Tested: Should You Unplug Chargers When You're Not Using Them?

March 9, 2023

Did You Know?

The Goofy holler, the “Yaaaaa-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooey!” yell the Disney character makes, was originally recorded by Austrian yodeller Hannès Schroll for the 1941 short film The Art of Skiing.

Happy Thursday! There’s so much happening today. Roku OS 12 is rolling out to smart TVs and streaming devices now, and Roku now makes its own TVs. At the same time, Spotify is rolling out a new design.

In the PC world, NZXT has a new lineup of prebuilt gaming PCs that look great, Windows 11 is testing more changes to File Explorer, and Lenovo has some new workstation PCs inspired by luxury cars.

– Corbin

How much energy do your smartphone, laptop, and tablet chargers really use? What about laptop and tool chargers? Should you unplug them when you aren’t using them to save power and money? We measured exactly how much power a variety of common chargers use—and how much keeping them plugged in will cost you each year. Read More »

Build better brushing habits with this smart rechargeable electric toothbrush from Quip for just $60. The built-in Bluetooth® Smart Motor automatically tracks your brushing habits and allows you to redeem amazing rewards through the smartphone app such as gift cards to shop at your favorite online retailers. Learn More >>

Knowing how to boot your Mac into Safe Mode can help fix a myriad of problems with your Mac. In the worst-case scenario, you may be able to use Safe Mode to recover data and apply updates. Here’s how to do it. Read More »

Founded in 2019, BLUETTI’s solar generators have quickly made a name for themselves, offering portable power and renewable energy independence wherever you may roam. They have a wide selection of models that can keep your devices fully charged and ready to use for any outdoor adventure, big or small. Select the generator that best suits your needs and save up to $500 during this spring sale. Read More »

Setting up a smart home doesn’t have to be limited to the inside of the house. However, if you’re looking to set up outdoor smart plugs, you’ll need to be sure that they can survive the elements without shorting out.

Kasa’s Outdoor Smart Plug is just that. This plug has an IP64 weather-resistance rating, and it can survive some rough conditions. Throw in compatibility with Alexa and Google Home, and you have an outdoor smart plug that’s perfect for most households.

We knew it was going to happen. It wasn’t a question of if, but when, an Android OEM would copy Apple’s Dynamic Island, introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro. Six months later, the first shameless clone is here. Read More »

Microsoft revealed an AI-powered Bing chatbot in February, dubbing it “the new Bing.” But what can you actually do with the new Bing, and where does it fall short? Read More »

TikTok is what’s hot right now as far as social media goes. Once you fall victim to its algorithm and endless doom-scrolling, it’s a hard way out. Because of that, other apps have sought to imitate its addictive formula, which now includes Spotify. Read More »

The current Xbox gamepad is one of the best gaming controllers, thanks to its comfort, great buttons, and extra compatibility with PCs. Now, you can get one in a new super-green color. Read More »

The internet is not so free as it seems: even outside of authoritarian countries like China and its Great Firewall, many people are routinely denied access to sites that have content authorities deem harmful. How do these blocks work, though? What methods do governments employ to control the web? Read More »

Getting into the PC gaming world can be daunting for a beginner. There are lots of hoops to navigate, but prebuilt desktops can be a convenient alternative. PC maker NZXT has now released new gaming PCs, and they look impressive. Read More »

The initial release of Windows 11 included a partial design update for File Explorer, and updates afterward added features like tabs. Two more features are on the way to help you find and use files more quickly. Read More »

Released in 1996, Scream is one of the most popular and influential horror movies of all time. It spawned multiple sequels in a franchise that has run for more than 25 years. Here’s where you can stream all the Scream movies. Read More »

There are already many options for high-end workstations, from custom-built PCs to Apple’s Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Lenovo is now updating its ThinkStation desktop PCs with even better hardware. Read More »

Looking to up your photo game? A new, camera-focused smartphone will do wonders for your social media pictures. These are the best Android camera phones that will make sunsets sparkle, food look irresistible, and nighttime landscapes dazzle. Read More »

Amazon is the go-to shopping destination for many consumers thanks to its extensive product selection, fast delivery, and user-friendly interface. With so many items to choose from, it can be challenging to know which ones are worth buying. Here are some that have thousands of reviews and boast a rating of 4.5 stars or higher. Read More »

We’ve endured several years of rumors related to the “Pixel Fold,” a smartphone that Google hasn’t publicly announced or acknowledged. And while the hype for Google’s first foldable continues to build, I’m beginning to worry that this device is a bad idea. Read More »

Roku smart TVs have been popular for years, but Roku has historically only handled the software side, with companies like TCL and Hisense building the final hardware. That’s finally changing, as Roku’s first lineup of home-built TVs are hitting stores. Read More »

Is your Windows 11 PC too slow in starting up? There are a few changes you can make, from toggling a setting to upgrading your hardware, that will improve your computer’s boot time so you’re never left waiting. Read More »

If you write for a living or just for school, you might already use Grammarly to help you ensure your writing is as clean as possible. Now, Grammarly wants to go one step ahead with the help of AI. Read More »

The Roku operating system receives occasional updates, usually at least once every few months, bringing new features and improvements to Roku-based smart TVs and streaming players. Now there’s another major update rolling out. Read More »

DDR5 is the latest and greatest memory standard that promises to be better than DDR4 in almost every way, but does that mean you should throw your DDR4 in the trash and rush out to buy DDR5? Read this first. Read More »

Razer makes top-tier gaming devices, and the 2023 Razer Blade 18, the latest iteration of its laptop line, keeps with the tradition. Thanks to the gaming laptop’s powerful CPU and GPU, sizeable display, and six-speaker system, you’ll find the Blade 18 continues the high-performance tradition. Read More »

Although Wi-Fi 6E still feels bleeding edge at the start of 2023, Wi-Fi 7 is just around the corner, and sporting speeds that might make transfer speeds might make Ethernet cables obsolete. Let’s take a look at the proposed spec and what it promises. Read More »

Hello and welcome back to another edition of the How-To Geek Deals roundup. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your laptop or make better use of the one you already have, we’ve got discounts for just about everyone. On top of that, six items featured this week are down to their lowest prices ever. Let’s get to it! Read More »

Google releases one major Android update each year, and Android 14 is on track for late 2023. The first Android 14 Developer Preview arrived in February, and now the second build is available. Read More »