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Google’s Files app now streams local media to your Chromecast

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This should work with all the media you’d typically play on a Chromecast in the first place, and should be available right away if you have the latest version of Files. The technology behind the app isn’t strictly new — there have been local media casting apps for years, and that’s not including individual media apps that can cast their own content. This gives you an official, straightforward option, though, and it could cover the bases in ways that some apps can’t.

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Pre-installed apps on low-end Android phones are full of security holes

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The DHS-funded report uncovered 146 apps, which come pre-installed on inexpensive Android handsets, would pull shenanigans like eavesdropping through the microphone, unilaterally changing their permissions or surreptitiously transmitting data back to the manufacturer without ever notifying the user.

Kryptowire found these bugs on phones from 29 different manufacturers from relatively unknowns like Cubot and Doogee to marquee companies include Sony. And given that the average Android come with anywhere from 100 to 400 apps pre-installed, often bundled as part of larger app suites, these vulnerabilities pose a growing threat to users.

The problem isn’t unsolvable, mind you. “Google can demand more thorough code analysis and vendor responsibility for their software products that enter the Android ecosystems,” Kryptowire CEO Angelos Stavrou told CNET. “Legislators and policy makers should demand that companies are accountable for putting the security and personal information of end-users at risk.”

The question, though, is whether or not Google and policy makers have the political will to take steps necessary to correct the issue.

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Porsche’s Taycan lives up to its EV hype

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Electric vehicles are great at accelerating quickly, helped along by that low center of gravity (because of all that battery weight). But the laws of physics still apply and cornering can be a challenge if an automaker wants to give drivers more than 100 miles of range. More range means more battery and more battery means more weight. But the automaker has decades of experience getting cars around tracks in the quickest manner possible and it applied that wealth of knowledge to its first electric vehicle. The result is spectacular.

Angeles Crest Highway is one of the go-to destinations for performance drivers in Southern California. The mountain road is filled with switchbacks, long sweeping turns, and beautiful views. It’s ideal for testing an electric sports car.

During my time behind the wheel of the Taycan, the vehicle handled tight corners with precision. Yes, the mass of battery under the seating area made itself known, but it was less prevalent than I expected. The vehicle’s air suspension and dynamic chassis control do a lot of the heavy lifting here, making the car feel lighter than it actually is.

Porsche Taycan first drive

Yet the steering was tight without feeling twitchy. That makes the car ideal, not just for back-road and track days, but also daily use. In fact, in order to get to (and back from) Angeles Crest Highway, I had to do a lot of freeway and city driving. During that time, the Taycan displayed more composure on rutted bumpy roads than I anticipated.

The automaker says that the Taycan’s ride sits between the Panamera and the 911. So it’s not as smooth as a high-end luxury vehicle, but it is impressively composed on the roads it’ll spend a majority of its time traversing.

Some of that ride quality comes from the electric powertrain. EVs just have a smoother ride because they’re not battling the forces of an internal combustion engine while driving. Also, they go fast. In the case of the Porsche Taycan, it goes very fast.

I drove the Turbo S version of the Taycan with its 750 horsepower and 774 pounds of torque. It’ll do zero to 60 in an internal organ-warping 2.6 seconds. It’ll perform this feat again and again and again as I continually jam down the accelerator between corners in the mountains. Thermal management is tough though, and it’s the reason some EVs can’t continually and reliably perform at their peak. Porsche’s engineers decided that if they were going to put the company’s badge on a car, it should perform like its internal-combustion siblings.

Porsche Taycan first drive

For the most part, it does. But it’s unlikely most drivers will ever use the full potential of the Turbo S. The $185,000 price tag makes this the ultimate enthusiasts Taycan. For the rest of those interested in the car, the $151,000 Turbo will probably do the trick with its 670 horsepower and 626 pounds of torque. Or better yet, the $103,000 4S coming next year that’ll do zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds.

Regardless of which version of the Taycan someone (with a lot of money) buys, they should be happy with the interior. Like other Porsches, the inside is driver-focused. The new digital dash cluster is bright and clear and even with the glare of the sun beating down on it, was easy to read. More importantly, it’s simple to navigate between the on-screen features using the controls on the steering wheel.

The infotainment system in the dash is an updated version of the automaker’s PCM system. I didn’t notice any latency and I’m still a fan of the customizable home screen. There was some oddness with the navigation, but Porsche was very upfront about the fact that we were driving pre-production Taycans. So I’ll have to wait until I get some serious time behind the wheel of a production vehicle to really put the system through its paces.

