The Best Portable Projector for Movies

A portable movie projector combines the convenience of a phone or tablet with the big-screen appeal of a TV. None of these small, portable projectors rival the performance of a good TV or traditional home-theater projector, but the Xgimi MoGo Pro comes the closest of any we’ve tested so far. Plus, the MoGo Pro has Android TV built right in, so you can access a ton of movies without having to connect an external media player.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-pico-projector/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Space Heaters

To offset the chill in a drafty room or to give your home’s heating system a little boost, you may need a space heater. We’ve researched more than 100 models and tested 67 since 2011, and the Vornado VH200 is the best space heater for most people. A lot of space heaters can make you feel like you’re sitting in front of a hair dryer, but our pick (and other Vornado heaters we tried) warmed an entire room faster and more comfortably than everything else we’ve tested.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-space-heaters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Basic Smoke Alarm

After more than 65 hours researching fire safety, interviewing five experts, and reading well over a hundred pages of smoke-alarm data, we recommend the First Alert SA511CN2-3ST Smoke Alarm with Voice Location as the primary alarm in a comprehensive whole-home fire-protection system.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-basic-smoke-alarm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best LED Light Bulb

If you want basic light bulbs that look great and will save you money in the long run, there’s no reason not to choose LED bulbs—they look as good as incandescents and are far more energy-efficient. We recommend Cree’s Exceptional Light Quality line of A19 bulbs. For general-purpose lighting, look for soft white LED bulbs, available in 60 W and 40 W versions. And for a whiter, cooler light for working, get Cree’s daylight LED bulbs, also in 60 W and 40 W versions. The Cree bulbs also function well with dimmer switches, neither flickering nor buzzing, and their color accuracy brings out the best in your decor, furniture, and food, improving the ambiance of your entire home.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-led-lightbulb/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Tablets

After hundreds of hours of research and testing over the past seven years, we think Apple’s 8th-generation iPad is the best all-around tablet, with all the performance and features most people need for watching video, browsing the Internet, and staying on top of email and social media feeds. But we also have recommendations for people who want an Android tablet; a basic ebook reader; or a more powerful tablet for gaming, design and creative tasks, or for replacing a laptop computer.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-tablets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

How to Choose the Best Cloth Face Mask for You

A year into the coronavirus pandemic, there’s still a good deal of confusion over what type of face covering is best and how to effectively wear one. Although medical-style masks are more readily available now than they were early on, and may provide superior filtration in comparison with cloth masks, issues related to fit, comfort, counterfeits, and cost mean that cloth masks remain a go-to tool for slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Until reliable standards for non-medical masks are devised, here’s what we know for sure: Any mask is better than no mask, though some options are better than others. We consulted a range of authorities, from fashion designers and textile experts to aerosol scientists and infectious-disease specialists, to zero in on the small but crucial design details that have an outsize impact on how a mask fits and feels, and—by extension—how it helps reduce person-to-person viral transmission. We then commissioned independent lab tests to assess the filtration efficiency and breathability of a variety of cloth masks and filters, including our picks.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-cloth-face-masks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Snow Shovel

We’ve been shoveling ourselves out of average snowstorms and heavy nor’easters with the True Temper 18-Inch Ergonomic Mountain Mover every winter since 2013. It’s the best snow shovel for most people looking to clear walkways, steps, and small driveways. No other shovel matches its unique blend of ideal size, ergonomics, durability, and availability.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-snow-shovels/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

How to Choose a Mattress

Many people approach mattress shopping in the wrong way, by focusing solely on arbitrary measures of firmness level or sleep position, considering only the price, or choosing materials and technology touted in an ad. But that approach might land you a not-so-comfy mattress that you could regret buying.

from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/buying-a-mattress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed