Tabla de contenidos para May/June 2023 en Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Repair Instead of Replace

WHY IS IT so complicated and costly to get your computer or phone fixed when it breaks? Too often, your only options are to either use the manufacturer’s preferred repair service (at a possibly inflated price) or buy a new product. That’s because some companies have restricted access to the parts and tools needed to fix their products. A 2021 CR nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 adults found that a majority have replaced a broken product sooner than they wanted to because they couldn’t find an acceptable repair option. And 84 percent support laws requiring that information and parts be made available to independent services and/or product owners. CR is working to secure your right to more easily repair the products you own. Last December, we raised consumer…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

What We’re Testing in Our Labs …

Bike Helmets WE TESTED: 89 models WE TEST FOR: The helmet’s ability to absorb the impact of a crash, how easy it is to adjust the straps for a secure fit, how much ventilation the helmet offers, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 70 Range: 33-90 AN EXCELLENT FIT ✔ Bontrager Starvos WaveCel $105 90 OVERALL SCORE BEST PICK UNDER $50 $ Bell Granite MIPS $35 82 OVERALL SCORE GREAT FOR KIDS $ Giro Raze $45 74 OVERALL SCORE Carpet Cleaners WE TESTED: 20 models WE TEST FOR: How well the cleaner removes red clay stains from carpeting, how much solution is left behind after cleaning, ease of filling the tank, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 56 Range: 31-72 FIRST-RATE CLEANER ✔ Hoover PowerDash Pet Advanced FH55000 $150 72 OVERALL SCORE TOPS AT DRYING ✔…

3 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

The Best Grocery Store Guacamole

GUACAMOLE IS ONE of the healthiest dips you can eat—you can actually consider it a vegetable. Avocado, the main ingredient, is rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. We compared supermarket guacs and found that most had similar amounts of calories, fats, fiber, and sodium. (Sodium levels were generally high, with ¼ cup ranging from 220 to 330 mg.) What did separate the dips was how fresh they tasted, and some of the ingredients they contain. Here’s what we found. BEST TASTING Herdez Traditional Guacamole, Mild $3.15, 8 ounces CALORIES: 120 FIBER: 2 g SAT. FAT: 2 g SODIUM: 220 mg The avocado flavor hits big time in this chunky guac. The cilantro, peppers, onions, and lime juice are also nicely balanced. NEXT BEST TASTING Sabra Classic Guacamole $5, 8 ounces…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Machine-Washable Rugs

AREA RUGS MAKE your home more cozy and comfortable, but they take a beating, especially in high-traffic spots like your entryway or kitchen, or in rooms shared with a pet. Sending your typical silk, sisal, or wool rugs to the cleaners can get expensive: A 5x7 rug, for example, can cost up to $280 for professional cleaning. Enter the washable rug. A growing number of brands are making rugs designed to be thrown directly into your own washing machine. To find out just how washable these new rugs are, our staffers took home eight rugs from popular brands and dirtied them up. The rugs were stained with wine, coffee, beet juice, ketchup, marinara sauce, pet waste, and more. We treated each stain according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then used CR’s…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

A COMFORTABLE RETREAT

WRISTS Hands and fingers should be in line with your forearms, not angled up or down or left or right. A keyboard wrist rest can help reduce strain (but should actually support the heel of your palm, not your wrist). ARMS When typing, wrists and hands should be at or below the height of your elbows. (If your desk is too high for that, raise your chair or get an under-desk keyboard tray.) Armrests should support your forearms while your shoulders are relaxed and elbows are at your sides. BACK The chair’s lumbar support should be positioned to maintain the natural curvature of your lower spine. If your chair lacks adjustable lumbar support, consider getting a lumbar support pillow (from $20). EYES The top of the screen should be at…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

