Tag: Reviews

The best ski masks let you blast down the slopes in the warmest winter gear

Published Dec. 22, 2021

Keeping yourself warm and protected from nature’s frigid elements is a key part of an enjoyable ski. Depending on the type of skiing or cold-weather activity you’re planning, you will want the best ski mask ready to protect.

Ski masks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most intense skiers will want as much face coverage as possible made from breathable materials that let you work up a sweat without overheating. For more casual trips, you may consider a ski mask that offers minimal coverage that still gets the job done while not being itchy, hot, or burdensome.

Without proper protection, your ski trip can take a sharp turn for the worse with bad sunburns as a result of the high levels of UV radiation reflected in the snow or windswept dry skin. Get the best ski mask and you’ll be cruising down the slopes with pleasure (and you can check out our roundups of the best snow boots, heated socks, ski goggles, winter gloves, and winter hats to help you stay extra cozy).

Be prepared for the slopes and frigid weather with the best ski mask

Cover your face to ensure maximum enjoyment on the slopes. With the best ski mask, you can get to the bottom of the mountain with ease.

What you need to know to purchase the best ski mask

What exactly makes a great ski mask? Quality snow gear needs to be both technically sound and comfortable. As you pick up speed skiing or snowboarding down the mountain, not only is wind pounding your face, but the UV radiation levels are at nearly 90 percent. This means you need to get proper protection to avoid looking like a lobster after a day in the alps.

Balaclavas are a great choice for those looking for maximum face coverage. With their all-encompassing design, you will have minimal exposure to harmful UV rays. Full-face-cover balaclavas are some of the best ski masks due to their ability to keep in heat and keep you toasty on frigid days. Half balaclavas are a good compromise if you’re looking for less heat capture or have a separate hat or helmet that is sufficient in itself.

Picking the right material is another important consideration. While thin and breathable materials are great for sports, knitted ski masks are an affordable option for those that frequently get cold. If you’re out in the countryside going for a cold-weather walk or hoping to escape the urban wind, a full-face-covered knit balaclava will certainly meet your requirements.

Best full-cover balaclava: Oakley Men’s Backwoods Balaclava

A full balaclava offers UV and wind protection from the top of your head to the upper chest region. This is great for skiers and snowboarders who need something that meets high technical requirements. Made of 53-percent Polyamide, 30-percent Polyester, and 17-percent Elastane, this balaclava has a lightness that is perfect under ski gear. The slot opening at the eyes will give you room to properly apply ski goggles. The long neck covering means you can tuck under your layers easily which will offer extra warmth.

Do you need a ski mask for maximum warmth?

The material used in a great ski mask will inform the kind of performance you can expect to receive from it. Light materials like polyamide and polyester give breathability while knitted woolen fabrics offer supreme warmth. If you’re looking to wear a mask that keeps you warm at all costs, a knitted mask will do the job. What you lose in technical performance abilities (knit doesn’t fit well under a ski helmet) you gain in thickness and all-around coziness.

Best knitted ski mask: AcademyFits Knit Ski Mask

The warmth this full-face-cover ski mask offers is second to none. A flexible fabric means that not only is it toasty, but it’s also super comfortable as well. Its full coverage on the top of your head keeps body heat from escaping, so you won’t even notice the frigid weather. It’s not very breathable, though, so don’t expect it to work for most sports.

Ski masks can be used for all sorts of purposes if they’re adjustable

Adjustable ski masks are great for those who want a multipurpose face-covering suited for cityscapes and ski slopes alike. Adjustable masks can become neck gaiters (commonly known as buffs) that offer neck protection as a scarf or a sports wrap. Pull it up above your nose and you have a more classic-looking mask. Pull it over your hair and it can become a handy bandana.

When packing light, an adjustable ski mask means you’ll save space by using one item that can be used for multiple activities.

Best adjustable ski mask: N-Mengge Adjustable Fleece

With 16 different uses, this ski mask can be used as a hood, bandana, wristband, beanie, and more. Microfiber materials are great at dealing with sweat, which makes this the perfect winter sports gear.

Looking for top performance gear that’s breathable?

The best material for a mask for sporting use is one that allows you to stay dry while working up a sweat in the cold. Working up a sweat in frigid temperatures can cause a chill as the wind hits your body. Dri-fit polyester blends make a great ski mask due to their stretchy, breathable material.

Best breathable sports mask: Nike Therma Sphere

Nike’s full-face ski mask is one of the best due to its Dri-Fit design that allows you to be as active as you’d like without worrying about the sub-zero temperatures. It’s warm, comfortable, and good value for a performance-based winter ski mask. It’s also a great mask for more casual wear, as it’s so light you can easily keep it in your pocket when heading indoors.

