With the Zenbook A14, ASUS has reached a new milestone of portability. It’s a 14-inch laptop that weighs just 2.2 pounds, making it feel more like a tablet than a computer when you pick it up. And with its unique Ceraluminum case, which feels like a cross between ceramic and metal, the Zenbook A14 is a more viable premium notebook than LG’s chintzy ultra-light Gram lineup. But there’s always a tradeoff between size and power, and in this case ASUS has delivered the slowest Copilot+ PC we’ve seen yet. But I suppose that just makes it a true lightweight.

Now to be clear, the Zenbook A14 is a serviceable laptop for light productivity work. Since it’s a Copilot+ AI PC, it comes with at least 16GB of RAM, so it can easily deal with juggling dozens of browser tabs and your typical office and photo editing apps. But the A14’s Snapdragon X X1 chip limits its ability to do anything truly demanding, so don’t expect it to be playing many games or rendering video. And since it’s powered by that Arm chip, the Zenbook also has to run apps designed for Intel and AMD CPUs in a slower emulation. Some software won’t work at all, including very old apps, and games like Fortnite that use anti-cheat software.

So while the Zenbook A14 may seem like a MacBook Air killer at first glance, it’s more of a reminder of how well Apple has balanced that laptop. Sure, it’s half a pound heavier, but the MacBook Air can also edit videos, render 3D and play games in a pinch. You won’t feel the same sort of performance limitations you’ll undoubtedly encounter on the Zenbook A14.

That being said, there’s still an audience for an ultra-light, under-powered laptop. The A14 is an ideal machine for writing on the go, since you can travel with it effortlessly and it offers a whopping 18 hours and 16 minutes of battery life (according to the PCMark 10 benchmark). And let’s face it, the Zenbook’s sluggish gaming chops may actually boost your productivity.

I could see it being a perfect secondary computing device if you’ve already got a desktop or heftier laptop setup at home. And if you really just need to browse the web, reply to emails and watch the occasional video, you probably won’t notice its performance issues.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Hardware

The Zenbook A14 makes a startling first impression long before you see it in action. Its retail box feels alarmingly weightless, as if it only contains air and some cardboard cushioning. And once you open it up, it’s hard to comprehend how a 14-inch laptop can weigh a mere 2.2-pounds. It also feels as well balanced as an artisanal chef’s knife, making it easy to hold. As impressed as I was by the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 last year, the Zenbook A14 feels like a stronger example of how far the company has come from producing cheap MacBook clones.

Also adding to the Zenbook A14’s overall polish is that aforementioned Ceraluminum case, which simply feels nice to hold. It’s warm and inviting to touch, whereas Apple’s MacBooks and most other all-metal laptops almost always feel cold (especially in heavily-chilled offices). As we’ve seen on other recent ASUS notebooks, Ceraluminum also feels sturdy, as there’s no flex on the A14’s slight frame.

The company clearly spent time fine-tuning the usability of such a light machine. Opening it up with one hand is effortless, thanks to a new hinge design that keeps the A14 from tilting backwards as you raise the screen. I’ve tested other light notebooks, including earlier Zenbook models, that required two hands: one to hold the computer’s keyboard section down, and another to lift the display. I can tell you from experience that it’s helpful to be able to flip open your computer with one hand while holding a crying kid in the other.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

The Zenbook A14 sports an impressively thin profile when it’s open, but it’s also well-built enough to keep its screen steady when typing on your lap. That may seem like a niche point, but I’ve grown to despise unstable displays on lesser thin notebooks. It’s yet another sign of ASUS getting the little things right in the A14.

And speaking of getting things right, I appreciated that ASUS was able to squeeze in a ton of ports: two USB-C connections, one USB Type A, a full-sized HDMI connection and a headphone jack. Apple, meanwhile, only includes two USB-C ports, a MagSafe charging connection and a headphone jack on the MacBook Air.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

In use: A serviceable Arm-based Windows laptop

It’s a shame that all of ASUS’ thoughtful hardware design is held back by the Snapdragon X X1, an eight-core system on a chip (SOC) meant for ultra-slim and low-power devices. In benchmarks and general usage, it’s clearly a much slower solution than the X Elite and X Plus chips that graced the Surface Pro and other Copilot+ systems. As I mentioned up top, that’s the major compromise ASUS had to make to deliver such a slim notebook, and for some, it may be a complete dealbreaker.

The Zenbook A14 handled my basic productivity workflow just fine: browsing on Chrome and Edge with dozens of tabs, while also running Slack, Spotify and occasional photo editing apps. But in comparison to the Surface Pro and Laptop, it’s like driving an entry-level car instead of a true luxury offering. And that’s a shame since it’s priced similarly to those PCs. Best Buy currently lists our review unit, which includes 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, for $1,100. If those specs were paired with a better processor, I’d consider the A14 a smart purchase. Instead, it feels like a machine that should clearly be under $1,000 with 16GB of RAM and a smaller SSD.