An Easy Way to Give Away Old Furniture

My husband and I recently revamped our son’s room, which left us with a few pieces of worn furniture we no longer needed. The stuff wasn’t good enough for a nearby charitable thrift shop, the local Goodwill doesn’t take furniture, and a junk pickup service (which would then donate any items it could) wanted to charge us $258 for the job, which was more than we wanted to spend. I decided to try our neighborhood Buy Nothing Facebook group—part of the Buy Nothing Project, a community-building organization that invites participants to post items they’d like to give away or ask for items they need—all free. We posted my son’s dresser to the group, documenting its dents and scratches. That evening we messaged with the person who replied first. She and…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

The 4 Types of Hearing Helpers

OTC Hearing Aid Options Self-Fitting WHERE TO BUY THEM In a retail setting such as a drugstore or electronics store, or online. PROS Currently, self-fitting hearing aids must be cleared as both safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. Because they’re far more customizable than preset OTC hearing aids, they may suit your specific hearing needs better. Self-fitting aids can be significantly less expensive than prescription hearing aids. (They start at about $699 per device.) CONS While you’ll probably be guided by an app to set up your aids, the self-fitting process might be challenging for some people, particularly those who are less technologically inclined. Preset WHERE TO BUY THEM In a retail setting such as a drugstore or electronics store, or online. PROS With prices starting at…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Our Favorite Frozen Meals

As Americans’ taste buds have become more adventurous and varied, so have offerings in supermarket freezers. They’re now stocked with meals that have global flavors and are touted as being good for you, too. Consumer Reports’ recent tests of 25 frozen meals—which included newer options as well as some classic favorites, like lasagna—found plenty of good news: Our nutrition and taste experts gave 11 of the meals top marks for nutrition and judged 13 of them to be tasty. One reason is that these meals are less likely to rely on salt to perk up the flavor. Instead, they’re spiced with ingredients like ginger, red chili pepper, and curry. They’re also more likely to be brimming with vegetables, whole grains, and other plant-based foods, and to rely less on additives,…

6 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

CR’s Home Entertainment Buying Guide

Once upon a time, enjoying a great home entertainment system required a lot of money for the equipment and often the help of professional installers to make it all work together. But today, top-quality entertainment is much more affordable—and far easier to set up. Take TVs. You can find big-screen 65-inch sets recommended by Consumer Reports selling for under $1,000. Add in a high-quality soundbar and your living room turns into a home movie theater with multichannel audio that surrounds you—and in some cases even projects overhead—for a truly immersive experience. When it comes to music, you can get terrific-sounding audio from wireless speakers that connect to your WiFi network and even let you sync music throughout the house. That kind of multiroom audio used to be a splurge, requiring…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

WIRELESS SPEAKERS

OUR ADVICE If you’ve got a large home, consider speakers with multiroom capability, like models from Sonos or Denon. Over time you can expand a single speaker into a full-home system that lets you sync your music throughout your house or beam different content to separate rooms using a smartphone app. If you choose one of the many speaker models that can be paired in stereo, you’ve got a solid path if you want to improve your sound quality later on. Wireless speakers can work through your WiFi network, Bluetooth, or both. Bluetooth-only models tend to be portable, ideal for going to the beach, but home speakers with WiFi connections tend to sound best, and they make it easier to pipe music throughout your home. WORDS OF CAUTION Unless you…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

STREAMING PLAYERS

OUR ADVICE Streaming media players from all the major brands—Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, and Roku—now offer 4K models that support high dynamic range (HDR) content, which can produce brighter, more colorful images when played on TVs that do a good job with it. (Our TV ratings include a separate score for HDR performance.) Many models feature voice control, with built-in microphones in the player or on the remote control, so you can search for shows and movies using your voice. Some also let you control the TV using the player’s remote. Many newer streaming players let you listen in private by using earphones with the player’s remote or by using an app on your smartphone. WORDS OF CAUTION Skip models that only support HD-quality video. Even if…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