Worried about overheating in your ski mask?

A half-face mask will allow heat to escape from the top of your head while keeping your neck, mouth, and nose, and ear region protected and warm. While this may not sound ideal, as temperatures rise throughout the day, you may not want something that keeps your head bundled. A half-balaclava is a must for full flexibility on cold days.

When heat is trapped, your body will keep its core temperature relatively high. If you’re working up a sweat, you will want some body heat to release so you don’t feel overheated. Skiers that wear heavy-duty helmets may love the half balaclava’s ability to protect without wrapping up your entire head.

Best half-balaclava: Tough Headwear Half-Balaclava

Sometimes you don’t need to cover it all. A simple and effective design makes this half-balaclava a great ski mask. It protects from the cold, dust particles, and UV rays while providing ultimate comfort and is large enough to be pulled up over your ears.

What is the best cheap ski mask?

You can still stay pleasantly warm and protected from UV rays without spending very much. You may not have the technical performance needed for alpine skiing, but if your needs are simpler, then a budget mask is a great option.

Best ski mask under $10: Achiou Winter Ski Mask

Basic and great—made of 90-percent polyester and 10-percent spandex—this full balaclava ski mask is a simple and effective piece of winter gear. The hooded top can be pulled down making this mask adjustable. When you’ve really worked up a sweat, you can simply toss this mask into the laundry to freshen up.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a ski mask for other activities?

Ski masks are highly adaptable winter items that can be used on runs, outdoor sports, or pretty much any outdoor activity. If you’re looking for a sporty winter cover, a great mask will ensure you’re warm.

Q: What is the best kind of ski mask?

Full balaclavas are an excellent option for maximum warmth and protection. For more breathability, you may opt for something simpler and smaller, like a half-balaclava or adjustable ski mask that can be turned into a scarf or bandana.

Q: What are the best materials for a ski mask?

For performance and breathability, polyesters make great masks. Dri-fit polyester blends will allow you to stay the most comfortable while exercising. Wool is a great option for those not looking to be super active, but who still want to stay insulated.

A final word on shopping for the best ski mask

The best ski mask will allow you to withstand nature’s toughest elements with style and comfort. Protect from harmful UV rays by finding a mask that covers your skin properly, leaving you comfortable in the cold.

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The Best PS5 games to show off the console’s next-gen features

Best overall Our pick for the best PS5 games is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart    

Go on an intergalactic adventure and conquer cross-dimensional worlds.

The improved graphics make this pick an immersive game experience.

There are nine worlds in this version, which is less than previous versions.
Best for loading times Our pick for the best PS5 games is Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales    

With a load time of two seconds, you can skip the downtime and get straight to playing.

The graphics are crisp and the gameplay runs smoothly.

Some Spiderman fanatics miss the original Peter Parker character.
Best updated classic Our pick for the best PS5 games is Demon's Souls Demon’s Souls    

If it was your favorite then, you’ll love it even more now with 4k graphics and improved immersive gameplay.

This pick comes at an affordable price point.

There are no difficulty levels, so this game isn’t for beginners.
Published Jul. 22, 2021

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Sony’s PlayStation 5, a.k.a., the next-next (next-next-next-next?) evolution for console gaming, makes Mother Earth the right planet to be on at the moment. Whether you already own the PlayStation 5, or you’re dedicated to tracking one down next time they’re in stock, here are Pop Sci’s Top PS5 games currently in the console’s excellent growing library.

The following titles are not only terrific games in their own right but they are designed to shine a spotlight on every bell and whistle in the PS5’s formidable arsenal.

Best PS5 games

The adjective  “high-rez” is wonderfully insufficient to describe what the PS5 can produce. Sony packed in enough processing power to pump out more pixels than your TV can probably handle.

Check out the “perfect particle effects”

Confession: We’re total suckers for graphics. Always have been. Nothing gets us out of bed faster in the morning than a stunning screenshot. What you get with the PS5’s circuitry—thanks to the futuristic, AMD Radeon RDNA 2 GPU—are the most otherworldly graphics we’ve ever seen. Seeing the PS5’s visuals in action reminds us of a quote that our daffy, old college history professor used all the time: “That belongs in a museum,” he used to say. 

