The Apple Watch SE Is (Probably) All the Smartwatch You Need

Sometimes, the most expensive option isn’t the best one, and smartwatches are no exception. For the past two weeks, I’ve swapped out my typical Apple Watch SE for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and for the most part, I much prefer the $249 pick to the $799 one.

From an always-on display to an Action button, there’s a lot to love about the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But it’s a highly specialized device, with a lot of features included that most people won’t need. Even if cost wasn't a factor, I’d bet a good amount of folks would still prefer either an Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 9.

Let’s break down the pros and cons of Apple’s most expensive and least expensive watches to help you find which one is right for you.

Why get a smart watch?

I didn’t start wearing a smartwatch until just after the pandemic, when I started commuting to work more often. I’m not much of an athlete, and I thought the whole thing was kind of silly, like wearing a “please mug me” sign. I suppose people once said the same thing about flip phones.

The Apple Watch SE is meant for someone like me. It’s small, lightweight, and does just enough to win me over. I like to think of it like an updated iPod Nano. It’s a tiny box I can use to control my media, use tap-to-pay, and occasionally track walks. That’s all I need, but it was convenient enough that I’ve grown to love the thing and how it lets me keep my phone in my bag while on the train.

Others, however, have bought into smartwatches since the beginning. They love the detailed sensors higher-end models come with, the luxury looks available with an upgrade, and feeling their hefty cases on their wrists. For these people, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a great choice.

What does each Apple Watch model come with?

Apple currently sells three Apple Watch models, and I’ve tested two. None are bad choices, but they each cater to a different audience, so there’s a lot to take into account even if money is no object.

The cheapest Apple Watch is the Apple Watch SE, which comes with the smallest size option and bare minimum specs. For $249, its aluminum body packs a 1,000 nit display, a battery that’s advertised to hold up to an 18 hour charge, the S8 chip (powering features like Siri and Find my iPhone), and an optical heart rate monitor. You’ll get water resistance up to a 164 feet depth, and for a $50 upcharge, you can add in the ability to connect a cellular plan.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is one step up and starts at $399 (cellular adds $100 to the price, and you can pay even more for a stainless steel case). For that extra money, you’ll get a 2,000 nit always-on display, the S9 chip (unlocking the double tap feature and upgrading Siri as well as Find my iPhone), a new ECG, temperature sensing, fast charging, and a low power mode for your battery that’s purported to last up to 36 hours.

Finally, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799 and only comes in one model, with additional upcharges being reserved for accessories. All Ultra 2 models have a titanium case, a 3,000 nit always-on display, the S9 chip, 328 feet of water resistance, an upgraded GPS, cellular compatibility, and a purported battery life of up to 36 hours in normal use and 72 hours in low power mode. There’s also an orange Action button on the side and additional sensors including a gyroscope and a depth gauge.

All Apple Watch models come with OLED screens, a digital crown, speakers (although they’re upgraded on the Ultra), and a menu button, but if we were to discuss everything that’s different about them, we’d be here all day. For more details, check Apple’s site, but even with everything I’ve already laid out, I’ve yet to touch on the most important difference.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is too big and heavy for my wrist

Remember how I called the Apple Watch SE an updated iPod Nano? That wouldn’t fly with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The SE comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes (I have the 40), and weighs a max of 33g even on the larger model with cellular included. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 only comes in 49mm, and weighs 61.4g.

This thing is chonky, especially for a smaller wrist like mine, and feels less like wearing a control center for your iPhone—or perhaps a whole separate iPhone entirely. It’s cool for bragging rights, but less so for the type of everyday use that sold me on smartwatches in the first place. 

Outside of its specialty use cases, the always-on display is about the only upgrade I actually enjoyed for most of my time using it. Everything else was just a burden.

If you’re like me, the Ultra 2 is just a bad pick, even if you can afford it and usually opt for top-of-the-line options like the M3 Max MacBook Pro. You’ll end up getting a lot you don’t use, and a worse experience with what you do, so do yourself a favor and cheap out.

When is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth it?

But that doesn’t mean the additions to the Ultra 2 are just back-of-the-box selling points that Apple is using to jack up the price. They’re genuinely useful for people who need it, i.e. outdoorsy folks.

The whole reason I started this comparison was to test out the updated Golfshot app, a golf course assistant for Android, iOS, and Apple Watch. Earlier this month, it got an update for Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2  that was a genuine game changer, and could totally make the upgrade worth it for me if I were a big golfer.

On top of adding driving ranges to the app’s lineup of courses, the update makes use of the Apple Watch Ultra line’s extra sensors to track your swing in detail every time. SwingID allows the app to track factors like tempo, rhythm, backswing, and the like, and while it’s available on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra can track your swing at 800hz, allowing it to detect exactly when you hit the ball.

In just a short few hours of play, I managed to use this data to see what was causing my shots to veer off to the right so frequently, and ended the session straightening them out.

It’s cases like this where Apple Watch shines. For instance, the extra waterproofing and Depth app makes it a diving companion, while the detailed watch face options, extra large battery, loud speakers, and cellular connectivity make it useful for keeping hikers both informed and safe.

I’m not likely to use these features anytime soon, but given that competing activity watches like Garmin’s Mk3 Dive Computer can reach into the thousands of dollars, the Apple Watch Ultra could be a fair replacement for more specialized equipment.

The large size also puts Apple Watch Ultra in greater competition with luxury watches. I tend not to pick my outfit for bragging rights, but there’s no arguing that the Ultra doesn’t look slick, especially if you add on one of Apple’s official Hermès bands.

Do I need Apple Watch Ultra if I’m just going to the gym?

I like to view Apple Watch Ultra best as a specialty activity companion, and while I did try wearing it to the gym, I didn’t get much out of it. My typical day at the gym involves about a half-hour of using the elliptical and ten minutes of weight lifting, and for this, the Ultra only really gave me one benefit: the Action button.

On the side of both Apple Watch Ultras is an orange Action button that can be set to trigger anything from a stopwatch to a flashlight (which turns the watch’s screen white and sets it to max brightness). Most available Action button functions are also available as features on the Apple Watch SE and Series 9, but require digging through menus, so being able to turn them on with a single button press is convenient. It's a similar experience to the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.

I set the Action button to start my workout, and I could press it again to pause workouts. I didn’t notice too much deviation in the recorded data on either watch, but because I usually just wait for my SE to detect when I’m working out before starting tracking, I was able to more accurately time my workout tracking on the Ultra 2. The SE, for all its lightweight convenience, can be a little slow to notice when I’m in the gym.

If you work out outside, there’s also the larger battery to take note of. I usually have to charge my SE every night, but I was able to get away with charging it every other night on the Ultra 2. You’ll still be set for hours either way, but you’re less likely to accidentally wear a dead watch with the more expensive model.

Aside from in-exercise tracking, there is also something to be said for the ECG and Cycle Tracking apps. While these are also available on the more modestly priced Series 9, the closest the SE offers is the ability to manually log cycles.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Which Apple Watch should I get?

The best Apple Watch for you may not be the one with the most bells and whistles. I prefer a small, lightweight device with a minimal interface that I can mostly use as a companion while commuting, so the SE isn’t just a budget compromise to me: It’s my favorite option.

The Ultra 2, meanwhile, is great for people who regularly dive, golf, hike, or engage in some other more intense outdoor hobby. Its extra sensors and more rugged design allow it to keep up with more expensive specialty equipment, and despite its bulk, it’s still capable of everyday use cases like tap-to-pay.

The Series 9 is a great compromise. Its smallest option is only a touch larger than the SE’s, it comes in more colors, and it has a few extra sensors without getting as big as the Ultra 2. It’s a good splurge pick, but be sure to look up whether you’ll actually use its extra sensors paying the extra $150 for it.

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band M/L. Fitness & Sleep Tracker, Crash Detection, Heart Rate Monitor

$189.00 at Amazon

$249.00 Save $60.00

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$249.00 Save $60.00

Apple Watch Series 9

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‘Animal Well’ Demonstrates What Gaming Stands to Lose Amid Indie Studio Closures

Shared Memory’s pixelated game Animal Well relies on players joining online communities to solve its puzzles. It’s also an indie gem that’s becoming all too rare as studios close.

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Gene-Edited Salad Greens Are Coming to US Stores This Fall

Biotech giant Bayer plans to distribute mustard greens that have been genetically altered to make them less bitter to grocery stores across the country.

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What People Are Getting Wrong This Week: 'Fun' Conspiracy Theories

I used to think conspiracy theories were fun. It was interesting/funny that there were people out there who believed we faked the moon landing, or that Elvis Presley didn't actually die in 1977 (instead, he put on a mask and changed his name to "Orion," and kept on singing.) But those kinds of "harmless crank" conspiracy theories have always been rare. They usually eclipsed in popularity by hateful (but politically useful) conspiracy theories that boil down to "it was the Jews' fault."

There are still some "harmless" conspiracy theories out there, though, that capture the old "wait, people believe that?" energy. Below are my favorites, as well as a couple of conspiracy theories that seem harmless on the surface, but are stealthily hiding some terrible beliefs.

