Best products of the year

feature
Best
products
of the year
475+
Top picks
and great buys
C
onsider this special section the ultimate
buyer’s guide. A supreme cheat sheet. The best
electronics, appliances, and other products
among the thousands our secret shoppers
bought throughout the year and that our testers rigorously tested. (The whopping bill: $4.1 million, or $1.6
million for products and $2.5 million for cars.)
All of the products we list are recommended, which
means that they performed well in our labs, and where
we’re able to assess a brand’s reliability, we believe the
brand to be reliable. We’ve also included many choices in
each category, so you’re bound to find at least a few that
meet your needs. (In some cases, most but not all recommended models are listed because of space constraints.)
In the middle part of each page, we highlight CR Best
Buys across a range of prices. CR Best Buys perform well
in our tests and are of exceptional value. Enjoy!
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Clockwise from top:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4,
Samsung Galaxy S III,
Kenmore Intuition 31100,
LG WM3470H and
Panasonic-L47ET5
Appliances
Refrigerators
Improved features, better
efficiency, and larger capacities
helped distinguish this
year’s refrigerators. Among
bottom-freezers, the
French-door configuration
remains popular; several newly
tested are claimed to have
31 cubic feet of storage space.
Even as fridges get bigger, their
energy use isn’t increasing as
much as you’d expect, thanks
to innovative evaporators,
compressors, and insulation.
Less expensive top-freezers are
taking on conveniences once
reserved for premium lines,
including temperaturecontrolled drawers and
external water dispensers.
French-door bottom-freezers
Brand & model
Price Overall score
LG LFX28991[ST]
$2,700 85
Kenmore 7160[3]
1,600 83
Whirlpool Gold GX5FHTXV[Q]
1,700 82
Samsung RFG298HD[RS] (Lowe’s) 2,800 81
LG LFC25776[SW]
Kenmore Elite 7106[2]
LG LFX28979[ST]
1,500 81
2,500 80
2,850 79
3,000 79
LG LFX31925[ST]
Kenmore Elite 7103[2]
2,100 79
Samsung RF266AE[WP]
1,700 78
1,550 78
Kenmore 7201[2]
LG LFC25765[ST]
1,900 78
2,700 77
LG LFX28978[SW]
LG LFX25991[ST]
Kenmore Elite 7205[3]
3,400 77
2,800 77
LG LFX25976[SW]
2,200 77
Amana AFI2538AE[W]
1,800 75
LG LFX28991[ST]
Trader Joe’s California Estate olive oil,
$6 for a 16.9-ounce bottle, was excellent in our
tests: strong, complex, and very fresh-tasting.
It pairs especially well with bread and salad.
CR Best
Buys
$50 and
under
The Sennheiser CX 215
headphones, $40, come in five
fun—and funky—colors. The unusual
contoured shells can be easily gripped
by your fingers. Overall sound quality
is very good, and the ear-insert design
will help muffle external noise.
p h oto : ( t v s c r e e n ) k e v i n c . c ox / g e tt y i m ag e s
Electronics
LCD TVs
These popular TVs come in a wide range of sizes and prices.
Pricier models have a 120Hz or higher frame rate to reduce
blurring on fast-motion scenes. Many also have energy-efficient
LED backlights, which can shrink the depth of the TV to about
1 inch. More sets now have the ability to access online content,
such as streaming movies and TV shows, as well as 3D capability.
Size
60 inches
55 to 58
inches
Brand & model
Samsung UN60D6400
Sharp Aquos LC-60LE745U
Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929
Price
Overall score
$2,200 73
Samsung UN55ES8000
1,700 66
3,000 78
2,500 74
LG 55LM6200
1,500 72
Sony Bravia KDL-55HX850
2,400 72
Samsung UN55ES6500
1,500 72
LG 55LM6700
Vizio XVT3D580CM
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
Samsung UN55ES8000
Size
55 to 58
inches
continued
Brand & model
Panasonic Viera TC-L55ET5
Price
Overall score
$1,500 67
Samsung UN55EH6000
1,400 66
Sony Bravia KDL-55EX640
1,400 66
1,700 71
Vizio E552VLE
2,500 70
LG 55G2
900 65
1,700 65
Ratings continued on next page
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.o rg
29
feature best products of the year
Appliances
Bottom- and top-freezers
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Bottom- Whirlpool Gold GB2FHDXW[Q]
freezers
$1,200 73
Amana ABB22214WE[W]
1,350 73
Maytag MBF2258XE[W]
1,100 72
Maytag MBF1958XE[W]
1,150 72
1,300 71
LG LDC22720[SW]
TopGE Profile PTS22LHS[WW]
freezers
1,400 69
Kenmore 7930[2]
1,100 67
Whirlpool WRT771REY[W]
1,100 67
Frigidaire Gallery FGUI2149L[P]
GE GTH18KBX[WW]
850 65
1,000 64
LG LDC22720[SW]
Whirlpool WRT771REY[W]
Side-by-side refrigerators
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Samsung RS265TD[WP]
$1,300 76
Frigidaire Gallery FGHT2144K[F]
800 64
KitchenAid KSF26C6X[YY]
Frigidaire LFHT2117L[W] (Lowe’s)
700 63
Bosch Linea 800 B22CS80SN[S]
Maytag M1TXEGMY[W]
770 62
750 62
DCS RX215PJX1
940 61
600 61
Maytag MSD2559XE[W]
Frigidaire Gallery FGHT1844K[F]
Kenmore 7215[2]
Frigidaire LFHT1817L[W] (Lowe’s)
Frigidaire Gallery FGUS2676L[P]
Norman Love
Confections
Signature Gift Box,
$49, offers 25
excellent candies
that include unusual
fillings such as
peanut butter and
jelly, as well as
truffles, creams, nut
bits, and fruit purées.
Shipping is extra
and pricey ($36).
1,950 75
2,700 74
2,500 72
2,000 72
Kenmore Elite 5118[3]
CR Best
Buys
$50 and
under
KitchenAid KSF26C6X[YY]
1,250 72
1,200 71
Columbia Crest
Grand Estates
cabernet sauvignon
and Bogle chardonnay
scored Very Good in our
tests by expert tasters
and were just $10 per
bottle. We assessed
2008 and 2009
vintages, respectively,
though more recent
vintages shouldn’t
differ very much.
