This Week The Trend

💡 This Week The Trend newsletter consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a Value Score—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used. How I’d spend $500: JBL EasySing Mic Mini If you've only been using your JBL Bluetooth speaker to listen to music, then you're missing out on using it for singing too.

Instead of a closed-back design, like most wireless headphones you see, the JLab Open Wireless headphones are completely open so your ears can breathe. Hot ears may seem a little silly, but a lot of people don’t like how sweaty their ears get when using over-the-ear headphones. The other main reason these headphones make sense is that they let you continuously hear your surroundings. Instead of being closed off, the Open Wireless headphones keep you available to people around you.

The complete list of Studio Ghibli movies is extensive. So, if you’ve seen My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, or Spirited Away, and are wondering what your next watch from the storied studio should be, I can help with that. Of course, if you’ve never seen classics like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, then those are all good titles to tackle sooner rather than later. Since those are some of the most popular Ghibli movies beloved by millions of fans.

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro aren’t really “smart glasses,” but after you connect them to your phone or laptop, I bet you’ll start thinking of them as a smart gadget. More accurately, the Air 4 Pro are projection glasses. They’re basically a monitor that you wear on your face. So why would you want to wear a monitor? Well, instead of looking at a 6.3-inch iPhone screen, you can watch a movie on a 201-inch display. The other reason is for privacy.

The Marshall Milton ANC wireless headphones do something different from other audio products these days. Instead of covering your ears completely, the smaller ear cups sit up against your ears. This gives them a different fit and feel that some people might be looking for. The headphones incorporate active noise cancellation, have between 50 and 80 hours of battery life, and, of course, feature the company’s iconic styling.

đź’ˇ This Week The Trend newsletter consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a Value Score—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used. How I’d spend $500: Marshall Milton ANC Most wireless headphones these days completely cover your ears. The Marshall Milton ANC sit on top of your ears. The ear cups are smaller, so the Milton are able to fold up very compactly.

The new Fitbit Air from Google ditches the screen to get back to the simplicity of old-school fitness trackers. The irony here is that the Fitbit Air is anything but simple. Google Gemini oozes out of every facet of the Google Health app as it tries to use AI to coach you. I’ve been testing smartwatches and wearables for over a decade, so I was curious how the Fitbit Air worked in two specific areas.

The Cotopaxi Coraza carry-on travel suitcase combats travel uncertainty with wide-open compartments on both sides, allowing for flexibility and packing freedom. And since brand-name carry-on luggage isn’t cheap, being able to use it for every kind of trip lets you get the most value out of it. That’s one reason I enjoyed using the Coraza carry-on on my recent international trip. I wanted every ounce of space I could manage without checking a bag.

💡 This Week The Trend newsletter consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a Value Score—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used. This week, the trend is all about products that work well for travel. From a travel bag to multiple power adapters with compact sizes, these products can make the journey a little nicer.

As a technology journalist, covering the latest gadgets, I’m always trying to find the perfect travel backpack that can sit under an airplane seat, but still fit all the devices I need to carry. From a laptop and iPad to wireless headphones and power adapters, there’s always plenty of gear to bring. I’ve tried a lot of backpacks over the years. For daily use around town, I really like the Topo Designs Commuter Backpack.