The year is actually 1727

According to the “phantom time hypothesis," It is not 2024. It is 1727. The years 614 to 911 never happened. They were simply added to the calendar to push the date forward artificially. The theory comes from German author Heribert Illig who detailed the theory in a 1996 (sorry, I mean 1699) book. Illig lays the blame for the missing time on Holy Roman Emperor Otto III and Pope Sylvester II, who conspired to change the dates so Otto could be Emperor in the year 1000, to legitimize his reign. Radiocarbon dating, the recorded appearance of eclipses and comets, histories written in China, and a ton of other evidence refute this theory, but ultimately, I'm just happy the Jews aren't being blamed for stealing all those years.

The Moon isn't real

This conspiracy theory comes from the world of Flat Earthers, and it's a fringe belief even there, but the theory holds that the moon is not physically present. What you see in the sky at night is a projection put there by someone, presumably to make us think the world is round. In a weird way, it makes sense. If the earth really were a flat plane, the moon's movement across the sky wouldn't make sense—unless it's not really there. Since we can see the moon, it must be a projection. There can be no other explanation.

It's a good idea to "sun your butthole"

A fringe belief in the "wellness community," practitioners of "perineum sunning" or "butthole sunning" believe that briefly exposing the area between the genitals and anus to sunlight gives you energy, improves your circulation, regulates hormones, and has a host of other health benefits. There's no way to absolutely prove that this isn't so, but there's no evidence that it is so either. Doctors point out that the taint is sensitive to sunlight, so you could get sunburned, and sunning where the sun (traditionally) does not shine puts you at greater risk of developing skin cancer, but butthole sunners generally recommend very brief exposure, and suggest using sunblock. So you should probably do this.

You don't need food and water to live

Breatharians believe that we don't need food to live, and some believe we don't need water either. In the West, the belief dates back to a 1670 Rosicrucian text describing a physician who lived "several years by taking only one-half scrupule of Solar Quintessence." Complete fasting is described in older Hindu texts as well, and often attributed to the particularly enlightened or wise. Periodically, people still claim that they don't eat or drink for months or years at a time to this day (and scientists are baffled). These people are all caught sneaking food eventually (like the founder of the Breatharian Institute of America who was spotted outside a 7-11 eating a hot dog, a Slurpee and a box of Twinkies) or no one has caught them yet.

Death is not inevitable

Immoralists believe that life can be extended indefinitely. There is obviously a lot of scientific effort being put into extending human life, but, as yet, everyone is going to die. Even you. Like the breatharians, various people have publicly claimed to be immortal throughout history, but as far as we know, all of them died eventually (and their deaths must have been particularly embarrassing.)

Pinecones are mystical symbols

There are a lot of people out there who think the appearance of pinecones in the art of various ancient civilizations are symbols of human enlightenment and the pineal gland, which is said to be the source of mystical knowledge and visions. What the YouTube videos and websites that confidently spread these theories don't seem to grasp is that the pineal gland was named after the pinecone because the gland has the same shape. There's also no reason to think that representations of pinecones symbolized the same thing to ancient Assyrians as it did to ancient Greeks. We don't know what they mean. A more reasonable theory is that pinecones are frequently represented in ancient art because their repeating patterns are visually interesting and fun to sculpt.

Two stealthily harmful conspiracy theories

These two conspiracy theories seem like "wacky, fun" conspiracy theories, but once you scratch the surface, you realize they're actually based on poisonous ideas.

Helen Keller was a fraud

This conspiracy theory claims that Helen Keller didn't actually do all the things people give her credit for, particularly writing books, or that she wasn't actually deaf and blind. "Helen Keller is a fraud" has become a popular meme on TikTok over the last few years, but the accusation actually dates back to 1892. While I think the TikTokers are mainly having a little joke, this isn't as "harmless" a theory as it might seem, as its basis is the belief that people with disabilities aren't capable enough for some intellectual tasks.

On the other hand (and giving this theory way more credit than it probably deserves) in the 1960s and 1970s, there was a fairly widely accepted belief that "facilitated communication" could allow non-verbal people (mainly people with severe autism) to communicate. With the help of a facilitator helping them point to letters or words, some previously non-verbal people wrote books and graduated college. But as soon as real testing was applied, the communication was shown to be the product of the facilitator alone. So this could have happened with Keller; there's no reason to think it did, but it's at least possible. (Unlike the crazy theory below.)

The White House was built thousands of years ago, by giants

When I first heard of the "Tartarian Empire" I thought I'd found a rich and fascinating conspiracy theory that wouldn't make me think "gross." I was wrong.

The Tartarians, according to conspiracy theorists, were/are an ancient but advanced civilization, sometimes posited to be giants, who were responsible for thousands of well known buildings all over the world, including Notre Dame de Paris, The Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, the White House, and pretty much any opulent pre-modernist structure you've ever seen. These edifices were built thousands of years ago, and they aren't just buildings; they hold the key to Tartarian free energy, and if you study them hard enough (and your hat is on too tight) you can find hidden clues in the architectural details. The Tartarians were buried in some kind of "mud flood" that, depending on who you ask, happened as recently as 100 years ago (when my grandmother was alive!). Much of recent history, including World Wars I and II, were attempts to erased evidence of Tartarians so that the secret of their free energy can be kept from us.