5 Things to Know When Buying a Car

1. Domestic brands often cost less to maintain and repair than foreign brands. When it comes to routine maintenance costs for services like oil changes and air filter and brake replacements, domestic brands are often cheaper than imports, particularly when it comes to luxury models. “The difference in cost between some European imports and domestic brands is particularly stark,” says John Ibbotson, CR’s chief mechanic. For example, the prices for the first two scheduled maintenance services for a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300—a European luxury import—at a dealership in Union, N.J., are $585 at 10,000 miles and $1,050 at 20,000 miles. The price of the first two scheduled maintenance services for the 2023 Lincoln Corsair—a domestic luxury SUV—at a nearby Lincoln dealer is $130 at 10,000 and 20,000 miles. CR’S ADVICE: Among…

4 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

ROAD TEST

LUXURY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ✔ BMW i4 L An Engaging Electric Sports Sedan 84 OVERALL SCORE ROAD-TEST SCORE 94 HIGHS Quick acceleration, short braking distances, sharp handling, front-seat comfort, impressive fit and finish, no tailpipe emissions LOWS Cramped rear seat, complicated controls POWERTRAIN 536-hp, dual electric motors; 1-speed direct-drive transmission; all-wheel drive RANGE 271 miles PRICE $52,000-$68,700 base price + $995 destination charge Total MSRP as tested $73,245 TO CREATE THE I4, BMW essentially replaced the gas engine in a 4 Series Gran Coupe with electric motors. During this transformation, the automaker managed to retain the driving experience that BMW buyers have come to expect: smooth power, quick acceleration, and taut handling. Its sleek silhouette is augmented by a practical hatchback design. But because the i4 is based on an architecture shared…

7 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Building a Better World, Together

Fighting for Safer Furniture In recent decades, hundreds of children have been killed, and tens of thousands more seriously injured, when furniture, appliances, or televisions toppled over onto them. Tragically, many of these tip-over incidents could have been prevented. But a new federal law passed in December, known as the STURDY Act, will help reduce tip-overs by ensuring that furniture is built to be more stable. And CR—working with other consumer groups, industry representatives, and parents of tip-over victims—played a key role in getting the new law passed. Begun over a decade ago, CR’s crusade against tip-overs gained momentum in 2017 when we started conducting stability tests on dressers. That research revealed that the voluntary testing standard then in place was inadequate, and we called on the furniture industry and…

3 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Ask Our Experts

IT’S ALWAYS SMART to keep the box and the paperwork in it for the duration of the retailer’s return period (which can be anywhere from 14 to 90 days), particularly when it’s a pricey tech product, such as a smartphone or camera. Some retailers, including Amazon, require that their devices be returned in the original packaging. Best Buy’s return policy says that it may deny the return if a product isn’t given back in its original packaging. When it comes to larger electronic items—such as televisions and computer monitors—it’s a good idea to hang on to the packaging (including the foam padding inserts) for the duration of the product warranty, often about a year. That way, if you need to send the product for repairs, you have access to a…

3 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

EASIER MOWING

PUSHING A MOWER—even if your lawn is not so big—can be hard work. The solution is a self-propelled mower, which has powered wheels. While these cost a few hundred dollars more than regular “push” mowers, the ease of using them may be worth the price. All 12 self-propelled mowers shown here are tops in our handling tests. If you have a sloped yard, a model with all-wheel drive (AWD), like the Ryobi RY401210US, offers better traction on hills. The rest of the models below are rear-wheel drive, which work well for mostly flat yards. Also note that top-rated battery-powered models offer similar performance to gas but require less upkeep because they don’t need oil changes or frequent tuneups. But their estimated run times (30 to 45 minutes) make them better suited…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