More power equals less time spent looking at loading screens

What you’ll likely notice first with the PS5’s stunning hardware is the way that the rhythm of your gaming experience changes. The previous generations’ load times? To put it kindly, they were not exactly insubstantial. On the PS5, those load times are virtually nil on the PS5. Sony has stated, point blank, that the PS5 is at least 100 times faster than the PS4. Faster load times mean more immersion. More immersion means that, for example, the virtual NYC that Miles Morales traverses becomes more tangible and cohesive, and convincing.

The gaming gap year

Developers need time to suss out the nuances of new hardware. Which usually makes it A-OK for you to hold off on purchasing a new console at launch. For the PS5, that’s not the case at all. One: Games that are cross-generational on the PS4 and PS5 are clearly superior, in every way, on the PS5. And the PS5 launch already has two games, right now, that would not be possible on the older hardware (Returnal and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart). In other words, the PS5 already has games in its library that you simply could not possibly play on the previous machine. 

The PS5 is arguably in a league of its own.

Tech is sometimes tricky. Advances in technology, particularly in the video games realm, are tough to articulate. Yes, we’ve been on the graphics-are-getting-better ladder for what feels like ages. Indeed, graphics are how we almost always decide what’s worth owning—and what’s not. The PS5 has stunning graphics. But what’s remarkable about the machine is how hard it works, and how much it hustles, on so many other fronts. What fronts exactly? Keep reading to find out.

Old games look new again

A new console means new processors. The Playstation 5 (tip: insert your monocle before reading this) uses a custom chip that boasts 10.28 teraflops and 36 compute units clocked at 2.23GHz. In case that’s not enough for you, there’s also the 825GB SSD. Also: Never tell anyone that you know what these things are. Or else bullies will take you behind the school and knock your Trapper Keeper right out of your hands.

That complex list of specs translates to the following: the PS5 has crisp, tight, UHD graphics. How crisp/tight, you ask? The PS5’s titles are all unbelievably good-looking (so far). Still, one game out-pixelates all the rest: that game is Demon’s Souls, the 2020 remake of the 2009 original.

Best updated version of an older classic: Demon’s Souls

Our pick for the best PS5 games is Demon's Souls

Hack and slash

Upgraded graphics bring new life to a tried-and-true title. Sony

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One look at Demon’s Souls and you’ll say: “Fine, here’s my darn breath, PS5: Go on, and take it away.” Demon’s Souls is the O.G. Souls game that ushered in the era of Old Testament-caliber, pixelated punishment. Side effects include: controller hurling, garment rending, uncontrollable sobbing into your blankie. This game is hard.

Demon’s Souls tells the story of a valiant and obviously suicidal hero tasked with battling the forces of evil in the dreary land of Boletaria. There are 22 bosses in Demon’s Souls and every single one of them includes a side order of PTSD. Harrowing and beautiful at the same time, every pixel pops in Demon’s Souls. Keep your blankie close by. New weapons, armor, rings, and Grains, which offer players temporary relief from poison and other evils. You can play at a high framerate for super-smooth motion or crank up the resolution for the most detailed possible graphics. Both look fantastic.

Play PS5 games without delay

The formidable hardware of the PS5 includes an 825GB SSD (translation: A solid-state hard drive). Couple the PS5’s phat SSD with the console’s Integrated I/O that offers a jaw-dropping 5.5 gigs of input per second—that’s a hundred times faster than the I/O was on the PS4—and the result is a game that has virtually nonexistent load times: Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

Best example of super-fast load times: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Our pick for the best PS5 games is Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

High-speed web browsing

No more staring at endless load screens. Sony

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No joke: In the time it takes you to say the words “Spider-Man: Miles Morales,” out loud, the game has loaded. Yes, already. No, we are not kidding. Yes, we know your chamomile is not done steeping yet. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not. Pop Sci’s tech testers discovered that it takes a mere 2 seconds, on average, to load SM: MM on the PS5. For context, the PS4 version of Miles takes a rather leisurely 20 seconds. That feels like forever when you’re holding your controller and staring at a boring screen.

Better still, play as the slick noob Miles Morales instead of uber-cornball Peter Parker. The seasons have also changed: Now it’s Christmas time in NYC. Miles has his web-spewing hands full battling against a legion of Marvel super villains, including the pesky Tinkerer. 

Best of all, Miles has a bad-ass bioelectrical attack that, once charged, can zap baddies, freezing them in place momentarily, while Miles parkour-sculpts the gang down to a more manageable size. *Come for the quickie loads. Stay for the incredible game. 

Haptics are happening

New consoles mean new lingo. One of the first words you’ll learn as a PS5 owner is “haptics.” What are haptics exactly? Glad you asked.