On Edge and Chrome, I noticed slight hiccups when I was jumping between tabs and multiple windows. And those were native apps developed for Arm processors! Snapdragon chips need to emulate older x64 and x86 Windows apps, which introduces even more slowdown. While writing this review in Evernote (an x64 app), the A14 would often have trouble smoothly scrolling down long notes, and it would sometimes take a few seconds to load older notes. (Evernote owner Notion says it “does not officially support ARM processors at this time,” which means users are out of luck if they encounter more significant issues.)

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

One upside to running a fairly slow processor? Excellent battery life. In the PCMark 10 battery benchmark, the Zenbook A14 lasted 18 hours and 16 minutes. That’s around 30 minutes more than Dell’s Copilot+ XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite, and it’s also two and a half hours longer than last year’s Intel Core Ultra-powered Zenbook S14.

I appreciated the Zenbook A14 the most when I wasn’t trying to benchmark it or search for its occasional slowdowns. It’s a wonderful machine to grab when you just want to focus on writing, clearing out e-mail or finalizing accursed corporate training. Its keyboard is responsive and comfortable to type on, though I wish its touchpad measured clicks more accurately.

The Zenbook A14 is also great for catching up on Netflix shows in bed, since it feels practically weightless and video looks tremendous on its 14-inch OLED screen. Its speakers sound terribly tinny, though, so I’d use headphones for any serious binge-watching sessions. I was also surprised that its 1080p webcam actually produced decent footage, and it also lets you log into the A14 easily with Windows Hello IR support.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Should you buy the Zenbook A14?

Given the combined issues of Arm compatibility and a slow processor, I wouldn’t recommend the Zenbook A14 as a primary computer for most people, even though it’s priced like a true MacBook Air competitor. If anything, it’s a bit of an experiment by ASUS to see what compromises consumers will tolerate to get such a lightweight laptop. Instead of an impossibly light and underpowered notebook, most people would be better off with something like the Zenbook 14 OLED, which currently sells for $1,050 with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Sure, it weighs 2.8 pounds instead of 2.2, but it’s still pretty portable.

Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air, which starts at $999 with an M4 chip, is a half pound heavier than the Zenbook A14, but far more capable overall. Even the older M2 chip is faster than the Snapdragon X, and macOS has a wider selection of Arm-compatible apps, as well as faster emulation than Windows.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Wrap-up

If ASUS’ goal was to make an impressively premium ultra-light laptop, it almost got there with the Zenbook A14. While it outdoes the MacBook Air in weight and value, its slow processor makes it far less capable than Apple’s ultraportable. Perhaps one day, with future revisions and more capable hardware, ASUS could finally deliver a powerful near-two-pound laptop. For now, though, you’re better off waiting for a discount so the A14 can serve as a secondary PC.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/asus-zenbook-a14-review-a-lightweight-in-every-sense-133013668.html?src=rss

We all want to protect our phones from the inevitable drops, scratches and tumbles of daily life, but what if your phone case could protect more than just your device? The best eco-friendly phone cases offer a great blend of durability and sustainability, helping to reduce plastic waste and better the planet.

Made from natural materials like biodegradable plastics, recycled ocean waste or even sustainable bamboo, eco-friendly and compostable phone cases prove that you don’t have to sacrifice style or protection to go green. They’re designed to safeguard your device while actively combating plastic pollution, making them a win-win for both you and Mother Earth.

Whether you’re looking for something sleek and minimal or bold and artistic, there’s an eco-friendly option out there that will fit your style. Instead of a standard plastic case, you can choose one that’s both practical and planet-friendly.

Eco-friendly phone case FAQs

What makes a phone case eco-friendly?

A phone case can be considered eco-friendly when it’s designed to protect not just your phone but also the planet. What sets these cases apart is the use of sustainable materials like biodegradable plastics, recycled plastic waste or even natural materials like bamboo or flax straw. Instead of contributing to plastic pollution, these materials break down naturally over time, or are made from recycled content that reduces waste.

Eco-friendly cases can also go a step further by being compostable, meaning you can toss them in a compost bin at the end of their life and they’ll decompose into the earth without leaving harmful residues. Plus, many brands behind these cases focus on sustainable practices, like reducing carbon emissions during production or offering recycling programs for old cases.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-eco-friendly-phone-cases-150016494.html?src=rss

Brazil has ordered Apple to allow users to bypass the App Store and sideload apps within 90 days, according a report in Valor Econômico seen by 9to5Mac. The new ruling follows similar orders issued in Europe and elsewhere that were referenced by the Brazilian court. “[Apple] has already complied with similar obligations in other countries, without demonstrating a significant impact or irreparable damage to its business model,” wrote judge Pablo Zuniga.

