The best washing machines (and their matching dryers)

By Liam McCabe

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

After more than 100 hours of research, we think that the LG WM3770HWA is the washing machine that will make the most people the happiest. Based on LG’s great reputation over the past few years, this washer should be as reliable as any modern, efficient model can be. It also has some of the quickest cycle times of any washer and excellent cleaning performance.

How we picked

Since 2015 we’ve tracked 232 models, and about 114 of them are still currently available. To use these washers, you’ll need access to hot and cold water hookups and somewhere to drain the washer. If you want a matching dryer, you’ll also need a 220-volt outlet (or a gas line) and somewhere to hook up the ventilation hose. We also limited our scope to machines with a width of about 27 inches, the standard size in North America.

Beyond those basics, we looked for washing machines with exemplary cleaning abilities, quick wash cycles, a prewash or soak option, a reputation for reliability, and efficient usage of both water and energy. You should be able to adjust water temperature and spin speed, and have both a heavy cycle for dirtier clothes and a delicates cycle for sensitive fabrics. And, of course, the best washers are sold by companies with reliable customer service.

To read in detail about why we think these features are crucial, and to see which features we think you can safely ignore, please see our full guide to washing machines.

Our pick: LG WM3770HWA

Photo: LG

The LG WM3770HWA is the best all-around washing machine for most people. LG makes the most reliable high-efficiency (HE) washers, and as far as we can tell, the WM3770HWA is one of them. It’s one of the fastest washers you can get, with typical cycle times running about half as long as most HE washers. The cleaning performance is excellent even on the Normal cycle, and it also has cycles that are strong enough to kill bacteria and eliminate allergens. It’s gentle on fabric and very efficient. We also think it’s a little less likely to smell like mildew than most front-loaders. And, for what it’s worth, the jingle that plays at the end of every cycle is super-pleasant and catchy.

The WM3770HWA has both prewash and steam options, both of which can loosen stains before the main wash action kicks in. You can also add additional rinses, add a garment, or delay the start time. Though LG’s customer service could certainly be better, we think the WM3770HWA offers the best balance of price, performance, reliability, and convenience you can get in a washing machine.

If you need the matching dryer, it’s the DLEX3570W (electric) or DLGX3571W (gas).

Runner-up: Electrolux EFLS617SIW

Location courtesy of Food52. Photo: Michael Hession

The Electrolux EFLS617SIW is another great washing machine. It’s not our main pick because it tends to cost more, probably isn’t as reliable, and is notably rougher on clothes. But it’s the single best stain-remover, and among the most efficient washing machines we’ve seen. It’s also one of few models with a reversible door.

The secret to the EFLS617SIW’s success is most likely the SmartBoost feature, which premixes detergent with the wash water before spraying it into the tub. In theory, every item should get washed equally, with no splurts of detergent wasted. Most front-loaders are excellent cleaners even without this feature, but if you want the very best, it seems to be the EFLS617SIW.

If you want a matching dryer, those are the electric EFME617SIW or gas-powered EFMG617SIW.

Budget pick: Maytag MHW3505FW

Photo: Maytag

If you’re sold on the advantages of a front-loader but want to save some money, we think the Maytag MHW3505FW is your best bet. It doesn’t have the speedy cycles and high-temperature cleaning options that our main pick does. It’s a little more likely to need repairs. And it might also be rougher on clothes. But it’s still an efficient, effective washer for a fair price, and its power-wash cycle is great at removing stains.

If you want the matching dryer, it’s the MED3500FW (electric) or MGD3500FW (gas).

Also great: LG WT7500CW

Photo: LG

We think the LG WT7500CW is the best washer for people who want a top-loader. It’s not our main pick because top-loaders have some built-in downsides (they’re less efficient, effective, and gentle than front-loaders). But compared with other top-loaders, the WT7500CW has quicker and more powerful wash cycles. It also comes from LG, a company known for producing reliable high-efficiency (HE) top-loaders (subscription required).

If you want a matching dryer, check out the LG DLEX7600WE.

A sturdy agitator top-loader, if that’s what you really want

Photo: Speed Queen

If you’re not too thrilled about modern high-efficiency washers and have decided that you want an old-school machine, check out the Speed Queen AWN432SP113TW04. It’s the sturdiest, longest-lasting residential washing machine you can buy. However, it’s not our main pick because it’s so inefficient that you’ll probably spend more on water and energy over time than if you repair and replace HE washers as they break. Even on its most efficient setting, it uses nearly twice as much water per load as our top pick. But if longevity and reliability are the most important things you want from your washer, the AWN432SP113TW04 is as sturdy as they come.

