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Best Immersion Blender for 2022

Best Immersion Blender for 2022

For soup makers, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more useful tool than the immersion blender, although the Dutch oven makes a strong case. Sometimes called a hand blender or stick blender, these compact kitchen tools are able to puree ingredients right inside your pot or Dutch oven, saving you time and the hazard of transferring hot liquids into a traditional blender. Immersion blenders with whisk attachments can also make homemade whipped cream in seconds and many come with food chopper cups fitted with blades to turn your immersion blender into a small food processor. 

If you're unsure of how much you'll use this kitchen gadget, you might spring for the $60 Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender, which does a fine job for not a ton of money. But for habitual soup, sauce and dip makers, I recommend the $120 Breville Control Grip  as it combines power and precision, is super simple to operate and comes with four excellent attachments. KitchenAid's excellent model is my pick for the best cordless hand blender. And for power users with a little coin to spare, the Vitamix Immersion Blender is a monster with 625 watts of power but will run you $150 for the blender alone. 

After many hours of blending, whipping and chopping (and a whole lot of leftover soup), I've landed on these three models as the best immersion blenders for 2022. 

Read more: Best Blender for 2022

Best immersion blenders for 2022

Breville

This was one of the pricier immersion blenders I tested but it gives a whole lot of bang for the buck. The Breville Control Grip is incredibly easy and intuitive to use and packs plenty of power, despite lower total wattage than some others on the list. It also has one of my favorite handles, which is both sturdy and comfortable. This hand blender weighs a manageable 3.8 pounds and has good balance. I also like the rubber protectors on the bottom of the blade guard, which prevent it from scratching a pot or Dutch oven.

For $120, you'll get the mighty Breville stick blender and four handy accessories: a wire whisk, food chopper bowl, large jug for mixing and an ice crusher attachment you can screw into the jug for making mixed drinks and smoothies. All of the attachments are made from extremely high-grade plastic and feel particularly durable. If you're looking for an immersion blender that can do far more than puree soups and sauces, this is the one to buy.

KitchenAid

If a corded immersion blender feels restrictive, KitchenAid's cordless hand blender is another excellent option. It has adjustable variable speeds and plenty of power to whip potatoes, blend veggies and emulsify pesto and salad dressings with ease.

The KitchenAid was one of the easiest to attach and operate with a comfortably placed safety switch on the backside of the handle. I also love the look and feel of this stick blender with its durable matte-plastic build. It has great weight distribution and is a true pleasure to use. This basic cordless immersion blender with mixing cup can be had for $100. It will run you closer to $160 if you choose the bundle with a whisk, food chopper attachment and blending cup.

Worth noting that you can't use this model if it's uncharged, since it can only be plugged in while the blade is detached. It takes 20 minutes or so to achieve a full charge, which gives you two hours of use. In a pinch, you can certainly charge it for five or 10 minutes and still get enough battery life for most hand blender tasks. 

Cuisinart

You can purchase this formidable hand blender along with a whisk, chopper and mixing cup, all for $60 in gray and $70 for black. Considering its excellent performance in the tests I ran, that makes it an easy pick for the best value immersion blender of the bunch. The Cuisinart sports 300 watts of power (even more than our top pick) and an easy speed control dial on top of the handle for precision blending and whipping.

If I had one complaint about this budget-friendly model, it's the placement of the safety button. It's located directly above the power button and it can be a bit awkward to hold both down at once. Compare that to the KitchenAid, which has its safety button on the back so you can use your natural grip to hold it down. For what it's worth, the Cuisinart's safety button is probably safer, since it's almost impossible to press it by accident. 

Other immersion blenders I tested

Vitamix Immersion Blender 067991 : This excellent $150 hand blender is a bit too pricey to land on the top of our list. But for power users and those looking for an immersion blender with loads of pop, the Vitamix Immersion Blender packs a whopping 625 watts. It's comfortable in the hand and performed exceedingly well in all the tests I ran on it.

Braun MQ7025X : This powerful immersion blender passed every test with flying colors and nearly landed on my list as the best immersion blender overall. It also comes with useful attachments including a food chopper and whisk. What kept it from being a top pick is its weight. At over 5 pounds, it's the heaviest stick blender I tested and was hefty enough to cause some fatigue in my arm. 

