• The best microwaves cook food evenly, quickly, and feature useful preset buttons.
• We consulted experts, researched popular and well-rated models, and tested our shortlisted products to find the best microwaves you can buy.
• The Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven is our top pick because it's powerful, moderately-sized, and has many helpful presets.

When microwave ovens were first introduced in the late 1940s, they were more than 5 feet tall, weighed about 750 pounds, and cost thousands of dollars. Thankfully, microwaves have come a long way since their inception — they now fit on your countertop and many households use them every single day to reheat or cook food. 

A good microwave should heat your food safely, quickly, and evenly. In addition to our research and testing, we spoke with Bob Schiffmann, a microwave heating expert and president of the International Microwave Power Institute, as well as Jared Lodico, a postdoctoral researcher in physics at UCLA, to better understand how microwaves work and what to look for when shopping for a microwave. 

We shortlisted to four popular microwaves and put them through a series of tests, starting with the marshmallow test— an actual industry-standard experiment to check for hot and cold spots by heating marshmallows for a set period of time. We also used each microwave to reheat beverages and cook frozen foods and tested every model's presets (like Popcorn and Sensor Cook). Finally, we used the microwaves for several days throughout a normal routine, evaluating how easy they were to use and how well they cooked. You can read more about our methodology here.

The best microwaves you can buy in 2021

• Best microwave overall: Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven
• Best microwave on a budget: Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave
• Best convection microwave: Toshiba Microwave Oven EC042A5C-SS
• Best large capacity microwave: Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave

The best microwave overall

The Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven packs 1,200 watts of power to cook food quickly and evenly. It's compact, yet has a spacious interior, and comes with many helpful preset buttons for easy cooking.  

Pros: Five useful preset buttons, 1,200 watts of cooking power (more than most microwaves), includes a child-safety lock button

Cons: Fingerprint smudges are visible, the light inside isn't bright enough to check food while it's cooking, it's loud, Frozen Foods feature doesn't cook accurately, doesn't have Express Cook buttons

At 1,200 watts, the Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven cooks food faster than most models and comes with 11 power levels and five presets, including Sensor Cook Reheat, Coffee/Milk, Turbo Defrost by the pound or kilogram, Popcorn, and Frozen Foods. Unfortunately, the number pad doesn't include Express Cook, an option that's popular with many users, but you can control the time with More or Less buttons that add or subtract 10 seconds to the cooking time, and a 30-Second button for quickly adding substantial time. The buttons themselves are easy to press, and the microwave chimes loudly when it's done cooking. 

While the 1,200 watts pack a punch and cook food fast, the microwave heats remarkably evenly, which we saw during the marshmallow test. As the marshmallows cooked, I noticed they all expanded evenly, and at the end of two minutes, there was only a bit of burning in the very center of the marshmallows, which was to be expected since it's the only part that doesn't move as the turntable is spinning. 

The microwave's power levels start at P10, the highest cooking level, and go down to P0, the Keep Warm level. P10 is the default setting and the one I used regularly for heating and cooking. I tested the Keep Warm level with a small bowl of stir fry sauce that I left in the microwave on P0 for 20 minutes, and it kept the sauce warm without changing its consistency. You can even set up to three stages of cooking, a great feature if you want to cook food and then automatically keep it warm for a few minutes, or if you are defrosting food and then want to cook it. 

If you're using this microwave to simply reheat leftovers, the Sensor Reheat feature works well. A chart in the manual tells you what sensor level to select for different types of foods, and I tried it with oatmeal, which is Category 2. I selected the corresponding sensor level and started the microwave. Once cooking, it detects the humidity level of the food inside and starts counting down the cooking time. The oatmeal emerged perfectly warmed and didn't burn or spill over.

I also tried the more niche preset buttons. The Popcorn button features three levels based on the amount of corn you're popping. I tested this with a 3.2-ounce bag of popcorn. None of the popcorn burned and only 23 kernels were left unpopped, so I was pretty pleased with this preset feature. The microwave also comes with a Coffee/Milk preset, and out of all the microwaves I tested that had this feature, this one worked the best at reheating my coffee. As someone who despises when my coffee gets cold, I am constantly reheating it, but nothing is worse than the burnt taste it gets after nuking it in the microwave. I was really pleased to find this preset warmed my coffee up to the perfect temperature while keeping its original flavor.

That said, I was less impressed with the Frozen Food preset that categorizes food groups into numbers, much like Sensor Reheat. I used this when making frozen mac and cheese and found that the microwave grossly overestimated the amount of time needed to cook it. By the time the microwave chimed, the mac and cheese was overcooked and burned at the edges, so I'd stick to package instructions when cooking frozen foods in this microwave. 

A few other minor downsides: the light inside the microwave is dim, so it's hard to monitor the food while it's cooking, and fingerprints are highly visible on the control panel. However, this is overall a great microwave that balances power and size with easy-to-use features and is well-suited to most households. 

The best microwave on a budget

The Commercial Chef Microwave is bare-bones, but dead simple to use. It's moderately powerful, well-priced, and compact enough for small kitchens.  

Pros: Simple to use, compact, quieter than most models, heats evenly

Cons: Doesn't have a clock, can only set cook time by the minute, not very powerful (only 600 watts), too small for large dishes or plates over 10 inches in diameter

At less than 18 inches long and 11 inches deep, The Commercial Chef Microwave is super compact and well-sized for small kitchens or dorm rooms. In many ways, it resembles an old-school toaster oven, and even "dings" like one when cooking is complete. Its controls consist of just two rotary knobs — one for power level and one for cook time. The power knob has six cooking levels including Low (20% power output), Defrost (42%), Medium low (52%), Medium (73%), Medium high (88%), and High (100%). The timer knob lists minutes one to 10, and then goes up in 10-minute increments to a max of 30. Unfortunately, you can't set specific seconds if you're zapping something quick, like warming a piece of bread, heating a mug of coffee, or melting butter. It also doesn't have any special features or buttons.

That said, if simplicity is what you're after, this model has it. It's easy and intuitive to use, and heats relatively evenly. When I did the marshmallow test, I noticed a few browned pieces on the outer edges where the marshmallows expanded more, but overall no major hot or cold spots. 

At just 600 watts, it's a little underpowered. In the absence of any preset buttons, I just used the package instructions to cook frozen mac and cheese. After the four minutes recommended on the package, it was warm throughout but not hot. You'll likely have to add a minute or two to any package instructions when cooking in this microwave. 

If you want a no-frills microwave that reheats and cooks food in a simple, quick manner, this is a great option, especially if you don't have much kitchen space to work with. It's easy to use, doesn't take up too much precious countertop space, and gets the job done. Plus, it operates more quietly than most models, so if you have a roommate, you can still warm up a midnight snack without waking them up.

The best convection microwave

If you're looking for a microwave that does it all, the 1,000-watt Toshiba Microwave Oven with Convection, cooks, reheats, bakes, and even roasts food quickly and thoroughly. 

Pros: Quiet, many quick-touch preset cooking buttons, a multi-functional appliance that can bake and roast, includes a child-safety lock

Cons: Heavy and bulky, convection feature heats up kitchen quickly

If you're trying to condense the number of kitchen appliances in your home, then the Toshiba Microwave Oven with Convection is a good multi-functional appliance to have. Not only does it work as a traditional microwave, but it also bakes, roasts, toasts, and features many great preset buttons like Popcorn, Sensor Cook, Sensor Reheat, Auto Defrost, and Time Defrost. You can even program up to three go-to cooking options under Favorites to warm up your daily lunch or reheat your morning coffee at the touch of a button. It's also the only microwave we tested that has an Express Cook feature, which allow you to quickly start the microwave by just pressing numbers one through six on the number pad.

At 1,000 watts, the Toshiba microwave oven is powerful and features 10 cooking levels. I definitely saw the results when I did the marshmallow test: the marshmallows in the center of the tray burned after two minutes, and there was a lot of moisture buildup on the tray underneath the parchment paper. Aside from the burning in the middle, I didn't notice any hot or cold spots. It also cooked frozen mac and cheese thoroughly.

Fortunately, the Sensor Cook option takes all the guesswork out of choosing how long to cook your food by detecting the humidity level of the food and adjusting the cooking time accordingly. The Sensor Reheat button works the same but is only for reheating (not cooking food). I tested the Reheat button with my leftover baked chicken, and it warmed it up perfectly without making it too dry.

You can also set up two-stage cooking to defrost and then cook your food. This is great if you need to defrost meat, then cook it immediately afterward (which is recommended to prevent bacteria buildup). Other features include a kitchen timer, a child-safety lock, a Warm Hold button, and a Popcorn feature. I tested the Popcorn button and it only left 20 unpopped kernels.

One of the unique features of this microwave is that it also works as a convection oven, so you don't need to buy a separate toaster oven. It comes with two racks (one tall and one short) that you can place directly on the microwave tray, and uses convection heat — hot circulating air similar to an oven — to make food crispy in a way that a traditional microwave can't. To test out the convection oven, I warmed up some frozen French fries, which typically comes out soggy and flabby in a regular microwave. The Auto Bake option is categorized from Ab-1 to Ab-4, which was a bit confusing, so I had to refer to the cooking chart in the manual to see what level to cook the French fries. It recommended Ab-4, so I laid out the French fries on the tall grilling rack in the microwave, pressed Auto Bake until Ab-4 displayed, typed in the weight (in ounces), and pressed start. I was pleasantly surprised to see the fries turned out as crispy as they do in my air fryer (though it took twice as long and the settings were a bit more complicated).

You can also make toast with the convection setting. When I tried this, I found it toasted very unevenly and the results were paler and flabbier than a regular toaster, so I don't recommend this microwave for that use. Another downside to the convection functions is that they give off a lot of heat, which I could feel throughout my kitchen.

Overall, this microwave heated well, the buttons are easy to use and smudge-proof, and the microwave beeps loud and clear. The only major downside is you will need plenty of countertop space to accommodate this large oven, and at nearly 50 pounds, it isn't easy to move.

The best large capacity microwave

This microwave, which can also be installed as a built-in, is large enough to fit two plates at a time and features an easy-to-use dial to heat and cook your food.

Pros: Quiet, powerful 1,250 watts, the dial is easy to use, comes with useful preset buttons, includes a child-safety lock, can be installed as a built-in microwave 

Cons: You can't see the food well while it's cooking, dial only goes up in 10-second increments

The Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave Oven is large in both size and capacity; with a 16.5-inch turntable, it's ideal if you're cooking for a family. It includes many great presets like Popcorn (three levels), Coffee/Milk, Inverter Turbo Defrost, Keep Warm, Sensor Cook, Sensor Reheat, 10 power levels, and one dial that controls the cooking time. 

To use the dial, you simply turn it clockwise to increase or counter-clockwise to decrease the cooking time, so it's really simple and intuitive to use. It only goes up or down in 10-second increments; a minor inconvenience, but otherwise operates smoothly and easily. You can also use the dial to input weight for food you're defrosting by turning the dial clockwise to increase or decrease until you get to the proper weight. While the microwave doesn't have an Express Cook feature, you can add or subtract 30 seconds with the Quick 30 button, or add or subtract in 10-second increments using the controls for More or Less. 

At 1,250 watts, it's the most powerful microwave we tested, and it overcooked frozen mac and cheese when I cooked it according to package instructions. You'll likely need to decrease cooking time by a minute or two from any package instructions with this microwave. However, it heated very evenly. When I did the marshmallow test, it produced the best results of any microwave I tried with no hot or cold spots, even in the center. 

The Sensor Reheat feature works just like the other Panasonic microwave we tested: You choose from a sensor setting from the manual based on the food you're reheating. For example, 1 is ideal for warming up a plate of dinner, while 20 is good for fish fillets. I reheated soup (level 6), and it warmed it up perfectly. It wasn't scalding hot, but warm enough to enjoy. The Keep Warm feature pairs well with Reheat, allowing you to hold food at an edible temperature for up to 30 minutes after cooking. Like other microwaves we tried, you can program up to three stages of cooking, and the display screen will let you know where you are in the cooking process. If you're using the multi-stage cooking feature, you can use the Keep Warm setting as your final stage.

The Popcorn setting only left 15 unpopped kernels; the best of any of the microwaves I tried. The Coffee/Milk feature made my coffee too hot, likely because it's such a powerful microwave, but beverage temperature also depends on your personal preference.

While it's a powerful microwave with lots of helpful features, it's extremely large and bulky, so best suited for large kitchens or households with many members who will take advantage of its larger capacity. This microwave can also be built into a cabinet or other static feature in your kitchen, though I left it on my countertop for easier testing.

What we look forward to testing

Here are some models that we're looking forward to testing in the future:

GE Smart Microwave with Scan-to-Cook($144.00): This GE microwave pairs with Google Home for hands-free cooking and has a scan-to-cook feature that automatically adjusts the heating settings based on package instructions when you scan a food's barcode with your smartphone. I was looking forward to including this model in this guide, but it didn't arrive in time. I'm currently testing it and will update the guide accordingly. 

Whirlpool 1.9-cubic-foot Over-the-Range Microwave($619.99): This over-the-range microwave appeared as a pick in the previous version of this guide. Unfortunately, I couldn't test it this round because my kitchen isn't outfitted to accommodate an over-the-range unit. However, if you're in search of a microwave that sits over the stove, this may be a good option. This model is both a convection oven and a microwave, and according to reviews, it's spacious, easy to use, and easy to install. We hope to test it for a future update of this guide.

Testing methodology

In addition to speaking with Bob Schiffmann, a microwave heating expert and president of the International Microwave Power Institute, and Jared Lodico, a postdoctoral researcher in physics at UCLA, I put all the microwaves through a standard set of tests, evaluating how well they cooked food, how easy they were to use, and any special features or extra buttons. Here's how I tested microwaves: 

Marshmallow test: The first test I performed with every microwave was the marshmallow test, an industry-standard way to check your microwave for hot and cold spots. To conduct this test, I cut parchment paper to the size of each microwave's glass tray and completely covered it with mini marshmallows, leaving no blank spaces. I cooked the marshmallows in the microwave for two minutes on high to see how they expanded and cooked. The marshmallows that expanded first revealed the microwave's hot spots, while marshmallows that still appeared raw showed the cold spots. Colder spots are potentially dangerous because they can mean your food is undercooked and possibly unsafe to eat in those areas. A good microwave produces even cooking across the entire surface — no burnt or uncooked marshmallows.

Frozen meal test: I also cooked frozen mac and cheese in each microwave, using the same brand and cook time and checking for evenness, or burnt or cold spots.

Ease of use: I looked at how easy and intuitive the microwaves were to use, and how much space they occupied on my counter. I also evaluated how much noise they made during cooking and how loud and persistent their alarms and beeps were. 

Presets and additional functions: Where applicable, I used and tested each model's preset buttons according to the manufacturer's instructions. This included Popcorn, Reheat, Sensor Cook, and Keep Warm buttons. I evaluated how well these settings performed their intended function and how easy they were to use.

How microwaves work

While microwaves may seem mystifying to some, at their most basic, they're not much different than stoves, ovens, or grills in that they use energy to cook food. "Generally speaking, the process of putting energy into something is pretty much how we heat/cook all food, it just depends on how we do it (such as on the stove, in the sun, or with a microwave)," said Lodico. 

The difference is that microwaves generate energy in the form of electrical and magnetic rays. "Microwaves generate 'microwaves,' which is a form of electromagnetic radiation," Lodico said. "This electric field transfers energy to the food as the waves pass through it." The energy transfer causes water molecules in the food to vibrate, producing heat that cooks the food practically from the inside out. Because of this, foods that are high in water content, like potatoes or other fresh vegetables, cook much faster in the microwave than they do in other appliances, like the stove.

What to look for in a microwave

We consulted experts on what to look for when purchasing a microwave. Here are the major qualities you should consider:

Power: The biggest consideration when shopping for a microwave is power. How much power you'll need depends on what you primarily use the microwave for. If your household is only using the microwave to reheat food, then you can look for a cheaper model with less wattage, said Schiffmann. "Around an 800-watt oven works [for reheating], and popular ones are between 800 to 1,000 watts," he says. 

Today, microwaves can do a lot more than just heat up cold food; they can defrost, cook, roast, bake, and more. If you want a microwave that actually cooks your food rather than simply reheating it, expect to spend a little more for a quality oven with more than 1,000 watts of power. 

Presets and additional functions: It's also worthwhile to consider how and when you typically use preset functions. Many consumers are fine primarily operating a microwave with the number pad or Express Cook buttons. However, if you're someone who does a lot of cooking or defrosting, you may find preset functions helpful.

If you're in the market for a microwave that can also replace a toaster oven, opt for a model with convection settings, but keep in mind that this functionality often comes at a higher price and the technology can be hit or miss. 

Price: Schiffmann said you should expect to spend between $100 and $150 on a good 800 to 1,000-watt microwave, and a bit more as wattage increases. You'll also pay more for extra features, like convection settings or lots of presets. While Schiffmann says you don't have to spend a lot to get a quality microwave, he cautions about considering microwaves under $100. "Anything cheaper will most likely break down and be unstable," he said, so you're better off investing in a machine that costs a little more but will last longer. 

Safety features: If you have young children, you will want to purchase a microwave with a child-safety lock feature. "Many toddlers can get injured when reaching in the microwave, but many manufacturers have a digital lock now where you put in a combination of numbers to lock and unlock the microwave," Schiffmann says. Out of the microwaves we tested, all but the Commercial Chef microwave have the ability to lock itself. Note that this feature prevents the microwave oven from operating; it does not lock the microwave door. 

FAQs

Does standing near a microwave put me at risk for radiation exposure?

You may have heard that standing too close to the microwave while it's operating can expose you to radiation, but according to experts, that's a myth. "Microwaves are very safe — as long as they aren't damaged," Lodico says. "The metal housing and mesh screen on the door act as a shield from the radiation that is generated inside. As the radiation approaches the wall of the microwave it induces a current and magnetic field that cancels out the incoming wave." While there was once some concern about operating a microwave if you have a pacemaker, the FDA says this is no longer an issue with modern pacemakers, though individuals with pacemakers should always check with their doctor first. 

Why are there holes in my microwave door?

According to experts, these small holes are another safeguard against radiation, canceling out incoming electromagnetic waves just like the metal housing in the microwave does. Lodico said holes are only a concern if they're very large, which these intentional holes are not. "In fact, the holes on the door are actually 10 times smaller than what they theoretically need to be. But, it makes sense to make them smaller in case the door is damaged in some way," Lodico said. "Rule of thumb: If there is a hole in your microwave greater than three millimeters in diameter, it's time to get a new microwave."

Should you defrost meat in the microwave?

We've all been there: You forgot to put the frozen meat for dinner in the refrigerator to thaw out. The defrost feature on a microwave can come to the rescue. Defrosting sets your microwave's power between 30% to 50% so it thaws your food without cooking it. Although it's recommended to safely thaw meat in the refrigerator, you can use your microwave's defrost button to thaw meat in a pinch as long as you cook it immediately after you thaw it. According to the FDA, microwaves may heat food unevenly which could result in harmful bacteria growth if the food isn't cooked immediately after defrosting.

While we know from the marshmallow test that many microwaves have natural hot and cold spots, defrosting presents an additional challenge for microwaves because the waves don't penetrate or heat frozen foods as effectively as thawed foods. "So there is a dilemma: Once the meat starts to defrost somewhere, it will continue heating there. But the frozen parts will heat up more slowly, leading to non-uniform temperatures," said Schiffmann. "I break up the defrosted ground beef with a fork since it has usually softened, then I continue the defrost cycle for another minute or two, breaking up any softened, but completely melted parts."

Schiffmann also said it's important when cooking or defrosting food in the microwave to keep an eye on food temperature. "When cooking your food, measure several places with a food thermometer to avoid undercooking or underheating," he said. According to the FDA, a safe final cooking temperature for poultry and ground beef is around 165 degrees Fahrenheit while roasts and steaks are safe around 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

What foods should I cook in my microwave oven?

"Microwave ovens are really poachers or steamers, so those foods that fit that profile do well," says Schiffmann. "They're great for cooking fish, vegetables, and chicken, but don't expect dry foods to crisp or brown." Any food with high water content does well in the microwave, like potatoes or fresh vegetables, and you can also use them as a shortcut when making boiled foods. For example, you can put dry pasta in a bowl of water and microwave for the cooking time on the pasta package. The pasta will cook perfectly and you don't even have to wait for the water to boil. 

Check out our other small appliance buying guides

• The best toaster ovens
• The best juicers
• The best blenders
• The best food processors
• The best espresso machines

• To play the best-quality movies on a 4K TV, you need a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player.
• 4K Blu-ray players are capable of better video and audio performance than most streaming services.
• Sony's UBP-X700 4K Blu-ray player offers the best balance between price and performance for most people.

Streaming services might offer the most convenient way to watch movies at home, but if you want the very best video and audio quality on a 4K TV, there's still no real substitute for a disc format. Yes, you do actually have to get up from the couch to pop in a movie, but the performance benefits are clear — especially when watching 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is the latest and greatest disc format for movies and TV shows. The format uses an Ultra HD video resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels for impressive detail, along with high dynamic range (HDR) support for enhanced contrast and colors. 

Without internet bandwidth limitations to worry about, 4K Blu-ray allows studios to present content with less compression than streaming services. Less compression means you'll get images with better detail, along with lossless sound for a greater range of frequencies. For more information about all the benefits of 4K Blu-ray, be sure to read our additional breakdown of features. 

Of course, to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays you'll need a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players are also backward compatible with regular Blu-rays and DVDs, so even if your 4K disc collection is just getting started, you'll still be able to watch all of your old discs, too. There are several worthwhile 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player models available from companies like Sony, LG, and Panasonic. Some gaming consoles even include 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drives as well.

