Articles by Christine Persaud

Perfect for families

Lenovo Tab P11 Plus

See at Lenovo

Pros

Dedicated space for kids
Dedicated space for entertainment apps
Certified for Netflix HD streaming
Comes with Amazon Music Unlimited trial

Cons

Smaller, lower resolution screen
Not as powerful processor
Much thicker than the Pro

The Lenovo Tab P11 Plus is a worthwhile option if you plan to share the tablet among the whole family thanks to the dedicated zones, including one specifically for Kids that provides them with their own dedicated login. Its specs, for the most part, go head-to-head with the P11 Pro.

Powerful workhorse

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro

$520 at Amazon

Pros

Bigger, higher resolution OLED screen
Powerful processor
Three options to choose from
Ultra-thin design

Cons

Only one finish option
Significantly less battery life

The specs are very similar between the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro and the Plus, but the Plus has more features dedicated to families whereas the P11 Pro seems designed for singl…

The last thing you want to do while your hands are dirty with food or wet from washing dishes is tap a button on your smart speaker. When entertaining, don’t you find that so many parties congregate in the kitchen? Smart kitchen products are pretty standard nowadays, but most useful, in particular, are those you can control by voice. They help simplify things when you’re multitasking and make for a super-cool kitchen that will be the envy of all your guests. If you set up voice assistant routines, you can even enjoy various things happening at once with different Alexa devices, like the kitchen lights turning on, music playing, and coffee brewing with a single command. Here are some of the best kitchen products with Alexa to make your life a little easier, some of which are actually the best Alexa devices, overall.

Versatile multicooker

Instant Pot Smart WiFi Multicooker

Staff Pick

The best multicooker you can get is the Instant Pot, and this smart version allows you to remotel…

When it comes to setting up a smart home, lighting is one of the simplest things you can switch over first, not to mention one of the most cost effective. That said, there’s an abundance of choice in terms of smart lights, and what might be considered the best smart light bulb depends on a number of factors. The C by GE A19 Smart Light Bulb checks all of the boxes. It’s made by a trusted brand in lighting and is compatible with all major voice assistants and smart home control platforms. They can be grouped together or used on their own and can replace any standard 60-watt incandescent A19 bulb. And while it’s a top pick, it isn’t the only choice around.

Best Overall: C by GE A19 Smart Light Bulb

This C by GE bulb emits a soft white light that’s suitable for any room of the home, comes in a convenient two-pack, uses 9.5 watts, and offers up 760 lumens of brightness. It’s designed to replace traditional 60-watt incandescent A19 bulbs and fits medium-based sockets in open fixtures….

Compact and travel-friendly

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite

$130 at Amazon

Pros

Compact and lightweight
Expandable storage up to 1TB
Extra-durable and sturdy metal frame
Comes with free YouTube Premium trial

Cons

Smaller, lower resolution screen
Not as powerful processor
Only 2MP front camera

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a great alternative to the Galaxy Tab A7 if you’re looking for something compact and travel friendly. It’s smaller, weighs less, and has a sturdy frame so you can confidently pop it into your bag to bring with you. It’s also the ideal family tablet for sharing.

For the serious worker

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

$180 at Amazon

Pros

Bigger, higher resolution ultra-widescreen
Extra security features
Expandable storage up to 1TB
Comes with free YouTube Premium and Spotify Premium trials

Cons

More expensive
Older model

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is an older model that comes in at a slightly higher price. But for those using the tablet for work, …

Big bucks to upgrade

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE

TBA at Samsung

Pros

Larger, higher resolution display
Comes with an S Pen
5G connectivity option
Use like a laptop with accessories
Samsung DeX support

Cons

Likely to be expensive

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn’t officially out yet, and while a sale price hasn’t been confirmed for the U.S. market, based on the U.K. pricing, it will likely surpass $700. This makes it an expensive upgrade that will only be worth it for those who will take advantage of the new features.