Late last year, Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE ordered Apple to allow users to download apps and make purchases from outside its App Store, with a 20-day deadline and fines for not complying. However, Apple appealed that ruling on the grounds that the changes would be too difficult to implement within the time frame. The court agreed, calling the injunction “disproportionate and unnecessary,” buying Apple more time but forcing it to face a public hearing in Brazil.

Following another appeal, this time by CADE, the court ordered Apple to allow sideloading and third-party app stores within the next three months or face fines. 

The litigation was launched by the Latin American e-commerce firm Mercado Libre, which complained about developers being forced to pay hefty commissions through Apple’s App Store. That was followed later by other developers including Match and Epic Games.

An Apple spokesperson told Valor Econômico that it “believes in vibrant and competitive markets,” but said that the changes will “harm the privacy and security” of iOS users. Apple plans to appeal the decision.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-must-allow-app-sideloading-in-brazil-within-90-days-judge-orders-130037196.html?src=rss

The Disney+ Hulu Duo Basic plan usually costs $11 a month, but the companies are giving a big discount this spring. You can secure four months of the joint Disney+ and Hulu streaming subscription for just $3 a month. That comes out to just $12 in total and a savings of $32 for the whole offer period. The deal is for new and returning subscribers and is only for the basic tier, which includes advertisements on both Disney+ and Hulu content. You can sign up for the sale price from today through March 30.

At a time when it feels like every streaming service, audio and video, is pushing their subscription costs ever-higher, it’s a treat to get any amount of entertainment access for a discount. That’s why we’re big fans of the Disney+ Hulu Duo plans; even at the normal rate, it unites two of our favorite standalone content libraries in a single package that’s a solid deal at its normal rates. 

Snagging the basic tier for an even lower cost feels like a no-brainer, especially if you’re invested in any facet of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if you’re counting the days until the second season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives or if you just like to hum along with Encanto in the background while you work. 

Keep in mind that the ad-free Duo Premium plan isn’t covered in this promotion, nor is the option that also bundles ESPN into the package. Access to Duo Premium will still run you $20 a month, while the Trio bundles begin at $17 a month.

Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/four-months-of-the-disney-hulu-duo-basic-streaming-plan-is-on-sale-for-only-12-right-now-123511911.html?src=rss

Apple finally dropped some long-awaited updates this week:  An M4 MacBook Air (now starting at $999!), M3 iPad Air, as well as a refreshed Mac Studio with M3 Ultra and M4 Max chips. In this episode, Cherlynn, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham chat about all of Apple’s new hardware, as well as some interesting tidbits from Mobile World Congress 2025. Devindra also dives into his reviews of NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 and AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT. It turns out AMD has finally delivered some killer GPUs to counter NVIDIA’s dominance.

Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

Subscribe!

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Topics

• MacBook Air refresh announced with an M4 chip and a slight price drop – 2:04

• What’s hot at Mobile World Congress 2025 – 23:10

• Lenovo’s Solar PC – 35:20

• Xiaomi 15 Ultra (with a fancy Leica camera) – 37:53

• New releases from Nothing – 39:16

• Samsung releases a trio of A series devices – 40:35

• NVIDIA vs. AMD part ∞: AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT edge out the GeForce RTX 5070 – 46:20

• Pop culture picks – 54:11

Credits 

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low
Guest: Nathan Ingraham
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/engadget-podcast-the-m4-macbook-air-and-mobile-world-congress-2025-123012794.html?src=rss

It’s been a weird time to dip into graphics cards, GPUs and… another synonym for the GeForces and Radeons of this world.

AMD has tried for a while to undercut NVIDIA with slightly cheaper but less capable video cards — but this time, with the Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT, it might have got the recipe right, especially in 4K and ray tracing performance.

Devindra Hardawar says the $599 Radeon 9070 XT, in particular, is a solid midrange GPU with excellent support for 1440p gaming and a bit of 4K. It has better ray tracing support than before, it’s faster than the plain Radeon 9070 and it finally has AI upscaling built in too. Not to mention, NVIDIA’s similarly priced GPUs landed around the same time.

It’s a good strategy — better than fighting with NVIDIA at the extreme high end of GPUs. It makes more sense for AMD to focus on cards people can actually buy — if you can.

It’s a good time to look closer at that too. “Buy.” Hah! The gaming PC makers and people who need high-powered machines for their work know this already — it’s a mess.