I've been covering the consumer electronics industry for nine years, and during that time I've reviewed numerous media devices and Blu-ray players. Through hands-on testing and research, we've picked the best 4K Blu-ray players you can buy for a variety of needs and budgets.

Here are the best 4K Blu-ray players:

• Best 4K Blu-ray player overall: Sony UBP-X700
• Best 4K Blu-ray player for Dolby Vision: LG UBK90
• Best high-end 4K Blu-ray player: Panasonic DP-UB820
• Best 4K Blu-ray player for gamers: Sony PlayStation 5

Prices and links are current as of 1/26/2021: Replaced the Xbox One S with the Sony PlayStation 5. Jacob Roach contributed to an earlier version of this guide. Updated by Steven Cohen.

The best 4K Blu-ray player overall

Thanks to its affordable pricing, excellent media support, and solid build quality, the Sony UBP-X700 is the best 4K Blu-ray player for most people.

Pros: Affordable, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, access to some streaming apps

Cons: No optical audio output, lacks Bluetooth, Dolby Vision has to be manually activated, missing some advanced video and audio features, no HDR10+ support

When it comes to covering all of the basic features most buyers will need from a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the Sony UBP-X700 essentially checks every box — and it offers all of those capabilities for a surprisingly low price.

The device provides 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc playback with support for both HDR10 and the more advanced Dolby Vision HDR format. Like competing models, the UBP-X700 also features backward compatibility with standard Blu-rays and DVDs, along with 4K upscaling to make those older discs look better on modern Ultra HD TVs. 

Connectivity options are also solid thanks to dual HDMI connections — the extra HDMI port can be used for dedicated audio output to an AV receiver if you want to bypass having to also transmit the video signal through a receiver. A coaxial digital out is included as well, but the player is missing a digital optical port. The lack of an optical connection shouldn't be an issue for most modern TVs and audio systems, but it could be a problem if you want to plug the player into certain soundbar models.

The X700 doesn't include all of the audiophile bells and whistles that are integrated into more expensive players, but it will still output lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from compatible discs just fine. You can also play high-resolution audio files up to 24bit/192kHz in multiple formats, including FLAC.

Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity are included as well for access to select apps, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. The X700 actually has greater support for streaming services than most Blu-ray players, but it's still lacking compared to a smart TV or a dedicated streaming box. 

As great as overall performance is on the X700, there are a couple of noteworthy drawbacks worth mentioning. Unlike Sony's step-up UBP-X800M2 and UBP-X1100ES, the X700 does not include Bluetooth support, so you can't connect wireless headphones for private listening. 

The player's Dolby Vision playback is also hindered by an odd design choice on Sony's part. Instead of automatically detecting when a Dolby Vision disc is being played and then switching to Dolby Vision output, you have to manually select Dolby Vision in the settings menu. Sadly, if you leave Dolby Vision selected, the player then incorrectly forces Dolby Vision for any disc you put in. This can make the picture look inaccurate on some discs. 

For buyers who don't have a Dolby Vision TV or who really don't care about the differences between HDR10 and Dolby Vision, this really shouldn't be an issue. Just disable Dolby Vision and forget about it. If you're buying a 4K Blu-ray player with Dolby Vision in mind, however, having to manually turn the setting on and off could prove to be annoying. With that in mind, we recommend the more expensive LG UBK90 as a better player for Dolby Vision.     

Despite these flaws, there's no denying the value of the X700. Home-theater enthusiasts who want more advanced features and connections will have to opt for a more expensive player, but most buyers who simply want to watch 4K Blu-rays on their 4K TV should be more than satisfied with what the Sony UBP-X700 has to offer.

The best 4K Blu-ray player for Dolby Vision

The LG UBK90 offers a solid assortment of features for a midrange 4K Blu-ray player, along with support for automatically detecting Dolby Vision discs.

Pros: HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, Dolby Vision playback is automatically detected, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, optical audio connection

Cons: No Bluetooth support, lacks advanced video and audio features, very limited library of apps, doesn't support HDR10+

Though it's more expensive than Sony's X700, the LG UBK90 is a more convenient option for buyers who are specifically looking for a reliable Dolby Vision 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player.

The device offers all of the same basic features you'll find on all players, including 4K disc playback and backward compatibility with Blu-rays and DVDs. The UBK90 also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision playback. Unlike the more affordable Sony X700, however, the LG has no issues automatically activating or deactivating Dolby Vision when it needs to. No matter what 4K disc you put in, the player will be able to recognize what format it should output in and then adjust accordingly.

Dual HDMI outputs are included for easy video and audio connectivity. There is one digital optical output, but no digital coaxial output — the former is commonly found on many soundbars. Wi-Fi and Ethernet are also supported, and you can play high-resolution audio in the FLAC format. When it comes to apps, however, the player only includes access to Netflix and YouTube. In other words, if you're looking for a device to stream movies on, this isn't it. 

You won't get any advanced tone mapping features, chroma upscaling, Bluetooth connectivity, or multi-channel analog audio ports, but for buyers who want a straightforward 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player with convenient Dolby Vision playback, The LG UBK90 is one of the most affordable options. 

The best high-end 4K Blu-ray player

The Panasonic DP-UB820 is pricier than a lot of other 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players, but it offers comprehensive HDR format support and advanced processing. 

Pros: Support for all of the major HDR formats, high-end audio processing, advanced tone mapping and chroma upsampling, compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant devices

Cons: Remote seems flimsy compared to the main unit, no support for SACD or DVD-Audio, pricier than many competing players

As an all-around great 4K Blu-ray player, it doesn't get much better than the Panasonic DP-UB820. While it's on the expensive side, its performance is basically unmatched by any other model in its price range. In fact, as a home theater journalist, this is the Blu-ray player I bought for my own entertainment setup — and I couldn't be more happy with my purchase.

Unlike most 4K Blu-ray players, which only support one or two HDR formats, the DP-UB820 supports all four HDR types: HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log-Gamma. The player also has no issues automatically selecting the proper format that should be played. This means you never have to worry about manually selecting Dolby Vision or researching which HDR version a disc supports. As long as all of the HDR formats are enabled in the settings, the player will simply activate the best format supported by each disc.   

It's also a network connected player, meaning you can stream (from the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet) Netflix, YouTube, and a few other apps. With that said, the app selection is not as wide as most standalone streaming media players, like a Roku or Fire TV Stick. Wirelessly streaming videos from a connected DLNA-compatible device, such as a computer or media-enabled hard drive, is also supported.

Powering the DP-UB820 is Panasonic's HCX processor, which is the same chip found in the company's much more expensive DP-UB9000. With it, the DP-UB820 is able to interpolate 4:2:0 color signals into 4:4:4, which refers to a ratio in something known as chroma sample. To spare you the technical details, higher numbers can result in more defined colors and an overall higher-quality image with smoother gradients.

The player also has Panasonic's HDR Optimizer feature, which uses tone mapping to better scale HDR performance to your TV's particular capabilities (HDR10 only). Your HDR TV will use its own tone mapping by default, but you may find better results relying on Panasonic's process instead of your display's.

If you have an extensive collection of DVD and regular Blu-ray movies, the DP-UB820 can upscale them to 4K. While they still technically won't be true 4K, upscaling can make movies in Full HD or standard definition look a lot better on a 4K TV.

As for sound, the DP-UB820 leaves nothing to be desired. The built-in 192-kHz/32-bit 4-DAC produces excellent audio quality. Panasonic gives you ample connectivity to take advantage of it, too. The DP-UB820 supports digital and optical outputs, as well as HDMI and, most impressively, 7.1-channel analog output for surround sound. The DP-UB820 also supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and high-resolution digital audio file formats.

If that wasn't enough, Panasonic even integrated support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa devices, so you can control playback with your voice if you have a compatible smart speaker at home. 

On the downside, the player doesn't include support for SACD or DVD-Audio discs, but those formats aren't exactly popular, so this is unlikely to be a deal-breaker. For a sturdier build and even more advanced audio connections, you could opt for the more expensive DP-UB9000, but in general, the DP-UB820 really is the high-end 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player to beat.  

The best 4K Blu-ray player for gamers

Sony's PlayStation 5 is one of the most powerful gaming consoles you can buy, and the standard model includes a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive for movies.

Pros: 4K HDR10 support for 4K Blu-ray discs, HDR gaming capabilities

Cons: No Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support, standalone players offer more comprehensive options, expensive

Though I recommend a standalone Blu-ray player for the best performance, there are a few video game consoles that can also serve as 4K Blu-ray players. If you're a gamer who wants to watch 4K discs through your console, you currently have two main options: the Sony PlayStation 5 (standard model) or the Xbox Series X. 

Both devices have similar Blu-ray capabilities and cost the same amount of money, but the PS5 is our preference when it comes to gaming.  It's one of the most powerful next-gen systems on the market, offering 4K gaming with advanced features like HDR, ray tracing, and 120Hz support. The system also uses an incredibly fast solid state drive (SSD) to enable minimal loading times.

The standard model comes with a built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive capable of playing 4K discs and regular Blu-rays. HDR10 is also supported for high dynamic range, and you can enjoy Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio through compatible speaker systems via the PS5's bitstream audio setting. 

With that said, the console only supports HDR10 for disc playback and does not offer Dolby Vision or HDR10+. The PS5 also lacks Blu-ray 3D disc playback. These limitations are all found on the Xbox Series X as well. As a whole, the system does a solid job playing discs, but home theater enthusiasts who want those missing features will be better off with a dedicated 4K Blu-ray player.

If you're looking to buy a new console, however, and 4K Blu-ray support is a key feature you'd like to have, the PS5 gets the job done just fine. It's important to note, though, that you will need to purchase the standard PS5 model since the cheaper all-digital edition does not include a disc drive.

Unfortunately, PlayStation 5 consoles remain hard to find, and stock continues to sell out quickly when stores get more inventory. Check out our PS5 buying guide for the latest details on how to find a system.

• Read our full PlayStation 5 review

The benefits of 4K Blu-ray

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers several key benefits over streaming services and older disc formats, like regular Blu-ray. Most notably, the format offers superior compression, color, and audio quality.

Compared to 4K streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray presents video and audio content with far less compression. This means you'll get a more stable image with no drops in quality.

For instance, you might sometimes notice your videos becoming blocky or fuzzy when streaming movies on Netflix. If you watch the same video on a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, those issues will be virtually eliminated. This is because videos on a disc can be encoded with more data and presented at higher and more consistent bitrates. In other words, the video never needs to buffer and it will always look consistently good. 

Expanding upon the previous Blu-ray format, 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays can hold up to 100 GB of information, allowing them to store movies and TV shows in 4K resolution. 4K offers four-times the number of total pixels compared to the Full HD resolution previously used on standard Blu-rays. This enables 4K Blu-ray movies to offer more detail than ever. 

In addition to including more pixels, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs also add support for high dynamic range (HDR) with 10-bit color. This process allows for a wider range of colors, contrast, and brightness compared to standard Blu-rays. You'll need a compatible 4K HDR TV to take advantage of this feature, but the improvements can be dramatic.  

When it comes to audio, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray supports lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. If you have the right audio gear, this means you'll get to hear movie soundtracks bit for bit as they were meant to be heard with surround effects in all directions — even from above.

What you should look for in a 4K Blu-ray player

When shopping for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, there are a few key performance specifications and extra features that you should look out for depending on your needs.

• HDR support: Though all 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and players support the standard HDR10 format, only specific models add support for more advanced HDR formats, like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. If you have a TV that's compatible with Dolby Vision or HDR10+, and you want the very best picture performance, it's worth seeking out a player that can output those formats.
• Advanced video options: Since all 4K Blu-ray players can simply pass the data contained on a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc directly to a TV, default image quality is nearly identical on all models. With that said, certain players include enhancement features, like chroma upsampling and specialized tone mapping, that can help improve 4K HDR contrast and gradient performance. Many players also include advanced upscaling capabilities to make lower-quality videos, like Full HD (1080p), look better on 4K TVs. Most buyers will be fine simply letting their display handle all the work, but enthusiasts might prefer the enhancements a high-end player can provide.
• Audio capabilities: When it comes to general home theater playback, all 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players include support for outputting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio over HDMI. Some players also include a digital optical connection for transmitting audio if you can't use HDMI. On top of that, certain models offer added support for more advanced audio processing and features, including high resolution music playback, multi-channel analog outputs, and support for SACD and DVD-Audio discs.
• Connectivity: Ethernet and Wi-Fi are common on many players for keeping your device current via firmware updates. Bluetooth connectivity is also featured on certain models for connecting to separate devices, like wireless Bluetooth headphones.
• Smart features: Though app selection on most Blu-ray players is rather limited, certain models include access to streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. More expensive models even offer compatibility with voice assistants. This feature may be redundant if you already own a smart TV or streaming box (Roku, Apple TV, etc.), but it's convenient if you don't like to switch between devices in order to access Netflix.

• Portable monitors are terrific solutions for expanding your screen real estate without taking up much desk space, and they're excellent for multitasking, improving creative workflow and even just watching Netflix.
• The Asus ZenScreen MB16AC takes the top spot as the best portable monitor overall for its thin and lightweight design, USB-C connectivity, feature set and affordable price tag.
• If you're looking to further expand your work-from-home setup, check out our guide to the best computer monitors of 2021.

Working from home can sometimes mean working with limited space. A portable monitor can be a good choice for those who want the extra screen space that a second monitor provides, but without the bulkiness of a full-sized monitor. 

Portable monitors come in many sizes, though most of them come in dimensions that match popular laptops screens. This makes them particularly useful for people who love working on their laptops, but just want a little more screen real estate while maintaining portability.   

For those who are entrenched in Apple's ecosystem, your iPad can also serve as a portable monitor thanks to Apple's Sidecar feature. But you'll want to make sure your iPad and Mac are compatible with the feature before deciding if this is the right option for your setup. You can read more about how to set up and use Apple Sidecar with your iPad on our guide.   

If you are looking for a portable monitor with more features, that works with Windows computers, or is perhaps bigger than your iPad, our team has researched and tested dozens of options to help you find the best one. Whether you are looking for the highest refresh rate for tear-free gaming, or are just hoping to add a second screen at the lowest cost, this guide has a portable monitor to fit just about everyone.

For more in-depth information on what to look for in a portable monitor, click right here.

Here are the best portable monitors you can buy:

• Best portable monitor overall: Asus ZenScreen MB16AC
• Best budget portable monitor:Auzai Portable Monitor
• Best portable monitor for 4K HDR: Eviciv 4K Portable Monitor
• Best portable monitor for gaming:Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE
• Best touchscreen portable monitor:Asus Zenscreen MB16AMT 

The best portable monitor overall

Versatility in connectivity and viewing orientation, a super slim profile and a great feature set for an affordable price rounds out the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC quite nicely.

Pros: Support for USB-C and USB-A connections, vibrant color reproduction, super slim body, nice feature set

Cons: Brightness at only 220 cd/㎡, non-touchscreen panel

Asus touts the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC as a super slim and light portable monitor, which it is. It's almost half the thinness and weight of the new MacBook Pro 13-inch at 8mm and 0.78kg, making it a glorious companion when you're traveling or working on-the-go. But, it's also so much more than that.

This portable monitor claims to be the world's first portable monitor with a hybrid-signal solution, meaning that not only does it have native USB-C support, but it also offers USB-A connectivity support via the DisplayLink driver. So, whether you're entirely dependent on USB-C or you find yourself needing to use a USB-A connection every now and then, this offers that versatility you need.

More on versatility, its vibrant 15.6-inch IPS screen with a 1080p (1,920 x 1,080-pixel) resolution also allows automatic screen orientation with the DisplayWidget software so you can switch from landscape mode for productivity to portrait mode for presentations, document reading and just reading for pleasure. 

It's got a helpful feature set as well, especially for the price. Besides the automatic screen orientation, it also has its own foldable smart case to protect the screen from scratches and dust, a smart pen hole so you won't lose another stylus pen, and the Asus blue light filter so it's easy on the eyes especially when you're watching movies. And, it comes with its own ZenScreen pen.

The best budget portable monitor

At less than $200, the Auzai Portable Monitor offers a helpful set of features and impressive picture quality for the budget-minded.

Pros: Wide port selection, cheap price, built-in speakers, gaming console compatibility, super thin and light

Cons: Not a lot of bells and whistles, stand solution isn't great, speakers are subpar

A decent selection of ports — Mini HDMI and two USB-C ports, one of which is for power — allows the Auzai Portable Monitor to stand out from the rest. It's a pretty nice feature, considering that the display is less than most of the portable monitors you'll find out there.

Speaking of the price, this will set you back less than $200 without compromising on quality and features, making it well-deserving of its best budget portable monitor title. Among its features are compatibility with PlayStation and Xbox game consoles — which should apply to the previous and current generation models — its own built-in speakers, and a settings menu so you can adjust brightness, contrast and  audio based on your personal preferences. It may only have a 60Hz refresh rate, but that's certainly enough for casual gaming.

This 15.6-inch 1080p IPS portable monitor is incredibly light and thin as well, beating the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC at 3.56mm thick and 0.62kg. Now, the sound quality isn't the best, understandably due to its thinness, but the picture quality is excellent with deep contrast, vibrant colors and decent brightness at 250 cd/m².

It's certainly a great portable viewing solution for gaming and entertainment. And, thanks to the case and screen protector that come with it, you know it's safe and sound in your bag while you're on the go.

The best portable monitor for 4K HDR

You're getting a lot of bang for your buck with the Eviciv 4K Portable Monitor, especially considering that it isn't that expensive for a 4K portable monitor.

Pros: Really affordable for everything it offers, excellent 4K picture quality, 178-degree viewing angle, great feature set, nice port selection

Cons: There are cheaper alternatives if you don't need 4K resolution

While 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) is all the rage in computer monitors these days, portable 4K monitors are hardly a dime a dozen. That certainly makes sense — these monitors are small enough that having 1080p resolution is actually much better, especially for productivity. 

However, if 4K is necessary for your workflow, whether it's because you need more screen real estate or you need an even better and crisper picture quality, then the Eviciv 4K Portable Monitor is certainly the most cost-effective solution for you.

This 15.6-inch UHD portable monitor is definitely an excellent value, especially considering what it has to offer. As far as picture quality, for example, it's got 300cd/m² brightness, 16.7 million display colors and 100% sRGB colour gamut, giving photographers and video editors vibrant images with accurate colors on top of the extra screen space.

The monitor also has a 178-degree viewing angle, which is when you're working on a project with colleagues on one laptop, HDR support and AMD FreeSync for gamers, portrait and landscape modes for presentations, built-in speakers for entertainment, and a nice selection of ports — one HDMI and 2 USB-C ports that offer both power and signal support. 

And, if those aren't enough, it's also got this nifty magnetic stand cover. Not bad for a portable monitor that's less than $350? We'd say it's a bargain.

The best portable monitor for gaming

For esports and fast-paced gaming, you cannot go wrong with the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE, as long as you can put up with its massive size.

Pros: Incredibly fast refresh rate, not too expensive, up to three hours of battery life, nice port selection

Cons: Big, heavier than most portable monitors

Hands down, the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE is the most advanced portable monitor you'll find, especially if you're all about fast-paced gaming and esports. With its 240Hz refresh rate and 3-millisecond response time, you'll find this to deliver the smoothest picture quality you'll ever encounter in a portable display. That's on top of its adaptive-sync technology, which delivers tear-free gaming for a more immersive experience, and 17.3-inch IPS panel for even more screen real estate.

Even better, this screen offers up to three hours of battery life when gaming at 240Hz and a wide 178-degree viewing angle that's ideal for esports players that want to have an audience. It also includes other perks like 100% sRGB color gamut for a rich and vibrant display quality, quick charging capabilities, built-in stereo speakers, and a decent selection of ports that include USB-C, micro HDMI and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Bizarrely enough, it's even cheaper than the MSI Optix MAG161V, though not by much. And of course, it comes with Asus' ROG Smart Cover for protection.

Just know that this is a 17-inch display weighing 1.06kg, which makes it a bit too big and too heavy for light travel. But if you're eventually looking to travel or game at a cafe, it's definitely a shoo-in. Just make sure you've got a big enough space in your backpack for it.

The best touchscreen portable monitor

Windows and Android users will love the immersive touchscreen experience on the Asus Zenscreen MB16AMT.

Pros: Touchscreen capability is impeccable, decent battery life, nice feature set, fairly lightweight, great picture quality

Cons: Single port, a bit pricey, touchscreen support for macOS limited

Touchscreen support is pretty much standard on today's laptops, even those that aren't meant to be laptop tablet hybrids. So it was only a matter of time before the feature reached the realm of portable monitors as well. There aren't a lot out there yet, but there are some, the best one being the Asus Zenscreen MB16AMT with gesture-based, multi-touch controls that are simply fantastic.

Smooth, accurate, and responsive, especially on Windows and Android, this 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen portable monitor is simply the one to get especially if you're using it for design.

The monitor also has a 7,800mAh battery that delivers up to four hours, and it's fairly lightweight as well, at 0.91kg. You can simply immerse yourself in your creative process without having to worry about bulk or pesky cables when you're weaving your designs. We would have liked it to be a little brighter, but at 250 cd/㎡, it's certainly bright enough. Plus, the vibrant picture quality and superb contrast should make up for that.

Other notable features worth mentioning here are its hybrid signal solution, so you can use both USB-C and USB Type A connections, a smart cover and smart pen hole, a wide 178° viewing angle — useful for when you're consulting a colleague or another artist, and that automatic screen orientation via the Asus DisplayWidget software.

How to choose a portable monitor

As portable monitors come in a variety of sizes, uses, price tags, and even connectivity types, there's something out there for everyone, from photographers and video editors to gamers and cinephiles. Just know that there are a few key factors to consider.