All-Clad KZ800D51 : All-Clad is best known for its top-of-the-line cookware, including our favorite set for 2022. The brand also makes small kitchen appliances, and All-Clad's hand blender is as powerful as they get. The sleek, cordless hand blender has a monster 220-volt battery and whipped the heck out of everything I put in its way. But at $230 for the blender alone (no attachments), it's just too pricey for us to recommend for most people. 

Beautiful Hand Blender : Of the cheap immersion blenders I tested, this $34 2-speed model performed the best, and it's a solid choice if you're seeking a true budget buy. While the all-plastic build wasn't my favorite, the blade attached securely and blended well, especially when compared to some of the other stick blenders under $50.

Homgeek Hand Blender H32275US : I had high hopes for this inexpensive hand blender since it had a sturdier build than the Beautiful Hand Blender and variable speed control for precision work. But it underperformed when it came to the basic function of pureeing cooked vegetables, leaving too many chunks for my liking after two minutes of work

Bella Immersion Blender 14460 : This budget hand blender felt cheap and flimsy when I held it and the blade attachment had some worrisome wiggle when mounted. It performed acceptably, but the soup I pureed was still markedly chunkier after two minutes than other models. 

My only complaint with Cuisinart's budget-friendly immersion blender is the slightly awkward placement of the safety button. 

David Watsky/CNET

How we test immersion blenders

In testing to find the best immersion blender for 2022, I ran several tests on each model over the course of a week and took note of how well each performed. I also took into account other attributes like size, weight, sturdiness, how easy the blender was to clean and the various modes and number of speeds at which it ran. 

Blending vegetables for soup

Blending soups and sauces out of cooked vegetables and other ingredients is by far the most popular use for an immersion blender. I blended four cups of cooked vegetables and broth in a saucepan on the highest setting and recorded how well each one blended the ingredients after one minute, and again after an additional minute. 

The $30 Homgeek hand blender did OK in the soup test but left far more unblended vegetables than many of its counterparts.

David Watsky/CNET

With the exception of the cheap blenders under $40, all of the models I tested had no trouble pureeing the veggies into soup within a few minutes, but some created a slightly smoother soup in less time. The best of them not only pureed the vegetables in two minutes but even began frothing the liquid toward the end of the allotted time. Some of the cheaper models required more than two minutes to get all the chunks pureed.

Making whipped cream

Not all the immersion blenders I tested offered attachments like a whisk or chopping bowl. For those with a whisk, I made a batch of this popular dessert topping using one-half a cup of whipping cream and noted how each batch looked after one minute of whipping and again after two. Here, I was looking for the blender to make dense-yet-fluffy whipped cream as quickly as possible.

For any hand blender with a whisk attachment, I made a batch of whipped cream. The Cuisinart made the fluffy stuff in under two minutes.

David Watsky/CNET

Food chopper test

Several of the models in our test range also include a food-processor attachment. For those that did, I chopped one cup of carrots and celery, diced into roughly one-inch chunks. After 10 seconds of chopping, I photographed the resulting pile of chopped carrots and noted which delivered the smallest and most uniform results. Most of the stick blenders with food processor cups fared well in this test, including the $34 Beautiful Hand Blender, but some did the job a few seconds faster.

The $34 Beautiful hand blender did an excellent job pulverizing a cup of carrots and celery in under 10 seconds.

David Watsky/CNET

Touch and feel

This test is more subjective than the others, but I made sure to handle each immersion blender for several minutes noting the overall weight, balance and sturdiness of the stick blenders. I did the same as I was using them in the various tests. 

The more expensive models including the KitchenAid, Braun, Breville and Vitamix all felt well-balanced and solid, giving me confidence that they wouldn't break or become loose with regular use. The cheaper models didn't elicit quite the same confidence, and some felt as if one fall to the kitchen floor might mean an early demise. 

Budget hand blenders under $40, including the Bella, lose something in the way of performance and sturdy build.