Remember “rumble”? Video games have been rumble-enabled all the way back to the N64 era. Instead of making the controller jump around in your hands like an over-caffeinated trout, the advanced haptics technology of the PS5 offers a far more, well, nuanced experience. You’ve likely experienced a similar effect with your high-end smartphone. And no game does a better job of showing off the PS5’s haptic abilities than Astro’s Playroom does.

Best for showing off haptic feedback: Astro’s Playroom

Our pick for the best PS5 games is Astro's Playroom

Feel the game

This adorable platformer is designed to show off the DualSense controller’s abilities. Sony

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Yes, we know this is the pack-in game that comes with the PS5. (Astro’s Playroom is pre-installed.) And yes, it is odd to point to the pack-in game as a “must-have.” Since you already, well, have it. Having said that, you simply will not appreciate the wonders of the haptics experience until you feel it for yourself. 

Imagine if there were, say, forty elves crammed inside the Dualsense, like one of those mini cars at the circus that’s packed with clowns. Each elf-clown is assigned to a specific part of your hand. Instead of a mechanized, abstract rumble, which had about as much personality as the droning school bell that tells us to go to the next class, haptics tech on the Dualsense offers up a veritable symphony of tactile delights.

Take note of the tangible distinctions between walking on a variety of surfaces in Astro’s Playroom. When Astro walks on the grass, you’ll feel a kinder, gentler vibration than when you walk on metal. Another level features falling rain which you can literally feel – – right down to the individual raindrops – – on the DualSense that you are holding hands.

Astro’s Playroom also happens to be a well-designed platformer, too. Our advice: Don’t skip it. And don’t underestimate it, either. (It’s truly great.) Load up Astro’s Playroom and bask in the wondrous sensory capabilities of the PS5.

DISCLAIMER: The majority of the PS5’s library makes use of haptics in one way or another. However, Astro’s Playroom, after rigorous testing in the Pop Sci labs, shows off the haptics experience better than any other title does. (Though Returnal, which we’ll get to momentarily, was a close second.)

Adapt or die

The DualSense controller offers some of the PS5’s coolest features. We’ve already talked about the haptics, but there’s more. Specifically, we’re talking about the Adaptive Triggers.. And, while most PS5 games find nifty ways to incorporate haptic feedback into the experiences, no game arguably shows off the Adaptive Triggers of the Dualsense better than Returnal does.

Best game to use the PS5’s adaptive triggers: Returnal

Our pick for the best PS5 games is Returnal

Itchy triggers

The DualSense triggers do a lot more than “pew pew.” PlayStation

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Selene Vassos stars as the no-nonsense protagonist of Returnal. She crash lands on the planet Atropos and finds herself locked in a Groundhog Day-esque time loop. How the frack is she supposed to get out of this? Answer: By exploring the alien planet and uncovering secrets about—you guessed it—herself. Oh, and also by blowing the tentacles clean off the zeppelin-sized extraterrestrials who swarm her with bullet-hell projectiles.

Returnal’s aliens, like many of the beaches in Florida, are both gorgeous and cruel. No, this is not a game for the timid. Indeed, gird your loins before pressing Returnal’s START button. Fortunately, the PS5’s Adaptive Triggers are on your side. They essentially turn each Dualsense trigger into multiple buttons. Example: Hold the left trigger halfway down to aim down sight (A.D.S.). Or, pull the left trigger – – yes, the same button – – all the way, to the max, to switch to your weapon’s alt-fire mode. You do this by feel. The triggers reliably offer a specific degree of resistance—it feels like a rubber band stretched to capacity—to the point where you never (whoopsie!) press the trigger all the way down when you intended to A.D.S.

The way forward, the PS5 shows us, is not more buttons; the way forward is simply to convey more information via the already existing buttons. As a result, Returnal’s buttons are far more engaging to interact with. Returnal is a sublime sensory experience, one that presents a bit of a learning curve. Trust us: Your digits will adapt quicker than you think.

Power isn’t everything

The Ratchet & Clank series has been around since 2002. So it’s apt that the most sublime of the PS5’s stable of terrific titles (so far) stars the Sonny and Cher of video games: the bipedal cat named Ratchet and his dutifully droll robot counterpart, Clank. 

Crazy weapons? Check. Heartwarming story? Check. Cartoonish alien enemies? Check. Raritarium upgrades? Check. Seeing the dynamic duo on the new console is truly a stunner. Rift Apart moves us. It makes us laugh. It challenges our hand-eye coordination, again and again.

