After months of daily use, the Nothing Ear (3a) left me wondering why most people need pricier wireless earbuds. Its punchy, balanced sound, impressive noise cancellation, adjustable EQ, and dependable battery life outweigh a slightly loose charging case, unremarkable Spatial Audio, and a maximum volume that could be louder.
Getting a drink home without spilling it is enough of a challenge for some of us. Toyota raises the stakes with a wet test track, an AE86, and an open cup of water. Its test driver attempts Takumi’s famous Initial D exercise, making the cup as compelling to watch as the car.
You spend time choosing furniture and matching colors, only to park a giant black rectangle in the middle of it all. Amazon’s Ember Artline fills that space with artwork between shows, without an art subscription. When it’s time to watch, redesigned Fire TV menus and a revamped phone app help with the choosing.
A camera pointed at the couch is only useful until the dog takes its mischief elsewhere. Ring’s new pan-tilt indoor model follows movement around the room, while four new 4K cameras cover the rest of the lineup. Between brighter lighting, sharper footage, and more power options, there’s plenty to choose from beyond a fixed view.
Six years is a long wait for a second-generation gadget, even one that spends its life sitting on a shelf. Apple’s HomePod mini 2 gives the little speaker new duties, from Mac audio to four-speaker movie nights. It also gets a music-reactive light show, with Siri AI joining through a later update.
Watching a show with someone who keeps asking questions can become a group research project. Apple’s new TV 4K lets Siri field those questions hands-free, with answers appearing on-screen. Add faster hardware and support for four HomePod speakers, and the little box has quite a few new duties for movie night.
A television with streaming apps built in makes another streaming device sound redundant. Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick 4K makes its case with quicker access to your shows and a remote you can navigate by feel. It also draws power from your TV’s USB port, leaving one less thing competing for an outlet.
Getting comfortable with a book shouldn’t mean negotiating which hand has to leave the blanket. Amazon’s Kindle Click remote handles page turns while you stay tucked in. It joins a redesigned Kindle family, but owners of models from 2024 onward can enjoy the same small luxury without replacing their reader.
Buying better clubs is easier than fixing a golf swing, and McLaren has given equipment enthusiasts a tempting new distraction. Its debut irons put precision molding and carefully positioned weight to work, with one model focused on shot control and the other offering extra distance and forgiveness. The swing remains your department.
If your idea of a slingshot still involves a Y-shaped frame and a dangling pouch, these folding designs may come as a surprise. Sold through Edcerss, they unfold into pistol-like shapes with triggers, while some card-style models even have built-in magazines. The rubber band has acquired quite a supporting cast.
For anyone who remembers Celine Dion performing “My Heart Will Go On,” the necklace needs little introduction. Her new Barbie pairs a replica Heart of the Ocean with the sleek dress from her award-show appearance, celebrating the singer and the Titanic ballad that became inseparable from her career.
Owning Lamborghini’s off-road supercar is a fairly exclusive affair. Building one at home is another matter. Mattel Brick Shop shrinks the Huracán Sterrato into a customizable model with opening doors and interchangeable wheel covers, then includes a matching Hot Wheels metal car. That’s two Lamborghinis without having to clear the garage.