How we test headphones at ZDNET in 2026

We travel, exercise, work, and live in the latest headphones and earbuds so we can recommend the best for you. Here's a look at our testing methodologies.

I compared flagship soundbars from Sonos and Samsung - this model's staying under my TV

Upgrading your home theater with one of the best soundbars isn't a decision you make on the fly. Here's what you should consider first.

Sony vs. Bose isn't a draw when it comes to open-style earbuds - here's how they differ

Sony has entered the open earbuds market with the LinkBuds Clip, but how do they compare to their esteemed Bose rival?

Are your AI Chrome extensions spying on you? What to watch for

Coding, transcription, and other productivity tools proved the most invasive, although several other categories are worth watching as well, new research shows.

I compared the two best Android flagship phones right now - and it got really complicated

Which phone deserves your hard-earned money to start 2026, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or the OnePlus 15? Here's my verdict.

After decades on Linux, FreeBSD finally gave me a reason to switch operating systems

FreeBSD isn't Linux, but if you didn't know any better, you'd swear it was.

As of 2026, this is my favorite Linux distro of all time - and I've tested them all

I've used or tested just about every Linux distribution available, and this one is my go-to. Here's why.

Which AI chatbots have ads? Comparing ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and more

Want to know which AI chatbots have ads or plan to roll them out? I compared the top ones to find out.

I compared Ring and Blink security setups at home - this Amazon brand came out on top

Both Ring and Blink dominate the security camera market, but they couldn't be more different. Here's my verdict after using both.

My search for the ultimate car charger is finally over: This one can do it all

The PrimeTrip VR2 Max is the most impressive car charger I've tested, powering four devices at once with retractable cables.

Finally, I found a highly functional multitool that isn't a gimmick - and it's on sale

Bibury's Multitool Pliers Pro is a fraction of the price of the big brand names, but no less handy with 31 different tools.

You can buy the Sonos Arc soundbar for $200 off right now - and I highly recommend it

Upgrade any TV with Sonos' best soundbar. For $200 off, it's the best price you'll find.

A one-year-old Acer laptop convinced me to skip upgrading this year - here's how

The Acer Swift Edge 14 is a great-looking midranger with a vibrant OLED and outstanding battery life.

LG G5 vs. LG G4: I spent hours testing both OLED TVs, and this model was the surprise winner

Before the G6 releases later this year, I tested LG's two latest flagship OLED TVs to see which is the better buy.

Are the Sonos Ace still worth it in 2026? I've tested dozens of headphones, and it's a resounding yes

Since launching its first over-ear headphones, Sonos has tackled some of the original model's biggest flaws.

Linux updates don't scare me anymore thanks to this immutable distro (and it's easy to use)

ShaniOS maintains two separate environments. If an update - or anything - goes wrong with one environment, simply reboot and switch to the other.

This rugged Android tablet won me over, but not for the reason I expected

The Oukitel RT10 tablet is built like a tank yet still delivers a bright, vivid display.

OpenAI's Frontier wants to manage your AI agents - it could upend enterprise software, too

Emulating Palantir's use of forward-deployed AI engineers, OpenAI's framework is both an opportunity and a threat for commercial software firms.

I plugged my USB cables into this pocketable power tester - the results were not flattering

The Treedix multifunction USB cable tester identifies which cables work as intended and which should be recycled.

Spotify fixes my major frustration with audiobooks - here's how to use Page Match

Spotify's new feature lets you switch easily between reading a physical book and an audiobook - try it now. Plus, you can now buy books on Spotify.