Eliana Willis

It’s high time to ditch the traditional upright vacuum, even if you have dogs, cats, or both. As a robot vacuum reviewer, pet hair is one of my pet peeves, so evaluating how a robot vacuum performs against it is one of the main characteristics I look for when testing these robots. With a very hairy dog and three young kids, the only thing that keeps my floors clean without manually vacuuming daily is a great robot vacuum that tackles the task for me.Also: The best robot vacuum mops you can buyWhen shopping for the best robot vacuum options to control the pet hair on your floors, there are quite a few features to consider. Look for robot vacuums with strong suction to pick up each strand of hair, obstacle avoidance to avoid larger items your pet may leave behind, ability to avoid hair tangles, capable navigation features you can trust, and any extra features important to you. Budget and floor types are also key factors when shopping for any robot vacuum. What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair right now?Since there are so many robot vacuums, you may wonder which is best for your home. We’ve tested dozens of robot vacuums at home and in everyday life, and our top choice to tackle pet hair is the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max More

There is nothing more terrifying than the thought of losing track of a child, and it can be even more difficult when your child is too young for a smartphone. Thankfully, expert-tested and parent-reviewed GPS trackers can ensure you know where your child is at all times, no matter how frequently they wander off. I would balance the need for safety with respecting [my child’s] privacy and autonomy, using the tracker as a tool for peace of mind rather than for constant surveillance.”
Dr. Kaitlyn Siu, CEO of Tech Your Kids Code
Also: The best parental control apps to keep your kids safe”As a mother, ensuring the safety and well-being of my child is of utmost importance,” Dr. Kaitlyn Siu, a child neurologist and founder and CEO of Teach Your Kids Code, told ZDNET. “However, I would balance the need for safety with respecting [my child’s] privacy and autonomy, using the tracker as a tool for peace of mind rather than for constant surveillance.”What is the best GPS tracker for kids right now?ZDNET spoke to parents and professionals like Dr. Siu to determine the best GPS trackers and devices to stay aware of your child’s location. Our pick for the best GPS tracker for kids overall is the Apple AirTag More

Getty Images/yucelyilmaz Slowly but surely, Starlink is growing into a leading broadband internet alternative. Its network of low Earth orbit satellites ensures its users high-speed internet access, even in areas where traditional infrastructure such as cell towers can’t reach. Soon, that technology can provide service to your T-Mobile mobile device.  Last week, several T-Mobile users […] More

The USB 2.0 data connectivity standard was introduced in April of 2000, with a data transfer rate of 480Mbps. Lightning, the connector standard used from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 14, and the USB-C connector on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, use USB 2.0 signaling protocols and data transfer rates.The USB 3.1 data connectivity standard was introduced in July 2013, and the USB Type-C connector was finalized by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) in August 2014. USB 3.2 was introduced in September 2017, replacing, absorbing, and renaming the USB 3.1 specification.However, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 data connectivity standards are the same, also known as SuperSpeed+, delivering 10 Gbps. Products labeled under either specification should work on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone Pro Max at native speeds, especially if they are USB-IF certified.Thunderbolt is a proprietary technology owned by Intel and co-developed with Apple. It is a hardware interface for connecting external peripherals to a computer (a PC or a Mac). Thunderbolt version 3 is the basis for the USB4 specification, supports up to 40Gbps throughput, and is backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2, which the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are compatible with. USB Power Delivery (USB PD) is a fast charging standard delivered over USB-C cables, supporting up to 100W with Standard Power (SPR) and up to 240W with Extended Power (EPR) provided the cable and device support it. With USB PD, The cable “listens” to the device’s wattage needs and adjusts its energy flow accordingly. So, if you connect an 18W iPhone 15 to a cable that can support up to 240W, the charger brick and cable with USB PD support will throttle down to 18W maximum charge rate. More

A smartwatch is an excellent way to access cutting-edge technology directly at your fingertips (or about 7 inches away from your fingertips if we’re being literal). Smartwatches allow you to screen calls, check and send messages, and keep an eye on health and wellness metrics without needing to take out your phone. Unfortunately, such a versatile tool can come at a steep price. But as smartwatch tech has risen in performance, prices have dropped, meaning a smartwatch doesn’t have to cost a fortune to include excellent features. Also: The best Android smartwatches: Expert testedWhat is the best cheap smartwatch right now?We tested some of the top budget-friendly smartwatches that are still extremely high performers. Every watch in this list is a capable smartwatch that can be paired to your smartphone–and can be found for under $300. While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Best Buy has slashed the price tag on each Sony Bravia X90L size option. The 55-inch display has gone from $1,170 down to $900 More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETDuring Samsung’s Unpacked event, Google announced that the new Galaxy S25 devices and the latest Pixel 9 phones will support Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio. This feature isn’t exactly new for Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phones, as the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 already supported LE Audio, but the added benefit is still worth noting.Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2025: Galaxy S25 Ultra, AI features, and moreCompatibility with LE Audio makes the phones function better when paired with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds, and other Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers, headphones, earbuds, and hearing aids. Here’s what else you gain from the free upgrade.Broadcast audio from one device to many othersThe LE Audio Bluetooth protocol includes Auracast, a Bluetooth feature that allows users to broadcast audio from one device to many other devices. For example, if you’re watching a YouTube video on your Galaxy S25 smartphone through your Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, a nearby friend can listen to it with their Auracast-enabled headphones.Also: Is Samsung’s new upgrade program for the Galaxy S25 worth it? Here’s the breakdownGalaxy S25 users can also tune into Auracast broadcasts with their Galaxy Buds. In this instance, your smartphone acts as a broadcast assistant, allowing you to connect to a broadcast, such as a silent TV in a sports bar or gym. Connect your Galaxy Buds to your smartphone, and the earbuds act as the broadcast receiver, allowing you to listen to the broadcast privately. More

ZDNETTexts are an important facet of mobile life. We use texts for myriad purposes, and knowing they are there, waiting for you to respond or simply to fondly review what someone has said or sent, brings comfort.But sometimes, we accidentally (or intentionally) delete a text that we shouldn’t have. We’ve all done it. When that happens, you might not realize you needed to keep that text around, but eventually, you might realize that, yes, a certain text was necessary to have and to hold. Also: 5 hidden Android features that can simplify your lifeWhat do you do? Although it is possible that the text is gone for good, there is also a chance that you can retrieve it. In fact, there are three ways to retrieve a recently deleted text. Let’s explore.How to retrieve your recently deleted texts on Android devicesMethod 1: From ArchivesWhat you’ll need: For this method, you’ll need an Android device connected to your Google account. This method depends on how you removed the message. If a message was deleted, it cannot be retrieved this way. Because of that, I suggest you customize the swipe actions in Messages (Messages > Settings > Swipe Actions) so that swiping right archives and swiping left deletes. Once you’ve done that, make sure to archive messages instead of deleting them. You can then delete the archive after a given period. More