It may seems like a wacky, harmless nutjob theory, but the Tartarians seem awfully similar to the Aryan race that the Nazis invented. Plus, the Tartarian theory is catching on, and its popularity is about to turn it from something stupid into something ugly.

Most Tartarian believers seem like well-meaning dopes who don't understand architecture or history, but their theory is so outlandish that it doesn't yet have comprehensive historical narrative to bind it together. It's a pastiche of different dumb, often conflicting ideas, but as it gains cred among the gullible, bad actors are stepping in to shape the narrative. People like white nationalist holocaust denier Stew Peters are going hard at Tartarian theories, so it's only a matter of time before the age old conspiracy theory pattern repeats, and someone answers the question of "What happened to the Tartarians?" with "it was the Jews' fault."

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WeWork Survived Bankruptcy. Now It Has to Make Coworking Pay Off

The troubled company is back from the brink, but will emerge from bankruptcy to a world where coworking's long-term future is much less certain.

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Chatbots Are Entering the Stone Age

Anthropic and other big AI startups are teaching chatbots “tool use,” to make them more useful in the workplace.

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A Nonprofit Tried to Fix Tech Culture—but Lost Control of Its Own

Two ex-Facebook employees founded the nonprofit Integrity Institute to clean up tech platforms. Now it’s reeling amid fights on Slack and one founder’s resignation after an external HR investigation.

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This Robot Lawn Mower Failed to Deliver on All Counts

The most notable thing I’ve learned about robot lawn mowers: How the lawn mower maps, matters. Originally, these mowers all used buried wire to determine the boundaries that the robots couldn’t cross. Then RTK (which stands for "Real Time Kinematic positioning"—essentially, GPS with some additional localized data) made it possible for people to define the boundary without a wire by simply walking the robot around the perimeter of the yard during setup, as long as the robot was in sight of the RTK tower. Now, Ecovacs has attempted something new with the GOAT GX-600 ($999): The device simply uses LiDAR to figure out where to mow and not mow. (LiDAR is what robot vacuums use.)

The problem is, it doesn’t work. Despite trying the GOAT on multiple different lawn setups,I could never get it to complete even one run. It failed to see the entire lawn, often mowed the same area back and forth many times instead of moving to a new area, ignored boundaries like sidewalks, and refused to cross boundaries it should, like walkways. Additionally, it got stuck so often—even on flat, freshly mowed grass—that it was hard to imagine that you’d ever feel confident enough to let the GOAT work autonomously, which is the whole point of a robot.

At least it's light

This is actually the third iteration of the GOAT, and while the v1 and v2 versions of the GOAT seem to have had more success based on previous reviews, neither appear to be available anymore. To its credit, the GX-600 was the easiest robot lawn mower to put together of any I’ve tested. The entire charging base comes already assembled, as did the robot. There are no additional parts, wires, or RTK towers—you just plug it in and send the robot out to explore your lawn. The base, made of plastic, and the robot were both light enough to move around (which I did a lot of). 

Troublesome connections

It took a few tries to pair the GOAT with the app, but it was still easy enough to do in under 10 minutes by power cycling the robot. In the case of most lawn mower apps, you can access a lot of settings from the app interface, whether the mower is online or not. In the case of Ecovacs, you can only access these settings while the mower is online. Once it is, you can connect via Bluetooth or wifi, with some operations requiring the Bluetooth. Most operations you set on the robot itself, like setting the height of the lawn. From the app, you can set schedules, and decide to operate the robot in auto mode or manual mode. Manual mode is code for “remote control,” which is a feature easier to find on other apps. I routinely had trouble connecting via Bluetooth to the robot, even when only 10 feet away, and it’s a requirement for the manual mode. I had to use manual mode a lot on the GOAT to try and move it out of an area it was having trouble with, and I struggled to connect and maintain that connection. 

Too picky for its own good

Most robot lawn mowers claim to work on most lawns, inhibited only by square footage and incline. The GOAT, based on the way it maps, is different. Ecovacs has an entire pre-purchase quiz to help you decide if the GOAT is right for you, and there are several parameters that might rule your lawn out. First, your lawn needs to be enclosed, either by a physical boundary like a fence or a sidewalk. Second, it has to be mostly contiguous—it can only be broken up by one walkway less than 1m (three feet) across. Third, any interior “islands,” such as planting beds, raised beds or other obstacles like lawn furniture, must have a physical barrier around them that the robot can sense.

