The best products we tested in May 2024: Pet cameras, iPads and more
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The CNN Underscored team constantly tests new products throughout the year to find the best products worth buying. Our objective, hands-on reviews span multiple categories — from health and fitness gear and kitchen and bedroom essentials to electronics and gaming must-haves.
Our rigorous testing process begins with extensive research to track down the top contenders in each product category. After we create a testing pool, we use each product multiple times in real-world settings over several weeks (or even months). In May, we tested tons of cool products including treat-shooting pet cameras, the newest iPads, autonomous robot mops and quality beach tents — and found the best you can buy to make life that much better. Here are the 48 winning products we recommend from May.
Alienware gaming laptops
Alienware m18 R2 Gaming Laptop
Best 18-inch Alienware gaming laptop
During testing, we found Alienware’s ultimate rig offers every customization option you could ask for, with up to an RTX 4090 GPU and a mechanical keyboard. Plus, the R2 Gaming Laptop has a display refresh rate that can go as high as 480Hz.
Alienware m16 R2 Gaming Laptop
Best 16-inch Alienware gaming laptop
Our testing showed that, even with its updated design that takes up less room on your desk, this 16-inch Alienware R2 Gaming Laptop beast is still able to run the latest and greatest games smoothly.
Alienware x14 R2 Gaming Laptop
Best 14-inch Alienware gaming laptop
The most portable option on the table, Alienware’s 14-inch R2 Gaming Laptop proved during our testing that it is a metallic gaming laptop with solid GPU options that enable decent gaming performance.
Beach tents
Qipi Beach Cabana
Best beach tent
One of the breeziest yet most wind-resistant tents we tested, the user-friendly Qipi Beach Cabana is also simple to set up, providing a comfortable and sturdy shelter in just a few minutes.
Oileus XL Beach Tent
Best budget beach tent
Although it lacks the ventilation and easy access of our top pick, the Oileus XL Beach Tent still impressed us during testing, providing a sturdy, wind-resistant design, an instant setup mechanism and multiple privacy features — all at a surprisingly low price.
Beach towels
Outerknown The Beach Towel
Best beach towel
With the best balance of comfort, durability and size of all the towels we tested, the eye-catching Outerknown Beach Towel is everything you need in a beach towel.
Amazon Basics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel, 2-Pack
Best budget beach towel
Despite the Amazom Basics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel's rock-bottom price, its soft, fluffy texture, 5-foot length and charming striped design impressed us during testing, making it a fine alternative to our top pick.
Blenders
Vitamix 5200 Blender
Best blender
The high-powered Vitamix 5200 Blender can make soups, nut butter or smoothies with a quick press of a button. Its easy-to-use control panel, self-cleaning setting and large capacity make it an all-around useful and versatile blender for everyday use. But what set it apart from the competition during our testing is its unique two-part lid and tamper design.
Breville Super Q Blender
Best runner-up blender
The Breville Super Q Blender features impressed us during testing, offering a slew of preset buttons, coming in multiple colors and including key accessories. Plus, we found it was quieter than other models we tested. It does carry a steep price tag, but for those who can't imagine a smoothie-less morning, what breaks down to about $1.50 a day over a year seems like a bargain.
Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo With Auto-IQ
Best budget blender
Besides doing an admirable job at blending up creamy soups and smoothies, the Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo With Auto-IQ comes with a number of presets, as well as low, medium and high manual settings. During testing, we found it doesn't have the heft or quality materials of the high-performance blenders we tested, but for casual users, it won't disappoint.
Cordless stick vacuums
Dyson V11 Animal
Best cordless stick vacuum for deep carpet
With impressive power and the ability to tackle cleaning tasks on surfaces ranging from high-pile carpets to hard floors, the Dyson V11 Animal is the most capable cordless stick vacuum we tested.
Black + Decker Powerseries Extreme Max
Best cordless stick vacuum for smaller spaces
The Black + Decker Powerseries Extreme Max has a swivel head, can lay down flat and during testing, picked up dirt with strong suction power. Its anti-tangle beater bar reduced hair wrap during testing and was removable, which made it easy to clean.
Dyson Gen5detect
Best luxury cordless stick vacuum
During testing, we found the Dyson Gen5detect to be a stellar cleaner. It includes excellent features like its auto-calibrating vacuum power system. But with its higher price tag compared to the competition, getting the Dyson brand name will cost you extra.
Bissell 3177A IconPet Turbo Edge
A great, affordable cordless stick vacuum
The Bissell 3177A IconPet Turbo Edge worked well on low-pile carpets and throw rugs during testing and its swivel head allowed it to reach under furniture easily. It has a bright light that illuminates where we vacuumed and it comes with several attachments, including a useful bendable hose and brush. It never clogged during testing, even after sucking up piles of dog hair.
Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Stick
Best cordless stick vacuum for pet hair
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Stick did an outstanding job picking up dog hair on dog beds, wood floors and low-pile carpets during testing. It's a powerful, lightweight vacuum with great maneuverability and a digital display that alerts you to battery strength and other useful information.
Filtered water bottles
Grayl 24-Ounce GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle
Best filtered water bottle
Boasting an impressive filter that the brand has tested to safely eliminate viruses, heavy metals, cysts, harmful bacteria, pesticides and more from the gnarliest water, we found during our testing that Grayl’s 24-Ounce GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle is a sturdy, go-anywhere water bottle that’s as at-home on an expedition in a developing country as it is on a backcountry camping trip.
Lifestraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze 1-Liter Bottle With Filter
Best filtered water bottle for backpacking
Though it doesn’t filter out viruses like our overall-winning Grayl GeoPress, LifeStraw’s Collapsible Squeeze Bottle offered a featherlight 3.9-ounce weight, perfect for trail runners and overnight backpackers who want to save big on space and weight. Plus, LifeStraw says it filters out key bacteria and parasites commonly found in US waters, and it offers a fast-flowing, easy-drinking straw.
Fitness apps
Golfshot
A great golf app
The newest version of the Golfshot app offers interesting, in-depth data on your swing thanks to the high-frequency accelerometer and gyroscope found in the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Golfshot’s Swing ID On-Range experience is also available on the Apple Watch Series 8 and later, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra and later.
Neck fans
Gulaki Bladeless Portable Neck Fan
Best neck fan
The Gulaki Bladeless Portable Neck Fan is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably around your neck, making it ideal for travel, office use or any form of exercise. The lightweight, hands-free fan impressed us during testing with its three adjustable speeds and its low-noise operation in addition to its long-lasting battery life.
Portable fans
Amacool Stroller Fan
Best portable fan
During testing, the Amacool Stroller Fan was powerful and easy to secure to a stroller, bike and other flat surfaces. Its tripod-style design of bendable legs and pivoting head made it easy to angle into the right position for ultimate cooling.
Comlife Portable Neck Fan
Best budget neck fan
The Comlife Portable Neck Fan is designed with three fan blades and dual fans, which offered powerful cool wind from both sides during our testing. It's made of highly flexible and soft silicon material, which made it easy to store and travel with.
Jisulife Handheld Fan
Best pocket-sized portable fan
The Jisulife Handheld Fan has a handy blade protector that let us hold it close to our face during testing, without fear of any accident. Plus it displayed a flashing light when the battery was getting low.
O2Cool Elite Handheld Water Misting Fan
Best portable misting fan
The 02Cool Elite Handheld Water Misting Fan really pumped out some mist during testing, cooling us down faster and better than any of the fans we tested. This was thanks to its 5W of power and strong pump-action misting spray.
Pet cameras
TP-Link Tapo C120 2K
Best pet camera
Affordable, nonintrusive and simple to use, the TP-Link Tapo C120 2K is a convenient pet camera for pretty much any pet owner. The 2K video quality provided a clearer image during tested than all but one of the models we tested, making it a superb value for the price.
Furbo 360° Dog Camera and Treat Dispenser
Best splurge pet camera
It’s not cheap but with a rotating base for maximum room coverage, an interactive treat tosser and a user-friendly app, the Furbo 360° Dog Camera and Treat Dispenser provided the most functionality out of all the pet cameras we tested.
Rain ponchos
Anyoo Waterproof Rain Poncho
Best rain poncho
The Anyoo Poncho has all the features (and extra features) a poncho should have, all at a highly affordable price. It has grommets on the corners in case you need to use it as an emergency shelter, is a good length to fit a backpack underneath and is lightweight and packable.
Robot mops
Roborock S8 Max V Ultra Robot Mop and Vacuum
Best robot mop
Roborock’s new flagship is an incredibly self-sufficient robot mop vacuum combo that boasts a second spinning mop head plus a dock that connects directly to your home’s drainage system. There's also a camera on board that allows the vacuum to better recognize objects in its path. Although priced high, it's still the best robot mop available and worth every penny.
Bissell SpinWave 2-in-1 Robotic Mop and Vacuum
Best affordable robot mop
The more affordable Bissell SpinWave 2-in-1 Robotic Mop and Vacuum is an attractive and capable robot mop vacuum combo. It performed well in our testing and offers Wi-Fi connectivity plus superior mopping ability compared to the other robot mop and vacuum combos we tested.
