You should take a test as soon as you start to notice symptoms or within five days of exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control. If you’re asymptomatic and your first test is negative, take another test based on the manufacturer’s instructions. This is usually within two to three days of the first test—most tests come with two tests per box for this reason. If your test is positive, take another test to verify it and quarantine for five days.
Do You Need a Test Right Now?
If you need a test ASAP, please check guide to 12 Good Rapid At-Home Covid-19 Tests and Where to Find Them. It also has more information about accuracy. Rapid tests usually show results in about 15 minutes, and they’re about 85 percent accurate.
The Tests We Recommend (see our guide for more retailers). Preliminary results show that the starred tests can detect the Omicron variant:
Common Problems When Using the Site
Even though the government had two years to figure out this plan, it is not without bugs. Hopefully, you’ll be able to complete your request in minutes. But here are a few common problems we’ve seen.
Do you live in an apartment or a live-work space?
During the first round, many apartment dwellers found themselves unable to request tests because their multi-unit building was classified as a single residence. If anyone in the entire building placed an order for tests, the system thought they were requesting more than the allotted number per household.
This should be resolved, but if you find this happening again, file a service request here. US Representative Jerry Nadler of New York has tweeted about the issue. Anecdotally, Nadler tweeted that some people have been able to resolve the issue by making sure everything is correct using the USPS’s zip code search. You can also try entering your apartment’s unit number in the same box as your address instead of the Apt / Suite / Other box. However, several members of the WIRED staff were unable to request tests using any of these methods.
The same issue happened for those who reside in a live-work building, which is common in the San Francisco Bay Area. The system sees these addresses as businesses and won’t ship tests there. You’ll also need to file a service request.
Do you have more than eight people in your house?
If you’ve used all your tests or you just have a bigger family, you’re out of luck when it comes to a free at-home kit. You can purchase more if you need them.
Do you not speak English, Spanish, or Chinese?
The website has three language options right now, English, Spanish, and Chinese. It’s not clear whether the helpline listed above (1-800-232-0233) will be able to help people who don’t speak one of those.
Are you homeless?
The site states that these tests are sent to valid residential addresses and residential PO boxes only. One of the FAQs asks if tests can be picked up at another location or held at the USPS, and the answer is, unfortunately, no. If you’re homeless, reach out to your local health social service agency to find a free test.
What About Free Masks?
President Biden stated that 400 million free N95 masks will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers. Some WIRED staff found a few at their local Walgreens and CVS locations, but not everyone. If you can’t find any for free, we have a few guides for face mask recommendations that should help keep you protected.
If you’ve consistently followed the CDC’s recommendations, you know they have changed several times over the course of the pandemic. N95s are the best bet to keep you and those around you safe—we have more on the types of masks and their effectiveness in the N95 guide—but, as the CDC says, any mask is better than no mask.
Vaccinations and Boosters
Being vaccinated won’t stop you from getting Covid-19, but it could alleviate the worst and most dangerous symptoms. We recommend getting vaccinated if you haven’t already, and if you have, get a booster shot. Vaccines.gov should help you find somewhere near you with vaccines available—a search of my zip code showed 50 places within six miles.
Whether you’ve just started spinning analog audio or you’ve been building a collection for years, good vinyl accessories can take your enjoyment—and your records’ longevity—to the next level. I’ve spent the better part of the past decade messing with some of the most lauded tools for cleaning, setting up, and maintaining record players, and these are my favorites. Plenty of these accessories are affordable, and they make great gifts too.
Before you dive deeper, I recommend watching this video on proper turntable setup. Many of the accessories below are meant to aid you in making sure you’re getting the most out of your gear. For more, check out our Best Turntables guide and our how-to article on upgrading your home audio.
Updated May 2022: We’ve added sound isolation pads for turntables.