Porsche Taycan first drive

While we wait, it was nice to see Porsche jump onto the voice-assistant bandwagon. A simple “Hey Porsche” launches the feature and it does the usual tricks. But again, a production vehicle with final software will be needed for a proper test of the feature.

Below the infotainment display is a secondary touchscreen that controls the climate features with quick-launch buttons for navigation, media, phone and settings on the main screen. At the bottom of the secondary display is an area for navigating the main touchscreen and writing out addresses. The biggest issue here is that the cup holders in the center console are right in front of it. So if you have a coffee or soda there, you have to reach around it to use the lower portion of the screen.

Fortunately, the rest of the interior makes more sense and is very comfortable. I found the front seats to be both supportive and cushy enough for a long day of performance and freeway driving. The back seats, however, can be tight if you’re sitting behind someone tall.

If you’re in the driver’s seat, you’ll be happy to know that the vehicle’s adaptive cruise control is outstanding in traffic. It handled cut-ins without incident and is a bit more aggressive to get you back up to speed when it encounters a hole in traffic. A plus for anyone in cities like Los Angeles where someone will tailgate you if you don’t immediately fill a gap in front of you while on the highway.

Porsche Taycan first drive

The lane keep assist is there to nudge you back into your lane, but it’s very subtle. It’s ideal for a sports car, but I ended up just shutting it off after about an hour of driving.

Whether you’re on the highway or backroads, bringing the Taycan to a stop adds another level of tech to the car. Up to 90 percent of the stopping power is from regenerative braking. Even in the Turbo S while pushing the vehicle, most of the braking came from the electric motor slowing the car down. Porsche says braking can create 265kW of power for the car. That’s impressive and it means that the car’s brake pads won’t need to be changed for quite a while.

I will say, that in hard braking when the car hands off the braking to the hardware there’s a noticeable surge in stopping power. It can be alarming during high-performance driving the first time it happens. You will start to anticipate it after a few hours, but I’d rather have smooth braking from start to finish.

Weird braking issues aside, the Taycan is an impressive piece of engineering. Even in pre-production form, the car feels solid and ready for everything from cruising around town to tackling the track. The car’s ability to recharge at up to 270kW means if you find a charging station that can push out that much power, you’ll be back on the road quickly. And frankly, once you get behind the wheel of the Taycan, that’s exactly what you’re going to want to do.

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Twitter’s political ad ban will also curb ads for hot-button issues

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The new rules will restrict ads for contentious subjects like abortion and climate change. Some keywords, such as “conservative” and “liberal,” won’t be allowed as a matter of course. The list of barred keywords will receive continuous updates, Twitter said. The company’s new policies also curb the use of microtargeting, or attempts to skew elections by aiming ads at narrow demographics. Issue advertisers won’t be allowed to target ads based on criteria like age, ethnicity and specific location, although state-level targeting will be permitted.

Like politicians, issue advertisers won’t be allowed to champion specific political actions. News publishers who are already exempt from Twitter’s issue rules (at least 200,000 visitors in the US, not primarily user-submitted and not focused on one issue) are allowed to advertise based on their fact-based reporting, but not to endorse candidates or banned topics.

There are concerns about how well Twitter will enforce the new policies. Facebook blocked innocuous LGBT ads due to its approach to issue ads — will Twitter risk similar problems? There are also questions as to whether Twitter will have a consistent definition of fact-based reporting in light of allegations of political bias. Legal and policy VP Vijaya Gadde said Twitter was prepared for the possibility of “[making] some mistakes,” though, and made clear that the site would have to “improve this policy over time.” If you’re not a fan of the rules as they are, don’t be surprised if they evolve before long.



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Apple TV+ snags Gary Oldman for spy drama ‘Slow Horses’

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The show — named after the first novel in Herron’s series — tells the story of a team of British intelligence agents banished to MI5’s lackluster Slough House department due to making major mistakes in the field. Oldman plays the group’s leader, the clever but curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb.

The role is a departure from the norm for the Academy Award-winning Gary Oldman, who has held few TV parts during his illustrious movie career, which includes the likes of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the Harry Potter franchise, Dark Knight and True Romance. Perhaps this is an appetizing taste of what’s yet to come on Apple’s newly-launched platform.