Running watches
Coros Pace 3
Best running watch
Built for speed and going the distance, the Coros Pace 3 comes outfitted with a longer-lasting battery, improved GPS and increased activity tracking. It’s not just one of the lightest running watches on the market, it’s one that gives you the most bang for your buck.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar
Best premium running watch
One of Garmin’s flagship models, the Fenix continues to offer runners all the bells and whistles they could possibly want, including — in the latest version — an updated heart rate sensor, solar charging, an LED flashlight and new performance metrics.
$600 at REI
$600 at Garmin
$600 at Amazon
Fitbit Charge 6
Best budget running watch
Newer or casual runners will appreciate the streamlined features and more accessible price the Charge 6 offers. It’s got all the essential sensors needed to stay on top of basic training, and encourages running based on effort level instead of bogging users down in unnecessary data.
$140 at Amazon
$140 at Best Buy
$140 at Target
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best running smartwatch
For those who want a running watch that pairs well with everyday apparel, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 packs a slew of advanced running features into a sleek, high-tech package you won’t want to take off as soon as your workout ends.
Smartphones
Apple iPhone 15
Best smartphone
The iPhone 15 is the best new iPhone for most people, especially if you’re coming from an iPhone 12 or older. With useful new camera tricks, the excellent Dynamic Island and all the perks of USB-C, it’s a notable step up.
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Best Android smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is the new Android phone to beat, getting you fast performance, good cameras and an Ultra-quality display for a non-Ultra price, not to mention the best battery life of any phone we’ve tested.
Google Pixel 8a
Best budget smartphone
With a gorgeous design, long battery life, lots of AI smarts and virtually the same smooth performance and excellent camera chops of the standard Pixel 8, the $499 Google Pixel 8a isn't just a great budget phone — it's one of the best smartphones you can buy, period.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Best foldable smartphone
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best foldable phone for most people, offering good performance and cameras within a design that’s more pocket-friendly — and cooler — than your typical phone.
Tablets
Amazon Fire 7
Best budget tablet
The latest Amazon Fire 7 tablet is a great affordable option for kids or anyone who needs a no-frills device for reading and watching shows. It’s perfect if you need an extra device in the house or when you’re taking a car trip or vacation.
Apple iPad (10th Gen)
Best tablet
After a much-needed price drop, the 10th-generation Apple iPad takes the title of best tablet based on our testing. Its processor crushes everyday tasks with ease, and its display, tablet-optimized apps and value combine to smash the competition.
Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen)
Best iPad for reading
This smaller iPad is ideal for those who want to curl up with a book (or website) and read to their heart’s content, and it has the best battery life of any modern iPad we’ve tested.
Apple iPad Air M2
Best splurge tablet
In addition to its faster M2 chip, Apple’s excellent midrange iPad Air supports its phenomenal Magic Keyboard, offers many of the iPad Pro’s key features and comes in a 13-inch option that’s great for multitasking.
Apple iPad Pro M4
Best tablet screen
The tandem OLED display in the Apple iPad Pro M4 delivers the brightness you expect from an iPad Pro with the color and contrast you demand from OLED displays.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
Best Android tablet
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus offers a lot — including a nice 12.4-inch screen that lasts a long time on a single charge and DeX mode for a desktop-like experience — at a midrange price that makes it hard to pass up for Android fans.
From $550 at Samsung
From $550 at Best Buy
$550 at Amazon
True wireless earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best true wireless earbuds
The Sony WF-1000XM5 are a masterpiece that package intelligibly powerful ANC, superior sound and tons of features into one of the most attractive true wireless designs ever created.
$250 at Best Buy
$248 at Amazon
Sony LinkBuds S
Best true wireless earbuds for Android users
The Sony LinkBuds S offer excellent sound, strong noise cancellation and Sony’s actually smart Adaptive Sound Control to tailor performance to your surroundings. The LinkBuds S are a good buy for Android users, with support for LDAC high-res audio, and they work well with iOS too.
From $130 at Best Buy
From $125 at Amazon
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Best true wireless earbuds for Apple users
The AirPods Pro 2 are as good as it gets for Apple users, offering some of the best sound, controls and active noise cancellation you can find in a pair of buds.
$190 at Amazon
$190 at Best Buy
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Best true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds
The follow-up to our previous top noise-canceling pick, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds retain their predecessor’s best-in class noise suppression while introducing immersive spatial audio.
Beats Fit Pro
Best true wireless earbuds for working out
The Beats Fit Pro are our favorite workout earbuds thanks to their secure, sweat-resistant design, AirPods Pro-level feature set and smooth compatibility with both Android and Apple devices.
EarFun Air 2
Best budget true wireless earbuds
The EarFun Air 2 are the best sub-$50 earbuds we’ve tested, offering excellent audio quality, lots of useful features and a slick design for a bargain price. You can save a total of 30% off these buds by checking the coupon on Amazon and using our exclusive code EAIR2CNN. The code is also usable at EarFun.
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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