Not only is it impossible to find NVIDIA’s 50 series GPU in stock, but as Igor Bonifacic noted, nearly every single model is way above NVIDIA’s suggested price. This isn’t a pandemic thing anymore, this isn’t a crypto thing anymore (although that’s stoked demand, of course).

It’s like Taylor Swift tickets or a PS5 disc drive when the PS5 Pro broke cover — it’s scalpers and opportunism from the middle-man companies that make the majority of GPUs out there.

— Mat Smith

• AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT review

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 review

• The GPU market has broken foundations

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The biggest tech stories you missed

• Sorry We’re Closed review

• Volkswagen previews its €20,000 EV for everyone

• MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: This cat got its bite back

• House Republicans subpoena Google over alleged censorship

• Technics AZ100 review: Supreme sound quality and a unique Bluetooth tool

The Return of… Ask Engadget! 

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Is there a robot vacuum that won’t destroy phone cables? How is US trade policy going to affect the price of my next phone? Do I need another phone? Ask Engadget returns, with an entirely new email address: askmat(AT)engadget.com.

Ask me something!

Nothing’s Phone 3a Pro is cheap, capable and looks stylish

Only $459.

Engadget

A sub-$500 smartphone that Engadget can endorse is a rare feat, but Nothing might have nailed it. Despite a premium Nothing Phone 3 not even existing, the company’s see-thru phone series shoots straight for the cheap midrange. Many of the specs, like periscope zoom, a 120Hz 6.77-inch screen and a huge 5,000mah battery are typically in phones that are several hundred dollars more. It’s all wrapped in a design full of character too. Check out my first impressions and expect a full review very soon.

Continue reading.

Apple unveils the M4 MacBook Air, with a price drop

It starts at $999.

An upgraded laptop with a price drop? In this economy? The new MacBook Air, with an M4 chip, will retail at $999, down $100 from the previous starting price. There are still two size choices: 13-inch and 15-inch. RAM for the M2 and M3 laptops is 16GB by default, and the M4 model matches that standard. Apple is promising up to 18 hours of battery life, and the Airs will have support for Apple Intelligence. There’s also a new look in the lineup, with a sky blue color adding a new option beside the usual shades of gray.

Continue reading.

The best action cameras for 2025

All the top models from GoPro, DJI and Insta360.

Engadget has been testing action cameras for more than 16 years and with that experience, we can help you find the right model for your budget and needs. In the past, GoPro was the go-to choice for first-person action filming, whether it’s surfing, rock climbing or offroading. But now, you have more choice, with models also available from DJI and Insta360. We break down all the different form factors — and our best choices.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121555319.html?src=rss

It’s an exciting day if you’re a fan of the BBC and the Google TV Streamer. BBC iPlayer is finally available on the streaming platform almost six months after Google launched it, 9to5Google reports. Google certified its TV Streamer for use with BBC iPlayer back in November 2024. 

BBC One and BBC Two are now under the TV streamer’s Channels tab, while BBC iPlayer appears on the Google Play Store with a new download option. BBC iPlayer allows anyone to pays for a TV license in the UK to watch their favorite shows and movies live, on-demand or downloaded to their device. It has already been available for use on Google TV and Android TV.

Google launched its TV Streamer in September as a replacement for the Chromecast line. It retails for $100 and features a smart home panel that allows users to see and control devices like lights, thermostats and doorbell cameras. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/bbc-iplayer-is-now-available-on-googles-tv-streamer-110029855.html?src=rss

Recently, we saw all the ways reused passwords can harm your security posture. The 23andMe attack comes to mind, but generally credential stuffing has been on the rise. Hackers can buy or find your reused passwords to access some of your most sensitive accounts. To prevent yourself from falling victim, password managers can help. They encourage you to have a unique, strong password for each account by removing the burden of memorizing all sorts of different login combinations.

But there are dozens of password managers available now — that’s why we tested out nine of the best services available now to help you choose the right one for your needs. 1Password remains our top pick for the best password manager, thanks to its zero-knowledge policy, numerous security features and general ease of use, but there are other top password managers out there to consider as well.

Table of contents

• Best password managers for 2025

• Are password managers safe?

• Are password managers worth it?

• How we tested password managers

• Other password managers we tested

• Password manager FAQs

Best password managers for 2025

Are password managers safe?

It seems counterintuitive to store all your sensitive information in one place. One hack could mean you lose it all to an attacker and struggle for months or even years to rebuild your online presence, not to mention you may have to cancel credit cards and other accounts. But most experts in the field agree that password managers are a generally secure and safe way to keep track of your personal data, and the benefits of strong, complex passwords outweigh the possible risks.

