless auto-empty system. There are a couple of shortcomings to be aware of before buying. This robot tends to use more water than other brands, ending up leaving floors noticeably wet. It posted one of the lowest combined mopping scores ever recorded by Vacuum Wars at the time of writing. Despite the negatives, the PowerDetect UV Reveal is still a solid automatic vacuum with just good enough mopping capabilities to get by.

9. GoPro Max2 8K 360 Action Camera Bundle

Costco’s GoPro Max2 8K 360 Action Camera Bundle eliminates the need to have to put together various accessories to get high-quality, 360-degree video. Everything you want is in this bundle. The camera can shoot up to 8K at 30fps or 4K at 60fps if you need traditional action footage. Compared to competitors such as the Insta360 and DJI offerings, this camera holds its own. Our friends over at SlashGear say the GoPro Max2 is “the new best 360-degree action camera.” Its strong point is in stabilization and slow-motion capture up to 4K at 100fps or 5.6K at 60fps, and, of course, it takes invisible pole shots, which come in handy when recording social media content, vlogs, or sports.

Here’s what you get in the Costco bundle: a case, two batteries, SD card, extension pole, lens replacement kit, and mounts to build a complete rig. On most reviews and online stores, you’re likely to come across just the camera body, requiring you to buy the accessories separately. Grab the Costco bundle if you’re on the lookout for an Insta360 or DJI Osmo alternative, but bear in mind that the Max2 performs best when outdoors or in well-lit interiors. It may struggle in low-light conditions, which is common for these types of cameras.

10. Ring Wired Doorbell Pro and Indoor Cam Plus Bundle

Costco’s Ring bundle is a nifty way to add an extra set of eyes to watch over your home. In the bundle you get the 4K Ring Wired Doorbell Pro for your main entrance and an Indoor Cam Plus that you can strategically place anywhere inside your house. The Doorbell Pro captures 4K video and alerts you instantly when someone approaches your front door. It also uses advanced motion detection that can reliably sense people as well as packages. The camera also does a pretty good job of taming shaded porches or darkness without losing much detail using the brand’s Low-Light Sight technology.

You’ll get an app to help you customize motion zones with the Doorbell Pro and integrate with Alexa for routines and announcements. For the Indoor Cam Plus, you get a 1440P recording that basically does what the front door camera does but inside your house. The standout feature that we like about these two cameras is the AI-powered event descriptions. For instance, if the camera spots an animal, it will instantly describe it and what it’s doing live via Alexa. This Ring bundle is a solid buy but remember to factor in a Ring Protect subscription if you need advanced features and cloud recording.

How we came up with this list

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To help you narrow down which new gadgets are worth giving a try this year from Costco, we scoured through the store and checked out some of the latest additions. We then filtered out to include only those items that have been in stock for a couple of months at most at the time of this writing. To make the final cut, a product had to have favorable reviews from expert reviewers. We deliberately left out customer reviews on Costco since the selections are new additions and haven’t been bought online enough times to have a substantial number of users who can give a clear impression on what they think.

Static Media owns and operates BGR and SlashGear.

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Think of the best lines quoted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? We could do this all day. After 18 years, we’ve had a brilliant batch of movies and television shows from the MCU, with characters dropping super-sized bars that will be forever ingrained in our heads. It was back in 2008, though, in the first film, that the franchise’s longtime frontman delivered a line he thought up on the spot. Of course, improvisation in Hollywood isn’t anything new, but when it came to Robert Downey Jr.’s closing line in “Iron Man,” it opened up the franchise in a completely unexpected way that would ripple out for years to come.

In the final act of the MCU’s first film, Tony Stark (Downey) holds a press conference that was initially set to see the billionaire playboy philanthropist distance himself from his iron-plated alter-ego. Instead, the star dared to throw in “I am Iron Man,” thereby removing any plans for his hero to have a secret identity. Audiences ate the moment up, but unbeknownst to the man in the iron suit, his confession would change characters, storylines and massive plans for the Marvel universe. It would also get a nod in what is still regarded by many as the greatest MCU movie in the franchise’s history.