Electronics
Size
46 to 51
inches
Sony Bravia KDL-46HX750
Brand & model
LG 47LM7600
1,300 73
Panasonic Viera TC-L47ET5
1,100 72
Samsung UN46ES6500
1,100 72
LG 47LM6200
1,000 71
Sony Bravia KDL-46HX750
1,300 69
Samsung UN46EH5300
850 68
LG 47LS5700
930 66
800 65
LG 42LM6200
Samsung UN40ES6580
Samsung UN40EH6000
Sony Bravia KDL-40EX640
32 inches
Samsung
UN46ES6500
30
Overall score
$1,800 74
Samsung UN46EH5000
40 to 43
inches
Price
LG 47LM8600
Samsung UN32EH4000
Samsung UN32EH5000
co n sum er r ep o rt s n ove mb e r 2 0 1 2
850 72
1,000 72
700 67
900 65
320 66
450 66
spotlight
If you’re buying a new TV, consider
one with 3D capability, such as the
Panasonic Viera TC-P55ST50, $1,350.
This top-rated plasma TV has a big,
55-inch screen, excellent highdefinition picture quality, and very
good 3D performance. It’s loaded
with features, including built-in
Wi-Fi, a Web browser, access to an
apps market, and streaming movies
and TV shows from services including
Netflix. It works with newer active3D glasses that are much lighter and
cheaper than earlier models.
p h oto s : ( t v s c r e e n s ) to p l e f t: p e r b r e i e h ag e n / t h e i m ag e b a n k / g e tt y i m ag e s ;
b otto m l e f t: g e tt y i m ag e s ; r i g h t: j o e k l a m a r / g e tt y i m ag e s
LCD TVs (continued)
Freezers
Dishwashers
Rising food costs due to the recent drought could spur freezer
sales as consumers buy in bulk. Manual-defrost uprights had
trouble keeping door shelves as cool as the rest of the interior.
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
SelfWhirlpool EV161NZT[Q]
defrost
uprights Frigidaire FFU21F5H[W]
Kenmore Elite 2809[2]
Manualdefrost
uprights
Manualdefrost
chests
The latest models are more efficient
than ever, thanks to new Energy Star
requirements that kicked in last January.
All of the picks below qualify. And some
of the biggest energy misers are also easy
on your wallet, without skimping on
adjustability and other helpful features.
$700 75
650 75
GE FUF14DVR[WW]
710 73
630 73
Frigidaire Gallery GLFH17F8H[W]
Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7[5]UC
Brand & model
Price
750 72
Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7[5]UC
$ 700 81
GE FUM21SVR[WW]
750 73
Bosch SHX98M0[9]UC
1,550 81
Frigidaire FFU17M7H[W]
600 72
Bosch 800 Series SHE68R5[2]UC
Frigidaire Gallery FGCH25M8L[W]
700 79
Miele Futura Dimension G5575SCSF
900 80
1,950 80
Kenmore Elite 1608[2]
580 79
KitchenAid KUDE50CX[SS]
GE FCM20SU[WW]
830 78
Bosch 800 Plus Series SHX9ER5[5]UC
Danby DCFM289WDD
380 78
Bosch Evolution 500 SHE55M1[2]UC
GE FCM15PU[WW]
470 78
Kenmore Pro HE 1317[3]
Whirlpool EH185FXT[Q]
700 76
400 74
Kenmore 1328[3]
310 71
800 71
Thermador DWHD651JFP
2,200 76
KitchenAid KUDE70FX[SS]
1,600 76
Kenmore 1654[ ]
Kenmore 1692[2]
Whirlpool EH225FXT[Q]
Bosch 500 Series SHX55R5[5]UC
The Roku 2 XD, $80, brings
streaming video to almost any TV.
The tiny puck-shaped box—just 3
inches wide—has built-in Wi-Fi
for connecting to your home
network, tons of apps, and streaming
movies and TV shows from services
including Amazon, Epix, HBO Go,
Hulu Plus, and Netflix. The box
supports 1080p video for HDTVs
with an HDMI input, but it will also
connect to older TVs with standarddefinition composite-video inputs.
Overall score
1,350 79
1,800 79
850 79
1,390 79
650 77
900 76
CR Best
Buys
$100 and
under
Plasma TVs
p h oto : ( t v s c r e e n ) j e r ry m a r k l a n d/ g e tt y i m ag e s s p o rt/ g e tt y i m ag e s
These big-screen sets (42 inches and larger) stand out for lifelike,
cinematic images, blur-free motion, and wide viewing angles. Many
new plasma TVs have 1080p resolution and access to streaming
movies and TV shows from services such as Netflix. 3D-capable sets
use the new breed of lighter, cheaper active-shutter glasses.
Size
60 to 64
inches
Brand & model
Samsung PN60E8000
Samsung PN60E550
Panasonic Viera TC-P60GT50
Panasonic Viera TC-P60ST50
Samsung PN64E550
LG 60PM6700
LG 60PM9700
LG 60PA6500
Price
Overall score
$2,300 79
1,300 78
2,200 77
1,800 77
2,000 71
1,300 70
1,800 69
Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT50
50 to 52
inches
Samsung PN51E6500
1,350 78
1,250 77
Panasonic Viera TC-P50ST50
1,200 76
Samsung PN51E550
Size
50 to 52
inches
continued
1,100 67
2,400 79
55 to 59
inches
Panasonic Viera TC-P55ST50
LG 60PM9700
850 74
Brand & model
Price
Samsung PN51E490
$650 72
Panasonic Viera TC-P50XT50
LG 50PA6500
Samsung PN51E530
LG 50PA5500
Panasonic Viera TC-P50U50
42 to 43
inches
LG 42PM4700
Samsung PN43E450
LG 42PA4500
Overall score
720 69
700 69
750 68
650 67
700 66
550 68
430 68
480 66
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.org
31
feature best products of the year
Appliances
Ranges
Some of the latest features have
little to do with cooking. AquaLift
technology, on some Maytag and
Whirlpool models, promises fast,
cooler, and odor-free cleaning.
But we had to scrub grimy oven
windows, and the walls were
messy after multiple cycles. Tired
of stainless? New white and black
metal finishes may be for you.
spotlight
The large-capacity Whirlpool
WOS92EC0AH electric wall
oven, $1,500, broiled burgers
beautifully, turned out evenly
browned cakes, and easily
removed our baked-on mess in
the self-clean mode. Touchpad
controls make setting time,
temperature, and mode,
including convection, a snap.
GE Café CS980SN[SS]
Type
Brand & model
30-inch
electric
smoothtop
Kenmore 9216[3]
$1,480 87
GE Café CS980SN[SS]
2,800 86
GE PB920ST[SS]
1,500 85
Kenmore 92803[3]
Maytag MET8885X[S]
950 84
1,300 83
Electrolux EW30EF65G[W]
2,200 83
GE JB650DT[WW]
LG LDE3015[ST]
700 81
1,300 81
LG LRE3012[ST]
850 81
CR Best
Buys
$100 and
under
Price
Overall score
You could spend $75 on a
single knife from a premium
knife maker. That same
investment gets you the
entire eight-piece Ginsu
Chikara, including paring,
utility, serrated, chef ’s, and
santoku knives (shears,
sharpening rod, and storage
block round out the set).
