author_name|Nicole Lee

Libraries are fine places to study in college (I quickly learned the difference between the beautiful one that was good for napping and the more austere building that was conducive to getting things done).

Smart displays have evolved quite a bit since the initial debut of Amazon’s first Echo Show back in 2017. In fact, the category didn’t really come into its own until Google joined the fray with its own line of hardware about a year later. Now, both of these companies are essentially dominating the smart display landscape, with each offering their own take on a smart assistant with a screen.

You probably already know the benefits of cooking at home. It can help save you money, you can learn a new skill and it can often be healthier than eating out all the time. But regardless of if you enjoy being in the kitchen or don’t know where to start, we at Engadget know that advice can be easier said than done. After working all day, taking care of kids and pets and the like, it might feel like an insurmountable task to find a new recipe to cook for dinner.

French for “under vacuum,” sous vide cooking involves immersing vacuum-sealed food in a temperature-controlled water bath until the food is cooked to your liking. It might sound intimidating, and it’s true that this cooking method was once the province of professional cooks with expensive equipment. But that’s not the case anymore — not only is sous vide cooking more accessible than ever now, but there are a number of sous vide machines out there that don’t cost a fortune.

Instant Pots had a huge moment a few years ago. Promising to be an all-in-one multi-cooker that can replace gadgets like a rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker and more, the Instant Pot rose to fame in part thanks to its versatility and also the fact that it’s a good electric pressure cooker. The latter is one of its biggest appeals, and it’s made the Instant Pot popular with home cooks in particular (including many of us on the Engadget staff).

You can get a lot done in the kitchen with the most basic tools, but adding a few gadgets to your countertops can make things a little easier and probably more enjoyable. This is the tech-infused cooking gear we like to use in our own kitchens, with insight from Engadget reviews, buyer’s guides and personal experiences. The perennially popular Instant Pot is here, as is the brand’s air fryer, which is the best we’ve tested. Our favorite thermometer takes zero seconds to give a reading and our top pick for a blender makes everything you put into it smooth as silk.

Some people are fine working amongst chaos, while others can’t type a word if a Post-It is out of place. Those of us who fall somewhere in between may have desks that go from meticulous to mayhem over the course of a week. If you’re looking for a way to keep things on the neater side of the spectrum, some of these gadgets may help. Here are our recommendations for a more organized work-from-home setup.

If you’re trying to be more conscious about your plastic consumption this year, there are plenty of eco-friendly smartphone accessories available today. Cases are a big one, and you actually can keep your most used piece of tech protected with a case that’s made from recycled or compostable materials. The best part is that you don’t have to sacrifice style in choosing a phone case that has less of an impact on the environment as a standard one. These are some of our favorite eco-friendly phone cases available today.

The number of smart home devices on the market today is intimidating to say the least. With so many companies in the game now, and different IoT standards and voice assistants to consider, it can get confusing to even know where to start building a smart home ecosystem from scratch. But we at Engadget can help: before you dive in, we recommend not trying to outfit your whole home in one go. Not only can this be quite expensive, but also we think it’s generally best to buy just one or two items first to see if you like them.