Best all-around PS5 experience: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Our pick for the best PS5 games is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Clank is dank

It mixes great visuals, a compelling story, and awesome gameplay. PlayStation

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Mike Daly, one of Rift Apart’s directors, says: “We wanted to make a game that was new and took the experience further than it had before. When we were thinking about what we could do, knowing what we could never do before, it became clear that so much of the structure of games is informed by how you’re able to load things into memory.”

Marcus Smith, another director of Rift Apart, says that thanks to the PS5’s custom-designed SSD (see: the Spider-Man: Miles Morales entry above), the game “utilizes dimensional rifts… These are things that would not have been possible without the [SSD] of the [PS5].”

Daly and Smith are both referring to the Rift Tether, which is honestly one of those rare, once in a console generation game design breakthroughs that come along every 3 to 7 years or so. “Rift Tethers” in Rift Apart serve as conduits or paradigm shifts from one realm to another realm. They look like rips or tears in the time-space continuum. You can literally travel through the tears, in real-time. Smith adds: “It is an unbelievable game-changer… You’re in one world [in one moment], and the next moment, you’re in another.”

Rift Apart has puzzle-solving, haptic feedback (feel those bolts as you hoover them up, quite literally), adaptive triggers, and retina-scorching 4K visuals. Rift Apart does a great many remarkable things, including introducing a new character named Rivet. But the Rift Tether mechanic? Now, this is truly something that only the PS5 can do. Indeed, it’s only a small taste of the ways that games will potentially change in the not-so-distant future.

FAQs

Q: When did the PS5 come out

The PS5 has been on the market since Fall of 2020, but you may not have known that since they have been almost impossible to get. The release also happened in relative slow-motion with Sony dripping out information about the system for more than a year before the official release.

Q: Can you play PS4 games on PS5

According to Sony, the “overwhelming majority” of PS4 games will work on the PS5. It’s worth noting, though, that not every title will get a swanky PS5 upgrade. You can check out Sony’s official support page to get a more complete answer. 

Final thoughts on the best PS5 games

When choosing the best PS5 games, it obviously comes down to your specific tastes. But, if you want to show off what your swanky new console can do, be sure to check out what next-gen features the title supports. Oh, and have fun.

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Best Prime Day TV deals: We’re screening Amazon Prime Day 2021 for the best prices

If you’ve been considering springing for a television to take your home media setup to the next level, there’s never been a better time to do so than during Amazon Prime Day 2021 deals. This annual sale usually takes place in July, spanning 48 hours and highlighting some of the deepest discounts on desirable tech products and home appliances at a level comparable to that of Black Friday. Flash sales and lightning-quick deals are a hallmark of Prime Day, with new discounts on the best TV brands constantly popping into and out of existence. Prior years’ sales involved huge price cuts on some of the latest and most popular home entertainment merchandise, and this year is expected to be no different when it comes to the best smart TVs on sale, etc. If you’re looking for the best Prime Day TV deals, check back here throughout the day to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Amazon Prime Day 2021 FAQ: people also ask

When is Prime Day 2021?

Amazon Prime Day usually falls somewhere in July, but word has it that the big sale is going down in June this year. Still, there’s no official word yet on the specific dates, but we’ll be sure to update this page the moment that Amazon makes the announcement.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is a once-a-year, 48-hour sale event during which hundreds of products across most Amazon categories are discounted. Some sales only last a few hours, so be vigilant in checking on items you’re keen to get. The event is exclusive to Amazon Prime members. 

When does Prime Day end?

Amazon Prime Day 2021 is slated to begin some time this June and last for a total of 48 hours. Keep this page bookmarked, and you’ll be the first to know the moment they announce the official dates.

Do I need Amazon Prime to get Prime Day 2021 deals?

Amazon Prime Day is a sales event that’s exclusive for Prime members only, so you’ll need a membership to take part in the savings. If you’re not yet an Amazon Prime member, there’s no better time to sign up than leading up to a Prime Day event. New members receive a free 30-day trial and access to all member perks including two-day shipping, discounts on Whole Foods groceries, streaming access to Amazon original movies and TV, and lots more. Signing up is easy and quick, and you can try a 30-day free trial of Prime right here.

How to snatch up the best Prime Day TV deals

Amazon Prime Day can be overwhelming—especially when it comes to finding the best TVs on sale. This year, you can expect models from some of the best TV brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Toshiba to have discounts of up to hundreds of dollars (last year, Samsung’s 75-inch Class QLED Q90T Series Smart TV was $700 off, while the Sony X800H 65-inch TV was just over $100 off). It’s also likely you’ll find great deals on the best smart TV add-ons, like the Roku Streaming Stick+. While we don’t know what the exact sales will be, here are the best Prime Day TV deals in past years to give you an idea of what’s possible.