Promised features didn't work

The Ecovacs GOAT insisted on mowing this individual strip over and over, for twenty minutes but never got the rest of the lawn. Credit: Amanda Blum

On the first lawn I tried—which featured large expanse of grass with no islands or any kind, but with an incline, surrounded by fences and sidewalks, and divided by one 24-inch walkway—the GOAT never completed a single mowing cycle. The GOAT was able to find the boundary of the first half of the lawn and circled around a few times, and then began to mow. Instead of mowing across the lawn, it mowed the same strip, up and back, for almost 20 minutes, and then moved over only marginally, so it was still getting half of the same strip of lawn. After an hour it hadn’t gotten half the lawn done, and eventually, it stalled on a sidewalk. Since a sidewalk is supposed to be one of the boundaries the robot will respect, I was surprised it even ventured onto it, making it a tripping hazard and prime candidate for being stolen. At the same time, it refused to cross the 24-inch walkway, which was well under the three-foot threshold.

Over a slow and painful back-and-forth with support over a few days, they first reminded me that the robot would only cross a threshold that was narrower than three feet. When I pointed out it was, they then returned saying that the robot could not cross any threshold, and i could just pick the robot up and put it back down on the other side and send it out to mow. This also did not work—the mower issued an error message saying it was out of the mappable zone, and picking the mower up means re-entering the PIN on the robot. Even worse, the robot refused to return to the dock in most cases. Even when the dock was placed in precisely the spot support recommended, the robot returned to the dock about 60% of the time. Still, I tried to send the robot out every day for a week to see if things would improve before giving up. 

Even on a perfectly flat lawn, that had just been mowed, the GOAT got stuck. Credit: Amanda Blum

No better on a perfect lawn

I then tried out the GOAT on a medium-sized backyard lawn that is flat and well-maintained, has no islands, and most importantly, is completely surrounded by fencing. It had just been mowed when we showed up. I just wanted to see if the GOAT would make one complete run. Even on a completely flat ground, the robot got its blades stuck every few feet, stopping and reporting an error. From the app, you can “ignore” these errors, so after checking for a block the first few times, I started ignoring these errors and asking the mower to continue. It would only continue a few inches before having another error. I tried moving the robot to another location inside the lawn to see if that would help, but it didn’t. At least on this lawn, the robot returned to dock. 

On my last attempt—a small, completely enclosed lawn that measured 30x15 feet—we experienced more of the same. The GOAT got stopped while going along the boundary, and when it started mowing the inside, it missed giant swaths of lawn and frequently reported errors. 

For every other robot lawnmower, this docking position would work, but the GOAT wasn't able to find it. Credit: Amanda Blum

A complete failure

I have enjoyed Ecovac robot vacuums; I trust the brand to make reliable robots for inside the house. But I have never had an experience like this, where every single aspect of a product fails. The GOAT has yet to accurately map a boundary for me, or to mow the entire space inside a boundary it creates. It is unreliable in coming back to the dock, and went into spaces it shouldn’t (like sidewalks) more than once. It is hard to connect to via Bluetooth, rendering some features like manual mode unusable, and couldn’t move across a lawn that was completely flat (and already mowed!) without reporting constant errors. 

Missing key robot lawn mower features

It feels silly to mention the price at this point ($999) since there’s very little I’ve said to convince you to buy this particular robot. This is mid to lower range for most lawn robots, and I’d be game to try the next GOAT to see how it changes. However, putting the features of the GOAT that don’t work aside, this robot didn’t include a lot of features that are important in other models, like the ability to affect mowing pattern, multi-zone support, the ability to see where your robot is on a map, or what areas of the map have and haven’t been mowed.

There's a big difference between a robot vacuum and a robot lawn mower. A robot lost in your living room can’t do a lot of damage. A vacuum can be stuck under a couch for weeks without anyone stealing it, or someone tripping over it. Outside, we need a lot of faith that our robots really are autonomous, and will do what they’re meant to, so they don’t become a hazard or become vulnerable to stealing. Perhaps another mower will convince me this RTK-less method of mapping works, but for now, I’m sticking to mowers that let you set a boundary, and then stick to it. For large lawns or those with steep inclines or rough terrain,, the Mammotion Luba 2 is incredibly reliable. For smaller lawns or those with more smaller turns and delicate areas, I recommend the Segway Navimow.

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You Can Get Three Years of Surfshark VPN for $67 Right Now

You can get a 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN on sale for $67.19 right now using the promo code ENJOY20. Surfshark has 3,200 servers in 65 countries with 256-bit AES encryption and server speeds up to 10Gbps. Surfshark also uses a shared IP system for even more anonymity. Other notable features include a built-in ad blocker and anti-malware software; a bypassing tool that allows specific apps and websites to go around the VPN to avoid issues like bank account blocks; a kill switch that disables your connection if the VPN drops; and the option to connect to two servers simultaneously for an extra layer of security. You can connect an unlimited number of devices at the same time, and it's compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, and more.