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige backed Robert Downey Jr.’s bold move

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In an interview with Deadline, Kevin Feige discussed the massive ramifications of the “Iron Man” star’s very minor tweak. While it might’ve been a change of plans, it set the tone for fans to anticipate and accept that this take on the Marvel universe wouldn’t always go by the book. “It’s a fine line. If you’re changing something for no reason, that’s one thing, but if you’re changing something because you want to double down on the spirit of who the character is? That’s a change we’ll make,” explained Feige. “Tony Stark not reading off the card and not sticking with the fixed story? Him just blurting out ‘I am Iron Man?’ That seems very much in keeping with who that character is. It just hadn’t been done in the comics before, but it was something very much in keeping with the comics character and what he could have done.”

This creative choice inadvertently gave other characters we’d come to know and love more freedom. Thor, for example, was initially considered to have the secret identity of Donald Blake, as in the comics, before becoming the Norse hero we know. “I think it did inspire us on all the movies,” revealed Feige, which is certainly true when it came to Tony’s pivotal self-sacrifice in “Avengers: Endgame.” The only difference is that it wasn’t Downey who had the light-bulb moment, but a crew member who came through at the eleventh hour.

Tony Stark’s last line was a last resort in Avengers: Endgame

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When it came to the epic showdown between Josh Brolin’s Thanos and an infinity stone-stealing Tony Stark, the directors of “Avengers: Endgame,” Anthony and Joe Russo, couldn’t settle on a decent comeback for Downey’s longtime hero. “Tony used to not say anything in that moment,” the directors explained at an event in Washington DC in 2019 (via /Film). “And we were in the editing room going, ‘He has to say something. This is a character who has lived and died by quips.’ And we just couldn’t, we tried a million different last lines. Thanos was saying, ‘I am inevitable.'”

In the end, it wasn’t Downey, or either of the Russos, that finally added the icing to a cake that had been eleven years in the making. “Our editor, Jeff Ford, who’s been with us all four movies and is an amazing storyteller, said, ‘Why don’t we just go full circle with it and say I am Iron Man.’ And we’re like, ‘Get the cameras! We have to shoot this tomorrow.'”

While there’s no doubt that Ford deserves some credit for settling on what is easily one of the most emotional moments in the entire history of the MCU, he wouldn’t have contributed anything had it not been for Robert Downey Jr. handling a character that is now in his DNA. Perhaps we might get more of that Stark spontaneity only in a darker iteration when Robert Downey Jr. returns this year in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which will arrive in theaters December 18, 2026.

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Nothing ruins a reading session more than your Kindle dying right when the story is getting good. While this e-reader is designed with an impressive runtime lasting anywhere from a couple of days up to six weeks on a single charge, it still needs charging eventually. But what if you’re traveling and nowhere near an outlet? Or if you want to settle into a long stretch of reading without getting interrupted?

There’s one Kindle setting you should change to get the most out of its battery: Airplane Mode. It turns off your Kindle’s wireless connections, so your device isn’t constantly sending and receiving signals that can deplete the battery. In turn, you won’t be able to get new books, sync your library, or use Kindle features like Wikipedia and Translate.

However, since your books are stored locally, Airplane Mode has no direct effect on the reading experience itself. You’ll still have full access to your library, all while enjoying a longer runtime. In fact, one Reddit user reported that Airplane Mode increased their Kindle Oasis’ battery life from two days to a week. Another Reddit user said their Kindle Scribe and Paperwhite can go from six days to a month with Airplane Mode on.

Airplane Mode is available from the Kindle 6th generation (which was released in 2014) and later. If you’re not sure what version you have, you can check your Kindle model from the Settings. Once you’ve confirmed that your Kindle supports Airplane Mode, here’s what to do next to activate it.

How to put your Kindle on Airplane Mode

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Turning on Airplane Mode on your Kindle is pretty similar to how you do it on your phone. On the Kindle home screen, open the Quick Actions panel by swiping down from the top. Then, tap on the airplane icon in the upper-left corner. If you’re currently connected to Wi-Fi and have Bluetooth enabled, both will automatically turn off right away. An airplane icon will also appear in your status bar.