If you’d also like a matching dryer, it’s the Speed Queen ADE3SRGS173TW01.

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

Note from Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

The best laptops for high school students you can buy

Hunting down the best laptop for your money can be a real pain. Buying for yourself is one thing: You and you alone must suffer with your decision. But when you’re on the market hunting down the best laptops for high school students, making the wrong decision will produce an endless flow of complaints. It’s too slow. It’s too heavy. It won’t run my programs. Painful, we know, so we’re here to save you from the horrors.

As parents, we know exactly what you need to buy. Don’t jump on Amazon and buy a cheap laptop originally released in 2012. There are plenty of modern options sporting the same price tag. Most of what you’ll find below are based on Intel’s latest eighth-generation processors, and screens ranging from 13.3 inches and larger.

All but one laptop listed below is based on Windows 10 Home. We selected a Chromebook as well in case you want to bypass Windows altogether. Chromebooks are highly popular in the educational system for their lightweight design and dependence on web-based applications. 

Our Pick

Acer Aspire E 15

If you’re looking for an all-around great laptop for your high school student, but don’t want to beg the bank for a loan, Acer’s Aspire E 15 models fit the bill. There are two versions for the picking: a $599 model with an eighth-generation Core i5 processor and a $799 version with an eighth-generation Core i7 chip. These two CPUs are the latest built by Intel for laptops, so they should stay relevant for a few years.

Backing the eighth-generation Intel CPUs is a discrete (stand-alone) GeForce MX150 graphics chip by Nvidia. It’s designed specifically for laptops, promising four times the performance experience with Intel’s integrated graphics. The chip wasn’t built for high-end gaming, but it can handle eSports-related games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and DOTA 2 at 60 frames per second using a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. That’s not too shabby.

Of course, you’re not buying a laptop for your student to play games all night. Having a stand-alone discrete GPU is beneficial in other areas that demand high levels of graphics processing, such as 3D animation, video editing, CAD design, and so on. Backing both the GPU and CPU is 8GB of system memory, and a minimally-sized 256GB SSD. The laptop even includes a DVD writer!

Other features packed into Acer’s laptop include two video outputs, a handful of USB ports, wireless and wired networking, and an SD card reader. But it’s not exactly thin and light, measuring 0.94 inches thick at the front, and 1.19 inches in the back. Given its size, students may elect to keep this laptop at home unless they are comfortable stuffing it into their backpacks along with their textbooks, or carrying the laptop by hand.

See it

Best Chromebook

Acer Chromebook 15

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

This is probably the biggest and best Chromebook we’ve seen in a while. Although the processor isn’t served up in the usual “Core” flavor, it does a fine job running Google’s Chrome-branded operating system. There’s no discrete graphic chip like we saw in Acer’s Windows 10 laptop, but it can handle graphics applications lower than the default resolution at a decent frame rate.

One of the bigger features of Acer’s Chromebook is its support for Google Play. At its core, Chrome OS was designed to handle web-based apps, so students and other users aren’t downloading possible malicious apps. With Google Play support, you can download and install most of your favorite Android apps, but that means the Chromebook’s 32GB of storage can quickly disappear.

Despite its 15.6-inch screen, Acer’s Chromebook is rather thin and light, measuring 0.75 inches thick and weighing 4.30 pounds. The screen is a decent Full HD resolution, but it’s the technology behind that screen that really shines, providing wide viewing angles and rich, deep colors. All that imagery is backed by an awesome speaker placement, which seats a front-facing speaker on each side of the backlit keyboard.

As for other goodies packed into Acer’s big Chromebook, it includes two USB-C ports, either of which can be used to power the Chromebook and/or recharge the battery. That battery isn’t shabby at all either, lasting around 12 hours while streaming video non-stop. The device also includes two regular USB ports, Wireless AC networking, and a 720p webcam that’s perfect for Google Hangouts.

See it

Best Budget Laptop

HP Stream 14t

The good news with this laptop is that it has a decent-sized screen at 14 inches. The drawback is that the resolution is only 1,366 x 768, which is rather low for a laptop currently sold on the market. It’s also backed by a dual-core Intel Celeron processor that was released in the first quarter of 2016, so it’s coming up on hitting its second anniversary. While there’s nothing wrong with this mixture of ingredients, this combination is why the laptop is so inexpensive.