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Hulu increases the price of its live TV service, again

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“The new price better reflects the substantial value of Hulu + Live TV and allows us to continue offering all of the popular live news, sports and entertainment programming included in the plan,” the company explained in the announcement.

To help ease the pain, the company recommends switching to streaming-only plans during times of the year when you don’t need live TV. It gave the end of football season as an example. Sure, that works, but it’s not necessarily an ideal scenario, especially for those of us who are terrible at planning or remembering to cancel.

At $54.99 per month, Hulu + Live TV is now $5 a month more than YouTube TV. Hulu isn’t the only company raising rates though, as AT&T did the same in October. As live TV streaming becomes increasingly more popular, and services continue to expand their content lineup, higher prices are inevitable. Which begs the question: Is this really better than cable?

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Colin Furze made a real version of Junkrat’s RIP-tire from ‘Overwatch’

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Furze took the engine from a petrol-powered chainsaw and retrofitted it, with plenty of cunning, into the middle of a tyre. With some extra adornments and a remote control, the RIP-tire managed to cut a paint can and smash several panes of glass. Obviously, Furze breaks down how he made the device in the clip, and teases that there are more modifications to come in future.

And, of course, don’t forget that Overwatch is available to play on all good consoles, so get your practice in before Overwatch 2 drops at some point in the future.

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Echo Studio review: Amazon finally nailed the audio quality

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Once you’ve found a good spot, all you have to do is add the device to your Alexa app. A few taps later and the Echo Studio is set up and ready to go. There’s an audio-calibration feature that analyzes the room for the best acoustic performance. However, that process begins automatically when you add the speaker in the app, and it only takes a few seconds. I wanted to test the Echo Studio both pre- and post-calibration, but that wasn’t an option, since the test kicks in on its own.

The Echo Studio is the best speaker Amazon has made yet, at least in terms of audio quality. And really, it’s not even close. Yes, every Echo speaker is capable of playing music, but it’s no secret they don’t sound good. So if great sound quality and Alexa support were both important to you, you had to look elsewhere or try to improve things with an additional purchase, like the Echo Sub. Those days are over.

To get the most out of this $200 device, you might want to consider Amazon Music HD or Tidal’s high-res streaming plan. Sure, regular Spotify sounds good on the Echo Studio, but I prefer the HD and Ultra HD songs offered on Amazon’s latest streaming tier. Other people I asked thought audio from Spotify sounded better. So I’d recommend using your free trial from Amazon to see if you’re willing to pay for the higher-resolution audio or if just regular ol’ streaming is enough for you. To me, there was more clarity, detail and dimensionality with the HD and Ultra HD songs when compared to the same tracks on Spotify.

The Echo Studio upmixed regular stereo music with Dolby Atmos. The action is enabled by default as Stereo Spatial Enhancement in the speaker’s audio settings, right under the EQ sliders. Amazon says this upmixing “adds space, clarity and depth to stereo audio content.” And of course, the company recommends that you leave it turned on “for best audio experience.” When playing Chvrches’ “Death Stranding” and switching the tool on and off, the main difference is that the nonenhanced audio from Spotify is louder and way more treble-heavy. With Stereo Spatial Enhancement, everything sounds well tuned and balanced. There is more depth and it does sound better, but it’s not quite as good as HD and Ultra HD tracks.

Echo Studio review

Spotify sounds good on this thing too, by the way — I’m just stating my preference for the high-res options. If you’re an Echo fan and you’ve been yearning for better audio, “regular” streaming tiers will sound great. However, Echo Studio is equipped to handle lossless tunes if you’re into that sort of thing. The speaker is also able to handle Sony’s 360 Reality Audio content, which is more of a mixed bag at this point.

The main issue with 3D music on Amazon Music HD is there’s not much of it right now. When you set up the Echo Studio for the first time, Alexa recommends a Best of 3D Music playlist on Amazon Music HD. But that collection ranges from Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” to Cam’Ron’s hip-hop masterpiece “Oh Boy” and the Beatles’ “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” There are four more curated 3D playlists for rock, pop, classical and hip-hop classics, but they only have between six and 12 songs each. There are other 3D songs, but they aren’t easy to find in the Amazon Music app, and I’ve yet to find any full 3D albums.

So what you end up with is a mix of 3D and either HD or Ultra HD when you pick an album. For example, the Weeknd’s Starboy has ten 3D tracks, but the other eight are Ultra HD. When you ask Alexa to play music, the assistant will default to the 3D version if it’s available. In fact, if a 3D version is available on Amazon Music HD, I haven’t found a way to choose the Ultra HD or HD track instead. And of course, you can cast any songs from the streaming app to the Echo Studio, regardless of format.

