Eliana Willis

Apple’s dominance in the smartwatch market is well-known, but with multiple models of the Apple Watch to choose from, it can be a challenge to figure out which model suits your needs. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or upgrading to a new version, selecting the right model requires some consideration. While the Apple Watch started as a fitness tracker slightly more sophisticated than a Fitbit, it has steadily expanded to become an expansive health monitoring device and a handy tool for fast access to iPhone information and iOS apps. It can now check your heart rate, carry your boarding pass for a flight, identify a song that’s playing nearby, open your garage door, alert you when it’s about to rain, and guide you to breathe when you get stressed — and those are just a few examples. Also: The best smartwatches: Expert testedHowever, it’s important to note that the Apple Watch still doesn’t measure blood oxygen. Earlier this year, a US federal judge ruled that Apple could not sell its Series 10 and Ultra 2 smartwatches if they have the blood oxygen sensor, due to a patent violation with Masimo. As a result, a ban was placed on the import of all Apple Watches with the feature meaning none of our top picks measure blood oxygen. Although, you may still find some refurbished models in the U.S. that have this feature.  What is the best Apple Watch right now?Based on my years of testing, my pick for the best Apple Watch overall is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Our pick for the best robot vacuum and mop combination, the Dreame X40 Ultra More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWe’re just a week away from Samsung’s big Unpacked event, where the company is expected to unveil the new Galaxy S25 series of smartphones — and possibly more. If last year’s January product launch was any indication of what we can expect from Samsung moving forward, the company may just squeeze in a teaser or two of future devices toward the end of the Wednesday keynote. It might be a new XR headset. It might be the Ray-Ban Meta competitor I’ve been waiting for. It might even be another phone.Also: Samsung Unpacked 2025: How to watch and what to expectThat’s what the latest rumors suggest, with OnLeaks and SmartPrix hinting at a Samsung Galaxy S25 “Slim” edition. As the name suggests, the unique rendition of this year’s mobile lineup will have a thinner design, supposedly measuring just 6.4mm in width. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick, while the standard Galaxy S24 is 7.6mm thick. If the specs are accurate, the Galaxy S25 Slim would be Samsung’s thinnest phone to date. More

If you recently got or are considering buying an iPad for your kid and want to protect your investment from the rowdy challenges that a tablet faces with a child, you should certainly get a case for it. But not all cases are equal—some are built to withstand rough treatment from younger kids, while others are best suited to adapt to an older child’s needs. Also: The best kids’ tablets of 2025: Parent recommendedAs a parent of three kids under eight, I never give them a tablet without a case, whether an iPad, a Fire tablet, or a Kindle. I’ve seen firsthand the rough life a tablet endures with toddlers around, so I always keep a case on my own iPad. Whether your kids use their tablet for play or schoolwork, an iPad screen replacement costs upwards of $100, so a case is a sound investment.What is the best iPad case for kids right now?ZDNET’s top pick for the best iPad case for kids is the OtterBox Made for Kids case More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Baseus 11-in-1 docking station is currently 24% off on Amazon This small form-factor docking station has all the ports you need to expand your desktop or laptop Some might think this device is overpriced, but if you are desperate for more ports, the cost is worth every penny. –> Desktops […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro MKII headphones are available now on Amzon for $599. These headphones deliver mind-blowing accuracy and detail. The price might be a turn-off to some, but they are worth every penny. more buying choices In a world of cheap, overly-processed sound, any opportunity to hear music as its […] More

ZDNET/NeptuneTikTok’s days in the US might be numbered, with the deadline for the company to either sell the app to a US company or shut down entirely coming up this Friday, Jan. 19. As a result, many US TikTokers are taking to the app to post videos with the overwhelming sentiment of “what’s next?”A TikTok user posted a video — which has since garnered 10.5 million views — asking people what app they will use as a TikTok replacement. To my surprise, many comments didn’t suggest China-owned platforms Lemon8 or RedNote, currently ranked #1 on the App Store. Rather, users recommended Neptune, an app that isn’t even out yet. Also: Why I don’t regret leaving X for BlueskyNeptune has a unique approach to social media. The biggest standout is its customizable algorithm, unlike YouTube, TikTok, and most other social media platforms, which have proprietary algorithms that users can’t control. It also has ghost metrics, meaning it doesn’t prioritize or showcase followers and prefers quality. Since the app is not yet out, you need to fill out a form and join a Discord server to get on the waitlist to become a beta tester, which could be an intimidating process if you’ve never done it before. I will walk you through how to do so below, and you’ll see it’s much simpler than you may think. The biggest perk is that you can reserve your username before the app even rolls out — a huge boon for content creators.  More

The Polestar 2 was one of the first cars to use Android Automotive. Bloomberg/Getty Images If you’re an Android Automotive user (the actual vehicle infotainment OS, not Android Auto, which just projects your phone to your car’s infotainment system running on another OS), you might soon see a lot more apps popping up in your car’s Google Play […] More