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How We Chose the Winners of Our 2026 Best New Picks Awards

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At Wirecutter, our goal is simple: to recommend what really matters. You can find the results of our rigorous research and testing in each one of our 1,300 (and counting) guides covering everything from action cameras to yoga mats, each of which we regularly review and update for accuracy and helpfulness. Publishing and updating a Wirecutter guide is a thorough and monthslong — sometimes yearslong — process. At the core of this process is rigorous and completely independent testing by our journalists and other testers, who evaluate products according to carefully considered criteria. Only after our testing and reporting is complete, and sometimes hard decisions are made, does a product show up on our site. Our inaugural Best New Picks Awards are the culmination of this journey. To arrive at the 71 winners of our 2026 Best New Picks Awards, our newsroom of more than 170 journalists first evaluated more than 10,000 products over the past year across all of Wirecutter’s review cate...
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The Best iPhone Case for iPhone 17, 17 Plus, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air

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If you’re spending a lot of money on a new iPhone 17 or iPhone Air, you need to protect it if you want to use it as long as you can. The iPhone 17 lineup is made with Apple’s next-generation Ceramic Shield 2, the latest version of its proprietary glass, which the company claims has three times better scratch resistance than the previous version. The iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPhone Air are slightly more durable than the base model, with an additional Ceramic Shield coating on the back to help protect against cracks. But while newer iPhones are more crack-resistant, a drop can still do some damage, so we still recommend covering your phone with a case to help keep it in pristine condition. We tested more than 65 options to find the best ones, whether you want a simple case that balances protection with cost, a clear case to show off your expensive phone, a bumper for protecting your iPhone Air, or a more rugged case to protect your device from dents, nicks, and di...
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The Best Retinol Products

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So many skin-care products promise miracles, but retinoids are among the few with the science to back them up. At prescription strengths, these vitamin A derivatives, like tretinoin, have been shown to speed up skin’s cellular turnover, boost collagen, and minimize the appearance of pores and the production of oils. Milder over-the-counter versions, such as retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate, deliver similar benefits. To find the best ones, 14 testers spent months treating their faces, necks, décolletages, and backs of hands with 35 different products. And all of the brand names were concealed, in order to prevent price bias. So panelists had no idea whether they were using a product that cost $10 or $100. In the end we arrived at seven standouts for a range of budgets and skin types, including a serum with adjustable potency , a moisturizing multitasker , an adapalene gel , and a bargain option . Whichever one is right for you, be sure to start slowly (applying the pro...
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The Best Lumbar Support Pillow

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If you’ve ever had to remind yourself to sit up straight or found yourself unconsciously taking on a shrimp posture while seated, a lumbar support pillow might be just what the doctor ordered. Over the years, we’ve spoken with spinal specialists and ergonomic consultants, and we’ve evaluated 18 lumbar support pillows with the help of more than 50 testers. We’ve also spent countless hours scouring the internet to find the models that really have your back. No lumbar support pillow is as good a solution as using an ergonomic office chair for back support. But these pillows are a much more affordable remedy for mild lower-back pain and poor posture. The Tempur-Pedic LumbarCushion Travel is the best lumbar support pillow you can get, thanks to its sleek design and proprietary Tempur foam, which never seems to go flat. And this pillow is lightweight, so it’s easy to take with you wherever you go. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/oyxcaFR via IFTTT
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Unclogging a Hairy Drain Is Gross. This $15 Stopper Makes It Less So.

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My wife and daughter have such nice hair. But as our household’s ersatz plumber, I wish I could convince them to stop brushing it over the bathroom sink. So far, no luck. Instead, every couple of months, as the drain inevitably slows to a trickle, I put on a pair of gloves. And I get down to the tedious business of disassembling the stopper and then dredging the foul, stringy sludge that’s caked around its stem like fuzzy pond scum. Drain snakes don’t help my situation much, since even the skinny, flexible ones don’t quite fit into the tight openings around my pull-rod drain stopper. As for chemical drain cleaners, like Drano or Liquid Plumr, I think of them as a last resort, due to the risks they pose to my home’s plumbing and to the safety of any drain-service pro I might need to call to bail me out of a truly stubborn clog. The algorithm reminded me of an alternative: a mesh drain catcher. As a category, drain catchers are as old as indoor plumbing, and I counted about a half-do...
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The Best iPhone Cases

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Even the least expensive iPhone is pricey, and the right case should help protect it so that you can use it as long as possible. The best cases offer protection against scratches, dings, and cracks, and allow you to personalize your phone, often without adding much bulk or changing how you use your device. Whether you’re looking for a case to conveniently attach to various accessories throughout your day or seeking the most protection possible, we’ve tested hundreds of iPhone cases and can recommend the right one to fit your needs. If you’re looking for a case for your iPhone 17 or iPhone Air, check out our guide to the best iPhone 17 and iPhone Air cases . from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/V8uwJjt via IFTTT
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The Best Bike Repair Stand

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You don’t absolutely need a bike repair stand to take care of the most basic maintenance, like lubing your chain or swapping tires. But once you start adjusting your own derailleurs or messing around with cables, having a way to work on your bike while its wheels are off the ground is crucial. After researching 49 stands and testing 12, we’ve found that the Feedback Sports Sport Mechanic 2.0 Bike Repair Stand is the best repair stand for most people. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/JIlxdAm via IFTTT
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