You can get a 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN on sale for $67.19 right now using the promo code ENJOY20 until May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, though prices may change at any time. 

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Use TikTok's 'Paper Trick' to Organize More Efficiently

There are a couple of things you need when you’re organizing: a good technique that puts you in the right state of mind and motivates you, and the right organizational tools for the job. Picking out the right containers or shelving for the space you're organizing, though, isn't always easy. But if you're shopping for those items in person at someplace like IKEA or the Container Store, here's a trick to make sure you're buying exactly what you need.

Use the “paper trick” to get the right storage supplies

Watch this video from TikTokker MDDesigns16, who shares organization tips with her 382,000 followers.

In the clip, she takes some large paper (think packing paper, parchment paper, or even wrapping paper) and cuts it to the exact size of the drawer she needs containers for. Then, she takes the paper to the store and arranges holders and spacers on top of it to get the perfect fit. 

This is brilliant and simple. Writing down measurements is fine, but it can be harder to visualize your setup and layout once you’re face-to-face with all the container options. Look at the sheer volume of options when you search for “drawer organizer” on Amazon. Why bring math into this when cleaning and organizing is already hard enough? It’s much easier to arrange the options on a piece of paper. 

Other uses for the paper trick

Don’t just stop at organizing your drawers, either. This can be used for shelves, cabinets, and cupboards, too. Physically seeing how holders, vessels, and other organizational tools will fit in the allocated space can make this process much simpler and help you avoid having to return items that don’t fit or, worse, waste space by just settling for what you got. You are less likely to use the tools you have if they’re not quite right, so make sure they fit where you need them to fit before you buy them so you can actually get things that will be useful in your organizing journey.

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My Favorite Memorial Day Sales on Smartphones

Today is Memorial Day, and sales on laptops, TVs, headphones, and smartphones are in full swing. Phone companies will generally have better deals (especially for brand new customers), but if you're looking for an unlocked phone without any strings attached, these are your best bet.

256GB AI Smartphone, Unlocked Android, 200MP, 100x Zoom Cameras, Long Battery Life, S Pen, 2024.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB

$1,039.99 at Amazon

$1,299.99 Save $260.00

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256GB AI Smartphone, Unlocked Android, 50MP Camera, Fastest Processor, Long Battery Life, US Version

Samsung Galaxy S24+

$799.99 at Amazon

$999.99 Save $200.00

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2023, Unlocked, Made for US 8/256GB, 50MP Camera

Motorola Edge

$349.99 at Best Buy

$599.99 Save $250.00

$349.99 at Best Buy

$599.99 Save $250.00

2023, Unlocked, Made for US 6/256GB, 50 MPCamera, Cosmic Black, 162.83x73.77x9.29

Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G

$245.00 at Amazon

$399.99 Save $154.99

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5G Android Phone - Unlocked Smartphone with Telephoto , Wide Angle Lens, and 24-Hour Battery - 128GB

Google Pixel 7 Pro

$399.99 at Woot

$899.00 Save $499.01

$399.99 at Woot

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Home Depot Is Giving Out Free Ryobi Tools When You Buy a Battery Starter Kit

If you’re just starting to build a cordless tool library, starting out with a combination of batteries and tools is the way to go. And for many of us who use cordless tools often, it's worth having at least two batteries to swap out when you run out of juice. Batteries and chargers can obviously get expensive though, which makes these Home Depot Memorial Day sales all the more attractive. Through the holiday weekend, you can get free tools after buying a starter battery kit.

This two-battery Ryobi starter kit is great

The Ryobi two-battery starter kit comes with a charger, a 4 amp hour battery, and a 2 amp hour battery. The two-battery kit is compatible with 18 volt Ryobi One tools and batteries, and is on sale right now for $99, 50% off its regular price.

This is a good beginner’s kit if you’re working on small to medium projects, plan to use one or two tools at a time, and don’t mind swapping batteries as you work. If you plan to use more tools or want the added speed and convenience of having a battery for each tool, you’ll need a larger kit.

Some of the tools you can get free with this kit include:

• The Ryobi ⅜ inch impact wrench (Usually $99)

• The Ryobi 3 ¼ inch planer (Usually $99)

• The Ryobi cordless reciprocating saw (Usually $79)

There’s also an opportunity to get a free 4 amp hour battery with the purchase of the two-battery kit. This battery costs $99 on its own, so it’s a good deal—especially if you need to replace old batteries or are looking to upgrade to faster-charging lithium ion batteries.