The blades are forged from a
single piece of stainless steel
for maximum sharpness,
precision, and durability.
Maytag MET8885X[S]
The Barnes &
Noble Nook
Simple Touch
Reader, $100,
is among the best
e-book readers
we’ve tested, and
it’s low-priced for
a model with a
touch screen. It’s
fast and easy to use
and has crisp type
that’s readable in
bright or dim light.
Electronics
Tablets
The iPad continues to rule the tablet
market, but you have more good
choices than ever, including the
Samsung Galaxy Tab line. And then
there are Amazon's newest offerings.
We're testing the upgraded Kindle Fire
($160) and the brand-new Kindle Fire
HD, which comes in 7-inch ($200 and
up) and 8.9-inch ($300 and up) sizes.
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
9 to 12
inches,
Wi-Fi
only
continued
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T (16GB)
$380 80
450 80
400 80
Toshiba Excite 10 (16GB)
450 79
Toshiba Excite 10LE (16GB)
530 79
450 78
Acer Iconia Tab A510 (32GB)
Asus Eee Pad Transformer (16GB)
350 77
400 75
Motorola Xoom (32GB)
500 75
Acer Iconia Tab A200 (16GB)
Toshiba Excite 7.7 (16GB)
350 74
500 79
Google Nexus 7 (16GB)
250 79
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) (8GB)
Sony Tablet S (16GB)
Apple iPad (3rd gen.)
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
9 to 12
inches,
Wi-Fi
only
Apple iPad (16GB) (3rd gen.)
$500 83
7 to 8
inches,
Wi-Fi
only
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
TF201 (32GB)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) (16GB)
400 82
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (16GB)
250 76
350 74
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (16GB)
400 80
BlackBerry PlayBook (16GB)
200 70
Acer Iconia Tab A700 (32GB)
450 80
380 70
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (32GB)
550 80
Toshiba Thrive 7-inch (16GB)
Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet (16GB)
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
32
Apple iPad 2 (16GB)
Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 (16GB)
con sum er r ep o rt s n ove m b e r 2 0 1 2
500 82
250 65
Type
30-inch
electric coil
30-inch
induction
30-inch gas
Kenmore Elite 9720[W]
Brand & model
Price
GE JBP35SM[SS]
$ 650 82
GE Profile PHB925SP[SS]
2,400 90
Kenmore Elite 9720[3]
2,500 89
Samsung FTQ307NWGX
1,800 89
GE Profile PGB910SEM[SS]
LG LRG3097[ST]
1,500 74
1,900 74
LG LRG3095[ST]
1,400 72
Frigidaire Gallery FGGF3032M[W]
LG LRG3091S[W]
30-inch
dual-fuel
30-inch
professional
dual-fuel
36-inch
professional
dual-fuel
36-inch
professional
gas
Overall score
spotlight
Spacious and quiet, the
Kenmore Elite 8852[2]
over-the-range microwave,
$550, delivers even heating
and superb defrosting.
For auto-cook functions,
it uses a sensor to minimize
undercooking or
overcooking. But like all
OTRs, it lacks the venting
power of a range hood.
775 71
800 71
Electrolux EW30GF65G[W]
2,000 70
KitchenAid KDRS505X[SS]
2,000 71
KitchenAid KDRS407VSS
4,000 72
KitchenAid KDRU763V[SS]
6,000 74
GE Monogram ZDP364NDP[SS]
7,500 72
Thermador Pro Grand
PG366B[S]
6000 69
Frigidaire Gallery FGGF3032M[W]
Impressive power for sweeping and loosening
leaves help the corded-electric Toro Ultra Blower
Vac 51599, $70, perform almost as well as the best
gas blowers. It also weighs less and delivers
impressive vacuuming without a gas blower’s
fueling, fumes, and maintenance. Its metal impeller
stands up to vacuumed debris.
Excellent at making
smooth icy drinks,
chopping foods, and
puréeing soup, the
Ninja Master Prep
Professional QB1004,
$60, has interchangeable
containers and blades
that make the combo
blender and food chopper
easy to use.
All-in-one inkjet printers
E-book readers
Save space and money with a printer that also scans and copies.
Most units can access your network via Wi-Fi, and many use
Bluetooth to print photos wirelessly from phones and cameras.
The best are lighter than tablets and
laptops, with easier-to-read type
and longer battery life. Amazon was
overhauling its Kindle line as we went
to press. We're testing its new $70
Kindle and front-lit Kindle Paperwhite
($120), which competes with Barnes
& Noble's Nook with GlowLight.
Amazon
Kindle with
Special
Offers
Size
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader
6 to 7
$140 83
inches with GlowLight
Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader
100 82
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Canon Pixma MG8220
$230 72
Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro 4000
200 72
Canon Pixma MG6120
140 72
Lexmark Pro 915
140 72
HP Photosmart 7510
150 71
230 71
HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus
Brother MFC-J825DW
Brother MFC-J6910DW
100 70
300 70
Lexmark Pro 715
120 70
HP Photosmart 6510
120 70
150 70
Amazon Kindle Keyboard 3G
Amazon Kindle Keyboard 3G with Special
Offers
Barnes & Noble Nook Color
190 79
150 77
Canon Pixma MG6220
Amazon Kindle with Special Offers
80 74
110 74
Brother MFC-J5910DW
Amazon Kindle without Special Offers
HP Photosmart 5510
130 70
100 70
Kobo eReader Touch Edition
100 72
Canon Pixma MX892
130 70
Kobo Vox eReader
180 67
Canon Pixma MX512
120 70
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
140 79
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.o rg
33
feature best products of the year
Appliances
Cooktops
Induction models are dropping in price, and some of the best cost no
more than electric smoothtops yet heat roughly 25 percent faster.
More electric smoothtops have stainless trim, sleek touch controls,
or center-mounted knobs. If you’re cooking with gas, the added
width of 36-inch models gives you five burners.
Type
Brand & model
30-inch
electric
smoothtop
Kenmore 44273[3]
Kenmore 4273[3]
Frigidaire Professional
FPEC3085K[S]
GE Café CP350STSS [SS]
Electrolux Icon
E30EC65E[SS]
LG LCE3081[ST]
Whirlpool G7CE3034XP
36-inch
electric
smoothtop
Whirlpool GCI3061X[B]
LG LCE30845
36-inch gas
1,200 88
1,000 87
Bosch NET5054UC
900 85
1,000 90
1,200 96
1,400 95
1,200 95
1,800 93
Thermador SGSX365FS
GE Monogram
ZGU385NSM[SS]
GE Profile
JGP975WEK[WW]
GE Café CGP650SET[SS]
1,900 81
LG LCG3691[ST]
Bosch NGM8654UC
1,300 74
1,200 70
Kenmore 323[13]
1,100 69
1,400 80
1,200 80
The Garmin Nuvi 2455LT, $160, offers very good navigation and a
redesigned interface. This 4.3-inch wide-screen model comes loaded with
maps covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, and it includes
free, ad-supported traffic reports. For more features and perks, check out
the top-of-the-line Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT, $350.