Still a decent workhorse tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

$300 at Amazon

Pros

Affordable
Comes with an S Pen
Use like a laptop with accessories

Cons

No 5G connectivity option
Smaller, lower-resolution screen
No Samsung DeX support

If you just bought a Galaxy Tab S6 Lite recently. it might be too soon to invest so much in a brand-new tablet. The Tab S6 will continue to suit most users just fine, but if you have a reason to upgrade, the Gala…

The ecosystem of smart home accessories and devices that work with Amazon’s Alexa smart voice assistant is vast, and one of the most popular categories is smart lighting, and Alexa controlled light bulbs for using your voice to turn them on and off, adjust colors, and more. With so many options out there, how are you supposed to know which ones are the best Alexa-controlled light bulbs? My top choice is the Philips Hue A21 1,600 Lumen Bulb because it comes from an industry-leading brand, has a massive ecosystem of other Hue products it will work with, and it plays well with Alexa. Plus, it’s super bright, which means you can use it almost anywhere and get as much light as you need.

Best overall: Philips Hue A21 1,600 Lumen Bulb

Chances are that when you think about smart lights, the brand that comes to mind first is Philips Hue. The product line was introduced way back in 2012 and has arguably maintained its status as the dominant brand in the smart lighting space to this day.

E…

Worthy upgrade

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)

$130 at Amazon

Pros

Far better camera
Improved processing speeds
Optional stand for video and photos

Cons

Can’t connect external speakers, wired headphones
More expensive

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) only has a handful of differences compared to the previous generation model. But they are worth it if you’ve noticed shortcomings in photo and video quality and/or slow response times/operation. Not only is the camera significantly better, but it can even pan/zoom the constantly keep you in the frame.

Still does the job

Amazon Echo Show 8

$110 at Amazon

Pros

Affordable
Can connect external speakers, wired headphone
Optional stand for photos and videos

Cons

Lacklustre camera
Slower processor

If you already forked over the dough for an Amazon Echo Show 8 and you have been happy with it, there’s no reason to upgrade. But if you have noticed that apps run slow, the voice assistant isn’t as responsive as you’d l…

The ominous episode “Nosedive” of the thriller anthology series Black Mirror painted a terrifying picture of a future whereby a person’s value as a human is solely based on their social media rating and “likes.” Don’t get enough likes, or worse, get dislikes, and your social status nosedives, leading to everything from job losses to mortgage denials and even not being served at your favorite coffee shop. While we haven’t quite reached such a scary level of dependence on social media, the focus on “likes” to determine popularity has been growing, and it can boost (or damage) personal or professional self-esteem. If you’d rather steer clear of placing so much emphasis on how many people tap that heart emoji on your posts, or the posts of others, you can now hide your Instagram like counts if you so desire.

What is the new feature all about?

The new feature hides from view how many likes your posts get, and/or hides how many likes posts from other people in your feed have received.

I…

If you’re a gamer who’s into Xbox, PlayStation, or both, and you plan to get your hands on the new PS5 or Xbox Series X (or maybe you were already lucky enough to pick one up!), chances are you’ll want to get the best experience possible. This requires loading up on some great PS5 accessories, including the best HDMI 2.1 compatible cables you can find to support higher resolution, more bandwidth (up to 48Gbps), faster refresh rates, and even dynamic HDR. Here are the best we found to enhance your gaming experience even further!

Braided strength

Highwings 8K HDMI Cable – 6.6-Foot

Staff Pick

It’s still early days for 8K, but if you have a future-friendly set-up for your intense video gaming sessions, this cable can support it with 8K@60Hz (4K@120Hz) to accurately reproduce every scene in the game in stunning clarity. The braided cord will ensure it won’t break or fray, along with the anti-bending design and 24K gold-plated plug part material. The 6.6-foot length should suit most …

The win for Android

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

From $779 on Amazon

Pros

Fabulous S Pen experience
PC-like experience with optional keyboard
Gorgeous high-resolution screen
Expandable storage up to 1TB
14 hours of battery life

Cons

No 3.5mm headphone jack
DeX experience and apps can be buggy
Awkward size

For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is a solid tablet to consider. It offers plenty of appealing features for both work and play, including the superior S Pen, the ultra-fast octa-core processor, gorgeous screen, long battery life, and quad speakers. While it’s pretty expensive, it’s a fully-featured, premium tablet with a large enough screen to use at home or on the go.

Made for iOS users

iPad Pro (2021)

From $1,200 on Amazon

Pros

Seamless integration with other Apple devices
Gorgeous Liquid Retina display
Superior Magic Keyboard
Fast chip, smooth graphics processing

Cons

No 3.5mm headphone jack
Only 10 hours of battery life
Not ideal for Androi…