RECALLS

HONDA FIT & HR-V VEHICLES Honda is recalling 114,686 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles because their backup cameras might not display when the vehicle is in Reverse, which could cause a crash. The problem is due to a faulty circuit in the vehicle’s audio system and affects only vehicles that have a physical ignition key instead of a push-button start. Cranking the engine using the key ignition could cause the vehicle’s battery charge to drop and prevent the backup camera display from appearing. What to do: Honda dealers will perform a software update to fix the problem, free of charge. Owners who have already paid to have this work performed before the recall was issued may be able to seek reimbursement from Honda. Owners of affected vehicles will be…

3 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

4 OFFICE EXTRAS YOU’LL LOVE

1. Add More Outlets Keeping all those gadgets powered up can be a challenge in a space with few outlets. A low-cost power strip with surge protection ($10 to $20) solves that problem—and protects the devices from power fluctuations caused by a lightning strike or even turning on your vacuum. 2. Add More Ports These days, it’s easy to run out of computer ports for your peripherals. But a relatively inexpensive multi-port hub can add USB ports, plus a memory card reader, USB-to-HDMI adapter (for connecting a monitor), and an Ethernet port (a wired connection to your router can speed up your internet). A basic USB hub at online retailers like Monoprice costs around $15. 3. Boost the WiFi Signal Need help with an internet dead spot? A palm-sized, $23…

3 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Why I Water My Yard With a Smart Hose

In-ground sprinkler systems with smart controllers can water your lawn or garden much more efficiently than a hose can, but they are expensive and can be tricky to DIY. So to water my garden beds, I tried out the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer, $80, which connects to an app on your phone for programming. I hooked it up to a soaker hose that I buried under my garden beds. It automatically checks my local weather forecast, watering as needed. It skips the day’s watering if rain or wind is on the horizon, minimizing water loss from evaporation. (High winds cause water to evaporate before plants can absorb it.) Most smart hose timers use Bluetooth but require a plug-in WiFi bridge, a device to control them when your smartphone…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

ARE YOUR NONSTICK PANS SAFE TO USE?

A Quick Guide to Pans That Don’t Stick Manufacturers have a bunch of trademarked names for their nonstick coatings, including Excalibur, Quantanium, Thermalloy, and Thermolon. But coatings basically fall into two categories: Those that contain PTFE, aka Teflon, and those that don’t. There are also a few that aren’t marketed as nonstick but pretty much function that way. IF you’ve shopped for nonstick cookware recently, you may have noticed a label on your new frying pan indicating that it’s free of certain hazardous chemicals. Of most concern is a class of chemicals known as PFAS, which stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. They’re called forever chemicals because many persist for months or even years in our bodies and they break down very slowly, if ever, in the environment. Worse, growing…

12 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Best & Worst Frozen Meals

Chicken Enchiladas Enchiladas were a mixed bag. Two were good combos of taste and nutrition, with tasty corn tortillas and beans, but the others, not so much. Real Good Foods Grande Chicken Enchiladas—a mashed chicken filling in a “tortilla” made from cheese and chicken—was one of the lowest-scoring meals overall. NUTRITION SCORE TASTE SCORE ✓ Evol Chicken Enchilada Bake $4.50, 9 oz. The white meat chicken, black beans, and white rice are in a tasty tomatillo sauce, and there’s a hint of lime. The corn tortilla was slightly soggy. CALORIES: 380 SAT. FAT: 6 g CARBS: 43 g FIBER: 6 g ADDED SUGARS: 0 g PROTEIN: 20 g SODIUM: 510 mg NUTRITION SCORE TASTE SCORE ✓ Saffron Road Chicken Enchiladas Poblano $6.00, 10 oz. Chicken and spinach are in corn…

7 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

HEADPHONES

OUR ADVICE If you’ll be wearing your headphones when you’re sharing space with others, go with a closed-back model, which that doesn’t leak much sound. Headphones with active noise canceling can subdue outside noises. And many models let you reduce the level of noise canceling or even pipe in outside sound for when you take the headphones out of the house. But if you’ll be using the headphones most often when you’re alone, consider open-back models, which have mesh instead of solid plastic on the outside of the housing. The best of these can make your music sound more natural, closer to the experience of live music. Finally, while earbuds often get lost or broken, on- or over-ear headphones can deliver years of great sound. If you’re going to splurge…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

