Living Room
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Essential · $56Good
Upgrade · $85Better
Absolute · $140BestEssentialSimple grid and large app selection
UpgradeFaster processor that loads apps
AbsoluteBuilt-in Ethernet port and smart home panel
Essential · Roku Stick 4K
This small stick plugs straight into the TV's HDMI input and can draw power from the TV's USB port. It supports 4K with all the major HDR formats and offers a wide selection of streaming services. Its remote works through walls and cabinets, has TV power and volume buttons, and includes a microphone for voice search.
Pro: A 4K stick with a simple app grid and a remote that controls the TV.
Con: Slower than the other picks to load apps, move through menus and answer voice queries.
Upgrade · Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
This stick plugs into the TV's HDMI port and streams in 4K with all the major HDR formats and an immersive sound format. Its voice remote lets you search and control playback by speaking, and it supports Wi-Fi 6E for faster connections with a matching router. It also streams console games through a subscription app with a Bluetooth gamepad.
Pro: Faster app loading and smoother menu navigation than the Essential.
Con: Its interface is stuffed with ads and puts its own video service first.
Absolute · Google TV
This small box sits near the TV and streams 4K with all the major HDR formats and immersive sound. Its home screen gathers what you were watching across services, and a smart home panel controls thermostats and lights and shows camera feeds on the TV. A button on the box makes the remote ring when it is lost.
Pro: Instant app launches and seamless switching between apps, where the Essential is much slower.
Con: It uses older Wi-Fi 5, and voice control needs a button press on the remote.
Essential · $998Good
Upgrade · $1,400Better
Absolute · $2,300BestEssentialVery high brightness
UpgradeDeep blacks without glow
Essential · Hisense U8QG
It reaches more than 1,300 nits on highlights and holds 780 nits across the full screen. Its anti-reflection screen and high brightness make it well suited to bright rooms. All three of its HDMI 2.1 ports support gaming at 4K and 165Hz. Its built-in 4.1.2-channel speakers give an immersive sound field with height channels, without a separate soundbar.
Pro: A very bright screen with an anti-reflective coating for sunlit rooms.
Con: The picture loses contrast and color when you sit off to the side.
Upgrade · LG C6
Its screen delivers deep blacks, punchy highlights and excellent contrast. Peak HDR brightness measured 1,438 nits, up from its predecessor's 1,180. All four HDMI 2.1 inputs take 4K at 165Hz with variable refresh rate. Input lag measured 4.6 ms with its game boost mode on. Wide viewing angles keep colour and brightness steady off to the side.
Pro: Color and brightness that hold up for viewers seated off to the side.
Con: Its glossy screen shows mirror-like reflections when watched in bright rooms.
Absolute · Samsung S95H
It shows rich, accurate, vivid colors and deep blacks with no glow around highlights. A matte coating makes reflections a non-issue, even in the brightest rooms. It measured about 2,780 nits on a 10% HDR window. Four HDMI 2.1 ports handle 4K at 165Hz with variable refresh rate. Image quality stays consistent when viewed from an angle.
Pro: A picture that stays consistent for seats off to the side.
Con: Black levels rise and look hazy when bright light hits the matte screen.
Essential · $219Good
Upgrade · $489Better
Absolute · $1,075BestEssentialCrisp vocals and dialogue
UpgradeDialogue easy to follow
AbsoluteClear dialogue and wide soundstage
Essential · Sonos Ray
A 22-inch bar with two tweeters and two woofers that connects to your TV by optical cable. Reviewers found its sound surprisingly wide for its size, with crisp vocals and dialogue that is much easier to understand. Bass is thin next to systems with a subwoofer, and there is no microphone for voice control.
Pro: A compact bar that widens TV sound and makes dialogue much easier to understand.
Con: It has no HDMI port and uses optical only, so it cannot play Dolby Atmos.
Upgrade · Sonos Beam
A compact bar under 26 inches wide that plays Dolby Atmos through processing rather than up-firing speakers. Side-firing speakers widen the sound, and reviewers found dialogue easy to follow and the Atmos height convincing for its size. It also offers Wi-Fi streaming, AirPlay 2 and built-in Alexa or Google Assistant. Overhead effects fall short of bars with dedicated height speakers.
Pro: Dolby Atmos over HDMI eARC, for fuller, more dynamic film and TV sound.
Con: Deep bass is weak without a separate subwoofer, and it has only one HDMI port.
Absolute · Sonos Arc
A 46-inch single bar with 14 drivers, including up-firing and side-firing ones, for 9.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos sound. Reviewers praised its clear dialogue, wide soundstage and strong Atmos height, and found it good for music too. It streams over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and has built-in Alexa. Its size can crowd small stands or block low-set TVs.
Pro: Deep, impressive bass from the bar alone, without buying a separate subwoofer.
Con: There is no HDMI passthrough or extra input, and it does not support DTS:X.
Essential · $19Good
Upgrade · $178Better
Absolute · $250BestEssentialCompact, powerful spot cooling
UpgradeWhole-room cooling on a pedestal
AbsoluteBlanket of cool air
Essential · Honeywell HT-900
This compact circulator comes ready to use out of the box, weighs 2.6 pounds, and works on a table, on the floor or on a wall. A back dial sets three speeds, and the head tilts 90 degrees to aim the air. On high, a cold blast reached 10 feet and a light breeze about 18 feet.