The mechanics of keeping those passwords safe differs slightly from provider to provider. Generally, you have a lengthy, complex “master password” that safeguards the rest of your information. In some cases, you might also get a “security key” to enter when you log in to new devices. This is a random string of letters, numbers and symbols that the company will send you at sign up. Only you know this key, and because it’s stored locally on your device or printed out on paper, it’s harder for hackers to find.

These multiple layers of security make it difficult for an attacker to get into your vault even if your password manager provider experiences a breach. But the company should also follow a few security basics. A “zero-knowledge” policy means that the company keeps none of your data on file, so in the event of an attack, there’s nothing for hackers to find. Regular health reports like pentests and security audits are essential for keeping companies up to par on best practices, and other efforts like bug bounty programs or hosting on an open source website encourage constant vigilance for security flaws. Most password managers now also offer some level of encryption falling under the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). AES 256-bit is the strongest, because there are the most number of possible combinations, but AES 128-bit or 192-bit are still good.

Are password managers worth it?

You likely already use a password manager, even if you wouldn’t think to call it that. Most phones and web browsers include a log of saved credentials on the device, like the “passwords” keychain in the settings of an iPhone. That means you’ve probably seen the benefits of not having to memorize a large number of passwords or even type them out already.

While that’s a great way in, the downfall of these built-in options are that they tend to be device specific. If you rely on an Apple password manager, for example, that works if you’re totally in the Apple ecosystem — but you become limited once you get an Android tablet, Lujo Bauer, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and of computer science, at Carnegie Mellon University, said. If you use different devices for work and personal use and want a secure option for sharing passwords with others, or just don’t want to be tied to one brand forever, a third-party password manager is usually worth it.

How we tested password managers

We tested password managers by downloading the apps for each of the nine contenders on iPhone, Android, Safari, Chrome and Firefox. That helped us better understand what platforms each manager was available on, and see how support differs across operating systems and browsers.

As we got set up with each, we took note of ease of use and how they iterated on the basic features of autofill and password generators. Nearly all password managers have these features, but some place limits on how much you can store while others give more control over creating easy-to-type yet complex passwords. From there, we looked at extra features like data-breach monitoring to understand which managers offered the most for your money.

Finally, we reviewed publicly available information about security specs for each. This includes LastPass, which more experts are shying away from recommending after the recent breach. For the sake of this review, we’ve decided not to recommend LastPass at this time as fallout from the breach still comes to light (The company disclosed a second incident earlier in 2024 where an unauthorized attack accessed the company’s cloud storage, including sensitive data. Since then, hackers have stolen more than $4.4 million in cryptocurrency using private keys and other information stored in LastPass vaults.)

These are the password managers we tested:

• 1Password

• LastPass

• Bitwarden

• Dashlane

• Keeper

• NordPass

• Enpass

• Norton password manager

• LogMeOnce

Other password managers we tested

LastPass

For a while, security experts considered LastPass a solid choice for a password manager. It’s easy to use, has a slew of helpful extra features and its free version gives you a lot. But we decided not to include LastPass in our top picks because of the high profile data breaches it has experienced over the past couple of years.

Keeper

Keeper met a lot of the basic criteria we tested for, like autofill options and cross-platform availability. We liked its family plan options, too, that can keep your whole household secure. There’s even a self-destruct feature that deletes local data after five incorrect login attempts, should your device be lost or stolen (the cloud-based data remains untouched). But we didn’t think its extra features, like the encrypted messaging app, added much value.

Enpass

Enpass works well as an affordable password manager. That includes an inflation-beating “lifetime” access pass instead of a monthly payment for users really committed to the service. Still, it was confusing to set up across devices and because Enpass stores data locally, as opposed to in the cloud, we struggled to get started with it on mobile.

Norton

A familiar name in security, we were excited to test out Norton’s password manager. While it’s free, its features seem underdeveloped. It lacked password sharing, account recovery and complex form-filing tools that come standard in many of the other password managers we tested.

LogMeOnce

LogMeOnce comes with a wide range of premium tiers, from professional to family, that include different levels of storage and features. But when we tested, it lacked some basic cross-platform availability that other password managers had already, like compatibility with Mac and Safari.

Password manager FAQs

Why use a password manager?

Using a password manager can enhance your online security. They store all of your complex passwords and autofill them as needed, so that you can have unique, good passwords across the web without remembering each of them yourself. In many cases, unique passwords are your first defense against attack, and a reliable manager makes it easier to keep track of them all.

Are password managers 100 percent safe?

Password managers are a secure way to store your credentials. Experts in the field generally agree that the benefits of accessibility when storing complex passwords outweigh the possibility of attack, like what happened with LastPass. But with any service, it can vary from provider to provider. You should look out for zero-knowledge policies, regular security audits, pentests, bug bounty programs and encryption when choosing the right secure password manager for you.