The 10-cup Krups Grinder &
Brewer KM7000, $130, offers
top-notch brewing, and its burr
grinder has three levels of grind.
You can choose among five
settings to control the coffeeto-water ratio. The many pieces
slow down cleaning, though.
Size
Brand & model
14 inches
HP Pavilion dm4-3090se
Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A-DB51
Thinner and lighter is the trend with laptops, notably those that use
the Ultrabook name. Many 13-inch models weigh less than 3 pounds
and measure under an inch thick, and 14- to 16-inchers are slimming
down, too. Windows 8 will be coming out soon, but you should be
able to upgrade Windows 7 models you buy now.
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A$1,100 82
DB51
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch
1,200 82
MD231LL/A
Samsung NP900X3A-B01UB
900 80
Asus ZenBook UX31-RSL8
900 80
Ultrabook
Sony Vaio SVT1311CGXS
1,200 78
Ultrabook
Sony Vaio SVS13112FXB
900 77
Toshiba Portégé Z935900 77
ST2N01
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch
1,200 74
MD101LL/A
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
34
2,000 97
1,300 77
Electrolux EW36GC55G[S] 1,300 74
Electronics
13 inches
1,300 97
1,800 97
950 90
CR Best
Buys
$250 and
under
Size
1,400 99
Kenmore 438[00]
640 91
1,200 90
Price Overall score
$1,600 99
GE Profile PHP900DM[BB]
Bosch NIT5065UC
Electrolux Icon
E30IC75F[SS]
Frigidaire Professional
FPCC3085K[S]
KitchenAid KICU500X[B]
Price Overall score
700 86
950 86
Laptops
Brand & model
Kenmore 4382[0]
$1,150 93
GE Profile PP945BM[BB]
Frigidaire Professional
FPEC3685K[S]
Type
30-inch
induction
con s um er r ep o rt s n ove mb e r 2 0 1 2
15 to 16
inches
Dell XPS 14 Ultrabook
HP Envy 14-3010NR Spectre
Ultrabook
Toshiba Satellite Ultrabook
U845W-S400
Sony Vaio SVS1511HGXB
Apple MacBook Pro
15-inch with Retina display
MC975LL/A
HP Pavilion dv6-7014nr
Samsung NP900X4C-A01US
Acer Aspire TimelineU
Ultrabook M5-581T-6490
Dell XPS 15
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch
MD103LL/A
HP Envy Ultrabook 6t-1000
Toshiba Satellite
P855-S5200
HP Pavilion m6-1045dx
Dell Inspiron I15RSE-2833BK
MSI GE60 0NC-006US
Price Overall score
$ 900 77
1,100 75
1,150 74
1,000 73
1,800 80
2,200 80
1,100 79
1,400 78
780 77
1300 75
1,800 75
825 74
750 73
730 72
850 71
1,100 71
Gas grills
Year-round grilling is becoming more popular. An electronic igniter
and stainless-steel or coated cast-iron grates make grilling easier
no matter the time of year. Infrared burners keep popping up, but
we haven’t found that they’re better than standard ones.
Size
Brand & model
Price
Medium Vermont Castings Signature Series
VCS300SSP
Char-Broil Gourmet Tru-Infrared
463251012 (Home Depot)
Kenmore 16142
Weber Genesis E-330
Char-Broil Tru-Infrared 463251012
(Home Depot)
Weber Genesis S-330
Brinkmann
810-2545-W
Overall score
$950 85
400 84
350 80
800 80
550 80
950 79
Brinkmann 810-2545-W (Walmart)
Blue Ember BE50070-584
(Home Depot)
Aussie Vantage Series 67C3
250 78
900 78
Kenmore 03982838 (Kmart)
300 76
Jenn-Air 720-0336C (BJs)
Char-Broil Classic 463211512
(Home Depot)
200 75
250 76
650 75
Size
Brand & model
Price
Large
Huntington Patriot 658184
Jenn-Air 720-0709 (Sam’s Club)
Weber Summit E-670
Master Forge 3218LTN [Item #6554]
(Lowe’s)
Kenmore 16136
Blue Ember BE65078-584
(Home Depot)
KitchenAid KFRS361VSS
Brinkmann 810-1575-0
$ 700 81
950 78
2,500 76
Love your TV but wish it had better audio?
Consider the Vizio VHT215, $250, a 2.1-channel
soundbar speaker system that can rock your room
without rattling your wallet. It includes the main
soundbar speaker, which can be placed below or
above the TV, and a wireless subwoofer. Its very
good sound quality should please movie and
music fans. A plus: It can pass through 3D signals
from a 3D source to your TV via HDMI.
Overall score
600 76
600 76
1,000 75
2,200 74
380 73
Among the lightest
tablets with very long
battery life, the Google
Nexus 7, $250, offers a lot
of features and power
without breaking the
bank. Its display is very
good, with natural-looking
colors, and it’s readable in
sunlight. Among its
interesting features is the
ability to do a voice search.
GPS navigators
The latest GPS units are feature-packed,
with most including spoken instructions,
reality view, lane assist, one-touch local
emergency information, and convenient
detouring. All models here include free
traffic information, and most have free
map updates, indicated by an “M” in the
TomTom Go 2435 TM
model name. We find 4.3-inch devices to
have a balance of usability and portability. Larger screens
are best suited to SUVs, trucks, RVs, and commercial trucks.
4
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
4.3 - inch
screen size
Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT
$350 82
TomTom Go 2435 TM
200 74
Garmin Nuvi 2455LT
160 73
Garmin Nuvi 2350LT
170 71
140 63
Magellan Roadmate 2136T LM
TomTom Via 1435 T
5-inch
screen size
Garmin Nuvi 3590LMT
180 62
380 85
TomTom Go 2535 TM
280 75
spotlight
Ready for Windows 8’s touch capabilities, the HP
TouchSmart 520-1165xt all-in-one desktop, $1,150,
has a very good touch display and excellent
performance. The Blu-ray drive is a plus in the
family room, and the 1-terabyte hard drive
provides lots of storage space. Also consider the
Sony Vaio SVL24116FXB, $1,700, which has a very
good touch display, and the Dell Inspiron One 2330,
$1,100, which has a very good conventional display.
