Articles by Olivia Lipski

Simple data plans

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Fast T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE data network
Affordable data options
Up to 35GB of high-speed data with the unlimited plan
Multi-month savings
Hotspot on every plan

Cons

Must buy at least three months
No multi-line discounts
Only 5GB of hotspot data on the unlimited plan
Data slowed after 35GB on the unlimited plan

Mint Mobile has a plan that will work for just about anyone, with a choice between 4GB, 10GB, 15GB, or unlimited data plans. You can also save money if you’re willing to buy an entire year of service at once. All plans come with mobile hotspot data, and access to T-Mobile’s 5G network at no extra cost.

A lot of choices

Ultra Mobile

From $10/mo. at Ultra Mobile

Pros

Fast T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE data network
Tons of data options
Multi-month savings
Single-month plans are available
Unlimited calling to 80+ international locations

Cons

Unlimited plan is slowed after 40GB
Multi-month savin…

Blink Basic

Single camera subscription

$3/mo. or $30/yr. at Amazon

Pros

Inexpensive
Storage on Blink’s cloud
Live view and motion clip recording
Photo capture
Rapid video access

Cons

Only works with one Blink device
Extended warranty not included
Blink discount not included

Blink Basic is extremely affordable at only $30 per year and will give you access to all the extra features you need to improve your home security, such as storage of motion clips and live view sessions on Blink’s cloud server that you can view via Blink’s app. The downside is that Blink Basic will only cover one security camera.

Blink Plus

Multiple device protection

$10/mo. or $100/yr. at Amazon

Pros

Covers multiple Blink devices
Storage on Blink’s cloud
Extended warranty
10 percent Blink device discount
Live view and motion clip recording

Cons

More expensive

Blink Plus costs more, but it’s the subscription plan for anyone that owns a few Blink security cameras. This plan wi…

Best answer: Yes, like all major U.S. carriers, Mint Mobile supports VoLTE. To use Mint’s network, your phone has to be VoLTE- and 4G LTE-friendly, but luckily most devices purchased within the past few years are.

T-Mobile’s network for less: Mint Mobile from $15/mo. at Mint Mobile
Best for Mint: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE $600 at Amazon

What is VoLTE?

VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE and refers to how voice is transmitted during a call. Previously, calls were placed over older, slower legacy voice networks, whereas Voice over LTE places these calls over a high-speed LTE connection. VoLTE (also known as HD Voice) will still use up your minutes but allows you to have clearer, higher-quality calls.

All phones on T-Mobile’s network are actually required to support VoLTE. Because Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s vast 4G LTE and 5G network to offer affordable plans at a lower cost, it also supports VoLTE. For your phone to work with Mint Mobile’s network, you’ll thereby need a device that’s Vo…

Best answer: Yes, the Weber iGrill 3 is a great grilling gadget that can monitor the temperature of up to four cuts of meat and will send notifications straight to your phone when food is ready to be served.

Why should you buy a Weber iGrill 3 for your Weber BBQ?

Have you ever taken your steak off the grill only to discover that it’s still rare instead of medium leaving you no choice but to throw it back on? We’ve all been there, but it’s a scenario that’s best avoided. It’s why smart grilling tools like the Weber iGrill 3 were created in the first place—to take some of the uncertainty out of the grilling process and give you accurate temperature reads.

If you already own a Weber Genesis II or Spirit II gas grill, the Weber iGrill 3 is one of the best BBQ and grilling accessories you can get. It’ll mount right into your grill so it doesn’t take up any extra space, and because it’s Bluetooth-enabled all you have to do is pair your phone with the iGrill 3 for it to work. You’ll op…

Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub

Superior Grilling Assistant

$129 at Amazon

Pros

Compatible with any grill
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled
USB rechargeable battery
LED display
Step-by-step grilling assistance

Cons

Pricey
Mixed reviews
Poor app

The Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub is compatible with any grill and makes the grilling experience smarter and more convenient. Thanks to its Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, you’ll get flip and serve notifications on your phone as well as useful step-by-step grilling assistance through the Weber Connect app — though it could use some fine-tuning and more recipes.