Echo Studio review

Honestly, I can’t detect a huge difference between Ultra HD and 3D tracks on the Echo Studio. Unlike the prototype Sony speaker I heard at CES, it’s still obvious the audio is coming from a single speaker and where the speaker is positioned. There isn’t noticeably more depth compared to the other high-res formats, which also do a solid job imparting a spatial quality to the sound. When compared to Spotify, the 3D tracks have more presence and more clarity, which does sound better to me. They’re also noticeably louder, even if you don’t change that level. Once again, some people I asked preferred “regular” Spotify to the 3D versions of the songs I played for them.

That being said, it’s still early days for this manifestation of 3D audio. This is the first speaker where Sony’s new ecosystem has been available, and there are only 1,000 songs to choose from right now. The Echo Studio is well-equipped for both the present and the near future, so long as Sony is able to deliver on its promise of more content. And hopefully Amazon will make it easier to find them.

With Dolby Atmos compatibility, the Echo Studio can also serve as a home theater speaker, but only with Fire TV devices. It accommodates Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus, if whatever you’re watching isn’t Atmos-friendly. Setup is a breeze once again: All you have to do is connect your gear to your Amazon accounts and WiFi network through the Alexa app. As with the initial steps for music, you tap the “+” in the top right of the Alexa app. But this time you select Set Up Audio System and follow the steps. In a few taps, the Echo Studio will be connected via WiFI for Fire TV sound. You can also use the Fire TV remote to adjust volume when the time comes.

I was only able to test this with one Echo Studio, not a stereo pair. While Atmos was clearly an upgrade over Dolby Digital Plus when I compared them, it’s nowhere close to what I’ve experienced with Sony and Sennheiser Atmos soundbars and setups. Of course, those start at more than $1,000. There’s more depth and subtle detail to things like city streets and gunfights. But like the 3D music, it’s still obvious the sound is coming from a single speaker rather than seeming like it’s all around you.

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The best USB car charger

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Why you should trust me

I’ve reviewed car chargers for Wirecutter since 2014, monitoring every noteworthy new charger. Additionally, I’ve tested hundreds of other charging accessories, researching and writing our guides to USB wall chargers, USB-C laptop chargers, and USB-C accessories, among others. Previously, for three years I was the accessories editor at iLounge, where I reviewed more than 1,000 products, including numerous charging options.

Because USB-C can be dangerous business—subpar chargers and cables can fry innocent phones and laptops—I’ve also used specialized testing hardware to ensure the safety and reliability of every charger we’ve considered for this guide. This step allows us to definitively say that our picks work exactly as advertised, putting out the right levels of power and adhering to safety standards.

Should you get a car charger (or upgrade one you already have)?

Even if your car has a USB port for integrating music playback and phone calls with your car stereo, and even if that port can charge your phone, spending $20 or so for a dedicated two-port charger can be worth it. That’s because the built-in USB ports in most cars put out only 5 watts, which isn’t enough to charge a tablet or even newer smartphones at full speed. If you’re running an app like Waze or Google Maps, your car’s USB port may not charge your phone faster than your phone uses power, so you can end up at your destination with the same battery level on your phone as when you got into the car. Good USB-A chargers can charge more than twice as fast (12 watts), and the latest USB-C chargers can charge modern smartphones at up to 18 watts as long as you use a cable that plugs into the smaller port instead of the USB-A cable that probably came with your device. (This is our favorite cable for iPhones.)

Even if your car’s USB port does offer higher-speed charging, most cars have only one port. All of our picks let you charge two or more devices from a single accessory outlet—something your family and friends will appreciate.

However, if you recently bought a multiport USB charger that provides at least 2 amps from each of its ports (look for the “output” listing in the small print on the body of the charger), you have less reason to upgrade. Although you’d be able to charge some devices slightly faster with our top picks, the difference wouldn’t be big enough for you to spend more money on a new model right now.