When you want to reconnect your Kindle to Wi-Fi — maybe to download books, sync your library, or browse the web — you’ll need to switch off Airplane Mode first. Once you’re done, it’s best to put your Kindle back on Airplane Mode to make sure your battery lasts longer.

You can still use your Kindle’s Bluetooth even after turning on Airplane Mode. This can come in handy when you want to use your Kindle’s most underrated Bluetooth feature: Connecting to a Bluetooth speaker or earbuds to play your audiobooks or activate Assistive Reader on your regular books. Wi-Fi still stays off, though, but you get to enjoy listening to your books while still preserving the battery.

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If you own a Mac, it makes sense that you would want to pair it with Apple’s Magic Keyboard. After all, it’s an official Apple accessory, and its ability to last for a month between charges means you can get some good mileage out of it without reaching for a USB-C cable. However, the world of third-party mechanical keyboards has a lot to offer, with many of them including features beyond what the Magic Keyboard provides at a lower cost.

Below, we’re taking a look at some good mechanical alternatives to the Magic Keyboard. Along with these keyboards being cheaper than the retail price of Apple’s offerings, there may be some additional benefits of going with mechanical keys. For starters, since mechanical keyboards rely on spring-operated switches for individual keys, a good majority of these allow you to swap and replace the keycaps. This can make for a great DIY upgrade for your keyboard, as you can customize the keys in a number of ways, including for style and function.

As cool as personalizations can be, a mechanical keyboard isn’t just about potential aesthetic improvements. They can also be more accurate and responsive when typing and can also offer more durability. However, unlike conventional keyboards, it’s important to periodically lube your mechanical keyboard, as it can make the keys quieter and increase the keyboard’s longevity. It’s a little more work, but it’s worth it.

Keychron C2 Full Size Wired Mechanical Keyboard

The $56.99 Keychron C2 Full Size Wired Mechanical Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard, so you get a 10-key numberpad that’s not available on the Apple Magic Keyboard. The Keychron is also frequently on sale through Amazon. It includes options for red or brown switches, giving you options for a keyboard that already has some serious retro vibes. Though this Amazon’s Choice QWERTY keyboard relies on a wired connection, it includes a key layout that’s been optimized for Mac, including function and multimedia keys. Keychron also included a button dedicated to Apple’s virtual assistant Siri in the design.

However, it does support Windows if you need it to, and there are additional interchangeable keycaps that support both operating systems. The device even includes a keycap puller to easily swap out one or more of its 104 total keys. With an included USB-C braided cable, the company promises this mechanical keyboard can connect to three different devices simultaneously across Windows and Mac, and the keyboard’s included adjustable feet allow for different angling options — something the Apple Magic Keyboard lacks.

With a 4.4-star rating and over 450 reviews, Amazon customers give this one points for its build quality and typing experience, with many stating it can be a good value. Keychron is a beloved brand among enthusiasts, but Keychron’s keyboards, like the K3 Version 3, are also great entry points if you’ve never had a mechanical keyboard before.

Kisnt KN85 Wireless Mechanical 75% Gaming Keyboard

When choosing a keyboard, or any accessory, having a wide selection of color combinations to choose from is never a bad thing. There are many things to like about the $45.99 Kisnt KN85 Wireless Mechanical 75% Gaming Keyboard (aside from it being less than half the cost of a Magic Keyboard), but it’s the creamy-sounding keys that will catch your attention. Of course, it helps that customers give this 85-key accessory (which comes in five different varieties along) 4.6 stars with 960 reviews, and the keyboard gets points for its design and clicking sounds, sturdy build quality, and reliable connections.

The high marks for connections may not be too surprising, as the KN85 offers “tri-mode” connectivity. It can use a wired USB-C connection (USB-C to USB-A cable included), a 2.4GHz wireless receiver (also included), or you can rely on Bluetooth 5.0 with up to three channels supported. There’s naturally Mac support, but this keyboard also works with gaming consoles, smartphones, and PCs. With 85 keys, including arrow, shortcut, and function keys, the company intentionally didn’t include a numberpad (hence the 75%), which is a design choice similar to Apple’s.