David Watsky/CNET

Immersion blender specs

Model	Power	Weight (lbs.)	Accessories	Speeds	Cordless	Price
All-Clad Cordless Hand Blender KZ800D51	600W	2.97	none	5	Y	$230
Vitamix Immersion Blender 067991	625W	2.83	none	5	N	$150
Breville Control Grip BSB510XL	280W	3.8	whisk, chopping cup, mixing cup	variable	N	$120
Braun MultiQuick MQ7025X	500W	5.41	whisk, chopping cup, mixing cup	variable	N	$100
KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender KHBBV53BM	198W	2.42	mixing cup	7	Y	$90
Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-179	300W	3.3	whisk, chopping cup, mixing cup	variable	N	$60
Beautiful Hand Blender	400W	2.5	whisk, chopping cup, mixing cup	2	N	$34
Homgeek Hand Blender H32275US	500W	2	whisk, chopping cup, mixing cup, frother	6	N	$29
Bella Immersion Blender 14460	250W	2.83	whisk	2	N	$30

Immersion blender buying guide: What to look for

Hand blender accessories

While additional attachments aren't necessary, to get the most out of your immersion blender, a few key extras are great to have. A whisk attachment will allow you to easily make whipped cream and meringue, while a food chopper will enable your hand blender to do the work of a food processor. One model I tested includes a milk frother, too, for crafting lattes and cappuccinos at home. 

The $120 Breville performed as well as any hand blender of the bunch. It also comes with four excellent attachments.

Breville

Power

You don't necessarily need the most powerful motor to blend cooked vegetables, canned tomatoes, herbs and other soup and sauce ingredients. The Breville Control Grip, for instance, has only 280 watts (less than half of the ultrapowerful All-Clad) but still managed to ace every test I gave it. That said, an immersion blender with less than 250 watts may struggle to give you smooth results or take longer to do a blending job. 

Handle comfort and build

All immersion blenders feature steel blade attachments but the handle is typically what separates the great from the not-so-great. Those built with steel or high-grade plastic were the models I liked best. Some of the cheaper stick blenders we tested were constructed using cheap plastic in the handle and they, unsurprisingly, felt a bit chintzy and prone to breakage. 

There is something to be said for choosing a cordless hand blender such as KitchenAid's excellent offering.

David Watsky/CNET

Weight and balance

Hand blenders run the gamut in weight from light-as-air models under three pounds all the way up to big heavy industrial models that can weigh more than five. Somewhere in the 2- to 4-pound range felt most comfortable for me. A little bit of weight helps you control the blender from spinning away, but too much heft can make an immersion blender a chore to handle deftly or use for long periods. 

The $100 Braun has power in spades and comes with excellent attachments but was noticeably heavier than the rest of the field.

David Watsky/CNET

Cost and value

Because this is a tool you might not use as regularly as others, factoring in price is important. Spending more than $120 will get you a super-premium hand blender that performs at the top of the class, but you likely don't need to spend that much to net great results. Go too cheap, and I found you lose out on hand blender performance as well as the quality of the build.

The $230 All-Clad cordless hand blender is sleek, sturdy, lightweight and ultrapowerful. But, ultimately, the cost is just too high for most people.

David Watsky/CNET

Immersion blender FAQs

What can you make with an immersion blender?

For most people, immersion blenders are actually something of a two- or three-trick pony. The good news is they don't take up a bunch of space. The most common use is to blend and puree ingredients inside of a pot for soups and sauces, dips, creamy mashed potatoes and baby food. Immersion blenders are also good for making homemade mayonnaise and salad dressing. 

If you choose a model that comes with a whisk attachment, making whipped cream and meringues is another use for these mobile blenders. Some also come fitted with a food processor bowl so they can do chopping too, although the capacity is typically just two or three cups so you can't do large quantities of onions, garlic and other vegetables.

Can you make smoothies with an immersion blender?

You can, but I'd suggest a standard upright blender if you make smoothies regularly, as using a hand blender can be a bit clunky. If your immersion blender comes with a blending cup attachment, it will make smoothie-making quite a bit easier.

Should you buy a cordless immersion blender?

There are quality cordless and corded hand blenders, so this really comes down to personal preference. Because you probably won't be using your immersion blender every day, you might not care about the cord. A cordless blender is nice if you're motoring around the kitchen using it for multiple tasks, but you'll have to remember to charge it before or after use. 

As with most tools with an internal battery, its ability to hold a long charge is likely to wane over the years. That said, I didn't find anything about the KitchenAid or All-Clad (both cordless) suffering significant battery life issues in the many buyer reviews I scoured.