USB car charger

If you have an older car charger, check where it says “Output DC 5V” (or similar). If it’s less than 2.0 A, you’d get noticeably faster charging by buying a new charger. Photo: Sarah Kobos

How we picked and tested

You can find hundreds of USB car chargers that plug into your car’s accessory-power jack. Over the past few years, these models have become significantly smaller, more powerful, and less expensive—just like USB wall chargers. But most of the car chargers available aren’t even worth considering because they don’t have enough power to simultaneously charge two devices at faster speeds, something even very inexpensive models can now do. These days, a good USB charger for the car should offer the following:

  • At least two USB ports: The cost and space savings of a single-port charger aren’t significant enough to justify the limited output. It’s almost always a better value to choose a charger with two or more ports, whether those ports be USB-A, USB-C, or a combination of the two.
  • The fastest possible output:
    • USB-C ports with 18- to 45-watt output: A USB-C port will charge most modern phones faster than a USB-A port will (if you’re using the right cable), and can even charge tablets and laptops. Phones that support USB Power Delivery (USB PD)—the standard that allows for fast charging over USB-C—generally draw up to 18 watts, while larger devices can take 45 watts or more. But your device will pull only as much power as it’s rated for, so there’s no safety concern about your phone being damaged or overheating when you’re using a more-powerful charger.
    • USB-A ports with 12-watt or QuickCharge 3.0 output: There’s no reason to choose a charger with USB-A ports slower than 12 watts (5 volts, 2.4 amps), because they’re not much less expensive and they offer slower charging to Apple and Android devices.
  • A detachable USB cable: A permanently attached USB cable is limiting because you can’t swap out the cable (to use, say, a Micro-USB, Lightning-to-USB, or USB-C–to–USB-C cable) to charge different kinds of devices, attach a longer cable, or have any other control over what kind of connections you use. Just as important, if a built-in cable fails, you have to replace the entire package, charger and all.
  • Good power-to-dollar value: We added up the total power across each charger’s ports and divided by the price to determine the value. This step let us rule out unnecessarily expensive models. Ranges varied from 1.2 watts per dollar at the most expensive to around 4 watts per dollar as the best value.
  • USB-IF certification: Although this was not a requirement, we gave higher credence to chargers that have been certified by the USB Implementers Forum (PDF), which means they have passed the USB-IF Compliance Program and have been tested for safety.

For our latest update, we tested another 20 chargers, including some with only USB-A ports, some with just USB-C ports, and some with both. To find the top options in each category, we put the finalists through a number of tests.

  • Chargers with USB-C ports: USB-C uses digital communication between devices to verify charging speeds in a way that USB-A doesn’t; with the right tools, you can interpret exactly what’s going on in the communication between the charger and the device you’ve plugged in. We used the Total Phase USB Power Delivery Analyzer and its Data Center Software to measure and record this data, including the advertised power profiles, the steady state output, and whether any errors occurred in charging.
  • Chargers with USB-A ports: We tested the maximum power draw from each port by plugging in a variable power load and an ammeter. This setup allowed us to finely control the power flow and determine whether it matched the advertised rate. We started with the power load set to 0 amps and then turned it up until it matched the promised amperage, ensuring the voltage stayed between 4.75 volts and 5.25 volts. Then we repeated that test on each charger’s other ports, confirming that every port behaved as expected and that, combined, they matched the right output.
  • Combined power output: After testing each individual port, we tested the combined output when each was pushed to the maximum. The best chargers support their fastest rates on each port at the same time, with added devices slowing nothing down.

Once we had these results, the Wirecutter team had a spirited discussion about the pros and cons of different physical sizes: Is smaller always better, or can a charger be too small? The answer, based on our discussions and our hands-on testing: Yes, some chargers are so small, they’re hard to remove from a car’s outlet when you need to. Although in our evaluation we paid attention to each charger’s size and fit in a car’s dashboard, we concluded that the smallest car charger isn’t always the best choice.

Our pick: Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger

USB car charger

Photo: Sarah Kobos

The Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger is the right model for any vehicle, any phone, and almost any device you might want to charge while driving. It’s a tiny but powerful charger that packs both USB-C and USB-A ports, ensuring near-universal charging compatibility. Thanks to the USB-C port’s 45-watt output, it’ll charge almost anything at top speed, so you’ll never have to worry about your phone running out of power while you’re using it to navigate, and you can even juice up your laptop on the go. The Nekteck also comes with a USB-C–to–USB-C cable, making this low-priced model an even better value.

Charging speed is the most important factor when you’re choosing a car charger, and in our tests the Nekteck PD 45W model performed as expected. It was one of the first chargers to feature both a fast USB-C port and USB-A port, and it’s still the best. Most smartphones charge at 15 to 18 watts, so this charger’s 45-watt USB-C port is more than powerful enough to charge any smartphone at its fastest rate. (There’s no risk of your device drawing too much power, so you can safely use higher-rated chargers without causing damage to the phone or worrying about anything overheating.)