Best Prime Day TV deals on 4K TVs: Sony X800H 65-inch TV

sony x800h prime day

Alexa-compatible Advanced Colors

This TV gives advanced color and gradation with the built-in TRILUMINOS display. Amazon

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Use Alexa or Siri to voice-control this Sony 4K Ultra HD smart LED TV. Its unique X1 4K HDR Processor enhances picture quality to bring real-world color and texture, offering high-quality upscaling for content of every type. This unit offers seamless integration with Apple HomeKit and AirPlay for easy smart home management and runs using a convenient Android OS interface. Like all great 4K TVs worth their salt, the X800H comes with a dedicated low-latency game mode as well.

Best smart TV deals on Prime Day: LG Nano 8 Series

lg nanocell tv deal

Integrates Home Assistant Software

Use both Alexa and Google Assistant with LG’s ThinQ AI technology. Amazon

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LG’s color technology, 4K resolution, and local dimming capabilities combine to give you a crystal clear picture that adjusts to your room. The quad-core processor in this 55-inch 4K Ultra HD smart LED NanoCell TV further enhances the image and reduces background video noise so you get the most out of the best smart TV and your sound system. Plus, use the built-in AirPlay2 to cast anything from your iPhone, iPad, or laptop onto your LG TV. 

Best Prime Day TV deals for gaming: LG OLED CX 65-inch 4K Smart TV 

lg oled tv prime day deal

Immersive Experience

This TV’s motion technology interprets fast movements in action sequences seamlessly. Amazon

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Embed yourself in your game with the LG OLED’s AI-powered picture quality. The NVIDIA G-SYNC and FreeSync reduce lag, refresh smoothly, and respond to gameplay quickly. The a9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K enhances both audio and image quality for the best gaming experience. Its OLED design is set apart by the television’s unique ability to dim or turn off individual pixels independently, resulting in stunning levels of contrast and deep levels of black.

Best 75-inch TV deals on Prime Day: Samsung 75-inch Q90T QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV

samsung qled prime day deal

Crisp, Richly Colored Display

The LED backlighting provides a display with sharp contrast and sharp clarity. Amazon

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This is the best 75-inch TV for a reason: Its powerful 4K Quantum processor automatically upscales the quality of whatever show or movie you’re watching using deep learning AI. It features an incredibly wide viewing angle for a superior viewing experience from anywhere in your room, with object tracking sound that follows the action on your screen. Quantum HDR combined with a direct full array of LED backlighting allow for crisper contrast and deeper colors for maximum immersion.

Best 65-inch TV: Samsung 65-inch Class Curved UHD TU-8300 Series

samsung smart tv deal

Sleek Design

4K resolution brings you better clarity and a wider range of vivid colors. Amazon

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This 4K UHD HDR smart TV has Alexa and Google Assistant voice control built in for easy hands-free operation. Its curved screen means that every seat is a good seat for watching and, with Microsoft Office 365 integration, you can even mirror your computer’s display to the TV and manage files without leaving the couch. The stand features a built-in cable management system as well, ensuring that your setup remains sleek and free of clutter.

Best 55-inch TV: Sony BRAVIA A8H 55-inch TV

sony tv prime day deal

Vibrant Colors

2.1-channel audio directly from the screen creates a robust and immersive sound experience. Amazon

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This 4K TV features Sony’s TRILUMINOS display and X1 processor, a combination that offers advanced color gradation and intense contrasts. A pixel contrast booster exclusive to OLED technology allows millions of individual pixels to turn on and off as needed for deep, rich blacks perfect for a cinematic experience. The TV is compatible with AirPlay, HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant, and it features a super slim design that’s sure to complement any living room.

Best 50-inch TV: Toshiba 4K UHD Smart TV – Fire TV Edition

toshiba prime day tv deal

Connect WiFi and Enjoy

Use Alexa to easily control this smart TV. Amazon

BUY NOW

Choose from hundreds of thousands of TV shows and movies from your favorite streaming platforms and live channels built right into this Fire TV. The 50-inch size combined with an attractive price point makes this a great deal for bringing high-quality entertainment to smaller spaces. Featuring 4K UHD Dolby Vision picture quality and more than 8 million pixels, this is a fantastic option for viewing media with vivid colors and brilliant clarity on a budget.

Related: See all the best Amazon deals available right now.

Some final thoughts about the best Prime Day TV deals 2021

Amazon Prime Day TV deals 2021 are one of the best times to buy the best TV brands, with discounts popping up on high-ticket items and sought-after tech that bring big home entertainment upgrades well within reach. Inventory on the best Prime Day TV deals is in short supply and definitely won’t last long, so act fast when you see TVs on sale you want.