More ways to level up your kitchen

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How to get cheaper gym membership can you haggle a car price what does it mean to haggle how to haggle in dnd how to haggle for a boat 6 ways to use leftover rice 6 ways dental surgery

6 Ways to Haggle a Cheaper Gym Membership

6 Ways to Haggle a Cheaper Gym Membership

When gyms closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, most people had to adjust to at-home workouts. Once businesses started opening back up, some people were ready to return to the gym. The gym can be a great motivator for those who prefer to exercise out of the confines of their home. I re-joined once I felt I needed a change of scenery, but still maintained a hybrid workout routine. However, if you're looking to cut costs wherever you can, joining a gym is another added expense. Gym membership prices vary depending on what services and amenities are offered. Which means if you're on a budget, you want to get the best deal possible without short changing yourself.

The good news is that there are easy ways to get the most out of your membership without breaking the bank. All it takes is a little research and knowing what to ask when signing up. With the help of experts, we've come up with some tips that will help you get the best deal possible when signing up at your local gym. 

Ask for end-of-the-month deals or discounts

Waiting to sign up until the end of the month can guarantee you a better deal. Some gyms have a signup fee plus monthly dues, but depending on the deal, they may waive some fees. For example, if you sign up at the end of December going into January, gyms are competing against each other to recruit as many new gym members as possible, so you may end up getting the best deal possible.

Many gyms will also offer a free trial for a month or a week before you commit, which is a good way to feel out if the gym is a right fit for you.

Also, don't be shy to ask if there are specific discounts if you're a student, member of the military, first responder, a teacher or senior citizen. Many gyms often offer discounts for these groups of people.

Reference outdated sales

Gyms typically have sales and deals throughout the year, and even if you miss them, there is a way around convincing the establishment to give you an expired deal. For example, say you saw a family membership for $300 off a year, but the deal passed. "Ask to pay that price because if the gym did it once, they will do it again," says Casey Lee, a personal trainer in northern Vermont with 12 years of health club experience. "Not getting the answer you want? Call them back three days before the end of the month and make the same offer." Membership sales typically have monthly financial goals they need to meet, so they're likely to be more open to offering you an expired deal.

"If they need cash, they have a deadline at the end of the month to reach it or if they have hit their goals, they may receive a bonus on cash overages," she explains. As a result, those financial goals provide more urgency on their end to get cash in by the end of the month -- upping your chance of getting a good deal. So make sure you have cash on hand if you want to nab that sale. 

Pay cash or in advance

Cash is king when joining a gym -- especially a smaller gym. With a smaller gym, you could ask for a better rate by offering to pay in cash or pay for a year upfront rather than monthly. "One way to try and get a better price on a gym membership is to ask if there is a discount if you pay in full for 3 months, 6 months or even a year," advises personal trainer, Kate Meier. 

"Many gym owners will take a slight cut in revenue in favor of having it guaranteed up front rather than month to month." This may be appealing to the gym owner for their tax or cash flow purposes. 

Look at other options and compare prices

If you've ever asked a retailer to match or beat the price for an item sold by a competing store, this is called price matching. This is a policy followed by some retailers, and can apply to some gyms. When deciding on which gym you'd like to join Lee advises to take one gym's service quote and bring it to the gym you want to actually go to.

"Ask them to match the price and say you will sign up and pay today, because urgency wins and the quote from the competing gym shows urgency and due diligence on your part," she says. Therefore, do some research and collect a few quotes from other gyms before negotiating at the gym of your choice. 

Ask about off-peak hours

James Crawford, co-founder of shopping vouchers website DealDrop, says, "In many gyms, you can save money on registration if you commit to going to the club when no one else can, which implies going earlier in the day before 4 p.m. on a workday and later in the day on weekends." This is a strategy I used when I joined a gym while unemployed and it can also work to your advantage if you work from home. I knew my gym had different rates for peak and off-peak hours, to save money, I joined and only went during off-peak times. By doing so I saved about $20 compared to the gym's peak pricing.  

In my case, off-peak hours were between 10:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., but this may vary by gym. Crawford adds that gyms don't always advertise that they have off-peak and peak hours so you'll need to ask. If you get lucky, he says you can save approximately about 30% to 40% by signing up for this membership.

If you can commit to going to the gym during off-peak hours, it will be less crowded and you'll have access to the same equipment with more space.  

Look for family, friend or corporate referrals

Usually, if you can get other people to join a gym with you, the establishment will give you a better deal. Meier says, "You can try negotiating a reduced corporate rate for the company you work for if you are able to guarantee the gym a minimum number of memberships." Even if it isn't co-workers from your office, referring others to the gym can get you some perks. In some cases, family or friend gym memberships might be discounted if purchased together. 