This three-battery Ryobi starter kit is on sale too

The Ryobi three-battery starter kit comes with one charger, two 4 amp hour batteries, and one 2 amp hour battery. The three battery kit is on sale for $199, 45% off its regular price, and also comes with a choice of free tools.

This is a good kit for medium-sized projects. Having three batteries allows you to run two tools simultaneously and still have a freshly charged one ready to go. For jobs that require multiple tools, this kit will allow you to work faster and more efficiently.

Here are a few of the best free tools you can get with your three-battery kit:

• The Ryobi 18 gauge cordless brad nailer (Usually $189)

• The Ryobi cordless pet stick vacuum (Usually $199)

• The Ryobi cordless pruner (Usually $149)

There are lots of other tools that you can get free with the purchase of a battery starter kit, so if there’s something in particular you’re looking for, check the full list. Remember that these tools and battery kits are compatible with the Ryobi One 18 volt system only; other brands or voltages won’t work with them.

If you need tools but not batteries

If you already have batteries but need some tools, these deals might not be your best option. Even if you're getting something for free, buying a battery kit you don't exactly need can be more expensive than just buying the specific tools you do need.

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How Many Charging Stations Would We Need to Totally Replace Gas Stations?

The United States could fully transition to electric vehicles in about 20 years. When that happens, we’re going to need a lot of chargers.

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The Auroras Should Be Spectacular This Summer, Thanks to Solar Maximum

Increasing solar activity over the next year could bring more opportunities to see fantastic displays of the northern lights.

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Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Monday, May 27, 2024

If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for May 27, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is easier; I got it in three. Beware, there are spoilers below for May 27, Wordle #1,073! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game.

How to play Wordle

Wordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.

Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if they’re correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn’t in the day’s secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)

Ready for the hints? Let’s go!

---

Does today’s Wordle have any unusual letters?

We’ll define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters’ phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it “Edwin Shirdloo,” like a name, and pretend he’s a friend of yours.)

There are four common letters from our mnemonic today. The fifth is less common.

Can you give me a hint for today’s Wordle?

A winter athlete.

Does today’s Wordle have any double or repeated letters?

There is one repeated letter today. 

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There are two vowels. 

What letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s word starts with S. 

What letter does today’s Wordle end with?

Today’s word ends with R. 

What is the solution to today’s Wordle?

Ready? Today’s word is SKIER.

How I solved today’s Wordle

After RAISE, I tried THICK to test consonants that were likely to be the final letter in the solution. The only possibility remaining was SKIER.

Wordle 1,073 3/6

🟨⬛🟩🟨🟨
⬛⬛🟩⬛🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

---

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle was hard. The hint was “an instrument for drawing angles” and the answer contained three common letters, one fairly common letter, and one uncommon letter.

The answer to yesterday’s Wordle was BEVEL.

A primer on Wordle basics

The idea of Wordle is to guess the day’s secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you’ll see an empty grid of letters. It’s up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word. 

Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word: Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and it’s in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)

• Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)

• Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)

With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then it’s game over.

The best starter words for Wordle

What should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that’s still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn’t a single “best” starting word, but the New York Times’s Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:

• CRANE

• TRACE

• SLANT

• CRATE

• CARTE

Meanwhile, an MIT analysis found that you’ll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:

• SALET

• REAST

• TRACE

• CRATE

• SLATE

Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it’s better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.

How to win at Wordle

We have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if you’re a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.

The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, don’t waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.

One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldn’t have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.

Wordle alternatives

If you can’t get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:

• Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after another

• Dordle and Quordle, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also Octordle, with eight puzzles, and Sedecordle, with 16.

• Waffle, which shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.

• Absurdle, which changes the solution after each guess, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.

• Squabble, in which you play Wordle against other people with a timer running. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.

• Antiwordle, in which you are trying not to guess the day’s solution. You’re required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.

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US Offshore Wind Farms Are Being Strangled With Red Tape

This year has seen wind farm costs rise and many projects canceled as developers struggle with opaque regulations and determined opposition—but the industry is far from dead.

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The Sea Is Swallowing This Mexican Town

Las Barrancas, in the state of Veracruz, has struggled for 10 years against the rising Gulf of Mexico waters. Its best hope may lie in mangrove trees.

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Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Sunday, May 26, 2024

If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for May 26, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is harder; I got it in six. Beware, there are spoilers below for May 26, Wordle #1,072! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game.

How to play Wordle

Wordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.

Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if they’re correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn’t in the day’s secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)

Ready for the hints? Let’s go!

---

Does today’s Wordle have any unusual letters?

We’ll define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters’ phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it “Edwin Shirdloo,” like a name, and pretend he’s a friend of yours.)

There are three common letters from our mnemonic today. One is fairly common, and one is uncommon.

Can you give me a hint for today’s Wordle?

An instrument for drawing angles.