SOUNDBARS

OUR ADVICE Most soundbars have several speakers, plus the electronics to power them, in one thin enclosure that you connect to your TV. Some have a separate subwoofer, usually wireless, and a few have—or let you add—rear speakers to create a full surround-sound system. Want an even more immersive experience? Get a soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio, which can make the sound seem to come from overhead as well as all around you. Soundbars with built-in WiFi can directly access online music services such as Pandora and Spotify. Many models now are smart speakers that let you use voice commands to raise the volume, change inputs, and sometimes control a TV or other smart devices in your home. A few models also have a built-in streaming player…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

ROAD REPORT

FIRST DRIVE 2023 Toyota Crown The new Crown is designed to bridge the gap between sedans and SUVs. The base 236-hp four-cylinder hybrid engine is EPA-rated for up to 41 mpg combined. The top Platinum trim we drove has a 340-hp turbocharged hybrid powertrain and is EPA-rated for up to 30 mpg combined. CR’S TAKE: Acceleration is invigorating in the Platinum. Ride and handling are competitive, but the car is neither luxurious nor sporty. Front seats are comfortable; the rear seat is snug for tall people. The cabin lacks the upscale ambience expected at the price. BASE PRICE RANGE $39,950-$52,350 DESTINATION CHARGE $1,095 PRICE AS DRIVEN $53,445 ASK OUR EXPERTS Can roadside assistance help me if my EV runs out of charge? An electric vehicle warns you before it runs…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Cars That Cost the Least (in the Long Run)

WE’VE CRUNCHED the numbers to present you with the cars recommended by CR that have the lowest routine maintenance and repair costs (there are many that are cheaper to maintain, but they're not recommended). These numbers are based on 10 years of CR’s data for each model, so autos that were introduced more recently than 10 years ago are not included. We also show the average repair and maintenance expenses for each car type to give you an idea of how much money you can save. MIDSIZED CAR ✔ TOYOTA CAMRY $26,220 - $36,645 82 OVERALL SCORE The Camry costs less to own than most sedans, thanks to good fuel economy, strong reliability, and low repair costs. Available with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels, the smaller wheels are less likely to get…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Spring Fever!

Watch Out Below! It might be better to hire experts who play it safe. Submitted by John Jamison, Mashpee, MA The Winds of Change Since when do wind chimes need solar power? Submitted by Marilyn Stark, as seen in San Bruno, CA When Nature Calls Here’s hoping these aren’t in the same place. Submitted by Cary Kassebaum, Cottonwood, AZ Get Ready to Watch the Grass Grow You may have to wait awhile if you’re getting your mower fixed here. Submitted by Mark Sullivan, via email SHARE Be on the lookout for goofs and glitches like these. Share them with us—by email at SellingIt@cro.consumer.org or by mail to Selling It, Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703—and we might publish yours. Please include key information, such as your name and…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Your Feedback

THANK YOU FOR exploring heavy metals in the chocolate I love. But isn’t it possible that the metal levels for a given brand change as time passes? Perhaps enormously? Thus the brand name may not be nearly as important as the article implies? It saddens me to say it, but maybe we just need to eat less? —Joseph Bates, Newton, MA EDITOR’S NOTE Yes, it’s possible that levels of heavy metals in the chocolate bars tested will change, and some companies are taking steps to make that happen. Your suggestion to eat less is also a good idea. All types of chocolate are best enjoyed as an occasional treat due to the calories and added sugars they contain. AS A DARK chocolate lover, I read this article with great interest. You state…