How do password managers work?

Think of password managers like virtual safe deposit boxes. They hold your valuables, in this case usually online credentials, in a section of the vault only accessible to you by security key or a master password. Most of these services have autofill features that make it convenient to log in to any site without needing to remember every password you have, and they keep your credit card information close for impulse purchases.

But given that passwords are one of the top ways to keep your online identity secure, the real value of password managers is staying safe online. “It’s just not possible without a password manager to have unique, long and hard-to-guess passwords,” Florian Schaub, an associate professor of information and of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, said.

Common guidance states that secure passwords should be unique, with the longest number of characters allowed and uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. This is the exact opposite of using one password everywhere, with minor variations depending on a site’s requirements. Think of how many online accounts and sites you have credentials for — it’s an impossible task to remember it all without somewhere to store passwords safely (especially in instances when you need to create a new password for any given account). Password managers are more readily accessible and offer the benefit of filling in those long passwords for you.

Who are password managers for?

Given their universal benefit, pretty much everyone could use a password manager. They’re not just for the tech-savvy people or businesses anymore because so much sensitive information ends up online behind passwords, from our bank accounts to our Netflix watch history.

That’s the other perk of password managers: safe password sharing. Families, friends or roommates can use them to safely access joint accounts. Texting a password to someone isn’t secure, and you can help your family break the habit by starting to use one yourself, Lisa Plaggemier, executive director at National Cyber Security Alliance, said. Streaming is the obvious use case, but consider the shared bills, file storage and other sites you share access with the people around you as well.

What if I forget my master password?

Forgetting a master password won’t necessarily lock you out for good, but the recovery process varies from provider to provider. Some services give you a “security key” at sign up to enter when you log into new devices. It can also be used to securely recover your account because it’s a random string of keys stored locally that only you have access to. Other services, however, have no way to recover your vault. So creating a master password that you won’t forget is important.

How can I make a good master password?

A good master password should be unique, with the longest number of characters allowed and uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Experts often recommended thinking of it like a “passphrase” instead of a “password” to make it easier to remember. For example, you can take a sentence like “My name is Bob Smith” and change it to “Myn@m3isB0b5m!th” to turn it into a secure master password that you won’t forget.

What are passkeys?

A passkey is a sort of digital identification that’s interlocked to your account on a given app or website. While that sounds like a password, there’s an important distinction: Passkeys are bilateral authenticators that have two separate components: a private key stored locally on your device and a public key belonging to the website or application. When logging in with a passkey, these two keys pair and give you access to your account. You can read more about passwords versus passkeys here.

Update, October 28 2024, 5:15PM ET: This story has been updated to note that Keeper’s “self-destruct” security feature only deletes local content when engaged, but maintains data on a subscriber’s cloud-based account. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/best-password-manager-134639599.html?src=rss

We’ve tested over a dozen air purifiers that range from $150 to $1,200 — but the most effective method for getting the green light from our air quality monitors is completely free: opening the windows. Of course, seasonal allergies, frightful weather and wildfires mean letting the outside air in is not always possible. That makes air purifiers your second best option. With fans and multi-layered filters, these simple machines can clear up odors, cooking emissions, dust particles, smoke, pet dander and more. We performed simple at-home tests to compare different models and compared the features and design of well-reviewed models to help you find the best air purifier for your home.

Table of contents

• Best air purifiers for 2025

• Other air purifiers we tested

• What an air purifier can and can’t do

• What to look for in an air purifier

• How we test air purifiers

Best air purifiers for 2025

Other air purifiers we tested

IQAir HealthPro Plus SE

The IQAir HealthPro Plus SE is a formidable piece of equipment. The boxy tower looks like something you’d see in a hospital and weighs 35 pounds, making me appreciate the included wheels when I needed to move it around. It’s designed and made in Sweden and each unit comes with an impressive certificate of performance. I’m certain the testing processes IQAir employs are more scientific than my tests — after all, the company is probably best known for its air quality monitors — but I found the filtration efficiency to be on par with and, in one test, worse than that of other models I tested.

I was also disappointed that a $1,000-plus air purifier from an air monitor device company was only capable of measuring particulate matter — and not VOCs — to trigger the auto-clean function. That said, setup was simple and the app can integrate data from public air quality sources as well as other AQ monitors you may have set up.