This is something I took advantage of at my current gym which offers members a free month for every new member they recruit. I was able to get a couple of family members to sign up, and I got two months free. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that your health insurance may help cover a part of your gym membership. Contact your health insurance to see if they offer any deals with specific gyms or if they'll reimburse you for part of your membership. In my experience, I've had health insurances that either cover part of your monthly membership fee or have a partnership with certain gyms at a discounted rate. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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GoPro Hero puts core features in a familiar package for $199

GoPro Hero puts core features in a familiar package for $199

GoPro's new Hero camera looks just like the company's Hero5 and Hero6 cameras, and that's no accident.  

Despite being an entry-level model, the Hero shares key design features with its higher-end linemates, namely a 2-inch touchscreen and a rugged body that's waterproof without the need for a polycarbonate housing.

That's something GoPro didn't do with its last Hero, which had little to offer beyond good video quality and a low price. And while the price of the new model is $70 more at $199 (£199, AU$299), those design features apparently mean a lot to potential buyers.

"Our research and feedback shows consumers really like having a touchscreen, so we wanted to give people that familiar experience at an entry-level price, and Hero satisfies both," said a GoPro spokeswoman. Being waterproof to 30 feet (10 meters) without a housing is also a huge selling point for GoPro's cameras, she said.

So where does that leave the company's other $199 camera, the tiny cube-shaped Hero5 Session? It's going away. The Session will continue to be sold at retailers through the first half of 2018, but is no longer available on GoPro.com. Basically, as happens with other discontinued cameras, retailers will sell through what's available, but once it's gone, it's gone. 

That's a shame since the Session definitely has an edge on the Hero when it comes to the camera's capabilities. GoPro kept the Hero's shooting options to a bare minimum:

• Record video at 1080p or 1440p at 60 or 30 frames per second (fps) in MP4 at 60Mbps
  
• Snap 10-megapixel photos
  
• Burst shoot at 10fps
  
• Capture time-lapse photos and video at 0.5-second intervals
  

If you just read that list and wondered why there's no 4K or slow-mo options for video or raw capture or low-light settings for photos, this camera isn't for you. The Hero is aimed squarely at casual and first-time users who want to shoot and share experiences they can't grab with a phone.

The new Hero has a 2-inch touchscreen on back like the Hero5 Black (pictured).

Joshua Goldman/CNET

The shooting options might be lean, but to help balance things out, GoPro added voice controls and electronic video stabilization. Plus, with the built-in Wi-Fi, you can send clips straight to your phone as soon as you stop recording and have them instantly turned into an edited video with GoPro's mobile app.  

At the start of the year, GoPro dropped the price of its premium model, the Hero6 Black, from $499 to $399. The addition of the $199 Hero along with the $299 Hero5 Black ($445 at Amazon) moves GoPro's plan forward to return to a good, better, best product strategy.

"What we've learned is people want 'good, better, best' options from us. So with the new Hero we now have cameras that are characteristically GoPro -- durable, waterproof, cool design -- with feature sets for every level of user." 

The GoPro Hero is available today at retailers and direct from GoPro. 

First published March 29, 10:00 a.m. PT.

Update, 4:30 p.m.: Adds information on Hero5 Session. 

Security:  Stay up-to-date on the latest in breaches, hacks, fixes and all those cybersecurity issues that keep you up at night.

Does the Mac still matter? Apple execs explain why the MacBook Pro was over four years in the making, and why we should care

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WhatsApp disappearing messages will self-destruct after 7 days

WhatsApp disappearing messages will self-destruct after 7 days

Ever look back through your WhatsApp chats and find it filled with endless messages that really don't need to be kept? The messaging app is going to help you clean out the clutter with new disappearing messages that vanish after a week.

You'll be able to turn the setting on and off, so you can still find important information that you've sent or received. And you can keep hold of heartwarming messages from friends and family. But you'll no longer have to hunt for those keepers amid lengthy conversations about what you were having for dinner six months ago or the same endless argument about whose turn it was to feed the cat.

Ephemeral messages are designed to be more secure as well as reducing clutter. They're similar to Snapchat photos -- which disappear when they're viewed once -- but WhatsApp's version stick around for a full week. The company, which is owned by Facebook, has said that it will keep an eye on the feature and could adjust the time limit.

Messages will only start disappearing after you turn on the setting, and the ones already on your phone won't go anywhere.