6 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

CR Insights

IN THE KNOW Stay Cool This Summer These smart buys will help you feel more comfortable when it’s hot out. PORTABLE COOLER Coleman 18-Quart Party Stacker Cooler $40 When we tested coolers a few years ago, this inexpensive Coleman model won a top spot for keeping ice frozen for a full day in 100° F heat. Plus, it weighs only 4.4 pounds when empty but is roomy enough to hold 20 cans of soda. ICE CREAM ALFRESCO S’well Ice Cream Pint Cooler $35 Want to bring some ice cream on your next picnic? S’well offers a great new way to do that: This small vacuum-insulated cooler is designed to keep a pint of your favorite frozen treat chilled for several hours—even when it’s hot out. A TASTY FROZEN TREAT Oatly…

5 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

THE BETTER DEAL

ELECTRIC SUVs HIGHER PRICE $59,290 - $68,290 ✓ Genesis GV60 $60,220* 84 OVERALL SCORE BETTER PRICE $48,700 - $61,600 ✓ Kia EV6 $52,840* 91 OVERALL SCORE THE LOWDOWN THESE TWO electric vehicles hail from the Hyundai Motor Group, sharing many powertrain components. Like the Kia, the stylish Genesis is comfy, quick, quiet, and agile. However, the Kia offers slightly better handling, albeit with a ride that’s a bit less plush. The Kia also has a longer range (by about 25 miles) and costs $10,000 less. PORTABLE GENERATORS HIGHER PRICE $1,700 ✓ Honda EG4000CL with CO-Minder 76 OVERALL SCORE BETTER PRICE $730 ✓ Green-Power GN5250DCS 77 OVERALL SCORE THE LOWDOWN BOTH OF THESE generators can run for up to 19 hours on a full tank. The gas-powered Honda has six power outlets compared with the…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Top Picks for a Great Home Office

THE LATEST RATINGS FROM OUR LABS A DEDICATED WORKSPACE—whether it’s in a guest bedroom or a corner of the den—can be your happy place, a go-to spot for working on personal projects, browsing the web, and connecting with friends and family. Even unpleasant tasks like paying bills can, in such a space, become a source of satisfaction as you check them off your to-do list. But there’s no point in having a desk and computer in your home unless you can actually enjoy using them. So if your current setup is cramped or cluttered or uncomfortable, or you just find yourself avoiding that part of your home, it might be time for an upgrade—to a workstation that takes some of the discomfort out of the equation and frees you to…

7 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Save big and waste less at home

▶ Your home just seems to eat money sometimes, doesn’t it? From high cooling and heating costs to food that spoils before you can enjoy it, it’s easy to feel like your monthly budget is disappearing before your eyes. But there are all sorts of tricks and smart new products that can help you save—and, while you’re at it, live more sustainably. In fact, the 92 ideas on the next 14 pages can save you more than $6,500 in just one year. That could go a long way toward offsetting the higher energy expenses many Americans have had to adjust to: In a November 2022 nationally representative survey of 2,185 U.S. adults, about half of respondents said that their monthly heating (51 percent) and cooling (50 percent) bills have gone up…

28 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

HOW TO Hear Better Now

Have you held off on getting hearing aids because the process (multiple appointments for choosing and adjusting the device) and stiff prices (often several thousand dollars) seem daunting? We’ve got good news. There’s now a new category of hearing aids, and they’re available over the counter. That means you no longer need to see a licensed hearing professional or have a prescription in order to purchase them. You can buy an OTC hearing aid at a store like Walgreens or Best Buy and even get one online. The price is right, too: The new OTC hearing aids usually cost about $200 to $1,000 a pair, while prescription aids can run from about $1,000 to more than $6,000 a pair. And OTC aids may be an option for up to 90…