Weber iGrill 3

Affordable and connected

$75 at Amazon

Pros

Affordable price
Bluetooth-enabled (150-foot range)
Resourceful Weber iGrill app
Useful doneness notifications

Cons

Only compatible with Genesis II or Spirit II gas grill
No Wi-Fi connectivity
Batteries aren’t rechargeable

The Weber iGrill 3 is an affordable app-connected thermometer that …

Simple data plans

Mint Mobile

From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Pros

Fast T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE data network
Affordable data options
Up to 35GB of high-speed data with the unlimited plan
Multi-month savings
Hotspot on every plan

Cons

Must buy at least three months
Pricing does not include taxes and fees
No multi-line discounts
Only 5GB of hotspot data on the unlimited plan

Mint Mobile has a plan that will work for just about anyone, with a choice between 4GB, 10GB, 15GB, or unlimited data plans. You can also save money if you’re willing to buy an entire year of service at once. All plans come with mobile hotspot data, and access to T-Mobile’s 5G network at no extra cost.

A lot of choices

Ultra Mobile

From $10/mo. at Ultra Mobile

Pros

Fast T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE data network
Tons of data options
Multi-month savings
Single-month plans are available
Unlimited calling to 80+ international locations

Cons

Multi-month unlimited plan is slowed after 32GB
Unlimited …

Dry, overcooked meals just became a thing of the past

Though sous vide cooking has been around for years, not everybody is familiar with it. The French term itself might come off as intimidating and best suited for a professional chef, but the “under vacuum” technique is actually much easier than you’d think—especially when it has a smart touch to it. All you need is one of the best smart sous vide machines, also called an immersion circulator, which will heat a water bath to a precise temperature.

Food that is vacuum-sealed or placed in airtight bags is submerged into this water, which circulates and slowly cooks food until it reaches the desired temperature. Because the sous vide machine maintains consistency and accuracy, food is evenly cooked and ends up flavorful, tender, and never overcooked.

Here are the six reasons you should buy a smart sous vide for your home and never look back to your old cooking methods.

1. A smart sous vide will revolutionize your food

I would ne…

A smart coffee scale is the secret to a perfect brew. It explains why you’ll rarely find baristas using a plastic scoop to measure their coffee grounds. These experts know that coffee’s flavor depends on the coffee to water ratio, and consistency is key. Because a smart coffee scale accurately measures coffee grounds and tracks each brew in an app, it can help you remember the ratios you liked and the coffee that tasted best. It’s a great tool for making consistently excellent coffee, and it’s beneficial if you like using pour over coffee makers. These are some of the best smart coffee scales to consider when it comes to precision, size, and functionality.

Fancy favorite

Acaia Pearl

Staff Pick

This incredibly high-end smart coffee scale will help you improve your brew with its snazzy connected features. It’s Bluetooth-enabled, water-resistant, accurate to 0.1 grams, responsive, and has a built-in timer as well as auto-off customization. The Acaia is for someone who’s serious …

Anova Precision Cooker Nano

Versatile and precise

$109 at Amazon

Pros

Affordable
User-friendly
Precise temperature control
Bluetooth enabled
Touchscreen display

Cons

No Wi-Fi connection
Less power and slower at heating water
Fixed clamp

This smart sous vide is slightly slower at heating water and doesn’t have a Wi-Fi connection, but what it does have going for it is its great size, price, and precision. Most importantly, you have the option of controlling the user-friendly Nano either through your smartphone (via Bluetooth) or through its touchscreen display.

Breville Joule Sous Vide

Innovative and powerful

$200 at Amazon

Pros

Powerful
Small, sleek, and compact size
Precise temperature control
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled
Magnetic base

Cons

Expensive
No physical display

The Breville Joule Sous Vide is what you think of when it comes to smart kitchen gadgets. It’s sleek and compact, doesn’t have a display, and comes with a magnetic base. Though the Jo…

Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 6-quart

Easy-to-use

$130 at Walmart

Pros

User-friendly
Includes an air fryer and air fryer presets
Affordable
Detachable air fryer lid
1000+ official Instant Pot recipes

Cons

Heavy
Requires two lids
Lacks a few classic presets
Smaller capacity

The 11-in-1 Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer offers what most beloved Instant Pots do with the addition of an air fryer! Though it’s bulky and lacks a few traditional presets, it makes up for that with its air frying superpowers, affordable price, and user-friendly Instant Pot-ness.

Ninja Foodi Pro Pressure Cooker + Air Fryer 6.5-quart

Innovative

$215 at Amazon

Pros

Larger capacity
Modern feel and sleek design
Advanced air fryer
Includes a cookbook

Cons

Bulky and heavy
Costly
Requires two lids
Less intuitive
Air fryer lid isn’t detachable

The Ninja Foodi Pro Pressure Cooker + Air Fryer might look like it came straight out of Star Wars, but it’s a fantastic pressure coo…