There’s also 20 pre-set RGB backlighting effects with adjustable brightness and colors, and the pre-lubed Bsun linear switches allow for hot swapping with 5-pin or 3-pin options. The 4000mAh battery also ensures 30 days of use with the backlight off. Since it features Bluetooth support, you may also want to consider some clever Bluetooth gadgets for your MacBook.

Yunzii B75 Pro Mechanical Keyboard with Knob

The Amazon’s Choice Yunzil B75 Pro Mechanical Keyboard with Knob for $79.99 has a 4.7-star rating with 1,010 reviews. In addition to offering Cocoa Cream V2 and Milk switch options, there’s also seven different keyboard colors to choose from, including white with a heart pattern in the keys. However, what really separates this keyboard from what Apple offers is the addition of a multifunctional knob, providing a number of different options, including switching between gaming and office modes, adjusting volume, or tweaking RGB backlighting effects.

Designed around a gasket keyboard structure, the 82-key Yunzil includes five layers of padding, noise cancellation, and pre-lubed, creamy mechanical switches, among other features. It includes Bluetooth for connections, but there are also options for a 2.4GHz wireless connection via an included dongle, or you can use the included USB-C cable for a wired connection. With USB-C connections, there may be some common debunked myths about USB-C that are worth knowing.

Customers praise this one for its easy connections, whereas several also praise it for being able to switch between Mac and Windows with a button press. Since it’s wireless, there’s also a 4000mAh battery, and the top row of number keys can give you a battery level reading by pressing Fn+Ctrl when in wireless mode. For those who may want more customization options, the PCB board is compatible with 3-pin or 5-pin switches, and the company promises low-latency key responses alongside hot-swappable sockets.

Epomaker X Aula F75 MAX Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Coming with a price tag of $82.99, the standout features for the Epomaker X Aula F75 MAX Wireless Mechanical Keyboard are its TFT screen and Linux support (along with Windows and Mac, of course). Coming in a variety of colors that also offer some dynamic patterns (the White Pink has a cool wave effect), this keyboard also touts itself as a gaming keyboard.

Along with the 2.4Ghz wireless dongle, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB-C connection options (USB-A to USB-C cable included), the TFT smart display can give users a number of options and features. This includes displaying the date and time, battery level, displaying GIF images, and accessing certain options. There are also three adjustable angles through the adjustable kickstand and PBT keycaps. Users like this one for its customization options and overall quality, likely attributing to the device’s 4.7-star rating and over 1,395 reviews.

Since a good keyboard is a tech product you should never be frugal about, it’s always smart to check the details of a device. Getting into the grittier specs of the keyboard, it includes anti-ghosting tech for stability when using any of its three connection types, and it has a 1,000Hz polling rate when using a wired or 2.4GHz connection. Like others on this list, the keys are also hot-swappable, and they include compatibility with 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches and screw-in stabilizers.

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Counterfeit medications are a growing issue worldwide that has deadly consequences. In the U.S., illegal online pharmacies sell cheap, unprescribed medications sometimes laced with fentanyl. The situation is even more dire internationally. The World Health Organization estimates 10% of medical products in developing countries are counterfeit or “substandard,” and a United Nations health report estimates that nearly 500,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa die annually from falsified drugs.

Finding quick, simple, and cheap ways to detect fake drugs is increasingly important, and researchers from the University of California, Riverside have developed a potential solution. In a report published in Analytical Chemistry, researchers presented a counterfeit drug detection device that uses some tech from an unlikely source: a toy robot.

Using a simple sensor made for a toy, the UC Riverside invention measures the amount of light reflected back by the particles released when a pill is dissolved in water. Since legitimate drugs are highly regulated, pills of the same kind will dissolve identically every time, distinct from other medications. By determining the number of particles released over time, scientists can create what they call a pill’s “disintegration fingerprint” (DF). That can be used to tell if a drug is legitimate, as a counterfeit won’t have the same fingerprint.