13 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

SMART VACATION DEALS AHEAD

DESTINATIONS UNLIMITED Are you a city person? A beach person? An adventure lover or activity seeker? Luxury travel to places as diverse as the beaches of Brazil and Antarctic coast—or to cities like Paris or vineyards in Bordeaux—can be budget-friendlier than you think. There are even deals to be had at some top golf resorts. WITH THE WORLD well past the pandemic’s peak, Americans are showing a strong thirst for travel in 2023. Almost a quarter of us plan to travel more for leisure this year than last, according to a U.S. Travel Association study. Vacation rental bookings are up. Flights are full. Itineraries are ambitious. “Travel is back, full force,” says Mary Cropper, a travel adviser based in Boston. “People are coming out of the woodwork after the pandemic,…

15 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

How to Read a Frozen Meal Label

While our tests provide a good overview of frozen meals, there are lots of similar products packed into the freezer case at your grocery store. Here’s how to find a nutritious one. ■ Look beyond the claims. Labels like “plant-based,” “organic,” and “natural" on the package don't necessarily mean the meal inside is actually good for you. Those with a USDA organic label do have ingredients grown without most pesticides, for example, but could still contain plenty of sodium or sugars. And “plant-based” meals may not be high in fiber and may have a lot of highly processed ingredients. So check the Nutrition Facts label and ingredients lists to see what’s really in the food. ■ Check the Daily Value column on food labels. Ideally, a meal should have no…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

SMART SPEAKERS

OUR ADVICE The smart speakers with the best audio quality have gone beyond just sounding good for smart speakers—now they can really do justice to your favorite music. (Check out the sound quality scores in our ratings.) But not everyone is looking to play music from their new speaker. If you simply want to set timers in the kitchen or ask for occasional weather reports, you can buy a basic smart speaker for less than $50. WORDS OF CAUTION The leading smart speaker and voice-activated digital assistant companies—Amazon, Apple, and Google—all have their own music streaming services, and compatibility with rival platforms is often less than stellar. If most of your music comes from one of those companies, sticking with its own devices could make sense. Think carefully before buying…

1 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

TELEVISIONS

OUR ADVICE TVs keep getting better, even as they become more affordable. OLED TVs, which have long topped our ratings with deep, rich black levels and essentially unlimited viewing angles, now cost about the same as the best LCD sets. And those LCD models now rival OLED TVs for picture quality. That means there are more great choices for shoppers with larger budgets, while quality has been rising for many less expensive sets, too. These days, most sets support high dynamic range (HDR) video content, which can produce brighter, more vibrant pictures, closer to what we see in real life. Just about all new TVs are smart models with wireless internet connections. Many of these accept voice commands through their remote controls. WORDS OF CAUTION Don’t pay extra for an…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

The Cars That Save You Money

YOU THINK YOU’VE just met the car of your dreams—it corners well and has great fuel economy and is loaded with all of the latest safety features. But before you take the plunge, there’s one more thing you should carefully consider: how much it costs to maintain and repair. The difference in routine maintenance and repair costs can be huge between vehicles that are otherwise very similar in price, type, and fuel economy. So choosing wisely can save you thousands over the long run. “We analyzed data from our Annual Auto Survey, where respondents told us about maintenance and repair costs,” says Steven Elek, program leader of Consumer Reports’ auto data analytics. “Over a 10-year period, some vehicles can be twice as expensive to maintain as others in the same…

2 min.

Consumer Reports|May/June 2023

Autos With the Easiest Controls

TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT, but so is simplicity—especially when you’re trying to change the radio station or adjust the temperature while driving. Unfortunately, today’s cars can do so many things that they often overcomplicate basic tasks, requiring drivers to navigate through multiple touchscreen menus to make simple adjustments that could once be accomplished with the turn of a knob. “Simple controls—especially ones that you can use by gripping a knob or feeling a button—are easier to use without taking your eyes off the road,” says Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s manager for vehicle technology. “Touchscreens require drivers to focus on the screen, search for where to place a finger, and then try to tap that spot. This can be difficult while driving down a bumpy road.” CR’s experts have evaluated the interiors of hundreds…

2 min.