• Size: Just like laptops, portable monitors are typically available in 13.3-, 15.6-, and 17.3- inch sizes. Consider what it is you'll be using it for before you decide. Larger displays offer a better viewing experience so they're best for games and movie watching. However, they also tend to be heavier and are bigger. If portability and traveling light are your main concerns, then a smaller screen might be a better choice.
• Resolution: The resolution of a portable monitor determines how sharp and detailed the image will look. Portable monitors are available in 4K, Full HD 1080p, and lower – though 1080p is the standard these days. Higher resolutions are beneficial, especially if you favor picture performance and want more space to work on. 
• Connectivity: These days, a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 connection is the cream of the crop. It's more powerful, has faster transfer speeds, and is becoming the standard on many laptops. However, some portable displays also include common video connections like HDMI, allowing you to easily connect them to game consoles and media players. Others still have USB ports, some of which can also be used to power the monitor directly from a connected device.
• Refresh rate and response time: If you're buying a portable monitor for gaming, you should be mindful of the display's refresh rate and response time. Refresh rates higher than 60Hz can provide a smoother experience when gaming at higher frame rates. These days, you can find a portable gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, which is pretty impressive as it outpaces frame rates in most games on most computers.

• The Trainer (originally $98) is the inaugural product of Everlane's sneaker brand, Tread by Everlane.
• It reflects Everlane's attempt, two years in the making, to produce the world's lowest-impact sneakers. 
• Four reporters tested The Trainer in their everyday lives. Find our thoughts, plus a 21-month update.

Everlane's sneaker brand, Tread by Everlane, debuted with the unisex leather sneaker The Trainer (originally $98).

As of now, The Trainer comes in five colors, two editions, and in men's sizes 7-13 or women's sizes 5-12.5. The colors range from off-white to black to pale pink. It's also currently on sale for $39.

The Trainer was Everlane's response to a plethora of customer requests and, ideologically, a proposed answer to the enormous waste of the sneaker industry. Ruled by hype, flash, and $900+ ugly unicorns, sneakers have become the ultimate trend piece. Add to that a lifespan that's closer to six months than a few years, and you've got one of the industry's worst footprints.

The Trainer is designed to be different. Engineered with sustainable, durable materials and manifested in a versatile design, it's supposed to be the world's lowest impact sneaker. 

The sole is 94.2% free of virgin plastic. Instead, Everlane uses recycled and natural rubber — preventing an estimated 18,000 pounds of rubber from making its way into landfills and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 54%. Everlane has pledged to nix virgin plastic entirely from its supply chain by this year, 2021. 

The full-grain leather is produced at Saigon TanTec, "The world's cleanest tannery." The Gold-Certified tannery uses natural lighting and solar energy, and, according to Everlane, 47% less electricity and 62% less freshwater than those already considered the best in the industry. Altogether, the tannery emits 46% less greenhouse gas than conventional leather finishing. 

Even The Trainer's laces and lining emit 18% less carbon than average. Altogether, the recycled plastic in each pair renews 9.5 discarded bottles. 

To further reduce their impact, Tread by Everlane said it is offsetting 100% of the carbon emissions from its sneaker production. First, the brand had a third-party firm calculate the full carbon footprint of the trainer, which tallied up to 28.9 kg CO2e (which includes the impact of raising cattle) for the shoe's life cycle. Then, Tread partnered with NativeEnergy — a leading carbon offset provider — to support projects that reduce greenhouse gases. Right now, that means working with ranchers to improve cattle-grazing practices on American grasslands, begetting better soil health, cleaner waterways, and more carbon sequestration since healthy grasslands pull an enormous amount of carbon from the air. Beyond that, the company says it plans to keep getting better. As alternate materials and more efficient processes become available, the brand will respond in kind.

Before the launch of Tread, four Insider Reviews reporters tested Everlane's Trainer to give you an idea of what they're like in person. Find our thoughts and takeaways below. Since then, we've updated this article with longterm input — so you know what to expect months down the road.

Four reporters tried Everlane's Tread Trainer. Find their personal experiences below: 

Product Card (small, Preferred: Everlane)

I'm all for brands using more environmentally-friendly materials and production methods to make sneakers, but it usually shows in the product itself. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's sometimes nice to have a more timeless sneaker that doesn't boast obvious branding or scream "recycled"— and that's exactly why I like the Everlane Trainer.

It has all the style elements that make up a good trainer: a low-top silhouette, a sharp sloping shape, and lots of overlapping stitched panels with contrast in materials and patterns. The overall design isn't groundbreaking, but what makes them feel special is Everlane's ability to strip away wasteful materials while maintaining such a classic look.

21-month testing update: I've owned my Everlane Trainers for almost two years now and while I don't wear them too often, they've held up extremely well during the times I have worn them. At the original $98 price, I didn't think they were too expensive and now that they're on sale the value is even better. If they have your size in any of the on-sale colorways, I completely recommend picking up a pair or two. With a $29 or $39 budget, you'd be very hard-pressed to find other sneakers that are just as good.  — Amir Ismael, Insider Reviews reporter

Product Card (small, Preferred: Everlane)

As someone who lives a 20-minute power-walk away from the nearest subway entrance, I prioritize comfort in my shoes. They need to look good, but I won't make excuses for a cute pair that gives me blisters.

The first thing I noticed about The Trainer was its comfort. I pulled them on and walked 40 blocks comfortably on cushiony soles with zero break-in time. The chunky shape comes off compact (my size 9 feet looked unexpectedly small) and contained rather than costumey. In terms of style and performance, I'd wear them everywhere from errands to airports and dressed up with blazers at our casual office (thank you, leather) or with sundresses on the weekend.

Now, after owning them for months, I can say the fit has gotten better with time; My typical size 9 was the right move. It's also nice to know that the leather has held up well to the grime of the city.

If you think you'd wear them enough to justify spending $98, you should be happy with looks, style, and comfort. Plus, supporting sustainable innovation certainly doesn't hurt. 

21-month testing update: The Trainers have held up well over nearly two-years of semi-frequent use. The leather has been easy to clean up with a damp cloth, and the shoes are just as comfortable as they were in the beginning. — Mara Leighton, Insider Reviews reporter

Product Card (small, Preferred: Everlane)

Normcore is in right now. Or that's what I hear (and see). These sneakers...well, they're definitely normcore.

With style writers in an endless existential debate over the meaning of Allbirds for the world of fashion, the hype surrounding Everlane's Tread must surely sound like a death knell. But even as someone who hasn't quite fully embraced the dad-chic aesthetic (though full disclosure, I'm an unabashed fan of Allbirds), I found that the Tread sneakers were an easy fit in my footwear rotation.

They're simple and chunky, but they actually looked great — if I do say so myself — with a pair of slim tapered jeans. I had the black pair with white soles, for what it's worth, and liked the contrast offered by the soles. Anyone who's seen the rebirth of those plain white chunky Reeboks and Adidas sneakers will find that these fit right in, with a slightly more contemporary profile.

They were also quite comfortable, and seem to run true-to-size, if not a tad snug, so if you're usually between sizes I might suggest going up. I have medium-to-high arches and found that I could stand for at least an hour without any discomfort. The soles are thick enough that peddling a bike was easy, and, although I've only had them for a few days, they seem like they'll hold up as well as any comparable, less sustainably produced shoe.

At $98, they're a bit pricey for a plain shoe, but considering their comfort and minimal environmental impact, I'd recommend these. — David Slotnick, senior transportation reporter

Product Card (small, Preferred: Everlane)

Sneakers, especially of the athleisure sort, can get a bad rap — they're not formal enough, they're not functional enough, they're unnecessarily flashy. Yet, a sneaker is one of the most enduring styles, and understandably so. 

Everlane seemed to be a member of the anti-sneaker camp for a while until they launched Tread — and my feet are pretty glad they did. From the outside, the Tread sneakers look similar to most of what's on the market right now — think simple, unisex, monochromatic (barring a black and white pair), chunky enough to be considered part of the "dad sneaker" trend. On the inside, they're pretty comfortable. I found the footbed particularly cushy, and the chunky sole — whether you think it's trendy or not — makes walking long distances a lot more pleasant. The sneakers, with their stylish combination of leather and suede, fit right in with my simple uniform of ripped jeans and a white T-shirt.

The coolest part about these shoes, in my opinion, is their minimal environmental impact, which Everlane is still working to improve. While the style and comfort hold their own, I think their sustainability is what sets these sneakers apart and makes them well worth the $98. — Remi Rosmarin, former Insider Reviews reporter

• While climate change has gained mainstream traction, research suggests it remains a partisan issue.
• Individual responsibility isn't a silver bullet, but it can help strengthen the environmental movement.
• If you're interested in adopting more eco-friendly habits, you can browse 32 ideas below. 

Climate change has entered the mainstream conversation. Up 44% from 2009, six out of 10 Americans said in a survey that global climate change is a major threat to the country. In 2019, Time's Person of the Year was then 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, the internationally known environmental activist.

But while more Americans say protecting the environment and dealing with global climate change should be top priorities for the president and Congress — and a majority of them already see at least some local effects of climate change — it remains a deeply partisan issue, meaning grassroots efforts and individual actions take on heightened importance.

And it's surprisingly simple to make positive changes to your lifestyle just by figuring out where to start. Instead of using a K-Cup, swap it for a reusable coffee filter. Out of laundry detergent? Try one with better ingredients. You don't have to subsist on whatever your backyard garden grows to make a difference or feel guilty that your trash doesn't fit in a mason jar. Try to shop local when possible, only buy what you need, bike or walk or use public transportation when able, fix what you own before replacing it, and eat less meat. While individual responsibility isn't a silver bullet and isn't effective when it distracts people from the outsized impact of corporate and political responsibility, it can help expand and strengthen the political movement for environmentalist practices. 

Read more:B Corps are businesses committed to using their profit for good — these 14 are making some truly great products

Even if you just make one change rather than turning your entire household eco-friendly overnight, you're working to build better habits in your corner of the world. 

If you want to replace everyday essentials with eco-friendly alternatives without any inconvenience, check out the 32 below: 

1. Allbirds footwear

Allbirds gained fame for being known as the "world's most comfortable shoes" (a claim we find ourselves agreeing with) and their commitment to sustainability.

The cult-favorite startup uses super soft, moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating merino wool for its iconic wool runners and tree fiber for its Tree line (sourced from South African farms that minimize fertilizer and rely on rainfall instead of irrigation).

We've tried the tree loungers and runners as well as the wool runners and loungers, and even the newly-launched clothing line, and we don't think you can really go wrong.

Read our full reviews of nearly every item Allbirds has ever made.

2. Reusable, organic cotton dish towels

If it doesn't have to be single-use, it probably shouldn't be. Using 100% organic cotton dish towels is a great substitute to paper towels, as you can throw them in for a wash in the washing machine repeatedly. 

3. Reusable grocery bags

Each year, we use an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags around the world.

Using reusable grocery bags is a simple way to cut down on the habit without missing out on convenience — if you make sure to only buy enough to meet your needs, and remember to bring them every time.

Some grocery stores even offer incentives for people who bring their own bags, and some states have banned plastic bags. 

4. Rechargeable batteries

Batteries are made up of a variety of chemicals, some of which are toxic and can cause soil and water pollution. To prolong the usage of your batteries and keep them out of landfills, you may want to look into rechargeable ones. 

If you need to check how to dispose of electronics you no longer need, check out this list of stores with incentives for recycling or are better equipped to dispose of electronics than the average person. 

5. A long-lasting toothbrush with a detachable brush head

Not only does a Boie toothbrush have silver embedded into the bristles to kill germs, but the startup is also making a much more environmentally friendly option.

All of Boie's toothbrushes are made out of a rubber-like material that cleans your teeth more gently and effectively than alternatives and is built to last twice as long as a regular brush, so you have to replace it less often. Boie brushes are also designed with detachable brush heads, so you can replace only that without having to buy an entirely new brush every time.

You can also check out Bite's $12 bamboo brush pack, which comes with two toothbrushes with detachable heads. 

6. A great reusable water bottle

Even though recycling programs exist, 91% of the water bottles we use every year wind up in a landfill. And we use about a million per minute. Grab a cool water bottle you'll enjoy using and skip the plastic disposable bottles.

7. A cycling helmet that raises money for 1% for the Planet

Cycling brand thousand launched a special Climate Collection of its signature Heritage helmet to raise money for 1% for the Planet, a foundation dedicated to raising awareness about climate change and sustainability. The collection features three unique colorways, each symbolizing a specific element of the planet. Coastal Blue represents Earth's oceans, Terra Cotta Earth's clay, and Arctic Grey Earth's polar environments. The helmets sell for $89 with $10 from every purchase going to 1% for the Planet.

— Rick Stella, health & fitness editor 

8. A showerhead that uses 70-75% less water than what you have now

Putting in low-flow fixtures and taking shorter showers can reduce your water consumption by at least 50% and save you about $145 every year.

If you're looking for the most buzz-worthy and luxe of options making a difference in the space, you'd do well to look at Nebia— a Kickstarter-funded startup that counts some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley as investors (including Tim Cook of Apple and Eric Schmidt of Google). You also might have seen it in the upscale fitness world of Equinox gyms.

The Nebia Spa Shower 2.0 maximizes the water that comes into contact with your skin by atomizing it, and Nebia claims the shower lends twice as much coverage as a standard shower and saves 65% of water. You can read more about it here. 

Another inexpensive option is a showerhead by Niagra, which the company claims uses up to 75% less water than typical "low-flow"showerheads. It also uses patented pressure compensation technology so there's always a consistent flow rate regardless of available water pressure — and it's guaranteed for 10 years. 

9. Biodegradable trash bags

These trash bags are 100% compostable, meet the stringent requirements of municipal composting programs, and are BPI certified. For reference, they're almost half the price of Glad bags (also 13 gallon, also 50-count).

10. Buy carbon credits to offset your lifestyle

Feeling guilty about a destination bachelorette trip you took this year? Already live an extremely eco-friendly lifestyle and still want to help? 

Reformation lets you purchase climate credits (carbon offsets) on its site. Their partner, NativeEnergy, will direct your purchase to support projects that actively reduce CO2 emissions.

You'll also get a $100 Reformation credit when you switch to wind energy.

11. Reusable straws

According to the National Park Service, you could fill over 125 school buses with the straws Americans use every single day (500 million in all).

Using disposable utensils of any kind introduces a lot of unnecessary waste into the environment, but straws are a particularly easy fix.

12. An Earth Day package

Even if you can't live a completely eco-lifestyle, you can still offset some carbon footprint by planting trees. Canadian sustainable apparel maker Tentree has an Earth Day package that will plant 50 trees, which can help offset 7.7 tons of CO2. — Les Shu, guides editor

13. Ballpoint pens made out of recycled water bottles

Need a couple of pens around the house? Grab a few that were made from recycled water bottles (86% PCR). 

15. A programmable thermostat that lets you know if you're saving energy

Programmable thermostats can save up to $150 a year in energy costs when used properly.

Not only does Nest's thermostat work with Amazon Alexa voice control, but it was also the first one to earn an Energy Star. Since your thermostat supposedly controls half your energy bill (more than appliances or electronics), it's a great place to focus your attention if you want to cut down on use and costs. Using the Nest app (yes, there's an app), you can view how much energy you use and why, so you can make the right decisions for you using your own energy history. 

Plus, since most of us are busy and potentially beginners with this, Nest will display a leaf when you choose a temperature that saves energy.

17. Reusable coffee filters

With the popularity of instant coffee systems like Keurig, single-serving pods have also seen an uptick.

Instead of popping in a new K-Cup every morning only to toss it into the waste bin, consider saving yourself space and money with your choice of fresh ground coffee and a reusable filter pod. 

18. Loose tea infuser

Love tea? look into a loose tea infuser to cut down on how many tiny disposable packets you rip open and throw away. Here are the best ones you can buy.

19. Shampoo, conditioner, and lotion

With over 80 billion plastic bottles being disposed of around the world every year just from shampoo & conditioner alone, things like environmentally-conscious packaging are increasingly important. 

If you're looking for a single solid beauty routine —pun intended— New Zealand startup Ethique (French for "ethical") makes sustainable beauty that works exceptionally well. And they're available at Amazon.

Everything — from shampoo to lotion — comes in bar form. The bars last 2-5x longer than their bottled counterparts, dissolve completely, and come in entirely eco-friendly packaging (even the sleeves they arrive in are 100% dissolvable and compostable, so there's zero consumer waste). 

Overall, Ethique has prevented the manufacture and disposal of more than 350,000 plastic containers worldwide. 

20. Natural laundry detergent

If you want to introduce fewer chemicals to the water supply and your skin, you might look for a laundry detergent alternative. 

Method's detergent is made from naturally derived, plant-based ingredients and has a hypoallergenic formula. Its transparent bottle is recyclable and made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) materials. It's tough on dirt and stains, but you won't be introducing more chemicals to the environment or wearing traces of them next-to-skin.

You can also use Jet's Uniquely J plant-based laundry detergent as a substitute, or the all-natural Nellie's powdered laundry soda that comes in a reusable metal tin (which is what I personally use). Nellie's is biodegradable, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, non-GMO, lasts for forever, and, of course, works really well also. You can find it on Amazon, but it's typically cheaper at Walmart. 

21. Reusable notebooks

The US uses about 69 million tons of notebook paper each year. If you want to cut down on your own paper waste (and add some convenience and savings to your own life) you might be interested in Rocketbook's forever reusable notebooks. This one can be written on with a special pen and wiped clean to be used new with moisture. It got rejected on Shark Tank, but I use my own many times throughout the day. Plus, you can use the app to digitize the notes you take — making it easier to keep a digital archival. 

22. Buy and gift secondhand clothes and accessories

Instead of buying something new, look for something that already exists first — like previously owned designer goods on The Real Real. It's also a great way to save money on premium goods.  

23. Eco-friendly sheets

Coyuchi is a San Francisco startup that makes luxe, modern sheets that are also eco-friendly. The company has a partnership with Fibershed that supported closed-loop carbon farming practices at the local ranches that produce its Climate Beneficial Wool, and has now announced a partnership with White Buffalo Land Trust that supports regenerative agriculture. 

24. A shower timer

This shower timer helps you keep an eye on how long you spend zoned out under gushing hot water. It can help you monitor yourself, so if your goal is to cut down on water and heating energy, you've got an easy way to adjust. You can also just set a timer on your phone, but if you're looking for a shower radio, you can knock out both with this. 

26. Solar powered phone charger

Made of eco-friendly silicone rubber and ABS + PC material, this #1 best-seller solar charger is an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional rechargeable battery pack. It's water-resistant and shock-proof, so it can go where you go (and soak up solar power while at it). 

The company notes that it is comparatively slow for the solar charger to recharge via solar power, but if you've got the time to wait or hang it on a backpacking pack on a day trip, you can get the convenience of a charger without the guilt. 

27. Compostable cutlery and bowls

If you absolutely need disposable cutlery and can't carry a reusable metal kit everywhere you go, why not grab some that are compostable? 

FirstChoice makes a great option, and donates 10% of its annual net profits to non-profit environmental organizations. The utensils are FDA approved and are 100% biodegradable. 

28. Outlets that actually draw zero energy when turned off.

This energy-saving power switch draws zero energy when the switch is flipped off. 

29. LED light bulbs

LEDs are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting options — 95% of the energy in LEDs is converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat. They also use much less power, which lowers the demand on power plants and decreases the accompanying greenhouse gas emissions.

30. An eco-friendly air dryer brush

This brush is designed to act as a diffuser, drying hair 40% faster for less heat damage and faster prep time. It's also made from recycled aluminum and plastic.

The packaging is made of 100% Tree-Free paper (20% cotton and 80% bamboo fibers), and the handles are made from bamboo, which is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world — making it a convenient naturally renewable resource.

31. An e-reader

While the feel of a great paperback in hand is satisfying in and of itself, you might have an opportunity as an avid reader to cut down on a production cycle that uses ample paper and transportation. Unless you're a regular patron of the library, an e-reader can help diminish the carbon footprint of someone who frequently buys new books.

We've got a guide to the best e-readers you can buy if you're looking into one, and here's a list of what each Kindle does to figure out which best fits your needs.

32. Eyewear made from natural materials

Shwood makes premium wood sunglasses and prescription eyewear that's handcrafted using sustainable materials in the US. 

33. Natural cleaning products

The cleaning products you use around the house can be full of environmentally harmful chemicals, and they may be some of the plastic products you throw away most frequently. If you want the same result but with less potential collateral damage, there are effective options to consider.

Uniquely J is an affordable, comprehensive option that spans the cleaning gamut and is comprehensive and affordable. 

Blueland is a buzzy startup that makes reusable bottles and dissolvable cleaning tablets with non-toxic ingredients so you can cut down on your plastic waste and chemical exposure. While Blueland products are effective for general cleaning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using alcohol-based products to disinfect surfaces as they're effective in killing viruses.  

For tough cleaning, we'd recommend looking at CleanWell's Disinfectant Spray. It's EPA-approved for use on surfaces to protect against the novel coronavirus. It's a botanical formula that cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes multi-surfaces and kills 99.9% of household germs, including cold and flu viruses. The package is also recyclable.

34. Reusable, non-plastic meal prep containers

Instead of adding more plastic, grab some glass meal prep containers for a non-toxic solution. 

You may also want to look into U Konserve for their low-impact, reusable lunch containers with moveable and/or removable dividers. You can also pick up reusable sandwich bags, like these from ChicoBag or unbleached paper sandwich snack bags.

35. Clothes

Instead of buying new every time you have an event, consider renting from Rent the Runway and get designer names at a much lower rate, without contributing to a huge pile of textile waste from a $20 fast-fashion dress you didn't love. Or, if you do buy new, take a look at stores that repurpose recycled materials, like Cotopaxi and Girlfriend Collective, or companies reducing their overall footprint through eco-friendly practices like Everlane's denim factory. 