Battery percentage in charging an iPhone XS

Charger

30 minutes

60 minutes

5 W USB-A charger (such as an iPhone power brick)

17%

33%

12 W USB-A charger

35%

73%

18 W USB-C Power Delivery charger

48%

81%

A USB-C charger can charge an iPhone more than twice as fast as the 5 W power brick that comes with the phone, and noticeably faster than a USB-A charger. Modern iPhones charge at a maximum of 18 W.

In our tests of the Nekteck charger, our iPhone XS, paired with a USB-C–to–Lightning cable, went from completely drained to about 50 percent in 30 minutes, and to 81 percent after an hour (those figures may be slightly less if you’re using navigation apps). The Nekteck’s 12-watt USB-A port, on the other hand, brought the iPhone to about 35 and 73 percent in those respective periods of time. Other USB-C car chargers with 18 W output—we tested four others—can charge a phone just as quickly, but few pair that capability with a quality USB-A port, and none do so for such a good price.

USB car charger

The Nekteck car charger has enough room for you to easily plug and unplug a USB-C and USB-A cable even if you don’t have the dexterity of a brain surgeon. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Since many compact laptops charge at 30 or 45 W, you can even use this Nekteck charger to quickly fill them up on the go. In our tests, its USB-C port charged the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro—both of which are capable of laptop-like 45 W charging—at their fastest rates, something no other car charger we tested could do. The larger iPad reached 33 percent charge in half an hour and 65 percent in one hour. (Some popular laptop models, including the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros, can draw 60 W or even 90 W, so they won’t charge as fast as they can with their included wall chargers.) Our tests with Total Phase software showed that the USB-C port behaves as promised, and it didn’t throw up any red flags that would make us cautious about using it.

The body of the Nekteck PD 45W combines glossy black plastic and matte metal elements. It’s not a fashion piece, but it does look pretty good next to the cheaper appearances of some competitors. It sticks out 1.4 inches from the outlet, and its face is an oval 1.6 inches tall and 1.1 inches wide with a blue LED to indicate when it’s plugged in. While the Nekteck PD 45W is compact and unobtrusive, it isn’t so short that it’s difficult to remove, as some other car chargers are.

The Nekteck PD 45W car charger is the only model we tested that includes a USB-C–to–USB-C cable, a $10 to $20 value if bought separately. You can keep this cable in your car to charge your Android phone, computer, or iPad Pro without having to buy a separate accessory. We’ve verified that the cable adheres to standards; it’s not only safe, but it also has a sturdy build quality. In addition to passing our own tests, the charger has been certified by the USB-IF, which means it’s been independently tested for safety.

Similar to the coverage from most reputable charger brands, Nekteck’s standard warranty period is 12 months, with a six-month extension if you sign up for the company’s newsletter. We’ve found the customer support to be helpful, both in response speed and in addressing our concerns.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Unlike some chargers, the Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger doesn’t have illuminated USB ports, which would make plugging in cables in a dark car a little easier.

Upgrade pick: Scosche PowerVolt Power Delivery Dual 18W USB-C Car Charger

USB car charger

Photo: Sarah Kobos

If you want to simultaneously charge two phones at the fastest speeds possible, we recommend the Scosche PowerVolt Power Delivery Dual 18W USB-C Car Charger (CPDC8C8). It’s the only car charger with dual USB-C ports from an accessory maker we trust. Each port supports 18-watt charging speeds, even when you use them at the same time, and it’s not much larger or much more expensive than the Nekteck 45-watt charger.

In our testing, an iPhone XS, when plugged into the PowerVolt with a USB-C–to–Lightning cable, charged from zero to about 50 percent in 30 minutes and to 80 percent in an hour. That’s roughly 15 percent more battery life than your phone would get from a standard 12-watt USB-A charger. Android phones, including the Google Pixel family and the latest generations of the Samsung Galaxy line, would see similar gains compared with using USB-A chargers. The Scosche also performed as expected when we ran it through the Total Phase test, showing the proper power rates and no errors, so it should be compatible with any device that charges on the USB-C standard.