For the money, you get a decent amount of performance stemming from two processor cores with a base speed of 1.60GHz, and a maximum speed of 2.48GHz. The CPU is backed by Intel’s integrated graphics and 4GB of system memory to handle normal tasks like web browsing, document editing, streaming “high definition” video, and more. There’s even a built-in camera for web-based video collaboration.

Although HP doesn’t list a 64GB option on its website, you can find the laptop on Amazon with 32GB and 64GB capacities. Otherwise, the features remain the same: wired and wireless networking, a handful of USB ports, an SD card reader, and HDMI video output. The device measures a mere 0.70 inches thick, and weighs 3.17 pounds.

This isn’t the only Stream-branded laptop sold by HP. The company also lists 11.6-inch models ranging from $199 to $479 for mainstream students and “pro” users. All appear to rely on Intel Celeron processors by default, but the “pro” models pack higher storage capacities, and the Windows 10 Pro operating system. But what you get with the Stream 14t at $249 is a real bargain, especially for a 14-inch laptop.

See it

Best Premium Laptop

Asus Zenbook UX330UA

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Although the Zenbook UX330UA packs the smallest screen on our list, the horses underneath its 13.3-inch hood can’t be ignored. Powering this laptop is an eighth-generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB of system memory, and a somewhat-speedy SSD with a 256GB capacity. There’s no discrete graphics chip, which is why Acer’s Aspire E 15 won our top pick over this impressive eighth-generation laptop.

Of all the laptops on our list, this model is the only one packing a fingerprint reader. This reader supports Windows Hello, allowing students to access Windows 10 using their finger instead of manually entering credentials. For parents, this may seem troublesome, but you can always access the PC using whatever PIN or password you created. Windows 10 also provides parental controls, so you can limit the types of content your student accesses on and offline, and receive a weekly report detailing the student’s activities.

Intel’s Core i5-8250U is a four-core chip with a base speed of 1.60GHz and a maximum speed of 3.40GHz. The integrated graphics isn’t exactly performance driven, but it’s capable of outputting a 4K resolution through a DisplayPort adapter. Video outputs include a MicroHDMI port, and the two USB-A ports that support vide output through an adapter or dock.

Other goodies packing into the laptop include wireless networking (wired is available through a USB adapter), Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, and a 720p webcam. The laptop measures just 0.53 inches thin, and weighs 2.64 pounds, making it an easily portable device for any high school student.

See it

How We Test

Laptop testing begins on a visual level. We look at the overall quality, how the screen connects to the base, the spacing of the keys, the sturdiness of the chassis (shell), and more. We walk around with the unit in our hands to determine its portability: is it extremely heavy? How well does it withstand bumps? You know, the fun, easy, visual stuff.

Of course, looks aren’t everything. We use specific software to test the processor, graphics, storage read/write speed, and battery life. Benchmarking can be a long process – especially when you’re trying to kill a battery that promises an uptime of over 20 hours. For laptops with discrete graphics chips, we use PC games to determine how well they render output frames at specific resolutions every second.

We also make sure the screens deliver as promised. We have a special tool for that, which measures the screen’s brightness level, how it correctly displays colors, the contrast ratio level, and so on. While we’re killing the battery with a video loop, we’ll sit down and watch how each frame is rendered on-screen, and listen to how the sound projects from the laptop’s speakers.

Ultimately, our evaluation stems from both software-generated numbers, and our hands-on personal opinion. But we have opinions as parents too, thus we feel that any one of these laptops would be a great fit for one of our own kids.

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Google Home Max has a slight latency issue with its aux port

Thankfully, most users won’t ever notice this.

Google recently launched the Home Max as its flagship smart speaker, and although it’s not perfect, it’s still a lot of fun for audio lovers that are heavily invested in Google’s walled-garden. The speaker isn’t without its flaws, but there’s a new one that was recently discovered that could prove to be a pain in the butt for a small group of people.

First reported by Variety, the Google Home Max has a latency issue when playing music through its aux port. The aux port can be used to connect a turntable, tape deck, or another music-making device directly to the Home Max, but when doing this, there’s a delay of a couple milliseconds from playing the music and it actually being outputted from the speaker.

That might sound like a big deal, but thankfully it’ll be a non-issue for most people. You can still listen to music via the aux port on the Home Max without any issues, but if you’re a DJ and trying to use it as a way to hear tunes you’re creating, this is where you’ll really start to notice the latency.

Google has since reached out to Variety to say that it’s aware of the issue and that “the delay is in regards to how long it takes for the music to start playing, and does not affect synchronization of sound across home devices – which is near perfect for most setups.”

Google Home Max review

Upgrade your Wi-Fi with this Amazon one-day sale on networking gear

Save yourself some hassle by improving your internet connection.