UC Riverside’s counterfeit drug detection device has a long way to go

UC Riverside’s creation is promising. In a proof-of-concept study, they determined the disintegration fingerprint of 32 drugs including antibiotics, opioids, antidepressants, and birth control; in 90% of cases, DF could tell the difference between legitimate and counterfeit versions. The researchers also tested different versions of similar drugs, which DF correctly identified 100% of the time. That includes distinguishing between name and store brand aspirin and American and Canadian versions of the same drug.

Also promising is that the fake drug detector gives results in only an hour and is inexpensive to produce. According to the study, it can currently be manufactured for $33 and could fall to as low as $5, which could make it a simple and accessible way to test suspicious pills and avoid a potentially costly mistake.

Still, there’s a long way to go before this technology can be widespread. While fairly accurate, a 10% false negative rate is far too high, and there’s a huge difference between testing something in a lab and having it work as intended out in the world. Additionally, disintegration fingerprinting has yet to be tested on fake and authentic antimalarial medications, a serious issue where the detector could really make a difference. The good news is that UC Riverside has made the design open source, so other researchers create their own fake drug detectors for further studies.

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Buying and setting up a brand-new TV is always exciting, and modern televisions from major smart TV brands provide stellar picture clarity for watching movies or gaming. However, the setup process doesn’t always go off without a hitch. If you’re too hasty about setting up your TV, you may inadvertently fall into one (or more) of the common pitfalls that new TV owners often make.

Some mistakes stem from pure carelessness. Others happen because, in your pursuit of the best deal possible on a TV accessory, you’ve ended up with shoddy hardware. In some cases, the TV’s settings themselves may be limiting your viewing experience. By understanding the most common mistakes and faux-pas in the TV setup department, you should be able to get your new device up and running both optimally and without any problems.

Discarding the original packaging

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Once you take your TV out of its big cardboard box and mount it, you might be compelled to throw all the packaging out to save on space. However, there’s a case to be made for storing the original box and inserts your TV came with, especially if it’s a particularly large unit.

Should you ever decide to move, you’ll need a safe and secure way to transport your TV to your new space. Larger televisions can be particularly tricky to safeguard during the moving process; holding onto the box ensures your device will have a contained, padded, and durable home when the time comes to move it. Not to mention keeping the box on hand will likely boost the resale value of your TV, should you ever choose to sell it.

If you really have no choice, you could buy additional supplies to pack your TV securely once you need to pack it up for transport. But if you can help it, you’re better off avoiding the additional expense. So, if you’ve got an attic, basement, or dedicated storage space available at home — or if you happen to have a separate storage unit — don’t think twice about stashing your TV box there.

Keeping the frame interpolation setting on

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TruMotion, Motion Enhancement, Picture Clarity, TruCinema, Motion Control — these are all just different manufacturers’ names for the same frame interpolation feature that’s become common to many new TVs. No matter what it’s called on your specific device, we suggest you find your TV’s frame interpolation setting and turn it off.

While some might think of this functionality as a revolutionary technology, it’s simply a feature that increases your TV’s frame rate to 60 FPS by adding additional frames between existing ones. This can lead to what’s called the “soap opera effect,” which entails excessive smoothing that makes the picture seem unnaturally hyper-realistic. It’s an effect that irks many, especially filmmakers and other industry players who want audiences to experience movies as directors intended them to be seen.

Even if you don’t mind the frame interpolation effect itself, the tradeoffs of keeping this feature on are many. It can cause unsightly visual artifacts and distracting post-processing effects that detract from the viewing experience. There aren’t many benefits to frame interpolation even when gaming; in most cases, Game Mode needs to be disabled for frame interpolation to work, which can then cause input lag.

Buying a cheap HDMI cable

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The days of HDMI 1.4 being enough for televisions are long gone. The updated standard of HDMI 2.1, which came out in November 2017, has replaced it. HDMI 2.1 supports data transfer speeds up to 48Gbps and resolutions all the way up to 10K at 60Hz. It also facilitates eARC connections for Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, and DTS-HD audio output, on top of featuring Quick Frame Transport for reduced input lag and Quick Media Switching for seamlessly going back and forth between multiple inputs. Gamers also benefit from HDMI 2.1’s Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode features; both go a long way in minimizing latency and screen tearing, which is particularly welcome for multiplayer gaming.