For my next trick, WhatsApp will make these messages... disappear!

WhatsApp

If it's a chat between you and someone else, either one of you can make messages disappear. In a group chat, only the admin can make messages evaporate. Remember that messages can still be copied or screenshotted during the seven days they hang around, and images or videos will still stay on your phone's storage. The technicalities are laid out in a blog post by WhatsApp here.

Disappearing messages will be available in your WhatsApp app for iPhone and iOS sometime in November.

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The best 3d printers 2022 best large 3d printer 2022 best budget 3d printer 2022 best budget 3d printer 2021 reddit best budget 3d printer best budget 3d printer reddit best budget 3d tv

Best Budget 3D Printer 2022: 6 Great Printers at a Price You'll Love

Best Budget 3D Printer 2022: 6 Great Printers at a Price You'll Love

3D printing -- or additive manufacturing to give it its scientific name -- has been around a long time now. It's a fun way to create models that can be practical, or just for fun. You can print giant pieces of cosplay armor, or small statues to give as gifts. You can even buy a few printers, open your own Etsy store and make yourself a tidy profit.

It costs less than ever to get into 3D printing, with printers available for under $200. The catch is that these budget machines usually require some tweaking to get right. You'll save money, but it's a rough and tumble way to get started. 

These budget 3D printers all cost under $500 (prices can drift a bit month to month), and some are better suited to beginners than others. Our list of picks for best 3D printer overall covers a much wider range of choices, but these are excellent for getting started or for buying several at once!

Dan Ackerman/CNET

The Anycubic Vyper is easily the best budget 3D printer available now. Unlike a lot of other low-cost printers, the Vyper includes high-end features that make the entire experience better. There's a filament run-out sensor and a power loss detector. The automatic bed leveling helps produce a worry-free finished product.

Creality

The Ender 3 is one of the best-selling 3D printers of all time. Its under-$200 price removes a huge barrier to entry for anyone looking to spend as little as possible for their first machine. 

Its popularity means there is a huge community of people to help you get it set up and working because it's not exactly plug-and-play and you may need to spend a fair amount of time tweaking the Ender 3 to get it to print as well.

Prusa Research

The Mini Plus is one of the best small-footprint printers you can buy. It has everything you would expect from a Prusa machine: Auto bed leveling, crash detection and great print quality, all for under $450. Building it with my son gave us a lot of good insights into how a 3D printer works, and potentially how to fix one.

James Bricknell/CNET

The Elegoo is one of my favorite ultra-cheap printers. When testing it, I kept expecting it to fail and it just didn't. It produced amazing results for the price, and continues to do so every time I use it. It doesn't have auto bed leveling, but the Elegoo was easy to set up. And because it's based on the popular Ender 3, it has a lot of mods available to make it even better. 

Resin 3D printers for beginners

Most beginner printers use plastic filament to create models, but there are plenty of affordable resin 3D printers, too. Liquid resin is a little more difficult to use than standard 3D printing material, and requires safety equipment. But it also produces amazingly detailed results.

Elegoo

This small resin printer is Elegoo's latest model in its popular Mars line. Because of the 4K monochrome LCD (these printers use light from an LCD to cure liquid resin) it can print much faster than older printers. The level of detail on models is something that standard 3D printing simply can't reproduce. At this price, the Elegoo Mars 3 is the best resin printer for the money. 

James Bricknell/CNET

Frequently asked questions

What material should I use to print with?

Most home 3D printers use PLA or ABS plastic. Professional printers can use all sorts of materials, from metal to organic filament. Some printers use a liquid resin, which is much more difficult to handle but offers sharper details. As a beginner, use PLA. It's non-toxic, made mostly of cornstarch and sugarcane, handles easily, and is inexpensive. However, it's more sensitive to heat, so don't leave your 3D prints on the dashboard of a car on a hot day. 

What settings should I use?

Most 3D printers include or link to recommended software, which can handle converting 3D STL or other files into formats supported by the printer. Stick with the suggested presets to start, with one exception. I've started adding a raft, or bottom layer of filament, to nearly everything I print. It has cut down dramatically on prints that don't adhere to the bed properly, which is a common issue. If you continue to have problems, rub a standard glue stick on the print bed right before printing.

What are supports?