Jeff Bezos wants his girlfriend's brother to cover $1.7 million in legal fees, the latest development in the high-profile legal drama surrounding the Amazon CEO. 

What began as a tabloid scoop two years ago revealing the relationship between Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, has since resulted in investigations into her brother, Michael, the National Enquirer, and even the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, as well as a protracted legal battle between Michael Sanchez and Bezos.

Here's where the conflict began and everything that's happened since. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, have weathered a tabloid scandal, a lawsuit, and maybe even interference from a foreign government. Here's where their relationship began and everything that's happened since.

In January 2019, Bezos and his then wife, MacKenzie, announced they were divorcing.

Source: Jeff Bezos/Twitter

Their announcement was followed soon after by bombshell reporting from Page Six and the National Enquirer: Bezos was in a relationship with Lauren Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV anchor.

Source: Page Six

At the time, Sanchez was married to Patrick Whitesell, the co-CEO of WME, a Hollywood talent agency. The couple had been friends with Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos because they had houses near each other in Seattle, according to Page Six.

Source: Page Six

The Enquirer said it had conducted a four-month investigation into the relationship between Bezos and Sanchez, tracking the couple "across five states and 40,000 miles" and tailing them on hikes and dinner dates.

Source: The National Enquirer 

Beyond its own surveillance of Bezos and Sanchez, the Enquirer reported it had acquired "raunchy messages" the couple had sent each other, some of which the tabloid published. The Enquirer also said it had racy photos of both Bezos and Sanchez, including one that was too explicit to describe in print.

Source: The National Enquirer 

Soon after, The Daily Beast reported that Bezos was funding an investigation — headed up by his personal head of security, Gavin de Becker — into who had leaked his private messages to the Enquirer. De Becker said at the time that he thought the leaks were "politically motivated," which AMI denied.

Source: The Daily Beast, 

In February 2019, Bezos responded to the scandal in an explosive blog post, in which he accused National Enquirer publisher AMI and its then CEO, David Pecker, of trying to blackmail him.

Source: Jeff Bezos/Medium

Bezos wrote that AMI had been threatening him with the publication of explicit pictures he'd taken of himself unless he stopped investigating who leaked his photos and texts to the tabloid. In response, Bezos published the emails he'd received from AMI.

Source: Jeff Bezos/Medium

"Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote.

Source: Jeff Bezos/Medium

De Becker told The Daily Beast that Michael Sanchez was "among the people we've been speaking with and looking at" during the investigation and that "strong leads point to political motives" for leaking information to the Enquirer.

Source: The Daily Beast

Sanchez had described himself as a supporter of President Donald Trump, who had a longtime ally in Pecker. De Becker told the Washington Post in February 2019 that he thought the Enquirer had published its scoop about Bezos and Sanchez in order to embarrass Bezos, and that members of Trump's 2016 campaign were involved.

Source: The Washington Post

A feud has simmered for years between Trump and Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post. Trump has made the Post a target over the years and has lumped together Amazon and the Post as a way to cast doubt on the paper's credibility.

Source: The Washington Post

For his part, Sanchez denied de Becker's allegation, accusing him of telling "lies, half-truths, sloppy tabloid leaks, [and] crazy conspiracy theories" in a statement to the Washington Post. He told Fox News that "all of the investigations thus far have cleared me of any involvement in the below-the-belt selfies."

Source: The Washington Post, Business Insider

Sanchez told Business Insider that he did not leak Bezos' "penis photos" to the Enquirer, but did not specifically deny leaking text messages between his sister and Bezos. "I'm not saying I didn't do something," he later told Vanity Fair, but said his only goal was to protect his sister and Bezos' relationship.

Source: Business Insider,Vanity Fair

Sanchez had worked as a Hollywood talent manager, and he told Fox News that Bezos had asked him for help handling the scandal around his divorce. "He said that he didn't think the Amazon PR team was equipped to handle this kind of story," Sanchez said of Bezos.

Source: Business Insider

In March 2019, de Becker wrote in The Daily Beast that he believed the Saudi Arabian government had hacked Bezos' phone in order to gain access to his private messages in retaliation for the Post reporting Saudi agents killed Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi.

Source: The Daily Beast

In January 2020, that assertion was backed up by reports by the Guardian and United Nations investigators, who said they had "reasonable certainty" that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved in a hack of Bezos' iPhone.

Source: Business Insider

Throughout it all, AMI has insisted that Michael Sanchez is the single source behind its reporting on Lauren Sanchez's relationship with Bezos. According to a New York Times report from January, Lauren Sanchez shared the texts and photos with her brother, who then licensed them to the Enquirer for $200,000 in October 2018.

Source: The New York Times

In February, Michael Sanchez filed a defamation lawsuit against Bezos that claims Bezos and de Becker falsely accused him of providing the nude photos to the Enquirer. Sanchez claimed in the suit that Bezos told journalists he had handed over the images to the tabloid, but Sanchez said he never had the photos in his possession.

Source: Business Insider

Following the lawsuit filing, Lauren Sanchez said in a statement to TMZ that her brother "secretly provided my most personal information to the National Enquirer — a deep and unforgivable betrayal. My family is hurting over this new baseless and untrue lawsuit, and we truly hope my brother finds peace."

Source: TMZ

In the lawsuit, Sanchez used the word "fiancé" to describe Bezos' relationship to Lauren Sanchez, implying that the couple is engaged.

Source: Business Insider

Bezos quickly filed a motion to dismiss the suit under a California law that's intended to protect against frivolous lawsuits. Bezos said Sanchez's suit amounted to "extortion" and directly threatened free speech.

Source: Business Insider

In November 2020, Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled in favor of Bezos, striking down Sanchez's defamation suit. "Here, there is no admissible evidence that Defendants published the subject statements. Plaintiff's declaration merely discusses what he was told by reporters, which is inadmissible hearsay," Judge John P. Doyle wrote in his ruling.

"We respectfully disagree with the trial court's ruling and look forward to vindicating Mr. Sanchez's claims on appeal," Tom Warren, Sanchez's attorney, told Insider in an emailed statement at the time. 

William Isaacson, an attorney representing Bezos and de Becker, said in an emailed statement to Insider that "journalists will surely take the Court's ruling into account when considering Michael Sanchez as a source."

"My clients are pleased that the judge has thrown out the baseless case filed by Michael Sanchez," Isaacson said. "When it comes to frivolous lawsuits seeking money or attention, the law is clear — and the law worked."

Source: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

In January, Bezos filed a motion to compel Sanchez to cover $1.7 million in legal fees following his unsuccessful suit.

Bezos and de Becker requested that Sanchez reimburse them for $1,676,919.50 in attorney fees and $36,019.26 in other costs they racked up while defending the suit.

Tom Warren, an attorney for Sanchez, told Insider in a statement that "Mr. Bezos' fee request is obscene, even grotesque, on many levels."

Source: Business Insider

Open banking payments platform Token has raised $15 million in Series B financing.

Founded in 2016, Token is an open banking fintech startup which focuses on payments. The company was one of the first in the UK to be authorized by the national financial regulator for payment initiation.

Open banking is the means by which third-party developers, such as Token, can build applications around existing financial institutions. The sector has taken a long time to develop out of the UK and Europe, but is now accelerating. 

"Covid-19 has driven a move to digital payments and open banking APIs have stabilized," Todd Clyde, Token's CEO told Insider. "We've seen our data volume double each month since then."

Bank payments will likely overtake debit and credit card payments by 2023 in EMEA, according to Worldpay's 2020 Global Payments report. The shift comes amid a shakeup in open banking infrastructure with banking payment rails faster and cheaper on average than card rails. Brexit is likely to accelerate this shift, with Mastercard announcing that it will increase fees for UK purchases from the EU. 

Token was founded in the US but moved its operations to the UK. The startup has established a German entity to serve clients in the EU and will use part of the new funding to build out its team in Berlin, where it recently hired a new CTO. 

"We want to further differentiate our tech platform and drive traffic," Clyde added.

The round was led by new investors SBI Investment and Sony Innovation Growth Ventures alongside existing investors Octopus Ventures, EQT Ventures and the venture arm of BNP Paribas, Opera Tech Ventures.

The funding closed in early November and will help the business build toward the company's "next milestones."

Check out Token's redacted pitch deck below:

SEE ALSO: Fintech valuations are soaring at the late stage, and one Silicon Valley VC is warning of a bubble

Token

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Steve Wynn, the billionaire cofounder and former chairman of casino operator Wynn Resorts, has listed his Beverly Hills estate for $110 million, Jack Flemming reported for The Los Angeles Times.

Wynn, who resigned as CEO and chairman of Wynn Resorts in February 2018 after allegations of sexual misconduct, bought the property in 2015 for $47.85 million. The previous owner was Maurice Marciano, the cofounder of Guess jeans. Wynn has denied the accusations against him.

The casino mogul's 2.7-acre estate includes a mansion that spans more than 27,000 square feet, a professional tennis court, a swimming pool, and a pool house. Wynn bought the estate as an investment property and "completely renovated" it, adding approximately 10,000 square feet, listing agent Leonard Rabinowitz of Hilton & Hyland told Insider.

Rick Hilton and Jack Friedkin of Hilton & Hyland also hold the listing.

Look inside Wynn's Beverly Hills estate.

SEE ALSO: A billionaire New York hedge-fund CEO just dropped $20 million on a Miami Beach mansion as Wall Street firms plan moves to Florida

DON'T MISS: Peter Thiel bought this Miami compound on an exclusive manmade island for $18 million — see inside

Steve Wynn, the billionaire behind iconic Las Vegas casinos like the Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas, is selling his Beverly Hills estate for $110 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.

If it sells near that price, Wynn would more than double what he paid for the property. He bought it for $47.85 million from Maurice Marciano, cofounder of Guess jeans, in 2015, per the Times.

Wynn, who's worth an estimated $3 billion, cofounded Wynn Resorts with his then-wife in 2002. In 2018, he resigned as the CEO and chairman of the company after allegations of sexual misconduct. Wynn denied the accusations.

Wynn's estate sprawls over 2.7 acres in upscale Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

The 27,000-square-foot mansion, which has 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, was designed by architect William Hablinski in a modern Mediterranean style. 

The home is accessed via a private gate on a private cul-de-sac, according to the listing.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

Wynn's mansion features a living area that's reminiscent of one of his Las Vegas hotels.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

Wynn lives in Palm Beach, Florida, and bought the Beverly Hills property as an investment with the intention of selling it, listing agent Leonard Rabinowitz told Insider.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

Wynn renovated the property after buying it, adding approximately 10,000 square feet to the home, Rabinowitz said.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

While listing photos don't show the bedrooms, the house has a master suite that includes an office area, according to the listing.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

There are also four en-suite guest bedrooms, three bedrooms for staff, and two bedrooms for a security team.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

The formal dining room includes a fireplace and opens up to an outdoor space.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

The gym has more than 17 pieces of equipment, per the listing.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

The spacious media room has plenty of seating.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

There's also a wine room.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

The estate's grounds were designed by landscape architect Robert Truskowski.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

The grounds include a professional tennis court with an adjacent air-conditioned seating house and kitchenette.

Source: Hilton & Hyland

Wynn's home would rank among the priciest ever sold in Beverly Hills if it sells at its asking price. The current record is held by Jeff Bezos' 2020 purchase of a massive Beverly Hills compound for $165 million.

In February 2020, the Amazon CEO bought the Warner Estate that was designed for Warner Bros. executive Jack Warner in the 1930s and was previously owned by media mogul David Geffen. His purchase broke the record for the most expensive home ever sold in California.

Investors sent a clear message in 2020: Electric vehicles are the auto industry's future, and giants like General Motors and Ford should watch out for young, tech-savvy competitors.

Last year, Tesla became the world's most valuable automaker, based on the value of its shares, and the stock prices of EV upstarts like Nio, Xpeng, and Nikola often exceeded those of Fiat Chrysler (which recently merged with PSA to form a new company, Stellantis), Ford, and Nissan.

Read more: DEUTSCHE BANK: Buy these 6 auto stocks in 2021 to capitalize on the rise of electric and self-driving cars

Though David Whiston, an analyst at Morningstar who covers the auto industry, thinks the valuations EV companies are receiving are excessive, in aggregate, he told Insider he expects investors to remain optimistic in 2021.

"It's probably going to be a good year for EV-stock investors," Whiston said.

These are four key developments that would keep the EV-stock rally going this year, according to Whiston.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk says he's 'super fired up' for fighting climate change with Joe Biden

Low interest rates

The Federal Reserve controls the interest rate, called the federal funds rate, that banks pay when they take overnight loans from other banks. A lower federal funds rate makes it easier for banks to charge lower interest rates to the consumers and businesses that want to borrow money from them, and lower interest rates tend to boost stock prices. If people can't earn as much money making loans or investing in them, stocks become relatively more attractive.

The Fed has kept the federal funds rate low for the past decade and hasn't indicated it will raise it anytime soon. Assuming that doesn't change this year, EV stocks should benefit, Whiston said.

A new EV subsidy from the Biden administration

Customers who buy EVs are in some cases eligible for a $7,500 tax credit. But once an automaker sells 200,000 EVs, it's no longer eligible for that tax credit. Tesla and General Motors have both reached that mark.

President Joe Biden has indicated his support for EVs by announcing a plan to make the US government's vehicle fleet completely electric. A new, large subsidy for customers would also be good news for EV makers, Whiston said.

Read more: These 5 auto stocks are better bets than Tesla in 2021, according to Bank of America

Tesla keeps growing

Tesla sparked the run-up in EV stocks last year and, by the end of 2020, its market capitalization was higher than any other automaker's. 

Though Whiston and some otherobservers think it's difficult to justify Tesla's valuation, Tesla has made progress in recent years as it's continued to grow revenue and start earning consistent profits. Continuing that growth and successfully opening the factories it's building in Germany and Texas could keep that enthusiasm alive, Whiston said.

Startups making progress toward their goals

EV startups like Nikola, Canoo, Fisker, and Lordstown Motors have excited investors with their potential to shake up an auto industry still dominated by companies founded during the first half of the 20th century. But since none of those four has started delivering vehicles to customers yet, investors have had to base their bets on what those companies might become, rather than what they are today.

To keep that optimism alive, startups need to show they're making progress toward fulfilling their goals, Whiston said.

Do you work in the EV industry? Do you have a news tip or opinion you'd like to share? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com, on Signal at 646-768-4712, or via his encrypted email address mmatousek@protonmail.com.

• Read more:
• Investors looking to Wall Street's SPAC craze to find the next Tesla should watch out for these 2 risks, experts say
• Elon Musk's move to Texas is a publicity stunt that reveals how Tesla is maturing as an automaker
• Wall Street's new SPAC obsession is a technology Elon Musk mocks as a 'fool's errand.' Here's why investors think he's wrong.
• With Joe Biden in the White House, Tesla can't lose in 2021

Doorvest, a single-family rental proptech startup, announced today that it has raised $2.5 million in a seed round led by early-stage experts Mucker Capital, who helped fund a previous pre-seed round.

The company has now raised $3.6 million, other funders include Invitation Homes co-founder Markus Ridgeway,Adam Nash, the former CEO of Wealthfront, and a slew of family and friends.

The company, founded in 2019, allows users to remotely underwrite, purchase, and manage homes as rental properties. Cofounder and CEO Andrew Luong said the idea came from his own experience building a portfolio of investment properties from afar while working at a few different startups. 

"I saw others that were similar to me," Luong told Insider. "They had the same job title and income as me, had $20,000 to $30,000 saved up, and had the same dreams and aspirations. They traded stocks on Robinhood, invested in crypto, their 401(k), and high-yield savings account — but were thinking about that next level of asset class."

Bea cause he wasn't physically on the ground in the markets where he was buying property, he could identify the challenges finding, buying, and managing real estate. Each step in the process, from sourcing and underwriting to property management, required lots of research and knowledge to execute correctly.

Individuals who wanted to invest in rental properties, especially in the most popular locales, also had to compete with increasingly powerful Wall Street-backed institutional landlords, who leverage in-house property management systems and multimillion-dollar budgets.

Luong decided create a dual online and in-person infrastructure that would streamline the process of owning a rental property. With some angel funding from friends and family, Luong and his cofounder Justin Kasad began to build Doorvest.

Doorvest customers start their home-buying journeys online. After a short assessment of the customer's investment objectives and financial readiness, the customer forks over a deposit. Doorvest's team then searches for a home that fits the investor's criteria, purchases it with a mix of equity and debt, renovates it for some $25,000 to $35,000, and then fully sells it to the customer.

Doorvest then handles the day-to-day operations of the property via a mix of in-house employees and vendors who handle property management and repairs, all while using software to track the asset's performance. Doorvest also guarantees the first year of income. 

The company makes money by charging a premium for their service while purchasing and renovating the asset, and then charging a monthly property management fee. The property management fee is standard for the industry, but the company doesn't charge anything when the house is not generating rental income. That aligns the company with customer incentives when the home is empty, according to Luong, and is a departure from the industry.

Luong said the newest round of funding will be used to grow Doorvest's team, to increase the speed at which customers can move through the home-buying process, and to expand to a second market. Right now, the firm only serves the Houston, Texas, area.

The company also announced its Home Renovation Guarantee, which guarantees the home against wear and tear for the first year. If anything — from an HVAC system to microwave — needs repairs in the first year, the company will fix them with no cost to the homeowner.

Luong walked us through the nine-page pitch deck Doorvest used to raise this round of funding. 

The company had an easier time fundraising because of their performance during the pandemic. Doorvest saw a 32% month-over-month increase in customers, according to William Hsu, co-founder of leading investor Mucker Capital.

The company's mission is to bring financial security to as many people as possible, by making it feasible for them to invest in real estate.

The company highlighted the team that is backing them up, which is full of industry heavyweights.

The problem Doorvest is trying to solve is simple: millennials want to buy real estate, but right now, they feel priced out of the largest source of wealth for Americans.

Doorvest's solution is an end-to-end home purchase and property management platform. They advertise down payments as low as $20,000.

The company decided to focus on full ownership of single-family homes largely because of the tax benefits and government subsidy of mortgages. The cash-on-cash returns and equity build-up doesn't hurt either.

The company identified three major risks: the challenge of building a trusted, memorable brand; the need to use real estate debt to purchase homes; and the challenges of building an operational network that rivals the size of the institutional players but still includes thousands of owners.

Luong said he's "really proud" that a majority of their customers have never previously owned real estate.

The last slide explains exactly why Doorvest needs to raise money: to grow its staff, to operate in new markets, and to work with a larger customer base.

• Trimming your dog's nails with clippers or a grinder helps keep them healthy and prevents painful overgrowth and breakage.
• We tested 15 models to find the best nail clippers for dogs, including options for large and small dogs, guillotine-style clippers, and nail grinders.
• This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Karie Johnson, veterinarian and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit, a mobile vet service in the south suburbs of Chicago.

Keeping your dog's nails trimmed is more important than you might think. Although some dogs wear their nails down naturally if they are very active outdoors, most dogs need regular trims. Too-long nails can curl back and grow into the paw pad — a painful and dangerous condition that requires swift treatment from a veterinarian. Not to mention, long nails can damage wood floors and scratch your arms and legs when your dog jumps up on you.  

Nail clippers for dogs come in several different styles. Plier-style nail clippers work for most dogs. Guillotine clippers are generally best for small- and medium-size dogs. Nail grinders are great for gently filing down the nail rather than cutting through it. 

To find the best nail clippers, I tested 11 different pairs of trimmers and four grinding tools, using them on three dogs with different-size nails. You can read more about our testing methodology and the features that make up a good pair of clippers at the end of this guide.

I consider myself a bit of a nail-trimming expert — check out my guide on how to safely trim a dog's nails. During my eight-year stretch working as a veterinary assistant, I trimmed the nails of thousands of pets. I've also regularly trimmed the nails of my own dogs and cats over the last few decades. For additional expertise on nail trimmers, I consulted pet groomer Cassie Edmond, who is an animal care specialist at the San Diego Humane Society. 

Here are the best dog nail clippers you can buy:

• Best budget nail clippers: Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper
• Best for small dogs: JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper (Medium)
• Best for large dogs: Andis Pet Nail Clipper (Medium)
• Best guillotine clippers: Resco Original Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers (Small/Medium)
• Best nail grinder: Dremel 7760 PawControl Cordless Pet Nail Grinding Kit

The best budget nail clippers

Simple and affordable, the Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper works well for small and medium-size dogs and cuts the nails cleanly.

Pros: Affordable, sharp stainless-steel blades, simple but functional design, safety lock for storage, exceptionally quiet 

Cons: Small blade opening is not ideal for very large dogs or very thick nails, rubber grips sometimes slip down the handle

If you're just starting out trimming your dog's nails, a basic, inexpensive nail clipper is a good option. The Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper stands out for its simplicity, effectiveness, quality, and affordable price. These were the quietest of all the plier-style clippers I tested, something anyone with a skittish dog will appreciate. The blades are sharp and cut smoothly and easily. The metal handle has slip-on rubber grips — not a lot of frills here, but I found them comfortable to hold, although in my experience the grips sometimes slipped down on the metal handles. 

I've used these clippers a lot over the years, especially back when I worked in the veterinary hospital. Even with lots of use, the stainless-steel blades always held up great, maintaining their sharpness for many years. Compared to the similarly priced Furminator Nail Clipper, the Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper is more comfortable to hold, quieter to use, and easier to maneuver around each nail thanks to the size and thinness of the blades. These nail clippers also have a quick-guard safety feature and safety lock for safe storage.