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Best under-desk bike: Zoom through a Zoom meeting

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A Week With: 2021 Audi SQ5

2021 Audi SQ5 front

The SQ5 the sporty version of Audi’s compact crossover, gets a minor makeover.

Accounting for a quarter of its U.S. sales, Audi’s Q5 luxury compact crossover gets a makeover this year that may not please everyone – at least when it comes to the sporty SQ5 variant. Yet the Q5 retains the qualities that render it Audi’s top-selling vehicle stateside.

Overview

Given the Q5’s popularity, it’s no surprise it’s offered in three variants. The base Q5 is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and 12-volt mild hybrid system that generates 261 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. That same engine is also offered in the Q5 plug-in electric hybrid, producing 362 horsepower and a 0-60 mph sprint of five seconds.

The top-of-the heap model remains the SQ5, with a turbocharged V-6 producing slightly less horsepower – 349 – but reaching 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Given the hybrid’s numbers nearly match it, it remains to be seen if the SQ5 will retain its popularity given the greater economy and nearly equal performance of the plug-in hybrid driveline.

2021 Audi SQ5 rear

The new SQ5 is pure Audi on the outside: tasteful and conservative.

Nevertheless, Audi provided the SQ5 for a weeklong evaluation.

Exterior

As you’d expect, the SQ5 gets a minor makeover that with a revised grille, side air intakes, side sills and rear trim details. The effect isn’t overly dramatic, merely maintaining the SQ5’s already handsome demeanor.

Its look is classic, conservative Audi. It’s tasteful, and sure to look good for years to come. Remarkably, the vehicle’s styling is deceptive, as it seems larger than it truly is. But its size also makes for great maneuverability in urban/suburban environs.

Interior

2021 Audi SQ5 cockpit

The Prestige Package that added most of the luxury touches you’d expect of a car in this class.

Climbing inside reveals a cabin that’s roomy for its class, with generous front seat space, and surprisingly good rear seats space given this vehicle’s length. Seats are all-day comfortable, with excellent support. The cabin is commendably quiet. The redesigned instrument panel is easy to use, while the center console features a decent amount of storage, along with heated and cooled cupholders that’s covered by a lid that doubles as a wireless charger. Neat.

The test car featured a $9,600 Prestige Package that added most of the luxury touches you’d expect of a car in this class, including small things like a heated steering wheel, memory driver’s seat, auto-dimming mirrors, navigation system, a panoramic sunroof and a whole lot more. Yet the overall ambience had a very spare feel, and some trim seemed beneath its station.

Pullout: “It remains to be seen if the SQ5 will retain its popularity given the greater economy and nearly equal performance of the plug-in hybrid driveline.”

Powertrain

The SQ5 employs a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed automatic .

As mentioned, the SQ5 test car employed the turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 349 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed automatic that allows the SQ5 to reach 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The EPA rates the SQ5 at 20 mpg in combined city/highway driving, with the test model doing even better, at 22.3 mpg during the week of testing. Note that 4-cylinder models get a dual-clutch automatic, while the SQ5 gets a Tiptronic.

Safety and Technology

Driver assistance features include standard blind spot monitor, lane-departure warning, parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional adaptive cruise control and 360-degree cameras.

Thoughtfully, the SQ5 comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Our car’s Prestige Package included Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which minimizes the instrument cluster’s gauges while maximizing its Google Maps navigation screen in front of the driver, a boon for when you don’t know where you’re going.

The large 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen features the new MIB 3 infotainment system that’s intuitive to use and easy to read, a clear improvement. The test car also had a head-up display that proved easily read in all conditions.

Driving Impressions

What separates the SQ5 from its German competitors is its balance and refinement. While others go for a hard edged, vertebrae-cracking ride and whiplash-inducing acceleration, the SQ5 matches them with a bit more ride compliance and little drama.

There are no theatrics as this crossover responds to request for speed. It remains controlled at all times, resulting in a boy racer that’s uniquely relaxed, with well-controlled body movements and quick steering. Certainly, things are more exciting when in iSport driving mode rather than Comfort, the latter revealing more than a little turbo lag and an occasionally slow transmission. Thankfully, manual shift paddles make up for this.

Wrap Up

If some buyers will bemoan the hard-edged extremes exhibited by its competition, the rest of us will appreciate the SQ5 for what it is: a fast, comfortable executive shuttle. Fast and Furious types will have to look elsewhere, or appreciate the art of subtlety.