Your 3D models probably need some help to print properly, as these printers don't do well with big overhangs -- for example, an arm sticking out from a figure. Your 3D printer software can usually automatically calculate and add supports, meaning little stands that hold up all those sticking-out parts of the model. After the print is done, clip the supports off with micro cutters and file down any nubs or rough edges with hobby files. 

How we test

Testing 3D printers is an in-depth process. Printers often don't use the same materials, or even the same process to create models. I test SLA, 3D printers that use resin and light to print, and FDM, printers that melt plastic onto a plate. Each has a unique methodology. Core qualifiers I look at include:

• Hardware quality
• Ease of setup
• Bundled software 
• Appearance and accuracy of prints
• Repairability
• Company and community support

A key test print, representing the CNET logo, is used to assess how a printer bridges gaps, creates accurate shapes and deals with overhangs. It even has little towers to help measure how well the 3D printer deals with temperature ranges. 

James Bricknell/CNET

Testing resin requires different criteria so I use the Amerilabs standard test -- printing out a small resin model that looks like a tiny town. This helps determine how accurate the printer is, how it deals with small parts and how well the UV exposure works at different points in the model. 

Many other anecdotal test prints, using different 3D models, are also run on each printer.

For the other criteria, I research the company to see how well it responds to support queries from customers and how easy it is to order replacement parts and install them yourself. Kits (printers that come only semi-assembled) are judged by how long, and how difficult, the assembly process is. 

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9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: iOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel and More

9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: iOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel and More

This week brought us Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, when the maker of Macs and iPhones shares details of coming changes to the software that runs those and other devices. WWDC is on the geeky side, but it's also pretty clear what's in store for everyone who uses Apple products.

We found out, for instance, about iOS 16, coming to iPhones later this year with features like an updated lock screen heavy on customization; Apple Pay Later, which splits the cost of a purchase across four payments; and Safety Check, designed to help people at risk of abuse. We got a peek at MacOS Ventura, along with a redesigned MacBook Air and a 13-inch MacBook Pro, both of which will pack the new M2 chip. And we learned about WatchOS 9 and iPadOS 16, too.

Our stories about WWDC came to you among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that also appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don't want to miss. 

Commentary: Apple's changes to the iPhone lock screen are a bigger deal than you think.

James Martin/CNET

Commentary: Moderating social media is hard. Moderating the metaverse will be harder. 

Getty/Xinhua News Agency

As tech's reach grows, companies are taking on a new, very personal, set of issues.

Screenshot/CNET

Here's why people freeze in place and have waking nightmares.

OsakaWayne Studios

The new MCU series about a Pakistani Muslim-American superhero shows just how far Hollywood has come.   

Disney Plus

I don't recommend it.

Ben White

Initial analysis of the samples from asteroid Ryugu show the rock could change our understanding of the early solar system.

JAXA/Akihiro Ikeshita

Commentary: WatchOS 9's new running features could pair nicely with the rumored Apple Watch Explorer Edition.

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Google, Apple, and Microsoft expect passkeys can completely replace passwords. Apple support arrives in iOS 16 and MacOS Ventura.

Apple

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This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

What's happening

Apple's WatchOS 9 update will bring new athletic performance metrics to the Apple Watch, among other key improvements to health and fitness tracking.

Why it matters

The update could be setting the stage for the rumored rugged Apple Watch expected to debut this year.

What's next

Apple will launch WatchOS 9 in the fall, possibly alongside three new Apple Watch models.

If WatchOS 9 serves as any indication, the Apple Watch's future is all about health and fitness. That message was front and center in June when Apple unveiled the new software, which is now available in beta ahead of its fall launch.  

The update will bring more sports-performance tracking metrics (especially for runners), deeper sleep monitoring and tools for logging medication. It's impossible to know what to expect until Apple announces its next smartwatch (or smartwatches). But WatchOS 9's focus on athletic training seemingly sets the stage for the rumored Apple Watch Explorer Edition, which we might see later this year. 

Read more: This Stylish, Luxury Hybrid Watch (Almost) Made Me Ditch My Apple Watch

It also suggests Apple wants its smartwatch to appeal to pro athletes, casual exercise enthusiasts and those who need to monitor cardiac health all at the same time. The next crop of Apple Watches rumored for the fall will likely come with new hardware to better support that vision -- hopefully with better battery life, too.