USB car charger

The Scosche PowerVolt is a little bigger than the Nekteck PD 45W car charger, but it has two USB-C ports instead of one. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Like the Nekteck PD 45W car charger, the Scosche PowerVolt has USB-IF certification, which means an independent lab has verified that it meets a set of criteria for safety and performance. Although we didn’t rely on USB-IF certification in making our recommendations for this guide, that stamp of approval makes us even more comfortable with our picks.

Scosche’s warranty is one of the best we’ve seen. It covers the PowerVolt for three years, almost double the coverage that Anker—one of the most reputable companies in the business—offers. When we’ve contacted Scosche’s customer service, we’ve been impressed by the fast response times; we got a response to one support inquiry within three hours.

Budget pick: ZMI PowerCruise C2 36-Watt Dual USB Car Charger with QC 3.0

USB car charger

Photo: Sarah Kobos

If you don’t want to spend more than $10 or so on a charger and aren’t concerned about USB-C speeds, we recommend ZMI’s PowerCruise C2 36-Watt Dual USB Car Charger with QC 3.0. To be fair, any dual-port USB-A charger from a reputable brand will work as well as any other. But the PowerCruise has a slight edge because it’s the rare charger that supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 charging technology on both ports (if you have a compatible phone), and it has the most aesthetically pleasing design in the category.

Like every dual-port charger we tested, the PowerCruise properly allowed 12-watt power draw from both ports. An iPhone XS should reach 35 percent from empty in half an hour, and about 73 percent in an hour. Although we don’t think you should buy the PowerCruise only because it supports QC 3.0—most phones these days will charge just as fast or faster on a USB-C charger—the fact that it offers that support, for the same price as non-QC chargers, adds extra value and makes it the best USB-A option for a larger variety of phones.

USB car charger

Dual–USB-A chargers from good companies are all about the same, but the PowerCruise is made of metal, which is nice. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Whereas most car chargers are plastic, the PowerCruise is made of silver-colored brass. It has a substantial heft (something that makes it feel premium) and a clean look. It also sports a glowing ring between the charging stem and the 0.8-inch-tall head, though the ports themselves aren’t lit.

Also great: RAVPower Quick Charge 3.0 54W 4-Port Car Adapter (RP-VC003)

USB car charger

Photo: Sarah Kobos

Four ports might seem like overkill to some people, but if you really need to charge more than two devices at once in the car, the RAVPower Quick Charge 3.0 54W 4-Port Car Adapter (RP-VC003) is a great pick. It fits four fast USB charging ports into a package that’s not much larger than the Nekteck PD 45W.

With a black metal body that sticks out 1.4 inches from the car’s outlet, and a face that’s 1.8 inches tall and 1 inch wide when oriented vertically, the charger isn’t unreasonably large. Its ports are aligned in a single row, so you can rotate the charger 90 degrees if a horizontal orientation better fits your car’s setup.

USB car charger

The RAVPower RP-VC003 charger is as compact as a charger can be with four USB-A ports crammed on the front. Photo: Sarah Kobos

The RP-VC003 did fall a bit short in our tests, but not in a way that we think will affect most people. All three standard USB ports put out the proper 12 watts (2.4 amps, 5 volts) when we used them individually, and the Quick Charge port offered the right 2-amp, 9-volt charging figure. But when we tested the maximum draw on all four ports at once, one of the non–Quick Charge ports dropped to 0.8 amp. Since it’s rare for devices to draw the whole 12 W available on a USB port—the power draw tapers off as a battery fills up—we don’t think this problem will affect too many people. Even with this minor drawback, the RAVPower charger is still a better option than the limited competition.

What about cheap dual-port 12-watt chargers?

There’s no shortage of small, $10-ish, dual-port USB-A chargers from reputable brands. Scosche’s ReVolt, RAVPower’s RP-PC031, RP-PC106, and RP-VC006, Aukey’s CC-S7, Anker’s PowerDrive 2, and AmazonBasics’s Dual-Port USB Car Charger all perform identically to one another. Some are shorter than others and end up looking like they’re part of your car when installed, and some have glowing ports that make it easier for you to plug in a cable when it’s dark. But they all work fine, and they’re decent buys if you find a great sale or it’s easier to pick up one of these over the ZMI PowerCruise C2.

The competition

Aukey’s Expedition Flush-Fit 18W is a tiny metal charger offering a single 18-watt USB-C port. We generally recommend chargers that don’t sit flush because they are harder to remove, and think you can get a better deal for a multiport charger. In our tests, one of the power profiles was an unusual 12V/1.75A (21 watts), which doesn’t match the 12V/1.5A listed on the charger itself. For that reason alone, we’d be wary of using it.