2021 Audi SQ5 wheel2021 Audi SQ5 cargo2021 Audi SQ5 grille


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A Week With: 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew

2021 Ford F-150 Limited front

The 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew is the best iteration of the truck thus far.

Gawwwwddd I miss my truck.

Actually, I’ve had two in my lifetime a 1992 Ford Ranger “powered” by an anemic 4-cylinder engine that I bought not long after graduating from college and a 2004 Ford F-150 XLT motivated by the 5.4-liter V-8 engine that so many associate with the company’s full-size pickups.

My F-150 was a slight better than middle of the road model. It was an extended cab with shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive, power windows and locks, air conditioning and a bench set just big enough to haul my three children, who were then a teenager, a four-year-old and a toddler.

No leather. No satellite radio. No wi-fi. Just room for five to be comfortable inside and enough room to haul my son’s invisible motorcycle in the bed. Now that I’m old, er, older. I’ve gained an appreciation for things like … leather recliners, vehicles that are easy to get in and out of and technology that both entertains and makes my life easier.

Enter the 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew.

2021 Ford F-150 Limited side

The new F-150 is the most aerodynamic version of the truck ever offered.

Overview

The newest generation of Ford full-size truck is undoubtedly the best yet, especially from my perspective. It offers all of the functionality and capability that young me loved about my 2004 F-150 while catering to old, uh, older me and my admiration for a comfortable leather chair and impressive technology.

Exterior

The exterior of the 2021 F-150 is clearly an evolution from the one that rests fondly in my memory – but bigger. The new truck with its massive grille and boxy fenders and cab looks like it could take on a tank and win. Instead its taking on the Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 and, in my mind, it wins that battle too – although the Ram should make Ford designers sweat a little.

The F-150 Limited provides capability and utility with three different size beds.

Despite its brick-on-wheel shape, it’s the most aerodynamic offering ever. The truck employs active grille shutters and automatic air dam to help reduce drag and improve fuel economy. More importantly, it’s big and brawny without looking over the top or gaudy – think Superman instead of Batman.

Interior

Climbing inside the new F-150 is easy and it’s almost like entering a different world. While today’s pickups are larger and more fuel efficient that the generations that precede them, it’s the interior cabin where the biggest difference is, and Ford may be the best of the group … and not just for trucks.

Since the first thing you touch when you get in the vehicle is likely the seat, let’s start there. The two-town leather is supple and comfortable. The front seats are both heated and cooled, while the back seats are just heated – talk about a first-world problem. Additionally, they recline nearly flat, in case you need to pull over for a nap. During an extended drive, I found them to be supportive without making you want to, well, pull over for a nap.

“… it’s big and brawny without looking over the top or gaudy – think Superman instead of Batman …”

The F-150 Limited’s driver cockpit is well designed with controls that are easily accessed and read.

Once seated, the next order of business is the dashboard, which features large gauges that are manipulated using steering wheel-mounted controls that are simple and intuitive. The eye catcher is the 12-inch touchscreen on the center console. It’s bright and clear, making it very usable without feeling like you need to put on a pair of sunglasses to cut down on the glare. The truck comes with Sync 4 and while I’d like to tell you all about it, it also comes with Apple CarPlay and I use it exclusively. That sald it paired nicely and worked as expected.

It also features a massive center console that not only offers cupholders and plenty of storage, it also offers wireless charging. I use an iPhone 12 Pro Max and it charged without problem. It’s not as fast as plugging it in, but it was pretty good.

However, Ford recognizes that while trucks are oftentimes the family vehicle, they are also at the same time someone’s work vehicle. The Limited makes it awfully convenient to get some work done in the vehicle. The center console folds flat while the gear-shift lever folds down flat as well giving the user a space big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop – or fast food for two.

Powertrain

The interior is comfortable and upscale without being gaudy. Perfect for a high-end pickup.

For the 2021 model year, the F-150 can be ordered with one of six engine offerings. The Limited comes with the 3.5-liter two-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6. It puts out 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Towing a boat? No problem. Need to merge with traffic? No problem. Need to merge with traffic while towing a boat? No problem.

Fuel economy isn’t bad considering it’s a nearly 5,000-pound vehicle with a powerful engine that encourages a bit of lead-footed driving. It gets 18 mpg city, 23 highway which is good for a combined 20 mpg. I found that to be a pretty accurate representation for my week in the truck. Overall, it’s pretty good for a full-size pickup and if you can afford to buy or lease an F-150 Limited, you’re likely not counting the change in the cupholder to put gas in it.

Technology and Safety


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