Amazon has a variety of networking gear on sale for one day only. This sale covers everything you need to get your house wired for Internet and keep all those mobile devices happy, including routers, cable modems, and mesh networking systems.

Here’s a few of the devices on sale:

• Netgear AC750 Wi-Fi range extender for $29.89 (from $55)
• Linksys DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem for $49.99 (from $60)
• TP-Link Archer C9 long-range Wi-Fi router for $79.99 (from $110)
• Arris Surfboard Cable Modem/Wi-Fi Router for $143 (from $180)
• Netgear Orbi Pro AC300 Tri-band WiFi mesh networking system for $538.99 (from $770)

Find what you need to make your home Wi-Fi the best it can be in the full sale, which only lasts until the end of the day.

See at Amazon

Check out the best Boxing Day deals in Canada from Walmart and Best Buy

Some of these deals could sell out at any moment, so get ’em while they’re hot!

Walmart and Best Buy are celebrating Boxing Day in Canada with huge deals on media streaming devices, headphones, and other tech. Take advantage of these deals while you can because while they might stick around for a couple of days, these prices could easily sell out.

Amazon Canada is also having a huge sale for Boxing Day. Be sure to check out those deals right here.

Walmart’s deals will last until December 31 but many supplies are limited. Get free shipping with orders over $50 or free in-store pickup for orders over $25.

Here are the best deals from Walmart:

• Google Chromecast media streaming stick for $35 (from $45)
• GoPro Hero 5 Session bundle for $269.99 (from $400)
• Beats by Dre Studio 3 wireless headphones for $288 (from $400)
• Dyson V6 cord-free vacuum for $299.97 (from $400)
• Apple iPad 9.7-inch 32GB tablet for $348 (from $398)

Best Buy’s deals last through December 28 and include free shipping over $35 unless the items are too big to qualify. Here are some of the best deals from Best Buy:

• Roku Streaming Stick for $39.99 (from $50)
• Kingston 128GB microSD card for $49.99 (from $100)
• Bose QuietComfort 25 over-ear headphones for $189.99 (from $310)
• Sonos Play:1 wireless speaker for $199.99 (from $250)
• Apple 13.3-inch 128GB SSD MacBook Air for $1,049.99 (from $1,200)

To keep in the know about the latest and greatest Canadian deals, sign up for Thrifter’s Canada newsletter today.

See at Walmart See at Best Buy

Never waste your time looking for keys again with this $42 5-pack of TrackR Pixel tracking devices

How much time have you wasted in your life shuffling around your home looking for your keys? Never again!

These TrackR pixel 5-pack Bluetooth tracking devices are down to $42.29 on Amazon. These trackers normally sell for $75. They dropped to $50 for the Black Friday shopping season, but that was the lowest they’ve ever gone before this deal.

There are a couple of other packs on sale, but they are either out of stock (you can order at the deal price and get them when they come back) or in very limited supply. The 8-pack multicolor, which is the one out of stock, is down to $44.99 from a street price around $100. The 8-pack of black trackers is down to $45.91 from a normal price around $100. The best previous low for either of these was $70 over Black Friday.

Features include:

• Always losing things? TrackR is here to help! So small and lightweight, you can attach it to anything.
• TrackR uses Bluetooth technology to find items at close range—up to 100 feet away. Use the TrackR app to ring your device, now with flashing LED lights to help you find it fast.
• See where you last had your keys, wallet, laptop – on a map. TrackR’s global crowd locate feature will alert you when your missing item has been spotted.
• Can’t find your phone? Press your TrackR device to make your phone ring, even on silent mode.
• Free TrackR app download, compatible with iOS & Android. 3 gift sleeves included – no wrapping required!

The free app will notify you when the TrackR’s battery is low and lets you replace it for free (if you live in the U.S.).

See on Amazon

HQ Trivia begins limited beta in the U.S., open beta in Canada

Here’s some good news for some Americans and all Canadians: HQ Trivia is here!

Earlier this week, the mobile phenomenon, HQ Trivia, announced that its Android release was nearing. Now, the company has said that it launched in limited beta in the U.S. on Christmas Day to iron out some bugs, and that it will open the app to more users in the coming days and weeks.

Android update: we’re in limited beta as of Christmas Day & are working quickly on patches, so we can continue to roll it out to more testers throughout the week. Our goal is to make it available to ALL by Jan. 1. Pre-register for updates: https://t.co/h47yTsixNJ

— HQ Trivia (@hqtrivia) December 26, 2017

But Canadians are a bit luckier: thanks to the smaller population, the game is in open beta up north, which means that every Canadian can now take part in the live trivia game that happens daily at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET.