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Yesterday afternoon, the Twitter account for digital fitness company Peloton tweeted an emoji of a person rowing a boat. That’s it; that’s the tweet. If you wondered if that meant Peloton is sinking, you couldn’t be totally blamed—after all, Peloton’s third quarter earnings weren’t great, and its outlook for the next quarter isn’t stellar either. But a teaser video shared in a follow-up tweet revealed a Peloton-branded rowing machine. It was a quick glimpse at the product, and the company has yet to share any details on availability and price. (Trust me, we’ve asked.) The long-rumored rower was also Peloton’s “worst-kept secret on Earth,” as cofounder and chief product officer Tom Cortese described it in an interview with the Verge.
This upcoming rowing machine and the recently launched Peloton Guide are both niche hardware products, catering to people who want to do a specific kind of workout. What’s likely getting less attention right now is the fact that Peloton also just announced that it will soon allow people to track non-Peloton workouts, like walking and running, in its mobile app. This only underscores that Peloton is a subscription company that wants to keep people engaged in its apps as much as possible. New CEO Barry McCarthy has already piloted a program to lower the up-front cost of the hardware, while the price for access to the bike and treadmill apps just went up from $39 to $44 a month. So the rowing machine, whenever it ships, is much less significant as a stand-alone product and more a part of a broader ecosystem play.
Here’s some more news from the world of gadgets.
iPhones Might Finally Get USB-C ports
In a perfect society you wouldn’t need a different cord for every device. Fortunately, that utopian vision could be getting a step closer. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing new iPhones that have USB-C connectors instead of Apple’s proprietary lightning ports.
While the faster, simpler USB-C ports have become ubiquitous across device categories, Apple has long been the most prominent holdout. As Gurman suggests, Apple’s motivation may be adherence to a decision by the European Union to mandate that manufacturers like Apple use the USB-C standard across devices. It’s not the only decision the company seems to have made to get out ahead of legislation. Apple (begrudgingly) started providing repair parts and manuals for its devices after a device repairability law passed in France.
Gurman says Apple’s new USB-C ports won’t slot into iPhones until next year at the earliest. Still, it’s huge news for everyone who’s sick of accidentally jamming the wrong charger into their phone.
Foldables Could Go Both Ways
You may think of folding screens as fully flexible—that’s sort of their whole deal. But most foldables only bend in one direction, either inward or outward. Some new tech from LG aims to combine them into one screen that can fold along a full 360-degree axis.
This week, at an industry conference called Society for Information Display, LG showed off an 8-inch screen capable of doing this. The company says the screen is capable of withstanding 200,000 folds before showing signs of wear. LG hasn’t offered a timeline for when this will make its way into a mass-market product. Still, companies are barreling ahead with foldables, whether they’ll become the future of screens or not. Hopefully this gives them just a little bit more, ahem, flexibility.
There’s a New OP-1
The OP-1 synthesizer is Swedish developer Teenage Engineering’s flagship beat box. It’s a compact, feature-stuffed groove machine that’s popular with musical pros and hobbyists alike. (Those who are willing to plop down the $1,200 asking price, anyway.) This week, the company announced that the OP-1 has gotten its first major update since its launch in 2011.
Called the OP-1 Field, the new model is thinner and lighter, and it packs even more features into its slim keyboard frame, including a higher-resolution display, 32-bit audio, and 24 hours of battery life (up from eight to 10 hours on the original).
Teenage Engineering also codesigned the hugely anticipated retro-style gaming handheld Playdate. While that particular device isn’t shipping again until 2023, the new OP-1 Field is available now. Unfortunately, it’s also more expensive than its predecessor, retailing for a whopping $2,000. Good things may come in small packages, but they’re going to cost you.
Time to Shut the iPod Doors, Hal
A moment of silence for the iPod, please. This week, Apple announced that it has stopped producing the iPod Touch, the last remaining product in its iconic line of music players. The original iPod launched in October 2001, and now its run has come to an end.
WIRED’s Steven Levy—who literally wrote the book on the iPod—goes in depth on the device’s demise.
A Gaggle of Google Gadgets
And in case you somehow missed it, Google held its I/O developer conference this week. The company used its keynote event to show off a smorgasbord of software and hardware updates. There’s new Pixel phones, a more conversational Google Assistant, some changes to make Search more inclusive, and yes, even a real-life Pixel Watch.