Given how useful all these features are in the updated HDMI standard, it would be disheartening if you were to come home with a cheap HDMI cable only to discover that it’s an older version, like 2.0 or even 1.4, that doesn’t support the features you’d want with your new TV. In that case, you’d likely end up buying another cable anyway and spend more money overall, so you might as well opt for a high-quality 2.1 cable at the outset. Now that the HDMI 2.2 specification has been released, that’s another option for you to consider, but you likely won’t see products that support the updated standard for some time.

Conversely, it’s not necessarily true that expensive HDMI cables are better than cheaper variants if they both support HDMI 2.1. If you do your due diligence by researching options and reading product reviews to select a durable, high-quality HDMI 2.1 cable, you’ll be able to enjoy all the display features your new TV has to offer.

Failing to check if HDMI 2.1 is active

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Figuring out the best HDMI cable for your needs is just one step in unlocking your TV’s full picture quality. Even if you have an HDMI 2.1 cable on hand, not all HDMI ports are designed to support the standard. Once you get your hands on a good cable, you’ll also have to plug it into an HDMI port that supports the features you want, which is often denoted by printed text beside the port. This way, you’ll avoid the mistake of plugging your cable into a port with lesser capabilities, preventing you from enjoying the benefits of a 2.1 connection.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to check out your TV’s settings to review some HDMI-related options. Most televisions use a standard HDMI mode that defers to 2.0 standards, and this is usually selected by default. While 2.0 limits bandwidth to 18 Gbps, it also ensures compatibility with older devices. However, you should also be able to find an enhanced mode that switches the input to HDMI 2.1; select this option if you’re hooking up a newer device to your TV. That’ll help you enjoy everything from HDR technology to the highest possible resolutions.

Not setting up an external sound system

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A new TV itself isn’t usually enough to unlock the full cinematic experience you’d want to enjoy from TV shows and movies. For truly immersive and engaging viewing, high-quality sound is just as important as high-quality visuals are. Sure, a modern 4K TV with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision can make colors and shades pop like earlier TVs couldn’t, but most onboard stereo TV speakers won’t do justice to the audio in your media. This is especially true for media using multi-channel, beefy audio codecs like Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS:X that are designed to work with surround sound systems.

You don’t need to break the bank on a sound system, either. There are plenty of budget soundbars and even budget high-fidelity speakers out there that still deliver on performance. For a more serious upgrade, however, you could opt for an immersive TV surround sound experience by investing in a surround sound system that can make the audio in your media sound wider, clearer, and more detailed.

Sticking with the default picture mode settings

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The moment you take your new smart TV out of the box, adjusting your picture settings is a must. Depending on personal taste, you might be partial to warmer colors or cooler tones, while preferences for saturation or brightness settings can also differ quite widely. If you don’t calibrate your picture settings at the outset, you’d be robbing yourself of an optimized experience with your new TV. When you navigate to your TV’s picture settings, you should configure things like brightness, contrast, gamma, color temperature, saturation, sharpness, tint, and backlight intensity to your liking.

Those aren’t the only picture settings you can alter, of course. Most modern TVs come with special modes suited for the numerous forms of media you can consume. If you’re a film buff who wants to watch movies in a way that truly matches the director’s vision, then enabling Movie or Filmmaker Mode is a simple way to faithfully recreate these visual effects on your TV. Meanwhile, avid gamers who want to minimize input lag in their favorite titles should turn on Game Mode, although that does come at the cost of picture quality in some cases. If you’re one for competitive multiplayer games, turn this mode on to get split-second advantages over your opponents.

Never updating the TV’s firmware

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Firmware updates are essential across all kinds of modern tech, including televisions, to maintain their functionality over time. Since operating systems are installed on smart TVs before being shipped out, the OS version that comes with your TV is likely out of date by the time you’ve taken it home. That means your television will need a firmware update when you set it up, as well as over time. Not only do firmware updates fix bugs and glitches, but they can also improve upon existing features and introduce new ones that are useful. However, you can enjoy none of those perks if you avoid installing critical firmware updates.