These clippers are small with a narrow blade opening, so they aren't the best choice for very large dogs or dogs with very thick nails, but they worked great when I tested them on a miniature poodle with medium-size nails and a 10-pound mixed-breed dog with small nails.

The best for small dogs

JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper's small handle and cutting blades are perfect for toy breeds and dogs with small or thin nails. 

Pros: Small size perfect for smaller nails, very comfortable to hold, sharp stainless-steel blades cut the nail cleanly

Cons: Not ideal for people with large hands

The JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper in size medium is a great option for little dogs with small or thin nails. I used these clippers on a miniature poodle with medium-sized nails and a 10-pound mixed-breed dog with small nails. JW Pet's gel-like nonslip handle is exceptionally comfortable. The stainless-steel blades are sharp and cut the nail easily and smoothly, and the clippers are fairly quiet. The clippers have a quick guard and lock for safe storage. I always lock my nail clippers after using them to protect the blade. 

Edmond likes using small nail clippers for puppies or dogs whose nails have grown too long and are curling back toward the paw pad because the smaller cutting blades are easier to maneuver around curled nails. 

The JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper is also helpful if you have small hands. On the flip side, if you have large hands you might find the handles difficult to hold. I have medium-size hands and had no problem operating them.

The best for large dogs

With sharp stainless-steel blades and a large tension spring, the Andis Pet Nail Clipper smoothly and easily cuts through big, thick nails. 

Pros: Sharp stainless-steel blades cut smoothly, rubberized grips for comfort and control, quick-stop guard for safety, lightweight, easy to hold, locking mechanism for safe storage, one-year warranty

Cons: None

Big dogs often have thick, large nails, and even some medium-size dogs might have thick nails. The Andis Pet Nail Clipper in size medium easily cuts through large nails, is well constructed, and comes with a one-year warranty. 

I used these clippers on a Labrador retriever. The sharp blade cut her thick nails easily and smoothly, with no shredding or splintering of the nail. The nonslip grip felt good in my hand and the handles are easy to squeeze closed thanks to a large tension spring. These clippers also worked well on a miniature poodle with medium-size nails, so they are versatile. The safety guard prevents overcutting and hitting the quick, and it can be locked in the closed position for storage. 

Interestingly, the Andis Pet Nail Clipper, and our runner-up — the Safari Professional Nail Trimmers— are very similarly constructed. Side by side, they look nearly identical (outside of color), and they are also nearly identical in performance. Both are also very versatile, working well for large as well as small nails. However, the Andis nail trimmers won this category because the brand offers a one-year warranty, and Safari does not, but both are an excellent choice for almost any dog.

The best guillotine clippers

Equipped with replaceable blade technology, Resco Original Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers cut smoothly and quietly. 

Pros: High-quality American steel, sharp blade for a smooth cut, easy to hold and squeeze closed, blade can be replaced with purchase of kit, made in the United States, limited lifetime warranty

Cons: No quick-guard safety feature, not appropriate for very large nails or thick nails

Resco is the inventor of the guillotine-style nail trimmer, which debuted in 1937. I used these clippers on a miniature poodle with medium-size nails and a 10-pound mixed-breed dog with small nails. The Resco Original Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers in size small/medium outperformed the other guillotine-style clipper we tested (the Millers Forge Guillotine Style Pet Nail Trimmer). The Resco blade was very sharp and cut the nail smoothly. In comparison, the blade of the Millers Forge trimmer didn't seem as sharp and didn't cut as smoothly. 

Even though the Resco clippers have no rubber grip on the handles, I found them comfortable to hold and easy to squeeze closed. In comparison, the Millers Forge handles felt a little sticky each time I closed them, which I found distracting.

Designed to last, Resco's chrome-plated American steel nail clipper is manufactured in the United States. When the cutting blade becomes dull, you can purchase a kit that allows you to replace the blade instead of buying a new set of clippers. 

Guillotine clippers cut with less force than is needed with plier-style clippers, but they aren't as strong so don't choose these for dogs with very large nails or very thick nails. They work best on dogs with small or medium-size nails (they are also great for cats). The clippers are very quiet, so dogs that get upset by the loud snapping sound of some plier-style clippers might appreciate these.

Guillotine clippers don't have a quick-guard safety feature, so don't make big cuts; slowly snip off small amounts of nail to avoid cutting the quick. Exercise caution because a dog's nail can get caught in this style of clippers, and if they pull away, they can damage or tear out their nail.

The best nail grinder

With a nail safety guard, paw guide, and wide variety of grinding attachments, the Dremel 7760 PawControl Cordless Pet Nail Grinding Kit is easy to use and works well for professionals and novices alike.

Pros: Quiet, gentle, enhanced safety guards that block all spinning parts, good for novices and professionals, rechargeable cordless operation

Cons: Needs to fully charge before use, instructions require careful review for safe setup and use, grinding heads need occasional replacement

Some nail grinders are marketed specifically to pet owners and others are best for professionals, but our top pick for the best dog nail grinder, the Dremel 7760 Paw Control Cordless Pet Nail Grinding Kit, is ideal for both novice pet owners and professional groomers. 

This cordless grinder is quiet and gentle. I particularly liked the grinding disc (recommended for novice users), which quickly and easily sanded down the nails. The grinding disc is used with both guard attachments, which block all the spinning parts of the tool — something that made me feel quite safe when using it. The enhanced safety afforded by these attachments are main reason this grinder beat out the next closest competitor in the category: the Wahl Battery Nail Grinder. 

The Dremel also comes with band attachments that offer more maneuverability but require more skill and confidence as they cannot be used with the guard attachments. I used this grinder with both options and preferred both the performance and peace of mind of the grinding disc. 

Nail grinders can be used on dogs of all sizes and are effective even on thick nails. I used this grinder on a miniature poodle with medium-size nails and a Labrador retriever with large nails. Nail grinders are great for dogs that don't love clippers as well as dogs with black nails since you can't see the quick. 

"When grooming, 9 times out of 10, I will just grind a dog's nails instead of trimming," Edmond said. "Nail clippers can leave a jagged rough edge on the nail, but a nail grinder can buff out the sharpness and round the nail all the way down to the quick."

I liked the variety of sanding bands and discs that come in the Dremel kit, but the product's real standout is the nail safety guard and paw guide, which helped me attain a good nail trimming angle. Nail grinders do have a learning curve, but Dremel's Quick Start Guide is helpful and clearly recommends specific attachments and speeds for beginning users. As with all nail grinders, the grinding heads need occasional replacement. Professional groomers will need to replace these more often; for pet owners, they should last a long time.

What else we considered

• Safari Professional Nail Trimmers (Medium/Large): This clipper and the Andis Pet Nail Clipper (Medium) are nearly identical in appearance and performance. In this guide, the Andis nail trimmers beat out the Safari trimmers because Andis offers a one-year warranty and Safari does not.
• JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper (Large):  Like other products in JW Pet's GripSoft line, the handle is extra comfortable to hold, but these clippers stick a little after squeezing them. Both the Safari Professional Nail Trimmers and Andis Pet Nail Clipper are superior. 
• Millers Forge Nail Clipper: These trimmers are similar in construction to the Safari and Andis clippers, but they feel lower quality — reflected in the lower price. The handle on the Millers Forge clippers doesn't have a nonslip grip and the clippers lack a quick-guard safety feature. 
• Furminator Nail Clipper for Dogs and Cats: The blade opening of these clippers is somewhat narrow, the handle is small, and I didn't love the nubby grip. Although the safety guard has a unique, adjustable design, I found the guard itself got in the way too much and was hard to move out of the way if I didn't want to use it.
• Four Paws Magic Coat Professional Series Nail Clipper: Although these clippers are perfect for the smallest dogs with the smallest nails, like Chihuahuas and young puppies, the JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper (Medium) is more versatile, working for dogs with small as well as medium-size nails. The handle of the Four Paws scissors-style clippers is very small, so if you have larger hands they may be difficult to use.
• Andis Nail Clipper (Small): These clippers work well for small dog nails and are very comparable to our winner JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper (Medium), which won out due to its extra-comfortable nonslip grip for an easy hold. 
• Millers Forge Guillotine Style Pet Nail Trimmer: The rubber grips on the handles make the clipper stick a little and the grips also slipped down while I was using them. Our top choice guillotine clipper from Resco outperformed this trimmer, which didn't cut the nail as smoothly.
• Wahl Battery Nail Grinder: Comfortable to hold and easy to use, this grinder was a close runner-up to the Dremel 7760 Paw Control Cordless Pet Nail Grinding Kit. The nail safety guard has multiple openings of various shapes and sizes, making it easy to find the ones that worked best for each individual dog's nails. This grinder comes with a grinding stone with a concave top that makes it simple to round the tops of the nails, plus coarse and fine grinding bands. 
• Conair Pro Professional Dog Nail Grinder: This grinder is not cordless, but the cord is sufficiently long and you'll never get caught with an uncharged battery. It's less powerful than the other grinders I tested, so it takes a little longer to grind the nails. However, this could be a positive for novice pet owners who feel intimidated using a powerful grinder. 
• Andis Cordless Dog and Cat Nail Grinder: This nail grinder was easy to use and worked well, but it lacks a nail safety guard, which is a helpful feature, especially for novice users.

How we tested

I tested 11 different pairs of nail trimmers and four grinding tools, using them on three dogs with different size nails: a Labrador retriever with large, thick nails; a miniature poodle with medium-size nails; and a 10-pound mixed-breed dog with small nails. I received editorial review samples from the manufacturers with the exception of the Millers Forge and Resco clippers, which Insider Reviews purchased.

All of the clippers and grinders were tested on the miniature poodle, since he has medium-size nails. Additionally, I tested the small clippers on the small mixed breed and the large clippers and nail grinders on the Lab. Each clipper or grinder was tested at least once per dog, but the front-runners were tested multiple times to narrow down the category winners. I waited several weeks in between testing for the dogs' nails to grow back. 

In general, a good dog nail trimmer should be easy to hold and have a sharp blade for smooth cutting. If your dog has very small or very large nails, choose a nail clipper that correlates. Look for clippers with blades made of stainless steel, which is strong and resists rusting. For timid dogs or those that are reluctant to have their nails trimmed, a quiet nail clipper is a bonus. At the end of the day, though, choosing the right dog nail clipper comes down to how you like using it.

"When trimming your dog's nails at home, the style of clippers you're comfortable handling is what's best," Edmond said. "When I'm grooming, I use the plier-style nail clippers. I like to keep them in different sizes since I groom lots of different kinds of dogs." 

Here are the main attributes we looked for and how we tested them:

Ease of use:I assessed how controlled the clippers felt in my hand and whether they were easy to squeeze closed. When cutting a dog's nails, you don't want to struggle or feel uncomfortable while using a nail trimmer. For nail grinders, I assessed how easy they were to set up, hold, and use. 

Performance: I evaluated each pair of clippers to make sure they worked as advertised. For instance, large dog nail clippers should easily and effectively clip through tough nails, and small clippers should be appropriately sized for smaller nails. For nail grinders, I evaluated how well the grinding bands or discs smoothed out the nails and how loud each grinder was.

Sharpness: Although the cutting blades will inevitably dull over time, they should be very sharp to ensure a swift, clean cut through the nails. Inferior, dull blades tend to shred or splinter the nail rather than slicing clean through. 

Safety: I evaluated the presence and effectiveness of any nail safety guards, as well as the presence of a locking mechanism that allows the clippers to be stored safely in the closed position. For nail grinders, I evaluated the tool's safety options and how safe it felt to operate the tool.

Quality: I assessed the quality of each clippers' materials and construction. A good pair of clippers should feel study and appear to be well made rather than cheap and poorly manufactured, and all parts should function as intended. For nail grinders, I assessed the assembly of the tool and how it felt when using it.

Frequently asked questions about nail trimming

How can I make nail trimming easier?

If you're trimming your dog's nails for the first time, read this guide on how to safely trim a dog's nails. You can also search for videos that further illustrate the process, or ask your veterinarian for a demonstration. "Most dogs can feel when their owner is uncomfortable or not confident in what they're doing so that is most likely when they are going to wiggle and squirm," said Edmond. "Dogs have a quick [vein] inside the nail, which can bleed if cut by nail trimmers."

How often should I trim my dog's nails?

All dog nails grow at different rates, but in general, aim to trim your dog's nails every week or two. The idea is to not let them get too long. As the nail grows longer, so does the quick (the vein inside the nail). If the quick grows too long, it can be difficult to keep the nails trimmed at an appropriate short length. Trimming the nails frequently helps the quick recede. If trimming weekly, you only need to clip the tips of the nails. 

How do I know what kind of nail trimmer to buy for my dog? 

Nail trimmers come in three general styles: plier style, guillotine style, and nail grinder. Plier-style nail trimmers work for almost any dog's nail and come in small sizes for toy breeds and large sizes for large dogs. Guillotine-style are best for small and medium-size dogs with smaller nails. Nail grinders are used to gently file down the nails rather than cut them. Grinders can also be used to buff nail edges smooth after clipping them with a regular nail trimmer.

What do I do if I accidentally cut the quick?

Before you get started, make sure you have some styptic powder on hand like Miracle Care Kwik Stop. If you accidentally cut the quick, scoop up a little powder with your finger and hold it against the nail with pressure for a minute or two until the bleeding stops. When you move on to the next nail, be sure to clip off less so you don't nick the quick again.

How can I get my dog to stand still for nail trims?

If possible, enlist someone to help you trim your dog's nails. It's best to put your dog up on a high surface like a counter or table so they can't try to run away from you. Go slow and use treats and praise. Never attempt to trim your dog's nails if you feel your dog might bite or otherwise harm you. If your dog resists too much, let your veterinarian or a groomer trim the nails. 

Edmond points out that safety is the biggest consideration — both for you and your dog. "There's a viral video going around about wrapping your head in plastic wrap and smearing peanut butter on it to distract your dog while you do the nails," she said. "I very strongly advise against this. This is not safe due to the proximity of your face to your dog's mouth. If you accidentally hit your dog's quick, you don't know how he's going to react. Even the sweetest, calmest dog can bite if hurt." 

A better solution? Smear a very thin layer of peanut butter on a plate on the table and trim the nails while your dog is occupied trying to lick the peanut butter off the plate. This method distracts your dog while also keeping their face away from your face.

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• The best phones have never been more powerful or more attractive looking.
• We've researched and tested dozens of smartphones to bring you the best ones you can buy.
• Among the current iPhone models, the iPhone 12 is our top pick for most people, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best option for Android users. 

You can't go wrong with any of the major flagship smartphones that have been released in 2020 and 2021 so far. You can even get excellent phones for under $500 or less these days.

In this guide, we've selected the absolute best phones we'd recommend to the vast majority of people. We're also recommending the best phones for Android users, photography, battery life, gaming, kids, and the best phone for less.

Here are the best phones:

• Best phone overall: iPhone 12
• Best Android phone: Samsung Galaxy S21
• Best phone for photography: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
• Best phone for battery life: Motorola Moto G Power (2021)
• Best phone for gaming: Asus ROG 3
• Best phone for kids: Google Pixel 4a
• Best phone for less: iPhone SE 2020

The best phone overall

The easiest smartphone to recommend to almost anyone is Apple's iPhone 12. It has the best overall combination of price, design, screen quality, performance, features, battery life, longevity, and camera quality out of any smartphone. 

Pros: Premium design, excellent performance, fantastic camera quality, Apple's ecosystem

Cons: Charger not included, still uses Lightning instead of USB-C for charging, 60Hz iPhone screen is not as smooth and fluid as Android rivals' 90Hz or 120Hz screens

On its own, the iPhone 12 isn't much more special than Android alternatives that also come with top specs and features. The reasons why the iPhone 12 series in general places above Android alternatives as the top overall smartphone is mostly due to the magnificent Apple ecosystem, including AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac computers that connect with each other seamlessly to offer useful features. More unique to Apple is the company's physical presence with its stores that gives users a clear place to go for support.

Another major reason for recommending the iPhone 12 series over Android alternatives is the timely iOS operating system updates that Apple delivers, and iPhones are supported for longer than any Android rival. 

For most people, we recommend the standard $800 iPhone 12 for its value and core feature set rather than the Pro series that start at $1,000. Most importantly, both phones share the same A14 processor, so they have similar performance, if not identical, for running apps and iOS. The extra features you get in the iPhone 12 Pro series mostly focus on enhanced camera hardware and software, like an extra camera lens for zoom, a LiDar scanner for better portrait mode shots in low light, and the Pro RAW mode for finer editing capabilities. Those are great, but aren't necessary for the complete iPhone experience that the iPhone 12 delivers, especially for the Pro series' $200 premium.  

And, for those who prefer smaller phones for one-handed usability, the $700 iPhone 12 Mini with a 5.4-inch screen is an ideal alternative.

The best Android phone

Samsung's Galaxy S21 proves to be the best Android phone you can buy so far in 2021. It has the best balance of design, performance, features, camera versatility and quality, and price than any other Android smartphone.

Pros: Premium design, latest specs and highest performance on Android, triple-lens camera system, reduced pricing compared to last year's generation

Cons: Photos can have an overly processed look, doesn't support Samsung's full 45W charging, 25W charger not included

Indeed, inside the Galaxy S21 is the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor that delivers fast performance. Combined with 8GB of memory (RAM), the Galaxy S21 can easily handle workloads from users who often use and switch between lots of different apps without reloading.

The Galaxy S21 also has Samsung's signature best-in-class display with vibrant colors, dynamic contrast, and incredible brightness. It's a 120Hz refresh rate screen at 1080p resolution, which makes for an ultra-smooth and premium experience while navigating around Android and swiping around apps. At 6.1-inches, the screen and overall size of the Galaxy S21 is best suited for those who like mid-sized phones, as on-screen items are still reachable with your thumbs if you prefer smaller phones that can be used one-handed. If you like larger phones, the Galaxy S21 Plus and its 6.7-inch screen will suit nicely. 

The triple-lens camera system on the Galaxy S21 offers a 12-megapixel (MP) standard wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens with 120-degrees field-of-view, and a 64MP 3x hybrid zoom lens that can go all the way up to 30x digital zoom. Camera quality is as expected from Samsung — that's to say you'll get beautiful photos if you don't mind the occasional over-processed look that can make them appear pre-enhanced. If you have experience with Samsung phones and you've liked the photos they produce, you won't have any issues here. However, if you prefer less processing on your photos, your best bet on Android is going to be Google's Pixel 5. 

You get a big 4,000mAh battery in the Galaxy S21 that will last a full day of varied usage. It can charge at speeds up to 25W, which is fast enough, but Samsung unfortunately has not included a 25W charger with the phone. That means your older charger from your older phone may not charge the Galaxy S21 at its full capable speeds, and you'll have to buy your own charger. It does not support Samsung's 45W charger, either. 

Back to positive news, Samsung dropped the price tag down $200 compared to its previous generation of Galaxy S20 devices, making the Galaxy S21's $800 price tag much more reasonable in the premium Android phone category. That's still expensive, but Samsung announced in August 2020 that it promises to update Android on some of its Galaxy phones for up to three generations of Android. That extends the relevance of the Galaxy S21, as well as the usable lifespan of the device should users want to stay up to date with the latest versions of Android. 

The best phone for photography

Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best phone for photography, and that's largely due to the sheer versatility that its quad-camera lens system has to offer. 

Pros: Widest range of camera lenses, 108-megapixel sensor makes for ultra-detailed photos, best zooming in any phone, 4K and 8K video recording, "pro" mode and and RAW, useful video recording features

Cons: Photos can appear overly processed at times

Indeed, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 108MP standard wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP 3x zoom lens, and a 10x zoom lens that can digitally zoom all the way up to 100x zoom. 

To be sure, the iPhone 12 Pro Max takes great photos that are arguably better than the Galaxy S21 Ultra's, which can seem overly processed at times, but it can't compete against the Galaxy S21 Ultra's specs or versatility.

The 108MP standard lens on the Galaxy S21 Ultra actually takes 12MP photos by default, but users can quickly switch on the 108MP mode that captures more detail. That extra detail becomes apparent when you zoom into a 108MP photo. 

The Galaxy S21 Ultra also has superior zooming capabilities over any other phone we know about. By having two zoom lenses at different magnifications, the Galaxy S21 Ultra can take clear and detailed zoomed photos at a wider range of distance.

But, don't swoon over the Galaxy S21 Ultra's 100x ability — zooming at such distances produces bad, blurry photos with little value. Rather, we've found that zooming up to 30x digital zoom is the limit before photos start to actively look bad. Still, that's more zoom than other phones have to offer.

To top it all off, the Galaxy S21 Ultra can record video at 4K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, and even 8K at 24fps. There are some genuinely useful video recording features here, like the new Director's View mode lets you see what all the camera lenses see, and you can seamlessly switch between each lens, even while recording. You can also record from a rear lens and selfie camera simultaneously.

The best phone for battery life

If battery life matters above all else, Motorola's Moto G Power is the undisputed choice for its extremely long three-day battery life and its excellent value in relation to its performance, camera quality, and design.

Pros: The longest battery life, solid performance, incredible value, large 6.6-inch screen, good camera

Cons: Included charger is slow, no frills or premium features (not expected)

You get a lot of phone for the Moto G Power's starting price of $200 — apart from its huge battery life, the capable and power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 can run almost any app that more expensive phones can, albeit not quite as quickly. It also comes with a good camera, as well as a large, power-efficient 6.6-inch 720p resolution screen.  

But, to maximize power efficiency, you're not getting a lot of frills or premium features, and that's the way it goes if you value battery life. You're not getting super high-resolution displays with high refresh rates, no 5G connectivity speeds, no wireless charging, no NFC for mobile contactless payments, no telephoto or ultra-wide camera lenses, and not the fastest processor. But, you are getting a great, basic core smartphone experience that has arguably all you really need in a smartphone. 