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.o rg
35
feature best products of the year
Appliances
Washers
Type
Brand & model
Frontloaders
LG WM3470H[W]A
$ 900 85
Samsung WF461AB[W] (Lowe’s)
1,300 85
LG WM2250C[W]
720 84
1,100 84
Maytag Maxima MHW6000X[W]
Whirlpool Duet WFW94HEX[W]
Price Overall score
$1,100 88
Price Overall score
Frigidaire Affinity FAFS4073N[W]
Electrolux IQ Touch
EIFLW50L[IW]
Maytag Maxima MHW9000Y[W]
1,400 83
Samsung WF520AB[P]
1,400 83
Kenmore Elite 4413[2]
1,500 82
Kenmore Elite 4154[2]
1,300 82
1,000 82
Samsung WF331AN[W]
TopLG WT4801C[W]
loaders
Samsung WA5451AN[W]
(high
efficiency) Maytag Bravos XL MVWB750Y[W]
800 84
800 83
700 80
950 79
850 79
1,100 78
Whirlpool Duet WFW94HEX[W]
1,100 87
LG WT5170H[W]
Kenmore Elite 4147[2]
1,100 87
1,050 87
Maytag Bravos XL MVWB950Y[W] 1,000 76
Kenmore 4137[2]
Samsung WF501AN[W]
1,100 86
Kenmore 2800[2]
800 74
Samsung WF511AB[W]
1,300 86
Whirlpool Cabrio WTW5700X[W]
800 74
CR Best
Buys
$500 and
under
Whirlpool Vantage WTW7990X[G]
1,700 75
If you’re looking for a basic TV with
very good picture quality, LG’s 42-inch
42PA4500 plasma TV, $400, fits the bill.
Like most plasma TVs, it handles fastmoving scenes beautifully and has an
unlimited viewing angle. It also has very
good sound, better than many models
we’ve tested. True, it has 720p resolution
instead of 1080p, but at this screen size
only eagle eyes will notice the difference.
Electronics
Smart phones
Phones using the Android operating system top
our Ratings. Many have brilliant, high-resolution
displays measuring 4-plus inches and can access
4G networks for ultra-fast streaming, browsing,
and video chats.
Provider
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Sprint
Samsung Galaxy S III (16GB)
$200 76
HTC Evo 4G LTE
200 73
Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch
100 72
LG Viper
80 69
100 68
Samsung Epic 4G
Samsung Galaxy S III
Apple iPhone 4S (16GB)
150 67
280
150
0
0
300
250
200
100
200
100
Motorola Atrix 2 4G
100 74
Samsung Galaxy S III (16GB)
HTC One S
HTC Amaze 4G
T-Mobile myTouch 4G
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx
Samsung Galaxy S III (32GB)
Motorola Droid Razr
LG Spectrum
Motorola Droid 4
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Apple iPhone 4S (16GB)
200 74
Samsung Stratosphere
Provider
Brand & model
Price* Overall score
AT&T
Samsung Galaxy S III (16GB)
$200 78
HTC One X
100 76
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
100 76
Samsung Galaxy Note
250 75
Motorola Atrix HD
100 75
LG Nitro HD
50 75
HTC Vivid
50 75
Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate
Nokia Lumia 900
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
36
Brand & model
LG WM2650H[W]A
con sum er r ep o rt s n ove m b e r 2 0 1 2
30 73
50 71
T-Mobile
Verizon
HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE
Apple iPhone 4S (16GB)
78
77
74
69
78
76
75
73
73
72
50 72
150 71
200 67
*Prices are with a two-year contract, including rebates.
p h oto : ( TV s c r e e n ) c a m i l l e to k e r u d/ t h e i m ag e b a n k / g e tt y i m ag e s
Front-loaders offer superb
cleaning despite using little
water or energy. Capacities are
increasing, allowing you to wash
more at once. That’s good because
cycle time is long, though some
models have an option that cuts
wash time. Lower prices,
increased efficiency, and shorter
wash times help make top-loaders
the more popular washer pick.
Type
Frontloaders
continued
Dryers
Type
Custom programming, steam
options, and drying racks are
on more models, but the
moisture sensor remains the
most important feature and is
on these top picks. The sensor
helps prevent overdrying. (The
Samsung DV520AE[P]
worst dryers we’ve tested
have a thermostat instead.) When it comes
to energy, most dryers use similar amounts.
Type
Brand & model
Electric
LG DLEX3470[W]
LG DLE2240[W]
800 76
LG DLE2250[W]
800 76
Kenmore Elite 6927[2]
920 76
900 76
LG DLE2650[W]
Gas
Price Overall score
LG DLGX3471[W]
Samsung DV5451AG[W]
LG DLGX3886[W]
1,200 79
1,000 78
1,480 78
1,050 78
LG DLGX5171[W]
Samsung DV5471AG[W]
1,150 78
1,080 77
LG DLGX5002[W]
900 78
1,400 78
LG DLGX3361[W]
LG DLEX3885[W]
LG DLGX2551[W]
980 77
1,180 77
LG DLEX5170[W]
900 78
Kenmore 7800[2]
780 77
Samsung DV5471AE[W]
LG DLEX5101[W]
1,100 78
1,000 77
LG DLEX3360[W]
900 77
LG DLEX2550[W]
1,100 77
Kenmore 6800[2]
700 77
Samsung DV520AG[P]
LG DLG2241[W]
Kenmore Elite 7927[2]
LG DLGX2651[W]
Advanced cameras
SLR-like models offer removable lenses
and large sensors in a smaller size
than an SLR but lack through-the-lens
viewfinders. SLRs are the largest cameras,
with the most features and biggest sensors.
Brand & model
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GH2
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Sony SLT -A57K
Samsung NX20
Nikon 1 V1
Sony SLT-A65VK
Type
Price Overall score
$ 900 72
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Canon EOS 60D
$1,050 74
Olympus E-5
1,600 73
Nikon D7000
1,100 72
1,670 72
Canon EOS 7D Digital
Sony DSLR-A580L
900 71
Canon EOS Rebel T4i
950 71
500 70
Canon EOS Rebel T3
Nikon D3200
700 68
1,250 67
Pentax K-5
700 70
1,100 69
Nikon D5100
650 67
Pentax K-r
800 69
Nikon D5000
630 67
650 65
1,000 68
1,100 67
Sony SLT -A37K
600 67
1,400 67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3K
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF5X
Samsung NX210
990 76
900 76
1,300 71
Sony NEX-7K
Sony SLT-A77V
1,480 77
Superb mulching and an efficient,
overhead-valve engine at a relatively low
price helped make the 21-inch Honda
HRR216VKA self-propelled mower,
$400, a CR Best Buy. Bagging and
side-discharging were a notch
below the best, but both
were still impressive. Easy
handling and no-prime
starting are other pluses.
SLR
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Samsung DV5451AG[W]
730 76
800 76
LG DLG2251[W]
With its phenomenal
battery life, the Motorola
Droid Razr Maxx, $300,
can really go the distance.
This speedy Android smart
phone has a beautiful
4.3-inch high-resolution
display, intuitive navigation,
and a very good camera.
It runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE
network.
SLR-like
Price Overall score
$1,400 77
$1,000 79
Samsung DV5451AE[W]
Type
Brand & model
Electric Samsung DV520AE[P]
continued
Sony
SLT-A77V
575 67
750 65
900 65
Panasonic
Lumix
DMC-GH2
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.org
37
feature best products of the year
Spruce-ups
Interior paint
All of our picks offer impressive coverage and are low in volatile organic compounds.
All-in-one paint and primers are becoming more common. Benjamin Moore beat Behr
by a nose in two of three finishes because the paint now better maintains gloss after
cleaning. But the Behr performed nearly as well and costs $16 to $35 less per can.
Bruce
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Satin and
eggshell
Benjamin Moore Aura Satin
$66 85
Behr Premium Plus Ultra Satin Enamel (Home Depot)
33 84
Kilz Casual Colors Satin
27 82
23 80
Glidden Premium Satin (Home Depot)
Congoleum
spotlight
Behr Premium Plus Satin Enamel (Home Depot)
EcoTimber
Benjamin Moore Regal Select Eggshell
Ace Royal Interiors Satin
Vinyl remains the most wear-resistant
flooring. Congoleum’s DuraCeramic Sierra
Slate SI-74, $5 per square foot, aced our
tests. Love wood? Those with factory
finishes, like Bruce’s Dundee Plank
CB121210 oak, $5.70 per square foot, and
EcoTimber Woven Honey WBH061 bamboo,
$5.90 per square foot, tend to last longer,
and the floor is ready for use right away.
CR Best
Buys
over
$500
Valspar + Satin (Lowe’s)
Flat and
matte
Behr Premium Plus Ultra Flat (Home Depot)
25 78
50 75
27 74
42 74
Benjamin Moore Aura Matte
31 82
66 77
Behr Premium Plus Flat Enamel (Home Depot)
20 76
Benjamin Moore Natura Flat
55 75
Glidden Premium Flat (Home Depot)
19 73
Valspar Signature Colors Matte (Lowe’s)
31 72
This lightweight is good to go in more
ways than one. The Toshiba Portégé
Ultrabook Z835-P330 weighs just 2.4
pounds and has a battery life of 8¼
hours. At $750, it’s among the
lowest-priced 13-inch laptops. The Dell
Inspiron I13Z-6591SLV, $700, weighs a bit
more but has a full-sized keyboard and
more storage—1 terabyte vs. the
Toshiba’s 128 gigabytes.
Electronics
Basic digital cameras
Take your best shot. Subcompacts
are lightweight and portable.
Rugged and waterproof models are
great for shooting sports, outdoor
activities, and travel. Superzooms
with up to 42x zoom let you get up
close and personal.
Type
Subcompact
Canon PowerShot
Elph 310 HS
Brand & model
Price Overall score
$260 66
Canon PowerShot S95
Canon PowerShot Elph 110 HS
260 65
380 64
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
230 62
400 62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
160 61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
130 61
430 61
Nikon Coolpix S1200pj
Look for new Ratings in the December issue.
38
Type
Rugged and
waterproof
Nikon Coolpix S100
Canon PowerShot Elph 310 HS
Olympus Tough TG-1
co n s um er r ep o rt s n ove mb e r 2 0 1 2
Nikon Coolpix S100
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Nikon Coolpix AW 100
$300 62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
320 62
Canon PowerShot D20
350 59
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10
180 58
Olympus Tough TG-1
400 58
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
380 57
Canon PowerShot D10
260 57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
150 56
Olympus Tough TG-820
300 54
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
350 53
Pentax Optio WG-2
300 53
spotlight
Benjamin Moore
Aura Satin
Type
Ace Royal Interiors
Semi-Gloss
Behr Premium Plus
Ultra Flat
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Semigloss Benjamin Moore Regal Select Semi-Gloss
$50 81
Behr Premium Plus Ultra Semi-Gloss (Home Depot)
Benjamin Moore Aura Semi-Gloss
34 81
66 80
Ace Royal Interiors Semi-Gloss
28 77
Glidden Brilliance Semi-Gloss (Walmart)
Behr Premium Plus Semi-Gloss Enamel (Home Depot)
27 77
25 76
Glidden Premium Semi-Gloss (Home Depot)
24 76
Better Homes and Gardens Semi-Gloss (Walmart)
Benjamin Moore Natura Semi-Gloss
23 76
55 75
Olympic One Semi-Gloss (Lowe’s)
27 75
The bagged-upright
Kenmore Intuition
31100, $250, blends
strong carpet and
bare-floor
performance with
superb pet-hair
pickup. Impressive
airflow through the
hose is also handy
for cleaning couches
and other surfaces
with tools. Helpful
features include a
brush on/off switch
to safeguard bare
floors and prevent
scattering of dust
and debris.
The 5,500-watt, gasolinepowered Generac GP5500 5939,
$670, performed almost as
well as the top-rated portable
generator for hundreds less. It
supplies enough power to keep
your fridge, furnace, microwave,
computer, and some lights on.
Helpful features include fuel
shutoff (which prevents leaks
and keeps fuel from spoiling
during storage), low-oil
shutdown, and a fuel gauge.
Type
Rugged and
waterproof
continued
Superzoom
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
$300 52
The Nikon D3200 SLR, $700, is
a digital SLR that’s great for novices
and shutterbugs alike. Let the
interactive guide help you along, or
opt for advanced operation if you
want to go it alone. Image quality
is very good, and the price is modest
for this type of camera.
Blu-ray players
Excellent high-definition picture quality from Blu-ray discs is a given,
but features vary from model to model. Many new players can
stream video from Netflix and other services and play 3D discs.
Olympus Tough TG-620
350 52
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
300 51
Nikon Coolpix S9100
200 67
Type
Brand & model
Nikon Coolpix L120
280 66
3D players
LG BP620
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
400 65
Panasonic DMP-BDT220
Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR
230 65
Samsung BD-E5900
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
240 64
300 64
Toshiba BDX5300
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS
380 64
Sony BPD-S590
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
380 64
Panasonic DMP-BDT500
150 71
330 70
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
200 63
LG BP320
100 74
Fujifilm FinePix F770EXR
330 62
Panasonic DMP-BD87
100 72
Samsung WB850F
350 62
Panasonic DMP-BDT320
Standard
players
$140 77
115 75
130 75
110 73
150 72
LG BP220
80 71
Samsung BD-E5300
80 69
Toshiba BDX2300
80 69
Panasonic DMP-BD77
80 68
110 67
Philips BDP3406/F7
Toshiba BDX5300
Price Overall score
Sony Internet T V NSZ-GT1
300 67
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.o rg
39
Overview iPad info: Best Products Home - CR Novemver 2012
California Paints
Fres-Coat Velvet Flat
Behr Solid Color Deck, Fence
& Siding Wood Stain
Sherwin-Williams
Duration Satin
Behr Premium Semi-Transparent
Weatherproofing Wood Stain
Sherwin-Williams
Duration Gloss
Thompson’s WaterSeal
Advanced Waterproofer
Exterior paints and stains
Sherwin-Williams surged to the top in this year’s exterior-paint Ratings,
though you’ll find brands that resist cracking and color change almost as
well for less than half the price. Among exterior stains, Behr continues to
deliver top protection for solid and semitransparent formulas, and
Thompson’s holds up relatively well for a clear sealer.