Pro: A small, powerful fan that aims a concentrated stream of air at one person.
Con: It does not oscillate, and its three-speed dial clicks loudly with every turn.
Upgrade · Shark FlexBreeze
It converts from a pedestal to a desktop fan and runs corded or on battery, indoors or outside. Five speeds, 180-degree oscillation and a 55-degree tilt aim the air, with a remote. The battery lasts up to 24 hours on the lowest speed but two hours on the highest. A hose-fed mister adds a cooling haze outdoors.
Pro: Whole-room cooling as a pedestal fan, not just a stream for one person.
Con: At 12.2 pounds it is heavy for a desk fan, and a little top-heavy.
Absolute · Shark TurboBlade
This bladeless tower has two arms that pivot from vertical to horizontal, with vents that tilt independently to aim air two ways. It offers 10 speeds, an adjustable height, a timer up to 12 hours and a magnetic remote. It runs at 38 to 40 decibels on its lowest speed, and a dust screen wipes clean.
Pro: 180-degree oscillation that cools an entire room, not one fixed spot.
Con: At 15 pounds it is bottom-heavy and awkward to move between rooms.
Essential · $1,298Good
Upgrade · $2,498Better
Absolute · $4,499BestEssentialBig, bright, fairly accurate picture
Upgradeover twice the measured brightness
Absolutemotorized lens shift and zoom
Essential · Hisense M2
The Hisense M2 Pro is a small 4K projector that makes a big, bright image with fairly accurate colors and an optical zoom. It supports HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and motion looks smooth without judder. It weighs 3.9kg and tilts up and down to aim the picture.
Pro: A small 4K projector that throws a big, bright, fairly accurate picture.
Con: Only one HDMI input, thin-sounding speakers, and less popular apps may be missing.
Upgrade · Hisense C2
The Hisense C2 Ultra is a 4K laser projector on a tilting, swiveling stand, with built-in streaming and a robust speaker system. Wirecutter measured about 2,200 lumens with above-average contrast, and it supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision. Gamers get low lag and Designed for Xbox certification.
Pro: Over twice the measured brightness, so the picture holds up in brighter rooms.
Con: It needs its bulky stand and is not ideal for a dedicated theater room.
Absolute · Epson LS9000
The Epson LS9000 is a 4K laser 3LCD projector rated at 2,200 lumens, with a motorized zoom, wide lens shift and lens memory. Its 3-chip design avoids the rainbow effect, and Natural mode gives accurate color out of the box. Two HDMI 2.1 ports handle 4K at 120Hz for gaming.
Pro: Motorized lens shift and zoom for a dedicated theater room, where the Hisense isn't ideal.
Con: No built-in speakers or streaming, and no dynamic HDR tone mapping.
Dining Room
Essential · $21Good
Upgrade · $161Better
Absolute · $249BestEssentialNo water spots after dishwasher
UpgradeSturdy knife that cuts carrots easily
AbsolutePieces that resist wear
Essential · Amazon Basics
This 20-piece stainless steel set covers four place settings of dinner forks, salad forks, soup spoons, teaspoons and knives. Reviewers found the pieces nicely balanced and easy to hold, though lighter than other sets and plain in a cafeteria way. It came out of the dishwasher sparkling every time, with no water spots.
Pro: A four-place stainless steel set built for daily use that cleans up easily.
Con: The table knife is thin and flimsy, with no sharp edge.
Upgrade · Lenox Portola
This 18/10 stainless steel set holds twelve five-piece place settings plus a five-piece serving set. Reviewers found the pieces balanced and comfortable, with flared handles that are easy to hold. Its knife cut carrots, green beans and rotisserie chicken easily, and the fork tines speared single chickpeas.
Pro: A sturdy knife that cuts carrots and green beans easily, not a thin, dull one.
Con: The knife feels heavy, and the pieces are prone to smudges and water spots.
Absolute · Made In
This Italian-made set has four five-piece place settings, with 18/10 steel forks and spoons and 18/0 steel knives. Reviewers found it well balanced and comfortable, with flared handle ends that fit the palm. It showed the fewest water spots after the dishwasher and holds up to daily washing.
Pro: Pieces that resist wear, showing tiny scratches after nearly a year, not weeks.
Con: Pieces run large for small hands, and the 18/0 steel knives rust more easily.
Essential · $48GoodNo Upgrade pickNo product at this level has enough backing.
No Absolute pickSome candidates were set aside.
EssentialDishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer
Essential · Amazon Basics
These thin, light porcelain pieces made it through repeated drops with only a muted sound and didn't scratch in testing. They are safe in the dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer, and the plates don't hold heat, so they aren't hot to handle. Plates vary in thickness, so stacks can wobble a bit.
Pro: A lightweight porcelain set that survived repeated drops and resisted scratches from flatware.
Con: The plate rims are wide, taking up about 40% of each plate.
No Upgrade pick. No product at this level has enough backing.
No Absolute pick. Some candidates were set aside.