If you want to dig in, here’s all the hardware Google announced this week. And here’s all the new software updates. Also listen to some of WIRED’s gadget geeks dive deep on the important announcements on this week’s Gadget Lab podcast.
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In the past few years, no product I’ve tested has advanced as quickly as the humble robot vacuum. Where once they ping-ponged randomly around your kitchen, you can now find robot vacs at every price point with an incredible array of features, including mapping capabilities, self-emptying bins, and even cameras.
Vacuuming an ever-changing household is a complicated task, and no robot vacuum is perfect. However, I test them in one of the most challenging environments possible—a carpeted, two-story family home with messy kids and a shedding dog—and personally, I find them indispensable. Whether you’re drowning in cat hair, need to lighten your chore load, or just want to spend more time with your family, we have a pick that will help.
Looking for other handy home items? Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including the Best Air Purifiers and the Best Pots and Pans.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a1-year subscription toWIREDfor $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Updated May 2022: We’ve added new picks, such as the Roborock Q5+, and cut a few older units.
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Time flies when everything is always happening, so it’s totally understandable if you forgot Mother’s Day is this Sunday! We can’t buy you more time, but we can help you find quality deals with quick shipping so you can still get a great gift. Moms are multifaceted marvels, and we’ve rounded up a variety of products, ranging from headphones and ebook readers to beauty goods and kitchen gadgets.
Don’t forget to check out our Mother’s Day Gift Ideas guide for more recommendations.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.
Smart Display and Speaker Deals
Aura Carver
Photograph: Aura
My mom’s camera roll is filled with three types of photos—the Rocky Mountains, my siblings, and our family’s dogs. The Aura Carver Luxe lets her display all those pics like the proud parent she is, and it easily blends in with her home decor. You can check out Aura’s website to find other frame designs (many of which are also on sale.)
Although Nixplay frames are similar to Aura’s, they look a little more like a digital screen, but with better resolution (photos will look sharper). If your mom is on the eco-conscious side, she can sleep better knowing that Nixplay plants a tree each time someone purchases a frame. Read our Best Digital Frames guide for more options.
Facebook’s Portal Go (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is great for calling family members and friends, with a camera that senses and follows your motion as you move through a room. It also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and digital picture frame, so you get more utility out of it. Our Best Smart Display guide has other options, if Facebook is not your jam.
Mommy’s little helper is tiny, round, and named Alexa. The fourth-generation Echo (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is great for anyone looking to connect and control other smart home devices via voice or to rock out with Spotify. Ask Alexa what the weather is, set a timer, or order toilet paper straight from Amazon. Make sure to read our tips on how to secure your Amazon Echo (as best you can). The cheaper Amazon Echo Dot, which has weaker speakers, is also on sale for $40 ($20 off).
Tech Deals
Beats Fit Pro
Photograph: Beats
Everyone talks about dad jams, but mom’s music is just as iconic. Give mom the gift of high-quality earbuds to soak it all in. The Beats Fit Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are Apple’s best earbuds ever, with great noise-canceling tech, spatial audio, Dolby Atmos support, and a comfortable fit. Honestly, they’re just sleek as hell.
If your mom’s been looking for a new tablet to take on the go, or even just to have on her bedside table, look no further. The iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is portable and powerful, so she can run as many tabs as she wants in the background while binging Moon Knight. This is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked.
Your mom deserves a massage, but little or distracted hands often just don’t cut it when it comes to working out those knots. Instead, take on the tension with the Theragun Mini. It supplies 20 pounds of pressure, so she can pass it over to her partner and let the rest melt away.
Twelve South PowerPic Mod Wireless Charger
Photograph: Twelve South
This little gadget pulls double duty as a frame for art or a 4 x 6 photo and a way for Mom to recharge her smartphone (if it supports wireless charging). No need to fuss with plugging cables into a phone, and it’ll blend in with the home decor. Read our Best Wireless Chargers guide for more.
Use code MAMA at checkout to see the discount. Take advantage of this promotion to get cases for a few people you know or give Mom a couple of options so she can style her case with her outfit. Sonix has some of the prettiest iPhone cases, and these all include MagSafe. If she has an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, these will work with all her MagSafe accessories.