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Flat paint
California Paints Fres-Coat Velvet Flat
$42 79
Sherwin-Williams Duration Flat
63 79
Glidden Spred Flat
25 77
Glidden Premium Flat (Home Depot)
Behr Premium Plus Flat (Home Depot)
21 77
25 76
Valspar Ultra Premium Flat (Lowe’s)
26 75
Valspar DuraMax Flat (Lowe’s)
Sherwin-Williams Duration Satin
33 74
64 78
Pratt & Lambert Accolade Eggshell
44 76
Glidden Premium Satin (Home Depot)
23 75
Glidden Spred Satin
Sherwin-Williams Duration Gloss
27 75
65 76
Behr Premium Plus Semi-Gloss Enamel (Home Depot)
28 75
28 74
Solid stains
Glidden Spred Semi-Gloss
Behr Solid Color Deck, Fence & Siding Wood Stain (Home
Depot)
Wolman DuraStain Solid
Semitransparent
stains
Sears Weatherbeater Deck, Fence & Siding Solid
Behr Premium Semi-Transparent Weatherproofing Wood
Stain (Home Depot)
Sherwin-Williams Deckscapes Semi-Transparent
Satin paint
Semigloss piant
Flood TWF-SEMI Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
Clear sealers
40
Thompson’s WaterSeal Advanced Waterproofer
co n s um er r ep o rt s n ove mb e r 2 0 1 2
28 80
33 66
21 64
36 60
43 51
24 47
25 34
Overview iPad info: Best Products Home - CR Novemver 2012
EcoTimber Woven
Honey WBH061
Teragren Synergy
Strand with Xcora Java
Armstrong Coastal
Living L3051 White
Wash Walnut
Congoleum DuraCeramic
Sierra Slate SI-74 Golden
Greige
Armstrong Marmorette
Oak Brown LP066
Flooring
We’ve updated our foot-traffic tests to spot changes in a floor’s finish faster.
The most wear-resistant type remains vinyl; the best of those mimic stone
and slate right down to the dappled colors and random textures. Love wood?
Factory finishes last longer, and the floor is ready for use right away.
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Prefinished solid
wood
EcoTimber Woven Honey WBH061
$5.90 78
Engineered wood
Plastic laminate
Mullican St. Andrews Solid Oak Strip 10930
6.30 69
Bruce Dundee Plank CB1210
Teragren Synergy Strand with Xcora Java
5.70 62
6.00 73
Armstrong Century Farm Hickory Natural GCH452NALG
6.00 61
Armstrong Coastal Living L3051 White Wash Walnut
3.50 87
4.00 75
Quick-Step Perspectives Ansel Oak UF1259
Surface Source Winchester Oak 2765 (Lowe’s)
Vinyl
Linoleum
Congoleum DuraCeramic Sierra Slate SI-74 Golden Greige
1.00 74
5.00 92
Armstrong Alterna Mesa Stone Canyon Sun D4112
5.50 90
Armstrong Luxe Plank Timber Bay Barnyard Gray A6861
5.50 80
4.50 62
Armstrong Marmorette Oak Brown LP066
Toilets
You might think a water-saving toilet might not get the job done. But more
than half of the toilets that topped our Ratings meet requirements for the
federal WaterSense program, which limit toilets to 1.28 gallons per flush, and
they’re fairly quiet. Almost all also excelled at avoiding clogs down the line.
Type
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Single-flush
American Standard Champion 4 2002.014
$300 85
Dual-flush
Gerber Avalanche 21-818
330 83
Toto Drake CST744S
Kohler Highline Classic K-3493
370 83
425 78
American Standard Clean 2514.101 (Lowe’s)
240 76
Aquasource AT1203-00 (Lowe’s)
Toto Eco Drake CST744E
100 75
380 75
Kohler Cimarron The Complete Solution K-11813
250 75
Kohler Cimarron K-3589
Kohler Wellworth K-3575
270 75
250 74
Glacier Bay Dual Flush N2316 (Home Depot)
100 74
American Standard
Champion 4 2002.014
Glacier Bay Dual Flush
N2316
n ove mb e r 201 2 C o n su m e r R e p o rt s.o rg
41
Overview iPad info: Best Products Electronics - CR Novemver 2012
Pocket camcorders
Small, inexpensive, and lightweight, these are great for video on the go,
making it easy to shoot and edit quickly. A few models can be submerged
in water or dropped from several feet without getting damaged. But most
lack optical zoom and image stabilization.
ID shot: (check currency) Samsung HMX-W300
Type
Pocket
Camcorders
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Samsung HMX-W300
$140 53
Panasonic HX-WA2
250 53
Sony Bloggie Live HD MHS-TS55
250 52
Basic digital cameras (extra)
Type
Rugged and
waterproof
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Nikon Coolpix AW100
$300 62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Canon PowerShot D20
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10
Olympus Tough TG-1
190 58
400 58
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
380 57
Canon PowerShot D10
260 57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
150 56
300 54
Olympus Tough TG-820
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Pentax Optio WG-2
Compact
42
320 62
350 59
Nikon Coolpix P300
350 53
300 53
Nikon Coolpix P310
330 68
300 66
Canon PowerShot Elph 510 HS
300 64
Nikon Coolpix S8200
280 63
Nikon Coolpix S8100
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS
180 63
160 61
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
300 52
con sum er r ep o rt s n ove mb e r 2 0 1 2
Overview iPad info: Best Products Electronics - CR Novemver 2012
Desktops
All-in-one desktops are space savers, with the components
built into the monitor or a small base that the monitor sits on.
They usually have a wireless keyboard and mouse. Many have
touch screens and special interfaces built onto them that are
family- and kid-friendly.