WatchOS 9's workout features would be a great for an Explorer Edition Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 7

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Apple sprinkled a bunch of new workout tools and metrics throughout WatchOS 9. These include new running data points like stride length and ground contact time, the ability to track heart rate zones, interval training, a multisport workout type for triathlons and kickboard detection for swimmers. The announcement also comes after Apple made improvements to the Apple Watch's cycling detection last year. 

Only Apple knows what's in store for the future. But it feels like no coincidence that this update is coming as Apple is expected to launch a rugged Apple Watch designed for extreme sports this fall. Bloomberg reports an Apple Watch with extra impact resistance similar to Casio's G-Shock watches could be in the works. The watch is sometimes referred to as the Explorer Edition internally and may have a rubberized casing for additional durability, the report said. The device would reportedly be marketed as an alternative option for athletes and hikers alongside the standard Series 8 and next-generation Apple Watch SE.

Read more: iOS 16's Lock Screen Upgrades Make the iPhone More Like a Smartwatch

The Apple Watch already has plenty to offer fitness buffs, with many workout choices, activity goals and reminders, heart rate notifications and metrics like VO2 max and elevation. But until WatchOS 9 arrives, the Apple Watch will lack running-specific features that athletes might find useful. Garmin's running watches, for example, include tools like training programs for specific types of races, pace guidance and running metrics like cadence and stride length, among other features that vary by the model. 

The Apple Watch is already the world's most popular smartwatch with 36.1% of global shipments in the first quarter of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research. With the new measurements geared toward runners coming in WatchOS 9, Apple could further solidify its grip on the market by appealing to the more niche competitive sports audience. 

Even with the new features in WatchOS 9, the Apple Watch still won't offer quite as much feedback for runners as some specialized watches. But the new software certainly brings the Apple Watch closer than ever before.  

What else WatchOS 9 might tell us about the Apple Watch's future

The Apple Watch's new Sleep Stages feature in WatchOS 9

Screenshot/CNET

Apple's emphasis on fitness was at the heart of its WatchOS 9 announcement. But some of the software's other updates might also suggest Apple's future direction. For example, the company did more on sleep tracking by introducing Sleep Stages, a feature that analyzes the amount of time spent in various phases of slumber. Apple is playing catch-up in this regard; rival fitness trackers from Fitbit, Oura and Samsung have supported this feature for years.

Apple's expansion in sleep tracking indicates it expects Apple Watches to be worn overnight more frequently. That makes me believe Apple could be planning some type of improvement to the Apple Watch's battery life, although there's no way to know for sure until the company reveals its next watch. 

Apple says its smartwatch can last for 18 hours on a single charge, and anecdotally I typically get about one to two days out of it before it needs a power boost. The Apple Watch's battery life hasn't changed meaningfully in years, but Apple has worked around this by implementing faster charging speeds with the Series 6 and 7.  

Apple will likely continue down this path rather than dramatically improving the watch's battery life. But there's also a chance Apple could introduce a new low-power mode with more functionality than the watch's current power reserve feature, says Bloomberg. It was supposed to launch with WatchOS 9, according to the report, although Apple didn't mention a new low-power option during Monday's event. 

Considering that battery life has been one of the Apple Watch's persistent criticisms -- and not to mention Bloomberg's reliable track record -- I wouldn't be surprised to see this capability arrive in the future. And remember: Apple introduced new WatchOS 8 features for cyclists alongside the Apple Watch Series 7 during its fall product event in 2021. So there's a chance Apple could have more software features to announce later this year. 

WatchOS 9 also provides another signal that Apple is expanding its efforts in general health and wellness. A new feature called AFib History will allow those diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to access more information about their condition, such as an estimate of how often their heart rhythm is showing signs of A-fib. Another highlight in WatchOS 9 is the ability to track prescriptions and receive medication reminders. 

These updates indicate Apple sees its watch as a tool for tracking bodily changes over time that can be shared with physicians. And if reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal prove accurate, Apple will take that idea a step further by adding a temperature sensor to the Series 8.

Many of the Apple Watch's major turning points have historically been tied to new hardware releases. The Series 3, for example, was the first model to support cellular connectivity, making the Apple Watch feel like a stand-alone product rather than an iPhone companion. The Series 4 brought ECG monitoring and fall detection, broadening the Apple Watch's role as a health device.

WatchOS 9 isn't as big of a leap forward as those launches. But it will bring functionality that could be crucial in Apple's mission to make the Apple Watch the ultimate health and fitness device. And that's very telling of Apple's immediate and long term plans for the Apple Watch. 

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