Does today’s Wordle have any double or repeated letters?

There is one repeated letter today. 

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There are two vowels (one used twice). 

What letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s word starts with B. 

What letter does today’s Wordle end with?

Today’s word ends with L. 

What is the solution to today’s Wordle?

Ready? Today’s word is BEVEL.

How I solved today’s Wordle

After RAISE and TOUCH, I only had one letter, so I tried BLEND to eliminate common consonants. From here, there were only a handful of possible solutions. I tried BELLY first thinking it was the most common word, then went with BEZEL and finally BEVEL.

Wordle 1,072 6/6

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
🟩🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟨⬛⬛
🟩🟩⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

---

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle was easier. The hint was “one of Saturn's moons” and the answer contained all common letters.

The answer to yesterday’s Wordle was TITAN.

A primer on Wordle basics

The idea of Wordle is to guess the day’s secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you’ll see an empty grid of letters. It’s up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word. 

Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word: Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and it’s in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)

• Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)

• Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)

With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then it’s game over.

The best starter words for Wordle

What should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that’s still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn’t a single “best” starting word, but the New York Times’s Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:

• CRANE

• TRACE

• SLANT

• CRATE

• CARTE

Meanwhile, an MIT analysis found that you’ll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:

• SALET

• REAST

• TRACE

• CRATE

• SLATE

Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it’s better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.

How to win at Wordle

We have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if you’re a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.

The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, don’t waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.

One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldn’t have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.

Wordle alternatives

If you can’t get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:

• Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after another

• Dordle and Quordle, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also Octordle, with eight puzzles, and Sedecordle, with 16.

• Waffle, which shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.

• Absurdle, which changes the solution after each guess, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.

• Squabble, in which you play Wordle against other people with a timer running. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.

• Antiwordle, in which you are trying not to guess the day’s solution. You’re required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.

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You Can Get Two Free Tools With a DeWalt Battery Kit Right Now at Lowe's

If you have some maintenance tasks to tackle, or you’re looking to boost your DIY game, having the right tools can make a big difference. Building a starter kit of good quality cordless tools or upgrading the batteries for your existing set can be expensive—but buying tools with batteries that don’t last very long, or take forever to charge, will add unnecessary frustration to your DIY projects. These deals on DeWalt cordless tools can make it more affordable to get some new batteries as well as a couple of new tools while keeping the quality of the tools you’re bringing in mind. (Note that all sales are based on availability, and some are already sold out.)

DeWalt XR 20 volt battery two pack kit

DeWalt’s XR, 20 volt five amp hour batteries ($319) are designed to last longer than their standard 20 volt batteries. If you’re working on projects where you’ll be using your cordless tools for several hours without interruption, these batteries are worth the extra cost. The two pack of batteries and the charger cost $319 for the kit that comes with a tool bag. But during this Memorial Day sale, you can also get two free tools with your battery kit purchase. Here are a few of the best free tool deals you can choose from.

• The DeWalt 20 volt jig saw (usual price $219)

• The DeWalt ⅜ inch square drive impact wrench (usual price $199)

• The DeWalt three inch cut-off tool (usual price $179)

Tools like impact wrenches and saws tend to go through batteries more quickly, so this battery type is a good choice for these. The DeWalt XR 20 volt batteries are compatible with any of DeWalt’s MAX 12 to 20 amp tools and accessories, though, so you can likely use them with your existing DeWalt cordless tools.

DeWalt 20 volt four amp hour battery two pack kit

You can get one free DeWalt tool with the purchase of a 20 volt, four amp hour kit ($199). This slimmer, lighter battery style won’t last as long as the XR batteries, but for occasional use, these batteries will serve you well. You can pick from the same tool list as with the XR battery deal, but you only get to choose one tool from the list for the regular lithium ion batteries. Here are a few tools I'd recommend getting with these batteries.

• The DeWalt 20 volt oscillating tool (usual price $169)

• The DeWalt 20 volt reciprocating saw (usual price $139)

• The DeWalt 20 volt impact driver (usual price $149)

If you’re looking for a cordless tool kit for occasional home maintenance or lighter hobby use, these batteries will work well. The impact driver can also take drill bits designed to connect with its chuck, so you can use it as a drill for pre-drilling as well as for driving screws.

One more free-with-purchase deal on DeWalt

If you’re looking to upgrade your tool kit, Lowe’s is also offering a deal on portable DeWalt table saws. Having a table saw allows you to make straight cuts on sheet goods or rip lumber more easily and can save you time on your DIY projects.

• The DeWalt 8 ¼ inch, 15 amp portable corded table saw is on sale for $329, $70 off its regular price. In addition to the discount, you receive a gift with purchase.

Keep in mind that this tool isn’t cordless, so you’ll need a power source to operate it.

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