The game features a live host and a series of questions of increasing difficulty with hundreds of thousands of people competing for real cash prizes. Over Christmas, the game had 730,000 simultaneous users — and that was on iOS alone. Once it opens up to Android users, we can expect a million concurrent users on a regular basis. That should happen by the new year, but scale is hard, so it may take a bit longer.

Download HQ Trivia (free)

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Seneo’s fast Wireless Charging Stand is on sale for only $15

Wirelessly charge your device with Seneo’s Charging Stand.

Amazon has the Seneo Wireless Charging Pad Stand on sale for just $14.84 when you enter promo code GTHTOYXZ at checkout. This deal saves you over $5 off this item’s average price.

This wireless charger works with most QI-enabled devices, and can even fast charge a variety of Samsung Galaxy devices. While most wireless charging pads keep your phone laying down flat which can be inconvenient to use at the same time, this one keeps your phone standing at an angle so you can still answer calls, send texts or surf the web while it’s charging.

A lifetime warranty is included with this product, along with a micro USB cable. However, it does not come with an AC adapter, though you can pick this item up with one for $23.99 when you use code 6VL8KILQ at checkout. $9 for a Quick Charge 3.0 wall adapter is a pretty good deal when you look at the prices of other similar products on Amazon.

This item has 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 2,000 reviews.

See at Amazon

Grab the Samsung 850 EVO 250GB solid state drive for just $85

You can’t go wrong with the 850 EVO.

The Samsung 850 EVO 250GB internal solid state drive is down to $84.99. That’s $5 above its lowest price ever.

You can upgrade to the 500GB version for $140. It has been that low for a few weeks now, but it’s still one of the best prices ever and solid value.

The 850 EVO is well-reviewed with a lot of positive results. Windows Central called it the Best Overall SSD for Windows PCs. CNET gave it 4.5 stars. The Wirecutter still considers it to be the best SSD for its balance of performance and price. AnandTech has one of the most thorough reviews of this SSD on the Internet and called it “yet another showcase of Samsung’s engineering talent.”

Because Samsung designs SSDs with home-grown engineering, it’s also built for the long-term with twice the endurance of the competition. It’s capable of handling much heavier workloads, and Samsung backs all that up with a five-year warranty.

If you need help installing a new SSD, Windows Central has some tips for that.

See on Amazon

‘Astrocyte’ explores how architecture can interact with humans

Philip Beesley’s Astrocyte aims to show that architecture can be more than just ornamental. Built from acrylic, mylar, sensors, custom glasswork, 3D-printed lights and using AI, chemistry and a responsive soundscape, it not only invokes emotional reactions but reacts to participants’ movements and gestures. The giant, delicate-looking structure (inspired by astrocyte nerve cells), also prompts unusually respectful interactions from human observers.

The aerial scaffold structure was part of Toronto’s Expo for Design, Innovation and Technology (EDIT 2017), and hosted at an abandoned Unilever soap-manufacturing factory. It was built from 300,000 components by Philip Beesley Architect Inc. (PBAI), in collaboration with Beesley’s Living Architecture Systems Group at the University of Waterloo.

Astrocyte responds to viewers movements with patterns of light, surround sound and vibrations not unlike signals propagating along a nerve. The glasswork also holds oils and chemicals meant to represent the structure and energies of organic life. With the artwork, Beesley and his Living Architecture group are also exploring future building materials that could self-repair or alter spaces through media, light and sound.

“PBAI Studio works with a wide consortium of artists, engineers, scientists, and researchers as a central member of the Living Architecture Systems research group,” Beesley told Farmboy Fine Arts. “We explore the possibilities of next generation architecture, responsive environments, digital media and immersive sculpture. So we are asking, how might buildings and our environments begin to know and care about us? And might they start, in very primitive ways, to become alive?”

Astrocyte is based on “biophilic” architecture and design, which posits that humans innately seek to connect with nature. Much like with some types of vegetation and other natural systems, it looks fragile but is tough enough to handle interaction with exhibition participants.

“The work is robust, yet delicate in nature, and this seems to encourage different ways of acting,” Beesley said. “Observing people interacting with these spaces is quite striking because extraordinarily gentle and respectful responses tend to happen. Have we caused someone to experience a different, and perhaps healthier form of interaction?”

Astrocyte was created in partnership with 4D Sound, with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Arts Council.

Via: Design Boom

Source: EDIT