Gadget

Quick Answer: Verizon’s January 14, 2026 nationwide outage knocked out service for millions for about 10 hours, leaving phones stuck in “SOS” mode. Verizon later blamed a software issue and offered $20 credits, while the FCC opened a formal investigation and Congress demanded briefings over concerns about 911 access and public safety agencies relying on the network. A smaller second outage was reported in August 2026.

Quick Answer: Yale Assure Lock 2 is the best smart lock overall in 2026, balancing price, 250-code capacity, and no required subscription at $180-$260. Schlage offers the highest security grade (ANSI Grade 1) and Apple Home Key support at $200-$330. August is the best option for renters, retrofitting over an existing deadbolt in about 20 minutes without any permanent hardware changes.

Quick Answer: Ring is the best video doorbell overall in 2026, with the widest model lineup and the cheapest subscription at $4.99/month. Google Nest is best for Google Home households, with free 3-hour recorded history, though its subscription (now Google Home Premium) rose 25-33% in August 2026. Arlo delivers the best video quality but its cheapest subscription has risen roughly 165% in two years, from $2.99 to $7.99/month.

Quick Answer: Starlink is the best rural internet option overall in 2026, with unlimited data, no contract, and low latency starting at $55/month. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is cheaper where available, from $35-70/month, but coverage depends on local tower capacity. HughesNet is the most affordable satellite option at $39.99-94.99/month but requires a 2-year contract and enforces data caps. Viasat’s Unleashed plan avoids a hard cap and contract but costs more after its introductory period.

Quick Answer: Qustodio is the best parental control app overall in 2026, with balanced cross-platform coverage at $99.95/year for unlimited devices. Bark is the best choice for AI-powered social media and messaging monitoring, priced at $14/month on Android (more on iOS). Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time are the best free options for single-platform households, covering screen time, app approval, and location tracking at no cost.

Quick Answer: Mint Mobile is the best prepaid phone plan overall in 2026, with Unlimited starting at $15/month for new customers (renewing around $30/month on a 12-month term) on T-Mobile’s network. Visible is the best pick for Verizon coverage with no prepay requirement, starting at $25/month. Metro by T-Mobile offers the most flexibility with no prepay and a 5-year price guarantee, while Cricket Wireless is the strongest choice for AT&T coverage and family plans.

Quick Answer: ADT is the best home security system overall in 2026 for buyers who want a 140-year-old brand, six redundant monitoring centers, and professional installation, with plans from $24.99/month. SimpliSafe is the best no-contract option, combining DIY setup with 24/7 monitoring from $22.99/month. Ring Alarm is the cheapest way in for anyone already using Ring cameras or Alexa, with monitoring at $19.99/month. Vivint is the best pick for full smart-home automation, though it costs the most and typically requires a 42-60 month agreement.