Coway’s Airmega Icon S

Coway’s Airmega Icon S was our previous pick for best design. It looks more like a tiny mid-century-modern credenza than an air purifier and the little shelf up top doubles as a wireless phone charger. The PM2.5 sensor reliably kicked in the auto mode as I used it and the three-speed fan is quiet, even on high, yet powerful. I had a little trouble getting the app to connect, but the onboard touch controls worked better anyway. It’s expensive at $699, too, but it does have a washable pre-filter.

Sensibo Pure

At $229, and nearly always on sale for $130, I had the Sensibo Pure pegged as a contender for a budget pick. Unfortunately, replacement filters are $99 unless you subscribe to automatic shipments and many of the app features are behind a paywall as well. It’s not certified by CARB and underperformed many of the other units in the burn test, though it did return the air back to a “good” rating according to the air monitors after 30 minutes. The design is inoffensive, it’s not overly loud and it does integrate with Sensibo’s smart AC devices, so if you’re already happy with one of those, this may be a decent option.

Dyson Purifier Cool

Like all Dyson products, this air purifier is dripping with design. It looks like no other unit on the market and it’s up to you to decide whether you like that or not. I was indifferent to the looks, but appreciated the slick and informative app, which not only displays indoor air quality, it also shows what conditions are like outside, using a clever house graphic to differentiate the two sets of numbers. I also like that it detects VOCs as well as particulates and the auto mode seemed to read the room accurately. The air coming out of the fan did indeed feel cool, though at first had a strong plastic odor. Unfortunately, it was the lowest performing unit during two separate burn tests and had repeated connectivity issues.

Molekule Air Pro

The Molekule Air Pro comes from a brand that pays keen attention to aesthetics. It and the app have that Instagrammable, muted-modern look that countless clothing and bedsheet brands emulate these days. That style doesn’t come cheap as the Air Pro costs over $1,000 and requires $140 filters. The company came under fire for and had to stop making many of its claims about its filtration system, which may have led to it filing for bankruptcy in 2023. Molekule is still able to tout its patented photoelectrochemical oxidation, which the company says destroys pollutants at a “molecular level.” In my tests, it performed almost as well as the others in improving VOC and PM2.5 levels. But it’s also very loud: When auto mode kicked the fan into high gear, it would make me tense. Also, I found the unit often indicated “bad” or “very bad” levels when my two monitors indicated the air quality was actually pretty good.

What an air purifier can and can’t do

There are three key categories of air pollution that adversely affect the quality of the air you breathe: volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and carbon dioxide. VOCs are emitted gasses that can come from cleaners, off-gassing plastics, paint, solvents, fragrances, cooking food and, ironically, air fresheners. VOCs are most closely related to odors you can smell. High levels can irritate your breathing passages, cause headaches and may become cancer-causing over time. Air purifiers with activated charcoal components can help clean VOCs from the air.

Particulate matter is usually discussed as PM2.5 and PM10, with the numbers indicating particle size in microns. This is dust, dirt, mold, smoke and, again, emissions from cooking food. Higher levels of PM can lead to respiratory irritation, allergy symptoms, respiratory infections and potentially lung cancer. Air purifiers that include a HEPA or particle filter can help remove airborne particles from your space.

Carbon dioxide is what humans and pets breathe out. Elevated levels can cause dizziness and lethargy. But no air purifier can reduce CO2 levels because the molecules are so small. Plants can help to some extent, but really the only solution is opening a window or otherwise ventilating the space.

There are no federal standards for air purifiers, but the state of California does require all air cleaners sold in the state to be certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). All of our top picks here have met that certification.

What to look for in an air purifier

HEPA filters and other filter types

An air purifier isn’t an overly complicated device. Smart modes and app connectivity aside, they’re not much more than a filter and a fan. The latter pulls air through the former to capture particulate matter and other unhealthy elements so you don’t breathe them in. The type of fan can make some difference — it should be powerful enough to pull in air quickly, but also quiet enough on its low speed so it can unobtrusively clean all day long.

Filters, on the other hand, are more varied. Most have two or more layers, typically a pre-filter, an activated carbon component and sometimes a particle or even a true HEPA filter. The pre-filter is made from a fine mesh that captures big stuff like pet hair and larger chunks of dust. Sometimes this part is separate from the more technical filters — which means you can remove and clean it without needing to swap out the whole thing. For all-in-one filters, you can vacuum the outside of it to remove larger particles.

An activated carbon or activated charcoal layer is extremely porous, tightly packed coal that presents a vast amount of microscopic surface area to the passing air. Gaseous chemicals, VOCs and other molecules become lodged in the crannys and stick. This is the layer that gets rid of odors.

Nearly all types of air purifiers include a particle filter. Some of those can be called “true HEPA” (high-efficiency particulate air) filters — meaning they conform to the standards set out by the DOE. Particle filters are made up of pleated masses of ultrafine fibers that force air to take a convoluted path in order to pass through. This traps and absorbs tiny molecules of smoke and dust, allergens like dander and pollen, and some viruses and bacteria.