Included with the Moto G Power is a 10W charger that's not especially fast, but the phone supports up to 15W charging speeds, if you happen to have a phone charger that outputs 15W or more.

While three days is the official claim, battery life will likely vary depending on what you do on the phone. If you play a lot of games, you'll surely experience less than three days. Same goes if you're a heavy user who keeps the screen on and runs apps all day. Still, no matter what you do on the Moto G Power, you're still going to get better battery life than any smartphone we know of.

The best phone for gaming

A high-end gaming phone like the Asus ROG III comes with features that mobile gamers will appreciate, like its Air Trigger sensors on the top edge of the phone that act like controller-style shoulder buttons when you hold it horizontally.

Pros: Air Trigger sensors for extra controls on games, offset USB-C charging port, high-end specs tuned for gaming, better cooling than most phones, huge battery, high refresh rate screen

Cons: Phone is very large and heavy, cameras are lackluster, design isn't for everyone

Another of the Asus ROG III's thoughtful gaming-centric features is the offset USB-C charging port that makes it easier to hold the phone in horizontal mode without the charging cable getting in the way. 

The Asus ROG III also comes with high-end specs for high gaming performance, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ that's tuned to run at slightly higher speeds than the standard Snapdragon 865. That extra power from the Snapdragon 865+ causes more heat, which normally leads to processors automatically slowing themselves down to prevent overheating, but Asus thought of that, and this is a gaming phone, afterall. Indeed, the ROG III has better cooling than most normal phones, and it comes with a cooling fan accessory that helps dissipate heat, too. 

The ROG III's screen is also geared for gamers with its high 144Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals in games. It's a 1080p resolution display, which might seem low for such a high-end phone, but it's plenty sharp, and it helps with battery life, too. 

Speaking of battery life, the ROG III has a massive 6,000mAh battery to help power the phone longer than most others while gaming. And, the included 30W charger makes for fast charging.

The best phone for kids

What phone you'd like to give your kids will largely depend on which ecosystem you — the parents or guardians — are entrenched in, whether it's Apple's iOS or Google's Android. It's also wise to get a durable case for the phone, whichever model you go for.

Pros: Less expensive but still great smartphones, smaller overall size

Cons: A little expensive for younger kids

For kids, we're recommending smaller and less expensive phones. That way, they're easier to handle for younger kids, and the blow from kids' phones getting lost or broken will be less impactful. While these are less expensive phones, they're no duds, either. Getting a phone that's too underpowered means it won't last very long in terms of usability, and phones aren't like clothes — they last longer than growing kids' clothing.  

It used to be the case that iPhones were too expensive to realistically suggest for kids, but the $400 iPhone SE changed that. While it's certainly still expensive, it's the cheapest and smallest iPhone that comes with recent specs to ensure longevity. It's the best option for parents or guardians who use iPhones, as they will be familiar with the iOS operating system, ecosystem, and it's easier to get accustomed with the parental controls that are built into iOS. 

The AppleCare+ for iPhone extended warranty is also a good safety net to get for a kid's iPhone, seeing as you get two cheaper repairs up to twice a year and theft/loss coverage.

For Android families, your best bet is the $350 Google Pixel 4a for familiarity with the Android operating system, built-in parental controls, as well as for its relatively low price, good performance, and small size. It has a great camera that punches above its price tag, to boot. 

Google also offers its own extended warranty called Google Preferred Care that gives you up to two incidents of accidental damage.

The best phone for less

If you're looking for a good, simple, inexpensive smartphone, you won't go wrong with the $400 iPhone SE (2020). 

Pros: Good, simple, inexpensive phone, powerful specs, good camera, small size

Cons: Close to one-year lifecycle (new model may be released soon), no 5G, dated design

The latest iPhone SE runs on the same powerful Apple A13 processor as the iPhone 11 that launched at $700 in 2019, which means it'll run any app smoothly. You'll also be happy with Apple's iOS operating system, which can be simple and user-friendly, as well as fully featured and complex should you want to dig in with extra features and settings. To boot, the $400 iPhone SE complements your existing Apple devices (if you own any) with the Apple ecosystem.

Using an iPhone also means you have a clear idea of where to take the phone if you're having problems — the Apple Store. And, if tech-savvy family members or friends aren't available, Apple Store "Genius" employees can help with pretty much anything you'd need with the phone.

Note that the iPhone SE was released almost a year ago, and Apple may release a new model in April 2021. Keep that in mind if you can wait a little bit, otherwise, just get the iPhone SE.

What else we considered

We have tested dozens of new phones over the past year to come up with our top picks. There are many other great options that we haven't included in our top four for a variety of reasons. Here's what else we considered:

The OnePlus 8T didn't quite make it in our list of top phones in this late 2020 round, which is a shocker for anyone following our top picks, as OnePlus phones often feature here. The OnePlus 8T would have been our top choice for Android phones if its camera was a little better. It's not bad, per se, but it tends to process photos even more than the Galaxy S20 FE does, which makes it a second choice for capturing memories. 

We also considered Google's latest Pixel 5, and we recommend it for those who are looking for the best camera quality in any phone. With that said, the Pixel 5's good-but-mid-range Snapdragon 765G processor and performance doesn't pull its $700 weight, especially when other $700 phones come with higher specs. You can read the full Pixel 5 review here. 

We look forward to testing the 2021 flagship phones as they launch

2021 has just begun, and we've already seen the release of one major phone — Samsung's Galaxy S21 series. Later in the year, we're expecting new Pixel phones from Google, Apple, OnePlus, and Motorola.

Don't buy a folding phone — yet

We strongly recommend that you do not buy a foldable smartphone yet. The first couple generations of any new buzzworthy tech product is bound to be chock full of problems, and folding phones are no different.

Are they awesome? Are they fascinating? Are they so weird that they're cool? Yes, but they're just not worth the $1,000+ Samsung and Motorola are charging for them.

There have been numerous reports of the folding screens breaking, creasing, and ceasing to function after just days, weeks, or months of use. The Galaxy Fold famously had to be recalled and re-released with new hardware features to protect the fragile screen.

My advice? Wait for the third or fourth generation of foldable phones. Wait for the tech to be ready, and be prepared to be amazed the first time you fold out a tiny phone and it becomes a tablet.

Check out our other smartphone buying guides

The best cheap phones

Budget phones have never been this good or this affordable.

The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

The iPhone lineup is full of great devices — but which one should you buy? We break it down.

Mega funding rounds, typically defined as those at or above $100 million, fueled some of healthcare's record-breaking investment numbers for 2020. 

Mega-rounds are also the hallmark of SoftBank Vision Fund, the Japanese behemoth well-known for its big bets on ill-fated technology startups like coworking company WeWork, pizza-robotics company Zume, and on-demand dog-walking startup Wag. Its $100 billion Vision Fund I and subsequent Vision Fund II have also made successful bets on companies like Uber and DoorDash under the leadership of Masayoshi Son, its CEO.

Both funds focused on Son's area of expertise within the technology industry, but the funds didn't shy away from other areas of investment that seemed promising, such as healthcare.

Since Vision Fund I got its start, SoftBank has invested in 11 healthcare companies in the US, with several other investments in companies based in Southeast Asia and China. In the US, it has largely focused on backing biotech startups and genomics companies, both of which require large sums of capital to make it through lengthy and expensive regulatory and approvals processes. 

Recently, however, SoftBank has dabbled in digital healthcare. It backed Pear Therapeutics, an app-based treatment tool for people experiencing insomnia or substance abuse disorders, in December in a $112 million round that consisted of two cash infusions 10 days apart, according to Pitchbook data.

All of SoftBank's healthcare investments came in rounds at or above $100 million, the mega-round mark that has defined healthcare investing in 2020, although how much the fund individually contributed is not publicly available. It remains to be seen whether the industry can sustain the same eye-popping growth rate beyond 2020, although other investors have told Business Insider there is little "going back" after the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for innovation within the industry.

That would leave ample room for a giant like SoftBank to influence the future of healthcare with massive infusions of cash.

Using Pitchbook data, Business Insider analyzed SoftBank's biggest bets in healthcare since its inaugural Vision Fund launched in 2017. Investments were made out of Vision Fund I and Vision Fund II.

Here are the 11 healthcare startups backed by SoftBank since 2017.

SEE ALSO: Hims went public after just 3 years. We dug through its financials and spoke with its CEO to find 4 key metrics that could determine the company's success.

Whoop - $100 million

What it does:Whoop makes a health and fitness tracking strap that functions similarly to existing watch fitness trackers. It reportedly helped PGA Tour golfer Nick Watney detect early COVID-19 symptoms by picking up on his elevated respiratory rate. It works with popular fitness app Strava. The strap itself costs nothing and is included with a membership for $30 a month or $288 for one year.

Deal details: On October 28, Whoop raised $100 million in Series E funding at a $1.2 billion valuation from SoftBank and other investors.

Other investors: Kevin Durant, Jack Dorsey, Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, IVP, Silicon Valley Bank, Accomplice VC, Two Sigma Ventures, Atlas Venture, and Thursday Ventures

Pear Therapeutics - $112 million

What it does:Pear Therapeutics offers app-based therapy and tracking tools for patients in treatment for insomnia and substance abuse disorders. According to the company, there was a significant increase in patient activity during the coronavirus pandemic that disrupted people's sleep and led to substance abuse in some cases. The startup has dual headquarters in Boston and San Francisco.

Deal details: SoftBank led Pear's $112 million Series D funding round on December 18. 

Other investors: Novartis, Shanda Group, EDBI, CrimsoNox Capital, Pilot House Ventures Group, 5AM Ventures, Arboretum Ventures, JAZZ Venture Partners, and Temasek Holdings

10x Genomics - $125 million

What it does:10x Genomics makes software for researchers to perform single cell and whole genome sequencing. Its software can be used for immunotherapy and cell therapy research in cancer patients or patients with rare genetic disorders. The Silicon Valley-based company was founded by Serge Saxonov, formerly the founding director of research at consumer genetics company 23andMe. 

Deal details: SoftBank participated in the company's $125 million Series D funding round in 2018 that valued the company at $1.25 billion. It went public in September 2019 and was valued above $3.6 billion in its debut. SoftBank is no longer invested in 10x Genomics.

Other investors: Venrock, Fidelity International, Foresight Capital Management, and Paladin Capital Group

Encoded Therapeutics - $135 million

What it does:Encoded Therapeutics is a gene-editing startup that creates highly specific and highly targeted treatments for patients by drawing insights from troves of genetic data. One of its treatments for a rare form of pediatric epilepsy won permission from the FDA in June to start clinical trials.

Deal details: SoftBank participated in the startup's $135 million Series D funding round in June.

Other investors: GV, Matrix Capital Management, ARCH Venture Partners, Illumina Ventures, Boxer Capital, Nolan Capital, HBM Genomics, Menlo Ventures, and Meritech Capital

Karius - $165 million

What it does:Karius makes a test that it says can quickly detect hard to diagnose infections through a blood sample. Companies championing this technique, called a liquid biopsy, have garnered investor interest over the last 18 months as more dollars pour into testing and diagnostics.

Deal details: SoftBank led its $165 million Series B in February 2020. 

Other investors: Tencent Holdings, Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, Innovation Endeavors, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Spectrum 28, Casdin Capital, and Pacific 8 Ventures

Collective Health - $205 million

What it does:Collective Health is a San Francisco-based startup that works with employers like Uber and Palantir to provide health insurance to employees. It works with employers to build out health plans that fit their needs by adding technology to make things like submitting claims and reading bills easier.

Deal details: SoftBank led Collective Health's $205 million Series E funding round in June 2019. Collective declined to comment on its valuation at the time.

Other investors: Social Capital, Founders Fund, NEA, GV, DFJ Growth, PSP Investments, Rock Health, Redpoint Ventures, Maverick Ventures, and Great Oaks Venture Capital

Tessera - $230 million

What it does:Tessera Therapeutics is a Cambridge-based biotech startup that wants to develop an alternative to CRISPR for gene-editing. Its focus is on writing genes instead of editing them, in hopes that it could create new treatments that rival CRISPR-based tools.

Deal details: SoftBank co-led Tessera's $230 million Series B on December 23. The round came just 6 months after the company's public launch and Series A in July.

Other investors: Altitude Life Science Ventures, Alaska Permanent Fund, Flagship Pioneering, and Qatar Investment Authority

Alto Pharmacy - $250 million

What it does:Alto Pharmacy delivers prescription medications to patients in a handful of cities in the US. It competes directly with retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens in addition to other direct-mail pharmacies like Amazon's PillPack and Amazon Pharmacy. It also provides telemedicine consultations with patients to monitor progress or answer questions about medication.

Deal details: SoftBank led Alto's $250 million Series D funding round in January 2020. In May a spokesperson for the company told Insider that Alto is valued at $700 million.

Other investors: Greenoaks Capital Partners, Jackson Square Ventures, Flight Ventures, Olive Tree Capital, Zola Global, and Samudra Pacific Capital Partners

Vir Biotechnology - $328 million

What it does: Vir Biotechnology is a San Francisco-based immunology company that focuses on treating and preventing infectious diseases, such as HIV, influenza, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis. Vir partners with research organizations across the world to share information and more efficiently develop treatments.

Deal details: SoftBank participated in Vir's $328 million Series B funding round in January 2019, roughly 10 months prior to its IPO in October 2019. In its last private funding round, the company was valued at $1.7 billion. SoftBank is still an investor in Vir through its private equity fund.

Other investors: ARCH Venture Partners and angel investor Jeffrey Huber

Relay Therapeutics - $400 million

What it does:Relay Therapeutics is a biotech company that's trying to capture the motion of protein to develop better cancer drugs. Its computation tools capture movies that show proteins while they're moving in an effort to find mutated proteins that are found in conditions like cancer, an approach that goes beyond the traditional static images of proteins used in other forms of cancer treatment.

Deal details: SoftBank led Relay Therapeutics' $400 million Series C in December 2018. The company went public on July 16 and raised another $400 million in its IPO that valued it above $1.7 billion. SoftBank is still an investor in Relay through its private equity fund.

Other investors: Third Rock Ventures, GE Healthcare

Zymergen - $756 million

What it does: Synthetic biology company Zymergen uses living organisms to create new materials. Synthetic biology involves harnessing the power of cells to make products like less-toxic sweeteners for food or drugs and biodegradable building materials and bags. It was a popular area of investment for VC firms prior to the pandemic as the technology could help combat single-use plastic use.

Deal details: On July 29, the eight-year-old startup raised $350 million in Series D funding from SoftBank and other investors. It had previously invested in Zymergen's $406 million Series C in 2018.

Other investors: Baillie Gifford, Schiehallion Fund, SciFi VC, DCVC Bio, True Ventures, Perceptive Advisors, Baron Funds, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, and MicroVentures

Boeing's latest history-making plane continues to be delayed. 

The Boeing 777X will not be delivered until late 2023, its manufacturer announced on Wednesday, further delaying the aircraft's debut well-beyond the planned time frame of 2020. Boeing attributed the delay to numerous factors including the pandemic, reduced demand, and new certification requirements. 

The twin-engine jet first graced the skies in January 2020 when it lifted off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington following a day of weather delays. A total of four test aircraft now roam the skies, pushing the limits of the aircraft in advance of its certification to fly passengers.

Boeing designed the 777X to be the first next-generation variant of Boeing's popular 777 product line, which first flew in the 1990s and currently sees service with the world's leading airlines. The plane is equipped with new engines developed by General Electric and a longer pair of wings, enabling it to carry more passengers while operating more efficiently than its predecessor aircraft, effectively replacing the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. 

When it first took flight, the 777X became the largest twin-engine jet aircraft to ever fly. Though a milestone aircraft for Boeing, its 2020 aerial debut was hampered by the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max and the subsequent worldwide grounding of the narrow-body jet due to issues with the aircraft's software stemming from its development.

Take a look at the plane Boeing hopes will be its redemption.  

SEE ALSO: See inside the the world's largest private jet: a Boeing 747 with an interior so large it took 4 years to design and build

DON'T MISS: The US military has a fleet of modified Boeing and Gulfstream VIP private jets — here's what they do

Boeing's 777 became popular in the mid-90s as the next step up from its 767. Large twin-engine aircraft were gaining popularity due to their efficiency and changing attitudes toward their safety.

Source: Boeing

Fast-forward to more recent days: Boeing looked back to its famous 777 to see if it could be improved using technology from its latest widebody, the smaller 787 Dreamliner.

Read More: Boeing's revolutionary 787 Dreamliner has changed air travel forever. Here's how the company left competitors in the dust with a risky $8 billion bet.

Source: Boeing

And so, the 777X was born.

Just like the aircraft that came before it, Boeing would create two variants, the -8 and -9.

The -9 aircraft would be the first to be manufactured, with production beginning in October 2017.

Source: Boeing

At 251 feet and 9 inches in the length, the aircraft would be the largest twin-engine aircraft to roam the skies.

Source: Boeing

Its wingspan is almost as wide as the aircraft is long — wingtip to wingtip it spans 212 feet and 8 inches.

Source: Boeing

The aircraft has two different wingspan lengths thanks to a unique feature of the aircraft: the wingtips extend flat before takeoff to improve fuel efficiency.

Pilots activate the function via a switch in the cockpit and retract them right after landing to avoid hitting anything on the ground.

The wingspan with the extended wingtips is 235 feet, nearly enough to fit two Boeing 757 aircraft back to back.

Source: Boeing

While the range of the new -9 and the last generation 777-300ER are comparable, the draw to the new aircraft is its efficiency and extra carrying capacity.

Source: Boeing

The aircraft's increased efficiency and similar range to its predecessors despite the additional load are made possible thanks to General Electric Aviation's GE9X engines.

Source: Boeing

The huge engines are large enough for a Boeing 737 fuselage to fit inside.

The fuel-efficient measures of the aircraft lead Boeing to boast that it will offer 10 percent less fuel burn, emissions, and operating costs.

Source: Boeing

Boeing also estimates that the -9 can carry 426 passengers in a two-cabin configuration, 30 more than the -300ER.

Source: Boeing

Passengers can look forward to larger windows, more natural light, quieter engines, and a more spacious cabin.

Source: Boeing

Its first flight was scheduled for January 24, 2020, three years after production began. That flight was scrapped, however, due to bad weather in the area.

The next day, with the sun shining, the aircraft successfully departed from Paine Field north of Seattle and away from the grounded Max aircraft at Boeing Field.

A monumental day for Boeing, the aircraft performed routine tests before heading back to Seattle.

Source: FlightRadar24

But not before stopping for a photo with Mt. Rainer, a Boeing staple.

The second 777X built by Boeing took flight on April 30, flying for just under 3 hours on its first trip to the skies.

Source: Boeing

The second of four flight test aircraft, this plane will test the 777X's flight handling characteristics and performance capabilities. Boeing flew the plane from its birthplace at Everett, Washington's Paine Field to Seattle's Boeing Field.

Source: Boeing

A third aircraft took flight on August 3, departing from its home at Paine Field and heading as far south as Salem, Oregon before heading home via Spokane, Washington and a few touch-and-go maneuvers at an airport in Moses Lake, Washington.

Source: Flighradar24

This test aircraft will focus on the auxiliary power unit – known as the third engine as it provides additional energy for functions such as engine start – as well as the aircraft's avionics, flight loads, and propulsion performance.

Instead of the Boeing house livery that its predecessors wear, the third aircraft's fuselage is nearly all white with the Boeing logo and other small lettering and branding providing the only color.

The tail, however, remained the same.

The aircraft will continue test flights until it receives certification from the world's aviation regulatory agencies. So far, Boeing has logged around 100 hours of test flying with the new type.

When it does receive the certification, expected to be rigorous following the issues exposed with the Boeing 737 Max certification, deliveries can begin to customers, with Emirates first on the list.

Source: Forbes

Seven other airlines have the aircraft on order including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, Etihad Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

Source: Boeing

As is Boeing's custom, painted on the side of the fuselage of the first test plane are the tails of each airline that has an order in for the plane.

The cost per plane stands at $442.2 million, but some airlines receive discounts for buying in bulk.

Source: Boeing

For the majority of the airlines in the list, an Airbus aircraft serves as the flagship, though the 777X will likely take that spot.

The first delivery – and likely the first passenger flight – of the aircraft is now expected in late 2023 following pandemic-related delays.

Read More: Boeing's Washington facilities closed indefinitely due to COVID-19. Take a look at the greatest successes and failures which were built there.

"This schedule, and the associated financial impact, reflect a number of factors, including an updated assessment of global certification requirements, the company's latest assessment of COVID-19 impacts on market demand, and discussions with its customers with respect to aircraft delivery timing," Boeing said in a statement.

Until then, Boeing can revel in its accomplishment of building the world's largest twin-engine jet as the next step towards redemption for the troubled manufacturer.

• Dumbbells are a great fitness tool for building and maintaining strength, perfect on their own or as a complement to a home gym setup.
• We talked to personal trainer, Chris Parnell, about what to look for in a set of dumbbells and how to properly use them. 
• Our top pick, the Powerblock dumbbells, essentially replace 28 separate pairs of weights and feature adjustments from 5 to 90 pounds. 

Editor's note: Due to the constant fluctuation of online inventories, we're doing all we can to keep up with out of stock items or those available in limited supply. We review each product's availability weekly to assure each guide is properly updated, though sometimes this means one or more of the included items may be sold out, or available via a third party. 

I remember my first pair of dumbbells clearly. I was a freshman in high school who just joined the wrestling team and my mom gifted me an off-brand pair of steel handles you loaded with weight plates. I'd stow them underneath the staircase of my basement and, after dinner, I'd curl, press, and row them for an entire episode of Scrubs. Even today, those dumbbells still bring so much value to my fitness routine.