Satechi’s 72W Type-C PD Car Charger provides more power than any other model we tested, with 60 watts from the USB-C port (enough to charge a 13-inch MacBook Pro at full-speed) and 12 watts from the USB-A port. But it doesn’t come with a charging cable, and that much power is overkill for most devices. If you often find yourself needing to charge your laptop in the car, the Satechi will be a good choice for you, but most people will be better off with the Nekteck charger, which includes a cable and offers 45-watt charging that will also work with most laptops.

Anker’s PowerDrive Speed+ Duo has a 30-watt USB-C port (as opposed to the Nekteck’s 45-watt port), doesn’t come with a cable, and generally sells for a few dollars more than the Nekteck. It’s otherwise a good choice if you prefer the aesthetics of the glowing blue ring around the charging face.

Aukey’s CC-Y7 supports only a 27-watt output from its USB-C port, and it isn’t USB-IF certified.

In our testing, the Anker PowerDrive Speed+ 2 didn’t support full Quick Charge speeds, despite its specs.

RAVPower’s Dual USB Car Adapter (RP-PC022) failed when we tried to charge devices on both the USB-A and USB-C ports at the same time.

We don’t recommend the AmazonBasics 4-Port USB Car Charger because it required us to unplug and reconnect our test iPads a few times to get the proper 2.4-amp power draw from each port. Eventually, all four were providing the right amount of power, but we found the RAVPower RP-VC003 to be more reliable.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

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How to hack your holiday meal

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Of course, you can also put the Instant Pot — everyone’s favorite kitchen gadget — to work. I use it to make mashed potatoes — Marcus’ favorite part of the holiday meal and the dish I’ve hated since I was a kid. (I’ve always loved Brussels sprouts though. Go figure.) Marcus likes to say that makes me not a true American yet I faithfully make this dish each year.

Some might recommend using a pressure cooker because it cuts down on time, but I prefer it because it concentrates the potatoes’ flavor. Russets or Yukon Gold are the best types to use because their high starch content makes for creamier results. Peel and slice those suckers evenly, then slap them into the cooker’s steamer basket with a little water in the bottom of the machine and cook on high for five minutes or so. Be sure to use a ricer afterward to keep them fluffy — not gluey the way a food processor might — and add plenty of butter and half and half. We keep a strict ratio of half potato/half dairy in our house.

Instant Pot LUX60V3 V3

With an impressive cult following, the Instant Pot has transformed the plug-in pressure cooker into the It gadget of the 21st century. For only $65, it pressure cooks, slow cooks, sautés, and even makes lube. It’s got self-regulating safety features and is dishwasher safe although it can be a chore to clean all of its bits and bobs.

It’s also not the holidays without traditional green bean casserole with those weird, dehydrated onions on top. I update the dish by abolishing all canned vegetables. You’d be amazed what flavor fresh beans lend to a classic.

Every authority will tell you to blanche most greenery in salt water before cooking it, because the high temperatures and sodium break down the pectin in the cell walls, leaving softer vegetables behind. But it’s so retro to heat a big pot of boiling water, and it takes forever. I like to use one of my many electric kettles to boil water at the same time as I heat up more on the stove — a basic hack, for sure, but one of the most useful time-savers I know of. This way the pot is ready in less than five minutes.

Put a rubber band around the beans so you don’t spend forever fishing them out, dump ’em in, and then shock them in ice water a few minutes later to stop the cooking process. Snip them quickly using kitchen shears rather than a knife and cutting board (also a good trick if you’re making stuffing). Just don’t tell me if you use canned cream of mushroom soup in the finished product.

Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L gooseneck kettle

If you’re going to get an electric kettle, you might as well get the most useful one out there. Coffee aficionados prefer this gooseneck variety, at $51, because it gives you the most control over your pour, heats quickly, and is adjustable in increments of one degree.

Oxo Good Grips kitchen shears/scissors

Whether you’re snipping rosemary sprigs or spatchcocking a chicken, it comes in handy to have a quality pair of shears made specifically for the kitchen. Oxo’s stainless steel ones do the trick, with micro-serrated blades that don’t slip and are strong enough to cut through meat bones. It’s also always satisfying to separate the blades easily and throw them in the dishwasher after you’re finished cooking. Just handle the sharp blades with care.

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