I’ve never seen my mom devour anything the way she did a Dean Koontz novel. If your mom’s anything like mine, the new Kindle Paperwhite (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great option to bring her bevy of books with her anywhere. This model offers even faster page turns, USB-C charging so you can finally ditch that MicroUSB cable, and a warm frontlight so she can comfortably read in the dark.
Apple Watch Series 7
Photograph: Apple
Calling all the #PelotonMoms out there: The Apple Watch Series 7 has improved cycling detection. This means you can track that ’80s ride with Robin even better and log more accurate stats on the calories you’ve burned. This is consistent with the lowest price we’ve seen for the Series 7 last month, but it’s still a great deal.
Does Mom have an Android smartphone? The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is an elegant, classic-looking watch that matches the Apple Watch’s capabilities in many ways. That includes heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen detection, and sleep tracking. Read our Best Smartwatches guide for more.
The Garmin Vivomove is a great choice for the more fitness forward mom. The software is comprehensive, easily integrating with other fitness apps (like Strava), while also tracking other health elements like sleep and “body battery.” Much like the Samsung Galaxy, it also has a more “classic” look, so mom can transition from her runs to her dinner reservations.
It’s no secret that moms often have to sacrifice form for function so they can more efficiently take care of everything. The Garmin Lily is one of the smallest fitness trackers that Garmin makes. She can pick form first with this gorgeous smart watch.
Home and Kitchen Deals
Photograph: Baloo
For either a quick nap or a much-needed break during the day, your mom can calm down and check out with the Baloo Weighted Blanket. It’s a throw, so she won’t have to drag a massive, queen-sized blanket from the bedroom to the couch. And it’s made of cotton and weighs only 12 pounds, making it perfect for any season.
Whether your mom is a regular Julia Child or frequently heats up frozen meals, she can probably find a good use for the Instant Pot Pro Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It makes mealtime much easier, with settings for pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, and sous vide. With the Pro Plus, she can slow-cook her overnight oats for breakfast or whip up her finest filet for dinner.
This is one of the nicest-looking umbrellas we tested for our Best Umbrellas guide. It’s large enough to fit two, yet lightweight enough that it’s not cumbersome to carry. The cork handle feels great, and its bright canopy will shine through even the gloomiest of days.
Though this isn’t on sale, per say, the Primula Burke Deluxe is our favorite cold brew coffee maker. The Primula makes a luxurious, smooth pot of cold brew for an affordable price. It’s also simple to use, so your mom can enjoy her daily caffeine with minimal fuss.
With a sunrise alarm clock like this one from HomeLabs, mom can wake up slowly and naturally as her room gradually lights up with a warm glow. A well-rested mom is a happy mom.
A mother’s to-do list tends to never end, likely leaving thoughts circling day and night. The Lectrofan Premium can help drown out a bit of that drumming, with a variety of sounds and decibel levels and a useful sleep timer.
This machine has been at this price for around a month, though it frequently spiked much higher in early April. It’s our favorite super automatic espresso machine and can offer a moment of calm amidst the maelstrom that is mornings. Thanks to its automated settings and built-in milk frother, Mom can get all her favorite foamy, caffeinated goodness without having to trek to the local Starbucks. She just needs to fill up the water tank, add her favorite coffee beans to the hopper, and let the machine work its magic.
If your mom is a true coffee connoisseur, you can upgrade her to the Breville Barista Pro. This machine has a built-in, conical grinder that allows for a more precise, fine grind to get that perfectly pulled espresso shot. It also leaves room to adjust the pressure, the temperature, and the number of shots you want.
Amongst the myriad of morning tasks moms often have, it’s likely that their cup of coffee ends up cold. The Ember Smart Mug is temperature regulated, stylish, and keeps track of caffeine intake — a trifecta for coffee lovers who likely have too many cups…in more ways than one.
My mother-in-law mastered the blowout, and she tries to teach me how to wield a round brush almost every time we visit. Though I just can’t quite figure it out, the Paul Mitchell Neuro Grip is perfect for those who have. The handle-free hair dryer lets you hold it at various angles so you can work with the round brush to give your hair that coveted bounce and volume.