Despite my love for these now-archaic dumbbells, the market's changed considerably. Brands like Bowflex or Powerblock ushered in a new era of the at-home dumbbell with options that are as effective as they are efficient. Forget loading your own plates, today's dumbbell design ventures far beyond that — and for good reason, too. 

To get a taste of those design changes, and to find the best currently available, I tested upwards of a dozen sets of dumbbells over the last several months. Though the models I ended up choosing look far different from what I used growing up, they still achieve the same results — and are valuable additions to anyone's home gym.

At the end of this guide, I've included some tips on how to properly use dumbbells, as well as a recommended workout from personal trainer, Chris Parnell. You'll also find insight into what to consider while shopping, along with the specific testing methodology I used when choosing which dumbbells to feature. 

Here are the best dumbbells:

• Best dumbbells overall: Powerblock
• Best app-connected dumbbells: Bowflex SelectTech 560 Dumbbells
• Best for comfort: Thompson Fat Bells
• Best budget dumbbells: Titan Fitness Loadable 20" Olympic Dumbbell Handles
• Best traditional dumbbell set: CAP Barbell 150-pound Dumbbells

Best overall

Powerblock's dumbbells are highly versatile in that they offer a wide range of weight variation in just one, easy-to-stow form factor — if you can find them for sale, buy them.

Pros: Max weight of 90 pounds, relatively affordable, sturdy and natural feeling

Cons: Slightly awkward weight-changing mechanism, may be a little long at max weight

The first time I saw these sitting in a weight room, I figured they'd be horribly awkward to lift. The rectangular dumbbells appear large and clunky, but I was surprised by how well they moved during workouts like Romanian deadlifts or chest presses. 

Like the Fatbells below, Powerblock dumbbells feature a handle that's more centered in the apparatus. The weight surrounds your hands on all sides and as a result, they feel comfortable to move. They're also constructed from steel, making them feel stronger and sturdier compared to other options built from plastic.

My favorite aspect of these dumbbells is that they're able to load up to 90 pounds, which is enough to ensure you get plenty of mileage out of them as you get stronger. I've used these sparingly but they will, without a doubt, be my first purchase when I start building my ultimate home gym. 

To be finicky, I'd say the selecting mechanism isn't as efficient compared to Bowflex's dial system. With Powerblock, you select the weights directly on the bell with a vertically-set pin. Changing the weight requires you to pull the pin from the side of the bell and move it either up (lighter) or down (heavier). While it's not as smooth to use as a dial, it's not a complete dealbreaker.

The weight plates still sit on either end like a standard dumbbell, so despite looking foreign, they feel familiar and aren't any more substantial than a heavy pair of dumbbells. Overall, these will save you from buying 28 pairs of individual dumbbells — or roughly 2,565 pounds of weights. That's thousands of dollars of savings on its own.

Powerblock's Home Rack Stand, which the brand sells for $179, makes it far easier to hoist the weights onto your lap or shoulders for presses. It's not a necessity but having used the stand myself, I recommend it.

Best app-connected dumbbells

If you're a techie, or simply meticulous about tracking sets and reps, the Bowflex SelectTech 560 app-connected bells are for you.

Pros: Tracks sets and reps via a companion app, space-saving, easy to change weight

Cons: Max weight of 60 pounds

These dumbbells pair via Bluetooth to the Bowflex app which allows them to automatically record lifted weight, as well as all sets and reps per exercise. This is useful for tracking total volume, especially when your progress is smaller.

Other than the Powerblocks, these are the only other adjustable dumbbells on our list. They're not as sturdy as our overall pick, though they're a solid pair of dumbbells that look sleek and save a ton of space. They also come with a floor stand for better storage.

The knurled handle provides plenty of grip and the square plates on each end feel secure for even more dynamic movements like snatches and cleans. Also, the squared-off shape of the weights keep you stable while doing pushups.

Compared to Bowflex's SelectTech 552 dumbbells, which only go up to 52.5 pounds, these adjust to an even 60 pounds. That's a decent amount of weight for most people and should serve you well for almost any exercise. Do keep in mind that as you get stronger over time, there's a decent chance you'll outgrow these weights and need more than 60 pounds in a dumbbell.

Best for comfort

You won't find these in any commercial gym but the Thompson Fat Bells are an innovative take on the classic dumbbell.

Pros: Very comfortable, more natural to lift, made from durable cast iron

Cons: Expensive, have to buy multiple pairs, not space-friendly

The handle is inside a spherical weight, which centers the load entirely and evenly around your wrist. This allows the dumbbell to feel more comfortable and natural.

Invented by powerlifting legend Donnie Thompson in 2006, Fat Bells are a unique take on the kettlebell — though, to me, they're interchangeable with dumbbells, too. As Thompson explains on Rogue.com, "it's a perfect geometric shape for maximizing optimal performance." Your hand is an equal distance away from every portion of the sphere for a perfect geometrical design.

What I like about these is that you're able to become one with the weight. Instead of holding a clunky piece of iron, you have a compact load you'll hardly notice —other than the fact it's heavy. They do feel slightly off at first due to the fact you're not used to where the weight is centered but you'll get over that quickly. I like to use them for moves such as chest presses and rows, since I typically go heavier, and these feel more secure.

Fat Bells aren't cheap and you'll most likely need to buy more than one pair. If you're looking to splurge on your home gym, I'd say opt for one moderate pair (35-50 pounds for men and 15-35 pounds for women) so you have the most versatility with them. 

Best on a budget

Though these dumbbells from Titan Fitness require you to buy weight plates, the handles themselves are one of the best deals you'll find.

Pros: Inexpensive, can handle as much weight as you own, great grip, space-friendly

Cons: Requires weight plates, not as easy to load as adjustable dumbbells

I'd never used this brand personally but the loadable handle on these is very similar to the pair I own. The biggest plus is how affordable they are compared to other options. Of course, you'll have to buy weight plates but if you're a home-gym owner, there's a good chance you have some sitting around already. If that's the case, these are your best bet. We also recommend investing in a set of barbell collars to stop the weights from sliding off of the handles.

The sleeve, or end of the dumbbell, fits standard Olympic weight plates. If you already own a squat rack and a barbell, then the plates you have should suffice — though it's worth it to double-check before purchasing. Another plus is that these handles from Titan Fitness are 20 inches, meaning you're able to load them with a lot of weight. If you're a stronger lifter, then you won't be limited to just 90 pounds for moves like rows and chest presses. For reference, many powerlifters and bodybuilders can press and row weights well over 100 pounds.

Lifting dumbbells loaded with Olympic plates can make some exercises awkward. The plates are large enough in diameter compared to typical dumbbells they're able to disrupt your range of motion. This tends to be problematic for moves like curls, lateral raises, and extensions while chest presses and rows should be unaffected. Another minor nitpick is that having to manually load plates manually isn't as easy as using adjustable dumbbells. 

Best traditional set

The CAP Barbell 150-pound Dumbbell set (with rack) is a great starter set for beginners and feels (and looks) the most familiar. 

Pros: Feels familiar, great grip, stable when lifting

Cons: Have to buy multiple pairs which can get expensive, takes up a lot of space, included weight only goes up to 25 pounds

Practically speaking, these aren't the best dumbbells you can buy but, as the saying goes, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. These dumbbells don't offer any sort of fancy weight mechanism or require a complicated method for use —and that's their major appeal.

The handles are nicely knurled (i.e. they feature a pattern of angled lines etched into the steel of the dumbbell) so they won't slip out of your hands, and the hexagonal rubber ends won't roll around on the floor. From personal experience, I like using this type of dumbbell for heavy chest presses since they feel stable in my hands and the weight is more evenly distributed compared to the modern models in this guide.

Now, the downsides: You have to buy multiple pairs to have access to a variety of weight. This means the cost adds up rather quickly. Plus, the more dumbbells you own, the more space it'll take up, so you'll likely have to buy a dumbbell rack to hold your increasing collection.

Many of the most affordable sets, like our pick here, only go up to 25 pounds. This is great for exercises like curls, light presses, or squats, but it's likely you'll graduate from that weight quickly. But if it's familiarity you seek, this is the set for you. 

How to properly use dumbbells

Getting that toned look most people covet comes down to reducing body fat percentage and gaining muscle mass. The former comes down almost entirely to your diet, while gaining muscle involves a balanced weight-training regimen in addition to the diet.

You'll want to focus on two things:

1. Placing tension on your muscles by lifting weight
2. Increasing the total volume (or, amount of weight lifted) over time

To find this, multiply your total reps for one exercise by the amount of weight used. For example, if you do dumbbell chest presses for three sets of 10 reps with 50 pounds, multiply 30 (sets times reps) by 50 to get 1,500 pounds for that exercise. If you were to lift 55 pounds for just one of your sets next week, you'd increase your total volume to 1,550.

Your goal for each workout should be to slightly increase your volume for each move. Add volume by adding weight or increasing your total reps. 

A general rule of thumb is to find a weight you're able to use for three sets of eight reps. Add one rep to each set each week and once you reach 12 reps, add five pounds and start back at eight reps. It's good to have a light, moderate, and heavy pair of dumbbells if this is your primary source of exercise. That way, you can increase your total volume without having to pump out an insane amount of reps with a lighter pair.

Our personal trainer's workout

Below, Parnell outlines a workout that you can do with one pair of dumbbells. Complete eight repetitions for each move and rest as little as possible between exercises. After the final move, rest for 90 seconds.

"This style of workout is used to promote blood flow throughout the body, making your system work a little harder and allowing you to burn more calories," Parnell explains. 

Equipment: One pair of dumbbells

Reps per exercise: 8 (per individual arm or leg where noted)

Rest between rounds: 90 seconds

Rounds: 4

The moves:

Front squat: 8 reps.

Standing shoulder press: 8 reps.

Bent over row: 8 reps.

Reverse Lunge: 8 reps each leg

Pushup: 8 reps

Renegade Row: 8 reps each arm

Romanian Deadlift: 8 reps

Biceps Curl: 8 reps each arm

Dumbbell Thruster: 8 reps

How to shop for dumbbells

Before you start the process of finding a set that's right for you, it's important to know what a dumbbell is and why they're an important investment for your home gym. Put plainly, a dumbbell consists of a central handle with weight on either end capable of ranging anywhere from 5 to 100 pounds.

Dumbbells are a versatile foray into weight training for beginners, too. Anything you're able to do with a barbell, you can do with a dumbbell— albeit with lighter weight. Lifting dumbbells is a great way to teach yourself moves like the squat, overhead press, and row before graduating to the heavier weight a barbell often affords. They're also less cumbersome than barbells and much easier to store in your home or apartment. 

More advanced trainees benefit from the fact dumbbells allow you to better isolate your muscles unilaterally (one side at a time), as your right and left sides need to work independently to balance the weights. In turn, you'll strengthen your weaker side, which translates to stronger and more efficient lifts overall.

According to Chris Parnell, a trainer at Soho Strength Labs in New York City, lifting with dumbbells is also a great way to give your abs extra attention. He asserts that, compared to barbells, dumbbells challenge your body's stability more. With a barbell, you work with a singular mass versus the dumbbell that uses two separate masses.

"Dumbbells provide the beginner or advanced lifter with an opportunity to exercise using compound movements [moves that move more than one joint at once] with low to high intensity using two separate masses," Parnell told Insider.

How we test dumbbells

Each set of dumbbells in this guide went through a series of tests to see how well they compared across these four categories: Design, quality, portability, and value. Here's how each category specifically factored into which dumbbells made this guide:

Design: Dumbbell design is mostly straightforward, though unique innovation from brands like Powerblock and Bowflex have turned the humble dumbbell into a versatile all-in-one gym. What I mean by this is that both of the dumbbells featured in this guide from those brands are designed to be several sets of dumbbells in the form of just one set. This means you don't have to buy a set of 5 lb weights, a set of 15 lb weights, and a set of 25 lb weights. You buy either of those and you have the adjustability to hit any weight you'd need. The design choices I looked for in standard dumbbells were how well they felt while holding and if they were versatile for a variety of lifts. 

Quality: Most steel dumbbells feature a quality that allows them to last literal decades (if taken care of) before you'd even need to think about replacing them. Because of this, it's easy to spot a dumbbell that's made of anything other than quality metal. Thankfully, this never was an issue during testing. This category was useful when judging how well the adjustable systems of the Bowflex and Powerblock dumbbells would hold up over time. 

Portability: Yet another category where praise heaps onto the adjustable dumbbells is portability. When you're forced to buy multiple sets of dumbbells in different weights, the problem of how to store them can add up quite quickly. Though some come with their own stand like the traditional set from CAP, not all options are that convenient. 

Value: Considering how expensive dumbbells can get when buying multiple sets (and especially when stock is low and demand is high), value is a key component. But it's also important not to buy an inferior set if it's your only option. I view value as the combination of the categories listed above as well as its final sticker price — and feel that spending more on a quality product is better than spending less, more often on something that's second-rate.

• Ring lights provide an even, soft, and flattering glow — a look popular in YouTube makeup tutorials.
• The IVISII has removable colored panels and comes with everything else you need to get started.

A ring light, as the name suggests, is a donut-shaped light that allows the camera to shoot through the hole in the center. The shape of the light allows for soft illumination of all sides of the subject without producing any harsh shadows, which is why this type of light is so popular for YouTube makeup artists. The circular catchlight in a person's eyes and the halo of light falloff on the background are other signature effects.

A ring light is also unique in how it is positioned. Where standard video lights are often placed at an indirect angle to the subject, the ring light encircles the camera lens and directly lights the subject. This is what provides such an even, flat light, but it's also why ring lights aren't suitable for every type of video. Without shadow, you lose contour and dimensionality — making you look flat in a, say, video conference — but that's exactly what you want if your goal is to show off the effect of makeup in creating contour and dimensionality.

Ring lights can be either flashes or constant lights, but we're only concerned with the latter here as we're looking at lights for video, not still photography. These are almost always made from LEDs and may be powered by batteries, wall power, or both. We're also focusing on lights measuring between 10 and 19 inches. Smaller models are available, like clip-on ring lights designed specifically for phones, and while these can create the classic ring-shaped catchlight, they won't deliver the same light quality as larger ring lights. Find out more about what to look for in a ring light.

Here are the best ring lights

• Best overall: IVISII 19-inch ring light
• Best budget: AIXPI 10-inch LED Ring Light
• Best mid-range: Godox LR120 12-inch Bi-Color LED Ring-Light
• Best for professionals: Westcott 18-inch Bi-Color LED Ring Light
• Best with wide color gamut: NanLite Halo 16C Bi-Color and Tunable RGBWW 16-inch LED Ring Light

The best ring light overall

With swappable color panels, adjustable brightness and color temperature, this ring light gives you everything you need to get started, including a stand.

Pros: Ready-to-go package with light stand included, fun multi-colored diffusion panels, bright output, broad color temperature range

Cons: Batteries sold separately, reports of unreliable wireless remote

Loved by vloggers and makeup artists, the IVISII 19-inch ring light is one of the most recommended options. What makes it such a strong choice is that it includes everything you need at a fair price, with a light stand, camera mount, phone mount, and wireless remote control in the box. There's even a USB port so you can keep your phone charged while using it. The one thing not included are batteries, which are sold separately (the light can also be plugged in to the wall).

Like most LED ring lights, the IVISII features both adjustable power (0 to 100%) and adjustable color temperature (3000K to 5800K; K represents Kelvin). With 60-watt total power available, it can get extremely bright, while the wide color temperature range means you can easily match it to the ambient light, whether that be from warm incandescent bulbs (3200K) or sunlight (5600K). Color accuracy is also very good, with a color rendering index, or CRI, of 97, meaning colors should be faithfully reproduced on camera.

But beyond simple color temperature adjustments, the IVISII takes things a step further with interchangeable diffusion panels. Red, blue, and green panels are included, opening up some creative choices beyond the default white panels. Each panel covers a quarter of the ring light, so you can mix and match up to four different colors. (If you need greater color control, check out the NanLite Halo 16C on our list.)

While the IVISSI ring light seems to be almost universally loved, one relatively common complaint is about the remote control, which does not seem to work as reliably as the rest of the light. Rest assured, you can also make all of the necessary adjustments from the light itself, where the illuminated display makes it clear what your settings are.

The best budget ring light

This simple, easy-to-use light has everything that phone videographers need to get started.

Pros: Tabletop stand included, simple operation, very affordable

Cons: Limited color temperature choices, limited power choices, no battery support

The AIXPI 10-inch ring light is a no-brainer and affordable option that offers three color temperatures ("white,""warm white," and "warm yellow") and 10 brightness levels. It includes a phone bracket and small tabletop light stand, making the entire package relatively compact and easy to set-up and take-down. That's great for content creators working from their home dinner table or countertop. USB power rounds out the feature set, keeping your phone charged while you work.

While this light is very popular, it's important to note that it falls very short of the features and flexibility of other ring lights on this list. With only three color temperature positions, you may run into problems matching the color to ambient lights. Likewise, the 10-step power adjustment doesn't offer the granular control of other ring lights. Battery support is also absent.

On the plus side, the limited choices might make this light feel easier to use for beginners or anyone who finds color temperature confusing. If you're fine with "close enough," then this AIXPI ring light may be perfectly suitable for you.

This is also the cheapest light on the list, below even our budget recommendation above, which is especially impressive considering it includes a stand (albeit, not a full-height one). If you're looking for a ring light you can start using straight out of the box with very little hassle, this one is a good choice. Just know that for a few dollars more, you can get a much more capable model.

The best mid-range ring light

You get a broad color temperature range and you can't argue the price of this ring light, but you will lose out in color accuracy and accessories.

Pros: Inexpensive, wide color temperature range, good for casual phone users

Cons: No battery support, no camera mount, relatively low color accuracy

For a fraction of the cost of some options, the Godox LR120 12-inch ring light gives you an impressive color temperature range of 3000K to 6000K. Ideal for phone cameras, power can be adjusted from 10% to 100% offering 10W peak — well below the IVISII light, our overall pick, but sufficiently bright for most applications. Like many modern ring lights, the LR120 also has a USB port that can charge your phone.

But as we would expect given the low price — only our budget pick is cheaper, but doesn't offer as wide of a color temperature range — this light falls short on many other features. It has no option for battery power, no accessory mounts, and while it does include a flexible phone mount, it does not offer a traditional camera mount — you'll have to use a separate tripod if you want to use it with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Likewise, a light stand is not included, so that's another accessory you'll need to buy if you don't already own one. Fortunately, light stands can be very inexpensive, so the total cost should still be below most other ring lights.

One other area where the Godox light looks to fall short is with color accuracy. Its CRI is rated at 90. All things considered, that's not bad for the average person, but professional or discerning content creators who want a truthful color reproduction may want to avoid this light.

At the end of the day, this is a fantastic little light for the price, making it a great option for budget-conscious content creators or anyone who just wants to experiment with a ring light to see what it's all about.

The best professional ring light

This 18-inch ring light from a respected name in photographic lighting offers color accuracy and comes with a light stand and batteries.

Pros: Two cold-shoe mounts, comes with batteries and stand, includes camera mount and two different phone mounts

Cons: More expensive than other ring lights

Without interchangeable color filters, the Westcott 18-inch ring light may not be as exciting as the popular IVISII model above, but it offers great light quality and solid build from a respected brand among professional photographers and videographers. While certainly not the cheapest option on this list, the Westcott light includes a 6.5-foot stand and two batteries capable of powering the light for 70 minutes at full power (wall power is also available).

Power can be adjusted in one-step increments from 0% to 100% and color temperature spans 3200K to 5600K, adjustable in small 25K increments. That gives you an incredible amount of control to fine tune the output of this light. Combined with a CRI of 97, the Westcott ring light should have no trouble reproducing colors accurately.

One of the more unique features of this light is in the mounts. You can attach a standard camera using a ball head, or swap in one of two phone mounts, either a basic clamp mount or an interesting gooseneck mount that lets you position the phone more freely. The light also incorporates two cold shoes for attaching other accessories, such as microphones. If you use your phone, you can also keep it charged via the built-in USB port.

The light and all of its accessories conveniently fit into a slim carrying case for portability, making this a good choice for creators working in multiple locations, or just anyone who wants to be able to stow their gear out of the way when not in use.

The best ring light for color

With more than 360 colors to choose from, this ring light lets you set the mood to your liking.

Pros: Full RGB color control, wide color temperature range, touch sliders for brightness and color adjustments

Cons: No traditional camera mount, no battery support, expensive

The NanLite Halo 16C is a 16-inch, 31-watt ring light with a very cool trick up its sleeve: full red, green, and blue (RGB) color control from its LEDs. In addition to a very wide color temperature range of 2700K to 6500K, that means it can create more than 360 different colors, giving you the perfect way to show off your RGB-equipped gaming rig when live-streaming to Twitch.

The Halo 16C is one of the most expensive ring lights on this list, and that price is all wrapped up in those multi-colored LEDs. As far as accessories and other features go, you get a phone bracket, carrying case, and even a mirror — but that's it. There's no light stand, no camera mount, and no battery support. And while it can make a bunch of different colors, actual color reproduction is slightly below the top-rate lights on this list, with a CRI range of 95, which should still be fine for most content creators.

This ring light does have one other unique feature, though. In addition to standard button controls on the back of the light, it has touch sliders on the side designed to be used while you're sitting in front of the light. One slider controls brightness (from 0% to 100%) and the other controls color temperature or RGB color, depending on the mode the light is in. This is a nice convenience feature that means you don't have to spin the light around to make changes, and can see the effect of your adjustments right away.

What to look for in a ring light

When it comes to buying a ring light, there are a number of things to consider. Is it the type of look you are going for in your video, or are you better served by another type of lighting?

Price can vary wildly, so it's important to look closely at the specs. Some lights offer optional battery power, but not all battery-powered lights include the batteries. Some come with light stands, while others do not.