Since all of these air filters physically trap particulates, they’ll eventually fill up and become less effective. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the filter every six months, while others claim a year-long life span. Most smart air purifiers will let you know in the app when it’s time to replace. When you’re considering a unit’s cost, be sure to factor in the expense of replacement filters, which you may end up buying twice a year.

Room size

Air purifiers list their cleaning capabilities in terms of room size and frequency of air exchanges, sometimes listed as clean air delivery rate (CADR). For example, a smaller one might say it can exchange the air in a 500-square-foot room twice per hour. So that model should be able to pass all of the air in a 250-square-foot room through the filter every 15 minutes, but a 1,000-square-foot room would probably be outside its effective range. Of course, there’s no standard for manufacturers to adhere to when it comes to these calculations, but typically, larger air purifiers can handle large rooms.

Where you put the machine makes a difference, too. Since it requires airflow to effectively clean air, somewhere close to the middle of the room and at least a foot away from furniture, walls and other potential blockages is ideal. That’s not always practical, so aim for getting it as close as you can to the center of your space while maintaining a one-foot clearance all around.

Controls

In our testing, we focused on Wi-Fi-connected “smart” air purifiers with companion apps that can monitor air quality and adjust the fan settings as needed. Within the apps, you can control auto-clean settings, set timers and schedules and check the health of the filter as well. Most will remind you when it’s time to get a replacement, and let you order one directly from the manufacturer through the app. You can also see the current and historical readings from the internal air quality (AQ) sensor. Most determine air quality through an optical particle meter, though some brands like Dyson and Molekule also include chemical sensors for VOC measurements. When levels of particulates become elevated, the fans switch up to high speed to move more air through until the quality improves.

Most smart purifiers also work with voice assistants, so if asking Alexa to turn on your air purifier makes your life easier in some way, you can do so. If you don’t want to talk to an AI or grab your phone to control your purifier, getting a unit with simple on-board controls is a good idea. These can be as basic as buttons with indicator lights or as elaborate as a touchscreen panel. At minimum, it’s good to have a way to control the fan speed and turn on or off auto mode on the device itself.

Design

As we mentioned, sticking the device as close to the middle of the room is helpful for getting the best performance. That means you’ll be looking at it a lot, so design considerations matter. Most purifiers are cylindrical towers with fan vents up top. Units meant for larger rooms are not small, weighing between 12 and 20 pounds and reaching two feet tall (or in the case of the Dyson Purifier Cool, three and a half feet). Some, like Coway’s Airmega IconS, take on more furniture-like designs to blend in. Others, like Dyson’s, are conspicuously designed to stand out.

When an air purifier just isn’t enough

The most striking bit of knowledge I picked up from testing air purifiers is how effective opening windows can be on indoor air quality. What took an air purifier a half hour to clear out took mere minutes when I opened my front door and a few windows. Every variable measured by the air quality sensors, including VOCs, PM, and particularly CO2 levels (which air purifiers can’t alleviate), improved dramatically after exposure to fresh air — significantly faster and better than any machine we tested. Even on very cold or very hot days, it might be worth it, even if your doors and windows are only open for a few minutes. True, my HVAC system had to work a little overtime afterwards, but venting a room was the most surefire way of getting air quality quickly back in the green. Of course, if the air outside is unhealthy from wildfire smoke or run-of-the-mill pollution, or if you’re dealing with seasonal allergies, throwing open the windows won’t work and an air purifier might be the best way to consistently clean things up.

How we test air purifiers

My living room is not a science lab; there’s far too much pet hair for that to be the case. Still, I went beyond just turning stuff on and sniffing the air by acquiring two consumer-grade indoor air quality monitors that performed well in laboratory assessments, the Element from Element from Awair and the uHoo Smart Air Monitor. I conducted burn tests in this medium-sized room by measuring the ambient air quality, then burned a brick of piñon incense for twenty minutes and measured the air again. Then I ran one purifier at its highest speed for thirty minutes and recorded levels, then ran the unit on the lowest setting for a half hour and remeasured. I made note of the sound levels using a simple iPhone app to compare one machine’s noise level to the next.

Over the course of a month, I used each unit in different scenarios (such as in the basements where the cat litter boxes are) and tried out each device’s smart features, controls and auto modes. I also just lived with them and evaluated how they fit into everyday life. As new purifiers came on the market we continued to acquire units that seemed worthy of inclusion. Most recently, we tested purifiers from Blueair, IQAir, Windmill and others, adding our findings to this guide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-air-purifier-120040002.html?src=rss