Utility isn’t the only concern, either. TVs running on outdated operating systems are more vulnerable to attacks that could infect your new device with spyware or malware. This could then put your personal data at risk, especially if you’re logged into every app you’ve got on your smart TV. 

Forgetting to double-check the power-saving settings

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Working to manage your ecological footprint by reducing overall energy consumption is always commendable. Many people do take for granted just how much electricity they waste in a day, so it’s important to be cognizant of usage. While most TVs come with Eco Mode or Energy Saving Mode to reduce power consumption, the tradeoffs of these modes are seldom worth it — they usually reduce overall brightness and disable picture enhancements. If you run your TV in some form of power saving mode, your TV isn’t likely to provide you with the state-of-the-art experience you might expect. The last thing you’d want is to inadvertently hamper your own experience with your new and (likely expensive) TV.

Ultimately, your viewing habits determine how much power your TV draws every day. Instead of keeping Eco Mode on all the time, it’s better to simply manage how often your TV is on. If power conservation is your concern, just remember to turn your TV off whenever it’s not in use. If you’re watching or playing something that doesn’t make many demands when it comes to picture quality, though, you can always enable power saving mode for that specific experience.

Not prioritizing cable management

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With media players, streaming devices, gaming consoles, sound systems, and other pieces of equipment taking up space at your TV unit, it’s easy for jumbles of HDMI cables, power cords, and more to accumulate behind your television. Not only can these unsightly messes be bothersome to clean, but they can pose safety risks if they’re precariously exposed and in the open. This becomes more of a concern if you have young children or pets at home. To prevent accidents, it’s important to practice proper cable management and organize unruly wires before they cause problems down the line.

To mitigate spaghetti wires at your TV setup, look to purchase shorter standard cables that offer just enough length to cover the distance between your TV and your wired devices. Alternatively, you can improve a messy cable setup with a myriad of simple tools, such as cable ties or a cable management tray. Either option allows you to organize and contain your wires so they don’t get tangled up in messy heaps. To protect your wires — and their potential attackers — from any harm, you can also set up a cable raceway on your wall. Mounting any power strips or surge protectors to the wall is also helpful in keeping your living room tidier. The fewer tripping hazards you’ve got on the floor, the better.

Failing to register your TV in time to get an extended warranty

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Most TVs brands provide a warranty that lasts sufficiently long and enables you to get your TV repaired or replaced under limited circumstances. For the most part, you don’t need to do anything for the warranty to kick in. As long as you’ve bought your TV new from the manufacturer itself or from an authorized dealer, your television should be under warranty right from when you’ve bought it.

However, some companies also let you register a recently purchased product to unlock an extended warranty period. This is a notoriously overlooked part of the purchasing process; most people forego (or aren’t aware of) this painless way of improving coverage on their TVs and other devices. It takes little time to register a product, but the process typically has to be completed within a set timeframe before you become ineligible for the extension. You can often find device registration information in the owner’s manual or paper insert that came with your TV, and completing the process on the official manufacturer’s website often entails filling out a simple form.

Placing your TV right next to an open window or a bright light source

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Placement is key when setting up a new TV. Besides deciding whether you should wall mount your TV or place it on a media console, there’s a far more important consideration to keep in mind when it comes to TV placement: lighting. If you’re setting up your TV in a well-lit room that gets ample natural light courtesy of a large, open window, do yourself a favor and place your TV as far away from said window as possible. Alternatively, find some high-quality light-blocking curtains that you can use for when you’re watching TV.

Some of the best TVs you can buy for bright rooms leverage anti-glare technology that prevents any reflections or minor light sources from affecting screen brightness, but there’s a limit to how effective that technology is. You can’t expect that a massive east-facing window won’t dim your TV’s screen once sunlight starts flooding into your room.

Similarly, don’t place your television next to a lamp or any other bright light source — that would just lead to the same glare problems. Curtains probably wouldn’t help you in that scenario, but you could always move the offending light source or simply turn it off when the television is in use.

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