Generally speaking, a bigger ring light is preferable to a smaller one as it will result in softer light from a farther distance, but smaller lights are more portable.

Color temperature, measured in Kelvin, is another important factor. Somewhat counterintuitively, a low color temperature (~3200K) produces a warmer (more orange) light, while a high color temperature (~5600K) produces a cooler (bluer) light. All of the lights on this list are bi-colored LEDs, with an adjustable temperature range that lets you match the color of the ambient light in your environment — but that range varies from model to model, so look at the numbers. Some ring lights go beyond standard color temperature by offering red, green, and blue color control, either through clip-on diffusion panels or with RGB LEDs built into the light itself.

Color accuracy (measured in CRI or TCRI) is another variable in ring lights, but most models easily achieve high enough scores for the majority of content creators. If you're concerned about truly accurate color reproduction, though, look for the highest CRI you can find.

• Otherland is an up-and-coming startup lauded for its beautifully packaged and fragranced candles.
• Candles come as a three-piece set for $89 or individually for $36. 
• You can even customize the matchbox that comes with the candles, making it the perfect gift for a loved one. 

I know what you're thinking. 

Does the world really need another fancy candle brand? Isn't that market saturated enough? 

Well, yes, and hear us out — because we wouldn't be writing this article if we didn't think this particular company was doing something special. 

Otherland, a relatively new startup, is making some of the most beautifully packaged and scented candles we've seen in a long time, and at an accessible price point ($36 each) when compared to luxury brands like Diptyque and Byredo. The soy and coconut wax base burns for 55 hours (a definite selling point if you ask me), and the candles can be bought in custom three packs ($89) or individually ($36). A selection of candles is also available online at Sephora and in its brick-and-mortar stores — the first direct-to-consumer candle startup to be sold at the beauty mega-retailer.

Previously the art buyer for Ralph Lauren's stores and restaurants, Otherland founder Abigail Cook Stone has always known the importance that visuals play in our lives. Stone created this line of colorful candles with that in mind, understanding that even the smallest things, when well-crafted and beautiful, can bring so much delight and energy into our space. 

In addition to their base offerings, Otherland often has special packaging for holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Right now for Valentine's Day, you can choose between two whimsically illustrated gift boxes in addition to a custom matchbox and a sweet note for the finishing touches to the perfect gift.

The brand also cycles through seasonal collections — and they never disappoint. 

The current collection is the Manor House Weekend Collection inspired by cool weekends in the countryside and full of sweet and fresh fragrances like corn, hay, lilies, and burnt maple. Previous offerings like the Gilded Collection featured smoky and sweet scents not unlike a Narnian Christmas-tree forest; a collection inspired by the beach included notes like sea salt, cucumber, and even tennis balls; and a 90s-inspired collection mixed citrus, musk, and florals that brought to mind blue jeans, glossy lips, and pastels.

When you open an Otherland candle, you're met with something so meticulously designed you'd think a jeweler was presenting you with a rare gem. Bright pops of color, be it from a seasonal collection's all-over color theme or the base collection's logo design, immediately grip you. And just as stunning as the packaging are the delicious fragrance combinations that are designed to transport you to "other lands." 

The presentation experience when you shop from the "gift" page includes the option of custom gold foil messaging on a set of matches and is what really sets these candles apart. There is such joy in the process of unwrapping, opening, smelling, and lighting them that we've bought multiple sets as gifts for just about every occasion. 

Check out all the scents Otherland has to offer below.

The Core Collection: Kindling

Core Collection: Kindling, $36

The scent includes notes of wood, clove, and smoke.

The Core Collection: Canopy

Core Collection: Canopy, $36

The scent includes notes of fig, ivy, and fresh greens.

The Core Collection: Rattan

Core Collection: Rattan, $36 (currently sold out)

The scent includes notes of sandalwood, golden amber, and musk.

The Core Collection: Daybed

Core Collection: Daybed, $36

The scent includes notes of rosebud, peonies, and florals.

The Core Collection: Chandelier

Core Collection: Chandelier, $36

The scent includes notes of champagne, saffron, and leather.

Manor House Weekend Collection: Crisp Cornflower

Manor House Weekend Collection: Crisp Cornflower, $36

This scent includes notes of corn silk, golden husk, and water lily.

Manor House Weekend Collection: Cardamom Milk

Manor House Weekend Collection: Cardamom Milk, $36 (currently sold out)

This scent includes notes of frothy milk, cardamom, and praline woods.

Manor House Weekend Collection: Mountain Lace

Manor House Weekend Collection: Mountain Lace, $36 (currently sold out)

This scent includes notes of elderflower fizz, anjou pear, and apple blossom.

Manor House Weekend Collection: Dappled Wood

Manor House Weekend Collection: Dappled Wood, $36

This scent includes notes of sandalwood, toasted walnut, and sweet hay.

Manor House Weekend Collection: Sun Suede

Manor House Weekend Collection: Sun Suede, $36

This scent includes notes of salty saffron, pink peppercorn, and white suede.

Manor House Weekend Collection: Tapestry

Manor House Weekend Collection: Tapestry, $36

This scent includes notes of burnt maple, smoky oud, and vetiver.

Apple is building new health sensors and algorithms.

With Fitbit, Google can help researchers study diseases and test the effects of new medicines.

Tech giants are pushing into remote care as phones, gadgets, and apps play a bigger role in the way companies and people manage health. Scientists are leaning on more iPhones and gadgets to collect data in clinical trials, for example. Startups using mobile apps to care for folks with chronic conditions are taking off.

And consumers are driving interest in health-tracking wearables, a market that's expected to reach $29 billion by 2022. 

Read more:How tech titans like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are taking on the $3.6 trillion healthcare industry

In 2020, big tech made huge strides into "wearables," telehealth, and other tech that facilitates virtual doctors' visits and manages patients' care while they're at home. What they're doing with the data varies from company to company, but it's commonplace to use consumer-generated health information to improve internal algorithms at the very least.

Read more:Here are dozens of open healthcare jobs at big tech firms like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Verily. They reveal expansion plans and new priorities as tech giants push into the industry.

Here are their biggest bets on devices and programs that track people's health. 

Amazon is standing up a primary care business and investing in devices like Halo that can share data with doctors and electronic medical records.

Amazon is going deep into the business of health devices. 

Alexa devices are HIPAA-compliant, serving health plans like Anthem, digital health companies like Livongo, and providers like the Mayo Clinic. They can read off post-operative instructions and blood sugar levels.

How much Alexa data shows up your Amazon shopping can depend on user consent. For example, customers can delete voice recordings or not have them saved in the first place. But other features, like product recommendations based on delivery orders through Alexa, are automated.

Read more:Amazon is going deeper into the prescription drug business. Here are the 7 ways the tech giant is taking on healthcare, and why two analysts think doctors visits are next.

Amazon's arrival to the wearables game, Halo, can measure exercise, sleep, and tone of voice. Users can opt to share their body fat data with doctors who use Cerner, an electronic medical records company. They can also link their Halo account with Cerner programs that reward exercise and sleep. In the future, the device could be used in clinical research or remote care, which is the case with Fitbit and the Apple Watch.

A review by The Washington Post called the device the most invasive it's ever tested, sending, for example, 360-degree photos of barely-clothed participants to Amazon's cloud for fat percentage analysis. It's an optional feature, and Amazon says that it doesn't sell Halo data or use it for marketing, product recommendations, or advertising. Tone speech samples and body scan images are automatically deleted after processing. But the tech giant can use other kinds of Halo data to improve the service's machine learning algorithms. 

Amazon also seems to be getting into the business of providing medical care more directly.

It's building out Amazon Care, as Insider reported, from an employee pilot to a national business. It works through mobile apps to give employees remote and in-person visits with doctors and nurses, and grew out of an internal desire to cut healthcare costs. Amazon hasn't confirmed its expansion plans, and it's not clear whether the service will incorporate continuous data monitoring. 

Read more:Amazon wants to provide medical care to workers at major companies. Here's an inside look at Amazon Care.

Amazon's also working through Crossover Health, a California-based healthcare startup, to roll out coronavirus vaccines and set up clinics for employees near fulfillment centers in five cities. The clinics do mental health services, physical therapy, vaccines, preventive care, and more. Crossover's approach includes telehealth, connecting physicians with people at home and tracking their progress towards health goals. 

Apple's more than 1 billion active devices act as health hubs, enabling third party apps and feeding data to doctors, health records, clinical research, and more.

With at least 1.4 billion active Apple devices, the $2.4 trillion tech giant has been making a move into healthcare for some time. 

Read more:A look back at Apple's most significant healthcare plays in 2020

The new watch tracks heart rhythm, blood oxygen levels, standing time, exercise, and sleep, among other things. Apple watches have become commonplace in clinical studies, like in the ongoing research between the University of California Irvine and Anthem. The two are using the Apple Watch to study how blood oxygen measurements can be used to better manage asthma.

Apple is looking for more developers to build out the watch's health capabilities by making new health sensors and algorithms, Business Insider found. One patent from 2018 hints at non-invasive glucose monitoring.

Watches, iPads, and iPhones are used by health plans and hospitals for clinical care and wellness programs. Third-party groups can also build health programs on the devices that can shepherd remote patient data to doctors, encourage healthy behavior, and perform ultrasounds.

Read more:Apple reached a market value of $2 trillion amid an aggressive expansion into digital health

Another effort concerns people's personal health records. The service allows people to store their records in the Health app, quickly pulling up a lab report from Quest Diagnostics, for example. While the service doesn't share data back to doctors, patients can track things like continuous blood pressure readings in the health app itself, and then relay that information to their providers verbally or otherwise. 

Apple for its part says it doesn't store health data unless it's backed up to the cloud. Even then, the health information is encrypted and de-identified so that Apple can't make sense of it. But third parties can collect health data depending on user settings under "data access & devices." 

Many of Apple's acquisitions concern home care as well. Just in the past few years, the company acquired Beddit, a group that monitors sleeping, and Tueo Health, which tracks asthma. 

With the Fitbit acquisition completed and a big telehealth partnership, Google is banking that the future of healthcare doesn't depend on in-person doctors' visits.

With the completed acquisition of Fitbit, Google is well positioned to get more involved in clinical trials and employee care for other companies, as Stat reported. Though Google has said that data from the devices won't feed its advertising business.

Nearly 30 million people use the smartwatches for general wellness, whereas employers, health plans, health systems, and research institutions use the tech to monitor certain types of chronic conditions, create incentives for exercising, and more.

Google's cloud division is working with Amwell, one of the world's biggest telehealth vendors. While they haven't said much about their work together, executives from both companies have described a vision for home-based care. 

Read more:Amwell's CEO isn't scared by big tech and sees potential partnerships with Google, Apple, Fitbit to push telehealth beyond video visits

In August, Chris Sakalosky, Google Cloud's top healthcare salesman, told Business Insider that the big opportunity for the partnership lies in crafting a more continuous relationship with patients, like using tech to monitor people's health outside of individual appointments. 

Alphabet's investment vehicles like Sidewalk Labs, GV, and CapitalG have all backed digital health companies that prioritize remote care. CapitalG is focused in part on the next generation of Livongos, or companies that help people manage complex conditions with mobile apps and similar technologies.

Read more:A top investor at Alphabet's growth fund says the soaring cost of chronic care is fueling a new crop of startups like Livongo and shares where he wants to place his bets in 2021

Verily has gadgets and tech systems that oversee patients with chronic conditions, assist parents in tracking infant routines, and monitor things like blood sugar.

For Verily, Alphabet's life sciences company, data collection and home care are a key part of its strategy. 

It's building a program for doctors and patients that works with tiny heart monitors and other gadgets to help with screening for atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heart rhythm, according to Verily's website. 

Verily also made a tech system for new parents in partnership with Pampers. Using a video monitor and activity sensor, info syncs to a mobile app that's meant to help people understand their babies' sleeping routines. Another program is looking for ways to improve sleep for people with sleep apnea. 

Read more:Verily's head of people operations is leaving after a huge reorganization and an exodus of senior talent. Here are the 20 top execs and managers who left in the past year.

The upstart also wants to use data broadly speaking, in tandem with its algorithms, to uncover new treatments, diagnose conditions sooner, and care for sick patients. 

Its Study Watch has been deployed in various studies about multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The watch aims to track patient data overtime to learn more about markers of disease progression. The upstart is also making a tiny glucose monitor and developed a temperature-measuring patch. 

Read more:2 top execs from Alphabet's life sciences moonshot arm just started a new company to address one of the most overlooked parts of healthcare

Project Baseline, an effort to collect comprehensive health information and enroll people in clinical trials, is used by pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, health systems, and biotechs, per Verily's site. Some of its projects involve data monitoring in the home and ask participants to link their electronic health records. 

Another one of Verily's key bets is Onduo, a chronic care platform that uses medical devices and a mobile app to help people with Type 2 diabetes and potentially other conditions. 

Even in the face of the pandemic, climate change has taken center stage once again in Larry Fink's annual letters to CEOs and investors of the world's largest asset manager. 

Fink, the cofounder, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, highlighted the pandemic accelerating climate transition even faster than he expected, citing over $288 billion globally invested in sustainable assets from January through November 2020 — a 96% increase over the whole of 2019. 

Fink likened climate transition to a "tectonic shift" in his annual letter to CEOs, adding that the urgency of climate change cannot be understated. 

"No issue ranks higher than climate change on our clients' lists of priorities. They ask us about it nearly every day." wrote Fink. 

See more: Big investors like Apollo and Carlyle are clamoring for a piece of the $30 trillion ESG space. We spoke to 15 insiders about how they're ramping up hires, raising money, and striking data-driven deals.

This year Fink took BlackRock's focus on sustainability to the next level — introducing a commitment to achieving "net zero" by 2050 or sooner. While this term was absent from his 2020 letters, its inclusion is aligned with President Joseph Biden's recent executive order to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. 

In a separate letter written to clients— titled "Net Zero: A Fiduciary Approach"— Fink outlined BlackRock's plans to achieve its net zero commitment. 

Many of Fink's 2021 plans will have a wide ranging impact on the asset management industry, accelerating progress on ESG and climate investment, which saw big gains in 2020. 

Here are four highlights from Fink's recent letters that demonstrate the big steps the ESG industry is positioned to make in 2021.

SEE ALSO: Big investors like Apollo and Carlyle are clamoring for a piece of the $30 trillion ESG space. We spoke to 15 insiders about how they're ramping up hires, raising money, and striking data-driven deals.

SEE ALSO: Meet 17 BlackRock power players carrying out CEO Larry Fink's vision to turbocharge the firm's $222 billion alternative-investments business

SEE ALSO: Here are 9 fascinating facts to know about BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager popping up in the Biden administration

Fink sets his sights on 'net zero' and outlined the path to success by 2050

While in 2020 Fink announced BlackRock's focus on sustainability, this year's letter to CEOs marks the first time the world's largest asset manager has explicitly outlined its commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 — accompanied by a plan to achieve it. 

The world will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions when all human-produced carbon emissions are removed from the atmosphere. This requires decreasing the amount of carbon emissions being produced, as well as using carbon-capture technology to remove past emissions from the atmosphere. 

BlackRock commitment to net zero is aligned with US President Joseph Biden's recent executive order to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement  — adding support to the 127 governments and over 1,100 companies that are considering or already implementing net-zero commitments. 

This marks a decisive step forward for BlackRock, which was notably absent from the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative despite the company's vow to make strides towards climate transition. 

The initiative, launched in December 2020, unites 30 investors with over $9 trillion in assets under management in their pledge to work with clients to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner. Signatories include BlackRock peers Legal and General Investment Management, one of the largest asset managers in the UK, and UBS Asset Management. 

Still absent from making a net-zero commitment are BlackRock competitors State Street and JP Morgan, as well as Vanguard and Goldman Sachs, which have also yet to join Climate Action 100+— a group of investors, representing $53 trillion in assets, calling on the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take action on climate change. 

Fink's stance on net-zero climate transition is now unequivocal.

"We believe that climate transition creates a historic investment opportunity. With the world moving to net zero, BlackRock can best serve our clients by helping them be at the forefront of that transition," he wrote.

In an effort to truly distinguish itself as a leader in the journey towards net-zero, Fink outlined three areas — measurement and transparency, investment management, and stewardship — where BlackRock will take action in 2021 to "help investors prepare their portfolios for a net zero world." 

BlackRock has plans for 'temperature aligned' investment products, metrics, and reporting

In his letter to clients, Fink identified a key challenge that will soon face all investors — in order to make long-term asset-allocation decisions, clients will need information on the "decarbonization pathway" of their investments. 

This means helping clients understand how the value of their investment portfolios may change as the world tackles global warming by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with climate goals. 

Asset managers have long grappled with solidifying methodologies to build climate-aware investment products and measure how portfolios align to science-based climate targets.

While Fink categorized the process as "painstaking", he acknowledged the crucial importance of providing clients with sustainable investment offerings and the full picture on how their portfolios will fare in a net-zero world.  

BlackRock's solution to this challenge is introducing a new line of "temperature aligned" investment products and services. 

"Temperature alignment is a measurement of the global temperature change consistent with a portfolio's holdings. Methodologies for measuring temperature alignment are constantly evolving, based on new research and data specific to particular sectors and regions." Fink wrote. 

In 2021, BlackRock will launch investment products with explicit temperature alignment goals. In order to assist clients with net-zero commitments, a subset of BlackRock's new products will be aligned to a net-zero pathway. 

BlackRock will also publish a temperature-alignment metric for existing public equity and bond funds, based on data availability. 

In order for clients to meet climate objectives and net-zero goals, they require both climate-focused investments and the technology to track the progress of their portfolios. 

Using their recently launched tool Aladdin Climate, BlackRock is hoping to set the standard for providing clients with climate-focused portfolio reporting that "translate climate science into portfolio returns," wrote Fink. 

"Over time, this will allow investors to calculate security- and portfolio-level 'climate-adjusted' values, track a portfolio's trajectory towards net zero, and better identify climate risks and opportunities," wrote Fink.  

BlackRock is not only curating a suite of temperature-aligned investment offerings, but also forming industry partnerships to improve the public availability of climate data. 

"We are eager to work with index providers, scenario modelers, and climate scientists to help advance the emerging net zero investment landscape," wrote Fink. 

BlackRock is not new to partnerships on the climate front, as its Aladdin Climate tool leverages data from Rhodium Group— to help clients better assess physical climate risks — and Sustainalytics and Refinitiv for sourcing sustainability data.

The impact of BlackRock's future partnerships in the climate space may impact not only clients, but the asset management industry at large.

Alluding to 2021 partnership plans, Fink wrote BlackRock is "working with index providers to publish the temperature alignment of major market indexes." 

BlackRock will use its stewardship to push companies to disclose explicit plans to meet net zero

As the world's largest asset manager, BlackRock will be using its proxy voting and engagement influence to drive the companies to disclose comprehensive business plans on climate transition. 

In a clear call to action, Fink wrote to clients: "We are asking companies to disclose a plan for how their business model will be compatible with a net zero economy."

"We are asking you to disclose how this plan is incorporated into your long-term strategy and reviewed by your board of directors," he added.

These business plans are critical to investors, Fink wrote, as clients will look to assess companies' ability to be successful in a low-carbon world, while also capturing the opportunities created by climate transition. 

While Fink wrote that BlackRock is "asking" for these business plans, the power of BlackRock's stewardship capabilities — through proxy voting and engagement — cannot be underestimated. 

BlackRock not only oversees $8.68 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, but also retains the power to vote for and against companies management actions as the fiduciary of its clients shares. 

Proxy voting is a method of holding companies accountable to shareholder expectations, as well as an avenue for selecting company management leadership. This voting power covers shareholder proposals, as well as the election of board members overseeing company actions and issues. 

This stewardship power allowed BlackRock to vote on 153,000 proposals in 16,200 meetings in 2020. 

Furthermore, BlackRock has the power to engage these companies in discussion on a variety of topics — board quality, environmental risks and opportunities, corporate strategy, human capital management, and executive compensation. 

Engagement is a method for shareholders to communicate views and expectations on a company's approach. In 2020, BlackRock had over 3,000 engagement discussions with over 1,000 public companies. 

As BlackRock demonstrated in 2020, it will not hesitate to use voting and engagement power to express its views. The asset manager voted against management at 5,536 companies last year — including 1,569 votes against directors due to lack of board diversity. 

Fink highlighted the need for climate-related disclosures both public and private companies

Fink emphasized the importance of climate-related disclosures and calls upon everyone to play their part in both letters to CEO and clients.

Last year Fink encouraged all companies to report in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). These reporting frameworks allow companies to disclose sustainability and climate-related information relevant to investors and their financial decision-making process.  

While Fink wrote he is encouraged with progress — a 363% increase in SASB disclosures and more than 1,700 organizations expressing support for the TCFD — this year, he took a stronger stance urging both private and public companies to disclose this information before regulators make it mandatory. 

"I believe TCFD should not just be adopted by public companies. If we want these disclosures to be truly effective — if we want to see true societal change — they should be embraced by large private companies as well," wrote Fink. 

Private companies have been facing mounting pressure to participate in climate disclosure in the same manner public companies do. However, private companies often cite challenges around the availability of data, leaving them lagging behind their publicly listed peers on climate risk reporting. 

Private-equity general partners will continue to grapple with assessing climate risk in their portfolios as more of their limited partners request TCFD-aligned reporting and international reporting organizations begin making climate reporting mandatory — as the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) did for over 3,000 signatories in 2020. 

In 2020, BlackRock published its own TCFD and SASB-aligned reports, and this year makes its endorsement of these industry leaders clear: "While the world moves towards a single standard, BlackRock continues to endorse TCFD- and SASB-aligned reporting," Fink wrote.