Type
Brand & model
All-in-one
Dell Inspiron One 2330
$1,100 77
Sony Vaio SVL24116FXB
1,700 76
1,000 74
HP Omni 220-1185qd
HP TouchSmart
520-1165xt
Dell XPS One XPS0271176BK
Lenovo IdeaCentre A720
(25645CU)
HP TouchSmart
520-1070pc
Apple iMac 27-inch
MC813LL/A
HP TouchSmart
610-1250xt
HP Omni 27-1054
Asus ET2701-10
HP TouchSmart
520-1050pc
Samsung DP700A3BA02US
HP TouchSmart 520-1140t
Apple iMac 21.5-inch
MC309LL/A
Price Overall score
1,150 73
1,400 73
1,850 72
1,250 72
1,700 71
1,000 69
1,150 69
1,000 69
950 67
1,000 66
800 66
1,200 65
GPS
4
Type
4.3-inch screen
Brand & model
Price Overall score
Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT
$350 82
TomTom Go 2435 TM
200 74
Garmin Nuvi 2455LT
160 73
Garmin Nuvi 2350LT
170 71
140 63
Magellan Roadmate 2136T LM
TomTom Via 1435 T
5-inch screen
Garmin Nuvi 3590LMT
180 62
380 85
TomTom Go 2535 TM
280 75
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Great Buys Home
Blender
Excellent at crushing ice, serving up smooth icy drinks, chopping foods, and puréeing
soup, the Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004, $60, was relatively quiet and simple to
use. Interchangeable blades and containers make it easy to switch from blender to
food-chopper mode. Its plastic container holds 6 cups, and the removable blade makes
cleanup easier.
Generator
The 5,500-watt, gasoline-powered Generac GP5500 5939 performed almost as well as
the top-rated portable generator for hundreds less. It supplies enough power to keep
your fridge, furnace, microwave, computer, and some lights on. Helpful features include
electric start, fuel shutoff (which prevents leaks and keeps fuel from spoiling during
storage), low-oil shutdown, and a fuel gauge.
Coffeemaker
Different coffee for different tastes. Flexibility is a main attraction of the Smart Café My
Invento pod coffeemaker, $120. The manufacturer sells pods, but widely sold Senseo
pods also work. You can also use two pods at once for a larger or stronger serving, or to
brew two servings at once.
Gas mower
Superb mulching and an efficient overhead-valve engine at a relatively low price helped
make the 21-inch Honda HRR216VKA self-propelled mower, $400, a CR Best Buy. Bagging
and side-discharging were a notch below the best, but both were still impressive. Easy
handling and no-prime starting are other pluses.
Leaf blower
Impressive power for sweeping and loosening leaves help the corded-electric Toro Ultra
Blower Vac 51599 blower, $70, perform almost as well as the best gas blowers. It also
weighs less and delivers impressive vacuuming without a gas blower’s fueling, fumes,
and maintenance. Its metal impeller stands up to vacuumed debris.
Knives
You could spend $75 on a single knife from a premium knife maker. That same
investment gets you the entire eight-piece Ginsu Chikara, including a paring, utility,
serrated, chef ’s, and santoku knife (shears, sharpening rod, and storage block round out
the set). The blades are forged from a single piece of stainless steel for maximum
sharpness, precision, and durability.
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con s um er r ep o rt s n ove mb e r 2 0 1 2
Great Buys Electronics
GREAT BUYS – for middle band on the page
$100 and under
(ok for currency)
The Roku 2 XD, $80, brings streaming video to
almost any TV. The tiny puck-shaped box—just 3
inches wide—has built-in Wi-Fi for connecting to
your home network, tons of apps, and streaming
movies and TV shows from services including
Amazon, Epix, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, and Netflix.
The box supports 1080p video for HDTVs with an
HDMI input but will also connect to older TVs
with standard-definition composite-video inputs.
The Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch, $100, is
among the best e-book readers we’ve ever tested,
and it's inexpensive for a model that has a touch
screen. It has an unusually small “footprint” for a
device with a 6-inch screen.
(check currency)
Great sound doesn’t have to cost a bundle. Case
in point: Grado’s SR80i on-ear headphones, $100,
which deliver excellent sound quality. Their
old-school look might not appeal to the
headphones-as-fashion-accessories crowd, but
the clear, detailed sound could win them over.
The SR80i’s open-air design is best for quieter
environments. Consider an in-ear model (such as
JVC’s HA-FX300, $60) or one with active noise
cancellation if you want to muffle the outside
din.
(check currency)
The Panasonic KX-TG4732B cordless phone, $70,
offers lots of features for the price, including a
visual ringer and audio boost (great for those
with impaired hearing), plus talking caller ID (a
plus for those with vision problems). It can also
block unwanted calls and offers longer-thanusual recording time. The long range makes it a
great choice for big houses. Price includes two
cordless handsets.
$250 and under
(check currency)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15, $200, is a
powerful superzoom with a long, 16x optical
zoom and an enviably slim inch-and-a-half thick
profile. It has very good image quality, is easy to
use, and has a large 3-inch display.
(ok for currency)
Love your TV, but wish it had better audio?
Consider the Vizio VHT215, $250, a 2.1-channel
soundbar speaker system that can rock your
room with rattling your wallet. The system
includes the main soundbar speaker, which can
be placed below or above the TV, plus a wireless
subwoofer. Its very good sound quality should
please movie and music fans. A plus: It can also
pass through 3D signals to your TV via its HDMI
inputs and outputs.
(check currency)
The space-saving DX-24LD230A12 from Dynex, a
Best Buy house brand, packs a slot-loading DVD
player into the side of a slim, 24-inch LCD TV. The
set has very good picture quality, and its 1080p
resolution is a plus if you’d like it to double as a PC
monitor. Best of all, it costs just $200.
(ok for currency)
Among the lightest tablets with very long battery
life, the Google Nexus 7, $250, offers a lot of
features and power without breaking the bank.
Its display is very good and has natural-looking
colors, and it’s readable in sunlight. Among its
interesting features is the ability to do a voice
search.
(ok for currency)
The Samsung BD-E5900, $130, is a low-priced 3D
Blu-ray player with excellent high-definition
picture quality. Features include built-in Wi-Fi
and a full Web browser, with access to streaming
movies and TV shows from Netflix and Vudu,
among others.
$500 AND UNDER
(check currency)
Looking for a basic, lower-priced TV with very
good picture quality? LG’s 42-inch 42PA4500
plasma TV, $400, fits the bill. Like most plasma
TVs, it handles fast-moving scenes beautifully
and has an unlimited viewing angle. Also, it’s one
of a handful of sets this size with very good
sound. True, it has 720p resolution instead of the
1080p found on pricier sets, but at this screen size
only eagle eyes will notice the difference in
picture detail, unless you sit very close.
$800 and under
(check currency)
The Nikon D3200, $700, has very good image
quality and a viewfinder. An interactive guide
mode instructs and configures the camera in a
number of different settings. You can choose
between easy or advanced operation, depending
on your expertise.
The Acer Aspire TimelineU Ultrabook M5581T-6490, $780, is a big performer in a thin-andlight package. Even though it’s a 15-inch laptop, it
weighs less than 5 pounds and is less than an inch
thick. Battery life was among the longest at 9.75
hours. It’s able to play demanding video games
and, despite its size, includes a DVD drive.
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